|
 Hints
for Parents
Teaching your teenager to drive can be an intimidating
experience. But, as difficult as the task may be, getting your
neophyte driver out on the road is critical. We cannot emphasize
strongly enough how important at-home practice is. The eight hours of road
training with us is just a beginning. We recommend that before going
for the license exam, the student should have practiced for at least
60 hours in addition to our lessons. Keep a small notebook in
the glove compartment and record practice times. The student should
drive every day. This practice must take place in a variety of driving
situations, but the emphasis should be on intersections. Driving is a
decision-making process, and intersections are where the greatest number of
decisions must be made.
|
SOME HINTS FOR AT-HOME PRACTICE
-
Start off slowly.
Initial experience should start in a parking lot. Keep the vehicle in 2nd
gear. Have the student practice basic accelerating and braking. The
student should be able to EASE the car into motion and should be able to
come to soft, controlled stops. Have the student practice CREEPING the car
by precisely regulating brake speed. We will be teaching the student to
use HAND-OVER-HAND steering into and out of turns; they can begin
practicing this.
-
When you venture out
onto actual roads, choose quiet routes or quiet neighborhoods and
beginning practices should be at quiet times. At this point the
objective is to build a basic comfort level with the physical operation of
the car so the student can be relaxed. Practice should not be
stressful; both student and parent need time to gain
confidence. The objective is to get the student so
comfortable with the physical aspect of driving that attention can be
focused on finding critical details ahead and making decisions.
The most difficult task that the new driver has to master is developing
the proper visual skills. Most collisions, even among experienced drivers,
occur because the driver does not “see” some critical detail whether it is
a sign, a turn signal, a backing vehicle, or a stopped school bus.
Help your new driver notice important details
ahead. Point out the warning signs, the lights, the stop signs, the
curves, the communication signals from other road users.
Have the student talk to you while driving
about what is observed and what action will be taken.
This will help the student plan strategies and can help you feel more
comfortable. Instead of wondering if the new driver sees the pedestrian
ahead, the student can tell you, “There is a pedestrian about to cross the
road; I am going to slow my car.”
Remind the student to look far out ahead of
the vehicle; if the student looks down at the line or the side of the road,
that is where the car will go. Constantly remind the student to project vision
as far ahead as possible; this is what will enable smooth tracking.
-
Become comfortable in
your position sitting in the passenger front seat. This will be an
unaccustomed perspective for you and you may feel that your child is about
to take down every mailbox you pass. New drivers may have a tendency to
hug the right side of the road, but parents often are telling the student
to move left when there is no need to make that adjustment. If a student
is going to be too far to one side, it would be better to err too far to
the right than to the left; the mailbox will be less damaging than the
on-coming vehicle! The surest way for the driver to maintain proper lane
position is to look far out ahead of their vehicle into the middle of
their lane.
-
Be aware of your position
as role model for your student. As your child works through out classroom
program, your new driver will be alert to the mistakes that you make, and will
be more attentive to your driving style. Think about the messages that
you are sending by example. Are you often 15 – 20 mph over the speed
limit? Are you allowing yourself to be distracted by your cell phone?
Do you tailgate or exhibit frustration and irritation while driving? Are
you operating as a polite, respectful driver, or do you ignore laws
when you find them an inconvenience?
-
Express an interest in
what your student is learning in their driver’s ed course. We will give
the student a comprehensive summary at the end of each road lesson. Be
certain to look for these lesson summaries. These are the details that
should be practiced. Call or e-mail us with questions.
-
As the student’s vehicle
control improves, it is important to remember that the physical aspect of
driving is the easy part. Driving is a primarily a mental task. It is a
complicated decision-making process that requires active mental engagement
at all times. Giving your child the opportunity to develop
decision-making skills during controlled, supervised practice time is
critical. It is always obvious to us when we work with students who are
getting this all-important at-home practice.
(We remind students to thank parents for
their investment of time.) |
|
