Getting a driver’s license is a big step in anyone’s life, no matter the age of the newly licensed driver. The road to learning to drive is a necessary path to take before licensing though. If you are considering getting a license and aren’t sure if you would rather take a professional course or have a parent teach you to drive, here are some points to consider.
Who Knows the Road Better?
Just because someone knows how to drive doesn’t mean they are a good teacher.
It also doesn’t mean that they know all the laws.
In fact, some estimates suggest that approximately half of all licensed drivers could not pass the written portion of a driver’s test. There are many laws that people don’t need to actively remember and signs that people don’t see, so drivers forget the information. After all, if it doesn’t impact their daily driving experience, why bother?
Unfortunately, this means that they will likely be unable to impart all the information that a new driver needs to pass their tests.
A driving instructor is constantly teaching the laws, grading student quizzes, and getting extra training on current laws to keep up their teaching certificate. Knowing the laws is their job, which means they are around them all the time so they can’t forget how far to park from a stop sign or what that strange sign means on the side of the road.
At 911 Driving School, the experience goes even further than that. Our instructors are or have been, police officers. They know the laws because they teach them, but also because they have enforced them.
Can You Provide a Structured Approach to Learning?
Often, when parents teach their children to drive, they cover the important techniques, skills, and laws at random or whenever a particular circumstance arises.
What happens if that situation never arises before the test comes around?
At a driving school, students will have an opportunity to participate in an instructor-led classroom and get the necessary time in behind the wheel. This experience will be based on a structured and proven method that covers all information a fledgling driver really needs.
It starts with the full range of basics and then builds on them until the student is ready for more complex maneuvers.
What is Your Level of Comfort with Your Parents?
Parents are a great resource for support and reviewing concepts for driving. But do you feel comfortable asking questions and drilling them until they perfect a certain technique?
If a parent turns out to not be a great teacher, is that going to be awkward for the child? Is there already tension in the relationship? Is the parent likely to yell when the child makes a mistake? Are you more likely to yell back at them?
It is important to remember that taking driving lessons from a driving school doesn’t mean your parents are completely cut out of the process. There are required driving hours that need to get done before a license is issued and a licensed person over the age of 18 must be in the car the whole time. This means many parents are riding in the passenger seat while their teenager is learning to drive. If you need extra practice hours, parents are a great resource.
If you have seriously considered the three questions above, you should know which option is best for you. Driving lessons are a big, important step in everybody’s life. If you are looking for a great school with attentive, knowledgeable instructors, check out our schools for a location near you.