Historically, driver’s education in the U.S. has been poor. The only goal for most driving schools has been to get your teen a driver’s license with no concern about how they perform in the first critical year of their driving career. Fortunately, there are now beginning to emerge driving schools with the goal to create excellent drivers but finding them is still difficult. Considering over 20,000 teens die every year in car crashes and the costs of even a minor collision are large, choosing a driver training that can decrease the chances of your teen getting in a crash during the first critical year of their driving career is very important. This article can provide some guidance in selecting a driving school that can make a difference.
Teens need an engaging program to learn virtually anything, including driving lessons. Part of educating a teen, and for that matter adults as well, is continual challenge. Does the driving school provide feedback to parents as part of the driver’s education process? Do they receive feedback forms on their teen’s performance in behind-the-wheel sessions? Does their web site show progress?
A key element of driver training is having a professional driving instructor. Find out whether the instructor’s training has exceeded the minimum requirements. Many instructors barely have the minimum required training. Other times police officers are used who are good at law enforcement, but not necessarily at driving instruction. Ask if they have received the same amount of training as professional instructors.
Convenience: The driving lessons should be held close to your teen’s school or home. You should be able to schedule behind the wheel drives online 7×24. There should be a dedicated customer center that can answer questions and provide help throughout the driver training process.
Proven results are something most schools cannot demonstrate. Ask if the school can show the results of their training on past students. Do they stand behind their program with a money back guarantee? The goal for most driving schools is to get their students a license. Their real goal should be to make their students excellent drivers.
An important aspect of choosing a driving school is determining the amount of investment the school is making in its driver’s education programs. Do they have dedicated curriculum developers on staff? How much are they investing in their driving lessons? Or do they just take the same outdated material everyone else has and call it “good enough”?
A great driving school contributes to the community. This contribution can happen in a variety of ways and you should ask how they contribute. Have they actively backed legislature for the betterment of teen driving, such as cell phone laws? Have they sponsored programs, such as Washington’s Drive Nice Day? Do they work with local private and public schools?
The bottom line: Its your teen’s life and well-being that is at risk during their first year of driving an automobile. Its important to understand that there is a large variance between driving schools in what they can provide for your teen. Proper selection of a driving school is critical. Its not your Grandfather’s driver training any more and you now have the ability to select a driving school that can really make a difference in your teen’s ability to survive and thrive throughout their driving experience.
On the Author: Joe Driverson is a member of SWERVE’s team whose mission is to “Change The Way People Drive”. Check out SWERVE Driving School for more information on SWERVE’s driving course and its innovative and challenging approach to driving lessons.
Tags: auto insurance, automobile, driver training, driver's ed, driver's education, driving course, driving lessons, driving school, education, training