About Driver's Education

Taking driver's education is a rite of passage for teenagers. A student may take driver's ed as an elective high school course, in a private class or online. Students in driver's ed will learn about road rules, state laws, safety and operating a car, from both instruction in the classroom and on the road. Some states require completion of driver's ed before a teenager can get a restricted driver's license called a learner's permit.

Features

A typical driver's ed course in California consists of 32 hours of classroom instruction and 14 hours of behind-the-wheel training. The instruction requirement can be completed online, in a classroom at a high school or through a community driver's education class. A student will learn about state traffic laws, how a car operates, maneuvering, parking, driving in different environments, the effects of drugs and alcohol and emergency practices. Once the class is completed, the student will receive a certificate that is necessary for them to apply for their learner's permit or provisional license.

Benefits

Driver's education provides a simple and thorough introduction to the rules of the road and traffic laws. The class gives teenagers who are itching to drive the basics for how to begin driving safely, setting in place techniques that will guide them. Using the driver's education tools provided in class and on the road, a young driver can--and may be excited to--safely continue to practice during off-hours with an adult 25 years or older in the car.

Time Frame

Driver's education lasts for a few months when completed at school or in a private class, or 30 to 50 hours online. Once the course is completed, the driver is still limited to having a learner's permit or provisional license for the first six months to a year of driving.

Misconceptions

Passing driver's ed doesn't automatically make someone a safe driver. It arms him with knowledge of basic rules and practices, as well as making him aware of all the aspects of driving, including what to do in an emergency. But the consistent practice, patience, alertness and time behind the wheel with a seasoned, helpful driver beside him is what makes the student a safe driver.

Geography

A young driver will spend most of his driver's ed experience in a classroom. Only about a quarter of the class time is spent behind the wheel with an instructor. When the student is on the road during class time, he will be asked to drive on two-lane roads as well as highways, and to drive both during the day and at night. Students may be required to drive through crowded parking lots, and will be expected to practice parallel parking.

Size

A typical high school driver's education class has 30 students. When you do your behind-the-wheel instruction, you may be taking turns with two other students in the car, with the instructor's guidance.
When the time comes for behind-the-wheel training for students who complete the instruction online, the number of passengers varies, depending on the program.