Today you’ll find several good and free online resources for teaching Driver’s Education. These resources are perfect for homeschooled teens.

Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) by Ford
Driving Skills for Life is a free comprehensive Driver’s Ed program. DSFL covers the following four driving skills:

1. Hazard Recognition
2. Vehicle Handling
3. Speed Management
4. Space Management

Learning tools include:

• Four study modules, a quiz, car care videos, interactive games, and enhanced curriculum noting the importance of eco-driving to personal safety and the environment.
• Free Educator Packet that can be used by students and parents at home, as well as educators in the classroom and community settings. Packet includes an in-depth DVD focusing on each of the four driving skills listed above, a letter for parents, a letter for educators, a leader’s guide, brochures, and cards. Materials are available in English and Spanish.

Teen Driver Safety by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

This site offers many good resources for both parent s & teens. Topics include:

• SMASHED: Toxic Tales of Teens and Alcohol
• Graduated Drivers Licensing
• Beginning Teen Driver Traffic Safety, available in English or Spanish
• Drowsy Driving and Distracted Driving
• Occupant Protection
• Underage Drinking and Impaired Driving
• Speed
• Youth Courts

Vehicle Safety Ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Institute rates vehicles “good”, “acceptable”, “marginal”, or “poor” based on:

• Performance in high-speed front and side crash tests
• Evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts
• Winning vehicles must offer electronic stability control. This addition is based on Institute research indicating that ESC significantly reduces crash risk, especially the risk of fatal single vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers.

The first requirement for a vehicle to become a Top Safety Pick is to earn good ratings in all three Institute tests.

Tips for Parents by Pennsylvania Driver & Vehicle Services
This organization produces an excellent downloadable publication How to Steer Them to Safe Driving designed to equip parents to help their teen learn & practice safe driving.

Also, by PA Driver & Vehicle Services is another good resource, Crossroads, an interactive site that contains thought-provoking stories about teen drivers and follow-up quizzes.

Lastly, check your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for other free, online driver’s ed resources. If you find a good one, be sure to let us know in the comments so we can all benefit!

Remember, in helping your teen learn to be safe on the road, there is nothing that substitutes for the behind the wheel experience and your being a good example behind the wheel!

Next time –Drivers Education programs that you can purchase that work well in the home education setting.

Pressing on
Sue

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 at 11:46 am and is filed under Home Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.