Driving in extreme weather conditions is always a challenge, no matter whether you’re a new learner or a seasoned driver. However, teaching other learners how to drive in adverse weather is an even bigger challenge that instructors face. For an instructor in a country like Australia, where there are numerous topographical and climatic variations, knowing how to teach in extreme conditions is essential. While the driving instructor course - TLI41222 Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training includes teaching how to drive in adverse weather, the proper implementation of these techniques is what matters. When the instructor knows how to handle adverse weather conditions and teaches the same techniques to students in an easily understandable manner, it helps build trust, improve the learner’s competence, and form lifelong habits of safe driving. Here’s a quick guide to how instructors can prepare, teach, and support learners in navigating challenging environments safely.
Understanding the Challenges:
Extreme weather conditions affect your driving and vehicle performance differently. From reducing visibility and traction to affecting braking ability and steering control, there’s a lot that changes in your vehicle’s behaviour during adverse weather. Here’s what can (and often does!) go wrong when instructors are teaching in challenging weather:
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Weather Condition
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What It Does to Driving
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How It Affects Instructors
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Fog
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- Severely reduces visibility
- Affects perception and braking
- Causes disorientation or anxiety
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- Limits visual demonstrations
- Increases collision risks
- Restricts teaching to low-traffic, well-lit areas
- Makes complex maneuvers harder to teach
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Snow and Ice
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- Reduces traction and steering control
- Increases braking distance
- Hides hazards like black ice or potholes
For more details, check out our post on Driving Safely in Winter
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- Risky for real-world practice
- Limited chances to teach skidding/traction techniques
- Hard to demonstrate winter-specific vehicle prep
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Heavy Rains
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- Reduces visibility
- Increases risk of hydroplaning
- Blurs road signs and markings
- Weakens braking efficiency
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- Harder to teach hydroplaning control
- Difficulty explaining hazard detection and wiper/headlight use
- Grip loss practice may be unsafe
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High Winds
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- Pushes the vehicle off-course
- Creates steering instability
- Reduces visibility with dust
- Risk from flying debris
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- Challenging to teach anticipation and corrections
- Must explain effects on stability and debris risks
- Focus on maintaining steering control
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Extreme Heat
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- Increases chances of tire blowouts
- Engine overheating
- Driver fatigue and dehydration
- Intense glare affects vision
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- Difficult to manage student fatigue
- Limited opportunities to teach glare handling
- Emphasis needed on hydration and vehicle care
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Prepare for Lessons in Advance:
As instructors, it’s essential to go prepared when you know the weather is going to be an issue. Prepare yourself by checking the vehicle for any issues, keeping all the necessary safety equipment in the vehicle, and planning your routes well in advance. You can check the weather forecast before leaving to ensure safe conditions. Keep your vehicle well-maintained and check the tyres, lights, wipers, coolant, brakes, etc., regularly. Also carry emergency supplies like water bottles, torch and batteries, a first aid kit, reflective vests, a blanket, and your phone charger. Even if the weather doesn’t turn wild, being prepared can give you peace of mind!
Teaching Techniques for Different Conditions
Different weather conditions need different adjustments. As instructors, you also need to adapt your teaching techniques to the changing weather conditions. Here are some teaching techniques you can use in varying weather:
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Weather Condition
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Key Teaching Techniques
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Heavy Rain
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- Teach speed maintenance and driving at low speeds.
- Explain why keeping longer following distances matters.
- Teach proper use of headlights and wipers in rain.
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Fog
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- Teach proper use of low-beam headlights.
- Explain how avoiding sudden movements and driving steadily helps.
- Teach listening for nearby traffic by keeping the windows slightly open.
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Snow and Ice
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- Show how to brake and accelerate smoothly and gently.
- Practice skid recovery techniques in safe zones.
- Explain proper use of ABS and winter tyre awareness.
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High Winds
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- Teach how to anticipate wind gusts, especially near open areas.
- Teach how to maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel.
- Explain how to stay alert for sudden debris or side-sway.
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Extreme Heat
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- Explain tyre pressure and risk of blowouts.
- Teach how to recognise signs of engine overheating.
- Explain how to stay hydrated and manage driver fatigue.
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Building Confidence Through Practice:
While teaching various techniques to students is great, making them practice is even more essential. They should know how and when to implement your teachings. But practising in extreme conditions is a big risk and not advisable unless you can ensure the complete safety of both yourself and the students. So, you should try to expose your students to controlled environments first for practice and slowly move on to real conditions once they’re confident.
Promoting a Safety-First Mindset:
As instructors, it is one of your key responsibilities to help students develop a safety-first mindset. Encourage them to be careful by checking weather conditions, doing basic vehicle checks, carrying proper supplies, and using essential apps for navigation or route planning. Also, emphasise the need to avoid taking unnecessary risks and discuss why postponing trips in dangerous conditions is a smart decision.
Keep Training Continuously:
As instructors, you must stay updated with the latest techniques and traffic laws. You can join workshops or advanced driving instructor courses to stay informed. Also, networking with other instructors is a great way to stay updated. For more details, check out our post on why driving instructors need to take refresher courses regularly.
Final Thoughts
Extreme weather might not be part of every lesson—but it’s part of real-world driving. As instructors, it’s our job to prepare learners not just to pass their test, but to drive confidently and safely for life. With a bit of preparation, patience, and the right mindset, you can turn bad weather into good teaching moments. And for those of you who’ve completed or are currently enrolled in the TLI41222 Driving Instructor Course, remember: learning doesn’t stop with your certification. The more you grow, the more your students benefit.
FAQs
Q: What are the different adverse weather conditions that pose risk for drivers and instructors?
A: Conditions like fog, snow/ice, heavy rain, high winds, and extreme heat impact driving and pose a safety risk for drivers and instructors.
Q: Why is teaching driving in extreme weather particularly challenging for instructors?
A: From reducing visibility and traction to affecting braking ability and steering control, there’s a lot that changes in your vehicle’s behaviour during adverse weather. IT is particularly challenging for instructors as they need to adapt their techniques, manage student anxiety, and ensure safety in unpredictable conditions.
Q: How can driving instructors effectively prepare for lessons in adverse weather?
A: Instructors can check the vehicle for any issues, keep all the necessary safety equipment in the vehicle, and plan their routes well in advance. Check the weather forecast before leaving, check the tyres, lights, wipers, coolant, brakes, etc., and carry emergency supplies like water bottles, torch and batteries, a first aid kit, and reflective vests.
Q: What should I keep in my vehicle for emergencies?
A: Essentials include emergency supplies like water bottles, torch and batteries, a first aid kit, and reflective vests, a blanket, and phone charger.
Q: How can instructors help students build confidence in challenging conditions without compromising safety?
A: Instructors should should try to expose your students to controlled environments first for practice and slowly move on to real conditions once they’re confident.
Q: What mindset should instructors instill in their students regarding adverse weather?
A: Instructors should emphasize a safety-first approach, encouraging students to check weather, prepare their vehicle, carry essentials, and be willing to postpone trips in dangerous conditions.
Q: Is ongoing training important for driving instructors in this area?
A: Absolutely! Continuous learning through workshops, advanced driving instructor courses (like Onroad’s accredited TLI41222 driving instructor course), and networking ensures instructors stay updated and can better prepare their students for real-world challenges.