The recommended positions are 9 &3 or 8 & 4.  I’m not a big fan of the 8 & 4 position, but, depending upon the design of the steering wheel, it works okay. The important thing though is that the driver maintain control of the steering wheel.  Below the 8 & 4 position, I believe you sacrifice control plus the ability to perform an avoidance steer.

Air bags now require drivers to do the following:

1. Sit at least 10 inches away from the bag - otherwise the bag can explode into you, causing serious harm.

2. Use the 9 & 3 position or 8 & 4 hand position.

3. If you have a tilt function on the steering wheel, make sure the wheel is tilted away from the head (preferably toward the chest).

4. Older, frail persons and children 13 and under should sit in the back seat.  Front seat airbags have killed children and older people.

Remember, air bags are a “Supplementary Restraint System”.  Your safety belt is your primary restraint and, for you to get the best protection with your air bags, you need to use your safety belt properly.

A firm grip is usually only needed in an emergency situation such as a blowout where a firm grip is needed because the directional forces acting on the vehicle are strongly pulling the vehicle away from the intended path.

Also, at an unprotected light make sure that you have entered the intersection on the green light and can comfortably wait in the intersection.  You want to be waiting with your vehicle’s wheels straight and well short of the turning point while you are looking for your gap.

Why?  Well, as you recall, you wait with your wheels straight so that if you are tagged from the rear, you will not be pushed into oncoming traffic.

You wait well short of the turning point so that, when it’s safe to turn you can begin to move forward first.  This gives you a little momentum and allows you to clear the intersection in less time (because it takes less time to clear the intersection if you are moving than if you are coming from a stop).

You wait in the intersection because if the light changes while you are in the intersection, you can legally complete your turn when it is safe to do.  Being in the intersection also makes you more visible to cross traffic.

As your student makes the left turn, you count out loud the number of seconds it takes to complete the turn (clear the intersection).  This will give the student a more accurate assessment as to how much of a gap in traffic is needed to safely complete the turn.

The speed of the turn itself will probably be a teaching point.  If your student is anxious, he/she may go too fast.  If your student is a bit timid, he/she may be reluctant to pick up his/her speed enough to clear the intersection promptly.  It’s even possible for the student to do well on this in the parking lot exercises and even in the neighborhood, and yet have a less than perfect response when in light traffic.  With sufficient exposure to these turns in traffic your student will become more comfortable.  Learn from each turn and strive to improve each time.  Progress will come.

CONTROL means two things - the ability to control your vehicle and the ability to control yourself.  To a lesser extent, it also refers to controlling the situation (although that’s a topic in itself).

Who has primary control during a lesson?  Yes, that’s correct - you, the parent.  The student eventually evolves into the position of the one who has control (at least, that’s part of the goal).  But it is the parent (the instructor) who is ultimately responsible for how well the lesson goes.  Why is that?  Because it is the parent who chooses the area of instruction, who plans out the route, who introduces the lesson, who guides the practice, who prompts the student’s eye movements, who directs the student’s mind with questions, who praises the student to build the student’s confidence, who is responsible for establishing rapport and trust, and who observes the miscues and adjusts the lesson to insure that the student is challenged, corrected and also succeeds.

That’s why there’s no napping when you’re teaching.

Yet, there are times when the student is allowed to fail.  Why?  Because, as we all know, we often learn more from our failures than we do from our successes.  So, to a certain extent, trial and error is acceptable. Trial and error is a common learning tool - but it’s not always the best way to learn how to become a collision-free driver.  With some errors in driving, you won’t get a second chance.  The question is, when and how often should the student be permitted to fail in this process?

The obvious answer is that the student is never permitted to fail when that failure in judgment or control can lead to any type of collision, a near miss or a serious interference with traffic.

O - ONENESS

“Oneness” describes the feeling that collision-free drivers have with the vehicle.  It’s more than just a comfort level - a sense of familiarity with the vehicle.  It’s a sense of feeling that the vehicle goes where you want it to, when you want it to and how you want it to.

It combines the sense of projecting the path the pivot point needs to track with picturing in your mind where you want to go and how it feels to through the process of getting there.

Once a driver has a sense of “oneness” with the vehicle, he/she attains a higher level of confidence and competence and is one step closer to acquiring the habits of collision-free driving.

D - DESIRE

Have you had a burning desire to accomplish something, obtain an object or get a specific result?  Chances are you have.  And chances are you succeeded.  Collision-free drivers have a “burning desire” to get where they are going safely and without incident.

Yes, it is that simple.  If you have a burning desire to attain a goal and are willing to do whatever it takes to reach that goal, you have a very, very good chance of accomplishing that goal.

Notice that I said “willing to do whatever it takes”.  This requires planning, preparation, practice, serious effort and focus.  Of course, you can enjoy the process.  Make it a game, challenge yourself.  Every time you get behind the wheel you take a deep breath and in that breath renew your commitment to make that trip collision-free.

That deep breath serves as a reminder to trigger what you have learned and directs those parts of you needed to target well ahead, visually clear intersections, pick the path of least resistance, leave extra space in front, identify the point of no return, stabilize traffic to the rear, anticipate the actions of other drivers, and create and re-create your safe space as needed.  Some of this you will do consciously, some of this will be done by the other than conscious parts of you that are building on the habits you have created through your practice of collision-free driving techniques that you learned from Driver Ed in a Box®.

Take a moment now.  Close your eyes as you take a deep breath, relax and commit with a burning desire to become a collision-free driver.

E - Expectation

An individual who has a certain expectation of an outcome actually influences the outcome.  Some call this faith - the notion that a specific, positive outcome will occur because you believe that it will.  With regard to collision-free driving and getting from point A to point B safely, it is a belief that whatever situation occurs during the course of the trip, you will be able to adjust and make any reasonable compromises necessary to avoid conflicts.

Expectation is the belief that you have acquired the process of reading the traffic scene well ahead, that you can anticipate the actions of others, that you can control both the vehicle and your own emotions regardless of the actions of other drivers and that you and your passengers will arrive at your destination collision-free.

Remember, Desire means that you “want” to achieve the goal.  Expectation is the “belief (faith)” that you will achieve the goal.  Coupled together, Desire and Expectation can lead to amazing results.

S - SPACE MASTERY

It is probably the most important belief and requires daily practice to become integrated into your driving pattern.

“Space Mastery” simply means that you control and protect your safe driving space, that you anticipate changes in the available space, that you are constantly looking for the open space to the front and the sides of your vehicle. You are never surprised by vehicles from the rear because you are checking that space frequently enough to know if you are being tailgated.

Also, it means that you are aware of what is happening far ahead so that you can easily predict and choose the path of least resistance.

Remember, a collision is simply two or more objects that try to occupy the same space at the same time. So it follows that the most fundamental and basic thing you can do to drive collision-free is to keep space around your vehicle - always. Most every judgment you make to assist you in driving revolves around where the open space is, what is happening to that space and predicting what is likely to happen to that space.

Predicting the open space is a constant and ever-changing event. The fluid, dynamic nature of this process demands persistent discipline to acquire the awareness needed to ingrain this habit. It should come as no surprise that learning to ignore or dismiss distractions is critical if you intend to develop the habit of “Space Mastery”.

A significant amount of time and effort working at the conscious level using directed commentary goes a long way to helping ingrain this habit.

There’s no shortcut here, folks.  Slowing gradually and early, maintaining a minimum 3 second following distance (4 or 5 seconds is better), doing your 1-2-3 count after the vehicle ahead begins to pull away from you, visually clearing every intersection and turning your head (not just moving your eyes) slightly to expand your peripheral vision, avoiding other drivers’ blind spots, being physically uncomfortable when you have less than a 3 second following distance or no escape route - these are some the things that must be done over and over and over again until they become MUST rules for you, not SHOULD rules.

Specifically, we offered Free rebate certificates for groceries or fuel.  We purchased these certificates because this looked like a great idea and a good fit for us and for our customers.  Unfortunately, a few of our customers notified us that the company handling the rebates was ending the rebate program, thereby cutting short or eliminating the benefit we had expected our customers to receive.

Our calls to that company have not been returned.  It appears that they may be going out of business.  So it looks like we are not going to be able to get any refund on the certificates we purchased for you.

I realize that we are not liable for their going out of business, but I still feel bad about the fact that some of you are not going to get the benefit you anticipated.

If you were one of our customers who participated in that promotion and paid the rebate company’s $9.95 registration fee and did not receive your credit card for the receipts you sent in, you can contact our customer service department at 1-800-562-6405.  We will send you a check for $10 and 2 AMC Gold movie tickets if you wish.

We appreciate your choosing Driver Ed in a Box and being committed to assisting your son/daughter in becoming a collision-free driver.

Actually, the DPS is still the regulatory agency responsible for parent-taught driver education in Texas.  However course approval has been shifted to the Texas Education Agency.

What does this mean for you?  No change really.  I am mentioning this because we have received some calls and emails from people who thought parent-taught driver education was no longer available in Texas.  That is certainly not the case.

Remember, from a stop you clear the intersection with the Commentary “Clear left, clear right, clear left”.  While you are moving the Commentary for clearing an intersection is “Clear left, clear right”.

What about the center?  Yes, you visually clear it because you are making a sweeping motion with your eyes, but it is too awkward and stilted to add that to the commentary.  Eye movements should be fluid and focused on finding relevant objects and potential dangers.

Be extra careful that just because the student says “Clear left” that in fact it really is clear and safe to proceed.  I’ve seen students say the words before turning their heads and actually confirming that it is safe to proceed.  Sometimes the student may say the words and not even turn her head to see if it is in fact clear to proceed.

The greater risk is that the student does not visually clear the intersection and nothing happens - you get through the intersection without incident.  The problem here is that the student thinks “You don’t really have to look, the light was green and nothing happened, I got through okay this time, so why should I check the next time.”

That’s why this habit must be drilled into the student.  She must check the intersection EVERY time, not just occasionally.

I’m aware that this is quite a challenge - but it’s worth investing the time and attention you need to help her build this habit.  You’ll be glad you did.

Go to a parking lot.  Make sure you have plenty of space ahead and there are no possible threats or hazards ahead or nearby.  With the engine in the on position but not running, practice shifting the gear selector lever from D (drive) to N (neutral) by simply tapping the gear selector lever.  Do this a couple of times with your eyes looking ahead so you can maintain directional control.  Now practice steps 1 through 4 with the engine off.

Next, practice all the steps listed with the engine running.  The important element here is to make sure that you only TAP the gear selector lever.  You must avoid shifting into R (reverse) because doing so will cause serious damage and control issues.

After doing this successfully, practice with the vehicle moving forward.  Here is the sequence to review before practicing this exercise while moving.

1. Firmly and steadily step on the brake pedal.  Hold the brake firmly (no pumping action, just stomp and hold).  Continue to hold the brake firmly (use both feet if you can) until the vehicle is stopped and in P (park).

2. Shift the gear selector to N (neutral) - remember - it’s just a tap.

3. Turn the engine off by turning the key to the “Off” position.  This may be designated as the ACC position.  You will lose your power assist for steering, but steering is still possible.  It is important to avoid turning the key to the “Lock” position as that locks the steering wheel.  Also, if you have a Start/Stop button, according to Toyota just press and hold the button for 3 seconds - this will turn the engine off without locking the steering wheel.

4. Press your emergency flasher button to warn other drivers.

5. Steer to a safe place to stop.

6. Call for help.  Have the vehicle towed to your dealer or repair shop.

7. Do not attempt to drive the vehicle until it has been repaired.

Even if your student has been driving for a while and you don’t own a Toyota, practice this exercise.  Practicing can help avoid the panic reaction that often occurs when a person encounters an emergency situation.

This is not the case, the minimum time a minor is required to hold a learner’s permit in Texas is still six months.  There are currently no plans to change this.

NEW DRIVER ED LAWS

Beginning March 1, 2010 Senate Bill 1317 requires individuals age 18to 24 to complete an approved driver education course.  The good news is that Driver Ed in a Box® meets the criteria of an approved course under Section 521.205 of the Transportation Code.

The statute specifically states that a driving safety course (usually used for ticket dismissal and insurance discount) and an alcohol driving awareness program may not be approved as a driver education course under this law.

Although we had no hand in this legislation, we do believe that the more people who learn to drive collision-free, the safer the roads will be for everyone.

MUST describes a rule that leaves no wiggle room - no way out. It’s serious, important, compelling. You do it. There’s no bargaining, no rationalization, no “I’m too tired” to do it. You just do it.

SHOULD typifies a rule that is not so serious. Well, of course, you would like to do it, you would be better off if you did it, you’d gain more self-esteem, pride of accomplishment, and possibly recognition from others if you did it. But…it’s okay if you slip every once in a while. Maybe you sleep in (pushing the snooze button for the third time as you can’t believe it’s already morning and you were having such a good dream), or you feel a little lazy and you figure that a little procrastination won’t hurt anybody (besides, putting that task off until tomorrow gives you something to look forward to).

It’s your choice. How you choose to identify your rules (as MUST or SHOULD) will probably determine your behavior and the outcomes you experience.

How do you apply these rules to your driving - keeping a minimum following distance of 3 seconds, visually clear all intersections, leaving yourself an escape route, look well ahead and reading the traffic scene to predict the open space and create the least amount of conflict? Which of these require MUST rules?

That’s a wrap. Remember, drive like your life depends on it…because it does.

Sincerely,

Patrick B arrett

Driver Ed in a Box®

P.S. Thanks for being the greatest customers in the world. You are and we appreciate your commitment to your family. Remember to tell your friends about us so we can have more safe drivers.