For some teens, taking driver's ed is a rite of passage that they assume they'll undergo before they're able to get their license. Other families, however, find themselves debating the value of driver's ed for teens. If you've been on the fence about whether or not driver's ed is the right decision for your family, consider the benefits of professional driver's education for new and teenage drivers. We've outlined six primary reasons why most parents opt to enroll their teens in driver's ed, supported by various National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studies and recommendations.
1. Driver's Ed Can Lower Insurance Costs
Many insurance companies offer a discount for teens who have taken driver's ed. The cost savings can really add up, especially if you were dreading the increase in your insurance premiums when you added your teen to the policy. According to the Insurance Information Institute, contact your insurance company to find out how much of a discount is offered.
2. Driver's Ed Helps Teens Learn the Details
It's been a long time since you learned how to drive. Chances are, you've forgotten many of the details that make up the driving process. Many driving tasks and habits are second nature to experienced drivers, and remembering to explain these processes to a new driver can be rather challenging. Driver's ed teachers, however, have worked with teens for a long time. They know all the important details that go along with learning to drive, and how to express them in a way that's sure to sink in for your teen. State-approved online driver's ed courses, like those offered by Online Drivers Ed, are generally developed by driving instructors and follow educational practices that help ensure that students can easily remember the material.
3. Some States Require It
Not every state requires driver's ed in order for your teen to get their license. But for those states that do, it's not just a suggestion: your teen has to get that important driver's ed class somewhere. Those states that do require it have seen an increase in the safety and competence of drivers who took the class, which means that taking driver's ed is a proven method to help teens drive more safely.
4. Teens Get More Experience
Let's face it: you don't have time to go driving with your teen every day. When they take a driver's ed class, they will gain more experience with everything they need to know about driving. From a refresher in driving safety from someone who isn't their parent, to detailed lessons about how to handle harsh driving conditions, driver's ed will offer your teen more information about how to drive safely. The National Safety Council recommends a combination of driver's ed and supervised practice for optimal skill development.
5. Road Test Preparation
When your teen takes driver's ed from a professional in your area, they'll get the scoop on the driver's license test: what they're expected to know, how it will impact their test score, and what they'll actually need to do in order to pass the driving test. Some cities, for example, require parallel parking to get a driver's license. Other cities, where it's less common, may require little more than a drive around the block. Make sure your teen knows what they really need to know before they get their license, instead of failing the test due to lack of experience with one crucial point — even if it's a point they won't necessarily use during everyday driving. A resource like the DMV.org's Driver's Ed guide can help your teen prepare for the road test.
6. Increase Your Teen's Confidence
There's nothing like going into a test with the sure knowledge that you'll be able to pass it — and driver's ed can provide that for your teen. It gives them the confidence to know that they can handle what happens on the road and the experience necessary to back it up. Good instructors will help build that confidence, preparing your teen for what they'll face when they start driving. The NHTSA recommends building confidence through practice and reinforcement.
If you want your teen to have professional instruction that will make sure they know everything they need to know, not only to take their road test but to increase their safety behind the wheel, driver's ed is well worth the investment. Sign your teen up to give them all the benefits of that experience.