Behind-the-Wheel Instruction for Teen Drivers: A Comprehensive Guide, Exercises of Law

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Texas Parent-Taught

Driver’s Education

Instructor Guide for Behind-the-Wheel

Instruction

Provided by

This is Safe2Drive’s guide for behind-the-wheel driver training. It is a straightforward self-help tool for parents to give their teens a good start behind the wheel. You, the parent (or guardian) and instructor, will use this guide to help teach your teen how to drive. The term, ‘behind-the-wheel’, implies you and your teen are sitting in the car. You will be behind the wheel in some cases; your teen will be behind it in others. But in all cases, you both will be in the car.

Please note, you must be registered for our Parent-Taught Driver Education course for this instruction to be valid and to receive a certificate. If you received this packet from someone else or if you were able to download it without registering for our Parent- Taught Driver Education course, please register for our course before proceeding with this guide.

1.0 How To Use This Guide

The state of Texas requires teens to complete a driver education program. It also authorizes parents (or guardians) to provide this education to their teens. The parent- taught program consists of two parts (Figure 1). One part involves coursework that your teen completes online under your supervision. The other part involves behind-the-wheel instruction that you provide your teen. The two parts work together to provide your teen a driver education that meets the requirements of the state of Texas. The two parts are done simultaneously. That means you provide behind-the-wheel instruction at the same time your teen completes the coursework online.

Figure 1 – Two Parts of Parent-Taught Driver Education

The driver education program in Texas is administered by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Our course is approved by the DPS and meets all requirements for Texas’ parent-taught driver education program.

1.1 Behind-the-Wheel Instruction

This guide focuses on behind-the-wheel instruction (Figure 2). It helps you teach your teen how to drive by giving him or her direct experience at driving.

Texas Parent-Taught

Driver Education

Online

Coursework

Behind-the-Wheel

Instruction

Figure 4 – Two Parts of Instruction

Practice

The 30 hours of practice driving begins after the teen completes the 14 hours of observation and instruction (20 hours of practice for students registered prior to October, 1, 2013). This guide works equally well for either the 20-hour or 30-hour practice lessons.

The State of Texas makes available free of charge a handy behind-the-wheel guide for the 30 hours of practice. You can get it from the Texas TEA web site:

http://www4.esc13.net/uploads/drivers/docs/forms/TX_30_Hour_BTW_Guide_8x11_(8- 2013)_Final.pdf

Alternatively you can download it from our site.

We follow the outline suggested in the Texas guide and add supplemental material to equip you with all the information you need.

1.2 Game Plan

This guide is a companion to the 30-hour online educational program and works in conjunction with it. We provide a map that shows the recommended times when a behind-the-wheel lesson should be given (Figure 5). In most cases the behind-the- wheel lessons cover material that has been covered in the course. However, this is not always true. In some cases topics in a behind-the-wheel lesson may cover material not yet covered in the course. In these cases we will include instructional material in the behind-the-wheel guide. You will teach your teen this material.

Behind-the-Wheel Instruction

Instruction 14 Hours

Practice 30 Hours

Observation 7 Hours

BTW Instruction 7 Hours

Figure 5 – Behind-the-Wheel and Coursework Map

Your teen must complete the first seven lessons of the online before Lesson 1 of behind- the-wheel instruction can be given. Then lessons 8 through 12 of the coursework should be completed before Lesson 2 of the behind-the-wheel instruction can be given. This interweaving of coursework and behind-the-wheel instruction continues until your teen has completed all the coursework and the 14 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. The practice lessons are administered in their entirety at the end.

Learner License

It is critical that your teen obtain a Learner License prior to starting any behind-the-wheel instruction (Figure 6). Your teen may apply for a license upon completion of the first seven lessons of the online coursework and receipt of a certificate of completion.

Figure 7 – Form 91B Part 1 (Instruction Log)

Figure 8 – Form 91B Part 2 (Practice Log)

1.4 Your Feedback

We at Safe2Drive hope you find this guide useful. We also hope you send us comments and questions. We always appreciate hearing from people who have used this guide. Let’s all keep working to make our highways safer and keep our teens safe on the road.

2.0 Behind-The-Wheel Instruction

We suggest you print the lessons in this section (2.0 Behind-the-Wheel Instruction) and keep them in the vehicle during the lessons. The lessons are broken down into simple steps.

Everyone learns best by doing. It is an approach based firmly on principles of human psychology. Here is one additional fact. People learn best by doing things repeatedly. In our years observing parents teach, we have noticed a tendency for parents to lecture their teens. We suggest you avoid this. For one thing, it may create tension between you and your teen. People are naturally put on edge by someone else lecturing to them. Do you remember being lectured when you were young?

In this lesson the focus is on what a driver does:

1. Before getting in the car
2. While in the car (i.e., monitoring car equipment)
3. Before getting out of the car

2) Observation

Before Getting in the Car

Show your teen what you do prior to getting into the car. Driving school instructors typically refer to this as the ‘walk-around’. Key items to cover include:

1. Check that no one and nothing is behind the car
2. Check the tires for proper pressure (review the owner’s manual)
3. Dents or damage to the car
4. Strangers in the back seat
5. Evidence of oil, coolant, or other fluid leaks

The first one is arguably the most important. If nothing else ensure your teen does this!

Looking for strangers in the car sounds funny on the face of it. But we have all read tragic stories where a driver is surprised by an intruder who hid in the back seat.

While in the Car

Adjust the seats to create comfort. Typically the seat should be adjusted so that you are approximately 10 inches away from the steering wheel. The hands should typically be on the 3:00 and 9:00 positions (Figure 10).

Figure 10 – Hand Position (Takes Airbags into Account)

Adjust the mirrors to ensure you have views to the rear and sides of the car. Explain the blind spot (Figure 11) and how to protect against it.

Figure 11 – Blind Spots

Adjust your feet. Show your teen where you place your feet and how they are used to accelerate and brake. Keep in mind only the right foot is used for the gas and brake; never the left (EVER!). Also, shoes must be worn at all times when driving.

Routine inspection of cars has nearly become a thing of the past given the advances in automotive technology. Today, we usually rely on warning lights to let us know when trouble is brewing with our brakes, tires, or just about any part on our car. In fact, we often ignore warning lights even when they are flashing because cars still manage to work just fine for days or weeks. This has had the unfortunate side-effect of letting us take things for granted.

Your teen should assume some responsibility for routine inspection and preventive maintenance. It is easy to do. Believe it or not, this is a handy time to actually pull out the owner’s manual and read it. Teens will get a better sense of how a car actually works.

Finally, buckle up (Figure 12)! Ensure all other occupants are buckled up as well.

Figure 12 – Buckle Up!

Turn the ignition to ‘on’ to show your teen the gauges that you use, what they do, and how you interpret them. Walk through how each knob, dial, and control operates. This includes oil gauges, lights, wipers, hazards, and so on.

Now turn the car on. Show your teen how to place the car in gear while the brake is applied.

Figure 14 – Pre Drive Checklist

Lesson 1 Checklist

Pre Drive Step Description 1 Possess valid Texas Learner License. 2 Search around vehicle for obstacles or leaks. 3 Check vehicle for damage. 4 Check tire condition (proper inflaction, wear). 5 Check for children or animals around vehicle. 6 Enter driver seat; lock doors. 7 Put key in ignition. 8 Adjust seat and head rest. 9 Adjust steering column if necessary. 10 Adjust mirrors. 11 Buckles safety belt. Ensures others are buckled. 12 Place hands in proper hand position. 13 Place foot on brake. 13 Start engine. 14 Inspect instrument panel to ensure vehicle is in safe condition.

Figure 15 – Drive Checklist

Figure 16 – Post Drive Checklist

4) Completing the Log

Upon completing this lesson you can update your log (Figure 17).

Lesson 1 Checklist

Drive Step Description 1 Release parking brake if necessary (remember foot is already on brake). 2 Place car in gear (assume driving forward). 3 Check for traffic, children, and other hazards. 4 Check rearview and side view mirrors. 5 Look over right and left shoulders. 6 Signal intention if necessary. 7 Gradually let up on brake and allow car to move forward. 8 Identify location at othe end of parking lot and drive toward it. 9 Bring car to a stop by applying the brake. 10 Turn car around. 11 Repeat steps 7-10 at other speeds (5 mph, 10 mph, and 15 mph). 12 Pull into and out of a parking space. 13 Repeat this step at other speeds (5 mph, 10 mph, and 15 mph). 14 Pull into and out of a parking space. 15 Align car in parking space with equal spaces on each side. 16 Align car in space with front bumper about six inches from front end of space. 17 Practice turn right using twelve steps. 18 Practice turn left using twelve steps.

Lesson 1 Checklist

Post Drive Step Description 1 Come to a complete stop. 2 Place car in park. 3 Apply parking brake. 4 Turn off lights and other accessories. 5 Turn off ignition. 6 Remove foot from brake. 7 Remove key from ignition. 8 Unbuckle and get out of car. 9 Inspect car and ensure it is parked properly. 12 Lock car.

We at Safe2Drive commonly hear the following expression when someone describes a crash they have experienced: “He came out of nowhere.” In reality, nothing comes out of nowhere. More than likely, the driver was not scanning.

Teens must develop scanning skills to identify real and potential hazards (Figure 18). Failure to see hazards, real and potential, is a common reason for crashes among teen drivers.

Figure 18 – Real and Potential Hazards

Your challenge in this exercise is to help your teen develop his or her eagle eyes. You will expand his or her horizon and area of focus.

Find a country road or quieter street with relatively long stretches of uninterrupted pavement. Ask your teen to identify the farthest point down the road. Typically this will be something that is fairly close. Help your teen find a spot twice as far down the road. The goal is to increase the scanning distance to about 12 seconds. On highways this means about a quarter mile. Your teen may express reservation about missing what is going on closer to home. However, it will become second nature with practice.

Also, show your teen how to scan left to right, identifying real and potential hazards. Typically, new drivers barely look beyond the sides of the road. Teach your teen to scan a wider area to identify looming hazards such as children on a playground, cars approach an intersection, or pedestrians approaching a crosswalk.

Managing the Space around the Vehicle

Teens also have a tendency to drive too close to the car in front. Moreover, they do not realize how protective the space around their vehicle can be. Begin this exercise by showing your teen how to pull into and out of the garage. Demonstrate how you ensure equal space on both sides when parking. Demonstrate how you pull within a desired distance of the front of the garage.

Next take your teen to a quiet street and demonstrate how you stay in the center of your lane. Explain how much space is between you and cars parked on the side as well as cars approaching in oncoming traffic. Show how mirrors can be used to effectively fine tune the distances between the vehicle and other obstacles on the side. Demonstrate to them the concept of gates, and how they must always maintain two open gates around the car (Figure 19) to ensure a safe exit strategy.

Figure 19 – Space Around the Car in the Form of ‘Gates’

Maintaining Vehicle Balance

Another common mistake teens make while driving is going into a turn too fast. In this exercise you will demonstrate the principles of vehicle balance. Specifically, you will demonstrate how to recover from entering a turn too fast.

Take your teen to a large empty parking lot that allows you to make left and right turns at about 30 mph. Demonstrate to your teen what happens if you turn to sharply. Then apply brakes while turning to show that this actually makes the situation worse (Figure 20 ). Then demonstrate to your teen the proper way to recover from this hazardous situation by taking your foot off the gas pedal.

Figure 21 – 3-Point Turn

3) Instruction

Now switch places with your teen.

Scanning Down the Road

Park the car on a quiet street with a view as far down the road as possible. Have your teen identify objects, especially potential hazards, nearby and then as far down the road as possible.

Repeat the step while the teen drives slowly down the quiet street, constantly identifying new hazards as they appear.

Make sure your teen scans from left to right, again identifying potential hazards.

Managing the Space around the Vehicle

Have your teen pull into and out of the garage. Challenge him or her to create equal space on both sides. Also ensure your teen can park within one foot of the front obstacle in the garage. Provide him or her queues for how to identify how much space exists on the sides, front, and back.

Take your teen to a quiet street and ask him or her to stay in the center of your lane. Have him or her estimate how much space is between your car and cars parked on the side as well as cars approaching in oncoming traffic.

Have him or her use the mirrors.

Maintaining Vehicle Balance

Take your teen to a large empty parking lot that allows you to make left and right turns at about 20 mph. Have your teen turn the car sharply to feel the weight of the car shift.

Next, have your teen apply the brakes sharply to feel the weight shift again.

Finally, have your teen demonstrate how to slow down by simply removing the foot from the gas pedal.

Entering the Flow of Traffic

Using the landmarks you identified, have your teen pull into traffic.

Turning Around

Have your teen turn around in a cul-de-sac without backing up.

Have your teen do a 3-point turn.

4) Completing the Log

Upon completing lesson 2, complete your log by filling in your lesson dates and signing it. Keep in mind you must spend 2 hours on lesson 2 at a minimum. You may spend more hours if you wish.

Figure 22 – Completing the Log for Lesson 2

2.3 Driver Readiness

1) Overview

This lesson requires a minimum of 2 hours evenly divided between observation and instruction. The location is a lightly travelled multiple-lane highway (Figure 23). Ideally, you can find a street that is quiet enough to not cause your teen anxiety but provide sufficient traffic to allow your teen to interact with other cars.

In this lesson your teen will learn to travel respectfully with other traffic and change lanes. The concept of a safe following distance is presented.

Enter date and time you started lesson 2 observation.

Enter date and time you started lesson 2 instruction.

Sign here.