Helping your teen to become a safer, more knowledgeable and experienced driver takes time and plenty of patience. With parents/guardians playing more of a role than ever before, this guide might serve as a starting point.

Starting in 1999 a parent or legal guardian must certify that their teenager received at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience, including at least 10 hours of nighttime driving during the temporary permit stage. It's all part of the new Ohio graduated licensing law for teens. This is in addition to the driver education course that youthful drivers are still required to take through a high school or a private driver training school.

So what should be accomplished during the 50 hours you spend with your new driver? How can you make this meaningful, educational and as argument-free as possible? How can you avoid some of the driving disasters that perhaps you personally experienced when starting out as a new driver? For answers to these and many other concerns, read on!

PARENTS, ARE YOU READY...

Develop a plan on what you want to accomplish before each lesson. Keep each lesson to no more than an hour, at least until your driver can perform all driving fundamentals. When possible, coordinate your sessions based on the driver training program that your teen is enrolled in.

Keep a log with date, time and lesson accomplishments. It's going to be virtually impossible to keep this information straight without writing it down, because you will need to account for 50 hours of supervised driver training. There's a form that the parent/guardian will have to sign, verifying completion of the 50 hours of training, which will also need to be notarized. This form is part of the temporary license packet provided by the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Keep the log handy. Inside the glove compartment works best.

Start with the basics and don't assume anything.

Practice good driving habits, it's important that you project safe techniques to the household's newest driver.

Develop a parent and teen driver contract. You don't need to be a lawyer to devise such a document. We've included a sample contract, but feel free to compose one that works for you. It's necessary to talk about and agree on each point. Some of the rules and responsibilities to consider include:

• Guidelines for conduct during the practice sessions

• The importance of safety

• Driving ground rules, including the number of passengers, etc.

• Rules for using the car

Call your insurance company or agent. Some insurers will want your new teen driver added to your insurance policy as soon as he/she obtains a temporary permit. Others require teens to be added once they reach the licensing stage. Either way, be prepared for an increase in your insurance premiums.

PARENTS, GET SET...

Your best bet is to locate a vacant parking lot for the first lesson or two. Using an open area provides you with a comfort level and enables your new driver to get a feel for the vehicle and how it responds. You might want to drive to this designated location for the first lesson or so and then incorporate driving to the location into the practice time for your teen.

Be sure to provide simple and accurate instructions far enough in advance so that your driver understands and can prepare with ample response time. For example, "Go to the next stop sign and turn left" is easier to understand than "We'll want to head west when you get to the next stop sign."

Avoid information overload by teaching too much too soon. After all, you have 50 hours.

Build upon experience. Start in no traffic (vacant parking lot), then light traffic, then heavy traffic. Start on two lane roads at low speeds before hitting multilane highways or the interstate with higher speed traffic. This is not only to help your new driver become familiar with the whole driving experience, but it also provides you with a chance to warm up to your new role as a driving teacher.

Provide solid cues such as "Let off of the gas and begin to brake" instead of a panic-ridden version such as, "Slow down! Slow down! And hit that brake before you hit something else!"

Stay calm, and try not to laugh at inappropriate times. New drivers are likely to make mistakes and are very sensitive to the additional parental demands that you're exerting.

Remain positive by starting and ending each session on a positive note. If you find yourself needing to correct mistakes, take notes and pull over to discuss them without yelling. Reinforce those actions that are good safety habits such as, "I liked how you slowed up and looked both ways before proceeding at that railroad crossing," or "I'm glad that you slowed down and then stopped at that yellow light instead of trying to speed your way through it."

PARENTS, IT'S TIME TO GO...

Start with a vehicle check including a review of the car's owners' manual. Who knows, you might learn something about that car of yours too! Before your teen turns on the ignition:

• Check around the car to make sure there is nothing in the car's path

• Check all mirrors after the seat is properly adjusted

• Every few lessons, check the tires and car's fluid levels

• Know how to work all lights and signals and the adjustments for seat belts Adjust the steering wheel column if necessary

• Locate the car horn and remind them to use it sparingly

• Review the owner's manual on how to work all other dashboard systems including cruise control, hazard lights, wipers, heat and air conditioning, stereo system, etc.

SUGGESTED LESSON GUIDE

(repeat or prolong as necessary)

Lesson #1:

Get to know your mirrors and check blind spots, and vehicle readiness. It might also be a good idea before each session to review what your teen driver is learning in his/her driver training course.

Lesson #2:

Practice starting and stopping at different speeds in a parking lot. Many newer vehicles have antilock braking systems which perform differently than power or standard brakes. Make sure you know what braking system your car is equipped with and how to properly use them in all types of weather conditions.

Lesson #3:

The art of parking: Angle, straight in, backing in and (yes!) parallel parking.

Lesson #4:

Review state and local traffic laws by asking your teen driver to go through them in such traffic conditions as:

• What to do when an emergency vehicle approaches

• What to do when you see a yield sign

• How to approach an unloading school bus, etc.

Lesson #5:

Drive on rural or lightly traveled roads. Avoid heavy residential areas at first, where kids and other distractions could impair the new driver's initial judgment and car handling. Keep to roads with traffic speeds lower than 45 mph until you and your new driver feel comfortable. This should take more than one lesson to master. Vary your traffic routes and build in more complex situations as you and your new driver are ready.

Lesson #6:

Practice scanning techniques in traffic situations. Your new driver should always be prepared for what's ahead and knowing where the car will be 8-12 seconds from now. That's called scanning. This includes awareness of objects and other vehicles that are around the car too. Its purpose is to build a cushion of safety around your car so that you can react in ample time to changing situations and conditions.

Lesson #7:

Practice driving and stopping distances, and looking in all directions before proceeding at a stoplight or stop sign. Make sure your new driver understands the importance of these.

Lesson #8:

Have your teen plan a 30-minute road trip in light traffic, perhaps to a shopping center for parking experience. Add errands during your trips as you feel comfortable, including a trip to the gas station (perhaps have your new driver pump and pay for the gas).

Lesson #9:

Multiple lane highway driving situations: Make sure to review proper passing procedures, lane changing, merging traffic patterns. Only practice passing on four-lane roads at this point.

Lesson #10:

City driving: Pick areas that provide different types of situations, speeds and traffic flows. Practice left and right hand turns, parking on the street and then pulling into traffic, crossing busy intersections, school zones, center turn lane situations, one way street patterns, and narrow and wide streets. This can be an exhausting experience for both parent and teen, so take this in several doses (lessons). Try this at different times of the day so that your new driver understands how traffic conditions can truly vary. Add errands to break up the monotony or stress build-up.

Lesson #11:

Heading down the highway: When you feel your new driver is ready, it's time to add one of the most dreaded ingredients–speed. Highway driving is extremely diverse and once again requires several sessions. There are two-way rural highways, multi-lane highways, expressways and interstates. Incorporate them all through the help of a state or local map. One of these sessions should include a long highway drive, perhaps to visit a relative or friend, or even tied into a family vacation. But don't plan a trip to Florida just to meet the 50-hour requirement. Addressing the proper methods of entering and exiting a highway and the importance of maintaining the speed limit are also suggested.

Lesson #12:

After dark: Set the stage by covering how to drive within your headlights, how to turn on low and high beams and when to use them, and the proper setting adjustment of the rearview mirror. Night vision adjustments might not come easy. Suggest that your driver look slightly to the right side of the road if oncoming car lights seem too bright. Since you will have at least 10 hours of nighttime driving time with your teen, it's suggested that you build in various weather and road conditions during this time as you both become more comfortable.

Lesson #13:

Foul weather driving: Only when your teen driver becomes experienced should you start to practice driving in such conditions as heavy rain, fog, snow and ice. Since it's almost like relearning how to drive, perhaps it's time to revisit that vacant parking lot where your lessons all began. Be sure to stress that under hazardous road conditions it's important to slow down, use windshield wipers and headlights. Occasionally checking the wear on tires and wiper blades should also be stressed. Also make sure you understand how to properly apply your brakes. (For instance, you engage antilock brakes differently on icy surfaces than conventional brakes.)

Lesson #14:

Tricky and treacherous driving situations: Driving in the hilly country can be fun but also dangerous. There are a number of signs posted on winding roads that a new driver should become familiar with.

Don't Forget These...

Handling emergencies and crashes: Unfortunately, the fact is that both of these situations do happen. Cover procedures regarding what to do in case of a crash, location of the insurance I.D. card in case law enforcement asks to see it, and location of the car's emergency kit. Knowing how to change a flat tire might also come in handy.

General rules of the road: Lecturing is not a favorite pastime of either parents or teens, but the fact is that there are major dangers that should be emphasized regarding driving under the influence, including losing the right to drive. Also, a tired driver can also pose a major danger. These points should also be covered in the parent/teen driver contract.

Congratulations!

You've both survived a major life experience that you thought you never could. By adding notes to your log after each session, you might be able to save yourself some time and anxiety if, and when, you have to repeat this process for child #2!  Got a question regarding the graduated licensing law?  Help is just a phone call away. The Ohio Department of Public Safety's toll-free graduated licensing hotline can be reached weekdays at: 1-800-462-2269