| The learners permit allows new drivers to get a | | | | driving time in a week. Not to mention...the driving |
| supervised "head start" in driving. With your help, your | | | | practice they do get will often lack variety. They only |
| son or daughter can easily get from the learners | | | | practice the same 4-5 routes you might take in a |
| permit test all the way through to the DMV driving test | | | | week, and after a while they just won't be learning |
| safely and successfully...and become a safe driver for | | | | anything new. You will have to set aside 2-3 hours a |
| many years to come. | | | | week in your routine right from the start, and just go |
| I write as an owner of a driving school in California for | | | | practice. Get the most...and best "learning" you can get |
| 15 years. We have prepared thousands of students | | | | with that learners permit. |
| for their learners permit test, and seen how they | | | | Get the Most Out of Your Practice Time |
| progress with either good or bad guidance from their | | | | Driving schools rely on repetition to build skills and |
| parents. The tips we offer here should help parents in | | | | coordination effectively. Since we are never "just on |
| any state to know just what it takes to create a good, | | | | the way" somewhere, we can always go and practice |
| safe driver. | | | | exactly what the students need...and practice it over, |
| Get Serious | | | | and over, and over again until it is right. If you see a |
| Be sure your young driver is focused and cautious | | | | weak point or a driving maneuver done awkwardly, go |
| 100% of the time while driving, and don't accept | | | | back around the block and do it again, discussing the |
| anything less. If they get casual or treat you as if you | | | | mistakes or just getting things to come more naturally |
| are paranoid when you give them advice, then they | | | | through practice. If lane changes are a weakness, go |
| need an attitude adjustment in a hurry. Trade seats, | | | | practice lane changes for an hour until they feel really |
| take the wheel, and let them know that driving can not | | | | strong, and then go look for something else. 6 months |
| be approached that way. 6 months or more of this | | | | of this while using the learners permit should build one |
| kind of serious and focused practice should build a | | | | very solid driver. |
| good foundation for a serious approach later on. | | | | But Before you Even Start... |
| Plan for Practice Time | | | | Get your prospective new driver into a good quality |
| Don't just practice "on the way." So many parents | | | | classroom driver education class, whether it is required |
| make the same mistake. Many new drivers will only | | | | by the DMV or not. Online driver education is not as |
| have a learners permit for 6 months. If you assume | | | | effective, but if it is your only choice, ask around and |
| your new driver will get enough driving experience by | | | | find one with a good reputation. And regardless which |
| just letting them do all of the driving on errands and | | | | one you choose, get a good learners permit practice |
| trips to school, you are making a big mistake. We | | | | test to be sure the material is mastered. You shouldn't |
| recommend 100 hours of practice time as a target. In | | | | even take the learners permit test at DMV until you |
| 6 months, this would amount to 4 hours a week. | | | | are sure the rules and safety issues are mastered. |
| Typical family schedules just don't call for that much | | | | |