For 15 years, an unusual driving school called Teen Driving Solutions has been operating in North Carolina, USA. The course is open not only to young drivers, but also to their parents. Training always takes place in pairs so that skills, values, and discussions of road situations are formed together within the family.
The program lasts two days, but in that time teenagers and adults learn not only driving technique, but also how to make decisions in stressful situations. Among the instructors are former racers, police officers, and military personnel.
One of the school’s main differences is the development of what it calls “hazard awareness.” Teenagers are taught to spot risks in advance, analyze the behavior of other drivers, and manage their own reactions. Parents, meanwhile, are taught to be support rather than controllers, helping the child gain confidence and a sense of responsibility.
According to the school, 98% of graduates do not get into accidents within five years after completing the course. In the final exam, the teenager and parent go through a simulation on a “slippery track”: this is not only a test of vehicle control in extreme conditions, but also a chance to overcome stress together.
According to psychologists, one of the main problems with typical driver education is when a parent or instructor takes full control, and the teenager simply follows instructions. At Teen Driving Solutions, they teach the opposite — to share responsibility. This makes the young driver more attentive, independent, and mature.
