Learning how to Drive can take time and its all dependent on how many lessons you can learn over the course of taking your driving test, passing your driving exam, and then spending then next few years developing the right habits to be a successful driver on the road. So let’s cover the main question “how long does it take to learn how to drive” which we cover the following:
- Being a role model for your kids while they are learning how to drive
- Learning to obey the road rules
- Learning to follow the speed limit
- Learning the road signs
- Learning to communicate to other drivers and watch out for other drivers
- Learning to avoid the bad habits of driving like texting, eating, drinking
- Learning to avoid road rage
- Learning to avoid distractions
- Learning to pay all tickets, fines, red lights, and tolls to keep your license
For some people learning how to be a successful driver may take 1 year, and some may take up to 5 years or more, and others may never learn how to be a successful driver and might end up losing their rights and privileges of driving. Below is a more detailed explanation of what it takes to be a successful driver and “how long it takes to learn how to drive” successfully on the road!
Role Model Driving for Your Kids
As a parent, your children will unconsciously observe everything you do, replicating your behavior. This is simply the nature of how we learn in our earliest days, and to a degree, this continues through childhood into early adulthood. When we talk about being a role model, we talk about our behavior in front of our children and how they may be influenced by it.
Being a good role model isn’t easy, but it is necessary, especially with things like driving. Having run a driving school in Phoenix AZ for some time now, we’ve seen the effects of a bad role model on children, and how hard it is for them to break those habits. Every time you get in the car with your children, you should consider that an impromptu driving lesson, even when they’re extremely young.
Here are some tips on role model driving for your kids.
How Long Does it Take to Learn How to Drive and Learn All the Road Rules
This may seem obvious, but it’s relatively common for people to break minor road rules while driving around. Here at our driving school in Phoenix AZ, the most common examples of breaking road rules include the following:
– Driving faster than the speed limit
– Not wearing a seat belt
– Not stopping fully at stop signs
– Turning or changing lanes without looking
– Texting while driving
If you are guilty of these, rather than punishing yourself, you should find ways to cut back on doing those things.
Speed Limit
While many people who speed are doing so intentionally, not everyone is. Sometimes the speed limit changes between areas without us noticing, and we find ourselves going 10 or 20 over. A good fix for this is to ask your younger children to say the speed signs they say as you drive past them, this can remind you to acknowledge them too. Teenagers may be able to take this one step further and may notice if it feels like you’re going faster than the current speed limit.
Seat Belt
We cannot stress this enough, but you should always be wearing a seatbelt when operating a vehicle. If you openly forsake your safety, your children may take note of this and assume it’s okay to gloss it over (news flash–it isn’t). Instruct them on the specifics of seatbelt wearing, as well as the appropriate time to take it off and on.
Stop Signs
This may require a conscious effort on your part to simply adhere to one of the most basic road rules. A simple fix for this could also be actively stopping at all stop signs and giving way signs, to ensure you don’t make that mistake again.
Not Signaling
We tell kids that communication is of the utmost importance, yet many of us fail to use the form of communication built into modern cars: indicators. As with stop signs, a good fix may be indicating at every chance possible, even when there are no other cars around. This will show your children that it’s always appropriate to use indicators, as well as showing other drivers what your intentions are when making maneuvers.
Texting While Driving
One of the most common causes of traffic accidents in our modern era, and something that every parent is well aware that their teen may try. Texting while driving can be fatal, and should never be done while the vehicle is moving at any speed. Set an example by turning your phone off every time you get in the car, or even putting it on silent mode. You could go a step further and put it in the glove box or give it to your child to hold on to.
Road Rage
While it may feel like you can’t control it, having road rage is a terrible influence on your children and teaches them that it’s okay to abuse others for what often turns out to be a simple mistake. If you are particularly susceptible to road rage, then consider an anger management course or look into breathing exercises. Road rage stems from a variety of issues, and often has nothing to do with the other driver, before you get in your car you should ask yourself: am I okay to drive? Is it smart to be reactive when I have my children on board? At the end of the day, road rage does favors for no one. If a mistake occurs, acknowledge it, but don’t let it consume you.
Don’t Distract the Driver
Distracting your partner while they’re driving with the kids in the car can have a two-sided effect on your kids. First, it will show them that it’s okay to talk to or annoy people while they’re driving, which is incredibly dangerous. Secondly, it will make them complicit to distraction when they come to drive, which is also dangerous.
How Long Does it Take to Learn How to Drive At Our Driving School In Phoenix AZ
Here at the Legacy Driving Academy, we don’t only teach your kids to drive, we actively teach them how to drive safely and responsibly, but we help them understand how long does it take to learn how to drive. If you’re looking for a reputable driving school in Phoenix AZ, our academy comes second to none. We have a pristine track record, and look forward to helping your teens learn to drive properly. Contact us today to learn more!