Independence Behind the Wheel

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As your child approaches their teen years, learning to drive will quickly become an important focus of your homeschooling agenda. Requirements for how to receive a driver's license vary greatly from state to state. Most states require your that teens take driver education classes which include book instruction as well as behind the wheel practice. By spending time behind the wheel with your teen, your support as a safe and experienced driver will have a positive impact during the development of their safe-driving skills.

Children view their parents as role models. Your good driving behavior, from the time your children are in a car seat until the moment they take the wheel, is the first step toward raising a safe driver. Have you evaluated your driving habits lately? Do you wear your seatbelt? Do you always use turn signals? Do you stop firmly at red lights and stop signs? Do you treat other drivers with courtesy? These are but a few attributes, reinforced in Driver Education programs, which can be very easily incorporated into your everyday trips around town.

Learning to safely operate a vehicle takes practice--supervised practice. Here are a few tips that will help make driving with your teen a positive, confidence building, experience:

Plan the route you want them to take before they get behind the wheel and discuss landmarks, road conditions, potential hazards as well as other driver issues.
Give your teen time to get to know the feel of your car, adjust mirrors, seat and steering wheel, locate blind spots and feel the brakes (Note: give special consideration if your car has an antilock braking system).
Begin with a 15-minute drive and gradually increase their drive time as they gain more experience.
Remember that your teen will be nervous, so stay calm. Be patient and expect mistakes.
Pull over if you must give specific instructions. This will allow your teen to concentrate on what you are saying, instead of the road in front of them.
Begin with routes in low traffic areas then expand to urban settings, rural roads, and interstate highways. It is also very important to include trips at night and during inclement weather to increase their skill under all conditions.
Don't forget to record your driving sessions. Some states will require this.
Give your teen positive feedback and after each driving session and ask them to give you feedback on your instruction.

You will also want to make sure that your teen's vehicle is one that reduces their risk of being involved in accidents by offering state-of-the-art protection. Consider avoiding their use of sports cars and other vehicles that might encourage speeding. Sports Utility Vehicles, especially smaller ones, pose a rollover risk and small vehicles offer less crash protection. Generally bigger is better. Many mid- and full- size vehicles offer great protection.

Information about the safety ratings on vehicles can be found at the following web sites:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
http://www.highwaysafety.org

Learning to drive is a right-of-passage you can share with your teen as you engage in the dialogue and practice the skills that will help them become an independent and safe driver.

Acknowledge upfront (to yourself) that there may be some stressful and challenging moments for both you and your teen as they learn how to drive, but remember to enjoy this milestone in your child's life--and yours as well.

Keystone National High School Online
Driver Education Review

In some states it is approved for teens to take the "book" portion of their driving certification on-line. Homeschool.com reviewers in Virginia and Pennsylvania used Keystone National High School's Online Driver Education program and here is their review of the program:

The students felt that the course was very thorough, covering all the technical points - everything from road signs to safe driving tips. It was easy to read and the many pictures helped. Both of Homeschool.com's student reviewers felt that the course gave them the information needed to prepare for the final driving exam.

The parents found that their teens would often quote to them from the course while driving together in their practice sessions. Overall they found that the on-line program was able to keep their teen's interest with a high retention level that gave them the confidence to hand over the keys to the family car.

More About Keystone National High School
Driver Education

Do you want your teenager to learn to drive responsibly? He or she can learn the proper methods of driving from Keystone National High School's Driver Education program.

With Keystone's program, your teenager can learn to be a responsible driver and possibly save your family some money at the same time. This all-inclusive course of study meets the 30 hours of theory required for a student by most insurance companies and for student licensing in many states. (Please check with your State Department of Motor Vehicles to be sure the program is accepted in your state.)

The Driver Ed course teaches the theory of responsible driving. Emphasis is place upon introduction of mechanics of driving, execution of most driving operations and a thorough understanding of the rules of safe driving. This program, available in both correspondence (print) format or in our online format, consists of Responsible Driving, a textbook designed by AAA, a learning guide to assist with lessons, Street Smarts Video produced by General Motors, and Partners in Safety, a parent-teen hassle-free Driving Guide. Even if your state or insurance company does not accept Keystone's Driver Ed program, your teenage driver will have a great basis for a lifetime of safe driving. For more information, please visit our web site at: http://www.keystonehighschool.com/sp/sp_courses.htm or call 800-255-4937 Department 130.

Our Sponsor: Keystone National High School

Keystone National High School has been an independent study specialist for over 25 years. Their programming offers a fully accredited high school curriculum that gives students the opportunity to achieve academic success at home. Students who study with Keystone have the option of enrolling in either the print-based correspondence program or the online eSchool whether it is for a single course or a complete diploma program. With over 35 full-credit courses in the basic academic areas, and higher-level courses in math, science, language arts and social sciences and a variety of electives, including Drivers Education, Business Law and foreign language studies, Keystone National High School can help you meet your academic needs.
http://www.keystonehighschool.com