Drivers Education in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania driver’s education is designed while keeping in mind your safety as well as that of the others on the road. Keeping in mind the heavy social cost unsafe driving entails, it is obvious that the state would want to take steps that ensure the drivers’ safety. For this purpose Pennsylvania driver’s education programs are offered in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. These are accessible at community colleges, vocational technical schools and private driver training schools.

The program comprises of two parts. The first one is a thirty hours of classroom instruction. The second one is behind-the-wheel training of six hours. Students are taught about the traffic rules and regulations that need to be followed in the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to imparting standard driving skills, this program serves to develop perceptual skills. Special focus is given on the utilization of modern vehicle technologies like air bags, antilock braking system, global positioning system and electronic stabilization control.

Appropriate driving response to reduced visibility, vehicle malfunction and emotional stimuli can greatly contribute to risk reduction. The course addresses some unique situations that can arise while driving. For example, it describes ways to deal with aggressive drivers by adopting fitting responses like avoidance of eye contact, emotional detachment and speed and lane adjustments.

This program is not mandatory for drivers in the state of Pennsylvania. They only need to fulfill the requirement of fifty hours of supervised practice behind the wheel. If you take this program the hours will count towards that obligation. Also you will be able to upgrade your junior license to an unrestricted license before you turn eighteen. To do so, you need to affix your completion certificate with the Application for Change from a Junior License to a Regular Noncommercial License. You may also benefit from reduced car insurance rates; however this will depend on your insurance company.

As always there are other alternatives to attending a Pennsylvania driver’s education program. These are certainly less attractive. Rules of the road need to be learned no matter through which source. So if you are absolutely opposed to this program, you can make use of Pennsylvania’s driver’s manual. PennDOT also publishes a Crossroads page for teenagers, which provides invaluable information on safe driving.