Beginning Driving Lessons

An empty parking lot is a good place to begin your teen's driving lessons. According to research, your child will need to log at least 50 hours of varied practice with you or a trusted adult before earning the privilege of driving alone.

When you're confident that your teen understands the basics of vehicle control, let him or her drive you around. For exampe if you allow your child to practice driving while you run errands, those 50 or more hours of recommended driving practice will be accomplished quickly.

Use a Driving Practice Log to keep track weekly of how many hours you and your teen have driven together.  You also may want to jot down skills practiced, those mastered, and new ones to work on.

The first lesson should focus on making sure that your teen is knowledgeable and comfortable with the vehicle and its controls.

Review the controls and features of the car:

  • Dashboard controls
  • Steering wheel and seat adjustment
  • Mirror adjustment
  • Turn signals
  • Head lights
  • Wipers
  • Emergency lights
  • Parking brake/ release
  • Safety features like air bags and seat belts
  • Starting/ turning off the engine
  • Gas, brakes (especially anti-lock braking system-ABS)
  • Warning indicator lights on dashboard (such as low fuel, oil, temperature indicator.)
  • Also, be sure to show your teen where the registration, insurance card, and car manual are located.

Continue the first few hours of instruction by having your teen practice applying gas and brakes, turning, and backing up. When your teen begins to master each task, have him/her pull into and out of a parking spot.

This is also a good time to remind your child to pay attention to his or her surroundings:

For the next several lessons, stick to roads that have slower speed limits (under about 35 mph). Emphasize that the posted limit is only a guide for an acceptable speed in excellent conditions. The driver must adjust and drive even slower in poor weather, heavy traffic, or in areas with many pedestrians. Vary the routes to practice the following: