Teens can learn to drive by enrolling in a driving school.  The “3 Keys to Keeping Your Teen Alive” Program encourages teens to learn to drive with a professional instructor.  But parents are also needed to reinforce the lessons through structured practice sessions with their teens.

One driving school is not the same as the next.  There are 2 basic types:  

• Schools that primarily train drivers in how to drive a car so they can pass the driver’s test and get their license. 
• Schools that provide new drivers with the basic skills in how to drive a car so they’ll become safe, responsible drivers.  These schools encourage parents to reinforce the lessons through structured practice sessions with their teens.

This fact is clear from an article that appeared in my local newspaper recently about driving schools that are ferrying teens 3 to 4 hours from the city to rural DMV offices to take their road tests. They do it because there’s less traffic there so the road test is easier and teens are far more likely to pass on their first try. 

The problem with this approach is, of course, that these new drivers will not be driving on rural roads with very little traffic.  They’ll be driving on complex city streets with plenty of noise and multiple lanes of speeding cars.  Passing the rural test will give them increased confidence in their driving skills even though those skills aren’t adequate to keep them safe on the roads they’ll actually be driving.  The result could be disastrous.

And driving schools may not be as regulated as your local restaurants. At least those restaurants have signs in the window that tell you how they did in their latest review by the Board of Health.  There’s no such thing for many driving schools.  Even if the schools were reviewed, it’s near impossible for parents to find out how they fared.

And – considering the important job they do, you’d think there would be strict standards that apply to all driving schools, but there aren’t. Some schools operate within DMV guidelines, others don’t.  Some don’t even ensure that their cars are road-worthy.  

So – what CAN parents do to find a good driving school for their teens?

Look for a course that includes in-car segments on a closed course, like a parking lot, where teens can learn without worrying about other cars.  Lauren suggests that they also learn in their own cars, if possible.  (This way you have the added security of knowing the vehicle is roadworthy.) 

The driving programs should also have a number of elements.  AAA (the American Automobile Association) suggests that driving courses:

• Provide significant supervised in-car instruction over an extended period of time because teens take time to learn
• Have a performance-based curriculum that includes:
  • Risk management skills
  • Decision-making skills
  • Visual training
  • Nighttime driving
  • Involve parents/guardians and encourage collaboration between them and instructors
  • Use a multi-media approach that includes computer-based methods, simulations, demonstrations, and gaming
  • Provide consistent, appropriate messages
  • Deliver their program at an affordable cost

Guidelines for Choosing a Driving School

1.  Check out the school:
• How long have they been in operation?
• What is their BBB (Better Business Bureau) rating?
• What do their facilities look like?
• If they provide cars for the teens to drive, look at the cars and see if they are in good shape. (Take someone with you who knows about cars)
• What certifications do they hold?
•  Ask about the training of the instructors. What certifications do they have? (Ask to meet the instructors if possible.)
• Do they have (or use) a closed course for some of the lessons?
• Do they teach in-car and in the classroom?  (How many hours of each?)
• Do they provide cars or allow teens to drive their own vehicles?
•  Have they surveyed past students to determine the effectiveness of their program?
• Do they use computers in their program?
• How many students do they have in a class?
• What is the student-to-instructor ratio?
2. Is the school recognized by your insurance company?  (Will they provide a discount on insurance when your teen passes the course?)
3. If you need more information to make a good decision, ask if you can sit in on part of a class. 

Cost

Of course, cost is a factor in choosing the right course, but don’t let it be the determining factor.  Keep in mind that good courses will provide you with an insurance discount, which will offset part of the expense.  (And avoiding one crash is worth the investment – especially if there would have been injuries!)

Also know that the least expensive schools often keep their prices low by having very large classes and providing very little in-car training.   They are not a good investment.

Teaching teens how to drive a car is what driving instructors are expert at.  They have the knowledge and experience in what is involved in driving a car safely.  But driving instructors spend only about 8 hours with a teen as they learn to drive.  Experts agree that to acquire the skills necessary to be safe on the road requires at least 100 hours of teaching. 

The most practical solution to getting those 100 hours is for parents to participate in teaching their teen how to drive a car.  Their participation is needed during the driving lessons and especially after the driving lessons finish .  But most parents do not know how to effectively teach their teen.  Although they may have many years experience in driving a car they don’t have the experience in teaching how to drive a car.  

Veteran driving safety expert Mike Pehl is passionate about the issue of teens learning how to drive a car safely. His years of experience as an accident investigator and accredited driving instructor have convinced him that accident rates for teens driving a car can be significantly reduced. Mike believes very few parents understand that their involvement is CRITICAL for their teenager to learn to drive safely. He also knows most parents have no idea how to effectively teach their teens the skills necessary for their own protection when driving a car.

Parents can now find help with teaching their teens how to drive a car.  A comprehensive book has been written by teen safe driving expert Anne Marie Hayes.  The book is called “3 Keys to Keeping Your Teen Alive” and provides step by step guide for parents to be an active participant as their teens learn to drive.  The book also comes with a free on-line video library that teens can watch to get instructions from other driving experts.

Parental Controls are Critical

I’m always amazed by the things people try to do while driving: putting on mascara, cuddling pets, reading books and studying maps.  I even saw a man driving with a video camera pressed to his face one crowded holiday weekend.  He was doing 60 mph on a 6-lane highway at the time!

Most adult drivers have sipped a coffee, downed a sandwich or changed a radio station at some point while they were behind the wheel.  They’ve lived to tell the tale, so how bad could it be?

The fact is that each year, drivers who take their eyes off the road ‘just for a moment’, cause thousands of crashes.   Spilled coffee, poked eyes and dropped CDs have caused thousands more.

Any distraction can be deadly, but novice drivers like you are particularly at risk because you don’t have a lot of skill or experience yet.  As you learn to drive safely you need to practice on not being distracted.  Make it part of your Drivers ED checklist.  Have your parents advise you when a distraction is happening and make sure your attention to driving  is not affected.  Look for more information in the Driving Lessons sections of the Workbook and the Video Library.  Click the link below to go to Driving Lesson 2. 

Learn To Drive: Driving Lessons Video Library

Teens must learn to drive while avoiding distractions. The CDC found the UK has fewer distracted teen drivers. They must learn to drive and avoid distractions.

A recent survey by the CDC found that nearly 40% of U.S. drivers ages 18 to 29 said they talk on their cell phone “regularly” or “fairly often” while driving.  Talking on a cell phone is a major distraction for a young  driver   who is still trying to learn to drive safely.  The CDC survey also looked at some European countries and found that in the UK only 3% of young drivers said they talk on their cell phone “regularly” or “fairly often” while driving.  This is a very large difference and road safety experts should be looking at what is happening in the UK that is different than the US. 

The CDC survey also found that 25% of young driver’s said they are texting or e-mailing “regularly” or “fairly often” while driving.  The data showed that compared to other age groups young drivers had the highest occurrence of texting “regularly” or “fairly often”.    The CDC survey also looked at European countries and found that only 3% of young drivers in the UK said they are texting “regularly” or “fairly often” while driving.  This large difference should be looked at to determine what is happening in the UK that is reducing texting by young drivers.

Some people who have lived in both the US and the UK found the UK driving tests were much harder and more comprehensive that the US driving tests.  Is the difficulty of the testing causing young drivers in the UK to be less likely to text or use their cell phone?

Some believe driver behaviour could be improved if it was standardised across the US.   Currently each state has it’s own set of laws regarding driving.  Some states are vastly different from others.

The UK government sponsors commercials which are very “scary” (just like the video) and maybe UK young drivers are getting the message that way. 

An answer needs to found soon.  The UK has found it…..why can’t America find it?

If you have a teen trying to learn to drive  (or a teen who will be learning to drive soon) take advantage of this opportunity to sign-up for the “Alive at 25” Parent Program.  For a limited time, it’s being offered for free by Midas and The National Safety Council.  It’s well done and will help you understand how serious your responsibility is as your teen’s mentor and driving coach.

Learning to drive well comes with time, practice, and proper guidance. The National Safety Council’s Alive at 25 Parent Program online course gets parents involved in training their teens to drive safely and responsibly. It outlines the risks young drivers face and helps parents take responsibility for reducing those risks. It offers information that encourages a parent/teen partnership in an engaging learning environment that includes realistic situations to help teens think through options and outcomes before they encounter them in real life. Through interactive media, workbook exercises, role playing and more, the course help parents reinforce basic driving and good-decision making skills.

Follow the link below and click on the Midas Logo to get your access code and take this free 2-hour online course.

Free On-Line Course for Parents

When teens learn to drive it is critical for them to get into the habit of wearing a seatbelt.  Seat-belts separate car crashes from fatal car crashes.    Driving statistics prove seat belts save lives so why don’t all teens wear them every time they get in the car?  Buckling up needs to be a habit everyone does without thinking.  Talk with your teen about all the possible reasons they might have and make sure they know that none of them are okay.

Be sure to have your teen practice putting on their seatbelt before starting the car.  Make this a part of their Learn to Drive  checklist.  Look for more information in the Driving Lessons sections of the Workbook and the Video Library.  See Driving Lesson 1. 

Learn To Drive: Driving Lessons Video Library

Practice the following with your teen.  Before putting the car in gear, have them call out, “Seatbelt check!”  Then have each person check they are belted, and the person next to them is belted too.

In our family, we’ve caught two people in the last two weeks.  In both cases they thought they’d buckled up, but were distracted by activity in the vehicle or a package on their laps.

Make ‘Seatbelt Check!’ a habit every time you and your teen get in the car.  Even people who always wear their seatbelt sometimes make mistakes.  And you know that can be deadly.

The accompanying video is a funny look at how seatbelts can serve other purposes   :~)

Many programs help Teens Learn to Drive safely.  Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is one of tholse programs.   GDL restricts the number of teen-aged passengers in the car as well as other restictions.  The restrictions are intended to keep teens safe as they learn to drive.   States that have accepted this restriction have reduced fatal crashes by up to 40%!

Your learn to drive experience will probably be regulated by a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program.  Some are better than others.  The best ones are the most restrictive. 

The CDC has produced a GDL Tool Kit that helps parents and teens learn about  GDL.  To get a copy of this Tool Kit click the link below.

Learn To Drive: GDL Tool Kit

The ”GDL Info.”   tab  above has more on your Local GDL Laws.     Be sure to memorize the rules for your state or province.  Make this a part of your Drivers Ed checklist.  When you practice your driving lessons remember to follow the GDL rules.

Sample of Generic GDL Levels and Restrictions: 

Level 1 License (Learner’s Permit)

Prospective drivers must pass a written test, meet an age requirement and have a parent’s permission to qualify for their Level 1 license.  When driving they must have a parent/coach accompanying them in the front passenger seat of the car.  The coach must be a sober, fully licensed driver. 

Level 2 License (Provisional / Restricted License)

Once teens master enough skills to complete the requirements at Level 1 and pass a road test, they graduate to Level 2.  Level 2 allows new drivers to drive without an adult (under some circumstances).  However, restrictions regarding time of day, number of passengers and speed may apply.    The restrictions are different in different states so make sure you know the rules in your area. 

Level 3 License (full license)

This is the full license that most people have.  It doesn’t include any special restrictions and provides full privileges for driving standard vehicles.

Teens learn to drive without experiencing distractions.  The teen is normally with an instructor or parent. The radio is turned off, there is no idle chatter and there are no other distractions.  They are careful to wear a seatbelt and if they forget they are reminded.  It is not exactly real life and a real driving situation when learning how to drive a car.  Once teens get their license they play the radio loud, they talk to passengers, they speed and they forget to wear their seatbelt.  What can be done to change this?  Research indicates parents can play a key role.  Parents can influence the behaviour of their teen …. even if they are not in the car beside them.  

The latest National Young Driver Survey from State Farm and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, highlights 4 risk factors that contribute to 84 percent of teen fatalities from car crashes. They are:
1. Driver error caused by inexperience
2. Distractions – including talking on cell phones and texting
3. Speed
4. Not wearing seat-belts – A lot of teens still don’t wear them even though their parents think they do.

This really isn’t news. It confirms what other surveys and statistics have reported for years.  Young people die in car crashes three
times more often than from firearms, the second most common cause of death.  Between 1995 and 2004, almost 31,000 people died in crashes involving 15- to 17-year-old drivers, the majority of which were passengers, occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians.

Parents think driving schools are doing a better job of preparing our young drivers but too many still die every year for the same old reasons. The sad thing is that almost all of those deadly collisions could be avoided.

We need to do much better. One life lost is too many. 

Be sure to teach your  teen to practice putting on their seatbelt before they start the car.  Teach how to avoid distractions and stay within the speed limit.  Look for more information in the Driving Lessons sections of the “3 Key to Keeping Your Teen Alive” Workbook and the Video Library.  Click the link below to go to Driving Lesson 1. Learn To Drive: Driving Lessons Video Library

Even though teens may learn to drive safely to stay safe on the road the vehicle they are driving must also be in safe condition.   Vehicles need to be  inspected every few years by a licensed auto mechanic to be sure all safety systems are working properly.  Having a car that is working properly and is safe to drive is one less thing for a teen learning to drive to worry about.  

Police pull random vehicles over for safety inspections every year during traditional blitzs on long weekends.  In those few hours, in a very confined area, they:

• Removed the plates from 17 vehicles that were so unsafe they could never be returned to the road
• Ordered 17 other vehicles off the road until their owners can prove they’ve had  extensive repairs completed and the vehicle complies with the minimum safety standards
• Ticketed 32 other drivers for safety violations concerning their vehicles

If a car is unsafe, the occupants are in danger.  Would you allow your children to drive in a car with faulty brakes or bald tires?  What about a car body that is so compromised by rust and body filler that it would disintegrate in a collision?

If you haven’t had your vehicle inspected in a few years, – now’s the time!  Your vehicle needs to be safe so it doesn’t cause a crash – and solid enough so it will protect you and your family, if a crash is unavoidable

There was an old joke about someone who got a new set of tires for an anniversary present.  They are very unromantic, I admit.  Diamond earrings make a much more flamboyant statement. But if your spouse is driving on bald tires – those new tires say – “I love you so much I want you around forever!”  If you can afford one and not the other – the tires are the way to go.  Let a candlelight dinner provide the romance and buy the tires.

At some point, as your teen learning how to drive a car, you may begin to think, “driving is far too dangerous for teenagers.  I don’t want my son or daughter driving a car until they’re twenty-five!”

Believe me – I understand! I have thought that many times.  (And some teens are just not ready to learn to drive at a mere sixteen.)  But for most teens, there is a trade-off.  If you delay teaching your teen how to drive a car until they turn 18 – you’ll lose most of your impact as coach and monitor.  By that time, they will likely be going off to college or getting their first job.  You won’t be in a position to influence their driving habits much at all.

And in the meantime, they’ll want to drive with friends who’ve received their licenses.  So think about this:  When will they be safer –

• when they’re driving as passengers of friends who were trained by who-knows-who?
• or when they’re driving themselves after they’ve been taught lovingly by you with the help of this program? 

So – stay the course – but give it everything you’ve got and make sure your teen is the best prepared driver in the country!

The attached video is a very graphic example of how wearing a seatbelt as a passenger saved the teens life.

Have them practice putting on their seatbelt before starting the car.  Make it part of  their Drivers Ed checklist.  Look for more information in the Driving Lessons sections of the Workbook and the Video Library.  Click the link below to go to Driving Lesson 1. 

Learn To Drive: Driving Lessons Video Library

Groups LEAST Likely to Wear Seat Belts:

• Males
• Youths: Ages 16 – 24
• Occupants of Pickup Trucks
• Rural Occupants
• Rear Seat Passengers
• Residents of Secondary Law States
• People with Less than College Education
• Households with Income < $50,000
• Drivers Who Consume Large Amounts of Alcohol
• People Who Drive at High Speeds

NOPUS/VOSS Survey Data