Since we live in Georgia, my 15 year old just obtained a "temp" driving permit. I am interested in learning about options for some real driving instruction (for the kid, and maybe me as well).
I don't have a money tree but will consider spending some for a worthwhile investment. What's out there?
Have you looked into the Street Survival Teen Driving School for your kid if they have it in your area?
http://www.streetsurvival.org/
Not yet, but thanks. I shall..
I can do one on one instruction but I'm in Huntsville AL. Feel free to PM me if you are interested. We could set up a Saturday session with classroom & practical application to make it worth you drive over.
In reply to admc58:
Do you have facilities?
My son & 1 nephew did Street Survival. No accidents in their combined 25 years of driving since. The two nephews who didn't do Street Survival have had 3 or 4 accidents in their combined 20 years or so of driving. Not scientific at all, but good antecdotal evidence that Street Survival is a good thing.
Here is a course that is free with excellent instruction. Check the website for times and locations.
www.drivingskillsforlife.com
I know the BMW plant in Greer, SC offers a teen driving school. I think the Porsche plant here in Atlanta does too.
Another vote for Street Survival. I started a thread about it a few months ago and sent my son thru it in August. It was very helpful to have someone not-his-idiot-dad teach him how to actually drive a car vs just aiming it within 10deg of intended direction of travel. Plus he had a blast, although be prepared for moaning, whining, complaining, etc on the way there in the morning.
I don't have stats yet because he goes for his test next week 
.
I've instructed at the Tire Rack Street Survival School the last couple years. Everybody walks away feeling better. Kids learn car control and proper driving techniques, parents feel the kids are better equipped to handle daily driving, and instructors feel that there are that many less idiots behind the wheel now. It's fun for everybody!
You might have missed your local one though. I think the "season" is wrapping up soon.
(Apologies for not searching this topic before posting the one up top. I see now it has been discussed a ton). But anyway...
Street Survival sounds perfect. The rules say the kid will need six months under his belt before being eligible. Alabama isn't too far, but hopefully I can find one in the spring that is closer to home. I just sent in a "request" from the website.
To The Hoff (or anyone else)..
If you've instructed SS, can you tell me how it works? Can dad ride along?
This is the one I volunteer with. They are based in Charlotte but have schools around the country. B.R.A.K.E.S. When we looked at bringing a school to my hometown these guys were far and away the best. I've instructed for them for the last 3 or 4 years and love every minute of it. It's surprising what you can teach just in a parking lot but its real world stuff, not parallel parking.
ETA: parents can try the same skill stations except for skid recovery. That one takes too much time/too much toll on the tires for everyone to do.
Unfortunately all research points to these programs not being as productive as we might like them to be. I don't have the studies to point to, but I have seen them. The most recent in Europe. The findings indicate that absent any sort of follow-up young or novice drivers emerge from these programs with a sense of skill greater than their actual skill. I do feel however that used in conjunction with something like autocrossing or regular participation in skills training can lead to a good long term outlook. What these folks do at these events is great. But few students/new drivers will put in the necessary work following attendance at one of these events to maintain their skills. It becomes a case of more car than skill/experience.
The above being said I would still send a kid to Teen Survival or some such program, but only if that were one part of regular practice that checks and encourages the continuation of said skills. For that I like autocrossing. Cheap, easy to get to for the most part, and in ATL there is a great group of people in the solo community that can help.
OHSCrifle wrote: Can dad ride along?
At least at the Street Survival Schools I've instructed at, while parents are welcome to attend (and many volunteer on the course) and watch they are kept out of the cars during instruction on purpose-- I think it helps in the "not having to hear direction from Mom/Dad" department.
When the course is put together in to something autocross-ish at the end of the day, parents are welcome to ride in the back seat for a demonstration of what the student has learned, but the instructor still rides in the passenger seat.
PS. You didn't indicate gender for your 15 year old. Most of our classes seem to run nearly 80% girls.
That makes sense
back roads... preferably gravel... the best/easiest place to learn how to control a car short of a frozen lake- which is something that you probably don't have too many of down your way..
OHSCrifle wrote: (Apologies for not searching this topic before posting the one up top. I see now it has been discussed a ton). But anyway... Street Survival sounds perfect. The rules say the kid will need six months under his belt before being eligible. Alabama isn't too far, but hopefully I can find one in the spring that is closer to home. I just sent in a "request" from the website. To The Hoff (or anyone else).. If you've instructed SS, can you tell me how it works? Can dad ride along?
It is a mix of classroom and hands on training. The hands on exercises include a wet skidpad to learn under/oversteer at increasing speeds, threshold braking, slalom, tailgating/braking, abrupt lane changing, and a distracted driving course (kids text while driving narrow course). The parents are on the sideline during hands on and welcome to join the classroom sessions. We do take the parents along for a few exercises at the end of the day. We also offered parent sessions while the kids were in the classroom, but that was very limited.
novaderrik wrote: back roads... preferably gravel... the best/easiest place to learn how to control a car short of a frozen lake- which is something that you probably don't have too many of down your way..
I stay off the lakes ever since the hockey team drowned in Spring training
The Hoff wrote:OHSCrifle wrote: (Apologies for not searching this topic before posting the one up top. I see now it has been discussed a ton). But anyway... Street Survival sounds perfect. The rules say the kid will need six months under his belt before being eligible. Alabama isn't too far, but hopefully I can find one in the spring that is closer to home. I just sent in a "request" from the website. To The Hoff (or anyone else).. If you've instructed SS, can you tell me how it works? Can dad ride along?It is a mix of classroom and hands on training. The hands on exercises include a wet skidpad to learn under/oversteer at increasing speeds, threshold braking, slalom, tailgating/braking, abrupt lane changing, and a distracted driving course (kids text while driving narrow course). The parents are on the sideline during hands on and welcome to join the classroom sessions. We do take the parents along for a few exercises at the end of the day. We also offered parent sessions while the kids were in the classroom, but that was very limited.
I've emailed them inquiring about early 2016 in GA. I'm sure they'll have one.
Thanks for the description. Sounds excellent.
Am I gonna have to the guy? Sir: you and your son rent a car. Similar to whatever he will be driving. Drive wherever in America is cold. And YANK DAT BRAKE.
Great call on renting! I was concerned about tires, a little.
In reply to MrJoshua:
I have been using the old city airport property for 20-years. I have been a racing school instructor for some of the big names and currently hold a PCA instructor qualification. I don't teach kids to race I start with the real basics and correct anything that can cause problems in the future.
I'm not sure what our time frame is, but I know several of us on the Mumpkin team would like some autocross instruction along with instruction for our spouses and I think Paul's teenage son. You are about 8 hours from me so that presents a bit of an issue, but it is very tempting.
Street Survival is about the best execution of a teen drivers clinic that I have seen that gives a good exposure to proper techniques. It is still a group activity but generally does not provide a large amount of one-on-one time. Those techniques must be practiced to the point of becoming 2nd nature without conscious thought. Much depends on the quality of the individual instructors and their ability to communicate as well awareness and prediction of the students action & responses.
admc58 wrote: I can do one on one instruction but I'm in Huntsville AL. Feel free to PM me if you are interested. We could set up a Saturday session with classroom & practical application to make it worth you drive over.
Thanks for the offer, I will keep this post in mind. I want to do some father/son stuff and see if street survival works out. Definitely (also) like the idea of Auto-X for my own enjoyment (have never done it) and as an activity to share with the family.
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