Musings: Don't stop the teaching if teen passes road test

To pass a New York State road test, a teenager must execute a three-point K-turn, other turns and parallel park. Parents may get a false sense of security in their child’s driving ability if they pass. New drivers need to learn more.

With the changing weather and seasons, more driving experiences are necessary. A new driver needs to handle fog, rain, snow, and icy roads, including black ice, during day and night driving. Practice in a traffic circle on a busy day.

Know how to safely change lanes at higher speeds on parkways and use entrance and exit ramps.

Parkway signs use route numbers. Memorize the names of routes such as 105, 106, 25, etc. Learn how to use the Long Island Expressway service roads and experience the roar of a passing 18-wheeler. If living on the South Shore, take the teen to the North Shore to practice driving on hills in bad weather. Slow down at construction sites.

Repeatedly practice left turns at busy intersections. On residential streets, use caution near ice cream trucks. Know that if a ball rolls out in front of a car, a child might pop out to catch it.

Parents should teach defensive driving techniques such as being alert to flashing brake lights of cars in front of you and checking one’s blind spot. Explain the dangers of tailgating.

To keep inexperienced drivers from being distracted, for at least six months it’s a good idea for them to drive without friends in the car. Distractions seem to be constantly increasing. It’s a good idea to place cellphones on the back seat.

Never drive faster than the time it takes your reflexes to respond. To save a life, a new driver may have to respond in a split second. If tired, a driver needs more than a second. At 60 mph, a car is traveling at 88 feet per second. Give that some thought.

 — Carol Ludwig, Wantagh

The writer taught high school driver education for more than 20 years.