The Co-pilot’s Manual - 2026-27 - A Guide to Supervising New Drivers

Sep 18, 2026

The co-pilot’s manual provides practical guidance for supervising new drivers, focusing on safety, consistency, and effective teaching during practice. It outlines the co-pilot’s responsibilities, including eligibility requirements, supervision positioning, and readiness to take over driving. The handbook explains how to serve as a positive role model through rule-following, courtesy, seatbelt use, daytime running lights, and vehicle readiness checks. It also emphasizes aligning coaching with the driver education program to reduce confusion and support skill development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages48

Reading Time2 h 1 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The co-pilot’s responsibility

Be a good model

Be the teacher’s aid, but

The Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook

Discuss driving with the new driver

The learner’s licence

Before you sign

Driver education programs

A suggested lesson plan

Practice log for new drivers

Learner driver signs

Teaching help

Backing up

Two-point turns

Right turns

Left turns

Intersections

A guide to supervising new drivers The co-pilot’s manual 2 02 6-2 7 Introduction This handbook will outline ways that you, as a supervising driver can help your new driver. It includes step-by-step procedures for practising basic driving manoeuvres and suggestions to help make the learning process a positive experience for both you and the new driver. Helping the new driver will involve time, effort and patience on your part, but it will be well rewarded; you will worry less, knowing that you helped your new driver develop lifelong skills. This manual should be used together with the Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook, which includes the rules of the road and basic driving instructions. Thoughthe co-pilot’s manual was primarily designed for parents of teenagers enrolled in the High School Driver Education Program, the information will be helpful to anyone who is supervising a new driver. i Contents The co-pilot’s responsibility ................................... 1 Be a good model .............................................. 1 Be the teacher’s aid, but ........................................ 2 The Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook ........................... 2 Discuss driving with the new driver ............................. 3 The learner’s licence .......................................... 3 Before you sign ................................................ 4 Driver education programs ..................................... 5 About the programs .......................................... 5 Written exam ................................................ 5 Some topics covered .......................................... 6 Aim s and objectives ........................................... 6 What to practice, and when .................................... 7 Some tips before you begin to practice .......................... 8 A suggested lesson plan ...................................... 10 Practice log for new drivers ................................... 10 Learner driver signs .......................................... 11 Teaching help ................................................. 12 Backing up .................................................. 12 Two-point turns ............................................. 13 Right turns .................................................. 14 Left turns ................................................... 16 Intersections ................................................ 18 Controlled intersections ...................................... 18 Uncontrolled intersections ................................... 19 Parallel parking .............................................. 20 One-way streets ............................................. 22 Commercial vehicles ......................................... 24 Distance .................................................... 25 Speed control ............................................... 25 Night driving ................................................ 26 Bad weather driving ......................................... 27 Sharing the road ............................................. 28 ii Distracted driving ........................................... 29 Drinking, drugs and driving ................................... 30 The road test ................................................ 32 Practical preparation for their road test ........................ 33 The Graduated Driver Licensing program ....................... 36 The co-pilot’s continuing role .................................. 37 Practice log for new drivers ................................... 38 iii The co-pilot’s responsibility To be a supervising driver you must: • be an experienced driver (not a novice) with a valid Class 5 driver’s licence from a Canadian or U.S. jurisdiction, • have held a valid licence for at least 12 months in the last three years,• be able to take over dr

FAQs

What responsibilities must a supervising co-pilot meet?

A supervising co-pilot must be an experienced licensed driver with an eligible licence, have held a valid licence for at least 12 months in the last three years, be able to take over driving at all times, and sit in the front passenger seat next to the learner.

How should a co-pilot act to help the learner driver?

The co-pilot should model safe driving by obeying traffic laws, being courteous, and driving safely. Safety habits like wearing seatbelts should be taught and enforced consistently.

Why is it important to coordinate with the driver education program?

The manual stresses that what the co-pilot teaches should match what the driver educator covers. If coaching differs from the program, the learner may become confused and find it harder to learn.

Sep 18, 2026

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