This curriculum applies to our Teen Behind-the-Wheel Program for students working toward a Virginia provisional license. Virginia requires 7 sessions of behind-the-wheel instruction. Each session includes 50 minutes of driving and 50 minutes of observation.
Watching another student drive is part of the learning process. Sessions build on each other, starting in low-traffic areas and progressing to busier roads and highways as skills develop.
The seventh session includes the road test. If the student passes, the instructor issues a temporary provisional license on the spot. No DMV trip is required after passing. The permanent license follows from the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court within about three months.
Topics Covered
- Pre-driving Checks
-
Parking
- Perpendicular
- Angle
- Parallel
- Backing Technique (reverse)
- Lane Changes
- Speed Control
- Safe Turns
- Merging and Exiting Highways
- Communication
- Following Distance
- Stopping Distance
- Acceleration
- Driving on Hills and Curves
Each session begins with a quick review of what was covered last time, then moves into new material. After each drive, students get direct feedback on what went well and what to work on before the next session.
Private lessons are different
Private lessons can cover many of the same skills, but they are customized to the driver. They do not follow the required 7-session teen curriculum and do not replace the teen program. Book private lessons.