What to expect during Driver’s Ed classes
Here’s what to expect during Driver’s Ed classes, including our popular in-person classes, Zoom classes from home, and our online Aceable Driver’s ed course.
Summertime is our busiest time of the year because students like to take Driver’s Ed when not facing the pressures of homework, projects, tests, and after school activities. If your teen will take Driver’s Ed this summer, here’s what to expect during the 30-hour course.
Advice for parents
Drive Smart Georgia has taught 60,000 students how to drive in the last fifteen years. While the thought of your baby hitting the interstate in a 2,000-pound moving vehicle may be a bit daunting, teaching lifelong good driving skills to teens is our specialty. In fact, we’re the only driving school in the region that has developed a signature, high-energy program designed specifically for teenagers.
More tips for mom and dad:
- Take a deep breath.
- Be a good role model – Follow traffic laws, put down that phone, don’t drive aggressively, and always wear a seat belt.
- Talk to your teen about what they are learning in class.
- Read up on Georgia’s Joshua’s Law to learn what’s required to obtain a license.
- Check out this excellent new driver resource from AAA’s Exchange.
- Book in-car lessons early to secure the most convenient times to fit your child’s busy schedule.
- Take another deep cleansing breath. It will be OK!
For parents: Q&A’s about Driver’s Ed at Drive Smart Georgia
Parents usually have more questions than students about Driver’s Ed and getting a Georgia driver’s license. Below are some common questions and our answers.
Q: Why does my teen need to take Driver’s Ed classes?
A: Joshua’s Law requires that all 16- and 17-year-olds must take an approved 30-hour Driver Education class or wait until the age of 18 to get a license. Drive Smart Georgia is a Georgia DDS provider. Since its passage in 2005, Joshua’s Law saves approximately 15,000 young lives every year.
Q: Is my teenager really ready to drive?
A. It may seem like just yesterday when you taught your child how to ride a bicycle. Is your baby really ready to get behind the wheel of a moving automobile? There is no one answer that fits all.
With that being said, if you pick a quality driving school for Driver’s Ed classes and work with your teen between driving lessons, chances are very good that your child will be well-prepared to pass the test and become a lifelong good driver.
Q: Am I really ready for my teen to drive?
A. While your teenager may be more than ready to drive, concerned parents are often very nervous and anxious. That’s completely natural! Yes, it can be a bit scary, but you’ve got this.
For students: What to expect during in-person Driver’s Ed classes
Q: What do students need to bring to Driver’s Ed classes at Drive Smart Georgia?
A. When students come to Driver’s 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 by Drive Smart Georgia. Students should dress for outdoor activities.
Q: When should students arrive for Driver’s Ed classes?
A. Students should arrive no sooner than 20 minutes and no later than 10 minutes before class start time. All classes begin ON TIME. So, parents should plan to arrive 10 minutes before class dismissal to pick up students on time.
Q: Will students get to drive before Driver’s Ed classes?
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. They must complete the class before beginning driving lessons.
Q: Can a student miss one day of Driver’s Ed classes?
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.
What happens during in-person Driver’s Ed classes?
Drive Smart Georgia designed our exclusive program that activates students with entertaining hands-on activities. Students absorb so much more knowledge when they are engaged mentally and physically. We actually take students outside to participate in our drunk goggles activity so they can see firsthand how drugs and alcohol impede on their ability to make quick decisions behind the wheel. We also play games like Jeopardy to help students retain what they learn in the classroom setting.
All work and no play is no fun at all. That’s why our Driver’s Ed teachers take frequent breaks throughout the day. Students will also get a lunch break every day.
At the end of the 30-hour Driver’s Ed class, students will take a test on what they learned. Almost all of our students easily pass the test because they have absorbed the material. After passing the test, students or parents can then create a Drive Scout account and schedule in-car driving lessons once the account is activated. This can take up to 72 hours.
What to expect during Driver’s Ed classes on Zoom
If your teen will take the 30-hour Driver’s Ed class on Zoom, you will receive two emails from us the week before the first class. You will receive the first email that details the dates and times of all six classes and what type of device works best for the classes on the Wednesday before the first class starts.
You will then receive a second email that includes the Zoom link, login and password info. It will also include a class packet that students will use during all classes. Please print it out prior to the first Zoom class.
During Driver’s Ed classes on Zoom, students will be able to interact with the teacher and other students. There will be a lunch break each day.
At the end of the 30-hour Driver’s Ed class on Zoom, students will take a test on what they learned. Almost all of our students easily pass the test because they have absorbed the material. After passing the test, students or parents can then create a Drive Scout account and schedule in-car driving lessons once the account is activated. This can take up to 72 hours.
What to expect during the Aecable online program
Students can start and stop the online Driver’s Ed program at their convenience from the comfort of their home. For this reason, our Aceable online option may be the perfect fit for active teens-on-the-go.
Not all online programs are created are equal. In fact, most are outdated and let students rush through a program that looks like it was built in 2000. So, we hand selected the best and most engaging course in the country for those busy teens who need a convenient alternative to our classroom or Zoom programs.
The Aceable online program offers interactive and stimulating courses are designed to keep students engaged with videos, quizzes, and more.
When students complete the Aceable course and pass the test, they will need to send us an email at [email protected] and attach a copy of the completion certificate and their permit. When we receive the email, we will send a reply with directions on how to create a Drive Scout account. Students or parents can then create a Drive Scout account and schedule in-car driving lessons once the account is activated. This can take up to 72 hours.
All three options meet all Joshua’s Law requirements
Rest assured that our in-person or Zoom Driver’s Ed classes meet all Joshua’s Law requirements. CLICK HERE to read more about Joshua’s Law.
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- How to know when teens are ready to drive solo
- How to save on auto insurance for teen drivers
- Advice for parents of teen drivers