| Since 1967, teenagers in Texas were permitted | | | | the teenager learner becomes impatient with |
| to obtain a driver's license at the age of 16 | | | | each other? Some parents don't understand how |
| provided they successfully complete an | | | | to teach or how to use learning theory to |
| approved public school or commercial driver | | | | help their teenagers learn. Some teenagers |
| education training. Until 1997, this driver | | | | don't always listen well when it is their |
| education training requirement could only be | | | | parents who are doing the talking. In these |
| met if it was provided through instructors | | | | instances, parents handling the driver |
| and schools certified by the Texas Education | | | | education training could lead to an enormity |
| Agency. Driver education training schools | | | | of issues that affect their teenager's |
| cropped up in many areas and teenagers were | | | | driving ability. |
| taking their driver education training | | | | |
| through their high schools, strip mall | | | | Information Overload |
| schools and more. | | | | |
| | | | Parents should take the time to review the |
| When Did This Change? | | | | Department of Public Safety's driver handbook |
| | | | long before they take up the mantle as their |
| This changed in April of 1997, when the | | | | teenager's driving instructor. There are many |
| Department of Public Safety implemented rules | | | | reasons for this, because adult drivers take |
| based on legislation in 1995, providing for a | | | | a great deal for granted when they are |
| parent taught driver education training that | | | | driving. Why shouldn't they? The standard |
| must still meet the driver training | | | | parent driver has likely been driving for |
| requirements necessary for licensing at 16. | | | | more than 20 years by the time their teenager |
| | | | is old enough to learn how to drive. |
| Parents must follow state-approved procedures | | | | |
| and curriculum and use one of the | | | | They don't think about what the gauges mean. |
| state-approved courses that require at least | | | | They don't think about what warning signs to |
| 32 hours of classroom instruction and 14 | | | | watch for and with so many systems automated |
| hours of in-car instruction. But when it | | | | in vehicles today, they may not even remember |
| comes to parents handling the driver | | | | which ones they need to watch. There is an |
| education training, some parents may be | | | | amazing amount of knowledge that must be |
| confused on what the best way to handle the | | | | imparted during driver education training and |
| training process. | | | | while some of it may seem boring or |
| | | | redundant, it shouldn't be skimped on. |
| Should Parents Teach Teen Driving? | | | | |
| | | | Ultimately, the parent driver must recognize |
| There are arguments both for and against | | | | the information overload their teenager may |
| parents teaching their own children to drive. | | | | be facing when it comes to driver education |
| The arguments are a combination of | | | | training. Review the material, take a |
| personality and material. First and foremost, | | | | defensive driving class and check out the |
| driver education training is about more than | | | | parent education driving materials available |
| just putting in the time. It's about teaching | | | | through the Texas Education Agency. Before |
| your child to be a safe driver. Parents want | | | | you attempt teaching your teenager to drive, |
| their children to be safe and teenagers do | | | | it's important to respect what can happen. |
| want to know how to drive. | | | | Don't be ashamed or dismayed if it seems like |
| | | | an overwhelming job. That's why there are |
| But what happens when the parent teacher or | | | | driver education training schools. |