Drivers Training

For Texas teens, driver training is crucial. While the classroom instruction is important, nothing prepares you for the experience behind the wheel―other than practicing behind the wheel.

Texas requires that you complete at least seven hours of behind-the-wheel time and seven hours of in-the-car instruction (observing, not driving). You need to be 15 years of age and in a formal driver education program, though this can be taught by your parents if they choose.

The in-the-car hours should help you master the following:

• Accomplishing a basic safety check. Check for anything out of place―like cables dragging on the ground, or mysterious pools of fluid underneath the car that can't be connected to a spilled soda.

• Adjusting mirrors so you can see other cars on the road―not your pretty face.

• Learning the dimensions of your vehicle, preferably in theory rather than by scraping any edge of your vehicle against any portion of anyone else's.

• Making safe lane changes. There's no joke about this one.

• Making smooth starts and smooth stops.

• Constantly watching out for the other cars. You may be the safest driver in the world, but it won't matter if the person in the lane next to you is a maniac.

But in reality, the 14 total hours that are mandated won't be enough. Whatever your age, as soon as you start wanting to drive, watch other drivers. See what they do. Make it a habit to become aware of other cars around your vehicle (as well as people and animals by the side of the road).

More Tips for New Drivers

Here's a little friendly advice for new drivers from someone who's been there. They don't teach you everything in school!

• Don't order mega-size drinks at the drive-through. They tip over in the drink holders when you turn or stop, and if you hold the drink between your legs for stability, then you can't operate the floor pedals.

• Don't try to eat a sandwich or burger while you're driving. The mayonnaise-covered tomatoes will fall into your lap and you'll have to make a snap decision between swerving to the curb (bad) or leaving the grease stain on your jeans (bad).

• Don't make or receive calls on your cell phone while you are driving. It's bad karma, everyone else on the road will be irritated with you, and you won't realize you're going too slow and swerving all over the place until you cause an accident. Same goes for applying makeup while driving: just don't!

• Don't under any circumstances send a text message when you're at the wheel. The police officer won't be sympathetic when you explain that you absolutely, positively could not wait until you pulled off the road to text "c u soon" to your best friend, so instead you rear-ended someone while your eyes and thumbs were busy on the keypad.

• Don't be lame and give in to peer pressure. If some nimrod in the back seat says, "How fast can this thing go?" ignore them―they're not the one who will get busted or cause an accident. Someone in the car has to be the grown-up: you.

• Don't panic and jump out of the car if you notice a bee on the inside of the windshield. Ever seen your car roll down the street without a driver? You don't want to.

• Do wear your seatbelt every time you get into a car, even for a short ride. Something as common as stopping suddenly to avoid a cat darting across the street can cause your face to meet your steering wheel. The results won't be pretty, and your prom date will find an excuse to back out.

• Do be vigilant for other drivers who are not as with-it as you are, and keep your distance. You never know when they will decide to enter your space (since they won't bother to signal), and the element of surprise isn't as fun on the road as it is at a birthday party.

• Do install a dog barrier in the back of your car before taking Rover for a ride. Rover will want to be in the front seat with you, and trying to swat him back with one hand while steering with the other is a sure way to take out a whole line of parked cars.

• Do obey speed limits so that you will have time to react should an unexpected obstacle (a person, another car, an animal) appear. Besides, no one will believe you got that huge dent going "only 10 miles an hour."

• Do listen to your stereo at a low enough volume that you can hear emergency sirens. Those fire trucks are a lot bigger than you, so you'll want to know one is approaching before it runs you over.

• Do take it easy, pay attention, and take the rules of the road seriously. In a few years when you can honestly say you've never had a ticket or an accident, people will respect you, and it will be an enormous point of pride.