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Hey man....I was that kid at one time. I've got tons of stories from when I was learning.
Once I was driving with my dad. I was driving on a curvy road and this big turtle was crossing the road in front of me. I had plenty of time to avoid it but my dad had just gotten on my case about staying between the lines. He said, "You see that turtle?". I said, "Yep." He said,"Well?" "Thump-Thump", said the tire to the turtle. Poor guy never stood a chance. LMAO
I have a similar story about a dog and my older cousin's learning period.....
Well, in OH - they are required to take a driver's course from a professional. So those classes are starting 4/17/11 - he will have to go to a class for four hours every Sunday for like 5 weeks.
After that, he will start his 'in car' sessions with the instructor. I believe 'Top Driver' is the name of the driving school.
It's a requirement here in OH - but they are supposed to have some 'baseline knowledge' when they start.
So maybe he and I can just stick to neighborhood streets until he gets some professional training!
It's quite expensive or I would hire another one to start right now!
But I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences; it is helpful to hear from those that have - been there done that.
Well, in OH - they are required to take a driver's course from a professional. So those classes are starting 4/17/11 - he will have to go to a class for four hours every Sunday for like 5 weeks.
After that, he will start his 'in car' sessions with the instructor. I believe 'Top Driver' is the name of the driving school.
It's a requirement here in OH - but they are supposed to have some 'baseline knowledge' when they start.
So maybe he and I can just stick to neighborhood streets until he gets some professional training!
It's quite expensive or I would hire another one to start right now!
But I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences; it is helpful to hear from those that have - been there done that.
Hey - been there, done that. 3 kids, the youngest being 20.'
I taught them all how to drive. I'm still alive, and so are they. And, in fact, none of them have had any accidents.
We have a huge - and I do mean HUGE - cemetery by our house. Lots and lots of little "streets." It was a great place to start. After that it was just a whole lot of them driving, with me in the passenger seat telling them what to do.
With each of our 3 kids, they got mad at me repeatedly for telling them how to drive. I asked them if they wanted to stop practicing and not get their licenses. They shut up.
I relentlessly ground "safety" and "defensive driving" into their heads, while I was riding with them.
Eventually they catch on. But don't kid yourself - you'll have a lot more gray hair when it's over!
I suggest the first thing you do is YOU drive and give a narrative of what you are doing so that he can focus on these things while not having the stress of actually driving.
Point out signs-speed limit, stop, yield, intersection, railroad, merge, curve, and so on. Explain exactly what each one means and what to do. Even if you think he knows or HE thinks he knows, explain it.
Speed limit - it's there for a reason. 30 on residential streets because you never know when a a person or vehicle may enter the street suddenly from a driveway or yard. 55 on highway to keep traffic flowing smoothly. 10 in a park because children are playing and might chase a ball into your path and it's up to YOU to prevent an accident.
Stop-come to a full and complete stop and look all directions before continuing. Pay attention to the lane you are in and do not go straight if you are in a turn lane and vice versa.
Intersection-understand that means more than one road are about to intersect. Pay attention to stop signs or signals and don't assume all the other drivers will abide by the rules. That's how many accidents happen-people running stop signs or red lights.
Yield means to give way to the other driver, but it also may mean you have to come to a complete stop. Do not continue until your path is clear.
Railroad means you pay attention to flashing lights, crossing arms coming down (don't be under them or run through them!) and don't ever stop on the tracks!
Merge - traffic from different streets or lanes need to share one soon, so be prepared to let others in or safely work your way into the shared lane.
Curve- as mentioned you must slow your speed, especially in bad weather conditions. Rain just beginning is far more dangerous than rain that's been occurring for a while as all the oil on the road has not been washed away yet, so it's the slipperiest then..
All those things that we as long time drivers know automatically doesn't seep into their pores just because they are in the car with you. So talk him through it all. Ask him what you should do to see if he knows.
Then get him out for practice. Maybe try an industrial area on the weekend where there are all kinds of roads, yet not much traffic and you don't have to worry about children, bicycles or motorcycles.
This is all good advice; however, there could be differences with the speed limit. Out here it's 25 for residential and 65 for the freeways unless you are in what's considered a rural area. Then it's 70 I believe.
Advice on what not to do? Anything that my driving instructor had me do. Seriously, the first day driving she took me down a very steep and pretty curvy hill. Then she took me through a school zone as an elementary school let out for the day. Those would be things I suggest for later on in the training.
Don't do that to your son... Have him go to a professional, but not you (even if you are a professional).
I taught my wife to drive. We are still married 42 years later. What still comes up periodically? My teaching her to drive and her horrible pork chops...
My kids and grand kids got professional driving lessons. Near the end they are allowed to give their father/grandfather a ride...
The way we taught our daughter to drive was to hire a professional.
He picked her up twice a week in a student driver vehicle and drove with her 1-2 hours at a time.
After she did that for a few weeks, she felt confident and now drives my huge SUV around lol.
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