Years ago, you would be hard pressed to find a 16 year old that couldn't wait to get his driver license. No fear, no worries about driving and, unfortunately, often not very good judgment.
That's no longer the case. Here's a note I received from one of our students in Tyler, Texas:
"If you told me a year ago that exactly one month before I got my driver's license, I would feel both well prepared and reasonably fearless, I would have laughed in your face. Two years ago I experienced one of the most traumatic events of my life, a car accident. Ever since then I have entertained a certain terror of riding in vehicles. Considering this, I believe it is remarkable that I can calmly look forward to my 16th birthday and the day I get my license.
The reason for my assurance is the labor-intensive parent taught drivers education program, with which my mother instructed me. The program requires a minimum of 50 hours of in-vehicle training, including at least 10 hours of nighttime driving. After completing this requirement, I feel extremely adapted to driving in a variety of situations and weather. My extensive in vehicle training has not only allayed my great timidity, but it has also prepared me for driving by myself once I get my license."
I appreciate the young lady's comments. Would it surprise you to know that the above comments are typical of those that I receive every day.
Young folks today are much more hesitant to start driving because of some collision that they have either experienced themselves, or because they know someone who has been involved in a serious collision.
That is why mastery of the skills in one area before moving on to the next area is so important in drivers ed. In Texas, the 50 hours is only a minimum requirement. In fact, it is just the starting point. What we have found is that many of our clients do somewhere between 100 to 150 hours of supervised practice over a 9 to 18 month period.
The more folks who learn to become collision-free drivers, the safer the roads are for all of us. What you do counts - it truly makes a difference.
Most adults (parents) don't think there's anything wrong with their driving - it's always the other guy. In fact, one survey revealed that 90% of all drivers consider themselves to be better than average. Of course, that is statistically impossible, but that's the perception.
When a parent, like you, uses a parent taught drivers education program to guide your son/daughter through the process of becoming a collision-free driver, that parent cannot help but improve their own driving. Isn't that what you experienced? That experience helps us reduce the number of collisions and saves lives.
Patrick L. Barrett is a nationally known expert in training for collision-free driving. Pat owns Driver Ed in a Box LLC, a company with a mission to provide families with the knowledge and tools necessary to build the habits of safe, collision-free driving through their parent taught drivers education course.
For more information on Patrick Barrett or Driver Ed in a Box LLC please visit: http://driveredinabox.com
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6413067
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