Are they truly prepared to hit the road after driver’s training?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re supposed to drive with them before the behind the wheel instruction. There was just a thread about this recently. Do not send them with zero experience.

Start in a parking lot and graduate to smaller roads.

We’ve done parking lot driving, but they aren’t covered under insurance until they get their permit.

They should get their permit right away. They need that before you even do parking lot driving.
Once the have their permit, we were told to do at least 10 hours of driving before booking their first in car session.

[Anonymous]

We're going through the process currently. DD got her permit in December, and we've been driving together since. She's comfortable driving just about everywhere now, but I'm not comfortable with her abilities, so we haven't scheduled any behind the wheel sessions yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t remember anything of driver’s training, but I’m struggling to imagine how my teen will go from zero-driving in just six hours behind-the-wheel instruction. I’m terrified of when it’s my turn to take over instructions. Do they truly become confident and experienced enough in just six hours?

No, it's basic instruction. Your job is to then assess how strong a driver they are and do a minimum of 50 hours of practice, preferably in as many many adverse conditions as possible. That means timed restrictions on roads, interstate driving, rush hour, after dark, rural and urban, ice, rain, etc. I start with showing me basics in a mall parking lot before it opens on a weekend morning, then working from there. Get a list of parking and driving maneuvers if you can't remember them all, make sure the teen has a basic level of competence.

Yes, but this can only be done after they complete the first segment and obtain their permit. I’m talking about, are they prepared for the road after the first segment?

You need to go back to square one: child studies, practices online learner's test, you gather all needed documents, when child can get most or all online learner's practice questions correct, you and they then schedule and take the learner's test. Once the learner's permit is obtained, THEN you begin parking lot instruction. Inform your insurance first. Your rates don't increase until child has a license.

Oh, see in our state, they do 30 hours of classroom, 6 hours of instructional driving, and then take a road test before they can take the written test to get their permit. I thought it was like this everywhere!

What state are people driving for 6 hours and taking a road test in a car before they even get a permit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re supposed to drive with them before the behind the wheel instruction. There was just a thread about this recently. Do not send them with zero experience.

Start in a parking lot and graduate to smaller roads.

This. At least in Virginia you have a test at the DMV to get the permit. Take them to a parking lot after that, we used the Wolf Trap and NOVA CC lots to start doing very low speed (like 10-15mph) car handling a few times. By the time DC had their first driving lesson we already had a few hours under their belt, moving from the parking lots to short stints on neighborhood streets.

How does this work with insurance? They aren’t covered. Aren’t you worried they’ll hit a car, or worse?

They are covered under your insurance.

I didn’t have either of my kids do BTW/take the road test until I was very comfortable with their abilities. That meant they had their permits for more than the required 9 months and they did more than the 45 driving hours needed.

[Anonymous]

Call your insurance company in whatever state you live in and ask.

This is not a good topic to share info on if people aren't saying what state they live in. It's different everywhere.

[Anonymous]

In Virginia:

1) at 15.5 get permit from DMV - this includes the two part test and vision test and they take your photo

2) practice driving with a parent for 45 hours, 15 of those hours at night over the next 9 months

3) take drivers ed in school. In FCPS they assign you to a quarter dependent on your birthday

4) attend the parent/student night course at your high school - offered during the quarter of drivers ed. You get a "pink slip" saying you both attended

5) sign up for behind the wheel when you near the end of the 9 months you must hold a permit (16 and 3 months if you got it right at 15.5). Your driving hours should be near complete

6)the behind the wheel instructor does a week long driving course. They determine if the student is ready to drive, check driving log and pink slip, and sign off on a 180 day provisional license that begins 9 months after the permit was issued.

7) license comes in the mail

In Virginia, your child is driving under your insurance while they are a permitted driver. You add their name to your insurance, but it's you on the line for any incidents. There are no added fees until they are fully licensed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t remember anything of driver’s training, but I’m struggling to imagine how my teen will go from zero-driving in just six hours behind-the-wheel instruction. I’m terrified of when it’s my turn to take over instructions. Do they truly become confident and experienced enough in just six hours?

No, it's basic instruction. Your job is to then assess how strong a driver they are and do a minimum of 50 hours of practice, preferably in as many many adverse conditions as possible. That means timed restrictions on roads, interstate driving, rush hour, after dark, rural and urban, ice, rain, etc. I start with showing me basics in a mall parking lot before it opens on a weekend morning, then working from there. Get a list of parking and driving maneuvers if you can't remember them all, make sure the teen has a basic level of competence.

Yes, but this can only be done after they complete the first segment and obtain their permit. I’m talking about, are they prepared for the road after the first segment?

You need to go back to square one: child studies, practices online learner's test, you gather all needed documents, when child can get most or all online learner's practice questions correct, you and they then schedule and take the learner's test. Once the learner's permit is obtained, THEN you begin parking lot instruction. Inform your insurance first. Your rates don't increase until child has a license.

Oh, see in our state, they do 30 hours of classroom, 6 hours of instructional driving, and then take a road test before they can take the written test to get their permit. I thought it was like this everywhere!

What state are people driving for 6 hours and taking a road test in a car before they even get a permit?

North Carolina doesn't have a road test, but you do the 30 hours of classroom six hours of driving with an instructor before you get your permit. You do driver's ed at 14.5 and then get your permit at 15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t remember anything of driver’s training, but I’m struggling to imagine how my teen will go from zero-driving in just six hours behind-the-wheel instruction. I’m terrified of when it’s my turn to take over instructions. Do they truly become confident and experienced enough in just six hours?

No, it's basic instruction. Your job is to then assess how strong a driver they are and do a minimum of 50 hours of practice, preferably in as many many adverse conditions as possible. That means timed restrictions on roads, interstate driving, rush hour, after dark, rural and urban, ice, rain, etc. I start with showing me basics in a mall parking lot before it opens on a weekend morning, then working from there. Get a list of parking and driving maneuvers if you can't remember them all, make sure the teen has a basic level of competence.

Yes, but this can only be done after they complete the first segment and obtain their permit. I’m talking about, are they prepared for the road after the first segment?

Different states, different rules. By contrast? Until last summer, FL didn't require classroom instruction (they now have a 6 hour "class" available through Florida Virtual prior to getting the permit) and they still don't require any formal instruction for on-the-road, just 50 hours signed off by the parent, 10 nighttime). North Dakota used to not require any instruction at all... just looked it up and it looks like it changed since I left in 2014.

https://driversed.com/trending/which-states-have-driver-licensing-restrictions-teens/

I stand by what I said. I've been the practice adult for several teens in VA, MD, MI, and FL. In order for me to agree to do that, I require that they have 6 hours of on-the-road instruction (just the basics, whether the state requires it or not) and be able to pass the written test. They need a permit, and sometimes it takes a bit of finagling with insurance to figure out whether we need to use my vehicle or their family's, but it always works out. We start in a large mall parking lot with basic assessment, and we stay there until they can reliably do what I ask. For some teens, that's 30 minutes. For one very, very hesitant teen, we spent 10 hours over the course of a week before leaving the lot... it's very variable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia:

1) at 15.5 get permit from DMV - this includes the two part test and vision test and they take your photo

2) practice driving with a parent for 45 hours, 15 of those hours at night over the next 9 months

3) take drivers ed in school. In FCPS they assign you to a quarter dependent on your birthday

4) attend the parent/student night course at your high school - offered during the quarter of drivers ed. You get a "pink slip" saying you both attended

5) sign up for behind the wheel when you near the end of the 9 months you must hold a permit (16 and 3 months if you got it right at 15.5). Your driving hours should be near complete

6)the behind the wheel instructor does a week long driving course. They determine if the student is ready to drive, check driving log and pink slip, and sign off on a 180 day provisional license that begins 9 months after the permit was issued.

7) license comes in the mail

In Virginia, your child is driving under your insurance while they are a permitted driver. You add their name to your insurance, but it's you on the line for any incidents. There are no added fees until they are fully licensed.

PP here who has supervised in multiple states.
You're talking about the road test in 6... Instruction is instruction, and it's before they practice. I don't drive with teens until they have had 6 instructional hours on the road, teaching the basics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia:

1) at 15.5 get permit from DMV - this includes the two part test and vision test and they take your photo

2) practice driving with a parent for 45 hours, 15 of those hours at night over the next 9 months

3) take drivers ed in school. In FCPS they assign you to a quarter dependent on your birthday

4) attend the parent/student night course at your high school - offered during the quarter of drivers ed. You get a "pink slip" saying you both attended

5) sign up for behind the wheel when you near the end of the 9 months you must hold a permit (16 and 3 months if you got it right at 15.5). Your driving hours should be near complete

6)the behind the wheel instructor does a week long driving course. They determine if the student is ready to drive, check driving log and pink slip, and sign off on a 180 day provisional license that begins 9 months after the permit was issued.

7) license comes in the mail

In Virginia, your child is driving under your insurance while they are a permitted driver. You add their name to your insurance, but it's you on the line for any incidents. There are no added fees until they are fully licensed.

PP here who has supervised in multiple states.
You're talking about the road test in 6... Instruction is instruction, and it's before they practice. I don't drive with teens until they have had 6 instructional hours on the road, teaching the basics.

NP. In Virginia, the behind the wheel instruction from a professional is usually done towards the end of the 9 month/45 hour period, and the instructor tests you at the end of instruction. Then you get your license. No separate road test at the DMV.

Though, does anyone know how this works if you haven’t completed all 45 hours yet? Does the instructor not test you? You have a license but can’t use it yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia:

1) at 15.5 get permit from DMV - this includes the two part test and vision test and they take your photo

2) practice driving with a parent for 45 hours, 15 of those hours at night over the next 9 months

3) take drivers ed in school. In FCPS they assign you to a quarter dependent on your birthday

4) attend the parent/student night course at your high school - offered during the quarter of drivers ed. You get a "pink slip" saying you both attended

5) sign up for behind the wheel when you near the end of the 9 months you must hold a permit (16 and 3 months if you got it right at 15.5). Your driving hours should be near complete

6)the behind the wheel instructor does a week long driving course. They determine if the student is ready to drive, check driving log and pink slip, and sign off on a 180 day provisional license that begins 9 months after the permit was issued.

7) license comes in the mail

In Virginia, your child is driving under your insurance while they are a permitted driver. You add their name to your insurance, but it's you on the line for any incidents. There are no added fees until they are fully licensed.

PP here who has supervised in multiple states.
You're talking about the road test in 6... Instruction is instruction, and it's before they practice. I don't drive with teens until they have had 6 instructional hours on the road, teaching the basics.

NP. In Virginia, the behind the wheel instruction from a professional is usually done towards the end of the 9 month/45 hour period, and the instructor tests you at the end of instruction. Then you get your license. No separate road test at the DMV.

Though, does anyone know how this works if you haven’t completed all 45 hours yet? Does the instructor not test you? You have a license but can’t use it yet?

Per DD, if they pass you, you get your license, regardless of whether you have the required hours.

[Anonymous]

We did not jet them test until we were confident they were ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t remember anything of driver’s training, but I’m struggling to imagine how my teen will go from zero-driving in just six hours behind-the-wheel instruction. I’m terrified of when it’s my turn to take over instructions. Do they truly become confident and experienced enough in just six hours?

No, it's basic instruction. Your job is to then assess how strong a driver they are and do a minimum of 50 hours of practice, preferably in as many many adverse conditions as possible. That means timed restrictions on roads, interstate driving, rush hour, after dark, rural and urban, ice, rain, etc. I start with showing me basics in a mall parking lot before it opens on a weekend morning, then working from there. Get a list of parking and driving maneuvers if you can't remember them all, make sure the teen has a basic level of competence.

That sounds like a full time job. In an era where everything can be outsourced, can't we outsource this this to someone else and pay for it? Not everyone has the time or emotional bandwith to do all this with their kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia:

1) at 15.5 get permit from DMV - this includes the two part test and vision test and they take your photo

2) practice driving with a parent for 45 hours, 15 of those hours at night over the next 9 months

3) take drivers ed in school. In FCPS they assign you to a quarter dependent on your birthday

4) attend the parent/student night course at your high school - offered during the quarter of drivers ed. You get a "pink slip" saying you both attended

5) sign up for behind the wheel when you near the end of the 9 months you must hold a permit (16 and 3 months if you got it right at 15.5). Your driving hours should be near complete

6)the behind the wheel instructor does a week long driving course. They determine if the student is ready to drive, check driving log and pink slip, and sign off on a 180 day provisional license that begins 9 months after the permit was issued.

7) license comes in the mail

In Virginia, your child is driving under your insurance while they are a permitted driver. You add their name to your insurance, but it's you on the line for any incidents. There are no added fees until they are fully licensed.

PP here who has supervised in multiple states.
You're talking about the road test in 6... Instruction is instruction, and it's before they practice. I don't drive with teens until they have had 6 instructional hours on the road, teaching the basics.

As the PP said, driving instruction is separate from Behind the Wheel, which is mandatory. You can take as many driving instruction classes as you want, but you take Behind the Wheel towards the end of your training. It is not intended to teach you how to drive, but to fill in any gaps, and provide you with a license at the end of the 7 lessons (in VA). In VA, your 7 sessions include 50 minutes of observation and 50 minutes of driving. IOW, you're driving with another underage driver in the car, and it is most definitely not recommended that you put a kid that knows nothing about driving in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re supposed to drive with them before the behind the wheel instruction. There was just a thread about this recently. Do not send them with zero experience.

Start in a parking lot and graduate to smaller roads.

This. At least in Virginia you have a test at the DMV to get the permit. Take them to a parking lot after that, we used the Wolf Trap and NOVA CC lots to start doing very low speed (like 10-15mph) car handling a few times. By the time DC had their first driving lesson we already had a few hours under their belt, moving from the parking lots to short stints on neighborhood streets.

How does this work with insurance? They aren’t covered. Aren’t you worried they’ll hit a car, or worse?

Each insurance company may differ, but our rep at State Farm confirmed that until they have their official license, they are covered under the parents' insurance. Best to call and confirm.