Establish Your Driving Skills

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Establish Your Good Driving Habits

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Driving is a complex and often demanding task, even for skilled and experienced motorists. To drive safely you must control the vehicle, comply with traffic laws and regulations, monitor traffic conditions, watch the behavior of other drivers, keep an eye out for children, pedestrians, animals and cyclists, and maneuver in all kinds of weather and road conditions.

You must also obtain information from continually changing environments, decide what action to take, initiate that action, assess the consequences, take remedial action if necessary, and constantly repeat the process. Good drivers perform these steps in a timely manner.

Heavy traffic, speeding drivers, emergencies, bad weather, distractions and fatigue, as well as emergencies created by others, place additional demands on you as a driver. Traffic crashes are the number-one killer of young people ages 15 to 20. Novice drivers account for four times more crashes than drivers with just five more years experience. These statistics mandate that every driver be prepared. How to Drive will help the beginning driver, peers, parents and mentors be safe and effective in the driving process.

Area We Service

Forest Hills

Bellrose

Middle Village

Fresh Meadows

Roslyn Heights

Manhasset

Old Westbury

Schedule of Services

Pre-Licensing Course 5 Hour class which is required by the NYS DMV to take your road test.
6 Hour Defensive Driving course 10% reduction in your auto insurance premiums for three years.
Road Test Appointment Scheduling:
Car Rental for Road Test:
Driving Lessons – 45 minutes per lesson (Does not include Road Test Scheduling or Car Rental):
Single Lesson:
5 Lessons:
10 Lessons:
Highway Lessons – 60 Minutes per lesson
CANCELLATION POLICIES: Lesson packages must be paid in full upfront and must be completed within 3 months. No refund after 3 months. ROAD TEST APPOINTMENTS MUST BE CANCELLED WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS OF THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT DATE. ALL SCHEDULED DRIVING LESSONS MUST BE CANCELLED WITHIN 72 HOURS OF THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT TIME.

Note: Cancellations outside these required time frames will not be refunded.

How To Drive

Under The Hood

Pre Driving Check

Using The Mirror

Starting The Engine

Steerring Techniques

Parallel Parking

Three-point Turnabout

To Make the Most

UNDER THE HOOD

Engine-coolant reservoir (radiator fluid)
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
Power-steering fluid reservoir
Drive belts (tension and wear)
Engine-oil filler cap
Engine-oil dipstick
Transmission-fluid dipstick (automatic transmission only)
Brake-fluid reservoir
Battery (clean and level charge)
Air-filter assembly

Consult your vehicle's owner's manual to verify what components
under the hood should be inspected. Perform these checks at least
once a month or as recommended in the owner's manual. Failure to
conduct these checks can lead to unsafe operating conditions
and costly repairs.

Pre-Driving Checks

Forming good habits. Certain checks and procedures must become habits if a driver to safely and efficiently operate a motor vehicle. The first habit you need to develop preparing yourself, your vehicle and your passengers for travel.

The pre-driving checks identified below should be performed ever time you drive. Checks under the hood, under normal driving conditions, should be performed at least once a month or as recommended in the owner's manual.

Have your keys in hand before approaching your car or entering the parking area. If you have a keyless-entry remote with a pani alarm button, keep it in your hand, with your finger poised above the activation button.
Be alert to other pedestrians and drivers. Search for signs of movement between, beneath and around objects to both sides if parked, the curb, face traff of your vehicle.
Make sure other drivers see you. Walk well
away from parked vehicles.
If parked at the curb, face traffic as you as you
approach driver's do approach the driver's door. Outside the Vehicle.
Before entering, check around the vehicle for obstacles that might interfere with movement of the vehicle.
Check the driveway, parking area or street for children or other pedestrians. Seve hundred children are killed annually by backing vehicles.
Inspect the headlights, brake lights, turn signals and taillights, windshield, and si and rear windows. Clean if necessary and replace any bulbs or lenses that are no working or are broken.
Visually inspect your tires for obvious signs of a problem, and notice which way the front wheels are pointed. Be sure to check your tire pressures at least once a month, as visual inspection alone may not reveal an improperly inflated tire.
Check under the vehicle for fluid leaks.
Look inside the vehicle before entering, especially the back seat, to enhance your safety and protect yourself against carjacking and other dangers.

Using the mirrors

Using these settings, the driver can observe what is directly behind the vehicle by using the inside mirror. By using the side mirrors, the driver can see directly into the spaces adjacent to each of the vehicle's rear corners as well. This enhanced visual contact should increase the driver's field of awareness, which can help detect the presence of other nearby roadway users. With these mirror settings, you will have almost seamless visual contact around your vehicle. For example, when being passed by a vehicle in the next lane to your left, you will see it progress (a) from the rearview mirror, (b) to the left side mirror, (c) to your side vision:

Vehicle first observed in rearview mirror
Vehicle moving from rearview mirror to
left side mirror
Vehicle in left side mirror
Vehicle moving from left side mirror into
peripheral vision
Vehicle fully visible in peripheral vision

Remember, even properly adjusted mirrors will not eliminate all blind spots. You must make a final check to the sides before you make any lateral move. Turning your head to use the side mirrors should be limited to quick glances to detect the presence of objects and not to search for detailed information. This does not mean that you should not look over your shoulder to make critical time- space judgments when you move from a stopped position at the curb or merge onto an expressway.

Starting the Engine

Forming good habits. There are certain habits you should develop when starting a chicle engine:
1.⁠ ⁠Always place your foot on the brake pedal before starting the engine. (If you have trouble reaching the brake or accelerator pedal and you do not have adjustable pedals, obtain pedal extensions.)
2.⁠ ⁠Check to ensure the parking brake is set.
3.⁠ ⁠Check to ensure the gear selector lever is in Park.
4.⁠ ⁠Turn the key clockwise to start the engine. Note that instead of key-turn starting, some vehicles feature a push-to-start button.
NOTE: Check your owner's manual for specific instructions on starting
your particular vehicle.
5.⁠ ⁠As soon as the engine starts, release the key (or button). Failure to release ignition switch can damage the starter system.
8.⁠ ⁠Let the engine idle for at least 15 to 20 seconds before you start driving. Do not race the engine by pressing hard on the accelerator.
7.⁠ ⁠Check co make sure all gauges are working and that all indicate normal functioning of vehicle systems.
8.⁠ ⁠If the vehicle is nor equipped with daytime running lights (DRLs), turn on the low-beam headlights.
9.⁠ ⁠Drive at a moderate speed for the first few blocks to allow the engine and fluids to warm up to operating temperatures.

Steering Techniques

Three techniques. Turning the steering wheel clockwise will cause the vehicle to change direction to the right. Turning the steering wheel counter-clockwise will cause the vehicle to change direction to the left. Three steering techniques are available to drivers:

Hand-to-hand steering
Hand-over-hand steering
One-hand steering

Hand-to-hand steering. When turning through a slight curve using hand-to-hand steering — sometimes referred to as push-pull or feed steering (it is not "shuffle" steering) – both hands will typically retain their original grip on the wheel, requiring only slight finger or wrist movements to maintain the path of travel.

However, in tighter turns, your hands may move as much as 165 degrees up and down the sides of the wheel. (Neither hand crosses the 6 or 12 o'clock positions.) While one hand pushes up or pulls down, the opposite hand slides up or down along the wheel to provide additional steering input or stabilize steering. Reverse the process to return to a straight path — or allow the wheel to slide through your hands to its original position. In either case, both hands are always in contact with the steering wheel.

Parallel Parking

Think of parallel parking as nothing more than a lane change in reverse. As you manage your steering and speed, be aware of two areas of your vehicle to aid in using reference points — the center of your vehicle and the rear edge of your vehicle. You will also need to confirm that your intended parking space is at least one and a half times as long as your vehicle.

Check traffic to the rear. Signal your intentions, using your brake lights and right turn signal. With practice, parallel parking will become easier.

2 Position your vehicle (A) two to three feet from and parallel to vehicle B, which is parked. Stop when the center-point of your vehicle is in line with the center point of vehicle B (see

Illustration 1). This is your first reference point check. Slowly back your vehicle, steering sharply to the right. Continue backing until the center point of your vehicle is in line with the rear of vehicle B (see Illustration 2). This is your second reference point check. Stop here temporarily while you are learning to park using this maneuver.

Continue backing slowly while straightening the wheels. Make B quick glances forward to ensure the front wheels are straight. Continue backing until the right front corner of your vehicle is in line with the rear of vehicle B (see Illustration 3). This is your third reference point check. Stop here temporarily while you are learning C to park using this maneuver.

Three-point Turnabout

Three-point turnabout. This maneuver, which results in your vehicle being stopped and blocking a complete lane, should onl be used during the lightest traffic and when no other option is available. Never attempt this maneuver if you are near a hill or curve, or if your sight distance is limited.

Performing a three-point turnabout

After checking to be sure that there is no r e a r o r oncoming traffic, signal right and stop as close as possible to the right edge of the roadway or curb.
This turn will require 15 to 30 seconds to complete, so check once again for traffic in both directions and signal a left turn before you begin.
Check your blind area over your left shoulder before you start the turn.
While moving slowly forward, steer rapidly all the way to the left.
While your vehicle is still moving slowly forward and when the front wheels are about five feet f r o m the curb or pavement edge, slowly roll to a stop just before the right front tire reaches the curb or road edge. At this point you are completely blocking the traffic lane.
Quickly check for traffic coming from the left and right. With your foot on the brake pedal, shift to Reverse. Back slowly and steer sharply to the right. When your rear wheels are about five feet from the road edge or curb, look over your left shoulder and keep looking back while rolling slowly and stop just before the left rear tire touches the curb or road edge.
Check traffic, shift to Drive and steer into the proper lane, adjusting speed as appropriate. On narrow roadways, it may be necessary to repeat steps four through seven to complete the maneuver.

To make the most of each practice session, here are some helpful hints for the adult coach:

⁠ ⁠Choose and pre-drive appropriate routes for each lesson.
⁠ ⁠Before starting each lesson, make sure the new driver understands the objectives of the lesson.
⁠ ⁠Remain calm, patient and alert.
⁠ ⁠Properly demonstrate maneuvers, when needed.
⁠ ⁠Provide directions well in advance. Tell where the action is to take place, and then describe the action; e.g., "at the next intersection, turn right."

⁠ ⁠Use language that prevents confusion. For example, use the word "right" to mean direction and "correct" when answering a questions.