Drivers Ed Ahhhhhhh!

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

So how is it actually drivers ed if its just an online course- how do they drive in a car then and practice?? my daughter is taking drivers ed in school right now, it costs 450.00 if you want to take it- its every Monday and Tuesday. Monday is the class room for an hour and a half and Tuesday is in the car driving for an our and a half- it runs Feb-June. I would not feel comfortable with just an online course and no driving time.

Our online course is only online for the classroom portion, it also involves 6 hours of in person driving with an instructor. I don't know about everywhere, but a lot of those "Blood on the Highway" movies aren't shown to kids in driver's ed here. So being in a classroom and falling asleep isn't any more impactful than working through the course material on-line.

 

[mom2rtk]

An online course doesn't sound ideal. But most around here only get teaching from their parents, and I think it would be a great supplement to that.

 

[descovy]

We live in Texas and were able to get the Aceable app (online drivers Ed)

Regular $99, we paid $50 and they often have specials.

This was enough to get her the paperwork needed for her permit. She has to watch videos and take exams on it.

If we use it as intended, it is parent taught, with a 30 hour log.

Why we did it...

She was interested in drivers Ed, but does not currently have the time to take a class. We have pockets of time here and there. This allows her to get her permit so we can practice.

Later, I can pay for hours of driving instruction ala carte. We will certainly be doing that as well.

The $50 spent was well worth getting some practice in while we can, even if I enroll her in a class in the future.

 

[clori]

Here you can do driver's ed classroom portion at 15 years 10 months but can't get your permit until your 16th birthday and passing a test. The classroom part of driver's ed is 30 hours. You can either do the classroom then get your permit or vice versa - it makes no difference. The driving part of driver's ed is 6 hours of observation and 12 hours of actual driving then you need 40 hours of driving with a parent/experienced adult before you can get a license at 16.5 and you also need a permit for 6 months before your eligible to get your license. In our city there is no driver's ed at the high school even as an after school program. My dd is 15. She might take driver's ed over April vacation then can get her permit in May then do the driving part which most likely will be over the summer. Partly due to price, partly due to decent public transportation, and partly due to almost no parking at the high school many kids just get their permits and wait to 18 to get a license (no driver's ed).

 

[aprilgail]

Our online course is only online for the classroom portion, it also involves 6 hours of in person driving with an instructor. I don't know about everywhere, but a lot of those "Blood on the Highway" movies aren't shown to kids in driver's ed here. So being in a classroom and falling asleep isn't any more impactful than working through the course material on-line.

This week my daughter class had a police officer come in and talk to the class, the show movies, have to take written tests and also have the drunk driving simulator they bring in one week. If you even take your cell phone out you are asked to leave class and have to make it up another day-so I am sure they wouldn't tolerate sleeping in there.

 

[coneeny4]

My DD got her permit in October and her and two of her friends did the driver's ed class April vacation, they went Monday-Friday 8 to 3pm. After that they did the driving part and she had her license in August.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I would never want my child to learn how to drive via the internet. I would pay whatever the price to have them learn safe driving skills by a professional in a hands on learning environment.

 

[dina444444]

I live in Southern California and when I got my permit 10 years ago at 15 and a half I did the classroom portion online (I could either do it at a private school that didn't have a class schedule that worked for me or online, my high school didn't offer drivers ed). After you did the classroom portion you had to be enrolled in a behind the wheel class before you could get your permit. Also you had to have your permit before you took your first behind the wheel class. After you take the written exam and get your permit you can take the first behind the wheel class. You have to take 6 hours of behind the wheel (the company I did it through was a 2 hour class at a time, so you had to take 3 classes). After I took the first behind the wheel class I was allowed to drive a car with someone over the age of 25 in the car etc. In California you are also suppose to drive like 50/60 hours with 10 of them being night hours but they didn't ask to see a log.

 

[momz]

The online portion is to replace the classroom part of the course. It's the part that teaches the rules of the road...it's the videos that students see in the classroom along with slide presentations and the same teacher discussing the same material that he discusses in the classroom. It's basically a recorded option that can be completed on your own time. I think there is a timeframe in which it must be completed. The student learns the mechanics of driving while behind the wheel with an instructor.

6 hours driving time with an instructor and 100 hours with a parent, this is exactly the same requirement for the classroom students.

I'm really impressed with all the people posting that the online course would never be an option for them as they don't see that a person can learn to drive that way. Unfortunately, it is the only option we have. Unless you consider not taking drivers Ed at all. I am not willing or able to take off work twice a week for six weeks to transport her. Her friends are a little bit older and are taking the course earlier. This is why carpooling isn't an option.

 

[Aliceacc]

OK, fair point.

We do have options. My kids can take Driver's Ed in the classroom, fall session, spring session, or summer session. It costs a few hundred dollars, but it's a small price to pay to teach them to drive carefully.

If there were no other options, then yes, of course I would accept the online version. But given the option of taking a classroom course, I would absolutely choose that.

 

[MomofKatie]

Interesting to see all the different rules and approaches in different states.

We live in the land of NASCAR. Kids are required to take driver's ed (starting at age 14 1/2)before they can get their permit (at age 15). They offer classes at school in most counties, or parents can pay a private company. 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 road hours are required to pass the class. They also have to get a transcript from their school showing they are passing their classes and haven't dropped out.

After getting the permit, kids must wait a full calendar year to get their restricted license. They must also log 60 driving hours with their licensed adult guardian, 10 of them being after dark. The restricted license upgrades after 6 months to a regular one as long as the student hasn't had any tickets, etc.

DD is 17 1/2 and got her permit just before she turned 16. She attends a high school that doesn't allow the students to drive to school or keep cars on the premises, so we have decided to wait until after she graduates to have her get her license.