In the midst of holiday mayhem, we wanted to put up a quick post to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, Joyful Holiday Season, filled with people you love. And of course, because our business is Safe Driving, remind you to drive slow, put down the phone, and always have a designated driver. We are looking forward to sharing what promises to be a great 2011 with all of you!
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas.
Until Soon...
BD
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Permit Testing: Navigating the DMV on Test Day
It is no secret, the DMV is a disaster. This is not a Connecticut exclusive. I have yet to hear anyone from anywhere say "Man, I went to the DMV today. What a delight!" Now, imagine a world where you have to go to the DMV every single day (or at least, on the days they're open). Every day. DMV. That is our life!
There is no easy way to write a "how to guide" for permitting. Each DMV Branch has their own schedule for testing and their own method of handling the customers that come through the door. In some cases, the branch offices have different rules depending on the day of the week you come in. Make sure you call ahead to make sure that a.) the DMV is open and b.) that they are offering license tests
While we offer services to handle the permitting for you (COUGH shameless plug it is only $125 COUGH) you can definitely handle the permit testing on your own. The DMV provides This Guide to help make sure you have everything you need to schedule and take your test.
The Learner's Permit test consists of 3 parts:
1.) Proper Identification and Proof of Address
2.) Vision Test
3.) Knowledge Test
**This is written for US Citizens whose permanent residence is in Connecticut. If you are from another state or country, please call our office and we will direct you appropriately**
PROPER ID
When going for your permit, you will need to have 2 forms of identification. A US Passport or Birth Certificate satisfy one form. A Social Security Card or High School Transcript will satisfy the second. However, if you bring a US Passport AND a Birth Certificate, it will not satisfy both forms. Additionally, your Birth Certificate or Social Security card MUST be originals (no photo copies) and CANNOT be laminated. The DMV will turn you away if your ID is photo copied or laminated, it has to be an original.
You will also be required to show proof of address. This means 2 pieces of mail addressed to the applicant at the address that the applicant is going to have on their license. NO PO BOXES! The mail has to come to the physical address and it must be postmarked within 90 days of the day you go for the permit. Don't get mail? No problem! Call us and we'll send you to letters. (magazine subscriptions are fine as long as the bar code and post mark are on them).
VISION TEST
All applicants will have to pass a vision test. If you wear contacts or glasses, MAKE SURE YOU BRING THEM! If you fail the vision test, you will not be given a permit and will have to start from scratch.
KNOWLEDGE TEST
All applicants will take a 25 question knowledge test. This isn't an easy test anymore! In the past, the permit test was "What do you do at a stop sign?" The 25 questions they use now are a true test of your knowledge of safety and driving laws. Be sure to study! We have a practice test. Take it a few times, as the questions change every time. These questions are directly from the actual permit test and will definitely help you prepare.
We have a number of resources in our office to further help you prepare for all aspects of test day. Please call and tell us you need help! We'll be happy to provide it.
Until Soon...
BD
There is no easy way to write a "how to guide" for permitting. Each DMV Branch has their own schedule for testing and their own method of handling the customers that come through the door. In some cases, the branch offices have different rules depending on the day of the week you come in. Make sure you call ahead to make sure that a.) the DMV is open and b.) that they are offering license tests
While we offer services to handle the permitting for you (COUGH shameless plug it is only $125 COUGH) you can definitely handle the permit testing on your own. The DMV provides This Guide to help make sure you have everything you need to schedule and take your test.
The Learner's Permit test consists of 3 parts:
1.) Proper Identification and Proof of Address
2.) Vision Test
3.) Knowledge Test
**This is written for US Citizens whose permanent residence is in Connecticut. If you are from another state or country, please call our office and we will direct you appropriately**
PROPER ID
When going for your permit, you will need to have 2 forms of identification. A US Passport or Birth Certificate satisfy one form. A Social Security Card or High School Transcript will satisfy the second. However, if you bring a US Passport AND a Birth Certificate, it will not satisfy both forms. Additionally, your Birth Certificate or Social Security card MUST be originals (no photo copies) and CANNOT be laminated. The DMV will turn you away if your ID is photo copied or laminated, it has to be an original.
You will also be required to show proof of address. This means 2 pieces of mail addressed to the applicant at the address that the applicant is going to have on their license. NO PO BOXES! The mail has to come to the physical address and it must be postmarked within 90 days of the day you go for the permit. Don't get mail? No problem! Call us and we'll send you to letters. (magazine subscriptions are fine as long as the bar code and post mark are on them).
VISION TEST
All applicants will have to pass a vision test. If you wear contacts or glasses, MAKE SURE YOU BRING THEM! If you fail the vision test, you will not be given a permit and will have to start from scratch.
KNOWLEDGE TEST
All applicants will take a 25 question knowledge test. This isn't an easy test anymore! In the past, the permit test was "What do you do at a stop sign?" The 25 questions they use now are a true test of your knowledge of safety and driving laws. Be sure to study! We have a practice test. Take it a few times, as the questions change every time. These questions are directly from the actual permit test and will definitely help you prepare.
We have a number of resources in our office to further help you prepare for all aspects of test day. Please call and tell us you need help! We'll be happy to provide it.
Until Soon...
BD
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Tragedy in Griswold
To begin, our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire community of Griswold Connecticut, especially the friends and families of the teens whose lives ended to early. It is the mission of everyone in traffic safety to stop this exact thing from happening. When it does happen, we always have to pause and ask What Can We Do Better?
Here is what we know about the accident. 5 teenagers were in the 2007 Nissan Altima owned by a licensed 16 year old girl. After school, said 16 year old let her boyfriend, also aged 16 but with only a learner's permit, drive. The driver judged a corner wrong, lost control of the car and struck a tree head on. 4 of the 5 teens were killed instantly. The fifth passenger is in critical condition.
And now the finger pointing begins. It's the government's fault. We need more legislation. The irony of this call for government action is that the day before the accident, the DMV released this report on the success of the 2008 New Teen Driving Laws, claiming that the laws are responsible for the lowest teen fatality rate in years. So the laws we have are working.
Some say that it is the parent's fault, but how did this mother know that her daughter would allow her unlicensed boyfriend to drive? Her daughter had her license and thus had earned the right to drive. Then is it the school's fault? Should school administrators be responsible for enforcing the passenger restrictions in Teen Driving Laws? My friend Tim Hollister, who lost his son in a speed related traffic accident 4 years ago, suggests this isn't a bad idea in this Blog Post. I tend to agree with Tim. A high school principal or security supervisor at the exit of the high school parking lot will go along way in at least making teens think twice. Make it a part of the privilege of having your car at school. Want to park here? Follow the rules. Break the rules? Take the bus.
But then, if a student does sneak through with passengers, and does get in an accident, is the school liable? Every attorney in America just cringed.
What about the driving school? Were these student's not educated on the laws? Did they not know the risks? Truth be told, there are some really poor Driver's Ed operations in this state. But I will say this: I have never heard of a school messing up the laws. The importance of these laws and the safety they endorse is not lost on even the dumbest people in this business. So then more! More Driver's Ed! Gary Kneppler has been in this business for over 40 years and his opinion is often respected among his peers and media professionals. In this article run by the Connecticut Post, Mr. Kneppler says that more driver's ed is the answer! Legislate more driver's ed and the kids will be safer. I also tend to agree with Gary. Understand that in Europe, it costs close to $10,000 (USD equivalent) to educate a new teen driver before the government will even consider licensing. However, culturally in America, driving is considered a right. We have parents that complain that they have to pay for the $125 Safe Driving Course Requirement. The jump from $125 to $10,000 is more substantial than anyone is willing to swallow.
The thesis of this longer than I wanted it to be blog post is that there is not an answer to this question. No matter how many laws we write, no matter how great we may be at parenting, no matter how much effort a school administrator puts into enforcing rules, no matter how much driver's education a teen receives, there will always be accidents. Now is not the time to point fingers. Now is not the time to search for answers. Now is the time to recognize that four lives were lost far too soon, and countless others have been ruined, possibly forever. Give the people closest to these teens time to cope and remember their children and their friends properly. For those of us that are fortunate enough to spend this holiday season with all of those that are closest to us, be grateful for each other and the time that you have together.
With Condolences to the Community of Griswold, Until Soon,
BD
Here is what we know about the accident. 5 teenagers were in the 2007 Nissan Altima owned by a licensed 16 year old girl. After school, said 16 year old let her boyfriend, also aged 16 but with only a learner's permit, drive. The driver judged a corner wrong, lost control of the car and struck a tree head on. 4 of the 5 teens were killed instantly. The fifth passenger is in critical condition.
And now the finger pointing begins. It's the government's fault. We need more legislation. The irony of this call for government action is that the day before the accident, the DMV released this report on the success of the 2008 New Teen Driving Laws, claiming that the laws are responsible for the lowest teen fatality rate in years. So the laws we have are working.
Some say that it is the parent's fault, but how did this mother know that her daughter would allow her unlicensed boyfriend to drive? Her daughter had her license and thus had earned the right to drive. Then is it the school's fault? Should school administrators be responsible for enforcing the passenger restrictions in Teen Driving Laws? My friend Tim Hollister, who lost his son in a speed related traffic accident 4 years ago, suggests this isn't a bad idea in this Blog Post. I tend to agree with Tim. A high school principal or security supervisor at the exit of the high school parking lot will go along way in at least making teens think twice. Make it a part of the privilege of having your car at school. Want to park here? Follow the rules. Break the rules? Take the bus.
But then, if a student does sneak through with passengers, and does get in an accident, is the school liable? Every attorney in America just cringed.
What about the driving school? Were these student's not educated on the laws? Did they not know the risks? Truth be told, there are some really poor Driver's Ed operations in this state. But I will say this: I have never heard of a school messing up the laws. The importance of these laws and the safety they endorse is not lost on even the dumbest people in this business. So then more! More Driver's Ed! Gary Kneppler has been in this business for over 40 years and his opinion is often respected among his peers and media professionals. In this article run by the Connecticut Post, Mr. Kneppler says that more driver's ed is the answer! Legislate more driver's ed and the kids will be safer. I also tend to agree with Gary. Understand that in Europe, it costs close to $10,000 (USD equivalent) to educate a new teen driver before the government will even consider licensing. However, culturally in America, driving is considered a right. We have parents that complain that they have to pay for the $125 Safe Driving Course Requirement. The jump from $125 to $10,000 is more substantial than anyone is willing to swallow.
The thesis of this longer than I wanted it to be blog post is that there is not an answer to this question. No matter how many laws we write, no matter how great we may be at parenting, no matter how much effort a school administrator puts into enforcing rules, no matter how much driver's education a teen receives, there will always be accidents. Now is not the time to point fingers. Now is not the time to search for answers. Now is the time to recognize that four lives were lost far too soon, and countless others have been ruined, possibly forever. Give the people closest to these teens time to cope and remember their children and their friends properly. For those of us that are fortunate enough to spend this holiday season with all of those that are closest to us, be grateful for each other and the time that you have together.
With Condolences to the Community of Griswold, Until Soon,
BD
Monday, December 13, 2010
One Parent's Perspective
Licensing your teen can be a frightening experience. In your eyes, your 16 year old son or daughter is still a child. It can be unnerving to visualize them behind the wheel of a car and driving off. Independence…you’ve spent a lifetime preparing them for it - teaching them to be responsible, confident and to make good choices. Now you must have the confidence in your parenting to allow them to take that next step towards becoming an adult.
We can pass along our knowledge, our advice and our support. It is up to our child as to how they will apply what we have taught them to their daily lives. Driving is one of the greatest responsibilities that they will undertake in life. You want them prepared. You want them confident. You want them safe. Not just capable of getting from point A to point B, but truly prepared for the many situations they may encounter behind the wheel. Defensive driving is vital to staying safe on today’s roads. With all the distractions that are put before us in this age of modern technology, we must focus on teaching our kids to be safe in every aspect of driving. From being responsible behind the wheel to being a responsible passenger. From learning how to react to learning when not to react. Every decision when behind the wheel is a critical decision.
Having two children already licensed, doesn’t make it any easier to take that step with the third. It is perhaps even more difficult. With the first came the excitement of their independence. The second was my son, and driving came naturally to him. My youngest however, will always be my baby no matter how old she is or by how many inches she towers over me. 16 seems so young to me now. I’ve spent her lifetime preparing her for independence, it is time that I trust her to use what I have taught to make good choices, take responsibility and stay safe.
Before I put her behind the wheel, I want her prepared. I have already passed along my skills and knowledge, but I want more for her. I want her to be exposed to every scenario, those I may have touched upon with her as well as those that never even entered my mind. Many things have changed since I began to drive 30 years ago. I want her aware of them all. One day, when she encounters a difficult situation where a split second decision needs to be made, I want her to make the right choice. Whether it is how to react on a busy highway or whether or not to get into the car with a friend whom she knows has been drinking. If you’ve heard something discussed – there is a very good chance you will keep that information in the back of your mind – and one day when you need it – you will recall it. Decisions, choices, the right ones can never be over emphasized or taught too much.
When deciding where to send your child for one of the most important skills that they will use for a lifetime make that choice with great care and consideration. Don’t send them to the cheapest place, or the most convenient place. Talk to friends, family, and their peers and find out how to get them the best driver’s education. Send them to a school that you have confidence in. A school that is dedicated to quality education. It is an education they will use for life. And one day, their lives may depend upon it.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tips from the Pros: Parking Maneuver Practice
Like most driving schools, we have an 8 Hour Driving Curriculum that we use for students that take our Full Driver's Education Program. Every student has a different background; some have been driving tractors, quads and golf carts since youth while others don't know the brake from the gas. We have a foundation curriculum and then make adjustments based on each individual student's needs.
Regardless of how much a student needs to learn, one method of teaching always holds true:
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition.
Although many consider driving to be a natural skill, it is not. It is an acquired skill. You'll hear many people in this industry compare it to learning an instrument or taking up golf. You learn a skill, and then you practice the skill until it is second nature. REPETITION!
We teach our students every parking maneuver they will need once they are licensed:
a.) Pull In (and Back Out)
b.) Back In (and Pull Out)
c.) Parallel
Unfortunately, in most cases we only have each student for a couple of hours. Thus, it is the student's responsibility to practice these moves at home. Here are some tips for the home instructor that will help your new driver perfect these maneuvers:
1.) Verbalize. While completing a maneuver, make the student tell you, step by step, what they are doing. Saying the steps out loud will help the steps become nature.
2.) Don't take the easy route! When parking, don't just let the student pull in. Try parking in different spots. Make them back into the space.
3.) Don't take the fast route! Allow an extra 5 minutes to get to where you are going. Once there, make your student park 3-5 times in different spots.
4.) Perfection is Key! Don't settle for less. Make sure that the car is straight in the parking stall and centered between the lines. If it isn't, make your student fix the park until it is.
5.) Finally, stay calm. We have students that get 15 parks in a row perfectly, and on the 16th try, royally botch it up. This is ok. The mistakes the students make are necessary for them to learn how to a. correct them and b. not repeat them.
In the coming months, we will have some of our instructors blog on the step by step instructions for each specific parking maneuver. We have a number of diagrams that I am happy to e-mail to anyone that needs some help.
Until soon...
BD
Regardless of how much a student needs to learn, one method of teaching always holds true:
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition.
Although many consider driving to be a natural skill, it is not. It is an acquired skill. You'll hear many people in this industry compare it to learning an instrument or taking up golf. You learn a skill, and then you practice the skill until it is second nature. REPETITION!
We teach our students every parking maneuver they will need once they are licensed:
a.) Pull In (and Back Out)
b.) Back In (and Pull Out)
c.) Parallel
Unfortunately, in most cases we only have each student for a couple of hours. Thus, it is the student's responsibility to practice these moves at home. Here are some tips for the home instructor that will help your new driver perfect these maneuvers:
1.) Verbalize. While completing a maneuver, make the student tell you, step by step, what they are doing. Saying the steps out loud will help the steps become nature.
2.) Don't take the easy route! When parking, don't just let the student pull in. Try parking in different spots. Make them back into the space.
3.) Don't take the fast route! Allow an extra 5 minutes to get to where you are going. Once there, make your student park 3-5 times in different spots.
4.) Perfection is Key! Don't settle for less. Make sure that the car is straight in the parking stall and centered between the lines. If it isn't, make your student fix the park until it is.
5.) Finally, stay calm. We have students that get 15 parks in a row perfectly, and on the 16th try, royally botch it up. This is ok. The mistakes the students make are necessary for them to learn how to a. correct them and b. not repeat them.
In the coming months, we will have some of our instructors blog on the step by step instructions for each specific parking maneuver. We have a number of diagrams that I am happy to e-mail to anyone that needs some help.
Until soon...
BD
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
An Introduction...
My name is Brandon Dufour, I am the General Manager of All-Star Driver, LLC. We are a family operation based in Watertown CT. Every day, I have the pleasure (mostly, sometimes it's a pain) of working alongside my Aunt, Uncle and Father. My family comes from the School Bus Business (Dufour Brothers in the 60's and 70's, Dufour Transportation in the 80's and 90's and All-Star Transportation today) and saw the parallels between Student Transportation and Student Driving. When Connecticut's largest Driving School ran into some legal trouble, we jumped at the opportunity.
It has been two years since we took over the now defunct Academy of Driving and entered the Driving School Business. We came in blind, having a lifetime of safe driving knowledge and a goal to be not the biggest driving school in Connecticut, but to be the best. The Academy of Driving was a well publicized disaster, and purchasing its assets came with its challenges. Somehow or another, we have gotten through them all, and in two years we have created an Education product that I will put up against any other driving school in the state.
For me, the most surprising part about this industry was its antiquated nature. Education materials were still being used from the 60's, 70's and 80's. E-mail was (and in may schools case, still is) a foreign object. Most things were still being done with pen and paper. In today's fast paced world, it appeared the Driving School Business across the nation had been left in the dark. At All-Star Driver, we worked hard and fast to change this. Today, our customers experience a fully interactive educational program behind the wheel and in the classroom, and a professionalism and service standard that is among the highest in any industry.
Also surprising was the response of the consumer to the idea of Driver's Ed. When we first started, we thought that the we had to create safety and security for our customers. Things like vehicle maintenance, employee drug tests, fire extinguishers in our cars and staff training on what acceptable behavior with teens means were immediately made a part of our company. And no one cared.
To the parents that are selecting driving schools: remember that you are dropping off your teen to spend 2 hours in a car, alone, with a complete stranger. This stranger is going to teach them skills that may save their life every day for the rest of their lives. There are certain things worth shopping to the lowest bidder, but driver's ed is not one of them. Whether you choose us or another driving school, make sure that you are doing your research. There are too many schools that don't offer a quality product, and we all owe our kids a quality education.
This is the first entry in what will grow to be a blog of Safe Driving information, specifically geared towards the State of Connecticut. Thanks for stopping by, please check back often.
Until Soon...
BD
It has been two years since we took over the now defunct Academy of Driving and entered the Driving School Business. We came in blind, having a lifetime of safe driving knowledge and a goal to be not the biggest driving school in Connecticut, but to be the best. The Academy of Driving was a well publicized disaster, and purchasing its assets came with its challenges. Somehow or another, we have gotten through them all, and in two years we have created an Education product that I will put up against any other driving school in the state.
For me, the most surprising part about this industry was its antiquated nature. Education materials were still being used from the 60's, 70's and 80's. E-mail was (and in may schools case, still is) a foreign object. Most things were still being done with pen and paper. In today's fast paced world, it appeared the Driving School Business across the nation had been left in the dark. At All-Star Driver, we worked hard and fast to change this. Today, our customers experience a fully interactive educational program behind the wheel and in the classroom, and a professionalism and service standard that is among the highest in any industry.
Also surprising was the response of the consumer to the idea of Driver's Ed. When we first started, we thought that the we had to create safety and security for our customers. Things like vehicle maintenance, employee drug tests, fire extinguishers in our cars and staff training on what acceptable behavior with teens means were immediately made a part of our company. And no one cared.
To the parents that are selecting driving schools: remember that you are dropping off your teen to spend 2 hours in a car, alone, with a complete stranger. This stranger is going to teach them skills that may save their life every day for the rest of their lives. There are certain things worth shopping to the lowest bidder, but driver's ed is not one of them. Whether you choose us or another driving school, make sure that you are doing your research. There are too many schools that don't offer a quality product, and we all owe our kids a quality education.
This is the first entry in what will grow to be a blog of Safe Driving information, specifically geared towards the State of Connecticut. Thanks for stopping by, please check back often.
Until Soon...
BD
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