Tips to help your teen get the best experience from Drivers Ed
It’s that time again. School bells will soon ring for one last time before the highly- anticipated summer break. Teachers will rejoice. Seniors will graduate. For many underclassmen, summer means it’s time to take Drivers Ed and possibly get the keys to freedom.
Your teen may be excited about this step, but you, the worried parent – well, not so much. Don’t worry because you’re in good hands with Drive Smart Georgia. The first step is to register for summer classes now because most sellout quickly. EVERYONE wants to take Driver’s Ed during the summer. Then, sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s a major rite of passage and the first true step to independence. Here are a few tips for you AND your teen driver to get the very best experience from Drivers Ed and the entire process of getting that coveted driver’s license.
Tips for Mom and Dad:
- Take a deep breath – it will be OK!
- Be a good role model. Your new driver will watch everything you do behind-the-wheel. If you don’t want them to text and drive – don’t do it yourself. If you don’t want your child to speed, drive the speed limit or under.
- Obey all traffic laws because your child is learning from you. If you normally speed up to get through the yellow light, consider stopping at it instead.
- Read up on Joshua’s Law to learn what’s required to obtain a license in Georgia.
- Talk to your child about what he is learning in Driver’s Ed class.
- Check out these teen driver resources: Toyota Teen Drive 365, AAA Keys 2 Drive.
- Book in-car lessons early – especially during the busy summer months. Don’t wait until the end of July or the beginning of August because all drive times book up quickly – especially right before the start of school.
- Take another deep breath and look forward to the end of your taxi cab duties.
Questions and Answers for Driver’s Ed students and their parents
Q: What do students need to bring to class?
A. When students come to Drivers Ed class for the first time, they need to bring their permit (if they have one) and a positive attitude. All course materials are provided at Drive Smart Georgia. Students should dress for outdoor activities.
Q: When should students arrive for class?
A. Students should arrive no sooner than 20 minutes and no later than 10 minutes before class start time. All classes begin ON TIME. Parents should plan to arrive 10 minutes before class dismissal to pick up students on time.
Q: Will students get to drive before Drivers Ed?
A: Drive Smart Georgia prefers to do the actual in-car lessons after students have gained a solid foundation of knowledge in a classroom setting. However, based on driving experience, some students drive prior to the class.
Q: Can a student miss one day of Drivers Ed?
A. NO; however, if a student gets sick or there is a death in the family, of course we would make exceptions for a make-up class. Just remember; there is no guarantee there will be an opening for a make-up class for a few weeks.
Q: When should I schedule In-Car Driving Lessons?
A: We prefer that our Drivers Ed graduates get in at least 20 hours of driving experience before starting in-car lessons. All in-car lessons must be completed within six months of completion of the 30-hour classroom section.
Q: What are On-Site Road Tests?
A: The Dept. of Driver Services (DDS) allows driving schools to become certified as Third Party Test Facilities. This means that Drive Smart Georgia students can take their actual road test examination at one of our two locations.
Q: Can anyone take a Road Test at Drive Smart Georgia?
A: No. Only students who complete the 30-hour Drivers Ed classroom program AND at least six hours of in-car lessons are eligible to take their road test at Drive Smart Georgia.
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