How to Choose a Driver's Education Program
Driver's education is more than just passing the state-required driving exam and a few behind-the-wheel lessons. An effective training program should teach your teenager important skills to use in driving emergencies, safe operation of the equipment on the vehicle, review the rules of the road and demonstrate the basics of safe driving in a hands-on training on the road, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). Finding the right match for your new driver takes time and effort, but the decision you make for instruction could save you cash on insurance when your teen's driving habits keep him free from traffic citations and accidents.
Instructions
List the driver's education and training programs in the local area by searching online telephone directory websites. Your child's high school typically also has a list of driving schools in the area. Call the local Better Business Bureau to ask about companies with "A+" ratings for service and reliability to add to your list. Highlight the programs with membership in professional affiliations, including state driver's associations, the American Driver and Traffic Safety Association and the Driving School Association of the Americas. These organizations set standards the members must meet to hold certification. Develop an inventory sheet to use when calling the driver's education companies that incorporates checks for specific standards and a rating system that ranks the firm as "excellent," "pass" or "fail." Ask about the qualifications and training of the school instructors, and for a summary of the program. The AAA suggests looking for instruction in vehicle control, speed adjustment, passing, off-road maneuvers and driving on slippery surfaces. Other important training includes visual safety observation while driving as well as freeway and night-driving training. Ask for the course price and call at least three references given by the school. Call the companies on your list and use your quality inventory checklist to rate the firm. Make notes of any special training or education components. Develop a checklist for your visit and a rating system, using the excellent, pass and fail classifications. Incorporate small class size and length of the program and sessions for your check boxes. Make boxes to check the vehicles used for instruction. Include factors such as the vehicle's age and safety equipment such as dual brakes. The AAA recommends also looking for new class textbooks and a variety of classroom training materials. Visit the schools that passed your phone screening and use your visit check sheet to rate the companies, the classroom and the training vehicle. Ask to see copies of the student classroom and driving evaluation sheets that the firms provide for each session. Observe a trial lesson at the schools earning excellent ratings during your phone interviews, and take your teen driver with you to provide feedback for the final selection. Ask the firm to introduce the school's teacher to your teen and evaluate the two to determine if the student and teacher make a good instructional match. Select a school and have your teen take a trial lesson. If this session goes well, sign up for the full program. If the trial fails, select a second school that meets your checklist qualifications and earns your approval after the inspection visit.