The Coronavirus has shut down schools all across our country forcing millions of students to learn from the confines of their homes. Subjects such as math, science, social studies as well as special subjects such as physical education and music must be taught creatively online. Driver Education on the other hand requires state mandated hours of behind the wheel training as well as specific classroom instruction. Many states have simply cancelled their driver education programs or have rescheduled them with unspecific dates far into the future. This is frustrating for parents as well as teens anxious to obtain their driving privileges.
So how do we teach driver education to a home schooled teenager?
First it is important to determine which stage of the driver education process a teenager is currently in and then determine his or her specific needs. These stages can be divided up into the following categories:
- A brand new driver looking to obtain their driver’s permit
- A new driver who has their permit and is ready to start driving
- A new driver who has some experience and needs training to help pass their DMV road test
- A new driver who has passed their road test and is just looking for more experience as well as help with their insurance costs.
Obtaining a learner’s permit
The rules for obtaining a driver’s permit vary from state to state so it is important to get a copy of the DMV Driver’s Manual/ Handbook for your specific state. Most states will require new drivers to pass a written exam in order to receive their permit. These exams can be anywhere from 20 questions (New York) up to 50 questions (California). Seventy to eighty percent of these questions must be answered correctly, again based on your states requirements.
The written exam will include rules of the road, street sign knowledge, as well as defensive driving strategies. DMV driver’s manuals/handbooks can be anywhere from 50 to 150 pages. The material is somewhat dry and boring; however their contents are extremely important in order to assure that all teenagers become safe defensive drivers with a total knowledge of road rules specific to their state. Practice exams are usually available online and sometimes are included within the DMV Manual. The best advice is to read the manual and absorb as many of the practice questions as you can. Strive to get a perfect score on each and every practice test that you take. Go back and review the questions you got wrong and then reread that section in the drivers’ manual.
Another option is to survey the many options Amazon has available in their book store. There are many question/answer type practice driver Permit books that can be purchased for very little money. Make sure the book you purchase is specific for the state you will be taking your permit test in. Also make sure the book is not just a regurgitation of common driver education questions that will provide you with little or no benefit on the actual test. Make sure their are questions pertaining to defensive driving, common road signs, road rules as well as your states laws and penalties. Also it is very important to make sure the author has actual driver education teaching experience!
I have a few “barons like” books available for several different states available on my “books and products” page. My books are very different in the fact that the DMV chapters are condensed, and broken down in any easy to understand fashion, and are very specific to the state you will be taking your permit test in. These books offer questions related to the topics you will be tested on as well as include a 50 question practice test at the end which includes a road sign section.
Preparing to drive
This is where it gets a little tricky. With high school driver education programs closed for the season and private driving instructors forced to shut down their businesses, the burden of learning is now shouldered by the parents and guardians of the new driver. While many parents may be excellent drivers they unfortunately lack the correct knowledge of instructional and defensive driving techniques necessary to teach their teens properly. So what can be done to help these new drivers?
This website is a good start. Their are tons of articles on the blog as well as an entire driver education learning curriculum located on the resources page. There are also plenty of books and videos available to help you get started on how to teach proper defensive driving techniques to a new driver. Check out the books available on the books and products page. These books are short, simple, easy to read, and contain proven techniques in order to help get your teen out onto the road safely and defensively! Remember DMV examiners are looking for specific driving mechanical skills to be performed correctly as well a demonstration of their understanding of road rules and laws. Teaching the wrong strategies and techniques at the beginning phases of driving will not only result in road test failure, but will also require that these skills be taught and retrained the correct way.
Preparing for the DMV road test
Stopping, steering and accelerating are just a few of the skills that you will be tested on in your 10-25 minute road test examination. Visual skills and defensive driving techniques will also be monitored closely by the DMV official. Many states also require driving maneuvers such as parallel parking, two or three point turns and backing up in a straight line. All of these things must be done at the same time you are obeying state laws, right of way rules, as well as other state and local driving laws.
It is important to find out which of those skills above will be tested and then learn exactly what the DMV examiner will be looking for. You can be the best mechanical driver in the world and still fail the test by not knowing which visual skills are necessary for each part of the test. I would normally suggest that students sign up for a certified driver education program or to take a few lessons from a private driving school. Unfortunately these programs are shut down until further notice. It is now important for parents to to take over this very important responsibility.
Parents need not worry because there are plenty of resources available to help your young driver pass the test. On this website I have many articles about defensive driving strategies as well as few relating to the DMV road test. I would also strongly suggest you check out my titles on Amazon “Teach Your Teenager How to Drive a Car” and “Save Your Teenage Driver’s Life” both excellent resources to help get a teen started.
Defensive Driving for Life
There is a reason teenagers are immediately placed into the risk pool when applying for car insurance for the first time. Immaturity, inexperience and poor training help account for the high accident rate of young drivers. Matter of fact one out of three newly licensed drivers will be involved in an auto crash in their first year of driving!
Avoiding driver distractions such as cell phones should become a common practice as soon as a new driver takes the wheel for the first time. Limiting the number of passengers, wearing seat belts and avoiding drugs and alcohol are also very important practices that have to be embedded into a young persons brain. Remember, it takes years to perfect any skill, athletic, artistic or otherwise however; it takes years to truly become a safe defensive driver. Become exposed to as many driving environments as possible early in your career, preferably under adult supervision. Always remember the two most important driving strategies – following distance and visual lead time to help your teen avoid serious driving collisions.
Many states offer defensive driving courses usually 6-8 hours long. These courses will provide valuable defensive driving information as well as offer significant insurance reductions. Check out your local DMV to obtain information on a defensive driving course in your area. Many companies offer an online option. Check out this link to get a reduced online course in NY State www.onlinenydefensivedriving.com.
We encourage all new drivers to work collaboratively with a knowledgeable adult driver. Getting the valuable information on modern defensive driving and racking up those practice hours form the basis for a safe defensive driving lifestyle.
The Driver Ed Coach