Driving & Driving Test Tips: safer, everyday driver, professional type

Question
My mom says I scare her when I'm driving sometimes.  What's the best way for
me to become a better/safer driver?  I'd like to know if there are some kind of
professional type driving courses I could take, and where would I check these
out?

Answer
Sometimes kids just scare their parents no matter what.  You mom may be unused to riding with anyone else?  Also, you could be doing things that she might consider scary.

Do you wait longer than she does to brake for a stop or turn?  Do you like to push the speed limit a little?  Do you tailgate or cut in on people?  The best way to not scare someone is to drive safe and courteous, leaving plenty of room and anticipating problems.

Depending on your age, this will come with experience.

As to schools, most "driving schools" are designed to teach people just enough to pass a driving test, and that is pretty poor training in most of the US.

Here is a web site where you can start a search:

http://www.aboutdrivingschools.com/

you might also buy and read some books about driving.

Google driving skils books or other similar things.

race driving schools like Skip Barber offer one and two day or longer schools, not just for the race driver, but for the everyday driver.  Where you get to practice emergency skills and more in a safe environment.   Check it out at:

http://www.skipbarber.com/driving_school/driving_school.aspx

These are not cheap, sometimes costing hundreds of dollars, but they can be well worth it.  My sons both went through something like this, and they both thank me all the time for letting them learn more than just how to stay on the road!

Check your local phone books for driving schools, and you may find something similar.  Call your area colleges.  Sometimes they offer expanded driving skills courses that go beyond high school type courses.  These can be affordable and fun.

But really, one of the best things any driver can do is dedicate themselves to driving safer.  This means avoiding the urge to go fast, cut corners, be mean or rude.  Concentrate on being smooth with your actions.  

Jackie Stewart, a world champion racing driver, consultant and author, likes to talk about a good driver on the highway as being like a limosine driver.  Where you attempt to get the car down the road efficiently, but without jostling your passengers or even making them aware that you have made the car stop and go!  Use the brake and gas gently, not necessarily going slow, but avoiding being jerky.  This also helps your car and brakes last longer and you will get better gas mileage.  

Learn to look ahead and anticipate trouble and traffic flow.  Start slowing down in advance for stops and traffic slow-ups.   Anticipate problems and flow.  If you are smooth and safe, your mom will calm down and appreciate your driving more, I am sure.

One last thing, the BEST race drivers are the ones that look the slowest.  Because they are SMOOTH.  Gentle motions on the steering wheel and brakes and gas.  At any racing school, the word you will hear instructors say the most is be SMOOTH.  And it works on the street.  Practice this and you AND your passengers will be more comfortable.

I make a game out of making each trip an exercise in driving the best that I can.  Being courteous, letting cars by if they are going faster, going with the flow for the most part, and anticipating problems.  This doesn't mean holding up traffic, but driving so that you don't irritate other drivers (never know when someone you irritate might have a gun or be on drugs?).  I find that if I drive this way, I will usually get to a distant point as soon or sooner than cars I see fly by me cutting people off and driving like jerks.  Plus I arrive relaxed and with lower blood pressure.  Driving right can be fun, and is the safe way to go from point A to B quickly.

Don