What are the benefits of taking a drivers ed course in Tallahassee?

1. Confidence

When a teenager completes a driver’s education course, they walk away feeling more confident about their abilities as a driver and with a better understanding of cars and safety regulations. This boosts their confidence level and means that they will respond appropriately in difficult driving situations. This confidence will, in the end, make them better drivers. And that will provide peace of mind to nervous parents. Mom and dad can rest easy knowing that their baby is driving with confidence and being safe out on the roads and highways. And it’s hard to put a value on that kind of peace of mind.

2. Personal Responsibility

Above all else, driver’s education courses teach students a sense of personal responsibility when operating a car. Teens in a driver’s education class are basically taught that every accident is their fault, and that they are not just responsible for their life, but also the lives of the passengers in their vehicle. This gives people who take driver’s education a greater awareness of the responsibility that comes with having a license. It is not just about freedom and taking off in your parents’ car. A strong sense of personal responsibility is often what separates people who take a driver’s education course from people whose parents taught them to drive. Look at this site to find out more about local driving courses. 

3. Defensive Driving Techniques

Driver’s education courses and safe driving classes today focus on teaching people how to drive defensively. This promotes safety and leads to safer drivers on the roads and highways. Specifically, people learn how to spot aggressive drivers on the road, avoid crashes and when to pull off the road. People are also taught how to drive in all types of weather—rain, snow and icy conditions. The emphasis at all times is on safety and not being an aggressor on the streets. This is important and helps to foster a lifelong focus on safety for people who go through a driver’s education course. One Direction Driving is great local school that places much emphasis on defensive driving. Some driver’s education courses provide people with a second, separate certificate for completing the defensive driving portion of the program, and this can lead to more insurance discounts.

4. Greater Awareness of Drugs and Alcohol

It’s one thing to tell your teenaged son or daughter not to drink and drive. It is another thing entirely for your teen to sit through a devastating series of videos that show the destruction and consequences caused by drunk driving or people driving while under the influence of drugs. And that is what most driver’s education courses offer—a greater awareness of the impact drugs and alcohol can have on people operating a motor vehicle. Many driver’s education courses bring in law enforcement officials to talk, first hand, about the damage they’ve seen caused by drunk driving. And those speeches resonate more with young drivers than any lecture they get from their parents at the dinner table.

 

5. Rules of the Road

Studies show that most of us could use a refresher concerning the rules of the road. In fact, the longer a person has been driving, the less familiar they tend to be with contemporary driving rules. Most of us remember only enough from a driver’s manual to get us through the test and then quickly forget the information. However, in a driver’s education course, people are exposed to the information longer, tested on all aspects of it more than once, and are required to put the rules of the road into action in front of an instructor and their peers. And studies show that this practice helps people remember the information better and drive safer when they are out on the road by themselves.

6. Mechanical Knowledge

How many people reading this know how to change their own car tire in the event that they get a flat? How many folks out there know what to do if their car overheats on a road trip? People who take driver’s education courses these days know what to do because these programs increasingly teach their students not only the rules of the road, but practical car smarts as well. Specifically, driver’s education courses teach people basic mechanical knowledge about vehicles—where the radiator is located, what an oil pan does, how to change a flat tire, etc. This information can prove to be invaluable should something go wrong with a car, or when a young driver is out on the roads alone. It’s a cliché, but the truth is that a little knowledge really does go a long way—particularly when it comes to cars.

7. Lower Insurance Premiums

A majority of car insurance companies in Canada and the United States offer discounts for teens who have successfully completed a driver’s education course. This discount can be as high as 25% with some insurance companies, and it can save mom and dad big bucks when adding their kids to their auto insurance policy. Be sure to check with a licensed insurance agent before enrolling in a driver’s education course to learn which insurers recognize driver’s education and safe driving courses, and provide discounts for course completion. Note that some insurers have a preferred driver’s education course that they like people to take to qualify for the discount they offer.

Source – goliath.com

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from One Direction Driving http://www.onedirectiondriving.com/benefits-taking-drivers-ed-course-tallahassee/

What are some tips for taking the driving test in Tampa Florida?

 

After you have completed and passed your written drivers test, you will need to take the behind the wheels portion of testing in order to receive your license. The Florida behind-the-wheel road test is approximately 20 minutes long, and will cover some of the basic maneuvers you will you use in daily driving on the road. An instructor will ride with you during the test and grade you based on your ability to complete simple operations such as turning right and left on the road.

What can I do to prepare before taking my behind the wheel test?

Many people fail their road test several times before finally receiving their license. Making sure you are in good physical and mental condition to test is a good way to assure you will pass on the first try. If you are nervous, sleepy or in a bad emotion state while trying to take the behind the wheels test it is likely you will make bad decisions.

Prepare Yourself

Many drivers become nervous in anticipation of the test. Make sure you keep yourself calm and a relaxed upon arrival for test day. Get a good night sleep and eat a healthy meal, so that you will be alert and ready to pass. In addition, review the Florida driver’s handbook so that you are confident in understanding the signs and signals you will come across on the road. And if you received a quality drivers education from a reputable driving school, then you”ll be a more prepared and confident driver. Look at this site to learn more about the importance of choosing a good driving school.

Prepare your Vehicle

In addition to preparing yourself, be sure that you know the vehicle you are driving. Some companies offer their own specific cars for use during the test. These vehicles are clearly marked so that other drivers will know you are testing. Before driving on the road, adjust your mirrors, seat and steering wheel to a position that is comfortable for you. This will help avoid blind spots and accidents.

If you are using your own vehicle, take some time to become familiar with it. Go for at least one practice drive with your licensed driver before the test day. Check that all lights and turn signals are working and in good condition. Keep in mind if you are using your own vehicle the other drivers on the road will not know you are a new driver and testing.

What Are Some Helpful Tips to assure I Pass While at the Test?

The day of the test arrives and you have prepared yourself mentally and physically to pass. Your vehicle is well prepared and passes inspection to be used on the road. Now it is time for the actual testing. Follow these helpful tips to assure you become a licensed driver:

• Start the test with the engine off. In Florida, beginning the test with the vehicle already running is said to be an automatic fail.

• Make all of your adjustments before you begin driving. Assure that your mirrors are in the correct position so that you see clearly through them and that your seat is in a comfortable position. Do not move your mirrors, seat or steering while in motion on the road. The judge will deem you an unsafe driver.

• Wait for the judge to tell you to proceed before driving off.

• Use your turn signal when pulling away from the curb and check for oncoming traffic before pulling out. Do not swing out too far and over any lines.

What can I do while on the road to pass the test?

Stay calm while on the road, it will help you to make better judgments if a situation arises. Follow the rules of safe driving to assure you do not endanger yourself or other drivers during the test:

• Steer and accelerate and smoothly. Don’t race your engine or stall the vehicle.

• Brake gently and avoid sudden jerks. Know where to stop on the road, such as crosswalks and railroad tracks.

• Know and use traffic signals correctly at all times.

• Stay in the correct lane. When turning a corner or at an intersection, be sure to turn from the correct lane and entering into the correct lane after completing the turn.

• Make sure you drive defensively and anticipate other driver’s actions.

How can I avoid Automatic Failing of the test?

The behind the wheels test works on a point grading system. But there are some cases where you will automatically fail your test and be asked to retest at a later date after more practice. The most obvious of these would be injuring another vehicle or causing an accident while on the road. Here are some ways to avoid an accident and receiving an automatic fail:

• Do not stop at a yield. This will potential cause you to be hit from behind by another driver.

• Don’t signal too soon or too late.

• Nervous drivers tend to hesitate. Keep calm and know your moves before you make them.

Follow these helpful tips before and during your behind the wheels test and you will surely pass on the first try. After you complete a driving course from a quality school such as One Direction Driving you will have a greater understanding of how to approach the driving. It is important to stay calm while out there and remember that the drivers around you are experienced so they may not be prepared for you to make a rash decision. Know ahead of time what you are planning to do, whether it be changing lanes or making a turn. Practice makes perfect so most importantly, assure you have had plenty of time on the road and you will be driving on your own in no time.

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from One Direction Driving http://www.onedirectiondriving.com/tips-taking-driving-test-tampa-florida/

When can you get a learner’s permit in Orlando Florida?

Getting Your Florida Learner’s Permit

The number of accidents each year involving teen drivers is astonishing. To combat this, and to improve the quality of teen drivers statewide; Florida became the first state to enact a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program.

One of the first milestones on your journey to your Florida driver’s license is to obtain your driver’s permit, called a learner license in FL. Below you will find important information—from what you need to bring to the Division of Driver Licenses to taking an online Driver’s Ed course  or taking an in-person course, such as from http://www.onedirectiondriving.com/fl/drivers-ed-orlando. You’ll even learn about passing the written exam on your first try with the help of an online practice test.

New to Florida?

If you’re new to the state you can transfer a learner’s permit from your previous state to Florida. Just bring the documents mentioned below along with your existing permit with you to your local Division of Driver Licenses.

Apply for Your FL Learner’s Permit

To get your learner’s permit in the state of Florida, you must:

• Be at least 15 years old.
• Complete a Traffic Laws and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course. 
  • This course is also referred to as Driver’s Ed. You can complete the course in a classroom, or you can do it online from a certified provider. For more about online driver’s education courses, please visit our page on Driver’s Ed in Florida. For more info about completing the course in a classroom, click here. 

Bring the following to your local Division of Driver Licenses office:

• Proof that you completed a TLSAE course.
• Cash or a check for $48 for the Class E driver’s license fee, which also includes a learner license.
• Parental Consent For a Driver Application of a Minor (Form HSMV 71142), signed in the presence of a driver license examiner or notarized if your parent or guardian cannot be present.
  • If you are under 18 years old and not married, a parent or legal guardian must sign your driver’s license application. Step-parents may not sign unless they have legally adopted you.
• Proof of identity (e.g. original or certified birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization).
• Proof of Social Security number (e.g. Social Security card, W-2 form, paycheck stub).
• Proof of residential address from your parent, step-parent or legal guardian (e.g. deed or monthly mortgage statement, Florida voter registration card, Florida Vehicle registration).

For more information regarding these required documents, please visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV)list of acceptable documents.

Taking the FL Written Permit Test

When you’re ready to take your written Florida permit test, you have a couple options.

Take the Exam Online

If you complete an approved online Driver’s Ed course, you can take the written exam online as well. Upon successful completion of the course and passing the exam, your Driver’s Ed provider will electronically notify the DHSMV. (See below for details on the exam itself.)

Make sure to bring the above documents to your nearest Division of Driver Licenses office once you pass your exam to earn your permit.

NOTE: You MAY be required to take the written exam in-person after passing the online exam. The state will randomly select online test-takers for re-tests, so keep that knowledge in your head.

Take the Florida Permit Test in Person

If you’re taking your exam in person, bring the above documents and be prepared to take the written permit test at your local Division of Driver Licenses office.

About Your FL Written Permit Test

The two multiple choice tests are comprised of 50 questions covering road signs and traffic laws. To pass you will need to answer 40 questions correctly. You’ll find helpful information for the tests in the Florida Driver Handbook. You’ll also need to pass a vision test and a hearing test to get your learner license.

Florida Learner’s Permit Driving Restrictions

With your learner’s permit in your possession, you’re allowed to drive only:

• For the first 3 months, during daylight hours.
• After the first 3 months, until 10 p.m.
  • You must remain accident- and infraction-free during this time, or your curfew privileges will be rescinded.
• With a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old who occupies the front passenger seat.

Behind-the-Wheel Driving Requirements

In order to get to the next phase of the GDL, which is getting your driver’s license, your parent or guardian must certify that you have completed 50 hours of supervised practice driving during your learner’s permit phase, with 10 hours being driven at night.

Replacing Your Florida Learner’s Permit

If you lose your learner’s permit, you can replace it online or at a Division of Driver Licenses office. The fee to replace it is $25. You must bring the same identification documents as listed above.

For more information, please check out our Florida Replacing a Lost License/Permit page.

Your Next Step: Get Your Florida Driver’s License

Once you have your learner’s permit in your possession, it’s time to work on being a safe and responsible driver. Being on the open road is a very liberating experience, but it does not come without risk. Please use extreme caution at all times behind the wheel.

The next step in the Florida GDL process is to get your driver’s license. For more information, please refer to our FL Teen Apply for License page.

Source – dmv.org

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from One Direction Driving http://www.onedirectiondriving.com/can-get-learners-permit-orlando-florida/

How to choose the best driving school in Miami?

Whether you’re choosing a driving school because your teen’s school doesn’t offer driver’s education, or you’re choosing one to get an additional discount on car insurance, the decision is not one that should be taken lightly.

While proximity, convenience, and price shouldn’t be overlooked, they shouldn’t be the sole decision-making criteria.

Above all, you want to make sure that a prospective driving school is accredited. Depending on your purposes, you’ll want to make sure that it meets either your state’s requirements or your insurance company’s requirements. If the purpose of taking the class is to get a discount on insurance, be sure to check directly with your provider, rather than taking the school’s word for it.

You’ll also want to take a look at the school itself. Make sure that the school you choose is clean and well-maintained. You should see signs that the school is adequately funded and able to provide a high-quality, modern driver’s education.

Ask the school if they have driving simulators, and inquire about the course materials that they use. Even though driver’s education doesn’t change as rapidly as, say, a computers curriculum, it’s important to know that your teen won’t be learning from 1960s course materials. Make sure that modern issues like road rage, cell phones, and text messaging will be discussed. One Direction Driving is one local school that provides up-to-date learning materials.

Similarly, you’ll also want to make sure that the driving school’s curriculum is well-rounded, personal, and thorough. There are a variety of questions you can ask to help you figure that out:

How many hours of instruction are included in the course? 4 day classes will not provide the instruction your student needs. Do you plan on making up the difference?

What’s the average student-to-teacher ratio? The lower it is, the better.

What percentage of the time is spent on real driving, classroom learning, and driving simulations? Make sure that driving time is at least equal to the time spent on other aspects of the curriculum.

Does the course aim to make sure students pass the DMV tests, or is the focus more on becoming a well-rounded driver? Who does it serve to have a teen that can pass a test but isn’t prepared to deal with a variety of driving situations?

You may also find that friends and family can offer helpful recommendations and warnings about different driving schools in your area. If that’s not an option, try searching online or asking acquaintances to get a feel for a school’s local reputation.

Finally, you’ll want to make sure that your student is comfortable with the driving school and its instructors. A good driving school will involve a lot of time alone or in small groups with the instructors and it’s hard to learn if that relationship is strained. Click here to learn more about one of the best Miami area driving schools.

Although it can be time-consuming to seek out the perfect match, it’s definitely worth the effort if you have a choice. A solid education can be one of the best ways to ensure that your teen stays safe and healthy as he or she takes to the roads.

via – driversedguru.com

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from One Direction Driving http://www.onedirectiondriving.com/choose-best-driving-school-miami/