Stage 4: Goals Checklist

Note: Putting a check mark next to each item below does not mean it’s time to hand the keys over, wave goodbye, and send your teen off into world of drivers.

What completing this program means is that your teen is better prepared to handle real world driving. However, you know your teenager better than I do. So, it’s up to you (and only you) to determine when it’s time for your teen to hit the road. Heck, passing the driver’s test should merely be a formality at this point.

Your teen:

• Is comfortable with highway driving, including merging, exiting, changing lanes, passing other cars, and being passed by other cars.
• Recognizes that speeding is illegal, no matter the circumstance.
• Understands the correlation between increasing speed and the increased chance of death.
• Realizes the dangers in passing on a two lane road.
• Has practiced safely driving off and back on to the road.
• Is aware of the techniques for skid recovery and has practiced them in a large parking lot.
• Understands the two basic principles for driving in hazardous conditions. Namely, recognizing when conditions warrant altering their driving behavior and then making the appropriate changes to their driving behavior.
• Can identify potentially dangerous drivers by their behavior and their vehicle’s appearance. (Yes, we know this is stereotyping.)
• Understands the geometric correlation between speed and braking distance. Namely, doubling your speed quadruples your braking distance.
• Exhibits safe driving behavior in all circumstances.
• Can focus on driving for up to an hour at a time.