Mamas, as you may know, Shannon and I both have 14-year-old kids who will be getting their learner’s permit soon. (Yikes!) So we are VERY happy to bring you this week’s giveaway because it may be one of the most important giveaways we’ve ever done. This gift may be the thing that keeps your kid safe on the road, and safety is what moms pray for most when their teens start driving.
Here’s the fact: Motor-vehicle collisions are the number one cause of death for ages 15-24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you have a kid age 14 and up, we hope you’ll put your name in this week’s online drawing to win a scholarship for your teen to attend a week-long session at the Driving Academy of Northwest Arkansas. This comprehensive course, which includes a week of classroom instruction (30 hours) as well as 6 hours of private driving lessons with a certified instructor, would normally cost $525. It will be free for this week’s winner. (If you don’t have a teen, please tell your friends who do have teen drivers about this giveaway.)
Keep in mind that, for many parents, having your child complete driver education training may help you qualify for a discount on your teen driver’s insurance. (Check with your agent for details.) There are several different dates to choose from when scheduling the week-long classroom training as well as the private driving lessons.
ABOUT THE COURSE: Far more important than the insurance discount, this course can turn your new driver into one who is more prepared not only for normal driving situations but also the unexpected ones that often cause life-threatening collisions. Training includes these must-have driving skills as well as many others:
Skid-recovery- Unique driving hazards for young drivers
- How to drive in bad weather
- What to do when a wheel goes off the road
- Speed management
- Traffic law changes within the past 10 years
- Sharing the road with trucks, motorcycles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and others
- How to use ABS brakes the right way
- What to do if your car hydroplanes
- What to do if the brakes fail and other malfunctions
Here’s a video sneak peek of some of the other things your teen will learn during the Driving Academy course. This video will also introduce you to the course instructor and Driving Academy owner, Kimma Harper.
As parents, we know our job is to prepare our children to navigate life on their own. If driving will be a big part of your teen’s daily routine, we think this course is invaluable, not to mention the peace of mind it will give parents. We’ve heard so many great things about this program from other parents whose teens have attended the course. (In fact, this summer I’ll be paying the course fee to send my son Adam to the Driving Academy in June because I know his safety is worth every penny.)
HOW TO ENTER: If you’d love to win a scholarship for your teen to attend the Driving Academy of Northwest Arkansas, just click HERE or click on the word “comments” (right under the headline of this post) and scroll down to the bottom of the comments posted by other moms. Then post a comment about one of the best driving tips you’ve learned during your time behind the wheel.
You can also email your answer to us at giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com.
If you’re still unsure about whether or not your teen needs driver training, we’d recommend you watch this video and this one before you make a decision.
INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING: Help us spread the word about this giveaway by emailing your friends and family about the giveaway. We’ll give you an extra chance to win for every person you tell. Just be sure to put giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com on the CC line of your note so we can give you proper credit.
You can also earn an extra chance to win by signing up to receive the free email newsletter we send once a week.
Our newsletter subscribers get access to the good stuff, including exclusive giveaways (like this one), information about local events, local mom interviews, recipes and more.
It’s delivered straight to your inbox so you don’t miss anything awesome. CLICK HERE to sign up. We won’t fill your inbox with info, no worries. We only send out newsletters when there’s something in it for you — and we know you’ll be interested in hearing about it.
BE SOCIAL: You can also earn extra chances to win by commenting on our Facebook page, following us on Twitter or following us on Pinterest. If you do any of those, just mention it in your comment or email so we can give you proper credit.
Good luck, mamas! We’ll use a random number generator to select the winner and we’ll notify you via email so watch your inboxes. We want to close out this post with one more video that’s a “must-see” not only for our teens but also for every one of us who have ever been tempted to send or check a text message while behind the wheel.
Be aware of other drivers and keep your distance.
The best tip I received was to drive defensively as if I was the only person on the road paying attention. It has saved me many times! Would love to win this class for my daughter!
Drive defensively! Would love to win this class for my daughter!
Always look both ways before turning but especially watch for bike riders and runners. They may have their headphones on and cannot hear the car. My husband had a friend tha was hit by a car while running and she passed away soon after. It’s scary when you look up and see someone there that wasn’t there a second ago.
The most valuable thing I learned as a teenager was to always watch for other drivers! Don’t assume they are being careful! It’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t be distracted inside of the car, pay attention to what other cars may do!
What my driver’s ed teacher told me eons ago, “Drive defensively”, it has kept me out of driving “trouble”.
Oh, my son needs this (mostly to save my sanity)! My most recent tip received was “yes, it is illegal to go over the fog lines.” Who knew? I thought they were just guidelines!
Not sure if my reply posted….be a defensive driver! Don’t assume other cars are paying attention. Pay attention to what’s going on around your car, don’t be distracted by what’s going on inside of the car.
Don’t follow too closely
Before you take off from a stoplight, look both ways to make sure the cars stop.
Drive defensively like you are the only one on the road paying attention! Would love to win this for my daughter!
Stay alert and keep your eyes on the road.
My dad always told me to check my rear view mirror often, so I’d know what cars were around me. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
This would be a SWEET gift for my son who turns 16 in June!!
Always leave some distance between you and the car in front of you.
The best advice I have received about driving has more to do with personal safety and that is never flash your lights at someone, never tailgate too close and never drive in a manner that could cause road rage with another driver. Growing up in Atlanta my mom always said you have to think that the other driver may be dangerous and in today’s world, I’ve seen one too many news stories about road rage and people getting out of their vehicles to have physical altercations. It’s not worth it. Take your time and be safe.
Always steer into a skid and do not brake during it!
While it is true that you should not suddenly press any pedal in a skid, this is NO LONGER the correct method to attempt to safely recover from a skid. If you “steer into a skid,” your computers will do everything they can to make your car go in the direction you are steering. Instead, gradually ease off of which ever pedal you were pressing that started the skid and look where you DO want to go while gently aiming the steering wheel in the direction you DO want the car to go. Once your tires regain traction, the computers in your car will then do all they can to help your car go the direction you have specified. We demonstrate this in class as we teach it, but hopefully this explanation will prevent “steering someone in the wrong direction.” 🙂
No tailgating. I like to leave plenty of room between me and the car in front of me. You never know when they are going to hit their brakes
Wear your seatbelt and keep a safe distance between you and the other drivers
My best driving tip would be to look in all directions before turning and drive slowly.
Stay alert and look ahead to anticipate potential danger. Always buckle up even if you are only going a short distance!!
The best tip I have learned is to put my car in neutral when going down a hill (save on gas) and to always drive below the speed limit when driving in the interstate in a downpour.
I have a mildly autistic teenage son who has been begging to start learning to drive. This class would be so perfect for him to gain a lot of insight.
We would love to have your son in our class, but I must explain that it is illegal and unsafe to put your car in neutral going down a hill. Putting a vehicle in neutral or depressing the clutch with a manual transmission disengages the gears which means there is no friction and would be no gears to assist in slowing the vehicle if a need to stop suddenly arose (i.e. a child on a bike, another vehicle, tractor-trailer pulls into the road.) The only means of stopping while in neutral would be your brakes, which might not be enough. Your son would learn this and so much more in our class!
*** Current through the 2016 Second Extraordinary Session. ***
Title 27 Transportation
Subtitle 4. Motor Vehicular Traffic
Chapter 51 Operation Of Vehicles — Rules Of The Road
Subchapter 14 — Miscellaneous Rules
A.C.A. § 27-51-1404 (2016)
27-51-1404. Coasting prohibited.
(a) The driver of any motor vehicle when traveling upon a downgrade shall not coast with the gears of the vehicle in neutral.
(b) The driver of a commercial motor vehicle when traveling upon a downgrade shall not coast with the clutch disengaged.
HISTORY: Acts 1937, No. 300, § 97; Pope’s Dig., § 6754; A.S.A. 1947, § 75-654.
Be courteous but defensive. Leave space and pay attention!
I would love this for my 14 year old!! One of the tips that I still remember is, in case of bad weather, don’t try to focus on the middle line. Focus on the white line on the side of the road to ensure you don’t run off the road
If there are several cars at a 4 way stop–who goes first? Not you! If there is a question about who merges first into traffic? Not you!
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEND MY SON TO THIS. I WANT HIM TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF TEXTING/BE DISTRACTED BY YOUR PHONE WHILE DRIVING AND HOW YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR OTHERS DOING THIS ALSO.
Look over your shoulder before changing lanes. Would love to win for my daughter!
Slow down on wet roads. You can loose traction so easily.
Watch for motorcycles and scooters. Don’t follow too close.
Being a defensive driver is the most important lesson I’ve learned. Keep your distance, always watch what others are doing and be ready to react!
Growing up in North Dakota, the first and best thing we learned was to steer INTO a skid!
The best tip I ever got was to count “one thousand one, one thousand two” after the car in front of you passes a stationary object before you pass it to be sure you are far enough behind to stop. I have a teen turning 16 in September and I would love for her to get extra training.
Always look for an escape in case of an emergency.
Best tip I’ve ever gotten was drive defensively. Best tip I will give because I have twin girls will be “Don’t fight with your sister while driving!”
Only honk your horn to say, “Hey, I’m here! Let’s not collide!” Almost any other use of my horn could contribute to stressful driving and possibly even road rage. When someone else drives in a way that irritates me, I just make up a situation that he/she might be facing to help me be more forgiving of their mistake. For example, I pretend the driver is a 16-yr-old trying to process all of the stimuli going on around him/her or any age driver that just received a bad report from a doctor or a boss. It has really helped me stay more calm while driving!
Always watch out for the other driver. You cannot control them, but if they look like they are erratic , you can always pull off and let them drive by you!
Always be aware of what’s coming up, and leave plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you.
Best advice- unless you are on your way to the hospital- is it really a hurry-?slow down it will be ok if you are a bit late.
The best tip I ever received when learning how to drive was to drive defensively. You can only control your vehicle so you must stay alert and aware.
The tip I give my daughter, don’t over think it. Driving should be natural movements it’s not algebra 🙂
When enter the interstate, make sure you’re doing say least 55 by the end of the onramp so you can flow seamlessly into traffic without getting runover or impeding traffic. Also, always pay attention to ALL signs posted. Never know when there’s going to be one with pertinent information.
Would love to win for my 19 year old who is still not driving!
Drive defensively is the best advice.
With parenting 5 girls, I am always concerned about their safety. If driving alone at night, on a dark, country road. You do not have to pull over, even if flashing lights are behind you. You can slow your speed, put on your hazards, & keep driving until you get to a safe, well lit area with other people around. This could even be a police or fire station. At either of these locations, You can stay in your vehicle and honk your horn for help to come out, if you feel uneasy.
If in doubt, call 9-1-1, yes, while driving to verify whether or not it is a real police officer.
Be constantly looking around you. Always check your mirrors. This way you are always aware of what cars are around you.
To pump the brakes when sliding on ice 🙂 would love to win this for the my new driver! Such a valuable class but pretty difficult to come up with that much money. 😉
Do NOT pump the brakes when sliding on ice, but instead, ease off whatever pedal you were pressing when sliding began. Gently look and steer the direction you DO want your car to travel. However, even if you do the right thing, without any traction it will be very difficult to control the direction of your car once it spins. It is best to learn what to do to avoid sliding on ice in the first place.
Do not get distracted with what is going on inside of the car and drive defensively.
I commented on facebook, follow you on twitter, and pinterest.
Thanks for this wonderful giveaway.
A Red Arrow means STOP and remained stopped until the green arrow appears. You can not go right after a stop on a red arrow. You must wait for the green arrow. I’m sure Miss Kimma will teach our kids. But us adults need to know this too!
checking both ways before turning…and checking again…
Never assume the other guy is going to do something — stop, turn, pay attention, etc.
Leave at least ten minutes earlier than “needed” to keep from hustling and driving more dangerously.
“It’s hard to mess up going slow.”
Always fasten your seat belt before the car begins to move and don’t unbuckle it until you are at a complete stop.
I get the newsletter, follow on Twitter and Pinterest, and commented on FB.
Make sure when turning right at an intersection, the car in front of you has cleared the intersection so that you don’t crash into the back of a car. My son and I both have learned this lesson the hard way!
Stay calm and take your time. Traffic in NWA is horrible at times and patience is needed to avoid wrecks.
As my grandmother always insisted, “Put your buckle on!” Seatbelts save lives. Period.
Always turn on your signal light prior to turning…not wait until you are making the turn.
Be patient and take your time while driving. It is better to get there (even if late) than not get there at all. (from my husband).
Be alert to what is going on around you and how others are driving, take precaution.
We currently live overseas and come during summer to NWA. We constantly see the need for safe driving skills. This is truly a must! Thanks for what you do.
I have heard so many great things about this class!!!
“Keep a safe distance from other vehicles. Never use cruise control when it is raining.”
My crazy girl would love the slides and baby boy would enjoy his first experience in the water of the kiddie pool. I follow on IG, Twitter and FB
The lazy river is a favorite for the whole family!!
My daughter is a thrill seeker so she would probably love Toucan’s Cove!
We love the Lazy River, and my daughter loved the Tiny Turtle Island
This would be so great for both me and my daughter!!! It makes me pretty anxious when she is driving and she would love getting more experience!! Thanks for providing such helpful and important prizes!!!
Oh boy, this would sure be fantastic! My children would absolutely LOVE this! I’d enjoy it too, not gonna lie!
Pay attention to the road. Don’t mess with the radio or talk on the phone
Would love to win this one! Best advice is to stay focused!
I would definitely like to win this class for my granddaughter. she is 16 & has started to drive. I am her guardian & being older my worries are 10 fold, lol. i would like to remind all drivers to BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDS & ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!
My best driving tip is use to always use cruise control, to ensure you don’t speed… Unfortunately I have a lead foot
My kids are little fish so I’m sure they would enjoy every single area. 🙂
The HUGE slides would thrill my kids!!
Buckle up; check mirrors and seat adjustment if getting in a car after another driver may have readjusted things; check to make sure an intersection is clear even when the light is green!
If you don’t know if you should go or let the other person go, let them go first.