Westwood Driving School |
1093 Broxton Ave., Suite 218, Los Angeles, CA 90024 | 310-824-4444 |
|
| Parent Training Information |
Driver Training Tips |
In order to drive in California all new drivers must obtain a permit from the DMV. Driving practice MUST be with a California Driver over 25. Drivers over 17 1/2 need only obtain a permit to start driving practice. To get a permit, go to the DMV (with or without an appointment, though you can make an appointment by calling 1-800-777-0133 or online at www.dmv.ca.gov). Bring your original state birth certificate or passport, your Social Security number, a driver license application (DL-44), and the current fee (as of January 2010, this fee is $31). Once at the DMV, check in at the appropriate desk, wait for them to call your number, present your documentation, have your picture taken, take the vision test, and then take and pass the written permit test (see our Teen Zone page for some quizzes and helpers that will get your brain ready for the written test). New drivers under 18 must have the application signed by both parents (though no one should sign their own application until the DMV employee tells them to sign it - they want to watch you sign the application).. New drivers under 17 1/2 must also do the following (before going to the DMV): New drivers under 17 1/2 must also (after obtaining the permit and before driving with a parent) take their first driver training appointment with their driving school. |
Teaching a new driver the proper techniques is no small task!
Pre-trip the Car Every Time He or She Drives the Car: Walk around the car. Look for uneven tread on tires - this is usually caused by incorrect air pressure. Tires should be checked at least once a month. Look for nails or debris on tires. Watch for tires that deflate too quickly. Look for fluids (oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, coolant) that might be dripping from the car. If there is visible fluid, check the reservoir. Fill if appropriate, but watch for additional leakage that may require a trip to your favorite mechanic. Point out the features of the car. (Lights, signals, defroster, parking brake, hazard lights) Teach student to to set up the mirrors properly. Here is an effective technique: 1) Get behind the steering wheel, grasp sttering wheel at 9-3, sit in the position you prefer while driving. From this position, look (with only your eyes, do NOT move your body or head) in the rear-view mirror. Adjust the mirror so that you see the entire back window with merely an eye movement. Set up the head restraint by moving it up until it encounters the fattest part of your head. A head restraint should be high, and it might even feel a smidge uncomfortable. You will get used to it. A head restraint should push the head slightly forward while driving. Do not allow the student to recline the seat while driving unless their extreme height forces the recline. Do not allow a student to get closer to the steering wheel than the manufacturer allows (ie: no pillows behind the back!) Turn on the low-beam headlights. Always. This is one of the most effective (yet passive) things you can do to keep from being hit, cut off, etc. While Driving: Listen for unusual noises of any kind. (rubbing noises, squeaking brakes). Listen for brake noise or changes in brake response. Monthly: Check the oil level - most cars should be changed every 3000 miles or every four months, whichever comes first, especially once the car is over four years old. Newer cars should adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations. Check the air pressure of all four tires (the proper tire-pressure will be in your owner's manual or on the b-pillar sticker of your car). Check for current documents in glove box. Steering Keep student’s hands below 10-2. Keep elbows away from steering wheel. A 9-3 or 8-4 positioning is encouraged, with a push-pull shimmy rather than a hand-over-hand technique - just keep the hands on opposite sides of the steering wheel as much as possible. Keep thumbs (and hands) on the OUTSIDE of the steering wheel. Hand-over-hand steering is no longer taught as a safe driving technique. Attitude Do not drive aggressively; prevent road rage. Defensive driving is NOT aggressive driving. Do not drive in others' blind spots; do not tailgate. Relax: do not try to teach someone to drive if you are trying to get somewhere quickly. Radio is inappropriate for new drivers. Introduce ONLY after student is ready for distractions. Obey ALL Laws Complete stops at all stop signs. Teach the student to feel the rocking motion when stopping at a stop sign or for a right turn on a red. Always make a complete stop prior to the crosswalk before turning on a red light. Teach a left-right-left (three-count) traffic check at every intersection. (This is NOT a three-second stop). Never stop in a crosswalk. Never block traffic or a sidewalk/crosswalk. (Even an imaginary crosswalk) Obey the two-second rule at controlled intersections (This means STOP if you are more than two seconds away from the intersection when the light turns yellow. NEVER accelerate through a yellow but be careful not to slam on the brakes at a yellow light either - just coast. Be aware of the cars behind you long before you arrive at the intersection; if there is a car directly behind you and stopping suddenly would cause an accident, proceed through the intersection and honk your horn to warn others if necessary.) Signal 100 feet prior to a turn (law); signal five seconds prior to a lane change (DMV suggestion). Left-hand turns should end in the left lane only (with one lane turning.) This is safer than turning wide, though turning wide on a left turn is not a ticket-able offense. Right turns must always end in the right lane unless there are two lanes turning simultaneously (failure to 'hug the curb' is ticket-able). Do not allow student to 'swing wide'. Explain to to the student that the car pivots on its back wheels (you DO know that the back wheels do not steer, right?). Watch for confusion when making left turn on 'yield.' Stay behind the crosswalk unless your ENTIRE car can proceed into intersection while waiting to make a yield left. Keep wheels STRAIGHT and your brakes ON while waiting for safe turn; stay to the right of the yellow lines until you are ready to turn. You are LEGAL to turn when safe as long as your entire car entered the intersection (not sitting in the crosswalk) prior to the yellow light turning on. [Teaching technique: while green, look for space in interior square of intersection. Proceed into the intersection as long as ENTIRE car will fit. (Stay behind crosswalk if any part of car would sit in crosswalk). Look at cars, look at light; look at cars, look at light. . . proceed if no cars are approaching within 200 feet (about four seconds). If you are completely in the intersection when the light turns yellow, say "Now the light is irrelevant because we are committed to our turn, and we are legally IN the intersection. We will go once we are sure ALL cars approaching us are stopping." Point out how an approaching car's hood lowers when the car is stopping - something the student should always see before proceeding. Proceed with turn once safe - if there is ANY doubt, wait until it is safe.] It is always safest to allow someone 'running' a red light to proceed when turning 'yield left' because it is much easier for the red-light runner to prove that you turned left in front of him, than for you to prove that he or she 'ran' the red light. There is no problem with you waiting for that red-light-runner car to finish - the cross traffic (who now have a green, permissive light) cannot enter the intersection legally unless you are out of the way. If they enter or honk while you wait for the oncomers to finish, THEY are breaking the law, not you! Once it is safe, do not hesitate to complete your turn in the appropriate lane.] Always MERGE into bike lane (no more than 200 feet from corner) when turning - never cross over a solid white line to merge into the bike lane (unless you are turning into a parking lot or driveway) and never cut off a bicyclist in the bike lane. Whenever making a right turn at a corner, your car should be close enought to the curb that no car or bicyclist would dream of driving between you an the curb. If you start your turn too far from the curb and another car gets between you and the curb and you collide. . . you will probably share the liability. Conversely, if there is room for two cars (one going straight and one turning right) and you plan on driving straight through the intersection, please hug the left side of your lane so that those who wish to turn have the room to the right of your car to do so. THAT is simply common courtesy. Teach ALL Aspects of Driving Have your student fill the gas tank. Use every opportunity to teach. Clean the front window if there is a hint of dust on the window. Check the air pressure in the tires if time allows. Show how to check the air in the tires. (Look on the sticker to the left of the driver, usually located on the "B" pillar or on the threshold of the driver door.) Parking Street parking: Emphasize best movement for street parking, 6-12" away from curb at all times. Less than 6" will risk your wheels (those shiny things your tires are on), more than 12" risks a ticket. Parallel parking: Show correct procedures. BACK IN ONLY Remember, the trick to parallel parking: 1) pull alongside front car, two feet to the left of that car, 2) back bumpers even, 3) turn steering wheel ALL THE WAY to the right, reverse, 4) when steering wheel is even with front car's back bumper, stop, straighten and continue backing until your front bumper clears the other cars's back bumper, 5) stop and turn wheels all the way to the left, continue backing until desired position is reached, 6) adjust. Lot parking: Always look in the direction that the car is moving; use your headlights when driving in a dark parking lot. Show caution. Watch for back-up lights. signals, brake lights, drivers behind steering wheels, little feet. . . Backing up Teach 30-foot back-up on level, straight road. (NOT in a 'No Stopping' zone.) Have student look in appropriate direction (out the back window, not the mirror), stop, leaving 'pavement space' behind the front car when you first pull over. Your left hand should be at 12-oclock, right hand behind passenger seat, look over the your right shoulder. Maintain 6-12" without hitting curb. You must NOT use mirrors or cameras when backing up on the test. A new driver should NOT back up out of a driveway. It is best to street park in front of house at first. (Trust me on that one - years and years of doing this stuff.) Drive on freeway only when ready. Must demonstrate quick and correct decisions before trying freeways. Emphasize Defensive Techniques Look Ahead The law says to look 10-15 seconds ahead at all times (one city block, quarter mile on the freeway). A personal technique that seems to make sense to traffic school classes: If you can't see what the guy in front of you sees, back off or go around him! You are placing too much faith in his driving skills if you are depending on his brakes to tell YOU when to brake! TELL your new driver WHAT YOU are seeing, later, have the student tell you what they see! Stick to the center lanes of traffic - stay out of the right lane, and do not drive in the left lane if faster traffic is behind you. Keep Your Distance Always teach driving at a minimum three-second distance. Four seconds in bad weather, when tailgated, or when following a larger vehicle (SUV) or a motorcycle. Personal technique: While driving, if the guy in front of you hits his brakes and you reflexiely hit your brake. . . you are too close. His brake light should simply encourage you to lift off the accelerator. Anything more substantial is a clear indication that you are TOO CLOSE! When stopped, make sure the student can see PAVEMENT between you and the car in front of you. There is NEVER an excuse for hitting the car in front of you. Also, once stopped, stay stopped. Do not creep up inch by inch. Always stop one to three feet in front of the limit line. (The bumper, not the wheels count.) More than six feet from limit line is too far and not considered a legal stop. NEVER run yellow lights - these lights are typically about three seconds long. Teach the two-second rule (see above). Teach student to 'read' pedestrian lights to anticipate the lights changing. (Yellow lights will typically turn on just over three seconds after a properly-timed solid red pedestrian hand. There is NO EXCUSE for running a yellow light when the lights are counted down, as so many are in Los Angeles!) Keep Your Eyes Moving You are the eyes and ears of the driver during the training. Don't let your guard down. Student should alternate between the five visuals: three mirrors, dash and windshield. Insist on constant eye movement; never allow them to ‘drop’ their eyes below the dash while the car is moving. Teach to look over the (or a least to the) shoulder when making a lane change. Leaning into the mirror, while an acceptable method of looking into the blind spot in real life, is NOT recognized by the DMV and would cause failure on the test. Emphasize Responsible Driving Do NOT minimize provisional limitations: no driving without adult over 25 in car while on permit status. Fifty hours (through a minimum of six months) of practice for license, ten of those hours must be at night (with parents). No driving friends (under 20) in car and no driving between 11PM and 5AM for first 12 months, without someone over 25 in car. (Yes, there are exceptions for siblings in work, family, school and medical necessities. This is not a primary offense, though an officer can pull the car over for a multitude of offenses and would have no difficulty in doing so.) Insist on seat belt use at all times - ignition only after securing belt, adjusting mirrors and head restraint. Emphasize driver's responsibility for passengers. Have them physically check for seat-belt usage before starting car. Watch the Speed! Teach strict adherence to speed limits! NEVER tell a student that they should keep up with speeding traffic! By law, you should drive with the speed of traffic up to the speed limit, but never over the speed limit. Telling a student that '5 miles too fast is okay' is WRONG! While it is unlikely that they will get a ticket for such a small infraction, they ARE liable for a ticket and will absolutely fail a drive test. Don't drive in the passing lane. Be courteous, move to a slower lane when there is traffic behind you. Favorite Defensive Driving Technique: COVER THE BRAKE Inattention in intersections causes more than 73% of the really bad accidents out there. . . but using the cover-the-brake technique can keep and intersection accident from happening to YOU! In a nutshell: When driving in city traffic, as you approach an intersection (big, small, controlled, uncontrolled), 100 feet from the intersection (about 1/8th of a block), lift up off the accelerator and swing your right foot to the brake pedal. Don't touch the brake pedal - the car does not really slow down, but you are on alert. Now look left-right-left (you are looking for people on the cross who may be running a light or sign). If the cross traffic is not a problem, look at the oncoming traffic, specifically the on-coming vehicle positioned to make a left turn in front of you. There are four 'tells' that would indicate that he might make an unsafe turn, they are: 1) Is his signal on? (law is that it MUST be on 100 feet prior to the turn. . . how hard IS it to lift the pinkey to turn it on?, 2) Is he stopped? (A bad driver might be rolling slightly forward), 3) Are his wheels straight? (they should be, but some really bad drivers turn too soon), 4) Is he on the cell phone (Alert. . .Alert! Bad driver. Watch out!). If the left-turner is signaling with stopped, straight wheels, looking right at you, he probably will not turn in front of you. If he has not signaled, is rolling in your direction while on the cell phone - - be ready to brake! Let the guy behind you know what you see by braking early! Use your horn to warn rolly guy that you are there - he probably doesn't realize that you ARE there, given that his brain is on his cell phone call. . .
|
ADULT/ PARENT INFORMATION | INFORMATION | TEEN ZONE | NEWS | SCHEDULE | RATES | HOME | CONTACT US |
©1998-2008 Copyright Westwood Driving School 310DriversEd.com | www.dmv.ca.gov | www.nhtsa.com | accident report |