InSure

Is your teenager about to get a driver’s license? One important thing you need to do to help your teenager achieve this milestone is to enroll your child in a reputable driving school.

Decades ago, teenagers learned how to drive with the help of their parents. Taking formal driving lessons was not necessary. Things are different now, though.

Depending on where you live in the United States, your child may need to take a driver’s education course to obtain a license. Currently, there are 32 states which have made driver’s education mandatory for teenagers who want to obtain their license. That’s why even car insurance companies ask for a driver’s license.

In these states, the basic rule for teenagers to complete a certain number of hours of driver’s education from a DMV-approved provider. Most states’ minimum requirement is 30 hours of knowledge-based driving lessons.

When your child finishes the course, he or she is going to receive a certificate of completion, which would then be submitted to the DMV along with other licensing requirements.

Given that most parents today didn’t have to comply with this rule, some of them wonder if taking a driver’s education course is necessary.

Are you thinking of the same thing?

If you are, please know that taking a course tackling the knowledge part of driving is highly beneficial for your child. In fact, even if it is not mandatory in your state, enrolling your teen in a driver’s education course is recommended. Read on to know why.

If you need help finding an economical insurer, enter your zip code in our free online tool above to start comparing rates.

Check also this Complete Teen Driver Safety Guide.

Instills the Importance of Avoiding Risky Behaviors

This is, perhaps, one of the most important benefits of taking a driver’s education course. As a parent, you always want your teenager to be safe. To achieve this, your child needs to observe safe driving practices. This includes avoiding risky behaviors while your child is behind the wheel.

Studies show that, when compared to older people, teen drivers tend to engage in countless unsafe driving practices like going beyond the speed limit or not buckling up. A large percentage of people in the teenage age group also participate in distracting activities like using a mobile device. Consequently, auto insurance costs more for young drivers.

As parents, you might be forgiving towards your children but law enforcement doesn’t ever forgive callous driving behavior.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that nine people die every day due to distracted driving.

Many of these incidents involve drivers who are under 20 years old. In addition, one federal research study found that distracted young drivers are responsible for close to 60 percent of car collisions in the US.

The most dangerous distracting activity involving mobile devices is texting. This is mainly because texting prevents the driver from focusing on the task at hand — driving. Their hands are on the phone and not on the wheel, and their eyes are on their device and not on the road.

Moreover, instead of thinking about their driving, their mind is elsewhere — i.e., whatever they are reading or seeing on their phone. Simply put, all types of distractions are present when texting — manual, visual, and cognitive.

Just how dangerous is it for teens to text while they’re behind the wheel?

According to Virginia Tech study, teen drivers’ risk of getting into a car accident goes up 23 times when they are texting.

Most states have laws that prohibit the use of mobile devices while driving. However, many teenagers still engage in this risky practice. In fact, research indicated that more than 30 percent of teenage drivers text and drive.

This percentage is even higher in places that grant learner’s permits at age 15. In these states, over 50 percent of teenagers admit that they text while they are behind the wheel.

In a driver’s education course, these risky behaviors are thoroughly discussed, as well as the repercussions of engaging in them. Often, the lessons include materials that show how these practices cause fatal accidents and how these car crashes impact those who are involved. The goal is to increase awareness about the hazards of distracted driving and deter teens from doing them.

Also check the Things to Know About Teen Driver Auto Insurance.

Pass Licensing Exam on Their First Try

Enrolling in a driver’s education course can help children pass a licensing exam on their first try. Yes, you read that right — first try. There is a need to emphasize this because, unknown to most people, many fail the DMV written exam.

An average of 35 percent to 55 percent of test-takers in most states fail the test, according to 2016 data. There are some states, however, where the failure rate is higher than the estimated range, like in Missouri (61 percent).

The prevailing notion that the exam is easy is one of the reasons why many do not pass it. This belief encourages people to exert less effort on the test, specifically employing minimal preparations or none at all.

Let’s be clear:

Passing the DMV written exam is not a walk in the park. Even some well-educated or test-savvy people do not succeed on their first try. There is even a survey which showed that more people with postgraduate degrees fail the exam on their first try than those who didn’t finish college.

So, if you want your teenager to pass the test and earn a license, make sure he or she prepares for it. Enroll your child in a good driver’s education online course. More importantly, make sure your child spends time studying for it. Teenagers should take the tasks seriously, including the mock test.

You see, in a driver’s education course, your child won’t just acquire the knowledge needed for the DMV written exam. Teenagers will also improve their test-taking skills. This is because the course includes timed quizzes or tests. Furthermore, some providers even give tips on how to pass the exam.

Learn Defensive Driving Techniques

A comprehensive driver’s education course tackles lessons on defensive driving. This is very important, as these techniques can help your child become a safe driver and avoid accidents.

But do these driver’s education programs really work? Some people have repeatedly asked this question. Perhaps you are wondering as well.

There are studies that provide empirical data showing that taking a driver’s education course effectively lessens car crash rate involving teen drivers.

One report from the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed that driver’s education reduced car collision rates among teen drivers by 4.3 percent.

In addition, the AAA’s analysis revealed a 40 percent decrease in the number of tickets received by these young drivers.

Even the insurance industry believes that driver’s education helps minimize road accidents. Why? There are some insurance companies that incentivize clients to take a driver’s education course. They give discounted premiums to customers who complete a driver’s education program.

However, it is important to note that just because your child finished a driver’s education program, it doesn’t automatically mean that your child will be a safe driver and avoid accidents. The quality of the course matters!

If you want results, then you must choose a comprehensive driver’s education course. More importantly, it should be a DMV-approved program. This is your guarantee that the course content complies with the standards set by the state or DMV.

When your child finishes a DMV driver’s education program, you can be certain that your child will have the knowledge and skills needed to drive responsibly and safely.

If you want to start comparing insurance rates today, enter your zip code in our free online tool below.

Cheap Auto Insurance

07.11.2019 / teenage drivers