Destination Drive - Lesson #1
DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS
New teen drivers need to first gain experience driving in parking lots, as well as learning how to park a car in a parking lot.
To begin practice driving in parking lots, look for large empty parking lots in an industrial park or public facility during closed hours with no traffic, parked cars or pedestrians and with minimal obstructions.
Teens should begin driving in empty parking lots by scheduling their practice during the day with dry pavement and no adverse weather.
When your teen is ready, practice in the next driving environment: Residential Roads.
DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS
New teen drivers need to first gain experience driving in parking lots, as well as learning how to park a car in a parking lot.
To begin practice driving in parking lots, look for large empty parking lots in an industrial park or public facility during closed hours with no traffic, parked cars or pedestrians and with minimal obstructions.
Teens should begin driving in empty parking lots by scheduling their practice during the day with dry pavement and no adverse weather.
When your teen is ready, practice in the next driving environment: Residential Roads.
Stopping And Starting
Goal:
Help the new driver learn to stop, start and turn the vehicle.
Activity:
Using boxes, cones, or existing lines as landmarks along an “L” shape, drive up to each landmark and stop as smoothly as possible. Continue this until the new driver stops and starts smoothly. Also concentrate on turning without over steering.
Common Errors:
Sign Learner Gets It:
Goal:
Help the new driver learn to stop, start and turn the vehicle.
Activity:
Using boxes, cones, or existing lines as landmarks along an “L” shape, drive up to each landmark and stop as smoothly as possible. Continue this until the new driver stops and starts smoothly. Also concentrate on turning without over steering.
Common Errors:
- Abrupt stops and accelerations
- Turns that are too tight or wide
- Turning before looking in the direction of the turn
- Too tight of a grip on the steering wheel
Sign Learner Gets It:
- Operates the car smoothly with control
- Automatically finds Identifies primary and secondary controls
Backing Up
Goal:
Help the new driver master the skill of backing up.
Activity:
Practice the steps involved in backing up in an empty parking lot without any obstructions.
Common Errors:
Goal:
Help the new driver master the skill of backing up.
Activity:
Practice the steps involved in backing up in an empty parking lot without any obstructions.
Common Errors:
- Not doing a 360 degree search prior to backing up
- Failing to look back during the whole maneuver, until the car is stopped
- Driving at too high a speed
-
- Backs up slowly and with control, knowing what’s around the vehicle at all times
Introduction To Scanning
Goal:
Help the new driver develop a scanning routine.
Activity:
Practice the scanning routine recommended by your driver’s instructor. It may be a variation of side mirror – rear view – side mirror – up ahead. Check blind spots periodically and always before turning.
Common Errors:
Goal:
Help the new driver develop a scanning routine.
Activity:
Practice the scanning routine recommended by your driver’s instructor. It may be a variation of side mirror – rear view – side mirror – up ahead. Check blind spots periodically and always before turning.
Common Errors:
- Forgetting to scan
- Concentrating too much on scanning and failing to look ahead
- Turns steering wheel when head moves to scan
-
- Develops a scanning routine and uses it consistently
Introduction To Lane Positioning
Goal:
Help the new driver keep the vehicle lined up in the center of the lane.
Activity:
Using markings in the parking lot or imagining a yellow line, practice driving straight.
Common Errors:
Driving Route #1 This route can be done twice to evaluate improvement.
Start at the Macy Parking Lot. Check odometer reading. Check fuel.
Circle the Mall perimeter to practice tracking.
Include turning up and down aisles for wheel control
Practice stopping/braking at the end of aisles
Practice backing up in a straight line.
Practice pulling into a perpendicular parking spot.
Practice pulling forward through a perpendicular spot and then backing up into space behind. Check to see spacing issues.
Proceed to leave Mall area. Always use turn signals in and out of aisles and parking spots
At the traffic light, near Macy's, turn left onto Harry L Drive. Discuss lane procedures.
At the traffic light turn left on to Reynold's Rd This is a complex Intersection. Discuss lane usage.
Driver needs to Lane Change right to set up for a right turn at the side road ahead.
Blind spot check.
If driver has a traffic problem make the decision to continue ahead, to Warehouse Carpet , turn around and drive back down to Fairview St.
Beyond the Taco Bell light, turn right onto Fairview St. Continue past Red Roof Inn.
Turn right into Calvary Cemetery and practice up and down hill acceleration and braking control in this area.
Proceed to the entrance /exit of cemetery and exit left onto Harry L Drive. Traffic gap decision.
Proceed ahead managing space, detecting hazards, managing traffic lights.
Continue to the street just before Airport Road called St.John's Street.
and turn left and then right into St John's Church's parking lot. Traffic gap decision.
Practice a U Turn and then head back to Harry L Drive. Returning to Macy's parking lot.
Go through ATM drive at the bank
End drive back where the drive began. Secure the vehicle. Check fuel. Read odometer.
Goal:
Help the new driver keep the vehicle lined up in the center of the lane.
Activity:
Using markings in the parking lot or imagining a yellow line, practice driving straight.
Common Errors:
- Too tight of a grip on the steering wheel
- Fixating too much on the line and not watching up ahead
-
- Can easily follow a line and keep the car steady
- Can track paths that wind or changes direction without drifting
Driving Route #1 This route can be done twice to evaluate improvement.
Start at the Macy Parking Lot. Check odometer reading. Check fuel.
Circle the Mall perimeter to practice tracking.
Include turning up and down aisles for wheel control
Practice stopping/braking at the end of aisles
Practice backing up in a straight line.
Practice pulling into a perpendicular parking spot.
Practice pulling forward through a perpendicular spot and then backing up into space behind. Check to see spacing issues.
Proceed to leave Mall area. Always use turn signals in and out of aisles and parking spots
At the traffic light, near Macy's, turn left onto Harry L Drive. Discuss lane procedures.
At the traffic light turn left on to Reynold's Rd This is a complex Intersection. Discuss lane usage.
Driver needs to Lane Change right to set up for a right turn at the side road ahead.
Blind spot check.
If driver has a traffic problem make the decision to continue ahead, to Warehouse Carpet , turn around and drive back down to Fairview St.
Beyond the Taco Bell light, turn right onto Fairview St. Continue past Red Roof Inn.
Turn right into Calvary Cemetery and practice up and down hill acceleration and braking control in this area.
Proceed to the entrance /exit of cemetery and exit left onto Harry L Drive. Traffic gap decision.
Proceed ahead managing space, detecting hazards, managing traffic lights.
Continue to the street just before Airport Road called St.John's Street.
and turn left and then right into St John's Church's parking lot. Traffic gap decision.
Practice a U Turn and then head back to Harry L Drive. Returning to Macy's parking lot.
Go through ATM drive at the bank
End drive back where the drive began. Secure the vehicle. Check fuel. Read odometer.
