You’ve just turned 16, and you have your permit in hand. You’re itching to get behind the wheel. Before you do anything else, you should consider taking a driving school course offered by most high schools. In this article, I'm going to outline the benefits of taking driving school courses and tell you what's covered in the coursework.

Driving offers freedom and independence that many young people crave. However, like most life skills, it can be difficult to learn from books alone or from trial and error on the road with other drivers around. That’s where driving school comes in.

Most states require teens to take behind-the-wheel lessons before they can get their driver’s licenses. The minimum amount of time behind the wheel is usually set by the state. If a teen wishes to qualify for a restricted or full driver’s license, he or she must take a minimum number of lessons and pass a driving test. It makes sense, then, for young people who are about to do so to enroll in driving school.

The first question many parents ask is how long does it last? The answer will depend on the high school but most classes are around two hours long and meet twice a week for six weeks.

When choosing a driving school, make sure to find one that is certified by your state. If you are in California, for example, you can check out this page for information on private and public schools that offer driver's education. The class should cover the following topics:

Familiarizing yourself with the car (including checking safety features like seatbelts and airbags)

Three point turns (making three-point turns is a good way to get comfortable handling a car)

Accelerating and applying brakes correctly

Turning corners smoothly (taking gentle curves)

Paying attention to other drivers and pedestrians on the road very important.

Taking the Right Lessons

In addition to learning the rules of the road, students who take driving school courses also learn about defensive driving. Defensive driving is a set of skills that everyone should have, whether or not they have licenses. Using these skills could mean the difference between getting in an accident and avoiding them.