Behind-the-Wheel Training

One of the biggest problems with driver education today is that most people are taught how to pass a driving test—not how to drive. Earning a driver’s license simply demonstrates that you have met the minimum requirements to legally operate a vehicle. It does not mean you are fully prepared for everything you will encounter on the road.

The reality is that most drivers, regardless of age or experience, never come close to exploring the true capabilities of the vehicle they drive every day. In fact, many people rarely use more than a fraction of their vehicle’s potential. The first time they experience emergency braking, a skid, or an evasive maneuver is often during an actual emergency—when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

That’s why behind-the-wheel training is so important.

Whether you’re a new driver or have been driving for decades, there is always something to learn. Confidence comes from experience, and experience should be gained in a safe, controlled environment—not during a real emergency on a busy highway.

One of the simplest ways to build confidence is to find a large, empty parking lot and practice basic vehicle control. Learning how your vehicle accelerates, brakes, steers, and responds during emergency maneuvers is invaluable. If conditions allow, practicing in the rain (or snow) can be even more educational because lower traction allows you to safely experience how a vehicle behaves when grip is reduced, all at relatively low speeds.

Many experienced drivers will tell you a similar story: “When I got my license, my dad took me to an empty parking lot and made me practice skids and emergency stops.” While it may not have seemed exciting at the time, those lessons often became some of the most valuable training they ever received.

Of course, there is one important challenge. Most parents—and many experienced drivers—were never taught these skills themselves. Do you know exactly how ABS feels when it activates? Could you confidently recover from a skid? Do you understand concepts like understeer, oversteer, threshold braking, or shuffle steering? If not, you’re certainly not alone. Most of us were never truly taught to drive. We were simply taught to pass a test.

ABS/Panic Braking Exercise

How quickly can your vehicle stop during a panic situation? What does ABS feel like when it activates? Can you steer while braking as hard as possible?

These are questions every driver should be able to answer before they’re forced to answer them in a real emergency.

In a large, open area, accelerate to approximately 30 mph. Begin by making several normal stops to establish a baseline stopping distance. Then repeat the exercise, applying maximum brake pressure while keeping your eyes focused where you want the vehicle to go—not on the object you’re trying to avoid.

Once you’re comfortable stopping in a straight line, practice making gentle steering inputs while maintaining maximum braking. This reinforces one of the greatest advantages of ABS: the ability to brake hard and continue steering around an obstacle.

If your vehicle does not have ABS, practice threshold braking instead, applying maximum brake pressure without locking the tires.

Skid Control Exercise

How does your vehicle feel when it loses traction? How does it respond when the front tires slide? What happens if the rear of the vehicle begins to skid?

The next time conditions safely permit, find a large, empty parking lot after rain or snowfall. Reduced traction allows drivers to experience loss of grip at very low speeds while learning how to react calmly and correctly.

Remember that your eyes are your most important tool. Always look where you want the vehicle to go—not at what you’re trying to avoid.

If the vehicle enters a complete spin, remember Jeff’s rule:

“In a spin, both feet in.”

Apply the brake (and clutch, if driving a manual transmission) to bring the vehicle safely to a stop before attempting to continue.

The goal of these exercises is not to become a race car driver. The goal is to become a more capable, more confident, and ultimately safer driver. The more you understand how your vehicle behaves before an emergency occurs, the better prepared you’ll be when one does.

Advanced Driver Training

If you have the opportunity, one of the best investments you can make in yourself—or in a young driver—is professional behind-the-wheel instruction.

Many people hear the words “high-performance driving school” or “racing school” and immediately think they’re designed to teach people how to drive faster. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The purpose of these schools is not to teach speed. Their purpose is to teach awareness, proper technique, vehicle dynamics, and how to safely control a vehicle as it approaches its limits. On a racetrack, drivers operate near those limits throughout the day. On public roads, those same skills become critical during emergency braking, collision avoidance, or loss-of-control situations.

Even introductory performance driving programs or go-kart schools can provide valuable education while building confidence and improving car control in a safe environment.

Schools recommended by Driver’s Edge include:

• Radford Racing School, Chandler, Arizona
• Mid-Ohio School, Lexington, Ohio
• BMW Performance Driving Center, Thermal, California
• Skip Barber Racing School (locations across the U.S.)

Each of these organizations offers experienced instructors and proven training methods. Regardless of your age or driving experience, attending one of these programs can be one of the best investments you ever make as a driver.