Top Driving Safety Tips New Drivers Must Remember

When you first get your license or are learning how to drive, your main priority should be safety. Your Orange County driving school has taught you the rules of the road, but after you get your license, you won’t have an instructor sitting next to you, reminding you of all of the crucial things you need to do.

In this article, we’ll discuss the safety tips that every new driver should remember. These are not only important for their wellbeing but the safety of other motorists and pedestrians on the road. 

Safety Tips for New Drivers

Obey Traffic Laws

Driving schools in Orange County will teach you essential traffic laws. While obeying traffic rules is easy when your instructor is present, it can be tempting once you’re alone to start cutting corners.

Stick to the basics, even when no one is watching. Keep your seatbelt on, stay within the speed limit, and don’t run stop signs or red lights. These laws are put in place to prevent potentially fatal accidents on the road.

Correct Your Sitting Position

Before you begin driving, always make sure your sitting position is correct in relation to your height. In order to have complete control over the vehicle, you must position your seat so that your feet can touch both pedals and you can grip the steering wheel comfortably and firmly.

Always make sure to sit straight up with your back against the seat to prevent back injuries in the case of an accident. The seat should also not inhibit your ability to see your blind spots.

Adjust Mirrors

Your mirrors are there so that you can see more than the obstacles in front of you. They are absolutely necessary for merging and changing lanes. The moment you get in the driver’s seat, check your mirrors to make sure that they show you what’s behind you. 

You may have to reposition the mirrors after adjusting the seat or your posture, so make sure to do so before you even start the car. 

Stay Out of Blind Spots

As you may know, you should always check your blind spot before changing lanes or turning right. Your blind spots are the areas behind your car that the mirrors don’t cover.

Oftentimes, other cars and cyclists will lurk in these areas undetected until you try to merge lanes or make a turn. This can be dangerous, which is why turning your head to look behind you is one of the most important skills you’ll learn in Anaheim driving school.

You must also remember that all other motorists have blind spots, too. While you may check yours every time you merge or turn right, other drivers may forget to check their blind spots before maneuvering. For this reason, you should never drive in someone else’s blind spot. If you’re moving slightly behind another car, make sure that your presence is known. 

Always Use Turn Signals

Your turn signals to let other drivers know what you are doing so that they can plan ahead. For example, if you are turning into a parking lot, your turn signals tell the driver behind you that you will be slowing down, and they should, too. During your behind the wheel driving lessons, you will learn how and when to use turn signals properly.

According to the law, you must always use turn signals when merging, and of course, turning. Make sure that you turn on the signal a few moments before taking the intended action so that the cars behind you have time to react.  

Avoid Distracted Driving 

It takes only three seconds of looking away from the road for an accident to occur. Distracted driving can mean anything from fidgeting with the radio to texting or eating while you’re driving. Anything that takes your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel is a distraction and should be avoided. Multitasking has no place in the driver’s seat.

Practice

Even if you already have your license, you can benefit from a little more practice. While your 6 hours behind-the-wheel training has prepared you for hitting the mean streets on your own, it may be beneficial to ask a licensed adult to help you sharpen your skills outside of driving school.

If you’re going on a family outing, ask your parents or siblings if you can drive to get the extra experience. This will not only help you hone your driving skills, but it will prove to them that you’re ready to be on the road alone. 

Take Care of Your Vehicle

Many new drivers forget that the maintenance of their vehicle can impact their safety. You should make sure to get an oil change every 5,000 miles or so to make sure your car is running properly. Also, if you notice that the car is making funny noises or is becoming difficult to maneuver, make sure to take it into the shop as soon as possible to avoid costly repairs and dangerous accidents.

Before getting in your car, make sure to do a quick check to ensure that it’s safe to drive. It’s a good idea to check the tires to make sure that they haven’t been punctured by anything on the road from the previous drive. 

Avoid Road Rage

No matter where you are, odds are that you’ll encounter at least one aggressive driver. They could be tailgating you or screaming out of their car window. When you see these drivers, steer clear of them.

Driving under any type of emotional distress can cause you to make poor judgment calls. It’s never a good idea to turn the road into a battlefield; it’s safer for you to let irate people on the road pass you by rather than screaming back or chasing after their car.

If necessary, it’s totally okay to pull over and take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down before getting back on the road. Do whatever you can to safely make it to your destination.

What’s the most important lesson you learned in drivers education? Let us know in the comments!

Tips to Advance Your Defensive Driving Skills

Defensive driving skills can help you avoid accidents and lower your risk behind the wheel. While we can’t control other drivers, we have mastery over our own actions. Teen drivers in California are required to have 6 hours behind the wheel training, where they’ll learn defensive driving skills.

Refreshing your defensive driving skills can help you avoid dangers caused by others. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can improve your defensive driving skills to become a safer, more proactive driver. 

Tips for Better Defensive Driving 

Stay Focused

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving. This includes using your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, or operating the stereo, entertainment or navigation system.

Distracted driving is reported to be the “new drunk driving”, now accounting for approximately 25% of all motor vehicle crash fatalities. Distracted driving is at fault for more than 58% of teen crashes, and car crashes are top killer of teens in the United States.

Distractions should be avoided at all costs. Talking on the phone, eating, and chatting with your passengers can be done once you’ve reached your destination. If matters are urgent, it’s better that you pull over to the side of the road to take care of your business.

Be Alert

Being alert means being fully awake, present, and aware of your surroundings – and that means not driving while sleep-deprived or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Apart from distracted driving, drowsy driving is another major killer on the streets. In fact, there’s little difference between drowsy driving and driving while drunk. If you’ve gone more than 20 hours without sleep, your bodily functions match up with someone who has a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08% – the legal BAC limit.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 328,000 car crashes related to drowsy driving occur every year.

Your Orange County driving school will teach you that it’s critical that you do not drive while drunk or drowsy. Ideally, you should have at least seven hours of sleep before getting behind the wheel. If you’re tired or wasted, it’s better to let someone else drive your vehicle, or postpone driving altogether until you’ve recovered.

Look Ahead of Your Vehicle

While you’re behind the wheel, your immediate focus may be only what’s right in front of you. However, defensive drivers should have a sense of situational awareness. When appropriate, look ahead to see what’s further down the road. This way you can more easily anticipate problems like slow traffic, intersections, and highway debris. 

Don’t Depend on Other Drivers

When you’re behind the wheel, it’s easy to assume that the other drivers on the road will be pay enough attention to keep you out of an accident. However, that’s simply not true.

It’s up to you and only you to stay safe while behind the wheel. If you’re expecting another driver to be mindful on the road, it stands to reason that they’re also making the same assumption. That lapse where both of you are expecting the other to be the better driver can lead to an accident.

Driving schools in Orange County will tell you to always expect other drivers to make mistakes. That’s nothing personal – just a way to keep yourself safe on the road! In the event that another driver messes up on the road, you’ll need to be able to react quickly to avoid getting caught in a crash.

Follow the Three-Second Rule 

When you take behind-the-wheel driving lessons, you’ll learn about something called “the three-second rule.” 

This rule entails that you leave three seconds of space between you and another car. To measure, watch the car in front pass a marker, like a lamp post or a sign. Once the car in front passes the marker, you should be able to count to three seconds before your own car passes it. Any less means you’re tailgating, and you’d best put some distance between the two of you.

The three-second rule helps you establish a safe distance between you and the car in front. This is essential to prevent crashes; if the car in front of you stops suddenly, you should have ample space to safely hit your own brakes.

The three-second rule only applies to good traffic conditions. In inclement weather, the following distance should be increased for an additional second or two to account for poor visibility and slick roads. 

Maintain the Speed Limit

Defensive driving absolutely means respecting the speed limit. The speed limit is the recommended speed for your car to traverse the terrain safely. Roads may be slippery, or there may be a blind curve or a steep slope. The speed limit gives you enough leeway to put on the brakes safely in case you meet another car or simply need to gain more control as you go down the road.

Take note that posted speed limits apply to ideal conditions, which means that you may have to go slower when it rains or snows. Controlling the car will already be difficult because the road will be slippery and your tires get poor traction; you’ll need to go at a slower speed so you can brake and make turns safely.

Plan an Escape Route

When you’re driving, it’s always best to position your vehicle so that you can have an escape route to the side of the road in case of danger. You’ll also want to make sure that you are being seen by other motorists, especially when driving in the dark.

If you notice a car coming full speed ahead, you’ll want to make sure you’ve given yourself enough space to pull into another lane or off to the side of the road so that they can pass. 

Use Your Blinkers

Your blinkers are there to help other motorists understand what your car will be doing. Always use your blinkers when switching lanes so that the drivers behind you know that you will be entering their lane. They can then make adjustments, like slowing down to let you in safely.

Entering a lane without giving the driver behind you due warning can catch them unawares, leading to accidents (not to mention, it’s quite rude!). Your lane changes should be smooth and predictable. 

Don’t Give in to Road Rage

Road rage is dangerous. Consider this: a driver from the adjacent lane cuts in front of you without turning their blinkers on. Incensed, you might decide to tailgate them to express your annoyance. The driver in front of you, enraged by your tailgating, might speed up to outstrip you. This can lead to an accident.

It can be infuriating to think that you spend so much effort trying to be a decent driver, and yet others don’t seem to extend the same courtesy. However, driving is not about putting other motorists in their place, it’s about getting to your destination safely.

If another driver is not practicing defensive driving, it’s always best to not engage. Your safety is much more important than getting one up on a stranger.

Taking a Defensive Driving Course can refresh your driving knowledge and defensive driving skills. What’s the most important defensive driving skill you learned in driver’s ed? Let us know in the comments.

How Online Driving Ed Works and How to Get Started

Teens’ schedules are packed. Between tutoring, after school activities, sports, family events, and more, getting a quality education from an Orange County driving school can be challenging. In this day and age, the traditional classroom setup isn’t fitting into many busy schedules, which means teens need another option for learning how to drive.

Online driver’s education solves this dilemma by putting all of the learning materials online. Rather than committing to hours in a classroom, students can use their phones, tablets, or computers to get the same lessons at their convenience.

The Online Driver’s Ed Program 

Generally, online driver’s education programs have about 10 to 12 segments to cover the important topics, like night driving, defensive driving, and the rules of the road. It’s important to note that not all courses are created equally, which is why you should always make sure that the course you’re looking into meets your state’s requirements.

The online driving course may also use interactive games to teach students more effectively by speaking in a language they understand. Overall, the curriculum spans 30 hours, which is the required amount of time, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The information covered in these hours will be the same type of important information covered on the written portion of the driving test administered by the DMV. 

Behind-the-Wheel Driving Instruction is Mandatory

It’s important to know that this online curriculum only replaces classroom instruction, not the behind the wheel driving lessons that are crucial to learning how to drive. First-time drivers will still need to spend 6 hours behind the wheel before they are allowed to get their license in the state of California.

While students can save some time by taking online driving school, they will still need to take at least six hours of behind the wheel training with their accredited Anaheim driving school.

Those who finish the online classes will receive a certificate of completion that they will need to bring to the DMV in order to get their learner’s permit. This permit allows them to start the behind-the-wheel portion of their education. 

Why Online Drivers Education?

Driving schools in Orange County that offer behind the wheel lessons and online driver’s ed offer one major benefit: students can learn on their own time. Online lessons are self-paced, which means that students can fit learning to drive in their busy schedules.

All they need is a mobile device, and they can learn anytime, anywhere. When compared to traditional classroom settings, this method may be more effective since students can take control of their own education.

Another benefit is for the parents. They no longer have to drop their teens off at school or wait to pick them up, which means they’ll have more time to themselves or for their other responsibilities.

When students are empowered to take their education into their own hands, they’ll

Driving is the first taste of freedom that many teenagers get. It’s important to instill a sense of responsibility in them when it comes to making safe choices on the road independent of a parent or an instructor.

When it comes to online driving school, just like all other schools out there, it’s important to find the one that’s the right fit for you. Always do your research and make sure that you understand what’s expected of you before enrolling.

How to Get Started

Is the School Legitimate?

To get started, make sure the driving school you choose is approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you’re not sure what schools in your area are approved, contact your local DMV branch and ask for a list. This will help you narrow down which online programs are best for you. 

Ensure Your Time

Even though online drivers education can be done from the comfort of your own home, it’s important to make sure that you actually have the availability to sit down and focus on the lessons.

Rushing through driver’s education is never a good idea. You’ll need to commit to absorbing and retaining information that will keep you safe on the road for the rest of your life. 

The Process

When you’ve chosen your driving school and cleared enough time to devote to your lessons, it’s time to enroll in online driver’s education.

Step 1: Sign Up for the Course

In order to begin your online education, you have to register for the course. For I Passed Driving School, enrollment is as easy as making a quick phone call to our offices.

Step 2: Go at Your Own Pace

Once you’re enrolled, you can start learning at your own pace. Gain access to the online course and complete the lesson in as little or as much time as you need, day or night.

Step 3: Get Your Certificate of Completion

Upon finishing the online modules, obtain your certificate of completion. This shows the DMV that you’ve learned all of the necessary information to start driving on the roads.

Step 4: Get Your Learner’s Permit

After completing online driver’s education, you’ll need to take the written DMV test to get your learner’s permit. Once you have your permit in hand, you can begin your behind-the-wheel training!

Are you ready to get behind the wheel? Call I Passed Driving School today to enroll in online drivers education and learn to drive anytime, anywhere.

Smart Driving Skills Teens Must Learn

The state of California requires 6 hours behind-the-wheel training before a teen can get their license. This ensures that they’ve had sufficient real-life practice on the road and are able to drive without an instructor. Behind-the-wheel driver’s education is crucial to their ability to become confident, safe drivers.

When your teen is ready to start driving, they will have to enroll in an Orange County driving school. Here are a number of skills your teen must pick up behind the wheel in order to become a smart, safe driver.

Necessary Driving Skills for Teens

Making Turns

While this may seem simple to someone who has been driving for years, turns can be challenging for new drivers.

One must slow down before approaching the corner and always use turn signals. For those who haven’t been behind the wheel of a car before, it can be difficult to slow down and maintain momentum to make the turn. Adequate behind-the-wheel practice is important to nail this skill. 

Braking Smoothly

Braking can be especially challenging for driver’s education students. Coming to a smooth and gradual stop is a skill that can only be learned through behind-the-wheel driving lessons, with real experience. When students begin driving with an instructor, they will learn how to brake correctly and safely. Your instructor will also have an emergency brake on their side of the car, just in case you’re unable to stop in time.

Accelerating Safely

Like breaking, accelerating should be done smoothly. Accelerating too quickly can cause the car to move in a jerking motion that could easily take the car out of your control. During slippery road conditions, it could also be the cause of an accident. New drivers should learn how to increase their speed steadily until they reach a safe speed within the legal limit. 

Negotiating Intersections

Intersections and roundabouts, can be especially stressful for teen drivers. City intersections controlled by lights may be more reassuring, because new drivers understand when it’s their time to go. However, deciding who has the right of way at smaller, free-for-all intersections may be more difficult.

Traffic rules may differ from city to city, so it’s important that students learn patience and foresight in order to negotiate intersections safely. With experience, knowing who has right of way will get easier. 

Changing Lanes and Merging 

New drivers typically have a hard time judging the time and distance required to change lanes and merge. When doing so, it’s important that drivers allow for enough room and check their blind spots.

The process of turning on your blinker, slowing down, and gauging whether the driver behind you will let you enter the lane can be overwhelming. Driving schools in Orange County will help your teen practice and master these skills to reduce the possibility of an accident. 

Identifying Hazards

One of the most challenging things to learn as a new driver is to identify hazards before they turn into accidents. New drivers tend to focus on what’s right in front of them because they are still learning how to maneuver the vehicle.

Over time, drivers should begin getting comfortable looking around and ahead of the vehicle so that they can predict possible situations. For example, if there is a piece of debris in the road, it’s better that the driver knows that they must merge away from it as soon as possible so that they don’t swerve out of their lane trying to avoid it at the last minute. 

Keeping a Safe Following Distance

A safe following distance ensures that a driver has enough time to stop safely when an unexpected situation occurs. For example, if a driver in front of you in another lane decides to change lanes without turning on their blinkers, you could be forced to stop abruptly, which could cause an accident. You may also not have enough time to stop as quickly as you want to, and end up hitting the other car.

These problems and more can be avoided by keeping a safe following distance. Even if you are in a different lane, you should keep an eye on the distance between you and the cars in front of you. 

Sharing the Road

It would be nice if you were the only driver on the road at all times, but that’s almost never going to be the case! You will have to share the road with more than just other vehicles; cyclists and pedestrians will also be using the road, which means it’s important to stay focused and aware of your surroundings.

Crosswalks don’t only exist near lights, so it’s important to watch out for people crossing the road on foot. Cyclists will also be on the roads, so it’s important to keep a safe speed and distance to avoid potentially fatal accidents.

As a new driver, you’ll start to master these skills more each time you get behind the wheel. Practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to becoming a safe driver.

Great Ways to Improve Your Driving Skills

You probably drive every day or soon will. You’re behind the wheel driving lessons taught you the skills necessary to take a drive to work or school. When driving becomes part of our everyday routine, we often forget how serious it is. Driving can be dangerous when done incorrectly and cause accidents that put lives at risk.

Reckless driving, whether accidental or not, is a huge risk we all take when we get behind the wheel. When we take driver education classes, we must have a minimum of six hours behind the wheel training in order to get our licenses. This is because the more experience you have, the safer you are. However, six hours typically is not enough to ensure that a safe driver remains that way for the rest of their life.

Staying safe and keeping others safe is a major responsibility when it comes to driving. Whether you’re a new driver or have been driving for years, there are always ways to improve your skills.

Remember Drivers Education

Your Orange County driving school taught you all of the necessary skills you’ll need to succeed as a driver. However, it’s up to you to continue to hone those skills well after you’ve gotten your license.

Often, drivers get too comfortable behind the wheel and soon forget the simple techniques that make us safe drivers. Sticking with the basics is key to avoiding accidents and making sure you can keep yourself and others safe.

Always remember to signal before changing lanes, obey the traffic lights, and stay within the speed limit. All of the things you learned in driver’s ed are considered “rules of the road.” These “rules” aren’t there to box you in; they’re actually laws you must follow unless you want to get a ticket or put yourself and others in danger. 

Read More: How to Avoid Accidents When You Are a New Driver

Avoid Distractions

Another important lesson driving schools in Orange County to teach new drivers is to avoid all distractions. We live in the digital age, where cellphones are omnipresent in our everyday lives. However, using them at the wrong times can be disastrous.

While driving, don’t look away from the road or get distracted by any lights or sounds inside the car. We’re conditioned to look at our cell phones when we hear it go off. It can be difficult to refrain from this behavior, but it’s also life-saving and crucial when it comes to driving.

Driving is never the right time to text or picks up a call. It’s also not recommended that you eat while driving. If you must do any of these activities, you should pull over and out of the way of other drivers.

Believe it or not, the car has distractions of its own, too. Looking only forward when you should be checking your mirrors can be dangerous, especially if you are changing lanes. Make sure that you follow the same techniques that you learned when you first started driving to avoid unnecessary accidents.

Correct Mirrors

Adjusting your mirrors the right way is a matter of safety. Setting your side mirrors for an edge view of the vehicle is not a good practice since the rearview mirror already covers that area. Instead, make sure the mirrors are focused away from the sides of the vehicles so that you can more effectively see your surroundings. Greatly reducing your blind spots will help you more safely and confidently change lanes.

Don’t Tailgate

You should always maintain a distance of at least two car lengths from another vehicle. Additionally, a little more room in between is a great idea so that you can avoid slamming onto your brakes if a car in front of you makes a sudden stop or turn.

If you can double the length without changing the speed too much, it will ensure that your car will have enough time to stop when you apply the brakes.

Go Back to School 

Driving is not easy, even if you’ve been doing it for years. If you’re moving to a new city, you might enjoy a behind-the-wheel driving class that allows you to drive with someone who knows the areas before going out on your own.

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

You don’t have to wait until you’re a senior before taking another course. No matter what your skill level, we can all benefit from a refresher course. You may also want to take an online class that can help you remember some of the details you may have forgotten over the years.

Defensive driving courses are available to help you drive in such a way that avoids accidents. After all, this should be your goal from the beginning. Being a safe driver means being aware of all of the techniques that you can learn to become a better, safer driver, no matter your age.

Check Your Sight 

Being able to see clearly is a huge part of driving. As we age, our vision may deteriorate. When this happens, we can no longer be effective and safe drivers. We might miss important road signs, or worse, be unable to see other people on the road and cause an accident.

If you notice that signs are blurry or that you can’t see well at night, visit your eye doctor for a vision test. Being able to see everything clearly can help you stay safe in the car.

Go Back to the Basics

Remember the first time you learned how to drive? Think about all of the things you didn’t know how to do. Now, ask yourself whether you’re using the correct driving techniques that you learned in school.

If the answer is no, then you may need to correct your behavior. There’s no reason to put yourself in harm’s way by forgetting the basics you learned in driver education.

How to Choose the Best Driving School 

Finding the right Orange Country driving school match for your inexperienced driver is an important step to helping them gain independence as they transition into adulthood. The rules of the road are something that can most effectively and efficiently be learned through behind the wheel driving lessons and classroom or online instruction. 

There’s no one agency that oversees all driving schools nationwide, so it’s important to make sure you pick an institution that’s approved or accredited by your state. This process can take some digging, and it’s important to realize that not all driving schools are created equal. It’s important to take your time choosing the right school.

Uncover Your Options 

In order to find the best driving schools in Orange County, you have to know which schools are available to you. In recent years, online classroom instruction has become very popular. However, it’s important that new drivers also have six hours behind the wheel driving instruction. In fact, the state of California requires it before teens can get their licenses.

While you can decide whether online instruction or traditional classroom setting is best for your child, they will have to take behind the wheel lessons that allow them to learn from experience.

Do your Research

There are tons of Orange County driving schools available. However, in order to know which will be best for your teen, you’ll have to do a little digging. You should always make sure the school or course is licensed by the appropriate government agency. The requirements will vary from state to state; however, they must be accredited in order for the schooling to count toward the necessary education for getting a license.

If you don’t know where to start the research stage, you can ask your local Secretary of State or DMV, depending on where you live. You can also do a quick search online for driving schools near you. Their accreditations should be one of the first things you see on their websites.

Read More: Teens Behind the Wheel: Laws & Requirements

Understand the Curriculum 

When you do your research, you’ll come across at least some information about the curriculum. You’ll find that some states have a mandated curriculum, and others don’t. If your state doesn’t have a mandated curriculum for driving schools, make sure that it has been approved by a recognized organization like the National Safety Council.

Visit a Classroom

If you’re considering sending your teen to a traditional classroom setting instead of online, you’ll need to be able to check out the classroom. When you visit the school, you can take a look at the equipment they’re using, whether they’re using textbooks, and how the information is given to students. You will also feel much more comfortable knowing who is teaching your child.

When you visit the school, you can also get a feel for the learning environment. This is beneficial if the student driver has a hard time learning in a traditional setting. The introduction of tools for a more hands-on experience may be best for them.

After you visit the classroom, you should also compare it to online learning. If you contact an online driving school, make sure that they can give you as much information as possible. They may be able to give you a sample lesson to take home and review so that you can determine whether or not it’s a good match.

Look at the Cars

One of the most significant aspects of learning to drive is real-world experience. Since your teen driver will be learning in a real car and on real roads, it’s important to assess the vehicles that will be used as closely as you’d inspect their first car. Check to see if they appear to have hit a lot of curbs. Signs of damage may mean that the instructor was not as attentive as they could have been in the car.

You’ll also need to make sure the vehicles are properly labeled as student driver cars. People on the road will need to know that information so that they know to keep a safe distance and not make any sudden lane changes in front of someone who is learning.

Find Out How Much Learning is Behind the Wheel 

There’s no better way to learn to drive than getting out on the roads. How much time in the car the student will get will depend on the school you choose. Some will do a minimum of six hours and offer optional hours for those who want to improve their skills. Others will have a requirement of more than six hours. This will vary from school to school, so it’s important to make sure you know how much real experience your teen should have.

Also, you’ll need to know how much of that time on the road is dedicated to practicing turns, parking, and lane changes on busy highways. If your student doesn’t get the chance to learn how to drive in every type of situation, it could put them at a dangerous disadvantage in the future.

Read More: Choosing the Right Driving School for Your Teenager

Meet the Instructors

The people who teach your teen how to drive should be vetted just as well as the teachers in their school. Instructors are meant to serve as positive role models on the road. They should be strict and firm, but also understanding and patient. Being able to nurture a beginner is the key to helping them learn how to drive effectively and safely. Make sure to find out how driving instructors are chosen and how much experience they have.

Learning to drive is a memorable experience for any teen. The school you choose to send them to will be responsible for their success on the driving test and their future driving. Make sure to work with professionals who put the safety of your teen first. 

Behind the Wheel Training Facts in California

Behind the wheel training is required for all new drivers in the state of California. If you are a teenager, you must complete training before taking your driving test to obtain your license. Here are some facts about behind the wheel driving school in Irvine, California.

Student Driver Facts

It is required by California law that a person under the age of 18 must complete one of the following driver’s education and training courses. 

• 25 hours of classroom instruction

This includes home study or internet training programs that must be equivalent to classroom instruction. 

• 6 hours of Behind the Wheel training

Behind the wheel training is necessary for learning how to drive in the real-life environments students will be faced with after obtaining their license. 

• 50 hours of supervised driving practice

This includes 10 hours of driving during darkness or at night.

Classroom Instruction

Videos or Movies Are Required

Driving schools in Irvine must provide at least 100 minutes of viewing time of movies or videos as part of their curriculum. 

These videos or movies must relate to the program and may contain scenes of traffic accidents. 

Time to Complete Program

The time it takes to complete a program will depend on how many hours the student attends the classes or spends with the educational material.

Behind the Wheel Driver’s Training

Six Hours of Training

The student is required by law to complete six hours of behind the wheel driving lessons that do not exceed two hours each day. Observation time does not count toward this requirement. 

Time to Complete Program

There is no law that specifies that time period between training sessions, so the time it takes will depend on the student’s schedule and how often they are behind the wheel.

Driving School Vehicles

Driving School Vehicle Type

As long as the vehicles are equipped with dual controls including an instructor foot brake and additional rearview mirror, they may be used by the Irvine driving school. 

Safety Inspection 

Training vehicles must undergo a yearly inspection to help ensure that it is safe and in proper condition. 

Insurance

Driving schools must have insurance and maintain the required bodily injury and property damage liability insurance on all training vehicles.

Driver’s Education for Overall Safety

Teens who go through Driver’s Ed are safer on the road than those who learned from mom and dad. 

A recent study done by the AAA Foundation revealed that those who take driver’s education courses are safer on the roads than those who don’t. Students who take driver’s ed are involved in fewer car crashes and score higher on their driving exam.

Tips for Choosing Driver’s Education

Choosing a driver’s education can be difficult, especially if this is the first child you will have on the road. Here are some tips to help you determine what’s right for you and your teen. 

Determine Type of Education

Classroom/Online

Classroom and online courses may be great for your teen, depending on the type of learner there are. Believe it or not, some people do learn better when in a classroom environment, so make sure you consider the type of student you know your teen to be and determine whether this environment is right for them. 

Behind the Wheel

While there are some who can learn from books, others learn by doing. One of the most effective methods of teaching someone to drive is by letting them learn in a hands-on environment. This means they will drive with an instructor and learn how to drive correctly and safely. 

Yourself 

If you’re able, you may think that you are the best person for the job when it comes to teaching your teenager how to drive. However, you have to consider that there are instructors who are trained to do the job and have techniques for teaching that you don’t. 

All of the Above

One of the best methods to learn how to drive is to have your teen learn using all of the above methods. Learning in a classroom environment is ideal when your teenager really needs to let knowledge like certain laws and what they mean sink in. The instruction they learn in a class may be invaluable. 

Likewise, a person can only learn to drive by doing. This means that along with their classroom education, your teenager will be given the opportunity to drive a car on a real road in the actual environment. This will help them learn driving techniques and how to be safe on the road when they have their license and aren’t driving with an adult. 

Next, driving with your teenager will only make them better. Practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to driving. The best way to make sure your teen’s driving is improving is to drive with them as much as possible.

Always Do Your Research

Before you enroll your teenager in any driving school, make sure that you know about that driving school. You should learn about their curriculum to make sure they will be doing everything they can do to teach your teenager how to drive safely while abiding by the law. Part of your research might include visiting the driving school and talking with a few of the instructor to learn about their teaching style and understand their success rates. 

Make sure to let them know your concerns and ask for advice for helping your teenager become the best driver they can be. Once you decide on a driving school, make sure to talk to your teenager after their first day to make sure they believe it will be a good learning environment.