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What To Expect From A Driver Pre-Licensing Course

11 November 2014 by Roy Morris

Knowing the rules of the road and how to navigate those roads safely plays a crucial role in helping new drivers obtain their driver's licenses. The importance of driver instruction prior to road testing led the state of New York to make so-called "5-hour" pre-licensing courses mandatory for new drivers. The following offers a glimpse into what these courses are like and how you should prepare yourself.

What is the Course Curriculum Like?

As the name implies, the average pre-licensing course lasts for approximately 5 hours. In some circumstances, the curriculum may be condensed into sessions as short as 3.5 hours. During this time, new drivers will receive training and instruction in the following subjects:

• A brief overview of the national highway transportation system
• State driving laws and regulations
• How supplemental restraint systems like airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners work
• How the laws of physics affect driving safety
• Defensive driving techniques
• The perils and penalties of drug and alcohol impairment
• The DMV's point system for license infractions

During the course, instructors may touch on various driving issues of the day, including distracted driving due to cell phone use and road rage. Drivers also learn how good physical and emotional fitness plays a role in driver performance and safety. For the most part, these courses tend to offer a standardized curriculum that's easy to follow.

Pre-Licensing vs. Driver Education Courses

As an alternative to the 5-hour pre-licensing course, new drivers can take driver education courses offered by their high schools or through a local driving school. Driver education courses offer a more hands-on experience, which could be useful for visual learners who'd prefer to gain additional experience behind the wheel. Most approved courses offer the following:

• At least 24 hours of classroom training
• At least 24 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, broken down into 18 hours of observation and 6 hours of actual driving time

As a result, driver education courses take longer to complete and usually cost more than a typical pre-licensing course.

How to Prepare

The best way to prepare for a pre-licensing course is to simply remain alert and, if possible, ready to take notes. You may be required to take a knowledge test at the end of the course as a learning tool. However, the knowledge test isn't required to pass the course.

The knowledge and skills gained from a pre-licensing course—such as Turning Point Driving School Inc.—can go a long way to helping you become a better driver.

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