Do’s & Don’ts

DO

DON’T

• Take students out on roads that you feel comfortable.

• Do not pressure students to dangerous roads or situations that you think will be too challenging.

• Have students follow the rules of the road.
• Have students use the keys of the Smith System.

• Do not allow the students to perform illegal maneuvers. Use common sense.

• Have the students use hand over hand steering.

• Do not allow the students to use hand under hand
• Do not allow the students slide the wheel to turn
• Do not allow the students to use the push pull method
• Do not allow the students to use the truck driver method

• Have the students practice and use hand over hand on the way back, after they make the turn. This is very important to have the students learn on the first lesson & reinforce on the second lesson as well as the last two.

• Do not Allow the students to slide the wheel back unless they can demonstrate the hand over hand after they make the turn. This is important to remind the students to practice the correct procedure so they can correctly perform the turn maneuver on the license test.

• Make the students "exaggerate" a little bit, when they are making left turns. Have the students go out into the intersection and then make their turn.

• Do not let the students short cut their left turns.
• Do not let the students drive over or touch the center line.
• Do not let the students cut the imaginary center line

• Have the students finish their left turns in the closest lane. Finishing in the far lane is illegal.

• Do not allow the students to cheat and finish in the far lane when making a left turn; unless it is a double turning lane.

• Have the students finish their right turns in the right lane. Finishing in the far lane is illegal.

• Do not allow the students to cheat and finish in the far lane when making a right turn; unless it is a double turning lane.

• Have the students take their time on their turns, when they approach the intersection.
• Brake before you turn. ( Brake going into the turn )
• Accelerate after the turn. ( Gas coming out of the turn )

• Same tip applies when going into sharp curves !

• Do not allow the students to take the turns too quickly or abruptly.
• Do not allow the students to give it gas going into the turn.
• Do not allow the students to brake during or after the turn. ( Bad for the brakes, shocks, struts & alignment !!! )

• Have the students use their turn signals when they make lane changes and turns.

• Do not allow the students to forget their signal.

• Have the students use their signals when they are turning into parking stalls.

• Do not allow the students to forget their signal when they are turning into a parking stall.

• Have the students use their signals when they are turning into a driveway.

• Do not allow the students to forget their signal when they are turning into a driveway.

• Have the students use their signals when they are backing into parking stalls.

• Do not allow the students to forget their signal when they are backing into a parking stall.

• Have the students use their signals when they are backing into or out of a driveway.

• Do not allow the students to forget their signal when they are backing into or out of a driveway.

• Have the students use their signals when they are backing around a corner.

• Do not allow the students to forget their signal when they are backing around a corner.

• Make lane changes ahead of time.
• Make lane changes with authority.

• Do not make lane changes at the last minute.
• Do not make lane changes if the student is not capable or comfortable.
• Do not make lane changes 100 feet before, during or after intersections.

• Have the students keep extra large gaps between their car & the car in front.

• Do not let the students follow too closely.
• Do not let the students step on the gas and then brake and then the gas and then the brake…

Other tips for instructors

DO

DON’T

• Check your fluid levels regularly.

• Do not wait until the car breaks down to figure out that the fluids were too low.

• Take your car in for oil changes every 3000 miles.
• Contact the office if you need to know where to take the car for oil changes or maintenance.

• Do not go past 3000 miles.
• Do not leave the oil change place if they forget to give you a sticker that shows when the car is due for the next oil change.

• Report all strange car noises to the office.

• Do not ride around with a car that has problems.

• Make sure that your car has an updated copy of registration & insurance in your glove compartment.

• Do not drive around without proper registration & insurance.

• Make sure that the car has an updated safety lane sticker and triangle sticker on the vehicle.

• Do not drive around without an updated safety lane sticker or triangle sticker; contact the office immediately to find out where to take the vehicle for an updated sticker !

• Drive with your headlights on at all times

• Do not forget the lights; you will be safer.

• Tap the parking brake with your hand to simulate applying the brake.

• Do not have the students apply the parking brake; they may forget to take it off.

• Keep the sign on your car whenever possible.

• Do not take the sign off the roof unless you think someone will steal the sign.

• Apply the top sign on the roof only when the top of the car is dry

• Do not put the sign on the top of the roof if the roof is wet or icy.

• Show up at the students house on time or early.
• Call the student if you will not be arriving at the scheduled pick up time.
• Tell the student that you are picking up another student first, running late, finishing other skills ect...

• Do not show up late.
• Do not forget to call the student ahead of time.
• Do not keep the students or parents in suspense when you will arrive.

• Introduce yourself and the other students in the car, when you pick up a new student.

• Do not have the students introduce themselves to you or the other people in the car.

• Re-introduce yourself and the other students in the car, when you pick up a student that you recognize or have driven with already.

• Do not have the students re-introduce themselves to the you or the other people in the car.

• Explain the lesson plan, driving situations, and game plan to the students as soon as they get in the car.
• Let the students know when they will drive, who they will be driving with, and when they will arrive home.

• Do not keep the students in suspense.
• Do not forget to tell the students the game plan.
• Do not forget to tell the students when they will arrive home.

• Give the students an opportunity for a break.
• Allow the students an opportunity to choose where they would like to take a break.
• Take breaks at the driving school classrooms, large gas stations, convenience stores, fast food places,

• Allow the students opportunities to take lots of bathroom breaks.

• Do not make the students go anywhere where they feel uncomfortable.
• Do not stop at your house.
• Do not take breaks at malls, strip malls, shopping centers, grocery stores, department stores ect…

Instructors, remember that people are always watching you when you are in the driver’s education vehicles with your students or by yourself. Please set a good example when you are in the car.

Please drive safely and correctly.