? Re 45 hour requirement for VA teen drivers
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Anonymous
| DS has been driving on a permit for a year. He took a class and behind the wheel instruction through a company and should be ready to get his license soon. But i didn't realize he was supposed to be keeping a log of his driving time, and I am supposed to sign something that says he has driven 45 hours, including 15 night hours. Can I certify this without having actually kept a log, or do we have to start all over? |
Anonymous
| If he has been driving with a behind the wheel company, then they should have given him the certificate for 45 hours. You don't have to supply anything. |
Anonymous
| They just gave it to us. But he has been driving with me for a year before we did the behind the wheel instruction. He hasn't driven 45 hours but probably 20, and it seems a shame to start from scratch now because we didn't know to keep a record. |
Anonymous
It seems a shame that both of you didn't pay attention to the instructions of both the state of Virginia and the driving school. The rules are plainly spelled out on DMV web site and in the literature that you get when you earn your learners. BTW 20 hours in a year doesn't sound like much. That is about 1.5 hours a month. |
Anonymous
No kidding. No way could a kid be ready to get a license and drive on his own in traffic with 20 hours of instruction in a year! |
Anonymous
| Have you honestly been instructing him - in the car - for those 45 hours? Honestly? If you really have, then fudging the time sheet (not remembering/being accurate ... was is Tues or Wed last week..?) is fine. BUT the point of the time sheet is to emphasize -that you REALLY need to put in the time - you need to do all 45 hours/minimum. You do this. It is important. It is your responsibility |
Anonymous
| My, so mean! Of course I have been sitting by his side instructing him (how else could he legally drive?) and of course I won't sign until I am sure we have done 45 hours. In fact he is angry that I am probably way underestimating how much he has already driven. His behind the wheel instructors say he is a great driver and will have no problem passing the test. I am just sorry I didn't know we were supposed to keep a formal log since we waited almost a year between the in class and behind the wheel instruction, when they handed out the booklet. I called the course operators, and they said they thought estimating would be okay. I will insist he keep track from now on until I am confident we are over 45. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| why then are you on this board asking ... ? |
Anonymous
| OP, were you required to attend a driver training class with DS? I thought that was required now and they go over the 45 hr requirement there. At this point, if you're confident with his driving and the instructor passes him, I'd let the log go. I have two teen drivers who have logs that were somehow never checked or turned in to anyone. |
Anonymous
| Nope, just found out about that class! We are doing everything backwards, I'm afraid. |
Anonymous
| That's what second and third kids are for! Helps us sound so informed. But our high school was really on top of this stuff. So that helped. |
Anonymous
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OP, I would go ahead and estimate 25 hours of the time, but then mane him redo the last 20 hours and make sure they are all at night or in foul weather, on the Beltway or other challenging conditions, etc.
You will never regret making your child practice driving safely in bad conditions or practice driving with you in teh next seat for more hours than required. |
Anonymous
Agree with this approach. In MD it's 60 hours and we made sure our kids exceeded the 60. |
Anonymous
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My DDs log was checked at the test, so I wouldn’t skip it.
OP, off topic, but good to know - check your insurance company. Our co. required a log recording more hours than what was required for the drivers test. |
Anonymous
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OP again. Thanks for the good advice!
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