We have noticed that while some parents are very eager to start practicing with their teen. Other parents are not as enthusiastic about the thought of being strapped in the passenger seat, with their teen at the wheel. Many teens are not getting the practice they need to be safe. Either way, I wanted to answer some of the FAQ’s I get regarding practicing. Along with some incentives to make sure your teen is getting the best driver education possible!!

Q. How often should I be practicing with my teen?

A. The law requires that a minor get 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 or older who is a CA licensed driver. 10 of those hours should be at night. This does not necessarily mean only Mom or Dad. Grandparents, other relatives, family friends, and even your teens friends parents are other good options. Drive as frequently as possible!!

Q. What should I be practicing with my teen?

A. It is important that a student driver get practice in lots of different types of traffic, and new places. Sometimes it is hard to tell what to look for. For the most part, new drivers can appear confident, and most of the time, make good decisions as the driver. Next thing you know, he/she makes a bone head maneuver, that caught you off guard. This can be very scary for the students practice buddy. This is where your experience comes into play #1 Remain calm!!! A panicked driver will do even stranger things… #2 Find a safe area and pull over to discuss what happened and what they should have done. I carry a white board, to illustrate my words. “Right of way” and “blind spot” are just terms until it’s time to find out first hand what those terms actually mean. If you need to be somewhere at a particular time, leave at least 10 minutes early!!!

Q. My teen does not want to practice, what do I do?

A. Don’t get angry. They are simply anxious about what you will think. #1. Remind them that you are under legal obligation to make sure they practice. Offer to drive out of the neighborhood, then switch. Start with shorter, more familiar drives. Often the hardest part is starting. Once they get going, most of the anxiety will disappear. Tell your teen that if they have enough, or want to stop, they can. Breathing is key, if you notice your teen breathing fast or sweating. Ask them if they are okay. People also hold their breath when they are frightened, remind them to breathe too, oxygen will help their brain function better. #2. I have also heard that bribery works…teens love a drive-thru!

Q. Can their be passengers in the vehicle?

A. Yes. As long as the “practice buddy” is in the passenger seat, your teen can drive siblings, or their teammates home after practice. Remember that your teen will feel more pressure to drive well in front of others. Make sure you feel that your teen is ready to handle some distractions, and added stress while driving before attempting passengers. I suggest talking with siblings about letting the driver concentrate, and keeping quiet if a mistake is made

Q. It has been a long time since I learned to drive. How do I know if I am teaching my teen correctly?

A. Ask the instructor! We are happy to answer you questions, and can usually pop in for a few minutes at the end of the lesson to discuss your Teen. We also would like to offer a licensed driver brush-up for practice buddies. This is a private one hour evaluation and brush up on your existing skills. This can eliminate arguments over ‘the right way’ to do something.
Having a private lesson is a great time to discuss any concerns you are having with your teen’s instructor. I myself did not take professional driving lessons until I became an instructor. I was amazed by who much I thought I knew… This class would be extremely valuable to anyone who enjoys being ‘right’ all the time Ask about our one hour brush up lesson for $55.00.

Q. I think my teen might need additional lessons… Can I get a price break on a second set?

A. We set up our lesson format to be very flexible. There are 12 and 18 hour packages available, or you may do lessons a la carte, as needed. For the holidays, we decided to offer a special promotion to students who could benefit from some additional training. After your student has completed their first six hours on instruction, and you purchase an additional six hour package for $300.00, we will use the last lesson as the drive test! This is a $60.00 savings!

Regular Price Break down:
Lesson #5 $80.00
Lesson #6 $80.00
Lesson #7 $80.00
Drive test $120.00 (includes one hour warm up, test in our car, unlimited time at DMV for processing, ride home
Total $360.00

At Drive Happy our goal is not to be the largest driving school. We simply want to be the best. We are very proud of what we do. My favorite part of teaching is seeing the students ‘light bulb’ switch on, and suddenly everything make sense. I really enjoy building pride and confidence in my students. People often overlook the importance of driving safely. We focus so much on work, school, and family…that we forget how we get to work, school, and family. We drive, everyday. We all share the same roads, and all share the right to be safe. Let’s work together, and Drive Happy!!

General Scheduling Tips

When contacting us to schedule remember the following:

• Tell us your first and last name
• Tell us what your schedule looks like
• Tell us where you need to be picked up and dropped off

Scheduling By Phone

To schedule by phone call us at 951-805-8666. This is the easiest way to schedule a driving lesson. Make sure that you know what your schedule looks like so we can offer you a few different spaces. We always try and get you into the schedule as soon as possible, but remember that if you are only available on one specific day, or time, it may be hard to get you into our soonest available space. The more flexible you can be, the sooner we can get you into the calendar.

Scheduling By Text Message

To schedule by text message send a text to 951-805-8666. Be sure to include your first and last name in the text so we know who you are. It’s also a good idea to try and include a little information about your schedule so we can find the best time for you. The sames rules as above apply, the more flexible you can be, the sooner we can get you in the calendar.

Scheduling By E-mail

To schedule by e-mail send a message to either Amber or Josh. Note that depending on which one of us in on the road that day, you may receive a response from either one of us. Please remember to include your first and last name so we know who you are. Also remember to tell us about your schedule so we can find the best time for you. The same rules as above apply, the more flexible you can be, the sooner we can get you in the calendar.

The rain continues, but Drive Happy drives on!

If you have a driving lesson scheduled in the rain, good for you! Rain driving is a rare an unique educational experience in Southern California. You don’t need to make any special preparations for your rain driving lesson, and don’t worry, your instructor will be there. In the event that the conditions become to hazardous to conduct training, we will contact you to re-schedule.

If you do not have a driving lesson scheduled, you should! It is much better, and safer for your to learn driving in the rain with your professional instructor, in our training car. Believe it or not, rain driving is really not that complicated. In fact, it is actually a bit easier in some ways because of the lower travel speeds.

That is all for today. I will leave you with. . . DOUBLE RAINBOW!

Congratulations to one of Murrieta’s newest teen drivers. This student completed our On-line Driver Education Program and 8 hours of Behind-the-Wheel Training with Josh. He took the Drive Test in our car (with the 1 hour warm-up) last week. He passed with a fantastic score of -3.

Remember that Drive Happy is a full service driving school for teens. We can help you from permit to license. Don’t try to navigate the scary roads of DMV regulation alone. Sign-up on-line by clicking here, or give us a call at 951-805-8666.

Good morning everyone. It is another rainy day in southern California. The Drive Happy car is on the road today in the cities of Murrieta and Temecula. We have been teaching quite a few rain driving lessons this week, a great and rare opportunity for southern California students. For those of you that have been unable to take a rain driving lesson this week we’d like to share our best tips for driving in the rain.

Tip 1: SLOW DOWN!

While it may sound obvious this is the single most important thing that you can do while driving in the rain. When the pavement is wet and visibility is reduced you should be travelling 5 – 10 miles below the posted speed limit. If you find yourself caught in a major deluge you should consider driving even slower. Always remember California’s Basic Speed Law states that you may never drive faster than is safe for current conditions.

Tip 2: Use your headlights with you windshield wipers.

Rain reduces visibility for you and all of the other road users. By switching on your headlights anytime your windshield wipers are on you will make your car more visible to others, reducing the chance of a collision. In California this not just a good idea, it is the law. An even better idea would be to make your next car purchase a model that has always on headlights. The Toyota Corolla has this feature and it is one of our favorites. Studies have shown that even on clear sunny days, cars with there headlights on are more visible and less likely to be involved in a collision.

Tip 3: Avoid driving in flooded lanes

Southern California does not have the best storm drainage systems. For the most part our water runs down the right hand curb, and eventually into a seasonal stream. Heavy rain will cause the right hand curb gutter, and often the entire lane to flood. You should avoid driving in this lane whenever possible. Be sure to change lanes carefully.

Tip 4: Puddles = NO GAS + FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING

When driving through a puddle you should let your foot of the gas and keep both hands firmly on the wheel. Avoid braking while driving through. If you feel the need to slow down do it before entering the puddle. Most puddles contain enough water to overwhelm the tread on your tires. You will be either partially or completely hydro-plaining (water separates your tires from the road-way) through the puddle. This is why you should NOT brake or steer in the puddle. Allow the cars forward momentum to carry you straight through.

Tip 5: DO NOT CROSS DEEP OR FAST MOVING WATER

Always be extremely cautious when approaching water of unknown depth. If the water appears to have significant current (i.e. fast moving water or mud) you should consider an alternate route. Mud in particular has tremendous force when travelling at speed. Inches is enough to sweep a grown man off his feet. With enough speed mud can also lift your car, and carry it away. If you are not certain you can make it, do not attempt it.

Be careful out there today, and remember to. . .

Drive Happy!

Last month we were contacted by a senior in the Murrieta area. Her license had expired, and while attempting to renew it she was faced with a DMV Driving Test. She took the test, and failed, as would 90% of the licensed drivers on the road today if they were faced with a similar situation. She re-took the test a second time, and again, failed.

At this point she contacted us at Drive Happy. She was upset, and confused. Having driven safely for many years she did not understand how the DMV could be telling her that she was unsafe. Her driving record is flawless. In fact, her one and only ticket was received in 1965.

We scheduled her for an evaluation lesson the next day. On the day of her first lesson I took the time to review her previous DMV Drive Test Score sheets. Her mistakes were all very typical of experienced and somewhat complacent drivers. We went out for 90 minutes the first day, and I observed many of the mistakes that the DMV saw.

What happened next is what makes Drive Happy different. I explained the mistakes to her, completely. I explained what was done wrong, why it was wrong, and what the correct way is. We then practiced the skills. . . and practiced. . . and practiced. By the end of the lesson we had made significant progress in correcting her driving behavior.

I recommended an additional three driving lessons to improve her driving skills, and she agreed. I should mention that I was not trying to “up-sell”. Failing the Drive Test three times puts a senior driver on very unsteady footing. The DMV policy is three strikes and you are out. Once a senior reaches this point it becomes very difficult for them to ever re-gain their license. It usually involves attorneys, depositions, and thousands of dollars.

Over the next few weeks we went out driving. Every lesson we worked on correcting her driving habits. It was not easy. Changing 50+ years of behavior rarely is, but she was a trooper. We focused on what she was doing wrong, why it was wrong, and how we could make it better. We worked hard, and her habits and skills improved.

On January 4, 2010 she went to the DMV for her third, and probably final DMV Drive Test. She passed with only a few minor errors. She was overjoyed, and so was I.

This is why I became a driving instructor. This is why Amber and I founded Drive Happy. Thanks for taking the time to read and. . .

Drive Happy!

Good morning everyone! It is a raining day in Southern California. Be careful out on the roads today! Remember to slow down, turn your headlights on, and increase your following distance!

I’d like to share a letter that Amber recently received from one of her students. This adult student completed 12 hours of Behind-the-Wheel Training. She also took the Drive Test in our car last week, passing on her first attempt!

Hi Amber! I just want to thank you for all your effort, time and kindness. You are by far the best instructor/teacher I ever had. I
learned so much from you, how to drive and be a lot less nervous in the road. You are doing such a great difference…keep up the good work that you do everyday, because I can tell you enjoy it so much. You make driving so much fun even for me that I thought I couldn’t do it again. I will tell my husband’s assistant at Abbott to give a good word about your driving school. For whoever needs it in the company, including newcomers and expats. I will see you around, hopefully! Good job! It’s all thanks to you!

Sincerely,
Trinidad

Wow, what a compliment! It is so nice to hear positive things from our students.

Have a great day, and remember to. . . Drive Happy!

One our favorite driving skills to teach at Drive Happy is mountain road driving. The lessons learned about the importance of driving with both hands, and how centrifugal and centripetal force affect the car are invaluable. We have also discovered that it is a great confidence booster for the student.

I would like to give you a glimpse at some of our favorite areas to teach mountain road driving.

The Ortega Highway

This road is by far our favorite. Every student that we teach in the Lake Elsinore or Wildomar area gets the opportunity to drive it. We start at the bottom of the mountain off of Grand Ave and take our students all the way over the summit.

This roadway is a great place to learn because we are able to start on an uphill grade. Maneuvering through turns going uphill is far more forgiving than downhill because gravity acts as a natural brake. The abundance of turnout lanes is also a plus as it allows students to pull over and let traffic pass if they need too.

By the time we have reached the summit the student is ready to handle to downhill section through El Cariso Village. As we leave the village the speed limit increases and the road gets windier. If time allows we take the students all the way to the parking lot of the Candy Store before having them turn and head back.

The long downhill stretch descending back into the Elsinore Valley provides a nice challenge of all the skills the student has acquired so far. We use this area to teach the importance of braking before entering a turn, and releasing the brakes while turning to maintain control and avoid over-heating the brakes.

La Cresta / Santa Rosa Plateau

This is another great area for mountain road driving. We drive it with our students from the Murrieta area. The route typically starts from Clinton Keith Road near Bear Creek.

Again, we start off with uphill driving to allow the students time to develop a feel for the mountains. Once we have reached the summit we cut across the Santa Rosa Plateau and head for the incredibly steep and narrow road, Via Volcano.

This part of the lesson is an amazing experience. The roadway is inclined at an angle of over 20 degrees. We use this section to teach the importance of braking before entering a turn, releasing the brakes to allow them to cool, and how to use low gear to control vehicle speed.

Once we have reached the bottom of the volcano we navigate the students through the De Luz area. The route ends by coming down Rancho California Road into the back of Temecula.

De Luz

Another excellent mountain road area. We use this one for our Temecula and Winchester students. This area is full of great roads making the route very flexible. We start the route on Rancho California road.

We take some of our students on the La Cresta / Santa Rosa plateau route, ending in Murrieta. Other students will travel exclusively in De Luz through a challenging set up hills and curves. One of my favorite routes includes an awesome downhill grade and a sweeping right curve that runs right alongside a private lake.

On routes that stay exclusively in De Luz we end the route by traveling back down to the Temecula Valley floor on Rancho California. This one is very fun because of the 2 massive downhill curves. These are also great teaching tools for the skill of braking before the curve and coasting through without gas or brake.

Fallbrook

For students in Fallbrook every lesson includes mountain road driving. If you’ve ever driven in Fallbrook you know that mountain roads are pretty much all the roads.

Now that you know how Drive Happy teaches mountain road driving the question is “Are you ready for the mountain?”

Drive Happy

Sorry folks, this sale has ended! Thank you to everyone who signed up and made this a huge success. Stay tuned for our next special offer!

Is your teen still pestering you about getting their Learner’s Permit?

Back to school season is upon us. New shoes, new backpacks, pencils, and binders. We’re parents like many of you, and we know that this time of year can be expensive. Drive Happy is lending a hand by offering the following deals until 08/15/2009.

Driver Education & 6 Hours Driver Training – $350 $300

This program meets all DMV requirements for a teenager applying for a California Driver License and includes:

On-line Driver Education

The theory portion of learning to drive, designed to introduce students to the laws, and rules of the road. Other topics such as vehicle physics, the effects of alcohol and drugs, and vehicle mechanical systems are covered. Knowledge of all of these subjects will be tested during the DMV written exam.

Program Highlights:

• Available 24/7: Learn at your own pace, log on from anywhere, whenever you want
• Knowledge Based: End of Chapter tests ensure that students understand the information
• Live Support: Real driving instructors supervise and monitor students progress
• State of the art: Laws are rules are always current, pictures, videos and animation make the learning process fun.

Find out why our On-line Driver Ed is superior to a classroom by clicking here!

6 Hrs In-Car Training

In-car training takes place in our car, on public roadways. Skills taught include: Vehicle control, applying driving laws and rules to the real world, and defensive driving techniques. We focus on building good driving habits and confidence.

Note: DMV requires students to enroll in Behind-the-Wheel training and pass a written test at the DMV to obtain a Provisional Instruction Permit before they can begin their 1st driving lesson. A Certificate of Enrollment (OL 392) will be provided to students after enrollment via USPS or during a visit to our office.

Click here to find out what to expect on the 1st driving lesson!

Program Highlights:

• 4 Lessons x 90mins: Six hours total training time Why 90 minute lessons?
• Private Lessons: Only 1 student in the car See our training car!
• Flexible Scheduling with Free Pick-up & Drop-off: Appointments available 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm
• Choice of Male or Female instructor: Professional, patient and friendly. Students work with the same instructor for every lesson Meet the instructors!
• Building Block Curriculum: Simple steps teach safe driving techniques without fear and stress
• Safe Training Car: Our 2008 Toyota Corrolla LE is equipped with dual controls, marked with student driver signs, and fully insured for students
• No Nonsense: Lesson begin and end on time. Students drive on actual streets and learn real driving skills
• Discount on the Drive Test: Complete 6 hours of training and take the DMV in our car for half price.