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Driver Education - Helping Parents Navigate New Teen Drivers
Description
Parents often worry about new teen drivers behind the wheel. In this episode of the Supercast we try to take some of the worry and anxiety out of that experience by heading out to the driving range at Riverton High School. That’s where Superintendent Godfrey rides along with Driver Ed Instructor Steve Galley and a few of his students.
Superintendent Godfrey learned some valuable driving tips to keep everyone safe on the road. Safe driving tips that might give parents a little peace of mind as they navigate new teen drivers.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Today, we hit the road with an episode we hope will help parents navigate all the nervousness and stress that may come with new drivers. Riverton High School Driver Ed Instructor, Steve Galley invited us along inside the car for a driving lesson with two students. What we learned can help keep everyone students and adults alike safer on the road. We are here at the North parking lot of Riverton High School with Mr. Steve Galley. Steve, introduce yourself a little bit to the listeners of the Supercast. You've worn a lot of hats in Jordan District.
Steve:
I am in my 21st year here at Riverton High, and I've also spent five years at West Jordan High and that's where I got started in Driver Ed. And I've done a lot of coaching as well. And I've been the Department Chair of Driver Ed here at Riverton High, since we opened the school.
Anthony Godfrey:
Are there some misperceptions on the part of students and even parents?
Steve:
I think one is sometimes parents think is that they will learn everything about driving in the Driver Education Course, and that we will teach them everything about driving in three hours in the car.
Anthony Godfrey:
So three hours in the car, is that how long the driving time is offering on the range?
Steve:
Yeah, that's the road time. And then they have range time.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's less than I remembered. It seemed like a lot longer than that at the time.
Steve:
You may have been struggling behind the wheel at that time.
Anthony Godfrey:
That is absolutely true. I continue to struggle.
Steve:
We don't get very much time with them. And so it's critical that parents help them get in their practice time, the 40 hours that they need to do with the students. It's critical that there's a connection between teacher, parents and students so the things they're learning in class are being practiced and worked on with the parents. And when that happens, then we see we see a huge difference when we get in the car with him.
Anthony Godfrey:
If the student wants to start driving and get their license on their 16th birthday, at what age should they start driving?
Steve:
We encourage parents to wait a couple months after their 15th birthday to get their permit. A lot of students are anxious. They get it on the 15th birthday, but it will expire one year from when they get it. Many students turn 16 before the end of the quarter. And so they end up having to pay another $19 and renew their permit. So we encourage them to wait a couple of months. But I think if the student is eager and wants to practice, I like them getting their permit a few months after their 15th birthday so they can start experimenting and practicing. It's not perfect because obviously, you would want them to learn some things from the teacher and from the class that they don't get. We're hoping that parents are not forming a lot of bad habits but that they're becoming more comfortable behind the wheel. You notice a difference with the ones that have had a good number of hours before they get to the class.
Anthony Godfrey:
What advice do you have for parents on being patient with their child