Choosing the Right Driving School for Your Teenager

Parents, is there anything more stressful than the thought of your teenager learning how to drive? It’s a scary thought for many parents: Their teenagers learning how to drive and getting their license. The reason why it’s such a scary thought is that parents will always worry about the safety of their children.

Driving is a big first step into adulthood, which makes many parents feel uneasy. However, luckily for parents, you can ensure your child’s safety by choosing the right driving school for your teenager. Here, they will learn all of the ins and outs of driving, including how to be safe while in the car.

Here are some tips to help parents like you find the best driving school for your teenager.

Do Your Due Diligence

Research should be one of the first steps any parent takes when trying to choose a driving school for their teenager. Once you have a list of all of the possible driving schools in the area, check to make sure they are licensed by the appropriate government agency. If you don’t know where to begin, you can ask the DMV for a list of licensed and accredited schools in your area.

Research should also include reading or finding testimonials from other parents. You can ask around in your area and find out where other parents have sent their children and determine whether or not it would be a good place for yours. Make sure to get all of their opinions, and if their child was licensed after taking driving courses, how they feel about them as new drivers. 

Check Out the Numbers

You may be able to find the success rate of certain driving schools in Orange County on their website. However, you may have to pick up the phone and make a call to uncover these numbers. No matter the case, you will want to find out their success rate so you can determine which schools have higher success rates and can properly teach your teenager how to drive well and get their license.

It’s always important to keep in mind that success depends just as much if not more so on the student than the driving school. A student must want to learn how to drive and drive safely in order to pass the class and pass their driving test successfully. Because of this, it’s important to have a talk with your teenager before enrolling them in driving school so that they understand the importance of driver’s education. 

Visit the Classroom

While many of the important lessons your teenager learns about driving will take place behind the wheel, you must also consider the classroom environment where they will learn. If they use equipment, you will want to note that, since this equipment will help your child learn much easier.

Find out if they have textbooks or if the information is given less formally. Each student learns differently, so if you believe your teenager will benefit from more hands-on training, you will want to look for a behind the wheel driving school that offers more road-time.

Remember, class time is important, too. Students must learn the rules of the road and certain laws in order to drive. While the action of driving may be better learned in the car, laws may be better learned in a classroom environment where the students have time to take notes and understand what they are learning.

You should always ask how long the driving school has been in business and get references so that you can continue to do research and figure out if they are the right match. 

Look at the Cars

Many parents don’t consider checking out the cars that Orange county driving schools use. However, assessing the cars will help you determine if the school is ideal for your teenager. If the cars look like they have hit a lot of curbs, you may find that the school isn’t as attentive as you’d like them to be while your child is driving.

You should also make sure that the school has liability insurance so that your teenager is covered in case damage occurs. It’s expected that a new driver may hit a curb in a parking lot every now and then, but that damage should be covered by the school.

Ask About Behind the Wheel

The state of California requires hands-on driving, so most driving schools you research will offer that training in their curriculum unless they are online or not geared towards teenagers or new drivers. Some schools, however, do just the minimum behind the wheel training, while others may offer more. Make sure you get information on how much time in the car the student gets and in what environments.

You will want your teenager to get time on the road, instead of just driving around in parking lots so that when they take their drivers’ test, they will have experience driving in real-life conditions.

Meet the Instructors

Just like your teenager’s teachers in high school, the instructors should be role models. A good instructor may be stricter than your teenager would like, but sometimes that’s absolutely necessary when it comes to learning safety on the road. By meeting the instructors that may teach your teenager, you can get a better idea of the way they teach and determine if they are a good fit for your child.

You should always find out how long the instructor has been on the job and their background. 

Find Out Student to Teacher Ratio

You may know about this ratio because of the school, but research suggests learning is much easier in environments where there are fewer students per instructor. This is because the students can have more one on one time and learn in an environment that allows them to be the focus. The same is true for driver’s education. The smaller the class, the better the learning experience.

 

What is Adult Driving Education in California and How Does it Work?

The process of getting a driver’s license as a teen is familiar to most people; however, when you’re an adult, the process is different. Although enrolling in a behind the wheel driving school course is not required for adults in California, there is still some work that is required in order to become licensed.

Requirements for Adults to Become a Licensed Driver in CA

If you’re over the age of 18 and would like to become a licensed driver, you’ll need to:

1. Complete an application
2. Pay an application fee
3. Pass a vision exam 
4. Provide proof of identity
5. Pass a written exam
6. Pass a driving exam

You’ll have 12 months to complete all these tasks.

Once everything has been completed, the DMV will issue you a temporary license that is valid for 90 days. The DMV will also mail your legitimate license to your home address.

If you’re 18 years of age or older at the time of applying for a learners permit in California, you’re not required to take a driver’s education course to become licensed.

Rules and Tips for Learning to Drive as an Adult

Even though you’re over the age of 18, a learner’s permit does not allow you to drive alone. A licensed adult driver must be in the vehicle at all times when you’re practicing driving.

It’s also a good idea to take a driver’s education course before taking the behind the wheel driving exam. Driving schools in Orange County have courses designed specifically for adult learners. Taking an adult drivers education course will help to lower insurance costs and to help you learn the rules of the road quicker.

For added convenience, many driving schools offer online learning options as well so adults with full-time jobs can easily fit driver’s education into their busy schedules. 

Safe Driving Information

Outlined on the California DMV website are driving skills that the DMV recommends every new driver practice to increase their chances of passing the behind the wheel exam.

Below are some driving tips to help you pass.

• Avoid making wide turns.
• Be on the lookout for limit lines.
• Always come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign.
• Look shoulder to shoulder and check your mirror before making a turn.
• Follow speed limit rules.
• Keep a safe distance of at least two full car lengths between you and the car in front of you.

Car Break-In Prevention Tips

Having your car broken into is one of the most upsetting things that can happen to a car owner – it’s also one of the most common forms of larceny in the United States. When the “smash-and-grab” car break-in occurs, thieves take valuable items, which car owners then have to replace while dealing with costly auto repairs.

Whether or not you received car break-in prevention information at the behind the wheel driving school you attended before you received your driver’s license, brushing up on common-sense prevention tips never hurts. Below are some ways you can prevent car theft and ensure your valuables remain safe.

Keep Your Valuables Out of Sight

Car thieves are not typically criminal masterminds; they’re usually just opportunists who see something they want and take it. If you have anything of value such as a cell phone, wallet, purse, laptop, backpack, briefcase, shopping bags, cash (including loose change), and small electronics in your car be sure to keep it out of sight to deter thieves.  

Park in Crowded Areas

The last thing a thief wants is a crowd of people with cell phones watching and taking videos of them when they’re committing a break-in, so try to keep your car parked in a highly visible place like a busy parking lot.

Also, at night, try to park in a well-lit area and, if possible, choose a parking lot with an attendant over one without.

Deter Thieves with Anti-Theft Actions

The below measures can help make your car a harder target for smash-and-grab thieves:

• Never forget to lock your doors and keep the windows up when you park.
• If possible, and permitted bylaws in your area, tint your windows.
• Don’t keep valuables in a center console or glove compartment; these are places thieves always look.
• Utilize mechanisms that lock your steering wheel. It will help protect your car and alert thieves that you’ve taken extra security measures.
• Install a car alarm.
• Although car break-in thieves don’t usually take the car itself, never leave your keys in the car. It may motivate more reckless thieves to take your car.

Never Leave Your Car Running For Any Reason

During behind the wheel driving lessons driving instructors typically teach their students never to leave a car running, and although it can be tempting to leave your car on when you’re just heading quickly into a store – this is valuable advice that should never be ignored.

No matter if it’s from a driving school in Irvine or Los Angeles, a driving defense training course, or it’s on a pamphlet from your auto insurance provider, never ignore safety information. It could mean the difference between keeping your valuables safe and having your car broken into.

How to Avoid Accidents When You Are a New Driver

New drivers, especially teenage drivers, have a higher risk of getting into a car accident than experienced, older drivers. Car accident prevention begins with helping new drivers gain the experience and skills necessary to stay safe on the road.

To help new drivers stay safe on the road, the state of CA mandates that every new driver get at least 50 hours of driving practice before taking their driving exam. Behind the wheel driving school lessons are required and can help new drivers to have a better chance of developing good driving safety skills.

Developing good driving safety skills in conjunction with following the below safety tips can help ensure that every new driver stays safe on the road.  

Have Limits

The risk of a fatal car accident increases with every additional passenger, so if you’re a new driver try to limit the number of passengers you have in your car till you become a more experienced driver.

Try to limit your night driving as well. For every mile you drive at night, the risk of a fatal car accident is three times higher than in the day time.

Practice Driving in Poor Weather Conditions

If you’re a new driver, try to practice as much as you can in poor weather with a qualified instructor before trying it on your own.

In places in California like Los Angeles and Orange County where it doesn’t rain that often, getting plenty of supervised experience driving in poor weather may be a challenge. But by enrolling in a driving school in Anaheim, you should be able to get information on driving safely in poor weather from your driving instructor – which will help you to become a better driver.

Use Cell Phones for Emergencies Only

You will learn in Anaheim driving school that texting or talking on a cell phone is illegal while driving. Unless you have a hands-free phone, put your cell phone away when driving. 

If you absolutely must return a text or make a call, find a spot to pull over. Avoid doing this on congested freeways and roads, because it can be dangerous to stop when there is traffic or traffic is moving quickly. The best place to pull over is at a public parking lot so that you can safely get off the road and back on when you need to. 

Avoid Aggressive Driving

Around half of the drivers who encounter aggressive driving react by engaging in aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating, honking, yelling, and obscene gestures.

If you encounter an aggressive driver on the road, don’t take it personally and be polite even if the other driver is not. Safety should be your number one concern when driving, so if this happens, use it as an opportunity to set an example for other drivers by being courteous, not reacting, and safely moving out of the way.

How to Ace Your Driving Test

Taking your driver’s test can be stressful. However, with some skill and preparation like taking behind the wheel driving lessons, you can learn to pass your driver’s test with flying colors.

If you’re gearing up to get behind the wheel for your driver’s test, have a look below to learn tips and techniques that ensure you’ll go home as a licensed driver. 

Get Plenty of Practice Behind the Wheel

CA requires at least 50 hours of driving practice. However, there’s no reason why you can’t get more driving practice before your exam. Your behind the wheel driving school will give you the valuable hours you need with a professional to learn the rights and wrongs of driving. However, your permit will allow you the ability to drive with a parent or adult so that you can get the necessary practice to ace your test. 

If you are a new driver, make sure to attend driving school in Irvine to learn the necessary skills you’ll need to practice at home. If you take the time to continue to improve your driving skills, you’ll feel more confident and have a greater chance of success when you go to take your driving test.

Follow These Tips To Avoid Making Common Mistakes

Your Irvine driving school will teach you driving techniques, laws, and safety tips that will help you stay safe on the road and pass your road test. Check out these tips to make sure you are always driving to the best of your ability.

• Refrain from wide turns: Be sure to stay in your lane and follow through in your lane on turns.
• Watch for limit lines: Make sure you don’t cross over or get too close to road designations at intersections, etc.
• Come to a complete stop: Don’t ever roll to a slow speed and then keep going through a stop sign. A good habit is to wait three seconds and then continue.
• Always look over your shoulder: Never forget to check for traffic. Look shoulder to shoulder, especially when making left turns and check your mirrors.
• Follow the speed limit: Keep a watch for how fast you’re driving at all times.
• Hold a safe distance: Make sure you have at least two car lengths between you and the car in front of you.

Calm Your Nerves

Because driver’s test routes are located relatively close to the DMV, you can practice driving around on the roads within 10 or so miles from your local DMV to help calm your anxieties before your driving exam. 

Most seasoned driving instructors agree, the best remedy for nerves before a driving test is to get as much practice as possible. If you could use more driving practice, buckle up and get back behind the wheel because the more confident you feel, the better you’ll do when test day arrives.

Common Mistakes Teen Drivers Make

When you first start learning how to drive, it can be absolutely liberating. While learning to drive is one of the biggest adolescent milestones, teenagers make common mistakes due to their lack of experience. The best way to avoid common mistakes, and learn the most effective driving techniques is by attending Oorange County driving school. However, odds are that due to inexperience, you may still face some of these common mistakes. 

Speeding

When you’re learning how to drive, it can be difficult learning how to place your foot so that you can maintain your speed. Often times, you will go above the speed limit easily because you haven’t learned the feel of the gas pedal. Some students are overly confident and will drive fast, while others are not confident enough and will actually drive below the speed limit. 

Rules of the Road

There are certain laws that inexperienced drivers may not always follow. Following too closely, not turning their blinker on, and swerving are all rules of the road that need to be obeyed for safety. Teenagers tend to think they’re destructible, so they will subconsciously or consciously choose to not follow these rules, risking their safety and the safety of others.

Depending on where you live, you may also have laws about how many people you can have in your car if you get your license at a certain age. Because teenagers can often get distracted when they have too many friends in the car that are a similar age. This law is put in place purely for safety reasons so that you won’t get distracted and cause an accident.

Tired Driving

Teenagers are known for staying up late. Many of them will want to go to friends houses or come back home at night, when they are tired. However, tired driving has been compared to drunk driving because your senses are dulled and you are not fully aware of your surroundings. In some cases, people have fallen asleep behind the wheel of the car and seriously injured themselves or others.

Distracted Driving

We live in a world of cell phones, one of the biggest distractions that exists in our everyday lives. However, it’s important to never use your cell phone while you are driving because even the smallest glance away from your focus could result in an accident. Other distractions may include:

• Fiddling with the radio
• Talking to other drivers
• Zoning out
• Eating while driving
• Friends

Another type of distraction we don’t normally think about is our emotion. When you’re angry or sad, you can easily get distracted by emotions that cause you to act in ways you normally wouldn’t. If you are feeling any intense emotions, it’s important to pull over and stop driving so that you can get your head back in the game.

Situational Awareness

When you attend driving school in Orange County, you will have hands-on driving instruction so that you can learn situational awareness. You will learn how to drive a car when road conditions are not ideal, helping you to develop situational awareness that makes you a better driver.

Avoid Road Rage, and Here are the Reasons Why

Have you ever been in a situation where you’re on the road and someone zooms past you just as you were about to make a right turn? Most of us have dealt with that situation and felt angry. It’s a fact, aggressive drivers make even the calmest people feel aggressive. Road rage happens when an aggressive or angry behavior is exhibited by drivers in order to release frustration that they feel because of other drivers Forms of road rage could be:

• Shouting at other drivers
• Rude gestures
• Threats
• Becoming an aggressive driver yourself

In your California driving school courses, you will learn about road rage and how to avoid it. Road rage can often lead to altercations and even collisions. While many people will experience road rage in their driving career, it is never acceptable. Here’s why you should avoid road rage.

Distractions

Road rage is a distraction of its own. Drivers who engage in road will find themselves distracted. However you show frustration, whether it’s tweeting angrily or shouting out of your window, you’re taking your eye off the goal of remaining focused and safe.

A Leading Cause of Accidents

Road rage is a leading cause of accidents because you are distracted. Accidents are more prone to happen when you give into road rage. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 94 percent of driver errors are the main causes of accidents, and among them, 33 percent is linked to errors made during road rage behaviors such as swerving and illegal maneuvering.

Other drivers on the road will make errors and do things that will make tensions high, but you can prevent accidents by taking a deep breath and focusing on your safe driving techniques you learned at Irvine driving school.

Injuries

Road rage can be a direct cause of injury. Drivers who lose their temper are more likely to get aggressive when driving, especially if they are driving near the person who caused them to get angry. Because when you let yourself give into road rage, you yourself become the aggressive one, you are more likely to cause an injury, even if it is accidental.

Creating Perpetrators

When you engage in road rage, you are influencing another driver to do the same. Think of it like a chain reaction, one bad driver will turn you into a bad driver if you let them. Then, your behavior will influence another aggressive driver. By inciting rage, you are setting a negative example and you will be the cause for even more unsafe driving and accidents.

You never want your behavior to put other drivers or yourself at risk for an accident or injury, so make sure to calm yourself and not engage in the negative and risky behaviors associated with road rage.

It’s the Law

Road rage can escalate to a more serious driving crime, so make sure to avoid it no matter what another driver has done to upset you. While getting angry isn’t against the law, negative behavior while operating a vehicle is. Road rage is an endangerment of public safety and can be charged as aggressive driving. If incidents escalate, you can even be charged with vehicular homicide or intentional harm.

Want to learn more about road rage and how to avoid it? Take classes at your teen driving school in California.

Essential Tips When Driving in the City Traffic

When driving in the city, you are presented with a unique set of challenges. Drivers who are not used to the busy streets and slower pace of driving can experience frustration. During your Orange County driving school experience, you will learn how to deal with many similar situations. However, these can often be escalated in large cities. Here are a few tips that can help make driving in the city easier.

Dealing With Traffic

Driving in the city, you will encounter traffic jams, bumper to bumper traffic, and tons of pedestrians. If you’re unfamiliar with this type of driving environment, you will need to understand that the other motorists around your car will probably not be as cautious or concerned as you are. This is where your lessons in proactive driving will come in handy. Be aware of your surroundings and plan for the unexpected.

Avoid Rush Hour

During your hands-on instruction  at driving school in Orange County you will learn how to drive in rush hour. However, rush hour traffic in your hometown may be different than rush hour in the big city.

If it’s possible, you should avoid driving in metropolitan areas during rush hour. Rush hour traffic is typically at its peak during 7 AM and 9 Am and 4 PM and 6 PM. During this time, you should try to stay off roads unless it is necessary.

Rush hour traffic increases the time it takes to reach your destination, and you will have a higher risk of accidents, frustration, and the potentially strong emotions of city drivers who encounter this type of traffic all the time.

Stay in the Right Lane

By this, we mean the actual right lane and not the left. When you are driving on a busy street or expressway, staying in the right lane will put you in the slower lane with more cautious drivers.

Watch for Pedestrians

Make sure you watch out for crosswalks. Depending on where you are used to driving, you may not have a whole lot of experience with pedestrians on crosswalks. These walkways are much more common in cities. Remember that pedestrians have the right of way on a crosswalk, so always make sure to let them walk before driving. Pedestrians may not always use crosswalks, so you will have to focus on your driving and make sure to be ready for anything.

You may also have to deal with a lot of cyclists since it’s a common method for residents of cities to travel without the need for a car. Cyclists are supposed to obey the same traffic laws as drivers, although you may find that many do not. Keep an eye out for these people and make sure to maintain a safe distance.

Dealing with Taxis

In a big city, you’ll come across lots of taxis. In an effort to respond to someone hailing a taxi, drivers will make sudden swerves to the edges of the roadways. Always make sure to maintain a safe distance from taxis and be careful of passengers entering and exiting taxis that are parked on the side of the road.

How to be a Proactive Driver

Driving can be dangerous when a driver is not prepared. Too many drivers don’t drive proactively. This sort of driving prepares drivers for anything that can be encountered on the road, especially collisions and bad drivers. Proactive driving can save lives and money and is now taught in many Anaheim driving school courses. Here’s how you can become a proactive driver. 

Plan for the Unexpected.

Storms, detours, road hazards, and bad drivers can all lead to accidents. When people think they are going to be late for an activity, they tend to drive a little more aggressively and will speed to make up for lost time. You should always plan for delays when you are driving so that you can follow all traffic laws to keep yourself and others safe.

When it comes to bad drivers, you will want to make sure to have an escape route. Make sure that you are in a place where your car can be seen by others. You should also make sure there’s an alternative path so you can move your car if you are suddenly in danger.

Don’t Rely on Other Drivers

If you have already been on the roads, you may have learned that not all drivers who as they’re supposed to. Some speed while others don’t check their blindspots. When you are behind the wheel, do what you should do and be prepared to react to drivers who do not care for your well-being like you care for theirs.

Take Driver’s Education

In order to become a proactive driver, you will want to attend a driving school in Anaheim. There you will learn traffic laws, good driving techniques, and reaction skills that can be a lifesaver.

Always Focus and Eliminate Distractions

You should always focus on your driving. Never text, change the radio station, or any other activity that would take your attention off the road.

Think About Safety

You can put yourself in a strong position to deal with other people’s unsafe driving if you avoid aggressive and distracted driving tendencies. You should make sure to lock your doors and wear your seatbelt to protect yourself in the event of a crash.

Follow the Rules of the Road

These laws are put in place to save lives and prevent car accidents. By following the laws that you learned in your driver’s education course, you will become a proactive driver ready for anything. This includes following the speed limit. Posted speed limits apply to ideal driving conditions, so if you do encounter bad weather, make sure to slow down and go at a safe pace.

Practice Driver Communication

You should use various methods of communication with other drivers. Make use of the directional signals, position of vehicle, and headlights or your horn to communicate with other drivers so that they can predict what you are doing and make the safest plan of action.

If you want to learn how to be a proactive driver, start with driving school so that you can learn the basics and gain valuable hands-on experience.

What You Need to Know About Online Driving School

Orange County driving schools are following in the footsteps of both higher education and public schools by offering some of their classroom curriculum in an online format. The primary benefit of an online school is the ultimate convenience for the student. It is not necessary to attend classes at any given time, nor is it necessary to travel to a classroom.

The principle is sound, of course. If there is one thing web technologies have the potential to change forever, it is the means of distributing educational content. More than a few popular web sites have made these benefits clear, and there are sure to be new sites to follow. The interactive nature of web technologies and video also make it possible to help students work within their curriculum as they learn.

Licensing Requirements

Driver’s education for teens is a requirement for new licenses in California. Any driver under the age of 18 must complete a classroom or online driving course. The Department of Motor Vehicles maintains a list of approved driver education courses for newly licensed drivers in the state. These courses are generally understood to be classroom-based and can be delivered through online and interactive instruction.

At the successful conclusion of such a course from an online driving school, the student is issued a certificate which demonstrates their compliance with driver education requirements.

Online Curriculum, In-Person Driving Instruction

Online driving schools are not limited to online activities.  Driver’s education requires practice, in-person instruction by a qualified driving teacher and a demonstration of skills by a new driver. There is no way to effectively instruct a student how to drive a car unless they are in the driver’s seat.  However, the classroom and theory portions of the driver’s education can be completed in an online setting.

That is why virtually all driving schools include a practical education component alongside the classroom portion of their instruction. This covers the remaining requirements for the Department of Motor Vehicles approval in California and gives students a chance to put their classroom knowledge into practice.

Synergy

One of the key benefits of online education is the portability of the reference materials and the immediacy of accurate information and knowledge.  What better application of online driving school texts and reference materials than alongside a professional driving teacher in the car? Every time a student attempts to parallel park, they can look up the right technique instantly. Every time they prepare to inspect their vehicle before driving, they can pull up the checklist.

This kind of instant documentation has many other applications, only some of which are now being evaluated. If we can have turn by turn directions, why can’t we have turn by turn instructions? What if the navigational system in a newer car knew the driver was a student? How might that change the way technology benefits young drivers and how much would their skills improve over time?  Driving instructors would likely approve.

Even some veteran drivers might opt for a refresher or two if that were an option.