WITH SUPPORT FROM
Supervised Driving Program
The
PARENT’SPARENT’S
For the parents of teen drivers —
a resource for teen licensing
A PROGRAM OF THE IOWA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DOWNLOAD TODAY!
SEE INSIDE FOR MORE INFORMATION
#ROADREADY
LOG YOUR DRIVES.
FOCUS ON YOUR TEEN.
Teaching your teen to drive presents
enough challenges. With RoadReady,
your focus can remain where it needs
to be: on your teen and on the road.
“Start a New Drive” and RoadReady
will log the rest. Download your log
to verify you’ve completed your
state requirement.
WITH SUPPORT FROM
Apple, the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
LEARN MORE AT ROADREADYAPP.COM
A component of the
Supervised Driving Program
PARENT’S
A message to parents...
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Thank you for choosing The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program. You’ve just taken an important step to
helping your child become a safe driver.
We know how daunting introducing your child to driving can be. As parents and guardians we often ask
ourselves, “Am I doing the right things? Am I teaching the right skills? Are they ready to drive on their
own? Will they be safe when I’m not there?”
We’re pleased to partner with the Safe Roads Alliance to offer this program. It helps answer these
questions by providing a strategy for your driving interactions with your teen, including experiences and
concepts you should introduce them to and guidance you should offer. The time you spend driving with
your child is some of the most important time that will be invested in your child’s driving development
– highway safety and driver education experts all agree that children who spend more time driving with
their parents are more likely to be better and safer drivers – so making that time the most effective it can
be is critical.
As you chart your child’s path to independent driving privileges, we ask you to do three things:
1. Consider the required supervised driving time with your child a minimum, and not the maximum.
The more time you spend driving with your child, the more likely your child will be capable and safe
when driving alone.
2. Don’t let your supervision end when your child earns his or her independent driving privileges. You
still play an important role in your child’s driving safety, even after your child has earned his or her
intermediate license and may drive alone. Your child is still a young driver and is still developing
ability and experience. Talk about where they are driving, when they are driving, and who they are
driving with, and help them choose routes, trips, and destinations that are safe for their current level
of ability and experience and that gradually increase over time.
3. Be a good role model for your child, regardless of who’s in the driver’s seat. Children model their
parent’s driving habits – be a model that’s alert, sober, drives at a reasonable speed, avoids anger
and distraction, and always wears a seat belt.
Thanks again for making this investment in your child’s safety. We hope you and your child have a great
experience learning together.
Best regards,
Iowa Department of Transportation
A PROGRAM OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
LOG YOUR DRIVES.
FOCUS ON YOUR TEEN.
Teaching your teen to drive presents
enough challenges. With RoadReady,
your focus can remain where it needs
to be: on your teen and on the road.
“Start a New Drive” and RoadReady
will log the rest. Download your log
to verify you’ve completed your
state requirement.
WITH SUPPORT FROM
Apple, the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
LEARN MORE AT ROADREADYAPP.COM
A component of the
Supervised Driving Program
PARENT’S
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
State Farm Indemnity Company
Bloomington, IL
State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas
Richardson, TX
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
®
A driver’s license is one of life’s biggest milestones. State Farm
®
is here
has arrived.
The Big Day
to help with teen driver programs and additional savings for safe driving.
Talk to an agent or get a quote at statefarm.com
®
.
It seems like you blink, and the next thing you know, that little kid is a teenager
getting their driver’s license photo taken. It’s a milestone you’ll always
remember, and one where the emotions of parenthood – pride, anticipation,
worry and more – all come together.
As the nation’s leading auto insurer
1
, State Farm
®
wants to help make this
milestone a safe and positive one. Car accidents are the #1 cause of death
among teens
2
, and the first few months of unsupervised driving are the most
dangerous. It’s why we’re involved with The Parent’s Supervised Driving
Program, and why we’ve made significant, long-term investments in research
and programs to help teens adjust to their newfound freedom.
Teen drivers need and want their parents involved in their development.
We encourage you to read this program guide and know the example
you set makes a difference in your teen’s safety.
State Farm and our 19,000 agents across the country are here to help.
Together, we want to make this milestone one to celebrate for your family.
Sponsor Message
1 - https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/
2 - https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/company-overview/company-profile/fast-facts
42871 Sponsor Message_MCDE.indd 1 1/15/19 3:11 PM
It seems like you blink, and the next thing you know, that little kid is a teenager
getting their driver’s license photo taken. It’s a milestone you’ll always
remember, and one where the emotions of parenthood – pride, anticipation,
worry and more – all come together.
As the nation’s leading auto insurer
1
, State Farm
®
wants to help make this
milestone a safe and positive one. Car accidents are the #1 cause of death
among teens
2
, and the first few months of unsupervised driving are the most
dangerous. It’s why we’re involved with The Parent’s Supervised Driving
Program, and why we’ve made significant, long-term investments in research
and programs to help teens adjust to their newfound freedom.
Teen drivers need and want their parents involved in their development.
We encourage you to read this program guide and know the example
you set makes a difference in your teen’s safety.
State Farm and our 19,000 agents across the country are here to help.
Together, we want to make this milestone one to celebrate for your family.
Sponsor Message
1 - https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/
2 - https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/company-overview/company-profile/fast-facts
42871 Sponsor Message_MCDE.indd 1 1/15/19 3:11 PM
SAFETY
JUST
COMES
NATURALLY.
Toyota Safety Sense
™
1
is now standard
on many new Toyotas.
Now that active safety features like a Pre-Collision System (PCS),
2
Lane Departure Alert (LDA)
3
and others come standard on many new Toyotas – including the all-new Camry – you get extra
peace of mind at no extra charge. Toyota Safety Sense
™
(TSS). Designed for safety.
Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary. 1. Drivers are responsible for their own safe driving. Always pay attention to your surroundings and drive safely. System effectiveness is dependent on many factors including road, weather and vehicle conditions. See Owner’s Manual
for additional limitations and details. 2. The TSS Pre-Collision System is designed to help avoid or reduce the crash speed and damage in certain frontal collisions only. It is not a substitute for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness is dependent on many factors including road, weather
and vehicle conditions. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 3. Lane Departure Alert is designed to read visible lane markers under certain conditions, and provide visual and audible alerts when lane departure is detected. It is not a collision-avoidance system or a substitute
for safe and attentive driving. Effectiveness is dependent on many factors including road, weather and vehicle conditions. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. ©2017 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Sponsor message
At Toyota, we have a vision of saving lives and amplifying the message of safe
driving to teens, parents andeducators. That is why we have partnered with
TheParent’s Supervised Driving Program to promote safe driving for your teen and
family. At the completion of this learning guide, we hope you and your teen will have
a much greater understanding of what it takes to be safe when you get behind the
wheel of a motor vehicle.
We all know that driving poses certain risks. For teenagers, however, statistics reveal
that the risk of being in a crash is greatest within the rst 24 months of driving –
higher than any other point in theirlives.
As parents, you are the most important inuence on your teen driver. By following
the information in this guide, you will help teach them about the vehicles we drive,
the roads we use, and the serious responsibility of being a driver.
And, while Toyota continues to design and manufacture leading-edge technology
to help keep our customers safe, we fully understand that the best safety device
in any car is the hands of the driver. That’syou and your teen. So be the driver you
want your teen to be, and show them that it’s up to each ofus to drive safely.
Enjoy the experience with your teen as you coach them through this guide.
Andtogether, Let’s Go Places.
Welcome parents
of teen drivers!
The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program is a resource for
parents to utilize when teaching their teen to drive.
1. This program is divided into core driving skills.
• Read through each section at home before
your teen starts a new skill.
2. Log your driving time. This can be done 2 ways:
• Carry this printed guide with you during the
drive and use the printed log section – you or
your teen can log the supervised driving hours
once the drive is nished.
• Download and use the free
app
to track your driving time. RoadReady tracks
your teen’s driving hours until you reach Iowa’s
20 hour requirement to advance to an
intermediate license, and 10 more hours to
advance to a full license.
3. Turn in your log when applying for your license.
Facebook
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www.twitter.com/PSDP_Info
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Stay Connected
with Us!
Follow The Parent’s Supervised
Driving Program for expert
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events and additional safety
resources.
About this program
Developed by Safe Roads Alliance, a non-
prot dedicated to promoting safer driving
through education for drivers of all ages,
The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program
is designed to improve teen driver safety
by providing parents and guardians
with a methodical approach to teaching
the requisite driving skills. Each lesson
concentrates on a particular sequential
skill. Parents are in the best position to
help their teens to become safe, smart, and
skilled drivers.
The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program
also includes a website, social media pages,
and a mobile app, RoadReady
®
.
Publisher: Safe Roads Alliance
info@saferoadsalliance.org
Illustrator: Lou Eisenman
Thanks to the following for help in developing
this program: Jeff Larason, Travelers
Marketing, In Control Family Foundation,
Colleen Kelley Carr, Lisa Kennedy-Cox, and
Emily Stein.
Published in association with the Iowa
Department of Transportation.
With support from:
• State Farm
®
• Toyota
State Farm and the State Farm logo are
registered trademarks of State Farm Mutual
Automobile Insurance Company.
Copyright © 2021 J.F. Grifn Publishing and
Safe Roads Alliance. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
Produced by J.F. Grifn Publishing.
This program is also
availableonline at:
PSDPonline.com
Supervised Driving Program
The
PARENT’SPARENT’S
Table of contents
Notes for parents/guardians
About supervising teen drivers .....................................................................................1
Vehicle control for supervisors
......................................................................................2
Teens’ biggest dangers
..............................................................................................3
Distracted driving and more
........................................................................................4
Skills
Skill one: before you start the engine ..............................................................................5
Skill two: moving, steering, and stopping
.........................................................................6
Skill three: how close are you?
......................................................................................7
Skill four: backing up
.................................................................................................8
Skill ve: driving on a quiet street – part one
.....................................................................9
Skill ve: driving on a quiet street – part two
.................................................................... 10
Skill six: looking ahead
............................................................................................. 11
Skill seven: turning around
........................................................................................ 12
Supervised driving log
............................................................................................. 13
Iowa’s Graduated Driver’s License Program
.....................................................................20
Skill eight: parking – part one
..................................................................................... 24
Skill eight: parking – part two
.....................................................................................25
Skill nine: driving on rural roads
...................................................................................26
Skill ten: multi-lane roads – part one
.............................................................................27
Skill ten: multi-lane roads – part two
.............................................................................28
Skill eleven: city driving – part one
...............................................................................29
Skill eleven: city driving – part two
...............................................................................30
Skill twelve: interstate driving – part one
........................................................................ 31
Skill twelve: interstate driving – part two
........................................................................32
Skill thirteen: roundabouts
........................................................................................33
Beyond the basics
Adapting to new landscapes ......................................................................................35
Continuing education
..............................................................................................36
Practice in other conditions
....................................................................................... 37
Sharing the road with trucks
.......................................................................................38
Sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians
...............................................................39
WITH SUPPORT FROM
A PROGRAM OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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1
About supervising teen drivers
The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program gives you a simple, easy-to-follow plan you can use to help
your teen become a safe and responsible driver.
Some thoughts as you begin this exciting experience together:
Make an effort to enjoy the learning process: Driving is a big step toward independence, and your
teen is entering a new phase of life. You’ll both remember this experience for years to come. Make it a
good memory!
Practice makes perfect: Studies show that the risk of a crash diminishes with experience. The more
time you can spend driving with your teen, the less likely it is they’ll crash when they begin driving
alone. Driving in a variety of circumstances is equally important. While using this program, you should
drive on all types of roads. Make sure your teen gets exposure to a variety of roadways, and in different
conditions as well: at night; in rain, fog, and snow; and in heavy and light trafc.
Be a driving role model: It’s not enough to say, “Do as I say.” Children imitate their parents’/guardians’
behavior, so your driving should set a good example for your teen to emulate. Be sure that you:
• Obey all trafc laws.
• Correct any unsafe driving habits (driving aggressively, rolling through stop signs, accelerating through
yellow lights, speeding, etc.).
• Refrain from using your cell phone while driving.
• Always wear your seat belt, and remind your teen that buckling up is the law. This will need to be an
ongoing conversation — buckle up every trip, every time.
Tips for teaching your teen
• Seatbelts must always be worn properly by everyone in the vehicle.
• Before each session, discuss the goals of the day’s lesson.
• Before each new lesson, review what was learned during the previous lesson.
• Keep instructions simple and concise. Say where to go and what action to take. For example: “Drive
to the corner and turn right.”
• The feedback you give should be calm, precise, and immediate. Be patient and alert at all times.
Remember to give positive feedback when your teen succeeds!
• When your teen makes a mistake, which will happen often, do not criticize. Remain calm and simply
repeat the maneuver until it’s done correctly. To minimize their frustration, emphasize to your teen that
mistakes are a normal part of learning.
• These lessons should be consistent with what is taught by your teen’s driver’s education instructor.
If you teach something differently, your teen will be confused and learning will be more difcult. If the
lessons in this program are different from the instructor’s, contact them to clarify the discrepancies.
• Remember that students learn at different paces. Make sure your teen has mastered each skill
before you move on to the next lesson, even if that means repeating a lesson several times. Patience
and practice will pay off in the long run.
• Integrate night driving into as many lessons as possible. In Iowa, a minimum of two hours of
supervised driving in the dark is required to advance to an intermediate license, and another two hours
are required to advance to a full license.
Most importantly, make sure the vehicle you use for training is safe. Conrm that the brakes have
been recently inspected, and check to make sure the tires have sufcient tread depth. It’s generally
recommended that you do not train in larger vehicles that lack stability control.
NOTES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Check your
emotions
At the start of each
driving lesson with your
teen, leave your problems
behind — and make an
effort to stay focused.
Don’t bring up touchy
subjects such as grades,
homework, boyfriends/
girlfriends, or anything
else that might distract
either of you from the
task at hand.
2
Vehicle control for supervisors
Teaching a new driver can be stressful, but knowing you have some control can help. Professional
driver’s education instructors are taught emergency responses to potential hazards that can crop up
with an inexperienced driver behind the wheel. Here are some skills you can learn to help you maintain
control from the passenger seat while teaching:
Emergency shifting: In a quiet, large, level, empty area, practice shifting the transmission
from drive to neutral.
Taking the wheel: With an experienced driver in the driver’s seat, in a quiet, large, level,
empty area, practice steering the car with your left hand from the passenger seat.
Mirrors: Adjust the mirror on the passenger sun visor so you can use it as a rearview
mirror. If the right side mirror is properly adjusted, you can use it to monitor trafc to the
rear from the passenger seat.
Awareness: Never assume everything is okay. Always check and re-check mirrors before
you give instructions to your teen.
Emergency stopping: Practice stopping the car with the parking brake (if your vehicle’s
parking brake is located between the seats). This can be dangerous, even at low speeds,
and should only be used as a last resort.
Driving has changed
Chances are, today’s cars are not the same as they were when you learned to drive. To teach your teen
effectively, you need to know about a few important recent changes in how cars work, how we drive,
and how driving is taught.
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Most newer cars offer ABS as standard equipment. ABS is a dramatic
safety improvement that works by letting the tires rotate, rather than lock up, when the brake is engaged.
This allows drivers to turn the car in an emergency stop. ABS should be used with rm, continuous
pressure. The brakes may shake and grind when applied, which often concerns users – but this is a normal
function of ABS. To nd out if your car has ABS, check the instrument panel after you turn on the ignition
or read the owner’s manual.
Note: When driving a car without ABS, the old rules still apply. Don’t “slam” the brakes. Rather, press the
brake pedal rmly. The intention is to stop quickly, but also to avoid locking the brakes and skidding.
Skidding causes a loss of control and requires more distance to stop.
Air bags: Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, which must be
worn for the air bags to be effective. The use of a safety belt allows the
driver to stay behind the wheel in order to take advantage of the airbag.
Since air bags deploy out of the wheel on impact, it’s important to keep
your hands and arms in the recommended position and also lessens the
risk of injury if the airbag was to deploy.
Steering wheel hand position: Most of us were taught to position our
hands at 10 and 2 o’clock on the steering wheel. It’s now suggested that
you hold the wheel at 9 and 3 o’clock or slightly lower at 7 and 5 o’clock.
This gives you better vehicle control.
Arms holding the wheel at 9
and 3 o’clock are less likely
to be hit by the air bag.
NOTES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANSNOTES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Commentary
driving
Commentary driving is
a great communication
tool. Coach your
teen to describe their
actions, thoughts and
observations out loud
as they drive, similar to
a sports commentator.
Throughout the learning
process, ask them to
verbalize what they see
around them, including
potential risks and any
steps they need to
take to avoid them.
3
Teens’ biggest dangers
Newly licensed teens crash much more often than older, more experienced drivers. These are the
circumstances that are the most common trouble areas for young drivers:
Other teens
Research is clear on the fact that risky teen driving behaviors increase in the presence of teen
passengers. A teen who is driving with other teens in the car is more likely to crash. And the more kids
there are in the car, the stronger the likelihood of a crash. This is the primary reason many states have
passed laws that restrict the ability of teens to drive with their peers.
Drugs and alcohol
Teens are at far greater risk of death in an alcohol-related crash than the overall population. This is
despite the fact they cannot legally purchase or publicly possess alcohol in any state. When alcohol
is added to the inexperience of teen drivers, the results can be deadly. In 2017, nearly 24 percent of
teenagers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking. Marijuana is the drug that’s most commonly
found in the blood of drivers who have been in a car crash. It is important to enforce a zero-tolerance
policy at home. If your teen uses any alcohol or drugs, they cannot drive, nor should they ride with
anyone who has been drinking or using drugs — in any amount.
Drugged driving
As more and more states legalize marijuana, it’s important to remember that it’s illegal for everyone
under 21. And just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s safe. Laws for operating under the inuence
of alcohol also apply to drugs. Almost any drug can affect your driving skills, including illegal drugs,
prescription medicine, and even over-the-counter medicine. Smoking or ingesting marijuana makes it
more difcult to respond to sights and sounds. This makes you dangerous as a driver; it lowers your
ability to handle a quick series of tasks. The most serious problems occur when facing an unexpected
event, such as a car coming out from a side street or a child running out between parked cars. These
challenges get worse after dark, because marijuana can also limit night vision.
Fatigue
As teens get older their bedtimes get later, but waking times do not tend to change. From ages 13 to
19, nightly sleep is reduced by 40–50 minutes. Teen drivers who sleep less than 8 hours a night are 33
percent more likely to crash than teens who get more than 8 hours of sleep. This lack of sleep can result
in depressive moods, more risk-taking behaviors, and lower grades. It further reduces a person’s ability
to process information, be attentive, and have good reexes, which are all crucial to safe driving. Studies
have shown that being awake for 18 hours has a similar impact to having a blood alcohol content (BAC)
level of 0.08.
Inexperience
Just as it takes years to perfect any skill — athletic, artistic, or otherwise — it also takes years to be a
truly good driver. Until teens are much more experienced, they run a greater risk of crashing, being hurt,
and potentially dying. A driver’s license makes them a driver. Experience makes them good drivers.
Night driving
For teens, the most severe crashes occur at night and on weekends. Night driving is challenging for all
drivers, but novice drivers do not have the experience to anticipate and react when visibility is reduced.
When teens drive at night, it is more often with a lack of adult supervision, with other teen passengers,
and at higher speeds — all of which are factors that increase risk.
NOTES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
If you feel different,
you drive different
If you’re buzzed, drunk,
or high, you are impaired
and should never get
behind the wheel.
Marijuana, the drug
most commonly found
in the blood of people
who have been in a car
crash, can affect people
differently. The best rule
is this: if you plan to drive,
have no drugs or alcohol.
Seatbelts
In 2020, Iowans buckled
up at a rate of 95.2%.
However, between
2015–2019, nearly 44.2%
of 14–20 year-old drivers
that were involved in a
fatal crash were unbelted.
Whether sitting in the
front or back of a car,
buckle up every trip and
remind other passengers
to buckle up too. It
could save their lives,
and yours. Please visit
NHTSA’s website for more
information https://www.
nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/
seat-belts
4
Distracted driving and more
Distracted driving involves any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the primary task
of driving. Distracted driving, impairment, speeding, and not wearing seat belts are all risky choices
that can lead to serious injury and death. Teens, who are still learning the complex skills of driving,
are particularly susceptible to distractions while behind the wheel. Don’t let you or your teen become
another statistic. Here are the facts:
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Mile for mile, teens ages 16–19 are
involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers. In a 2019 study, 39% of teen drivers
admitted to texting while driving at least once in the previous 30 days.
• Between 2016 and 2020 in Iowa, drivers aged 14–20 made up only 9.58% of the driving population,
but were involved in over 30.74% of electronic device distracted driving crashes. During this period,
there were 5,592 total crashes caused by electronic device distraction, including 36 fatal and 864
injury crashes.
• According to NHTSA 3,166 people were killed in 2017 in distraction-related crashes nationwide, with
teens having the highest rate of distracted driving crashes involving a fatality.
• A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study revealed that physically dialing a phone while driving
increases the risk of a crash as much as six times. Texting is riskier still, increasing collision risk by
23 times.
• A recent AAA study shows that when a teen driver is carrying teen passengers, the fatality rate for
the teen driver increases 45 percent; for occupants of other cars it increases 56 percent; and for
pedestrians and cyclists in increases 17 percent.
There are three kinds of distractions:
• Visual — doing something that requires the driver to look away from the driving task.
• Manual — doing something that requires the driver to take one or both hands off the wheel.
• Cognitive — doing something that causes the driver’s mind to wander or focus elsewhere.
To combat this growing epidemic, we suggest the following:
• Set a good example: Kids observe and learn from their parents. Put your phone away while driving
and only use it when you are safely pulled over. According to the Pew Research Center, 40% of
teens aged 12 to 17 say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put
themselves and others in danger.
• Talk to your teen: Discuss the risks and responsibilities of driving and the danger of dividing their
attention between their phone and the road. Show them the statistics related to distracted driving
and urge them to share what they learn with their friends. Encourage them to speak up if they are a
passenger in a car with a distracted driver.
• Establish ground rules: Set up family rules about not using the phone or other electronic devices
while behind the wheel. All electronic communication is prohibited for teens with an instruction permit
or intermediate license in Iowa.
• Sign a pledge: Have your teen take action by agreeing to a family contract about wearing safety
belts, not speeding, not driving after drinking, and not using a cell phone behind the wheel. Agree on
penalties for violating the pledge, such as paying for tickets or loss of driving privileges.
• Other dangerous distractions: In addition to cell phone use, distracted driving can include eating,
grooming, drinking, listening to or adjusting the radio or MP3 player, using the GPS, talking to
passengers, or watching a video, just to name a few activities. Inexperienced drivers are particularly
susceptible to these kinds of distractions.
NOTES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANSNOTES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Eyes on the road
Teens tend to look
away from the road and
become distracted for
longer periods than
experienced drivers. It’s
important to train them
to keep their eyes on
the road ahead. While
parked, test your teen on
how long they look away
when doing various tasks
inside the vehicle, such as
tuning the radio. Coach
them repeatedly on the
importance of focusing on
the road ahead.
5
Skill completed
supervisor initials
driver initials
#RoadReady
Before you start the engine
Goal: Teach your teen vehicle basics before actual driving begins.
Location: Parked. This is a non-driving lesson.
Lesson one – touring the vehicle
Walk around the outside of the car with your teen. Instruct them to look for leaks and hazards such as
broken glass, and to make sure it’s clear behind the vehicle as well as in front of the vehicle.
Have your teen practice these basic skills until they don’t need help:
• Starting and stopping the engine
• Naming and operating all dashboard controls
• Checking oil level
• Checking wiper uid
• Checking tire pressure
• Checking tire tread depth
Lesson two – seating position
The proper seat position is important to safely control the vehicle. Your teen should sit with their back
rmly against the seat. There should be at least 10 inches between the steering wheel and the driver’s
chest, with the air bag pointing at the chest. The top of the steering wheel should be no higher than the
shoulders. Move the seat forward or backward so that the driver’s heel touches the oor and can pivot
quickly between the brake and accelerator. Shorter drivers may need a seat cushion or pedal extenders
to sit safely 10 inches from the air bag. The head restraint should be at the center of the driver’s head.
Lesson three – checking blind spots
Additionally, teach your teen how to look over their shoulder to check the
“blind spot” on each side of the car that cannot be seen in the mirrors.
Lesson four – mirror settings
The method below provides the best view of adjacent lanes, for
maximum safety.
• Inside mirror: Have your teen sit up straight in the driver’s seat and adjust
the inside mirror so that it frames the entire rear window. This is the main
mirror for viewing what is behind the vehicle.
• Left-side mirror: Have your teen lean their head toward the left-side
window, and set the left mirror so they can barely see the side of the car.
When they sit up straight, the car should no longer be visible in the mirror.
• Right-side mirror: Do the same to the right. Have your teen lean to the
right over the car’s center console, and set the right mirror so they can
barely see the right side of the car.
Lesson ve – proper footwear
Wearing the right shoes has an effect on operating a vehicle. Sandals or heels are dangerous to wear
while driving, so encourage your teen to wear shoes that have a at sole and a back. Driving barefoot
is unsafe as well. Keep an extra pair of shoes in the car so your teen can remember to wear the proper
shoes while driving. If they need to brake suddenly, the wrong footwear can make for an unsafe situation.
The most effective way to
deal with blind spots is to
briey turn and look.
SKILL ONE
:
BEFORE YOU START THE ENGINE
Proper mirror
setting
In the past, drivers were
often taught mirror
settings that created an
overlap between the rear
and side mirrors. This is
actually less safe because
it increases the size of the
blind spots. This is a great
opportunity to update
your own driving skills
while teaching your teen!
6
Moving, steering, and stopping
Goal: Teach your teen to consistently start, stop, and turn smoothly with full vehicle control.
Location: A large, level, mostly empty area.
Lesson one – stops and starts
Everyone in the vehicle must be properly buckled up.
Before starting, coach your teen to always signal and check mirrors and blind spots before changing the
speed, position, or direction of the car. Remind them when needed.
Have your teen drive around the perimeter of the lot several times at a slow speed. Have them stop and
start frequently, practicing smooth hand-to-hand steering, braking, and accelerating.
Pick several targets in the large, level, empty practice area, and have your teen drive to them at specic
speeds. For example, “Drive to the stop sign at 15 mph.” Focus on steady speed and smooth starts
and stops.
Once your teen is braking smoothly, practice “hard, smooth stops” at slightly higher speeds
(approximately 25–30 mph). Tip: Curling toes back just before braking results in smoother stops. It eases
the pressure on the brake.
Lesson two – steps of turning
Lesson three – turning techniques
• Ease off the accelerator or use the brake to reduce speed before entering a curve; use gentle
acceleration to overcome inertia and pull the vehicle out of the curve.
• Use smooth, continuous steering wheel movements when approaching a turn and when returning
(sliding) the wheel through the hands until the vehicle is in the proper post-turn position.
• Coach your teen to pick a target near the center of the intended travel path. This target can be
used as a visual aid to aim at while steering through turns.
Turning right
Step 1
Left hand
slides down
Right hand
pulls down
Left hand
pulls down
Right hand
slides down
Left hand
pushes up
Right hand
slides up
Left hand
slides up
Right hand
pushes up
Left hand
slides down
Right hand
pulls down
Left hand
pulls down
Right hand
slides down
Step 2
Step 3
Turning left
With hand-to-hand steering your hands do not cross each other.
Skill completed
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SKILL TWO
:
MOVING, STEERING, AND STOPPING
SKILL ONE
:
BEFORE YOU START THE ENGINE
Controlling speed
New drivers tend to use
the brake too much and
the accelerator too little
to control speed. Coach
your teen to ease up on
the gas pedal as a way to
reduce the car’s speed.
7
Skill completed
supervisor initials
driver initials
#RoadReady
How close are you?
Goal: Teach your teen how to tell where their vehicle is in relation to other vehicles or objects.
Location: A large, level, mostly empty area with clearly painted pavement lines and curbs.
Reference points
Explain to your teen that reference points are visual guides to help them judge the car’s distance from
curbs, lines, other objects, and vehicles.
Lesson one – driver’s side curb (or line)
• Choose a pavement curb (or line), and tell your teen that the goal
is to pull the driver’s side of the vehicle 6–12 inches away. Coach
them to slowly pull up parallel to the line, getting gradually closer,
and stop when they think they are 6–12 inches away. Have them
look at where the line intersects in the front window.
• Have your teen put the car in park and get out to check if
the driver’s side wheels are 6–12 inches from the line. If it’s
not the right distance, have them do it again, checking the
reference points.
View out the front windshield.
Reference points will be different
for everyone, depending on the
vehicle and the height of the driver.
Lesson two – passenger’s side curb (or line)
• Choose another curb (or line) parallel to the passenger’s side,
again pulling up slowly to within 6–12 inches. Use the same
gradual pull-up method, but for this side, coach your teen to stop
when the curb appears to intersect the center of the hood.
• Again, have your teen get out of the vehicle to check whether the
tires are 6–12 inches from the curb. Keep practicing and making
adjustments, noticing the reference point, until they can do
it consistently.
View out the front windshield.
Reference points will be different
for everyone, depending on the
vehicle and the height of the driver.
Lesson three – front curb (or line)
• Teach your teen to align the front bumper between 6–12 inches
from a pavement curb (or line). Have them drive slowly straight
toward the curb. Coach them to stop when the curb appears
under the passenger’s side mirror.
• Have your teen get out of the vehicle to check whether the
front bumper is 6–12 inches from the curb. If not, have them
adjust the reference point as needed and keep practicing.
View out the driver’s side window.
Reference points will be different
for everyone, depending on the
vehicle and the height of the driver.
SKILL THREE
:
HOW CLOSE ARE YOU?
Making your
teen safer
It takes more than
15 minutes every
day for six months to
complete 50 hours of
practice driving. For
100 hours, it’s more than
30 minutes a day for
six months. Studies show
that the more time you
drive together, the safer
your teen will be when
driving alone.
8
Backing up
Goal: Teach your teen how to safely drive backwards in a straight line and while turning.
Location: A large, level, mostly empty area.
Lesson one – before moving the vehicle
• Coach your teen that they must turn around and look backwards through the rear window when
backing up. Using mirrors or backup cameras doesn’t give a full view.
• Have your teen shift their hips and turn around until they get a good view behind the vehicle. They
should drape their right arm over the back of the seat and grasp the top of the steering wheel with
their left hand.
Lesson two – backing up in a straight line
• Check all areas behind the vehicle prior to and while backing up.
• Grasp the steering wheel with the left hand and look over the right shoulder through the rear window.
• Release the brake, then use the accelerator gently, and only when necessary, to control speed.
Keep it slow.
Lesson three – backing up in a turn
• If turning to the left, grasp the steering wheel with the right hand, or with the left hand if turning to the
right. Remind your teen to turn the wheel in the direction they want the car to travel.
• Look in the direction the car is moving through the rear side windows.
• Back into the turn slowly, rst releasing the brake, then using the accelerator if needed.
Lesson four – aligning rear bumper to a curb
• Choose a curb (or line) for a target.
• Have your teen back up toward the target,
coaching them to stop when the curb appears
near the middle of the rear right window when
looking over their right shoulder.
• Have your teen put the car in park and set the
emergency brake.
• Have your teen get out of the car to see
whether the rear bumper is close to the target.
• If adjustments are needed, have your teen
try again, establishing a new reference point.
Repeat as often as needed until your teen can
consistently come within close proximity to
the target.
The driver’s view out of the back passenger window.
Reference points will be different for everyone,
depending on the vehicle and the height of the driver.
Skill completed
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driver initials
#RoadReady
SKILL FOUR
:
BACKING UP
SKILL THREE
:
HOW CLOSE ARE YOU?
Slow and consistent
Emphasize that backing
up must be done at slow
and consistent speeds.
It’s harder to maintain
control of the car when
it’s in reverse.
9
Skill completed
supervisor initials
driver initials
#RoadReady
Driving on a quiet street – part one
Goal: Teach your teen to move and stop a vehicle safely and with condence on quiet roads.
Location: Start in a large, level, mostly empty area. Move to a quiet neighborhood street when
indicated.
Before moving out onto the road, make sure that your teen has reviewed the driver’s manual and is
familiar with street signs, signals, pavement markings, and yield and speed laws. Iowa’s driving manual
can be found online at www.iowadot.gov/driversmanual, or at any driver’s license service center.
Skill review
Starting in a quiet, large, level, empty area, review the skills learned so far. Have your teen drive several
laps around the lot, practicing smooth braking and accelerating, maintaining steady speeds, steering
into right and left turns, and using reference points to align the car with curbs (or lines).
Lesson one – commentary driving
Coach your teen to use “commentary driving” (see sidebar on page 2) throughout this lesson, if possible.
Lesson two – lane position
When you and your teen feel ready, move to a quiet street.
With your teen behind the wheel, rst have them practice driving straight in three different lane
positions. Do this for several miles, practicing each position at least 10 times:
Center position
➊
: The most common
position, with the vehicle centered within
the lane. Coach your teen that they
should stay in the center position under
most circumstances.
Left position
➋
: The vehicle positioned
to the left side of the lane. This is best
used when approaching parked vehicles
and potential hazards on the right (if no
oncoming trafc). It should be avoided on
a hill or a curve.This position should also be
avoided on country roads.
Right position
➌
: The vehicle positioned to the right side of the lane. This is usually done when making
a right turn to allow for a safety margin on the left side of the vehicle.
Lesson three – intersections
Coach your teen on these techniques for safely approaching an intersection:
• Search for vehicles, pedestrians, signs, and trafc signals.
• Check the rearview mirror for any potential hazards behind the car.
• If it’s an intersection with trafc signals, identify who has the green light.
• If turning, put on the turn signal four seconds before making the turn.
• If a stop is required, stop behind the white stop line.
• Select the best lane for the intended direction of travel.
• Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Most driving is done in lane position number one.
➊
➌
➋
SKILL FIVE
:
DRIVING ON A QUIET STREET – PART ONE
Emergency
vehicles
Make sure your teen
understands what to
do if they encounter
emergency vehicles. First,
turn down the radio to
listen for the direction of
the emergency vehicle(s).
Stay calm and pull over to
the nearest curb, clear of
intersections, and wait for
the emergency vehicle(s)
to pass.
10
Driving on a quiet street – part two
Goal: Teach your teen to turn both right and left safely and with condence on quiet roads.
Location: A quiet block of single-lane roads, ideally without trafc signals at the intersections.
Lesson one – right turns
When your teen is comfortable with lane positions and intersections, it’s time to practice turns.
Start with right turns. Have your teen drive clockwise around the block 10–12 times:
• Pick a line at the center of the intended travel path while steering through a turn. Make sure
your teen does not xate on one specic spot, but instead focuses on a broader path.
• Focus on smooth braking into the turn and acceleration out of the turn, as previously practiced
in the large, level, empty area.
• Always check mirrors before turns and signal four seconds before turning.
Lesson two – left turns
When your teen is procient at right turns, move on to left turns. Have your teen drive counterclockwise
around the block 10–12 times, coaching them on these techniques for safe left turns:
• Position the vehicle close to the yellow line in the middle of the road.
• If there is a stop sign or red light, stop with wheels pointed straight ahead before the stop line,
crosswalk or intersection.
• Search the intersection in all directions for vehicles, pedestrians, signs, and signals.
• Select a gap in trafc and pull straight forward toward the middle of the intersection.
Coach your teen to avoid hesitating.
• Use the yellow line on the street being turned onto as a target. Turn into the travel lane
closest to the yellow line.
• When the turn is complete, let the steering wheel slide back through the hands.
• Pick a new target 15–20 seconds ahead in the center of the travel path and accelerate gradually.
Be sure to practice with your teen in a variety of conditions, including at night and in
inclement weather, as much as possible.
Have your teen drive around the block making right turns
10–12 times. When they are procient, drive around the
block 10–12 times making left turns.
Skill completed
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#RoadReady
SKILL FIVE
:
DRIVING ON A QUIET STREET – PART TWO
SKILL FIVE
:
DRIVING ON A QUIET STREET – PART ONE
Focus ahead
Most drivers have a
tendency to steer in the
direction they look. If
their eyes move to one
side, the car may drift
in that direction, too.
Remind your teen to
focus on a path line in
the middle of their travel
lane – and not xate
on lane lines or other
objects. The rest of the
area should be scanned
quickly and frequently.
11
Skill completed
supervisor initials
driver initials
#RoadReady
Looking ahead
Goal: Teach your teen to develop defensive driving techniques and higher-level visual and anticipatory
driving skills before moving on to more complex driving situations. In order to avoid last-second
reactions and spot potential hazards, have your teen always look 12–15 seconds down the road. When
they are looking far enough ahead, they will be able to spot hazards early and be well prepared to react
to them.
Location: Start on a quiet neighborhood street. Move onto a road with light trafc when your teen is ready.
Lesson one – IPDE system
Teach your teen the IPDE system, a simple system to help new drivers recognize, anticipate
and avoid risks before they turn into problems. IPDE stands for:
Identify potential risks, like oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, obstacles, or intersections.
Predict when and where there will be a conict or problem.
Decide on the best course of action.
Execute that action.
Have your teen use commentary driving as they practice the IPDE system. As they drive, ask
them to verbally describe their thoughts and actions in order to identify potential risks they see,
predict problems these risks could cause, decide what to do to avoid a problem, and then execute
the maneuver.
Lesson two – stopping-distance rule
Teach your teen the stopping-distance rule, for the safest distance to stop behind another vehicle.
When your vehicle stops, you should be far enough away from the car in front of you that you can see
where its tires make contact with the ground. Any closer is too close.
Lesson three – three-second rule
Teach your teen the three-second rule for the appropriate following distance when driving behind other
vehicles. The three-second rule is an important safety measure designed to give drivers enough time to
safely steer or brake to avoid problems that occur in front of them on the road.
• Start counting when the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you passes an object.
• Count “one thousand ONE, one thousand TWO, one thousand THREE.”
• Your front bumper should not pass that same object before you’ve reached “three.”
Have your teen practice the three-second rule at least 10–12 times, counting out loud to check whether
their following distance is appropriate.
Your front bumper should not pass before you’ve reached “three.”
SKILL SIX
:
LOOKING AHEAD
Don’t tailgate
Rear-end collisions are
the most common form of
a car crash. Emphasize to
your teen that increasing
the following distance
behind other vehicles is
the single best thing they
can do to minimize the
risk of a crash.
12
Turning around
Goal: Teach your teen the best ways to turn a vehicle around in various circumstances.
Location: Start on a quiet neighborhood street with accessible driveways. Please be respectful of
neighbors and private property. Move to a multi-lane road for U-turns, if legally allowed in your area.
Lesson one – turning around safely
Start by coaching your teen that the safest and easiest way to turn around is to drive around the block.
The less backing up, the better! Since that’s not always possible, it’s important to practice other ways to
turn around.
Lesson two – two-point turns
A two-point turn involves backing into a driveway to reverse direction. On a quiet street, have your teen
identify an available driveway on the same side of the street as your car, at a point where they can see
oncoming trafc for at least 200 feet.
• Pull just ahead of the driveway, making sure there is no trafc behind the car, and signal.
• Make sure the road is clear behind the car and the driveway, put the car in reverse, and then
back into the driveway.
• Shift back into drive and check the road for approaching trafc from both directions.
• When it’s clear, turn back onto the road.
Lesson three – three-point turns
This more challenging turn should only be done when there is no available driveway. Three-point turns
block both sides of a two-lane road, so coach your teen to make absolutely sure that the trafc is clear in
both directions:
• Pull as far to the right as
possible to maximize room
to maneuver.
• Turn sharply across the road
➊
until the car is perpendicular,
facing the curb.
• Continue checking for trafc in
both directions.
• Put the car in reverse
➋
and
back up, turning sharply in the other direction, into the original lane, but now facing the
opposite direction.
• Shift into drive and pull forward
➌
into the correct lane, driving straight ahead.
Lesson four – U-turns
First explain that U-turns can be very dangerous, and should only be done where they are legal.
• Begin the U-turn in the left lane, closest to the center line or median.
• Be sure there is enough room to make the turn without hitting the curb or any parked cars.
• Signal to indicate the direction of the turn, checking carefully for oncoming trafc.
• Move forward, turning the wheel sharply to turn around.
• Finish the U-turn in the opposite direction and accelerate to an appropriate speed.
Practice two-point and three-point turns at least 10 times each.
➊
➌
➋
Skill completed
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driver initials
#RoadReady
SKILL SEVEN
:
TURNING AROUND
SKILL SIX
:
LOOKING AHEAD
Legal U-turns
U-turns are illegal in
many locations. Make
sure you and your teen
only practice legal
U-turns. They should
never be made across
a double yellow line or
where a sign indicates
that they are prohibited.
13
Supervised driving log
Parents or guardians are responsible for making certain that their teen has completed at least 20 hours
of supervised driving prior to their obtaining an intermediate license, with two of those hours completed
between sunset and sunrise. Additionally, your teen needs to complete 10 hours of supervised driving
on their intermediate license, with two of those hours completed between sunset and sunrise, before
they can advance to a full license. Driving can be supervised by a parent, guardian, custodian, an
immediate family member at least 21 years old, a driver’s education instructor, or a person at least 25
years old with written permission from the parent, guardian, or custodian. The supervising adult must
possess a valid driver’s license.
The following form is a tool for your convenience that will help you keep track of time spent on the road,
and ensure that your teen has a diverse supervised driving experience. You want your teen to be as
prepared as possible for their next step in the licensing process.
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
GDL systems
Graduated Driver
Licensing (GDL) systems
are intended to provide
teen drivers with
practice under the safest
conditions, exposing them
to more situations only as
their skills and experience
grow. Iowa’s GDL
program requires at least
20 hours of supervised
driving to advance from
an instruction permit to an
intermediate license, and
10 more hours to advance
to a full license.
WITH SUPPORT FROM
SAVE TIME
GETTING YOUR IOWA
DRIVER’S LICENSE OR ID
Visit iowadot.gov/mvd/realid/success
before you go to a driver’s license
service center to get a personalized list
of the documents you need to bring.
14
LOG YOUR DRIVES ON THE FORM BELOW
OR DOWNLOAD THE FREE MOBILE APP
Date
Location of Practice
(ex. rural, highway)
Day/Night Weather Skills practiced Driving time
Adult’s
Initials
Day
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SUPERVISED DRIVING LOGIOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
15
LOG YOUR DRIVES ON THE FORM BELOW
OR DOWNLOAD THE FREE MOBILE APP
Date
Location of Practice
(ex. rural, highway)
Day/Night Weather Skills practiced Driving time
Adult’s
Initials
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SUPERVISED DRIVING LOG
16
LOG YOUR DRIVES ON THE FORM BELOW
OR DOWNLOAD THE FREE MOBILE APP
Date
Location of Practice
(ex. rural, highway)
Day/Night Weather Skills practiced Driving time
Adult’s
Initials
Day
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SUPERVISED DRIVING LOGSUPERVISED DRIVING LOG
17
LOG YOUR DRIVES ON THE FORM BELOW
OR DOWNLOAD THE FREE MOBILE APP
Date
Location of Practice
(ex. rural, highway)
Day/Night Weather Skills practiced Driving time
Adult’s
Initials
Day
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SUPERVISED DRIVING LOG
18
LOG YOUR DRIVES ON THE FORM BELOW
OR DOWNLOAD THE FREE MOBILE APP
Date
Location of Practice
(ex. rural, highway)
Day/Night Weather Skills practiced Driving time
Adult’s
Initials
Day
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GRAND TOTAL
SUPERVISED DRIVING LOGSUPERVISED DRIVING LOG
19
Download our FREE mobile app
to log your instruction permit practice driving.
SYNC
Connect one teen driver’s
practice drive time across
mutiple phones by using
the same log-in on each
device.
SOCIAL
Share drives and
accomplishments with
friends on social networks
with RoadReady’s social
sharing options.
@PSDP_Info thank you!
I love this app so much.
- Twitter Follower
WITH SUPPORT FROM
SMART
Log your drives, including
driving conditions (road
type and weather), driving
notes, state requirements
& more.
LEARN MORE AT ROADREADYAPP.COM
Apple, the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
A component of the
Supervised Driving Program
PARENT’S
20
* Adult supervision means your parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21 years of age, a driver
education instructor, or a person at least 25 years with written permission from your parent, guardian, or custodian. The
supervising adult must possess a valid driver’s license. At no time can you use any electronic communication or entertainment
device while driving (except equipment permanently installed in the vehicle), or carry more passengers than the number of
seatbelts in your vehicle.
Iowa’s Graduated Driver’s License
program - part one
Iowa has a graduated driver’s license (GDL) system for drivers under age 18. Driving is an adult
responsibility that must be taken seriously to keep you and others safe and protect your privilege to
drive. Our GDL system is designed to provide you with the experience necessary to gain and improve
driving skills. The program includes several steps:
1. Instruction Permit
2. Minor School License (optional, specic eligibility criteria apply)
3. Intermediate License
4. Full License
1. Instruction permit
How do I get an instruction permit?
• Be at least 14 years old.
• Have written consent from your parent or guardian either in-person at a driver’s license issuance site or
complete the Parent’s/Guardian’s Written Consent Form (form 430018) available at any driver’s license
service center, or online at: https://forms.iowadot.gov/BrowseForms.aspx.
• Pass the operator knowledge test and vision screening.
• Provide proof of identity, proof of residency, and proof of Social Security number. Create a list of
documents to take with you to the driver’s license issuance site at: www.iowadot.gov/mvd/realid/
success.html
What can I do with an instruction permit?
Drive at any time with adult supervision.*
What if I mess up on an instruction permit?
Your permit may be suspended if you are convicted of a trafc violation (such as speeding, reckless
driving, failure to obey a trafc signal), violate any of the restrictions on your permit, or are involved in a
crash you caused or contributed to.
• First offense: Your permit may be suspended or you may receive a safety advisory letter.
• Second offense: Your permit will be suspended for 30 days.
Any time you have a conviction, violation, or crash, or your license gets suspended or revoked, the six-
month period to have a clean driving record, which is required to advance to a minor school license or
intermediate license, will start over.
IOWA’S GRADUATED DRIVER’S LICENSE PROGRAM
21
* Adult supervision means your parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21 years of age, a driver
education instructor, or a person at least 25 years with written permission from your parent, guardian, or custodian. The
supervising adult must possess a valid driver’s license. At no time can you use any electronic communication or entertainment
device while driving (except equipment permanently installed in the vehicle), or carry more passengers than the number of
seatbelts in your vehicle.
Iowa’s Graduated Driver’s License
program - optional part two
2. Minor school license (optional)
How do I get a minor school license?
• Be at least 14 1/2 years old.
• Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.
• Hold a valid instruction permit and a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months
immediately before applying for your minor school license.
• Live 1 mile or more from the school you are enrolled in, unless a special need exists. If you have more
than one residence, where you live is the location you reside the majority of the time.
• Attend a public school located within the school district of your parent or guardian’s residence, or
located in a bordering school district of your residence if you open enroll or your school district of
residence has a sharing agreement, OR, attend an accredited non-public school that is within fty
driving miles of the residence of your parent or guardian.
• Have the appropriate school authority AND your parent or guardian sign an Afdavit for School
License (form 430021) available at any driver’s license service center, or online at https://forms.iowadot.
gov/BrowseForms.aspx.
• You may also be required to complete a drive test at the driver’s license issuance site.
What can I do with a minor school license?
Drive without adult supervision between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. for purposes of:
• Driving from your home to your school(s) of enrollment or school-sponsored activities using the most
direct and accessible route. Activities must be at the school district(s) you are enrolled in and at a site
designated by your school(s).
• Driving to a school that is not your school of enrollment to participate in extracurricular activities
conducted at that school under a sharing agreement with your school of enrollment. Activities must be
in a contiguous (bordering) school district for public school students, or not more than 50 miles driving
distance of your residence for private school students.
• Driving to and from your home to the closest school bus stop.
Drive at any time with adult supervision.*
What if I mess up on a minor school license?
If you are involved in a crash you caused or contributed to, you will be subject to additional license
restrictions. If you are convicted of a trafc violation such as speeding or violation of any restrictions on
your license, the following will happen:
• First offense: Your license will be suspended for 30 days and you must pay a fee to reinstate your minor
school license.
• Second offense: Your license will be revoked for 30 days and you must pay a fee to reinstate to an
instruction permit for six months before you are eligible for a minor school license.
Any time you have a violation or your license gets suspended or revoked, your six-month period to
maintain a clean driving record will start over after you have reinstated your driving privilege.
IOWA’S GRADUATED DRIVER’S LICENSE PROGRAM
22
Iowa’s Graduated Driver’s License
program - parts three and four
3. Intermediate license
How do I get an intermediate license?
• Be at least 16 years old.
• Complete an Iowa-approved driver education course.
• Have had an instruction permit (or, a combination of an instruction permit and a minor school license)
for one year and a clean driving record for at least six consecutive months immediately before applying
for your intermediate license.
• Have written consent from your parent or guardian either in-person at a driver’s license issuance site or
complete the Parent’s/Guardian’s Written Consent Form (form 430018) available at any driver’s license
service center, or online at: https://forms.iowadot.gov/BrowseForms.aspx.
• Have completed 20 hours of driving with adult supervision* At least two of those hours must be
between sunset and sunrise. The Parent’s Supervised Driving Guide is an excellent tool you can use to
track those supervised driving hours!
What can I do with an intermediate license?
Drive without adult supervision between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.; or drive at any time with adult supervision.*
What if I mess up on an intermediate license?
Your license may be suspended if you are convicted of a trafc violation (such as speeding, reckless
driving, failure to obey a trafc signal), violate any of the restrictions on your license, or are involved in a
crash you caused or contributed to.
• First offense: Your license may be suspended or you may receive additional restrictions. Additional
restrictions may include additional passenger restrictions and additional reductions on the hours you
may operate without supervision.
• Second offense: Your license will be suspended for 30 days.
Any time you have a conviction, violation, or crash your 12-month period to have a clean driving record,
which is required to advance to a full license, will start over. Any time your license is suspended or
revoked, your 12-month period to hold an intermediate license will start over.
4. Full license
How do I get a full license?
• Be at least 17 years old.
• Keep your intermediate license for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for a
full license.
• Maintain a clean driving record for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying for a
full license.
• Complete 10 hours of supervised driving while holding your intermediate license. At least two of those
hours must be between sunset and sunrise. The Parent’s Supervised Driving Guide is an excellent tool
you can use to track those supervised driving hours!
Once you turn 18 you can obtain a full license without meeting these requirements.
* Adult supervision means your parent, guardian, custodian, an immediate family member at least 21 years of age, a driver
education instructor, or a person at least 25 years with written permission from your parent, guardian, or custodian. The
supervising adult must possess a valid driver’s license. At no time can you use any electronic communication or entertainment
device while driving (except equipment permanently installed in the vehicle), or carry more passengers than the number of
seatbelts in your vehicle.
IOWA’S GRADUATED DRIVER’S LICENSE PROGRAMIOWA’S GRADUATED DRIVER’S LICENSE PROGRAM
Young passengers distract teen drivers, increasing
the risk of crashes, injuries, and deaths by:
The more the merrier?
The more the scarier.
FOR 1
PASSENGER
50
%
250
%
FOR 2
PASSENGERS
Teen Driver
(age 16 or 17)
Passenger
(under age 21)
300
%
FOR 3+
PASSENGERS
Consider limiting your teen driver’s
number of passengers. Especially
during the first 6 months of driving
without adult supervision.
24
Parking – part one
Goal: Teach your teen to master angle and perpendicular parking.
Location: Start in large, level, mostly empty areas. You will need both angled and perpendicular spaces.
Before your teen starts parking practice, review “Skill three: how close are you?”
and “Skill four: backing up.”
Lesson one – angle parking
The gentler turn makes this the easiest type of parking for new drivers.
Hint: Choosing a parking spot on the left side of the car can provide more room to maneuver
and a better view of trafc when backing out.
• Signal to indicate intent to turn into
a parking space.
• Move forward until the steering wheel is aligned
with the rst pavement line marking the space.
• Look at the middle of the parking space and turn
the wheel sharply at a slow, controlled speed.
• Steer toward the center of the space,
straightening the wheel upon entry.
• Stop when the front bumper is six inches
from the curb or from the end of the space.
• After you’ve parked, put the gear in park for automatic transmissions (for manual transmissions, put the
car either in rst or reverse) and set the parking brake. Shut off the ignition and remove the key. Check
for trafc prior to getting out. Lock the doors.
• Suddenly opening car doors can pose a very serious threat to bicyclists. When opening your car door,
drivers and passengers are encouraged to check your rear-view mirror, side-view mirror, then open the
door with your far hand.
Lesson two – perpendicular parking
The steps are the same as angle parking, but
the sharper turn into perpendicular spaces may
require more practice.
Lesson three – exiting spaces
• With a foot on the brake, shift into reverse,
which will signal that you will be backing up.
• Turn around to look for oncoming trafc.
• For angled spaces, back up straight until the driver’s seat is even with the bumper of the next vehicle
on the turning side. For perpendicular spaces, back up straight until the windshield is aligned with the
bumper of the next vehicle.
• Quickly turn the wheel in the direction that the rear of the car needs to go.
• Glance forward to make sure the front bumper is clear of the car on the other side.
• When the front bumper clears the other vehicle, stop, shift into drive, and pull forward to
complete the exit.
Turn when the front of your vehicle reaches the edge
of the space. Stay alert for cars backing out to leave
their space.
Turn when your outside mirror reaches the edge of the
space. Always nish with your wheels straight and your
car centered in the space.
Young passengers distract teen drivers, increasing
the risk of crashes, injuries, and deaths by:
The more the merrier?
The more the scarier.
FOR 1
PASSENGER
50
%
250
%
FOR 2
PASSENGERS
Teen Driver
(age 16 or 17)
Passenger
(under age 21)
300
%
FOR 3+
PASSENGERS
Consider limiting your teen driver’s
number of passengers. Especially
during the first 6 months of driving
without adult supervision.
Skill completed
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driver initials
#RoadReady
SKILL EIGHT
:
PARKING – PART ONE
Practice makes
perfect
Plan to spend a good
amount of time on
parking practice with your
teen — it’s a difcult skill
to learn. Many crashes
happen in parking lots,
and mastering parking
skills is an important way
to help avoid collisions.
Have your teen practice
angle and perpendicular
parking 15–20 times each.
25
Parking – part two
Goal: Teach your teen to master parallel parking.
Location: A street with marked parallel parking spaces at a time of day when trafc is light.
Lesson one – parallel parking
Parallel parking is a difcult maneuver for new drivers, so patience is key. Many drivers never learn to do
it well, especially in areas where it’s not common. Because of the difculty of learning parallel parking,
and because there are several different teaching methods, this skill is sometimes best taught by a
professional driving instructor. Assess your own parallel parking skills and your teen’s abilities
before beginning.
• Select an available space on the
passenger’s side of the car.
• Signal when approaching the space and check
mirrors for trafc behind the vehicle.
• Move forward past the space until lined up
directly parallel to the car parked in front, 2–5
feet away. Being too close or too far
away will make parking more difcult.
• With a foot on the brake, shift to reverse
and turn around to check for trafc and
make sure the travel path is clear.
• Release the brake, start backing up slowly,
and start to make an “S” turn, turning rst
right and then left.
• Glance both forward and backward repeatedly to check the space around the car while turning.
• Once the rear of the car is mostly in the space, start turning in the other direction to straighten out.
• Adjust the vehicle’s position as needed to center it in the space.
• Check to see if the wheels are 6–12 inches from the curb. If not, pull out and try again.
• Always check for passing vehicles and cyclists before you open your door.
Lesson two – exiting a parallel parking space
• With a foot on the brake, shift to reverse, turn around, and back as close as possible to the vehicle
behind you.
• Check for trafc, signal, and shift into drive.
• Make sure the travel path is clear, then move slowly forward while steering rapidly out of the space.
Lesson three – parallel parking on a hill
Make sure the vehicle is in park and the parking brake is properly engaged. To prevent the vehicle from
rolling into trafc, instruct your teen to turn the front wheels as follows:
• Toward the curb when parking downhill
• Away from the curb when parking uphill
If there is no curb, have your teen point the wheel so that the car would roll away from trafc if it moved.
Start by practicing with cones before practicing
alongside vehicles.
Skill completed
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#RoadReady
SKILL EIGHT
:
PARKING – PART TWO
Have patience
When practicing parallel
parking, your teen will
probably hit the curb
several times. Tell them
not to worry – even the
best parallel parkers do
this often. Coach them to
pull out of the space and
try again, adjusting their
turning angle as needed.
26
Driving on rural roads
Goal: Teach your teen to drive safely and with condence on two-lane rural roads.
Location: A two-lane rural road.
Lesson one - gravel roads
Gravel roads present their own special road safety challenge; the issue is traction. Driving on loose
gravel is harder than driving on pavement because your tires don’t have the traction needed to give
you stable control. Slow down, avoid sudden turning, accelerate and brake slowly, and increase your
following distance. Be particularly aware of gravel “windrows,” piles of gravel near the road edge, used
for highway maintenance.
Lesson two - driving hazards
Large/slow vehicles: Slower trucks, farm vehicles, and road maintenance equipment are likely to
make wide turns at unmarked entrances. Use caution and make sure the driver can see your vehicle
before passing.
Sharp drop-offs and gravel shoulders: One of the most common driving hazards is running off the
road. The urge to overcorrect is strong and often results in a serious crash. If you run off the road,
follow these steps to ease your vehicle back onto the road:
• Do not turn the wheel; continue driving straight
• Take your foot off the accelerator
• Find a safe place to reenter the road
• Turn on your turn signal and reenter the road when it is clear
• Do not apply brakes until regaining control of the vehicle
Restricted visibility: Trees, cornelds, buildings, and hills can block a driver’s view of oncoming
trafc, or trafc entering from the side. Identify blind spots to better anticipate and be prepared
for potential dangers.
Uncontrolled intersections: They are not controlled by yield or stop signs. Use caution, slow down,
and be prepared to stop for oncoming trafc. The vehicle on the left should yield.
Animals: If unable to stop for an animal crossing the road, do NOT swerve – swerving makes it
hard to keep control. The most serious crashes happen when drivers swerve into oncoming trafc
or roll into a ditch.
If you see an animal, slow down and be prepared to stop. Always be on the lookout, especially at sunrise
and sunset. October and November are peak months for deer crashes – the most common type.
Deer travel in groups; if you see one, look for more.
Hills and curves: These are often steeper and sharper on rural roads than on interstate highways.
Before reaching the crest of a hill, or entering a curve, slow down, move to the right side, and watch
for trafc.
Railroad crossings: Always slow down, look both ways, and be prepared to stop. On rural roads,
many railroad crossings are marked only with a round yellow Railroad Crossing Ahead warning sign
and a white X-shaped railroad crossing. There may not be ashing lights, warning bells, crossing
gates, or pavement markings.
Skill completed
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SKILL NINE
:
DRIVING ON RURAL ROADS
SKILL EIGHT
:
PARKING – PART TWO
Gravel slide
Be ready for skids.
A vehicle can become
difcult to handle in
heavy gravel. If the
vehicle starts to skid,
release the accelerator
or brakes. As you release
them, look where you
want to go, and steer
in this direction.
27
Multi-lane roads – part one
Goal: Teach your teen to drive safely and with condence on busier, more complex, multi-lane roads.
Location: A busier, multi-lane road. Choose a time with limited trafc, such as a weekend morning.
Skill review
By now, your teen should be comfortable driving on quiet roads. Before starting multi-lane road
practice, it’s important to review some key information from previous lessons. The following skills are
crucial to safe driving on busier, more complicated roads.
Lesson one – mirror positioning, monitoring and blind spots
Refer to Skills One and Two. Clearly seeing the adjacent trafc is especially important on multi-lane
roads. Remind your teen to check the mirror positions when entering the car, and to constantly monitor
the trafc around them.
Lesson two – stopping distance
Refer to Skill Six. Remind your teen that when stopping their vehicle behind another one, they should
be far enough back to see where the other car’s tires meet the road.
Lesson three – following distance
Refer to Skill Six. Review the three-second rule with your teen, emphasizing that increasing following
distance is the single best way to reduce crash risk. This gives the driver visibility, time, and space to
avoid crashes.
Lesson four – safe lane changing
First, coach your teen not to change lanes
unnecessarily. Studies show that while it
may not look like it, most travel lanes ow
at around the same rate. Changing lanes in
an effort to save time doesn’t actually save
time, but it does increase crash risk.
Ask your teen to list valid reasons to change
lanes. Good answers include: to make a
turn, to avoid an obstacle, to exit the road,
to park, or to pass another vehicle. Let them
know about Iowa’s “Move Over” law, which
requires drivers to slow down and change
lanes to move around emergency vehicles
or any parked or disabled vehicle with
ashing lights.
Have your teen practice these lane change steps 15–20 times:
• Check trafc to the rear and the sides for an appropriate gap.
• Signal to indicate intention to change lanes.
• Recheck trafc, including a glance over the shoulder at the mirror blind spot area.
• Maintain speed or accelerate slightly before and during the lane change.
• Gradually move in to the new lane.
• Adjust following distance, using the three-second rule.
When changing lanes, always recheck trafc with a glance
over the shoulder at the blind spot.
Skill completed
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SKILL TEN
:
MULTI-LANE ROADS – PART ONE
Other road users
Motorcyclists, bicyclists,
and pedestrians are more
difcult to see than cars
because they are smaller
– and drivers tend to
focus on looking for cars.
Trafc, weather, and road
conditions require cyclists
to react differently than
motorists. It can be
difcult for young drivers
to judge and predict
their actions. Always
give motorcyclists and
bicyclists a wide berth
and reduce your speed.
28
Multi-lane roads – part two
Goal: Teach your teen to drive safely and with condence on busier, more complex, multi-lane roads.
Location: A busier, multi-lane road. Choose a time with limited trafc, such as a weekend morning.
Lesson one – right turns
Start with right turns, which are fairly simple. Right turns are always made from the right lane of the
current road to the rst, open lane of the new road. Look for signs and signals that indicate whether
“right on red” is allowed. Practice right turns 10–12 times before moving on to left turns.
Lesson two – left turns
Left turns should almost always begin and end in the
closest lane to the right of the yellow line. The yellow
line in the lane being turned into should be your
teen’s target. There are three types of left turns:
• Protected left turns with a designated left turn
lane and left turn signal
• Semi-protected left turns made from a center or
shared turn lane
• Unprotected left turns made from an active
travel lane
Protected left turns should be made from the designated lane when the left turn signal displays
a green arrow, using the yellow line in the lane being turned into as the steering target.
For semi-protected and unprotected left turns, coach your teen on these steps:
• Make sure the vehicle is in the correct lane to make a left turn.
• Signal the turn and begin slowing down at least 100 feet from the intersection.
• Move carefully in to the intersection. Don’t turn the wheel until you’re ready to make the turn.
• Yield to any vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians.
• When there is sufcient space with no oncoming trafc, move ahead in to the turn.
• Choose a steering path line in the middle of the closest lane to the left side of the street.
Lesson three – safe passing procedures
Discourage your teen from passing other cars unnecessarily. If passing is necessary, the following
steps should be observed:
• Position your vehicle more than three seconds behind the vehicle to be passed.
• Check mirrors and blind spots for oncoming trafc.
• Check the passing lane ahead to make sure there’s plenty of space before you try to pass.
• Signal intent to pass and accelerate quickly to match the speed of trafc ow.
• While passing, monitor the space in front of and behind your vehicle and check the rearview mirror
for the front of the car being passed.
• When you see the front of the passed car in the rearview mirror and your vehicle is well clear, signal
intent, gently and slowly move back to the original lane, cancel the signal, and maintain speed.
Don’t turn the wheel until you’re ready to make
the turn.
Skill completed
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SKILL TEN
:
MULTI-LANE ROADS – PART TWO
SKILL TEN
:
MULTI-LANE ROADS – PART ONE
Making left turns
Left turns are one of
the hardest maneuvers
for teens to master. Be
patient. New drivers often
have difculty judging
the speed and distances
of multiple lanes of
oncoming trafc. Practice
judging oncoming
vehicles’ distance from
your vehicle by counting
out loud the time it takes
for them to reach your car
from a designated point.
29
City driving – part one
Goal: Teach your teen to drive safely and condently in the complex environment of city driving. Note:
City driving takes hundreds of hours, if not several years, to master.
Location: Busy, urban streets. Start at times when trafc is light, moving on to heavier trafc times as
your teen gains practice.
Skill review
Since the busy, crowded environment of city driving is challenging for new drivers, this is a good time to
review key driving skills. The most important skill for drivers is the ability to make good decisions.
City driving forces drivers to make lots of decisions quickly. The three things they need to drive safely in
the city are:
• Visibility: To see potential problems in all directions
• Space: To maneuver around obstacles
and avoid hazards
• Time: To anticipate risks and make adjustments to speed or position
Lesson one – maximizing visibility and space
As you practice, have your teen focus on making
decisions that will maximize visibility and space
around the vehicle, increasing the available
reaction time.
• Looking ahead (refer to Skill Six): Congested
city driving leaves very little room for error.
Identifying and anticipating potential problems
is crucial.
• Covering the brake: Coach your teen that when
they spot a hazard, they should “cover” the brake
by taking their foot off the accelerator and holding
it over the brake. This will prepare them to slow
down or stop suddenly. Make sure they don’t
“ride” the brake. Riding the brake confuses other
drivers and puts unnecessary wear on the brakes.
Lesson two – identifying hazards
As you begin city driving practice, have your teen drive through several blocks to identify and name
common hazards on busy, congested streets. Ask them to describe how they will safely deal with each
hazard they identify.
Such hazards may include:
• Parked cars, cars entering or exiting parking spaces, and car doors opening
• Delivery trucks stopping suddenly, with drivers racing to and from the trucks
• Buses making frequent stops, loading and unloading passengers
• Blind alleys, with cars or cyclists darting out
• Pedestrians and cyclists moving unpredictably, crossing streets outside of a crosswalk, etc.
• Limited visibility and intersections spaced at shorter intervals
• Aggressive drivers competing for lane space and parking spots
• Stop-and-go trafc ow
Looking ahead, identifying, and anticipating potential
problems is crucial for safe driving.
Skill completed
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#RoadReady
SKILL ELEVEN
:
CITY DRIVING – PART ONE
Scan rst
Keep reminding your
teen that constant
awareness and looking
ahead are the keys
to learning to drive
safely on city streets.
Emphasize the idea that
a green light means,
“Scan the intersection
rst, then go.”
30
City driving – part two
Goal: Teach your teen to drive safely and condently in the complex environment of city driving. Note:
This is not a goal that will be achieved in a single session. Spend as much time as possible with your teen
practicing safe city driving skills.
Location: Busy urban streets. Start at times when trafc is light, moving on to heavier trafc times as
your teen gains practice.
Lesson one – avoiding obstacles
Focus on lane position to avoid obstacles: City driving involves many circumstances in which travel
lanes are shared, congested, and partially or fully blocked. During practice sessions on busy city roads,
have your teen identify these steps to safely avoid obstacles:
• Identify right-lane obstacles, such as stopped buses, parked cars, delivery trucks, and cyclists.
• Identify left-lane obstacles, such as vehicles waiting to make a left turn, or cars traveling in the
opposite direction drifting over the center line.
• Identify the least-congested travel lane. Hint: On a three-lane road, this is usually the center lane.
• Position the vehicle in the lane at the greatest distance possible from any obstacles.
It can be tempting to pass vehicles on congested streets, when obstacles or trafc volume slow trafc.
However, this can be dangerous, due to closely spaced intersections, irregular trafc ow, cars entering
and exiting parking spots, etc. Coach your teen to avoid passing on busy city streets.
Lesson two – deadly distractions
What happens inside the car can
be just as dangerous as what
happens outside. Engaging in
distracting activities while driving
can be deadly, especially for
young drivers. Ask your teen to list
dangerous driving distractions. Their
answers should include:
• Talking or texting
• Changing radio stations,
shufing/streaming music. or
dialing a phone
• Passengers, pets, or objects
moving in the car
• Eating, drinking, or smoking
• Searching for an item
• Intense or emotional conversations
• Putting on makeup or looking in the mirror
Coach your teen to avoid distracting activities whenever possible, but especially in busy, congested
environments. Remind them to focus on keeping as much space as possible around the vehicle at all
times. Make sure they are not in a hurry and that they are always paying attention to the actions of
other drivers.
Remind your teen to stay alert, scan their surroundings, and not
xate on any one thing.
Skill completed
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#RoadReady
SKILL ELEVEN
:
CITY DRIVING – PART TWO
SKILL ELEVEN
:
CITY DRIVING – PART ONE
More is better
City driving skills take
a long time to acquire.
Spend as much time
and drive in as many
circumstances with your
teen (night, inclement
weather) as you are able.
Plan trips to less-familiar
places where you might
not normally travel.
31
Interstate driving – part one
Goal: Teach your teen interstate basics and how to safely enter and exit an interstate.
Location: Start on a multi-lane interstate with easily accessible exits, at a time when trafc is light, such
as a weekend morning. Move on to practice at heavier trafc times when your teen is ready.
Lesson one – observation
Before your teen gets behind the wheel on the interstate, have your teen spend some time on
interstates with you as the driver and your teen as the passenger. Emphasize the importance of looking
ahead to anticipate potential problems, and explain key interstate features, such as:
• The different kinds of interchanges
• The meanings of interstate signs and signals
• The meanings of different lane lines and markings
Lesson two – on-ramp segments
Explain the three segments of on-ramps, and how they’re used:
• Entrance area: This stretch allows the driver time to search the interstate and evaluate how much
space they have to enter and what speed is needed.
• Acceleration area: The driver brings the vehicle up to the speed of interstate trafc ow.
• Merge area: The driver uses this space to merge into the trafc ow.
Lesson three – merging
Teach the steps for merging onto an interstate:
• Check for on-ramp speed signs.
• At the entrance area, make quick
glances at the interstate, scanning
for vehicles and entry gaps.
• In the acceleration area, signal to
show intent to enter the interstate
and adjust speed to match the
trafc ow.
• In the merge area, enter the ow
of trafc, checking mirrors and
blind spots.
• Turn off the turn signal and begin looking ahead to anticipate problems or upcoming lane changes.
• Do not completely stop in the entrance area unless absolutely necessary.
Lesson four – exiting
Teach the steps for exiting an interstate:
• Identify the exit well ahead of time.
• Scan trafc for problems when approaching the exit, but don’t slow down on the interstate.
• Start to signal four to six seconds before reaching the ramp.
• Upon entering the ramp, tap the brakes and begin rapidly reducing speed.
• Slow down to the posted exit ramp speed limit before reaching the curve.
Practice both merging and exiting 10-12 times each, or more if needed for your teen to feel comfortable.
There is plenty of time to merge. If a gap doesn’t present itself
immediately, adjust your speed in order to nd one.
Skill completed
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#RoadReady
SKILL TWELVE
:
INTERSTATE DRIVING – PART ONE
Steer it – clear it
Does your teen know
what to do in the event of
a fender bender? If there
are no serious injuries,
Iowa law requires that
drivers involved in a crash
move their vehicles out
of the driving lanes of
trafc. For every minute a
lane of trafc is blocked,
the risk of a secondary
crash increases by
roughly 2.8%.
32
Interstate driving – part two
Goal: Teach your teen to maneuver safely in complex interstate driving environments at higher speeds.
Location: Start on a multi-lane interstate with easily-accessible exits, at a time when trafc is light, such
as a weekend morning. Move on to practice at heavier trafc times when your teen is ready.
Lesson one – steering technique
Once on the interstate, coach your teen on steering technique. At fast interstate speeds, excessive
steering can be dangerous and lead to loss of control. Remind your teen to steer gently on interstates.
Lesson two – lane changing
In the high-speed, complex interstate
environment, lane-changing skills are
very important. Have your teen spend
several miles practicing the lane-
changing and passing skills previously
learned in “Skill Nine: multi-lane
roads,” until they are comfortable
performing them at interstate speeds.
Remind your teen to:
• Watch for merging vehicles and
move one lane left to make space for
them when needed.
• Change lanes one at a time only.
• Watch mirrors for tailgaters and move
to another lane to let them pass.
• Change lanes to move around any stopped vehicle with ashing lights.
Lesson three – three-second rule
Review the three-second rule for following distance, learned in “Skill Six: looking ahead.” Additionally,
coach your teen to use a three-second rule for these interstate driving circumstances:
• Merging onto an interstate
• Changing lanes
• Exiting an interstate
Lesson four – challenging road conditions
Coach your teen to adjust travel speed and vehicle position based on weather and road conditions.
Once your teen is comfortable with and procient at interstate driving in good conditions, spend some
practice time on interstates under more challenging conditions, such as rain. Coach them to always use
appropriate caution, as conditions can change quickly.
Lesson ve – road trips
Consider planning some short day trips with your teen to a destination two to three hours away. Have
them drive there and back. Find an event or place that you will both enjoy and have fun.
For the rst several lane changes you may need to talk your teen
through the decision-making process. Double-check all mirrors to
make sure that the lane is clear.
Skill completed
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#RoadReady
SKILL TWELVE
:
INTERSTATE DRIVING – PART TWO
SKILL TWELVE
:
INTERSTATE DRIVING – PART ONE
Higher order
Early in the training
process, parental
instruction tends to focus
on vehicle handling. As
your teen’s skills improve,
try to focus on “higher
order” instruction, such
as scanning ahead,
hazard detection, and
anticipating other
drivers’ behavior.
33
Roundabouts
Goal: Teach your teen how to enter and drive roundabouts safely.
Location: A road that leads to a one-lane roundabout. Move on to practice at two or more lane
roundabouts when your teen is ready.
Roundabouts are circular intersections designed to calm trafc, increase safety, reduce stop-and-go
travel, and decrease trafc delays. Roundabouts have proven to be an efcient means to move trafc
through congested intersections and have shown to reduce crashes by half (all but eliminating the more
severe broadside and head-on collisions). Roundabouts also offer a safe environment for pedestrians,
who only have to navigate one-way trafc ow.
Driving in a roundabout can be intimidating, but it’s really quite simple when you know how it works.
Lesson one – ve easy steps
• Slow down: Follow posted advisory speeds.
• Yield: Vehicles must yield to the left before
entering a roundabout.
• Don’t stop: Never stop once inside the
roundabout. The vehicle in the roundabout
has the right of way.
• Follow signs: Look for destination signs and
exit in that direction.
• Exit: Look to your right, check your mirror and
use your turn signal.
Lesson two – emergency vehicles
• If you have not entered the roundabout, pull
over and allow emergency vehicles to pass.
• If you have entered the roundabout, continue
to your exit, then pull over and allow
emergency vehicles to pass.
• Avoid stopping in the roundabout.
Lesson three – two or more lane
roundabouts
• As you approach, observe the signs and arrows to determine which lane to use before entering.
• Black and white signs on the side of the road and white arrows on the road will show the correct
lane to use.
• If you want to make a left turn, stay in the left lane or other lanes that are signed and marked for
left turns.
• To make a right turn, stay in the right lane or other lanes that are signed and marked as right turn lanes.
• If you want to go straight, observe the signs and arrows to see which lane is correct.
This example shows the trafc movement patterns
through a one-lane roundabout. The one-lane
roundabout is known as one of the safest and most
efcient intersections.
Crosswalk:
Yield to Pedestrians
Yield to all traffic before entering roundabout
Traffic circulates
counterclockwise
in a roundabout
Skill completed
supervisor initials
driver initials
#RoadReady
SKILL THIRTEEN
:
ROUNDABOUTS
Yield the
right-of-way
As a rule of thumb, always
yield to trafc on your left
when entering or driving
through a roundabout.
Traffic fatalities are the number one cause of death among
kids ages 15 to 19 in the United States.
Crashes ARE preventable. They’re not just “accidents” that
happen; 94 percent of crashes are caused by human error.
Teaching kids the five basic behaviors that are responsible
for a majority of traffic fatalities could be one of the most
important tasks you do as a parent.
But teaching isn’t enough. What are your actions
behind the wheel showing your teen?
What have your kids learned
from you about driving safely?
FOCUS ON
THE ROAD
DRIVE SOBER BUCKLE UPSTAY ALERTSLOW DOWN
Drive safe honey.
Love you.
Thanks Mom. You too.
SKILL THIRTEEN
:
ROUNDABOUTS
35
Adapting to new landscapes
Safety around snowplows
When you see lights from a snow plow, slow down and use caution.
• Give snowplows room to work: They are wide and can cross the center line or shoulder.
• Do not tailgate and avoid passing, especially on the right: If you must pass, be extremely cautious
and beware of the snow cloud.
• Keep your distance and watch for sudden stops and turns: A snowplow operator’s eld of vision is
restricted. You may see them, but they don’t always see you.
• Snowplows plow far and wide, sometimes very wide. The front plow extends several feet in front of the
truck and may cross the centerline during snow removal operations.
• Don’t follow too closely behind a snowplow since they are often spreading deicing materials from the
back of the truck. They may also create a snow cloud that can reduce your visibility very quickly. Never
drive into a snow cloud, it could conceal a snowplow.
• Snowplows also travel much slower than the posted speeds so when you spot a plow, allow plenty of
time to slow down.
Note: Four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles do not stop faster on ice and snow than two-wheel drive (2WD)
vehicles. The heavier the vehicle, the longer it takes to stop, no matter the vehicle’s wheels.
Rural driving
When driving in rural or country areas, there are a number of situations that require special attention.
Watch for driveways, farm equipment, railroad crossings that might not be marked, and bridges that
are narrow and poorly surfaced. Some intersections may be hidden by trees, brush, and crops. Animals
sometimes are found wandering along the roadway. Extra care and slower speeds should be used
when driving on gravel roads because of the reduced traction due to the road surface. The road surface
can be affected by loose gravel, slippery conditions after rain or snow, ruts in the driving lanes, and
washboard conditions. When approaching oncoming vehicles, watch for soft shoulders or the absence
of shoulders. If you encounter large farm equipment, slow down, then pass on the left only if safe and
legal to do so.
Mountain driving
While you may not be able to practice mountain driving in Iowa, it is still important to cover these skills
with your teen. Some hazards you should be aware of are steep hills, changing weather, wildlife, and
rocks in the roadway. If your vehicle experiences difculty traveling up steep roadways, pull off the road
at the rst place you may do so safely, or stay in the right lane to allow other vehicles to pass. Here are
some added tips:
• Pay special attention to speed limit signs and warning signs, such as those warning of curves, steep
hills, or other hazards.
• Watch for bicyclists near the right edge of the road.
• Use lower gear to control speeds while going up or down long, steep hills.
• You must yield to vehicles going uphill if you are traveling downhill on a narrow road.
• Do not coast downhill by shifting into neutral or disengaging the clutch.
The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. Some people may react to the decrease
in oxygen. They may develop mild symptoms, such as headache, nausea, and fatigue. Remember,
insufcient hydration can lead to the onset of symptoms of altitude sickness. Even if they are mild, they
can affect your alertness as a driver.
BEYOND THE BASICS
Course of action
After becoming procient
in basic driving skills,
teens can become
overcondent and begin
to drive faster, follow
other cars more closely,
brake abruptly, etc.
Gently and continuously
remind your teen to stay
three seconds back from
other vehicles and always
drive with caution.
36
Continuing education
Learning doesn’t stop when your teen has received their license. It’s important to continue teaching and
building upon the skills they have learned. As you continue the supervision process, think about these
three areas of focus:
• Spend as much time as possible driving with your teen.
• Drive in a wide variety of conditions (weather, time of day, different trafc volumes, etc.).
• Focus on “higher level” learning: scanning ahead, recognizing hazards, and learning to anticipate the
behavior of other drivers.
Now that your teen has become procient in the basic operational skills of driving, it is essential that
they be exposed to a wide variety of driving circumstances and conditions. Make a point of driving
with them in situations that they have not yet experienced, and do it for all types of roads – quiet
neighborhood streets, multi-lane roads, and highways. Drive with them at different times of the day, in
poor weather, and with varying levels of trafc. It’s much better that they experience these conditions
with you, rather than alone or with other teens.
Much of what has been discussed to this point has related specically to the basic skills your teen will
need to be a safe driver. Now, your goal is to ensure your teen is thinking intelligently and making
the right decisions as a driver. Sometimes after teens become procient with the basic skills, parents/
guardians will often “step back,” becoming less involved in their teen’s supervision. But there’s still a lot
to learn; their teen’s education is not complete.
Be clear with your teen that the training process is ongoing and that you will continue to provide input
into their development so that you both stay in the learning/teaching mode.
Even the best new drivers are likely to make mistakes. These mistakes are great teachable moments
for “higher order” instructions. So instead of saying, “Stop sooner,” advise your teen to try to focus on
looking ahead and anticipating events, with an emphasis on good judgment, good decision making,
and hazard perception. The shift from a basic comment to a more advanced focus is perhaps the most
essential element of educating your teen at this point in the learning process.
As your teen drives, talk to them about specic hazard areas, possible areas of conict, and blind
spots where trouble may hide. Teens tend to be less skilled at anticipating these trouble areas than
experienced drivers. A good exercise is to have your teen describe the blind spots and possible areas of
conict they see. It will let you know that they are thinking, anticipating, and driving intelligently.
New Vehicle Technology
There is an ever-increasing amount of safety technology in today’s cars. Features like automatic
emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision warning keep us all safer, but only if
they’re used correctly. It’s important to understand how these advanced driver assistance features work
and their limitations. A key point is to remember these are driver “assistance” features and not driver
“replacement” features.
The easiest way to ensure you’re using everything right is to carefully review your car’s manual. Read
about any features that are new to you and make sure you know how they work. If you still have
questions, then reach out to the dealership so they can explain. Once you understand the technology,
share that information with your teen driver so they understand it, too.
Check out this website for additional information: https://mycardoeswhat.org/safety-features/
BEYOND THE BASICSBEYOND THE BASICS
Keep on coachin’
Even after your teen is
licensed, use your time
driving with them to
instill habits of good
judgment, accurate
hazard anticipation, and
smart decision-making.
Remember that crash
rates are highest in the
rst months of licensure.
Your role is still vital even
after your teen receives
his or her license!
37
Practice in other conditions
Night driving
Limited visibility at night makes it difcult to make judgments and see pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
obstacles. Some tips to keep in mind:
• Glare from oncoming headlights makes it difcult to see. Looking toward the right side of the road and
ipping the rearview mirror can help to reduce headlight glare.
• Headlights should be turned on before the sun goes down to make the car more visible.
• High beams should only be used when other drivers won’t see them, such as on isolated roadways with
little trafc.
• To compensate for reduced visibility, drive more slowly and at a greater following distance.
Wet/slippery roads
To reduce risk on wet and slippery roads, coach your teen to practice the following:
• Turn on the wipers as soon as the windshield becomes wet.
• Turn on the low-beam headlights; this helps others see you.
• Drive 5 to 10 mph slower than normal and increase your following distance to ve or six seconds.
• Be more cautious and slow down on curves and when approaching intersections.
• Turn the defroster on to keep windows from fogging over.
If you must make adjustments while driving, make sure the road ahead is clear before looking down at the
dashboard — and look away for only a second or two.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning occurs as a result of water on the road that is deeper than the tire tread. This layer of water
reduces friction with the tires and can result in the loss of control. If you can see deep water on the road,
reections on the pavement, or if the car ahead leaves no tracks on the water, your car could hydroplane.
Slow down.
Fog
Use low-beam lights or fog lights if your vehicle has them. Don’t use high beams — they reect off the
fog, causing glare and reduced visibility. Slow down until your speed matches your ability to see, even if it
means slowing to a crawl. If needed, get off the road and nd a safe place to park.
Snow
Make sure your vehicle is clear of snow and ice before driving. Driving can cause snow/ice to slide and
block your view, or y off and strike other vehicles. Other tips to keep in mind:
• Remind your teen that when the temperature drops, rain may turn to ice on the road’s surface. Often
this ice is hardly visible. Because air circulates both below and above bridges and overpasses, moisture
on the surface of them is likely to freeze quickly. Trees and buildings may shelter parts of the road and
prevent the sun from drying the surface. Look ahead for these danger spots.
• When starting to drive in snow, keep the wheels straight ahead and accelerate gently to avoid spinning
the tires.
• Decrease your speed to make up for a loss of traction. Accelerate and decelerate gently, and be extra
careful when braking.
• Stopping distances can be 10 times greater in ice and snow. Begin the slowing-down process long
before anticipating a stop at an intersection or turn. Brake only when traveling in a straight line.
• Stay far behind the vehicle ahead so you will not need to come to a sudden stop, which can cause skidding.
BEYOND THE BASICS
Drowsy driving
Staying alert means
focusing on the road
and not driving when
fatigued. Review signs
of drowsy driving, such
as difculty focusing,
frequent blinking, or
drifting from your lane.
Remind your teen to
take a break after driving
for 2 hours, or after
100 miles. Teens should
avoid driving at times
they would normally
be sleeping.
38
BEYOND THE BASICSBEYOND THE BASICS
Sharing the road with trucks
When driving on the highway, you are at a serious disadvantage if involved in a crash with a larger
vehicle. In crashes involving large trucks, the occupants of a car – usually the driver – sustain 78 percent
of fatalities.
In order to keep you and your teen safe on the road, you should be extra cautious when driving around
large trucks and buses. Sharing the road with larger vehicles can be dangerous if you are not aware of
their limitations. Here are a few tips to help you drive safer to prevent a crash and minimize injuries and
fatalities if one does occur.
Cutting in front can cut your life short
If you cut in front of another vehicle, you may create an emergency-braking situation for the vehicles
around you, especially in heavy trafc. Trucks and buses take much longer to stop in comparison to cars.
When passing, look for the front of the truck in your rearview mirror before pulling in front, and avoid
braking situations.
Watch your blind spots – the “no-zones”
Large trucks have blind spots, or “no-zones,” around the front, back, and sides of the vehicle. These
“no-zones” make it difcult for the driver to see. Avoid being caught in a truck’s “no-zone”. If you can’t
see the truck driver in the truck’s mirror, the truck driver can’t see you.
Avoid squeeze play
Be careful of trucks making wide right turns. If you try to get in between the truck and the curb, you’ll be
caught in a “squeeze” crash. Truck drivers sometimes need to swing widely to the left in order to safely
negotiate a right turn. They can’t see cars directly behind or beside them. Cutting in between the truck
and the curb increases the possibility of a crash. So pay attention to truck signals, and give them lots of
room to maneuver.
Work zones
Work zones can be very dangerous, especially when traveling on the highway. It’s important to be alert
and prepared to slow down or stop. Slowing down and allowing others to merge will ensure a safe
passage through work zones. Here are a few tips on work zone safety:
• Stay alert: Work zones are busy places where construction vehicles and workers are always moving. Be
alert, and stay on the safe path that is designated throughout the work zone.
• Take your cues from trucks: Work zones often pop up suddenly. If you are not paying attention to the
signs, you could nd yourself in a serious accident. Since trucks have a height advantage and can see
ahead of trafc, their brake light activity can provide a good signal of a slow-down or work zone ahead.
Truck drivers know the stopping limitations of their trucks and pay close attention to trafc.
• Merge gently: Aggressive drivers can be extremely dangerous while driving in work zones. Work
zones require time and courtesy. For a smooth passage through work zones, allow others to merge in
front of you. Be especially considerate to trucks; they require more space to merge and are the least
maneuverable vehicles on the road.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Speed is everything
When driving in highly
trafcked areas, like
urban and town centers,
as well as arterial roads,
your speed can be a
matter of life and death
for you, fellow motorists,
cyclists, and pedestrians.
Follow speed limits and
respect all road users.
39
NOTESNOTES
Sharing the road with bicyclists
and pedestrians
• Scan the street for wheels and feet: Be especially careful to look for people walking and biking
before turning at intersections and driveways.
• Yield to pedestrians: Pay attention to the pedestrian signal and give people walking the right-of-way.
• Double threat: Never pass another vehicle that has stopped or is slowing down for a pedestrian.
Remember, you might not be able to see the pedestrian when you approach a stopped vehicle, so
be aware.
• Watch for bikes: People riding bicycles have the right to be on the road (and are often prohibited
from riding on sidewalks), so respect their right to be there.
• Passing safely: Stay at least 3 feet away from bicyclists (and other vulnerable road users, such as
garbage collectors, police ofcers, and tow truck operators) when passing, and don’t return to the
right until well clear of the person. If there isn’t enough room to safely pass in the same lane, you
must use another lane or wait for a safe opportunity to pass. Do not pass a person on a bike and then
immediately turn right.
• Avoid the “right hook”: Look for and yield to people biking on the right when turning right.
• Avoid the “left cross”: Look for and yield to people walking across the street and yield to oncoming
people on bikes when turning left.
• Visibility: Look for bicyclists at night and watch for their reectors or lights.
• Check blind spots: Watch for bicyclists coming from behind, especially before turning right.
• Doors are dangerous: Before opening your car door, look in your mirror and physically turn your body
to make sure no bicyclists are coming. Use the “Dutch reach” method, which entails using your far
hand to open the car door, causing you to swivel and look towards the rear of the vehicle to check for
bikes and trafc.
Lowering speeds can save lives
Source: Impact Speed and a Pedestrian’s Risk of Severe Injury or Death. Brian Tefft, AAA Foundation
for Trafc Safety, 2011
BEYOND THE BASICS
Respect for all
road users
Put yourself in the shoes of
a person walking or biking.
We are all trying to safely
get to our destination.
Respect and kindness
towards other road users
can go a long way.
40
NOTESNOTESBEYOND THE BASICS
41
NOTES
NOTES
THIS GUY’S ABOUT TO
SLAM ON HIS BRAKES.
WE’RE READY.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
4
STANDARD
Lane Departure Alert
with Steering Assist
5
STANDARD
Pre-Collision System
1
with Pedestrian Detection
2
STANDARD
Automatic High Beams
3
STANDARD
Redefining what it means to feel safe.
Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary. Drivers are responsible for their own safe driving. Always pay attention to your surroundings and drive safely. Depending on the
conditions of roads, weather and the vehicle, the system(s) may not work as intended. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 1. The TSS Pre-Collision System is designed to help
avoid or reduce the crash speed and damage in certain frontal collisions only. It is not a substitute for safe and attentive driving. System eectiveness is dependent on road, weather and vehicle
conditions. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 2. The Pedestrian Detection system is designed to detect a pedestrian ahead of the vehicle, determine if impact is imminent
and help reduce impact speed. It is not a substitute for safe and attentive driving. System eectiveness depends on many factors, such as speed, size and position of pedestrians, and weather,
light and road conditions. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 3. Automatic High Beams operate at speeds above 25 mph. Factors such as a dirty windshield, weather, lighting
and terrain limit eectiveness, requiring the driver to manually operate the high beams. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 4. Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is designed
to assist the driver and is not a substitute for safe and attentive driving practices. System eectiveness is dependent on road, weather and trac conditions. See Owner’s Manual for additional
limitations and details. 5. Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist is designed to read lane markers under certain conditions. It provides a visual and audible alert, and slight steering force when
lane departure is detected. It is not a collision-avoidance system or a substitute for safe and attentive driving. Eectiveness is dependent on road, weather and vehicle conditions. See Owner’s
Manual for additional limitations and details. ©2017 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Before they
drive off into
adulthood.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
State Farm Indemnity Company
Bloomington, IL
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Richardson, TX
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
®
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®
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