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Posts Tagged ‘driver’s education’

Spring, summer and fall all have their share of driving hazards: drunk drivers, heavy rains, fog. But the coming of winter brings on a whole new set of challenges for drivers. These challenges can be difficult for experienced drivers, and downright terrifying for new drivers. Ice and snow can create extremely treacherous conditions. One of the most infamous winter driving conditions is black ice. This type of ice gets its name because it appears clear on the top of the pavement and is nearly invisible. Underneath, the pavement looks gray or black, exactly as it would appear without ice on top. This is why this type of ice is so difficult to spot and can catch drivers off guard. Anyone who had drivers’ training will have received formal driving school instruction of dealing with black ice. However, if you were taught to drive by a friend or a parent you may not have learned formally how to deal with it. Even if you did, a review is always useful.

Ways To Recognize It

Black ice can form in a few different ways. It can come from rain or slush that freezes over, and also from snow that melts and then freezes again. It even sometimes forms when the temperature is a bit above freezing. If you do not have much experience with this kind of ice, you may think that the road just looks wet. However, wet roads are shinier and ice covered roads have a more dull look to them. Keep an eye out for any patches of road that look different. Be extra careful in the early morning. Ice is more likely to be present when there are less cars on the road, and when salt trucks may not have had a chance to cover the roads yet.

If your car does begin to slide, there are several things you can do to minimize the danger.

Take your foot off the gas pedal immediately.

Pressing down on the gas pedal will make the car accelerate. If you are already losing control of the car, the last thing you want is more speed. A slow moving car is much, much easier to drive than a fast moving car.

Do NOT slam your foot on the brakes.

Breaking abruptly is no less dangerous than speeding up, and is just as likely to cause a loss of control. You may gently tap the brake pedal, but do not ever slam on the brakes.

Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid.

When your car begins to skid, you may be able to turn into the skid, therefore keeping control of the car. This will work even better if the car has already slowed. Once you are in control, you can move the car back in the proper direction.

Even when you have successfully navigated one ice-covered area of the road, your troubles may not be over. Make sure you stay aware of your surroundings and look out for other patches that may be ahead. This will help you stay in control and avoid crashes.

Driving school instruction of dealing with black ice can help you stay safe when dealing with this tricky winter driving problem.

SWERVE driving school will help teach you life-long driving skills. California Online Drivers Education will provide the head start for safe driving.

Given the poor history of driver’s education in the United States, the emergence of professional driving schools that can “make a difference” is a much needed addition to local communities. Over 20,000 teens die every year in the U.S. and many times that many are involved in collisions that include injury, car repair cost, increased insurance cost, and a variety of other ancillary costs. In order to make the critical informed decision about what driving school to choose, the following criteria can help sort out the driver training program of preference:

Engagement is one of the keys to teen education and this applies to driver’s education as well. Are the driving lessons challenging? Do the instructors strive to motivate their students to continually improve? Is there communication between the driving school and the parent with feedback forms, web site status, etc.?

A key element of driver training is having a professional driving instructor. Find out whether the instructor’s training has exceeded the minimum requirements. Many instructors barely have the minimum required training. Other times police officers are used who are good at law enforcement, but not necessarily at driving instruction. Ask if they have received the same amount of training as professional instructors.

Convenience is another key factor in driving school selection. Are the driving lessons held close to home or school? Can you schedule behind the wheel drives online 7×24? Does the driving school have a dedicated customer center? There should be someone available to answer questions throughout the driver training process.

Proven Results: Very few driving schools can demonstrate how well they’ve trained their students. Are there reliable statistics available that show the results of their driving lessons? Do they have a money back guarantee? Are they committed to making their students excellent drivers or simply just trying to get them a license?

Most schools simply teach from old materials or have an outdated presentation. You should ask the driving school if they invest in the development of their program. A great driving school should have dedicated curriculum developers on staff – find out how much they’re investing in your teen’s training programs. A great driving school should be working with the research community leading to the building of driving lessons that are state of the art. Does the driving school invest in creating innovative systems for tracking student progress and scheduling drives?

A great driving school contributes to the community. This contribution can happen in a variety of ways and you should ask how they contribute. Have they actively backed legislature for the betterment of teen driving, such as cell phone laws? Have they sponsored programs, such as Washington’s Drive Nice Day? Do they work with local private and public schools?

The bottom line: Its your teen’s life and well-being that is at risk during their first year of driving an automobile. Its important to understand that there is a large variance between driving schools in what they can provide for your teen. Proper selection of a driving school is critical. Its not your Grandfather’s driver training any more and you now have the ability to select a driving school that can really make a difference in your teen’s ability to survive and thrive throughout their driving experience.

About the Author: Joe Driverson is a member of SWERVE’s team whose mission is to “Change The Way People Drive”. Please see SWERVE Driving School for more information on SWERVE’s driver training programs and its innovative and challenging approach to driver’s education.