Driver Ed in a Box Review: A Comprehensive Guide for Parent-Taught Driver Education
Driver education is a crucial step in preparing teenagers to become safe and responsible drivers. With various options available, choosing the right program can be overwhelming. Driver Ed in a Box® emerges as a comprehensive, parent-taught driver education solution. This article delves into a detailed review of Driver Ed in a Box®, exploring its features, benefits, and overall effectiveness in equipping young drivers with the necessary skills and knowledge.
What is Driver Ed in a Box®?
Driver Ed in a Box® is a driver training curriculum designed for parents to teach their teens how to drive. Created by Patrick L. Barrett, a nationally recognized driver training expert, the program aims to provide a more effective and comprehensive approach to driver education compared to traditional courses. Initially created in 1997 when the State of Texas began its Parent-Taught Driver Education program to allow parents to use TDPS (Texas Department of Public Safety) approved materials to teach their teens to drive. Driver Ed in a Box was created to solve this problem.
Key Features and Components
Driver Ed in a Box® includes a variety of components designed to cater to different learning styles and ensure a thorough understanding of driving concepts. These components include:
- Online Classroom Course: This interactive, user-friendly online course provides comprehensive lessons in the basics of learning how to drive. The online classroom features videos, text, and testing in a set of lessons that help teach your beginning driver the skills necessary to obtain a license and drive safely. Access everything you need from any computer.
- Student Workbook: The Driver Ed in a Box also includes a Student Workbook which includes the quizzes.
- Video Instruction: Loaded with Videos - Video instruction makes learning the material easier and more fun. It's like having Mr.
- Audio Series: A 6-part audio series on 3 audio CDs is included.
- Training Mirrors: Two training mirrors are provided to enhance the in-car instruction experience. These include the Instructor's Rear-View Mirror, which allows you to see what's happening behind the car without having to crane your neck, and the Eye-Check Mirror, which permits you to observe your student's eye movements without staring.
- Parent Companion: Your printed Parent Companion contains all the information that is absolutely necessary for you to know within the first few pages.
- In-Vehicle Checklists: Keep you prepared and organized, making it easy to stay on track and focused. You don't have to worry about accidentally leaving something out.
- Student Driver Sign: This black and white sign is easy to attach and remove from your vehicle. Other drivers will know that your student is learning and have the opportunity to give extra space and grace as you start out.
- Logs: Your Logs give you a simple system for keeping track of your student's driving time.
State Approvals and Licensing Requirements
Driver Ed in a Box® is approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety as Parent Taught Driver Ed Course #103. This DPS approved drivers education program can be completed on your schedule, saving you time and money. Driver Ed in a Box® fulfills all of the licensing requirements in Texas, from obtaining a learner's permit to the provisional license. For Minnesota teens who are home schooled, Driver Ed in a Box® is approved by the Minnesota DVS Office of Driver Education and will satisfy all of their classroom driver education needs. Driver Ed in a Box provides a certificate of completion for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. If you have any questions about whether Driver Ed in a Box® will meet your state's licensing requirements, please contact your state's Motor Vehicle Department.
Advantages of Driver Ed in a Box®
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Driver Ed in a Box® provides a structured, easy-to-follow guide to help you and your teen develop safe, collision-free driving habits. The materials are very thorough, progressive in learning and easy to use, not only for the student but also for the parent.
- Flexibility and Convenience: You are able to complete the course at your own pace, on your schedule. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for busy families and students with extracurricular activities.
- Parent-Teen Bonding: Drivers education should be something you enjoy doing with your teen. That is why we created this powerful set of tools to help you give them the best driver education available.
- Focus on Collision-Free Driving: Driver Ed in a Box® gives you the tools to work with your teen during the permit stage. By combining the 30 hours Minnesota requires with the tools you receive in Driver Ed in a Box®, you will help your teen build the habits of safe, collision-free driving. The Driver Ed in a Box® program gives you the tools to master the skills of each section of driving (we break it down to Parking Lot, Neighborhood, Two Lane and Four Lane Light Traffic, Freeway, Rural and Heavy Traffic). With our checklist and audio CDs, it allows the student to master the skills required in each area at their own pace before moving on to the next section.
- Mastery-Based Learning: With Driver Ed in a Box® you’re allowed to MASTER each skill set before you move on to the next. As your new driver will gain confidence in their skills and will not be intimidated by more traffic and possible dangers.
- Effective Communication: Very helpful in how to communicate effectively with your teen. What I liked the best about the curriculum was how each new chapter included a little review of what was covered in the previous chapter.
- Industry Expert Design: Designed by nationally recognized driver training expert Patrick L.
- Online Accessibility: Now you and the student can access everything you need from any computer. Manages Classroom for you - At a glance, you can easily see how much time she spent on each part, what questions she missed and how far along she is. Video instruction as part of the online instruction makes learning the material easier and more fun. It’s like being in class with Mr.
Addressing Potential Drawbacks
While Driver Ed in a Box® offers numerous advantages, it's essential to acknowledge potential drawbacks. Some users have noted that the videos include useful information, but they’re poorly produced and somewhat boring. The Textbook is quite lengthy at 362 pages and is not the easiest read. The interactive CD-ROM is only interactive in the sense that you have to click “next” on each screen to move on to the next one (however, most online driver’s ed “interactive” courses are laid out in a similar fashion). The quizzes are graded for you, so I guess that counts as interactivity. Presentation issues aside, the information contained within the program is excellent. Overall, Driver Ed in a Box is a top-notch aid for parents wishing to teach their kids to drive provided that you are willing to put in the effort to read and learn the course material. We strongly suggest that you supplement Driver Ed in a Box with some of the other DVDs in this round-up. Your teen will probably not be thrilled with how Driver Ed in a Box presents the basics.
Read also: Driving School for Teens and Adults
Testimonials and Real-World Results
The effectiveness of Driver Ed in a Box® is reflected in the positive experiences shared by users:
- "Driver Ed in a Box covers so many things I would have never thought of." - Barbara Kotzur, McAllen, Texas
- "I have received much more practice and personal attention in the home-taught driver's ed than my friends, and I feel completely comfortable and in control." - Matt Ashbaugh, Dallas, Texas
- "I greatly appreciated the fact that I was not required to attempt anything I was not comfortable doing." - Joel Mark Anderson, Sugar Land, Texas
- "Driver Ed in a Box® has given me a head start in driving. I knew more in my first week of driving than my friends learned in a year. Right away I was taught how to deal with distractions in and outside the car and still be totally focused on driving. In the areas where I live, many teenagers get seriously injured or die from accidents involving too many distractions in and around the car.
- “The materials are very thorough, progressive in learning and easy to use, not only for the student but also for the parent. What I found to be so positive is the strategic guidelines set up for the instructing parent to use for the in-vehicle training.
- “Excellent. Very helpful in how to communicate effectively with your teen.
- “What I liked the best about the curriculum was how each new chapter included a little review of what was covered in the previous chapter.
- “Excellent. I liked the program for its thoroughness.
- I loved getting to know how to drive. Also, learning how to maneuver and cooperate with others on the road. Actually “seeing” the correct way to drive and what to do in specific situations was really helpful.
- The more I practiced, the more comfortable I felt driving in the traffic pattern. I learned a lot from the CD’s.
Furthermore, in April of 2005 a random sample of 1,009 of Driver Ed in a Box® 16 year old graduates’ driving records were pulled directly from the Department of Public Safety’s records. We guarantee that once you successfully complete all the requirements of the Driver Ed in a Box® course and has been issued a Certificate of Completion you will drive collision free for a full 12 months**.
Read also: Comprehensive Driver Education
Read also: Do I Need Driver's Ed?
tags: #drivers #education #in #a #box #review
