There’s no doubt that being able to drive makes getting around easier and faster, whether it’s getting to work every day or going to the grocery store. The problem comes in when you don’t know how to drive, or don’t feel comfortable enough behind the wheel to get around. The team at Pacific Driver Education, including DMV and ODOT-certified Traffic Safety Educators Lois and Steve Lents, want to help adults of all ages learn how to drive, improve their confidence behind the wheel, and increase their quality of life.
This is an interactive adult-oriented driver education course which includes 8 classroom hours, 6 hours of one-on-one in-car instruction, and a DMV approved driving exam. This class covers everything from basic vehicle control to space management for complex situations.
Private Drive Lessons cover basic maneuvers including starting, stopping, backing, vehicle control, speed control, parking, pulling to and from the curb, right-of-way, push/pull steering and when to use hand-over-hand steering. Your DMV Drive Test can be scheduled after the last lesson.
With so much going on both inside and outside of the car, many first-time adult drivers are nervous and might even feel stressed — this is completely normal, so don’t feel self conscious about it. Just take a minute to breathe, get to know the feeling of sitting in the driver’s seat, put your foot on the pedals, your hands on the wheel, and know that it’s OK to take a minute or two before you turn the ignition.
An important step of driving, especially when you’re driving an unfamiliar car, is to make any necessary adjustments. When you put your foot on the pedals and hands on the wheel, make sure the seat is at the right distance. You don’t want the seat too far up so there isn’t enough space to move, or too far back so you’re struggling to reach the pedal. Take a look in the rearview mirror, and both side mirrors to make sure you can see behind you. Be sure to also look for basic controls like the windshield wiper, climate controls, and lights. Don’t forget to put your seatbelt on!
After you have everything adjusted so you are comfortable, it’s time to turn the car on and go! But don’t forget to go slowly. You may even want to push the gas pedal slightly with the car in park so you know what it feels like. Just a small amount of pressure will be enough to get the car moving. It’s best to start in an area where there aren’t any other vehicles or pedestrians, so you can simply focus on learning how to steer the car and get to know how it all feels.
Speed and improper following distance are the biggest reasons for accidents occuring. Whether you are driving on a country road, on downtown streets, or on a highway, it’s essential that you are aware of the speed limit and to be conscious of how much space is in between your car and the one in front of you. It’s recommended that you keep at least two seconds away from the car in front of you. To determine following distance, note when the car in front of you passes a sign or pole. The time it takes for you to reach that same marker should be at least two seconds.
Any adult driving instructor will advise new drivers to always be aware of their surroundings. Again, whether you are on a highway or in a city, watch out for other vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians, bicyclists, street signs, and changes in traffic patterns. Being aware of your surroundings will give you more time to adjust should anything change.
Contact us today to learn more about our driving courses or schedule lessons with an instructor. We'll help you get safely started on the road to success!
During the DMV drive test, the examiner will be looking to see if you know and are able to obey road signs and traffic signals. They will also be looking to see if you can properly back up in the car, using the mirrors correctly. They will not ask you questions or offer any advice, but will only give you instruction on where to go. You may notice that they are taking notes in order to keep track of your score. If you score 76 points or more, congratulations! If you score below 76 points, unfortunately you did not pass and need to continue practicing.
If you do not pass the road test, you will receive notes relating to the areas that you need to improve on. This could be anything from using turn signals, improperly following right of way rules, driving too fast, failing to come to a complete stop at a crosswalk, or others. It’s important to realize that a lot of people do not pass their DMV driving test the first time around. This simply means that you need to keep practicing. And that’s why Pacific Driver Education is here to help.
Our adult driver’s education program is full of helpful information and we will give you plenty of time to practice all of the necessary skills needed to be a licensed driver as well as classroom time to go over rules of the road and more.
Learning how to drive as an adult can be challenging, but with the right guidance and help from certified instructors, we are confident that you will be a successful driver! If you have any questions about signing up for adult driving lessons, get in touch with us today!
