The Art of Confident Driving

Episode 102: Buying lesson packages sounds like a bargain — until it isn’t.
In this episode, Liz breaks down the hidden risks behind prepaid driving packages, from mismatched instructors to wasted money and stalled progress. If you’ve ever felt pressured to “lock in a deal,” this is your permission slip to slow down, ask better questions, and protect your learning journey.

Host: Liz Lafferty — Driving Instructor & Producer of The Art of Confident Driving
What this episode covers:
Why prepaid lesson packages are marketed as “value” but often create pressure and inflexibility
The financial traps: non‑refundable bundles, expiry dates, and “use it or lose it” policies
How packages can lock learners into instructors who aren’t a good fit
The emotional cost of feeling stuck with the wrong teaching style
Why learning to drive requires adaptability, not rigid scheduling
How to choose lessons that support your confidence, not your stress levels
Real stories from learners who regretted buying packages

Key Takeaway:
Driving is a personal journey — not a bulk purchase. You deserve flexibility, transparency, and an instructor who supports your growth, not a package that boxes you in.
Full driving lessons and instructional videos here:

Home

Episode 101. Indicating Incorrectly! Why do so many drivers act like indicators are an optional extra? In this episode of The Art of Confident Driving, Liz and Sonia have a laugh discussing , when, how and why drivers should use their indicators. They take a myth‑busting look at the humble indicator/blinker/turn signal — the lever that could prevent chaos but somehow doesn’t. From everyday Aussie road moments to the psychology behind “non‑indicators,” this episode blends humour, advocacy, and practical advice for learners and supervisors alike. Fully licenced drivers, tradies and professional drivers will be smart to listen to this episode.

Supervising drivers: Master Driver Trainer Liz has recorded all of her lessons; from the basics of car controls, pedal control, steering techniques, cornering, roundabouts, all of your manouvers through to Motorway and open road driving. Subscribe to have her teach your Learner driver the correct techniques and procedures that will not only have them pass the test easily, but be safe drivers for life!
Full driving lessons and instructional videos are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Episode 100. Questions Learner Drivers ask. We’ve officially hit EPISODE 100 of The Art of Confident Driving!
To celebrate, Liz and her daughter jump into the car together for a milestone episode full of laughter, learner questions, and the wonderfully silly things people ask when they’re trying to understand the vehicle, road rules and preparing for the driving test. Confidence isn’t about perfection — it’s about curiosity, laughter, and learning from every drive. Learner drivers can ask some interesting questions!
Whether you’re a learner driver, a supervising driver, or just here for the laughs, this milestone episode is packed with confidence‑boosting insights and a whole lot of fun.

Listen now and celebrate 100 episodes with us!

Learners and Supervising drivers: Master Driver Trainer Liz has recorded all of her lessons; from the basics of car controls, pedal control, steering techniques, cornering, roundabouts, all of your manouvers through to Motorway and open road driving. Subscribe to have her teach your Learner driver the correct techniques and procedures that will not only have them pass the test easily, but be safe drivers for life!
Full driving lessons and instructional videos are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Episode 99. Russell White, Australia’s Road safety expert joins Liz in this episode, to highlight the mistakes many drivers make, the influences that contribute to the road toll, and how doing small things as a driver can make a huge difference to not only our own driving happiness, but also those road users around us!
Russell and Liz started their road safety journey around the same time, bringing more than a collective 55 years of driver training to this chat.
Russell White Managing Director Driver Safety Australia and Founder and Chair of the Australian Road Safety Foundation
Australian Road Safety Foundation

The Australian Road Safety Foundation is a not for profit organization dedicated to improving road safety awareness, enhancing driver education and reducing the impact of road trauma. It undertakes a range of activities to improve road safety outcomes, develop research and educational programs and works to persuade policy makers to address road safety issues.

The foundation acts as a central agency for a range of road safety related events. These activities currently include the Fatality Free Friday Campaign and the Australian Road Safety Awards. https://arsf.com.au/road-safety-resilience/

Fatality Free Friday

Russell founded Fatality Free Friday, which is based on a Community Mobilization Strategy to increase public awareness and action on the issue of road safety. The inaugural Fatality Free Friday was held on the 27th of April 2007 and coincided with the first United Nations Global Road Safety Week. The initiative was established in Queensland and was expanded into a national event.

Fatality Free Friday provides a unique opportunity to raise community awareness on road trauma and is Australia’s only national community based road safety program.

Full driving lessons and instructional videos are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Anxious drivers. Why do some drivers feel their heart race the moment they turn the key? In this episode, Liz sits down with Dr Amanda Stephens, a leading researcher in driver psychology, to unpack what’s really happening behind the wheel when anxiety takes over.

Together, they explore:

how stress and fear affect driving performance

the difference between cautious and anxious driving

practical strategies to rebuild confidence on the road

what instructors and supervising drivers can do to help

Whether you’re a learner, a parent, or a professional instructor, this conversation reveals how understanding anxiety can transform the way we teach—and drive.

More information about Dr. Amanda Stephens’ research here:

LinkedIn: Amanda Stephens | LinkedIn

• Listen to my chat about Aggressive driving on ABC “Its all in the mind” podcast: Driving Me Mad. Why we get Road Rage, with Sana Qadar
• Read one of my latest publications on aggressive driving in Australia

• Read one of my The Conversation articles

• Check out our Reducing Aggressive Driving online program

Supervising drivers: Master Driver Trainer Liz has recorded all of her lessons; from the basics of car controls, pedal control, steering techniques, cornering, roundabouts, all of your manouvers through to Motorway and open road driving. Subscribe to have her teach your Learner driver the correct techniques and procedures that will not only have them pass the test easily, but be safe drivers for life!
Full driving lessons and instructional videos are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/