Rick's Driver Ed.
Proper Steps for Training
DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD DRIVE PRIOR TO GETTING THEIR PERMIT!!!
If the teen gets stopped by law enforcement or involved in a crash, the teen will most certainly be charged for driving without a license. There will be a fine and court cost and a good likelihood the judge (or magistrate) will impose a no driver’s license order until the teen turns 18. In addition, any person who allows a non-licensed driver to operate a vehicle on the road can be arrested. The penalty is a jailable up to 6 months and up to $1000 fine. Also, if a non-license driver is involved in an “at-fault” crash, most insurance companies have a disclaimer and will not pay for any damages or injuries which can result in civil litigation. In other words, you and your child could be sued for tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars that will come out of your pocket to include garnished wages for years to come.
1. Sign up a month prior to their 16th birthday for an online course.
A teen can start an online course one month prior to obtaining their permit. The online course should be done within the month prior to getting a permit. During this month, a parent, legal guardian or trusted adult can start training a teen by a method called Running Commentary (see Documents page). This is “observation training” for the teen. Using this type of training can significantly reduce the stress for both the parent and child once they get their permit. It can be very beneficial for aunts, uncles or grandparents to help out in any of phases of training due to the teen exposed to different perspectives.
2. Download and study the Training Guide, Driving Techniques & MVT documents
Just prior to obtaining the permit, parent(s) and teen should familiarize themselves with the proper steps of training and study the Driving Techniques and MVT documents. The Driving Techniques should be used as a guide throughout the early stages of driving to establish good driving habits.
CAUTION !
It is highly recommended against allowing a teen to drive from the BMV the day they get their permit, even if the teen has driven before. Just because a teen has driven in and around a farm doesn't mean they are prepared to deal with heavier traffic conditions involving inconsiderate & aggressive drivers, pedestrians, traffic lights changing, and making turns to and from one-way and two-way streets. There have been teens who have been involved in crashes, some fatal, on their way home from the BMV.
3. Sign up for in-car training.
Once a teen has completed an online course and received their certificate of completion and have their permit, you (parent) should register your child for their in-car training. The sooner I can get a teen in the car to start their training the better. Some of my worst students are those who have driving for months and have developed bad habits - which is near impossible to change. I cannot express enough the value of getting my training material in the hands of parents and teens as early as possible.
KEEP TRACK OF ALL DRIVING TIME !
It is highly recommended against to allow a teen to drive from the BMV the day they get their permit, even if the teen has driven before such as a farm kid. Just because a teen has driven in and around a farm doesn't mean they are prepared to deal with heavier traffic conditions involving inconsiderate & aggressive drivers, pedestrians, traffic lights changing, and making turns to and from one-way and two-way streets. There have been teens who have been involved in crashes, some fatal, on their way home from the BMV.
Notes
Prior to a teen’s in-car training, they should have established their basic skills - comfortable with making left & right turns and starting and stopping the car. Having the basics accomplished will help reduce the stress for the student when it comes time for their in-car training. Being in a driver’s ed. car is not like being in the car with most parents. As an instructor, I am able to deal with teens on an individual basis according to their personality, level of nervousness, and skill level. Besides, I have a brake on my side so I don't have to yell "STOP, STOP, STOP!"
I do not recommend a parent allowing their child to drive on I-75 (interstate) until after their in-car driver ed. training or they have spent some time with someone first on a divided highway such as US30 or US33 where there is far less traffic.
I do not recommend students practice maneuverability until they have been taught by me. If they practice ahead of time and develop improper techniques, it is very difficult to unlearn what was taught and switch to a different technique. There are many ways to lose points on the maneuverability test. My technique has been proven to be one of the most successful methods for passing the state maneuverability test.