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Teaching Kids Safety In and Around Cars

Teaching Kids Safety In and Around Cars
Where’s your helmet, buddy?

If you live in or near Orange County, you’re likely familiar with the horrible, tragic death of 8-year-old Brock McCann. Little Brock was riding his bicycle home one day when he was struck by a garbage truck. The precious little kiddo lost his life, and we at Safety 1st Driving School mourn with his parents, family, friends, and neighbors.

As a driving school in Orange County, we are committed to keeping young people safe in and around cars. But we realize we can only do so much. As a school, we can teach local teenagers safe, skilled driving and defensive driving tactics. We can emphasize respect for others, the road, and the powerful, often deadly, machine they are handling. We can impress upon them the importance of following the law and remaining undistracted, patient, and cautious behind the wheel. But we can’t control what happens when they leave our program, and we certainly can’t control anyone else on the road.

It’s the same for you parents out there. You can (and MUST!) model good driving behaviors for your kids, you can talk to them and enforce boundaries and rules related to safe driving, but when they leave with the keys you can only hope they put it into practice.

With our little kids, we can enforce the “look both ways before crossing”, “stay on the sidewalk”, and “walk left, ride right” rules. But the truth is, kids — ALL kids — aren’t quite developed enough to always make the best decisions for their welfare. Not to mention, little kids are difficult to see by large vehicles, like the garbage truck that struck little Brock McCann. (A simple Google search will reveal that garbage trucks have struck and killed many people on foot or riding bicycles because visibility is so limited and they are such large vehicles.)

We do not know the details of Brock’s accident. Nevertheless, we want to learn from this awful tragedy so that it doesn’t happen to more children.

Kids are going to ride their bikes and play outside, and there will always be cars on the road. So here are some ways to teach kids to be safe in and around cars.

Teaching Kids Safety In and Around Cars

First off, Parents:

  • Make sure your children are riding and properly restrained in age-appropriate seats. “Of those children ages 8 and under who died in vehicle crashes in 2014, 26 percent were not restrained by an age-appropriate device such as an infant seat, booster seat or seat belt.” (source: safekids.org)
  • Do not leave your children alone in the car. “Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children under the age of 14.” (source)
  • Always check your backseat before getting out of the car. Keep your wallet or phone back there as a reminder.
  • Kids should ride in the backseat until they are around 13 years old.
  • Put safety flags, signs, or other indicators that children are at play in your neighborhood so drivers will be on high alert for kids playing in the streets.
  • Lock your car, even in the garage so children do not get into the car to play. Store keys out of children’s reach.
  • Finally, as we always say, model good driving behavior for your children: Do not text or talk on handheld devices; do not fiddle with the radio or anything else that could cause a distraction; always wear your seatbelt; follow the posted speed limits and other rules of the road; be patient, cautious, and courteous to other drivers; be respectful of law enforcement; and so on.

Teach Your Kids:

  • Never assume a car can see you. Wait to make eye contact and be waved on by the driver before crossing the street.
  • Never play in, on, or around cars.
  • Do not run or play in a parking lot.
  • Parked cars might move suddenly, and the driver may not see you.
  • White lights on the back of a car mean the driver is preparing to back up, so do not be behind the car.
  • Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard.

Bystanders/Neighbors/Drivers:

  • Call 911 if you see a small child alone in a car.
  • If you live in a neighborhood with children, be careful backing out of your driveway. Look around and behind your car before leaving.
  • Drive through neighborhoods as if your own children were outside playing.

Step 1. Complete our online driver’s education course

Register for our online driver education course. After you complete the required chapters and tests, we will then send you the DMV Certificate of Completion (DL387) that you can take to the DMV when you are ready to take the written test for your learner’s permit.

Our online driver ed course is available to all California residents. You can take our course at your own pace, in your own home in your own time.

Step 2. Study for the DMV written test

You will need to study for the DMV written permit test by reading through the DMV California Driver Handbook. It will benefit you if you take your time and study the handbook so you are comfortable with the information that will be on the test.

Take your time, you don’t want to have to go back to retake the test.

Step 3. Make an appointment at the DMV to take the written exam

It is important that you call ahead of time and schedule an appointment at the local DMV so you can go in and take the written test.

The lines at the DMV are usually very long so you don’t want to waste your time waiting in line. Make sure that you are well prepared for your appointment.

Most DMV’s are open Mondays through Fridays until 5 pm; Some are also open on Saturdays for a few hours so call ahead of time and see which date and times are best for you.

Step 4. Bring necessary documents to the DMV office

  • Complete the application form DL 44, remember the DMV always requires An original to be submitted. Copies will not be accepted in any form, so make sure you have exactly what you need. You can get this form from your local DMV.
  • Have your parents or guardians sign the application form DL 44.
  • Give your right thumbprint.
  • Have your picture taken.
  • Provide your social security #
  • Verify your birth date and legal residence
  • Submit the proper form(s) for Driver Education and/or Driver Training (see below for details)
  • Pay the $28.00 application fee (This fee entitles you to three exams of any type within the 12-month period and pays for both the instruction permit and the driver license. If all requirements are not met within the 12-month period, the application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.)
  • Pass a vision exam, if you need glasses, wear them.
  • Pass a written test, there are 46 questions on the test.
  • You need a passing score of at least 39 correct answers.
  • You have three chances to pass the test. If you fail, you must wait 7 days before taking it again.

 

Driver Education and Driver Training Form Requirements:

If you are 15  years of age, you will need to bring with you:

  • Form DL 356 or OL 237 (Completion of Driver Education) with form DL 391 (Driver Training Enrollment ) if your school has a contract with a driving school.

OR

  • Form DL 356 or forms OL 237 and OL 238 (Completion of both Driver Education and Driver Training)

OR

  • Submit form DL 391 or OL 239 (Simultaneous Enrollment in Driver Education and Driver Training)

 

If you are over 15 but under 18 years of age, you will need to submit:

  • Form DL 356 or OL 237 (Completion of Driver Education)

OR

  • Form DL 391 or OL 239 (Simultaneous Enrollment in Driver Education and Driver Training)

 

If you are over 17  but under 18 years of age, you may get your permit without the driver education and driver training certificates however, you will not be able to take the driving test until you turn 18.

Once you pass your written test, you will be issued a provisional permit. You can be issued a permit at age 15, but you cannot take the driving test or be issued a driver’s license until you are 16 years of age.

A parent, guardian, spouse, or adult 25 years of age or older, who has a valid California driver’s license, must be with you when you drive. They must sit in a position that allows them to take control of the vehicle, if necessary. It is illegal for you to drive alone at any time.

Before being eligible to take the driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old
  • Have had your permit for a minimum of six months
  • Have completed driver education
  • Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver’s license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.

 

If driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than California, DMV will accept either a Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools form DL 33 completed by the out-of-state school or a letter on the out-of-state school’s stationery signed by a school official stating that the courses are equivalent to California’s requirements. Instructional permits issued by another state are not acceptable

Step 5. Complete behind the wheel training

When you pass the written exam:

  • You are required to take your first 2 hours of behind the wheel training with a professional driving instructor.
  •  You may start behind the wheel training with your parent/guardian or other licensed drivers who are 25 years of age or older.
  •  You must further complete four (4) more hours of driving school instruction.
  • Complete fifty (50) additional hours of behind the wheel training with a parent/guardian or any other adult who is 25 years old or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify that you’ve had the 50 hours of practice. It is required that 10 of the 50 hours of training is done in the evening.

Step 6. Take the driving test at the DMV

To be eligible to take your driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old
  • Have had your permit for a minimum of six months
  • Have completed a driver education course
  • Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult who is 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.
  • You will also need to show registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle you will be taking your drive test in.
  •  If you fail your drive test, you must wait two weeks before you can take the test again. You have three chances to pass.
    • Driving (behind-the-wheel) retest fee is $6.00.
    • Motorcycle driving (behind-the-wheel) retest fee $6.00.

 

After you pass your drive test you will be issued an interim license valid for 60 days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Double-check your address before you leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect.

If you have not received your license after 60 days, call (916) 657-7790 and they can check on the status for you. Have your interim license with you to provide information when requested.

Step 7. Receive provisional license upon passing the driving test

After you pass the Driving Test, you will be issued a provisional license. Your license will have the following restrictions for the next year: During the first 12 months, you are licensed to drive you must be accompanied by a driver 25 years of age or older if you drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. or if you have passengers under the age of 20 in the car at any time.

Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you become 18, the provisional part of your license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license, which will expire on your 5th birthday after the date you applied.