The Art of Confident Driving

Liz Lafferty

48 episodes listed below

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Calmer habits for safer roads.

The gist

The Art of Confident Driving is a practical road-safety and learner-driver show led by Liz Lafferty. It answers common driving questions, corrects shaky habits, and treats confidence as something built through repetition, clearer judgement, and calmer reactions.

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About The Art of Confident Driving

The Art of Confident Driving is a learner-driver and road-safety show built around the small decisions that make driving feel either controlled or chaotic. Liz Lafferty brings the rhythm of an instructor: ask the question, name the rule, show the road situation, then correct the habit before it hardens. The show is casual, but it is not loose about safety. Stop signs still mean stop. Yellow lights require judgement. Being in the wrong lane is a planning problem, not an invitation to cut across traffic. That practical firmness gives the show its shape. It treats confidence as a skill, not a personality trait.

Recent episodes cover the basics that learners repeatedly get wrong: late braking near intersections, stopping position at lines, keeping left, filling a petrol tank, and the difference between driving slowly and driving smoothly. The show also spends serious time on the emotional load of driving. Anxiety, panic, frustration, aggressive drivers, and bad advice from social media are handled as real factors that affect behaviour behind the wheel. The approach stays grounded. Strong feelings are acknowledged, then brought back to observation, planning, spacing, and calmer decision-making.

The interviews broaden the lessons without turning the show academic. Russell White brings road-safety expertise and concern about fatalities, misinformation, and public complacency. Dr. Amanda Stevens discusses anxious drivers, aggressive driving, triggers, and strategies for reducing risk. Sonia’s conversations with Liz add the feel of two people comparing the same learner mistakes. Even the lighter question episodes keep returning to the same point: safer driving comes from preparation, clear habits, and respect for other road users.

The show suits learners, returning drivers, parents supervising practice hours, overseas licence holders adjusting to Australian roads, and anyone whose driving was shaped more by family lore than good instruction. It is brisk, concrete, and reassuring without being soft. Its best moments feel like a steady voice in the passenger seat saying what matters before the mistake happens.

Made for: Learner drivers, supervising parents, anxious drivers, overseas licence holders in Australia, and full-licence drivers who want a practical reset on road rules and habits.

What sets it apart: The show combines instructor-led road examples with recurring attention to anxiety, aggression, and misinformation. It is less about passing a test alone and more about becoming a steadier driver after the test.

In their own words

Instructor Liz has now recorded her very popular driving lessons in podcast format, for every driver to have access to! Liz has been training drivers of all ages and abilities since 1997. From understanding basics to complex manoeuvres, she will talk you through her proven methods and procedures that guarantee happy, safe and confident driving. For full driving lesson episodes and videos search: theartofconfidentdriving or Liz Lafferty

Why you'd press play

Liz Lafferty makes late braking feel fixable, even when your supervising passenger has found the imaginary brake.

Press play if you want

  • clear ways to handle late braking without turning a lesson into a family summit
  • road-anger advice that starts with your triggers and ends with the memorable five-by-five-by-five reset
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
learner-driver questionsdefensive driving habitsroad rules in Australiadriver anxietyaggressive drivinglate brakingfuel-saving mythssupervising learner drivers

Talks about

Best episodes of The Art of Confident Driving

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

Episode 100. Questions Learners askJul 11, 2026

A firm, brisk learner-driver Q&A, with Kate's giggle giving the 100th episode an easy lift.

The Art of Confident Driving gives its 100th episode a practical shape by building it around learner questions. The instructor moves through yellow lights, stop signs, hand position, lane choice, examiner roles, and whether driving too slowly can lead to a fail, while Kate, his…

The Expert Interviews: Russell White: Road Safety ExpertMay 26, 2026

A practical road safety discussion that measures familiar driving advice against research, fatalities, and public assumptions.

The Art of Confident Driving brings Liz Lafferty together with Russell White, introduced as founder and CEO of the Australian Road Safety Foundation and a road safety expert, for a practical look at how driving advice gets formed.

Anxious Drivers with Dr. Amanda StephensMay 16, 2026

A grounded look at driver anxiety and the role instructors can play in helping learners regain confidence.

Driver anxiety is framed as a safety problem with a recognizably human shape. Liz Lafferty's conversation with Dr. Amanda Stevens, a Senior Research Fellow with Monash University Accident Research Centre, moves from fear of crashes to the physical signs instructors notice when a…

Late Braking with Sonia and LizApr 8, 2026

A practical discussion of braking sooner, reading space, and making intersections feel safer.

Late braking is treated as a learner habit with consequences beyond making a passenger tense. Liz and Sonia connect complaints about learners reaching intersections too quickly with driving examiners' concern that a faster car at a roundabout can leave too little stopping time.

The Expert Interviews: Dr Amanda Stephens; Dealing with aggressive driversJan 9, 2026

A practical look at aggressive driving, with simple ways to steady yourself when road frustration starts to build.

The Art of Confident Driving takes a practical look at aggressive driving, with Amanda Stevens from the Accident Research Centre at Monash University offering clear, grounded advice.

Lesson 48. Emergency vehiclesJul 21, 2025

A practical guide to sharing the road with emergency vehicles, with clear state-by-state guidance.

Liz Lafferty's lesson is a practical guide to sharing the road with emergency vehicles, and its strongest point is the reminder that following too closely leaves no wiggle room if an ambulance or fire truck has to brake or turn suddenly.

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Episodes

  1. 1

    Episode 101. Stupid Driving Habits: Indicating Incorrectly

    Aug 9, 2026·31m
  2. 2

    Episode 100. Questions Learners ask

    Hidden gem

    The Art of Confident Driving's 100th episode features Liz answering learner questions with her 13-year-old daughter Kate, including barefoot driving, solid white lines, speed limits, and driving-test nerves.

    Jul 11, 2026·21m·1 clip
  3. 3

    The Expert Interviews: Russell White: Road Safety Expert

    Liz Lafferty interviews Russell White, founder and CEO of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, during Road Safety Week about why driver learning should continue after licensing.

    May 26, 2026·40m·2 clips
  4. 4

    Anxious Drivers with Dr. Amanda Stephens

    Hidden gem

    Liz Lafferty interviews Dr.

    May 16, 2026·28m·1 clip
  5. 5

    The Learning Journey

    Apr 26, 2026·13m
  6. 6

    Late Braking with Sonia and Liz

    Driving instructors Liz and Sonia discuss late braking, the most common complaint parents and examiners raise about learner drivers, on this episode of The Art of Confident Driving.

    Apr 8, 2026·27m·2 clips
  7. 7

    Petrol-Saving myths BUSTED!

    This episode debunks common petrol-saving myths, starting with the misconception that coasting in neutral saves fuel, explaining why it's ineffective and unsafe.

    Mar 14, 2026·14m
  8. 8

    Learner plates with Jeannie

    This episode discusses the legal requirements and practical tips for displaying L-plates and P-plates on vehicles, emphasizing visibility and safety for learner drivers.

    Feb 16, 2026·19m
  9. 9

    Keep Left, Stay Safe: The rule many drivers get wrong

    This episode explains the 'keep left' road rule for drivers in Australia and other left-hand driving countries, emphasizing its importance for safety and proper understanding.

    Jan 25, 2026·14m
  10. 10

    The Expert Interviews: Dr Amanda Stephens; Dealing with aggressive drivers

    Hidden gem

    Friday, 7 November at the ADTA conference, Liz brings on Amanda Stephens from Monash University’s Accident Research Centre to talk about aggressive driving and crash risk.

    Jan 9, 2026·34m·2 clips
  11. 11

    Holiday parking tips

    This episode is dedicated to the host's father and focuses on holiday parking tips, emphasizing courtesy, patience, and safe driving practices.

    Dec 24, 2025·11m
  12. 12

    Stupid Driving Habits: Road signs and markings

    Oct 30, 2025·10m
  13. 13

    Driving around Australia with Gav

    Sep 18, 2025·35m
  14. 14

    What should happen on your first lesson. With Sonia and Liz

    Aug 20, 2025·30m
  15. 15

    Even MORE Aussie road rules you may not know!

    Aug 9, 2025·13m
  16. 16

    Lesson 48. Emergency vehicles

    Hidden gem

    Zoe says following an ambulance closely is dangerous because its rear blind spots are large and braking can be sudden.

    Jul 21, 2025·21m·1 clip
  17. 17

    Test fails and how to fix them.

    Jun 29, 2025·18m
  18. 18

    Hook Turns

    Jun 6, 2025·16m
  19. 19

    Tailgating: Road Rage or Rookie mistake?

    May 10, 2025·16m
  20. 20

    Driving in Cyclones

    Mar 21, 2025·12m
  21. 21

    Tire care or "Don't drive on anything that isn't road!"

    Jan 21, 2025·13m
  22. 22

    Driving Test Tips 2

    Jan 5, 2025·14m
  23. 23

    The Instructor Interviews: Sonia - mistakes parents make

    Driving instructor Sonia shares insights from her 10 years of experience about common mistakes parents make when supervising their learner drivers and offers advice to help parents become better supervisors.

    Nov 16, 2024·24m
  24. 24

    Season 3! And Driver Trainer ego

    Nov 1, 2024·13m
  25. 25

    Motorway Merging

    Aug 16, 2024·13m
  26. 26

    Good Vs Bad Instructor with Instructors John & Liz

    Jul 21, 2024·17m
  27. 27

    What happens test day?

    Jul 10, 2024·11m
  28. 28

    Holiday driving

    Jun 21, 2024·11m
  29. 29

    Examiner Vs Instructor

    May 8, 2024·9m
  30. 30

    Pre-Drive Checklist

    Mar 6, 2024·8m
  31. 31

    Motivate Me please Liz!

    Jan 4, 2024·10m
  32. 32

    Interview with a Hero - Casey Wright

    This episode features an interview with Casey Wright, who heroically saved a four-year-old girl from a car accident, discussing the incident and its implications for driving safety.

    Nov 27, 2023·30m
  33. 33

    Mini Lesson. Spiral Roundabouts

    Nov 11, 2023·6m
  34. 34

    Some MORE Aussie Road Rules you probably don't know!

    Oct 25, 2023·11m
  35. 35

    Some Aussie Road Rules you probably didn't know!

    Oct 8, 2023·13m
  36. 36

    Liz is Interviewed for My Business Podcast Part 2

    Aug 13, 2023·15m
  37. 37

    Liz is interviewed for My Business Podcast

    Aug 6, 2023·14m
  38. 38

    The Expert Interviews - Julian O'Shea: Are Truckzillas too big for Aussie Streets?

    This episode features an interview with Julian O'Shea, a PhD researcher discussing sustainable transport innovations, focusing on micromobility solutions like e-scooters and e-bikes that bridge the gap between bicycles and cars.

    Jun 19, 2023·23m
  39. 39

    26. The Instructor Interviews: John – Manual vehicle

    This episode features an interview with John, a career driving instructor with decades of experience, discussing his background in teaching manual vehicles and running a family driving school business across multiple countries.

    May 22, 2023·22m
  40. 40

    Lesson. Give Way Basics

    Apr 20, 2023·14m
  41. 41

    17. Mini Lesson – Indicators/ Indicating at Roundabouts

    Jan 23, 2023·6m
  42. 42

    15. Mini lesson – Mirrors

    Dec 30, 2022·6m
  43. 43

    12. Practice tips for confident driving

    Dec 10, 2022·8m
  44. 44

    Enjoy the Drive/Sunday Drive

    Nov 8, 2022·8m
  45. 45

    Driving Test Tips, Part 1

    Oct 13, 2022·10m
  46. 46

    Introduction to Confident driving

    Oct 4, 2022·0m
  47. 47

    Introduction to the Art of Confident Driving

    Sep 11, 2022·1m
  48. 48

    Introduction to the Art of Confident Driving

    Sep 11, 2022·1m