Teen Safe Driving

Teen Driver Education Program Guidelines

You're likely to have a choice of driver education/training programs. Following are some guidelines to ensure your teen gets the most out of this experience:

• Seek out parents and teens who have recently participated in driver education programs, and ask about their experience and recommendations.
• Visit the facility and ask about what the program entails, details regarding on-road practice and conditions, the program's accreditation status, instructor credentials, how much liability the school carries and parental involvement.
• When your teen is learning to drive, it's important to maximize the quantity and quality of supervised driving experience. Ideally, this involves a partnership between parents and professional driver education instructors; therefore, making it important to choose a driver education program that shares this philosophy.
• Look for programs that maximize on-road driving practice and parent involvement.
• Be wary of programs that include training in skid control or other emergency driving maneuvers. Programs of this type have been found to increase rather than decrease crashes.
• Be mindful that a driver education program is merely a first step in the learning-to-drive process. It's up to you to provide your teen with the bulk of supervised driving practice and instruction prior to licensure.
• Ask the instructor how you can best supplement the driver training your teen is getting in the course and ask if there are any particular driving habits your teen needs to improve.
• Talk to your teen about driving lessons and discuss further with an instructor if needed.
• Even after completing driver training, let your teen know if he does something unsafe. Remember that driver education is an ongoing process and teens still will be developing driving skills after they've completed the class.