Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Driver Education Classes

Driver education classes teach students the basics of driving and cultivate responsible attitudes and behaviors that are crucial in reducing the risk of driving accidents and injury.

There are various driver education courses available throughout the country and each state has their own driving rules and regulation. Therefore, it is important for students to ensure that their driver education course is certified and approved by the state.

In order to be eligible for the driver education classes it is mandatory for all students to have a learner's permit. If a student is less than 18 years of age, a written consent from their parent or legal guardian is needed to enroll in the course.

An entire driver education course can be completed within 6-10 weeks and includes around 25-30 hours of lecture and study in the classroom and 6-10 hours of behind the wheel training. Students cannot drive until they have completed the minimum required hours of classroom instruction. Some schools provide 40-50 hours of additional practice driving sessions that can be supervised by an experienced driver or parent.

Driver education classes are very similar to any other classroom setting. There is homework, reading assignments, worksheets, instructional delivery and assessments. Students also use computers, videos and simulations as learning tools. In addition, these classes also teach students proper driving attitudes, the dangers of drinking and driving, knowledge of traffic rules, recognizing road signs, understanding driving laws and regulations and techniques on how to drive safely. Some schools even teach students how to maintain their cars and keep them safe to drive.

Student must pass both practical and theory classes with 70% to 80% grades before they receive a certificate of completion that must be presented to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when applying for a driver's license.

As we all know, taking a driver education course produces safe and responsible drivers. That is why some insurance companies are known to give a good discount on the insurance policy to students based on their certificate of completion.