MD Drivers Skill Log

[Anonymous]

How accurately and precisely did you complete this for your child? My child has more than completed the hours , but we have not kept up with logging the hours on the document at all and now I need to complete the log for his 60 hours. My child drives all the time with me to the grocery store, home from school, etc. in addition to longer driving sessions. Do I log every 15 minute driving session? (That would be pages upon pages.) Do I just log hour long intervals? What did you all do?

[Anonymous]

My DS basically logged it all on his phone in real time and then transcribed to the book. He wrote it all down - even 3 minutes to school, etc and we stopped keeping track when he hit 60. It's actually a lot oof hours, 60 hours, and it was a lot of work. My DS told me most kids' parents don't make them do it, didn't log it and never did close to 60 hours but I am glad my DS did his hours and he's a really good driver.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was 75 hours? We logged as we went, but did 15 minute increments. They do check, and make a copy, but it’s not with a fine tooth comb. I think smaller sessions are better, at different times of the day and week.

[Anonymous]

My children also were responsible for logging their own time and like PP’s kids counted all the small trips to add up the requirement. Too late for OP perhaps but a good strategy in taking responsibility.

[Anonymous]

After all of the initial skills, we logged some of it in bulk. e.g. commute to and from school 15 min each way x 20 days = 10 hours.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has the app too. My son kept the log in the car and would just write it down when we did the trips. THey don't really look at it but you do have to have it!

[Anonymous]

We logged them in as small as 15 minute increments. When it became clear we would run out of room we started to lump them. For example 15 minutes to a class and then 15 minutes home was logged as one 30 minute session. But we were accurate with dates. We did stop logging descriptions though after we had the basics down. We know people who fudged the hours. My daughter was really annoyed that we made her drive the full 60 because other parents don’t always. I wanted to make sure she was really ready to get her license. If she has an accident later I didn’t want to wonder if it was because we took shortcuts with her driving hours.

My daughter just took her test and I was surprised to see they looked at the log and scanned it because other people said nobody pays attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS basically logged it all on his phone in real time and then transcribed to the book. He wrote it all down - even 3 minutes to school, etc and we stopped keeping track when he hit 60. It's actually a lot oof hours, 60 hours, and it was a lot of work. My DS told me most kids' parents don't make them do it, didn't log it and never did close to 60 hours but I am glad my DS did his hours and he's a really good driver.

This explains so much about how Maryland drivers come to be. It's passed down from generation to generation.

[Anonymous]

I try to update once a week or so, and if there were several small trips that were all basically the same skill/time of day I will lump them together. I do record 15 minute increments because at this early stage they don't have much driving stamina anyway, nor are they doing long stretches on the highway.

DS did his 60 hours a couple of years ago, and DD will do her 60 hours too. Safety first!

[Anonymous]

OP here following up as DS took and passed his driving test yesterday. I stapled into the log book a printed excel sheet where I loosely logged his 60 hours. The DMV did not bat an eye at it or ask any questions of the log. For my younger children I will definitely use the app to keep track of the driving hours as it will be much more efficient and accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS basically logged it all on his phone in real time and then transcribed to the book. He wrote it all down - even 3 minutes to school, etc and we stopped keeping track when he hit 60. It's actually a lot oof hours, 60 hours, and it was a lot of work. My DS told me most kids' parents don't make them do it, didn't log it and never did close to 60 hours but I am glad my DS did his hours and he's a really good driver.

This explains so much about how Maryland drivers come to be. It's passed down from generation to generation.

[Anonymous]

Definitely have 60 hours logged in the book as they might not let DC take the test. We didn't do it very accurately if anything they just want to see 60 hours of practice.

[Anonymous]

There's an app? What is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's an app? What is it?

Road Ready

[Anonymous]

My DS had his learners for almost 2 years. We really never logged hours and just made it up at the end. All they care about is that the parent/coach signs off. I knew my kid was not getting his license until we thought he was ready 60 hours or 160 hours. It seemed silly to log every 10 minute trip. He drive some long hw blocks on road trips which helped a lot.