Why First-Time Drivers Need To Take Driving Lessons
Learning to drive is something most people do in their teenage years. However, many people around the US don’t get their licenses until they’re older than eighteen. No matter when you get your license, it’s important for first-time drivers to take lessons at Irvine driving school. Not only will new drivers learn the basics, but they will also become better with each lesson, making them a safer driver.
Reasons New Drivers Should Take Driving Lessons
Driver’s Education May Lower Insurance Costs
Most new drivers won’t be thinking about the cost of insurance, but it’s a huge factor when you are a licensed driver. Many insurance companies offer a discount for teens who have taken driver’s ed because it proves that they have learned how to be responsible drivers. The same can be said for adults who have just learned how to drive.
Learning the Basics
Driving is all about the subtle things that have to be done at a particular time in order to avoid an accident or maintain safety on the roads. As a driver, many habits and tasks come as second-nature, but first, these things must be learned. Certain reflexes must be taught in order to maintain the safety of the roads.
Driver’s ed instructors know how to teach new drivers the ins and outs of these details. They know the right teaching techniques and how to keep the stress levels in the car down so that new drivers can effectively learn.
Driving Lessons Are Required
Not every state requires a driver’s ed in order to get your license as a new driver. However, the state of California does if you are under the age of eighteen. This is a requirement, not a suggestion, so it’s important to look for state-approved lessons that qualify you to get your license once the lessons are over.
The state of California requires those 15-18 years of age to complete driver’s education before obtaining their provisional driver’s license. This instruction includes six hours of driving time with a certified supervisor and 50 hours of drive time with an adult over the age of 21, ten of which must be at night.
More Experience
Most new drivers are teens, and between their busy schedules and those of their parents, it can be difficult to get practice every single day. However, a driver’s education course forces them to take the time to learn to drive. In these classes, they will gain valuable experience, including lessons about how to handle harsh driving conditions.
While driving may look easy and be easy for those who have been long-time drivers, the matter of the fact is that it isn’t at first. When people first get behind the wheel of a car, it can be dangerous without the right instruction given by teachers who know what they’re doing.
Preparation for Road Test
In order to get a license, new drivers must take a road test to prove that they can drive. A driver’s ed course will help them understand everything that they’re expected to know and how it will impact their test results.
They’ll also learn what they’ll need to do to pass the test, including how and when to signal, merge, and more. The driving test will differ from state to state, and sometimes even city to city. Some will require parallel parking while others require driving in multiple areas, including the expressway.
They’re behind the wheel training will give them the inside scoop on what the driving test will entail, so it’s absolutely crucial that new drivers get the experience they need in the area they’ll be taking their test.
Increases Confidence
Confidence is important for every driver. Being afraid to drive or afraid to get on the road can cause more accidents because a driver isn’t confident in their ability. They may make minor, but avoidable mistakes.
Confidence is key, especially when it comes to the road test. The experience new drivers get in driver’s ed will help them gain that confidence and succeed.
Also, having the experience of being on the road can give them the confidence they need to handle any obstacles they face. Good teachers build that confidence and prepare new drivers for the possible obstacle they’ll face behind the wheel.
Read More: How to Ace Your Driving Test
Avoiding Risk
Once teens turn eighteen, they can get a license without getting the same required education and experience as those who completed driver’s ed. However, as a new adult driver, it’s important to take lessons to avoid the risk of making avoidable mistakes on the road. No matter the reason for the delayed licensing, adult driver’s ed courses are available in almost every state.
Those who do not get formal training are most likely learning how to drive from family and friends. While we can’t account for every driver on the road, it can be dangerous to learn from someone who is not a driving instructor. Often times, adults no longer use the correct techniques, even if they are considered good drivers. When a new driver uses those same techniques, it could be detrimental because they never learned the basics.
Read More: Common Mistakes Teen Drivers Make
Taking driving lessons from an accredited school can help all new drivers learn the right way to drive, which will make them safer drivers.
Safety First
Perhaps the most significant reason to take driving lessons is safety. Safety is the basis for every other reason we have listed. Driving can be dangerous and life-threatening when safety isn’t a priority to the driver. Driver’s ed offers safety-focused education that teaches new drivers about the dangers of distracted driving and much more to make them understand what should and shouldn’t be done on the road.
A study done by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that drivers who had not completed their driver’s ed were 75% more likely to get a ticket and 24% more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident. This is just one study out of many that have demonstrated that driving lessons are absolutely crucial for new drivers.
