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AAA driver programs offer advice for young drivers

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Sat, Aug 18th 2018 07:00 am
Now is the time to prepare your teen for driving
By AAA of Western and Central New York
With summer wrapping up and students heading back to high school and college, now is the time to ensure their safety on the roads.
September will bring even more traffic on area roadways when schools are back in session. Did you know that teens under the age of 18 will need 50 hours of supervised driving and a certificate from either a five-hour course or driver education in order to be eligible to sign up for their road test?
AAA's certified driving instructors offer advice for teen drivers and parents.
Driving tips for teens:
Lots of practice! New York requires at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice for those under age 18.
Be open and willing to accept instruction and feedback about safe driving from adults and driver education instructors.
Be patient about easing gradually into more complex driving situations as directed by adults and driver education instructors.
Focus on safe driving by obeying the speed limit, avoiding distractions and always wearing a safety belt.
Tips for parents:
Consider using a professional. A quality driver education program taught by professionals who often have trained hundreds or even thousands of new drivers will help your teen learn the rules of the road and how to safely operate a vehicle.
•Dedicate several hours a week to practice driving with your teen.
•Commit to coaching in different driving conditions and at different times of the day.
•Be patient enough to provide constructive feedback.
•Be a good role model.
AAA WCNY offers:
•Licensed to Learn (LTL) program.
  • Learn in a classroom environment with a focus on safety.
  • 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 10 driving lessons (no road test).
  • In-car training conducted one-on-one with a state-licensed AAA driving instructor.
  • Five-hour pre-licensing lesson (MV-278) and five-hour pre-licensing course (MV-278) certificate.
  • Certificate for point and insurance reduction.
  • Free one-year AAA Basic membership.
•Partnerships with local schools offering driver education - see schedule here: (coming soon).
•Driving lessons.
•Five-hour course. Completion of this course earns an MV-278 certificate, which is required to schedule the state road test.
Consider a defensive driving course. Along with refreshing your driving skills, receive a certificate upon completion that can lower portions of your insurance premium by up to 10 percent for three years, as well as take up to four points off of your driving record for moving violations within the past 18 months.
As upstate New York's largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 870,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.

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