Title:
Teen Driver Education

Word Count:
921

Summary:
For many teenagers these days obtaining their license is the biggest and most exciting step life has offered so far. Many are excited, some a little worried, but all should be prepared for what having a driver license means.

Keywords:
teen driver, driving education

Article Body:
For many teenagers these days obtaining their license is the biggest and most exciting step life has offered so far. Many are excited, some a little worried, but all should be prepared for what having a driver license means. This is where driver education courses enter into the picture. Not only do these courses teach teens to drive, but teach them ways in which to do so responsibly as well. The following paragraphs will highlight some topics covered in driver education courses and show why this type of education is extremely important for teens to obtain.

Teaches Vehicle Laws

One portion of most driver education courses centers around a textbook portion. In this area of the driver education course, one topic that is often discussed involves various vehicle laws that exist within that particular state where the teenager is learning to drive. This is a vital portion of the course as many states require that individuals take a written exam prior to obtaining a drivers license. On these particular exams students will be required to correctly answer questions pertaining to current vehicle laws. Having this intensive guided textbook course which focuses on vehicle laws will enable teens to learn the laws perhaps even more quickly than if they were studying the relative laws on their own.

Teaches Drug and Alcohol Awareness

Regardless of the fact that drugs are illegal as a rule and alcohol is illegal for individuals under a certain age, driver education courses still find it in the best interest of the teenager to promote drug and alcohol awareness and how this can affect one’s driving ability. Many teenagers are aware of the fact that drugs and alcohol can have potentially damaging effects; however, by teaching this in a structured course along with a variety of statistics and videos, it really sends the message out to the teenagers the damage that drinking and driving or doing drugs and driving can cause an individual. Therefore, it is vital that driver education courses stick with this type of course topic.

Vehicle Maintenance

Many driver education courses also have a portion of the course where individuals are taught various topics relating to vehicle maintenance. Along with knowing various vehicle laws and having the awareness of the potential dangers of drugs and alcohol with driving, it is also important for teens to know some basic information regarding vehicle maintenance. Prior to learning how to drive the vehicle, one should know how the vehicle works and how it can be maintained.

Driving Course

The second main portion of the course, along with the classroom portion, is the actual driving part. Once teenagers have gained the requisite knowledge regarding laws, awareness factors and maintenance, it is then time to get behind the wheel and teach them driving techniques. This is another benefit to having a structured driver education course. It teaches teens how to drive in the company of a certified driving instructor. Some driver education courses held by a school district, for example, will provide the actual training portion while in other areas teens will need to engage in this portion of driver education course on their own with a driving school. Wherever this portion of the driver education course is learned, it is crucial that teens take part in it.

Where to Take Driver Education Courses

Prior to signing up with a particular driver education course, it is important for teens and their parents to contact their local Department of Motor Vehicles or other governmental entity responsible for licensing drivers. Two questions which should be asked are whether driver education is required by the state and what forms of driver education courses are acceptable to satisfy that requirement. Once these questions are answered, the teen can then choose a driver education course to sign up for.

There are a few different places where the teen can take a driver education course. The first is through their high school. Many school districts offer driver education courses as part of the curriculum and this may be an option for the student. Another place to possibly sign up for a driver education course is with a professional driver education center where both classroom and actual driving courses will be taught. Lastly, there is a new and inventive way of engaging in a driver education course and that is online.

Online driver education courses are ones which have recently been gaining quite a bit of recognition. Not only are they great ways to learn course concepts but they are extremely convenient as well. One will most likely have to use a professional driving school for the road portion of the course, but with regard to classroom courses, the online version is a distinct possibility. It is highly advisable, however, that one check with their state to ensure that this type of course fulfillment is acceptable in order to meet the driver education requirement.

The previously mentioned topics are some of the wonderful benefits for teens who take driver education courses. Not only will the teens learn how to drive but also they will be taught how to do so in a safe and legal way. When looking for the perfect driver education course for teens to get involved in, just make sure that the one which is chosen is accepted by the state and that it features many of the components listed above. If this type of driver education course is selected, it may make the teen that much more ready to get behind the wheel.