Texas Parent Taught Drivers Ed

The Flexible Online Course for Teens and Parents

Every Texan who is a teenager should get a proper driver's education. It is needed to maintain road safety. This helps you ensure that other drivers, people on the road as well as yourself are safe. This course can sharpen one’s driving skills a lot. 

Parent-taught drivers ed Texas is a great way to learn Driving 101 under a parent/guardian's supervision. Also, it has a TDLR certification. This means that the course fulfills all criteria laid out by the state. 

Below, we will see what Texas parent-taught drivers education is and why should a teenager opt for it.  

Joining a Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Ed Course Perks 

Findings demonstrate that distracted driving accounts for 6 in 10 car accidents among teenagers. The main reason? Well...the lack of proper driver's ed. So, taking such a course is worth every teen's consideration. 

A parents-taught drivers ed Texas program comes packed with several cool benefits: 

• Lets Parents Instill Essential Safe Driving Principles in Their Teenagers

When one trusts their own driving experience, it is crucial to share that trust with their teen behind the wheel. It is imperative that adolescents fully grasp the concepts taught in the course before commencing independent driving. The parents can significantly contribute by imparting some rudimentary aspects of safe driving and assisting in driver’s education prior to allowing their children to drive. This is vital, as stats show that the accident rate among teen drivers is about 3x higher than adults. 

• Brings About a Stronger Parent-Kid Bond

Showing your teen the ropes of driving can be a meaningful experience for both of you. PTDE provides a platform for parents and teens to engage together. Besides, they get to communicate freely and build a solid foundation of trust.

• Costs You Less When Compared to Other Course Types  

Offsite driving training can cost a lot of money. You need to pay for the materials and the instructor's salary. If you're looking to stick to a budget for driving lessons, consider parent-taught driver education courses. They are more affordable than traditional driving schools and allow you to bond with your teen while teaching them.

• More Time to Learn 

Many teens and their parents think that one of the greatest advantages of having parents teach driving is that one can practice tricky skills, such as parallel parking and merging onto a freeway, as often as they want until they feel ready. It often takes students longer than the 14 hours of driving observation and practice to really master their driving skills and feel comfortable in various settings, including city streets, rural roads, and expressways. Driving without being fully learned would be a bad idea. Stats published by Varghese Summersett highlights the total number of people who got injured in motor vehicle accidents in Texas in 2022-23: 

• Private Lessons 

One of the best parts about having parents teach their teens to drive is that they don’t have to deal with other student drivers in the car. This means they can practice without feeling like they are being watched, which helps teens stay calm. It is a fact that learning to drive can be pretty scary. Most teens feel less anxious about making mistakes when they are with a parent or guardian they trust.

Why Go the Online Route with Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Ed?

Taking the Texas parent-taught drivers education online has various perks. Below are some of those perks: 

Flexibility and Comfort  

With online PTDE, families can do their lessons on their own time. There is no pressure to be on a strict schedule. At all! So teens can take their time and learn at a speed that suits them. The flexibility and convenience teens and their parents get from an online program can never be matched by an offline one. 

No Need to Visit a Classroom 

Many parents are pleased that students can now take the classroom part of driver’s education online. This is a big help since it means they don’t have to juggle even more activities when life gets busy again. Also, it keeps the process moving so that students can get their licenses without any hold-ups.

Learning at One's Own Pace 

You can take an online PTDE course at your own pace. Institutes offering such programs know that each student learns in their own way, so they often design a curriculum that lets teens learn and advance whenever they feel comfortable.

Better Focus 

The internet-assisted, easily fitted learning style provides an avenue for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and those who have problems with time management. This encourages them to focus more, as there is less interference by factors that result in distractions in a usual classroom.

24/7 Support 

If you enroll in the online parent-taught drivers' education course, you’ll have access to chat support from the customer service and driving instructors for any extra questions you might have about the course. This makes it easier for teens to get their queries answered and issues resolved promptly and progress as intended.   

Mock Tests 

By signing up for web-based Texas parent-taught drivers ed courses, teens are also given a free learner permit practice test. The great thing about this practice test is that it contains real questions that have been used in previous DMV permit exams. This means that they will be prepared with the exact material that is needed for the real exam. No time wasted! 

Insurance Rate Discounts

Certain insurance companies offer discounts to those who have finished a TDLR-approved parent-taught drivers ed Texas. Not completing this course could mean one won’t get some possible savings. So, it won’t be a good idea to skip this program. 

Eligibility for Texas PTDE 

Here are the criteria to fulfill to get enrolled in a parent-taught drivers education Texas program: 

• 14-17 should be the age of a student.  
• They should be enrolled in an educational institution for 11 weeks and 3 days minimum/participate in a high school equivalency preparation program for at least 6 weeks and 3 days. 
• They should meet the progression rates required for academics and comply with the attendance policy of the school.
• Additionally, a parent or guardian must fulfill the eligibility criteria to act as an instructor. 
• The applicant's driving record should be devoid of fault in a specified number of accidents and moving violations over the past three years. 
• They must not have experienced any suspension, revocation, or forfeiture of their driver’s license due to traffic-related offenses within the last three years. 
• It is also not permitted to accumulate six or more points on their Texas driver's license in the past three years.
• In the preceding seven years, the candidate must not have encountered any charges or convictions for DWI or criminally negligent homicide.
• Finally, a school official must complete the Verification of Enrollment and Attendance form as part of the process.

Online Texas PTDE Course Structure 

Let us now acquire an idea of the course structure of the online PTDE in Texas: 

Students are obligated to order and receive the PTDE packet in compliance with state regulations before they can initiate any online coursework for parent-taught drivers ed. Also, a $20 fee is necessary to be paid to the TDLR at the time of enrolling in the online course, ensuring the parent meets the criteria to serve as the student's instructor. To qualify as parent instructors, individuals must hold a valid driver's license, demonstrate a minimum of three years of driving experience, and comply with any other specific requirements established by the TDLR.

This course is structured into twelve educational units. The materials are entirely accessible online. A review quiz is included after each unit to support your learning of the content. There are tons of video content that make learning simpler. The total time taken to finish this course is 32 hours (the shortest course length permitted by the state). One can retake the test an infinite number of times; there's no bar. A final exam is usually part of the course to measure your comprehension. In many cases, passing this exam is a prerequisite for receiving a learner's permit. Subjects like the Texas traffic rules and accident prevention techniques allow students to be well equipped not only with the knowledge to pass the theory test but also to effectively and responsibly manage the vehicle on the road. Some of the learnable things included in the educational units are as follows: 

• Directing the circulation of vehicles
• Traffic regulation instruments
• Working in partnership with road users
• Activities to perform before driving
• Tasks to perform following the drive
• Measures for occupant safety
• Control and operation tasks for the vehicle
• Visual concentration, mental engagement, and effective communication
• Hostile driving behavior
• Surrounding attributes 
• Diversions
• Multitasking capabilities

Conclusion 

Texas parent-taught driver education offers a flexible and engaging learning experience for both teens and parents. The online format allows for easy access to materials making it simple to balance studying with other activities. 

This program not only helps new drivers become safer on the road but also creates lasting memories for families. By working together parents and teens can build important driving skills while enjoying quality time.