Teaching teen to drive with minivan

[Anonymous]

Okay, this is a pretty simple question, but when driving a sedan you use your C pillar as a gauge to know when it's safe to turn your wheel when reversing to have enough space.

I have to teach a teen but our sedan is a stick shift, so I need to teach him using a minivan. Do you still use the C pillar as your gauge in a minivan or do I need to tell the kid to use the D pillar instead?

[Anonymous]

My kid learned to drive on our minivan (and still prefers it) and I have no idea what you’re talking about wrt pillars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid learned to drive on our minivan (and still prefers it) and I have no idea what you’re talking about wrt pillars.

To know when you have clearance for a turn, for example, turning into a parking space, I was taught that you can fully turn your wheel when your side view mirror passes the object. The side view mirror is where the A pillar is in the car. The B pillar is a guide to know when your rear wheels has enough room to avoid the object/curb. The C pillar is used for reversing techniques. I am pretty sure that for a minivan, you also use the C pillar as a guide but since I have been wrong before and don't have a ton of minivan experience, I wanted to ask.

[Anonymous]

I have no idea what pillars are and I drove a minivan for 15 years.

[Anonymous]

Okay, so let me change my question, when you are reversing out of a tight spot, like a parking space, when do you know you are safe to turn the wheel?

I know as adults we just KNOW when we are safe. But if I want to teach a teenager, what do I tell him to look for?

[Anonymous]

When the front of the van is lined up with the back of the car next to it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid learned to drive on our minivan (and still prefers it) and I have no idea what you’re talking about wrt pillars.

This is why we’re a country filled with awful inept drivers. People who don’t even understand the basic parts of a car.

Imagine getting on a plane where the pilot didn’t know what the ailerons are.


Maddening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what pillars are and I drove a minivan for 15 years.

Y’all have no business on a road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, so let me change my question, when you are reversing out of a tight spot, like a parking space, when do you know you are safe to turn the wheel?

I know as adults we just KNOW when we are safe. But if I want to teach a teenager, what do I tell him to look for?

I don’t think there is a specific thing to look for as each vehicle is different. You back out and start turning wheel while watching to make sure you don’t clip either cars on sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid learned to drive on our minivan (and still prefers it) and I have no idea what you’re talking about wrt pillars.

This is why we’re a country filled with awful inept drivers. People who don’t even understand the basic parts of a car.

Imagine getting on a plane where the pilot didn’t know what the ailerons are.


Maddening.

Is this a joke? I’m the PP and haven’t ever been in a car accident in 30+ years, not even a fender bender. So I think I’m driving just fine, pillar knowledge be damned.

[Anonymous]

Line up the mirrors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, so let me change my question, when you are reversing out of a tight spot, like a parking space, when do you know you are safe to turn the wheel?

I know as adults we just KNOW when we are safe. But if I want to teach a teenager, what do I tell him to look for?

Did your parents teach you about pillars? How is that you just KNOW? However that is, your teen will know, too. At least after a bit of practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, this is a pretty simple question, but when driving a sedan you use your C pillar as a gauge to know when it's safe to turn your wheel when reversing to have enough space.

I have to teach a teen but our sedan is a stick shift, so I need to teach him using a minivan. Do you still use the C pillar as your gauge in a minivan or do I need to tell the kid to use the D pillar instead?

Good lord. I'd hate to have you as an "instructor" with all the Barney Fife talk. Experience is the best instructor anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, so let me change my question, when you are reversing out of a tight spot, like a parking space, when do you know you are safe to turn the wheel?

I know as adults we just KNOW when we are safe. But if I want to teach a teenager, what do I tell him to look for?

When teaching my kids to drive, I became more conscious of the things I was doing while driving, then explained that to them while I was driving. Then they practiced a lot, and it became instinctive for them, too.

[Anonymous]

I know nothing about pillars.