Frequently Asked Questions
General Company Information
Contact Information
Facility Address:
Fresh Green Light
275 Purchase St.
Rye, NY 10580
Directions: www.freshgreenlight.com/directions
Phone: 914-921-8888
Fax:
914-921-8887
Email Address: info@freshgreenlight.com
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Behind-the-Wheel Training Hours:
Monday-Friday
6:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Weekends
8:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Closed on select holidays
Our Approach
How are you different from other driving schools?
Fresh Green Light is a better approach to driver training. Unlike traditional driver education
available through high schools or commercial driving schools, our program is focused on
increasing driver competence in both routine and extreme driving situations to decrease the
incidence of accidents, injuries and deaths.
The Fresh Green Light program is both effective and convenient.
Fresh Green Light is the only driver training facility in the area offering a program that adheres to
the congressional recommendations put forth in 2008 by the National Highway and Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), including:
 Employing driving simulators to provide a safe environment to make mistakes
 Using interactive computer-based programs to enhance the learning experience
 Engaging parents throughout the process
At Fresh Green Light, we’ve incorporated these key recommendations into our program, along
with several other best practices from both in and outside the US.
© 2009 Copyright Fresh Green Light, LLC
1

Our state of the art Driving Simulators allow students to get comfortable behind the wheel in
all types of driving conditions before they ever set foot on the road.

We offer an on-line training program that builds the cognitive skills associated with driving.
The NewDriver™ program is used extensively throughout the world and has been proven to
increase safe driving behavior. We are one of only three organizations in the U.S. offering this
technology.

Our communication with parents doesn’t stop the moment a teen is registered. Parents are
given progress reports via email after every session so they know what their teen is doing
well, and where they might need some practice.
In addition, we employ a variety of training approaches to make the experience fun, interactive
and engaging, including:
 Driving instructors who have solid experience as teachers and coaches.
 A state of the art classroom facility with SmartBoard technology.
 Both SUVs and Sedans for behind-the-wheel instruction, so teens learn how to handle the
types of vehicles they’ll be driving at home
 A green fleet of hybrid vehicles that make the lowest possible impact on the environment
 In-car video cameras that are always recording what’s happening inside the car during
behind-the-wheel lessons.
 A user-friendly on-line registration and scheduling interface that makes it easy to book and
track training dates and progress
How are you different from high school driver’s education?
We are a commercial driving school and, as such, offer a different curriculum than is offered in
any New York high school. Our program is more far more effective and convenient than the high
school program. To see a side by side comparison, please go to
www.freshgreenlight.com/highschools.
What’s wrong with high school driver education?
Any private or public high school that offers driver education is required to implement:
 24 hours of classroom instruction
 18 hours of backseat “observation” of another new student driving, and
 only six hours of supervised behind-the-wheel practice
This approach was created as a national standard in 1948 and has been proven to have virtually
no impact on reducing teen car accidents and deaths.
That’s why less than 30% of high schools offer driver education anymore.
Will my child be able to get their full license at 17, rather than 18, if they go through your
program?
No, they can only circumvent the Graduated Driver Licensing law and get their full license early if
they go through the high school program.
© 2009 Copyright Fresh Green Light, LLC
2
What is Graduated Driver Licensing?
New York has a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) policy in place which temporarily restricts
high-risk driving conditions for young drivers as a way of reducing teen accidents and deaths.
GDL is a good thing because it saves lives; the number of accidents decreased by over 60%
when the GDL program went into effect in New York.
Specifically, GDL places the following restrictions on a young driver until the age of 18:
 No driving between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM without a parent or guardian in the car, unless they
are driving to/from a school class.
 No more than one (1) passenger in the car who is younger than 21 years old.
Why is there an exception to the GDL law that allows students to get a full license at 17, if that
has been shown to increase accidents and deaths?
The Department of Motor Vehicles does not have jurisdiction over the curriculum that is offered
through the high school. The Department of Education does. Keeping Driver’s Ed in schools
keeps teachers employed.
Is New York’s GDL loophole unusual?
Yes. New York is ranked in the lowest 10% of states when it comes to ranking the efficacy of
teen driving laws. The federal government is trying to enforce a mandatory nationwide licensing
law that would move the threshold for unrestricted driver licensing to the age of 18. For more
information on this effort, go to http://www.saferoads4teens.org/summary-standup-act.
Program and Packages
Who can enroll in a Fresh Green Light program?
All students must be at least 16 years of age and must have a valid Driver License or Learner
Permit. We offer programs for all ages and levels of driving ability.
What programs does Fresh Green Light offer?
We offer specific programs for new teen drivers, adults, seniors, expats, and nannies. Click here
to see a full list of our packages: www.freshgreenlight.com/packages
Why can’t I buy individual lessons instead of a package?
We are committed to delivering a curriculum that has been shown to reduce accidents and save
lives. That curriculum includes a number of different tools and lesson plans that work together to
increase safe driving skills. We are not offering one-off driving lessons because we don’t believe
that is an effective approach to becoming a safe driver. We do offer individual lessons to students
who are signed up for a Fresh Green Light package and want additional behind-the-wheel
coaching.
How often should I schedule a driving lesson?
We recommend that students take at least one week between lessons so they have time to
practice what they learned in the previous lesson.
We realize that many parents have busy schedules and can't always find meaningful time to
© 2009 Copyright Fresh Green Light, LLC
3
practice driving each week. In this case, we recommend adding additional lessons from Fresh
Green Light, so we can see to it that your son or daughter is getting adequate practice time
behind the wheel.
Can I get the same instructor for all my lessons?
We do our best to accommodate this request. However, this isn’t always possible. All of our
Driving Coaches are excellent, follow the same lesson plans, and come to each session fully
versed on where each student is in the program.
How quickly does the schedule fill up for behind-the-wheel lessons?
We currently have two behind-the-wheel lessons happening simultaneously seven days a week.
We limit our teen enrollments during the school year to ensure we have adequate capacity at all
times. We encourage students to enroll in each behind-the-wheel session at least a week in
advance.
How am I kept in the loop about the progress my child is making?
Each behind-the-wheel lesson is followed up with practice sessions with a parent. We provide a
detailed practice guide for each session that includes specific skill-building exercises and
suggested route maps.
When added together, the behind-the-wheel lessons with a Driving Coach and the behind-thewheel practice sessions with parents should provide 50 hours of supervised driving, which is the
legally required before a teen gets their New York driver license.
How long does the program take?
Depending upon the package you’ve selected and your availability, the program can take
anywhere from a few weeks to six months.
Will this program reduce the insurance costs for my child?
If a student completes our full beginner program, they will receive a certificate indicating they have
completed a state-approved defensive driving program. This typically qualifies a student for up to
10% off of their insurance.
What does the program cost?
We offer several different packages based on the needs of the individual student. Please go to
www.freshgreenlight.com/packages to see a full explanation of packages and pricing.
What are my payment options?
Payment is due at the time of registration. We accept credit card payments through our on-line
registration system.
Do you offer the program that will remove points from my license?
We do not offer the PRIP program that reduces points for traffic violations.
Do you teach how to use a manual transmission (stick shift)?
We only focus on the fundamentals of driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission.
Can you guarantee my son or daughter will pass their driver’s test?
Our curriculum provides all of the knowledge and training required to pass a driving exam. We
© 2009 Copyright Fresh Green Light, LLC
4
will let you know if we think your child is ready to take the driver exam at the end of their program.
There may be an occasion when a student doesn’t pass the exam on their first try. Nerves can
sometimes cause a student to make a careless and minor mistake that results in them failing the
test. As much as we would like to be able to eliminate the possibility, we can’t ensure a student
always has the composure to ace the test the first time.
Getting a License
What is the driver licensing process for young drivers in New York State?
Here are the steps to getting a New York Driver License:
Step 1
Your child can get a Learner Permit once he/she turns 16 by passing a short written test
administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The Learner’s Permit only allows your
child to drive with either a parent or a certified driving instructor. (Be sure to bring your child’s birth
certificate and social security card to either the Peekskill or Yonkers DMV Office; the White Plains
office does not process learner permits. NY DMV phone number: (718)477- 4820
You do not need to enroll in driver training to get your learner permit.
Step 2
In order to get a Junior License, your child must complete:
 Five hours of state-mandated classroom instruction offered through a commercial driving
school
 Fifty hours of behind-the-wheel practice/instruction with a certified driving instructor or
parent/guardian
Step 3
After having a permit for at least six months and completing the steps above, your child can take
the road test administered by the DMV. (This test is available at all three DMV offices in
Westchester.)
Step 4
Once your child passes their road test, your child receives their Junior License which allows them
to drive alone or with others, with the following restrictions:
 No driving between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM without a parent or guardian in the car.
 No more than one (1) passenger in the car who is younger than 21 years old.
These restrictions are designed to eliminate the two most dangerous situations that exponentially
increase your child’s risk of being killed or injured in a car accident: driving late at night and
driving with more than one friend in the car.
Step 5
At age 18, the driving restrictions are lifted and your child automatically receives a full license.
You can go to http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm#newdrivers to get additional information
about driver licensing.
© 2009 Copyright Fresh Green Light, LLC
5
My child wants to get their full license at 17, rather than 18. How can he/she do that? Is it a good
idea?
Please click here to see the pros and cons associated with early licensing.
© 2009 Copyright Fresh Green Light, LLC
6