WELCOME TO THE RED CAR DRIVING SCHOOL
Before getting behind the wheel – gain confidence by mastering key skills in the safe environment of the classroom. This program is led by Ruth McArdle, NY DMV Certified Driving Instructor and an experienced teacher. Ruth teaches a class for new drivers in Rochester, NY that includes a driving simulator, and in-car instruction for the Agile Driving School in New York City.
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO DRIVING What is your natural emotional response when behind the wheel? Are you an anxious or angry driver? How do we cope when sharing the road to ensure we all get to our destinations safely?
ROAD SIGN BASICS New York State road signs and their meanings. Stay alert and understand what the road is telling you!
COMMENTARY DRIVING Communication is a key skill in both life and learning. By talking through our decisions and narrating our road practices, we can work together to build good habits and give a voice to our development.
ROAD SAFETY BASICS Safe habits begin before you start your engine. We will teach the basics of best practices within your vehicle and prepare you for your adventures on the road.
ROAD SIMULATORPractice to handle a blown tire, black ice roads or the force of a deer hitting the windshield. Experience these challenging scenarios in the safety of the simulator. Then try it again – Designed for all ages, and driving levels, simulation experience can help to learn both basic and advanced driving skills. Better assessment and practice builds confidence for new and anxious drivers.
Learn to Drive: Class One FAQs
-
This class covers first level driving skills and emotional regulation.
-
The full class is two 1-hour sessions with assignments for new drivers to be completed outside of class.
-
Yes! Students are encouraged to share what was covered in the class. Students are also instructed on how to enlist the support of a relative or friend who will be critical to getting the 50 hours of the NYS DMV required supervised driving for Junior Licenses.
-
There are three ways we are different:
• We have a new curriculum that is interactive instead of lecture-based
• We offer a driving simulator to let students exprience driving
• We offer direct instruction on how to practice driving skills
-
The class teaches the NYSDMV Rules of the Road, safe driving habits. Later classes teach how to manage a variety of driving environments including city, highway, and rural settings as well as unexpected events such as hydroplaning and avoiding deer.
-
Safe drivers need to understand their own personality and moods, then how to manage other people’s personalities. Students learn about their personality from the TKI and the IStart Strong assesments, two tools from the Meyers-Briggs Foundation, the most highly respected psychological research organization in the world.
Contact Red Car Driving School
Free Resources
Driving Tools
New York State DMV — Driver Practice Tests & Lessons
Access the New York State Driver’s Manual and interactive practice quizzes
Roady Ready App — Track Your Driving Hours & Milestones
A free mobile app from AAA to help track your driving progress
AAA New York — Portal for Parents of New Drivers
Access an organized set of lessons and tips for parents to teach driving skills
Additional Learning Materials
NY Department of Health — New Driver Safety Tools & Tips
Guides, tools, and statistics about New York driving and drivers
New York Times: Why Are American Drivers So Deadly?
An article on recent trends in American driving habits
AAA U.S. Traffic Safety Index
Safety fact sheet looking at recent reports of American drivers
About Red Car Driving School
Ruth started her career as a licensed adult education teacher in New York City. She was chosen as one of seven innovators tasked to redesign the Adult Division of the NYC Department of Education serving 50,000 students across the five boroughs. The successful redesign raised educational and employment outcomes for adults who had previously dropped out of traditional classrooms.
In 2021, Ruth was unable to find effective driving instruction for her teenage son. She turned her unique set of skills to New York State driving education. In 2023, Ruth became a NY State Certified Driving Instructor and started work at the Agile Driving School in New York City. In 2024, she gained the NY State Certification to teach the NYS DMV 5-hour Pre-licensing Class.
Ruth is starting a new form of classroom education for new drivers and adults. The Red Car Driving School utilizes modern educational practices alongside promising new technologies like a driving simulator to provide an in-depth introduction to life behind the wheel.