Dr. Charles E. McDaniel

285 Wildwood Lane Boone, North Carolina 28607 828-264-3190

Historically driver education programs have been developed around 30 hours of classroom and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction taught by school-based or commercial driver education teachers. When I, and some of you, learned to drive, these programs were not available so we were taught by our parents, older adults, and / or other family members. Today there are many communities where no driver education program is offered by the local school system or a commercial driving school. Unfortunately, in some of the communities where a formal driving education program is offered, the driver education program and the driving instructors are both inadequate and poorly trained as a result of lax or reduced standards adopted by the state. Fortunately, there are some school-based and/or commercial driving schools that offer quality instruction taught by competent driver education instructors.

In the last several years parent-taught driver education has emerged to fill the void where no formal driver education program was available. Some of these parent-taught programs fall into the same “poor” category as described above. I have examined some of the parent-taught driver education programs. One of the best of these programs is the National Driver Training Institute “Help For the Teenager Who Wants to Drive” program.

The NDTI Program meets the content standards established by ADTSEA and various State Agencies. The NDTI Program far exceeds the number of hours spent in the traditional 30 hours of classroom and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction program. The NDTI Program provides a variety of current driver education videos for the students to watch. The NDTI Program also provides a classroom and a behind-the-wheel evaluation program that is more detailed than evaluations normally performed by driver education teachers in school based or commercial driving school programs. The turn around time on test and/or on-road evaluations is consistently much less with a greater percent of the test/evaluations reaching the parents. The NDTI Program has also reached back in time to the 1960’s and 1970’s for a resurrection of the “correlated and intergraded” organization of the driver education classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.

In the 1960’s the Brevard County, Florida four-phase driver education program was developed around the “correlated and intergraded” format where students received short periods of classroom instruction (3-5 days) followed by simulation, range, and/or behind-the-wheel instruction for several days (5-10 days) etc., until each student had received 30 hours of classroom and 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training or its equivalent.

During this period of time there were several major research studies that utilized the “correlated and intergraded” approach to program organization:

The National Driver Education Study (DeKalb County, Ga) – Dr. Jack Weaver

Driving Range Study (Brevard County, Florida School ) – Dr. Richard Bishop

Four Phase Driver Education Study (Brevard County, Florida schools) – Dr. Tom Seals

Renton, Washington Model Driver Education Study (Renton, Washington) – Dr. Charles E. McDaniel

San Diego, Madison High School Model Drivers Education Study (San Diego, California) – Dr. Tom Seals and Dr. Charles E. McDaniel.

The NDTI “Help For the Teenager Who Wants to Drive” utilizes the “correlated and intergraded” organizational approach. Their approach spreads the driving over a longer period of time and is able to relate the classroom information more closely to the behind-the-wheel instruction. Also the times spent in behind-the-wheel instruction is a documented minimum 50 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. Current GDL programs, which provide for supervision driving instruction after successful completion of a high school based or a commercial driver education program, generally have very little or no required structure for the GDL experience. The NDTI Program provides both documented times and structure. Until steps are taken to build in required structure and documented time standards, serious consideration should be given to allowing quality parent taught driver education programs like the NDTI to be approved.

Sincerely,

Dr. Charles McDaniel

You’ve heard about airbags hurting people and may be thinking about getting on/off switches for the airbags in your car. The federal government now has procedures allowing the very few people who may be at risk of serious airbag injury to get switches, but these aren’t appropriate for most people. Are you possibly at risk of airbag injury? Is someone in your family? It isn’t your size, gender, or age that determines risk. It’s your position in relation to an airbag. Anyone who’s very close to, or on top of, an airbag as it begins to inflate can be injured or killed. Most people who have been harmed by airbags weren’t using safety belts or child restraints, and braking before impact caused them to move close to their airbags before inflation.

Once you understand the risks, weigh them against the benefits of airbags, which are important supplements to safety belts. Airbags and belts work together as a system, and one without the other isn’t as effective. Together, they double the protection against head injury that’s afforded by belts alone. The lives saved by airbags far outnumber the deaths they’ve caused. So are you one of the few who’s possibly at risk? Is your family? Probably not, but check the following guidelines to tell for sure.

On the Driver Side: To avoid serious airbag injury risk, a driver of any size or age should always buckle up and sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel. The belted drivers potentially at risk are the very few who are positioned so the center of the chest is closer than 10 inches to the center of the steering wheel.

If you sit closer, try other options before seeking an airbag on/off switch. Why? Because without airbags, even belted drivers move forward in serious frontal crashes, and their faces often hit the steering wheel. Try a new seating position. Some drivers who lean forward need only sit back.

Only if it isn’t possible to get back and away from the steering wheel should you consider an airbag on/off switch — for example, if you’ve tried but cannot comfortably drive while sitting back at least 10 inches. If you’re a woman late in pregnancy who needs to drive and cannot get your abdomen away from the steering wheel, you may wish to seek permission for an on/off switch based on medical need.

But remember that sitting close presents its own risks. Without an airbag, your face is likely to hit the steering wheel in a serious frontal crash.

Most 1998 and later cars have redesigned airbags with less powerful inflators that reduce serious injury risk. In these cars, there’s probably no need to get an on/off switch for your airbag even if you cannot get 10 inches from the steering wheel. Still, it’s best to sit back and away from an airbag.

On the Passenger Side: There’s no significant airbag injury risk to properly belted adults sitting back in the seat. The risk on the passenger side is mostly to infants and children who are unrestrained or unbelted — and the remedy is usually as simple as properly restraining kids in a back seat. Sitting in back always was safer, even before airbags, and now it’s more important because it keeps kids away from inflating airbags.

Never put a rear-facing restraint in front with a passenger airbag. The baby’s head would be too close to the airbag. Instead, secure the infant restraint to the center back seat.

Should you ever consider an on/off switch for a passenger airbag? A switch so you can occasionally put a baby up front might seem like a good idea, but if you’re in a hurry it’s easy to forget about the switch. Besides, it’s always safer to ride in back. So there’s only a rare need for an on/off switch — for example, when an infant with medical problems requires constant observation and the driver is the only other person in the vehicle. Then there might be no choice except to put the baby up front, and a passenger airbag would present a risk. Of course, paying constant attention to a baby distracts from driving and involves its own risks.

What if you transport too many infants or small children to put them all in a back seat? It’s okay for an older child to ride up front, even with a passenger airbag, if the seat is all the way back and the child is secured in a lap/shoulder belt and sitting back in the seat. Sitting back is important because leaning forward to, for example, fiddle with radio dials can put a child’s head close to the airbag. If you routinely transport too many kids to put them all in the back and worry about keeping the child up front sitting back and away from the passenger airbag, you may wish to get an on/off switch. If you do get one, remember to use it correctly. Remember to turn off the airbag when an infant or child must ride in front.

Making the Decision: Don’t discount airbag risks. Don’t discount the benefits of airbags, either. If you’re one of the very few for whom airbags may pose a risk, then an on/off switch may be appropriate. But remember how few people really need on/off switches and how easily they can be misused. And remember this: If you turn off your airbag, you’d be forgoing important protection in the event of a serious frontal crash. When you know the facts, it becomes clear that leaving airbags intact is almost always best.

We are excited about our brand new online video delivery system implemented early February 2006. All customers now have access to well over 30 high content, high quality videos. These videos are available only online and can be accessed as many times as you want 24 hours a day. Take a test drive today. You’ll also have access to these videos for many years to come. Here are a few examples of what we now offer as part of our video program. Driving Safely, Reason on the Road, Cambridge Car Buying System, Missing Persons, Vehicle Safety, Todd’s Story, Staying Alive, Road Rage- Havoc on the Highway, Practicing Basic Control Tasks Behind the Wheel, How your Car Works, High Speed Impact- Hidden Toll, Dying to Get There, DUI: Unlicensed to Kill, DWI- The Dangerous Road, Driving in Bad Weather, Drinking and Driving- A Crash Course, Defensive Driving Tactics, Basic Driving Tactics, Basic Car Care, Advanced Driving Tactics, Cage the Rage, Love to Accelerate, One Second in Time, Backstage Pass, Understanding Car Crashes, and many more…

Preparing Your Car for All-Terrain Summer Road Trips

Faced with the domestic and international issues currently in the news, many Americans are replacing tropical and international vacations this summer with good, old-fashioned trips to closer-to-home destinations.

Road trips to the beach, mountains, desert or popular American cities may present opportunities to see the country, catch up on the radio’s top tunes or bond with family or friends. But they can also be especially straining on vehicles that are not properly prepared for such trips. Car trouble due to neglected preventive maintenance can add unexpected expense to and deduct valuable time from vacations, often bringing many getaways to an abrupt and undesirable end.

A long, sustained drive, coupled with the severe environmental conditions of popular summertime destinations, can be a recipe for disaster if a car is not checked out in advance. Simple preventive measures, such as having the oil changed, properly inflating the tires and checking the cooling system, can prevent unnecessary breakdowns that can ruin a vacation. And, because well-maintained vehicles are more fuel-efficient, basic pre-trip checks can also keep vacation expenses down.

Both the destination and the route taken to reach it should govern what maintenance checks are most important to perform on the vehicle. Different types of climates and road conditions affect a vehicle’s operation in particular ways. So, depending on if it’s a drive to the beach, mountains, desert or a major city, there are specific things motorists should do to condition their cars.

Beach Getaway

Level terrain and warm temperatures in most coastal areas provide a smooth, low-stress, fuel-efficient cruise to the shoreline. However, salty sea air and sun-drenched roads require that some special attention be paid to the vehicle:

Wash and wax the vehicle with a protective product to guard the finish, which can fade and rust from the sun and salty air.
Similarly, thoroughly clean the underside of the hood and what lies beneath. Chances are, there’s still salt and grime build-up leftover from winter, and added beach salt may damage electrical connections and fuel and brake lines underneath.
Clean the car’s interior with a UV protectant to shield vinyl and plastic surfaces from the sun’s harsh rays.
Check the tires for proper inflation pressure, as under-inflated tires consume more energy, and be sure to coat them with a UV-blocking gloss.

Mountain Motoring

Steep, narrow, winding roads, high altitudes and unpaved surfaces make mountain driving a challenge and can put a vehicle through rigors it is unaccustomed to. To prepare for these rough conditions:

Check the vehicle’s brakes and replace worn pads to prevent brake fade when descending steep hills.
Have the engine, transmission and final drive checked according to the vehicle owner’s manual to lessen the strain mountain driving will put on them. If fluid service is required, consider using synthetic fluids to protect the engine under variable weather conditions and produce better fuel economy.
Inspect the wiper blades and replace them if necessary, as mountain climates are subject to sudden and severe rainfall.
Check the battery for corrosion and remaining charge, as high engine temperatures caused by climbing steep terrain with heavy loads can wear a battery down.

Desert Driving

Long drives through the desert’s hot, dry climate, sandy roads and intense sun can put extreme strain on any vehicle. To avoid getting stuck miles from the nearest service station:

Prevent the leading cause of on-road engine-related breakdowns — cooling system failure — by having the system flushed and refilled with fresh coolant before heading to the desert. Used coolant loses many of its protective properties and may cause the car to overheat.
Visually inspect the serpentine belt and have it replaced if it shows significant cracks. High hood temperatures and long drives can cause weak belts to fail, which can prevent the car from operating.
Have the HVAC system’s performance tested. Driving through the desert without air conditioning or ventilation could be extremely uncomfortable, or even dangerous, especially if there are small children or elderly passengers on-board.
Inspect the tire tread wear and maintain proper air pressure according to the vehicle’s owner’s manual, as extreme heat can damage both old, worn tires and brand-new ones.

Urban Excursion

Heavy traffic, short trips and stop-and-go driving can make visiting a popular city a daunting task not only for the driver, but for the vehicle as well. To prevent stalls in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a one-way street:

Have the engine oil changed, using synthetic oil for added protection against the stress created by long periods of idling in city traffic and short trips.
Check the car’s air filters when you have the oil changed and replace them if clogged. A dirty air filter may cause the car to idle or run roughly.
Have a fuel system treatment performed to clean intake valve and combustion chamber deposits, which can form faster under stop-and-go driving conditions. Doing so will help to eliminate rough idle, reduce emissions and restore maximum engine power and fuel economy.
Inspect the suspension system and replace the shocks if worn to ensure a smooth ride through uneven, pot-holed city streets.

Not Going Anywhere?

For those motorists whose summer plans may not include a driving vacation, the stress day-to-day warm-weather activities, such as driving the kids to and from games, practices and activities, have on a car. Take the time to perform basic maintenance checks on your vehicles.

Even if you’re not planning any out-of-town trips, summer is much more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about breakdowns or major vehicle repairs. And performing basic maintenance checks on your car doesn’t need to be an expensive, time-consuming or daunting experience. Virtually all the work can be turned over to a professional.

Automatic Transmission

Even if your student will eventually be driving a standard shift, if possible, start with an automatic the first few times you drive. A standard shift requires timed coordination of both feet along with proper gear placement. Many new drivers have great difficulty performing these tasks properly. They often give the gearshift lever and clutch pedal too much attention, to the exclusion of other events in the traffic environment. Only after competency and confidence is gained in an automatic should you switch to the standard shift.

Once the engine has warmed, depress the brake pedal and place the transmission into drive. Release the emergency brake. You are now ready to move forward. For most automatic transmissions, the vehicle will begin to move forward once you take your foot off the brake. Have your new driver move forward a few feet and stop. Do this a few times to give your student the feel of braking. You should also demonstrate the effect of engaging the emergency brake. Have the student pull forward and engage the brake. Here is a good place to work on your system of communication. Demonstrate to the student what you mean by “slow” versus “STOP!” or “smooth” or “easy.”

Standard Transmission

Depress the clutch pedal and place the gear in first. The gearshift knob will usually have a diagram of the shift pattern. Once you are certain you are in the proper gear, depress the brake and release the emergency brake. Slowly release the clutch pedal, while at the same time slowly depressing the accelerator. The vehicle will begin to move forward.