Anyone who has taught a teenager to drive, or tried to learn as an adult, knows how much practical knowledge sits behind a simple trip to the store. Michael Templeton set out to put that knowledge in one place with his driver education and training guide, Right Turn. If you have seen the title and wondered what the book covers, who it is for and how to use it, this explainer walks through all of it in plain terms.
What the Book Is
Right Turn is a driver education and training guide. Its website describes it as a resource on driver training for parents, teens and commercial drivers, built around drills, charts and practical tips meant to improve safety on the road.
The focus is on application. Many people finish a driving course and still feel unsure about everyday situations, so the book is organized around skills that readers can practice and review rather than rules to memorize once. That makes it useful as a reference that families can return to as a new driver gains experience.
Who It Was Written For
The answer is broader than most people expect. The homepage lists several groups, and each one gets something different from the book.
Parents of teens and tweens. The book speaks to parents whether the teen is not yet ready for training, already in training, finished with driver education, or driving on their own.
Driver education and training instructors. The site notes that some professional instructors may not have been trained as thoroughly as they could have been, and the book is meant to fill that gap.
Commercial drivers. This includes taxi, shuttle, limo and delivery drivers, along with fleet owners and managers who oversee them.
CDL drivers. The site says they should know the basic rules of the road before entering a commercial driver classroom and before advanced behind-the-wheel training.
Grandparents. Many learned to drive decades ago from a parent or friend and never had formal instruction.
The book is aimed first at the parents and grandparents of the more than 4 million teens who learn to drive in the United States each year. A short note on the site asks readers to go through it first before gifting it to someone they love, which shows how strongly it is meant to be read by the adults involved.
How the Approach Works
The book’s central idea is that safe driving is taught, and that the people around a learner shape how well the teaching goes. Parents who understand what good training looks like can support their teen with better practice, better questions and better timing.
For younger children, the website offers a helpful note. Tweens may not grasp the material on their own, but a parent who has read the book can explain it while the child watches how adults drive. In that sense, the book works at two levels: it informs the adult, and it gives the adult a way to teach a child long before the learner’s permit.
For professionals, the same structure acts as a baseline. A commercial driver or a fleet manager can use the book to check that every driver is working from the same fundamentals, which is especially valuable when a team has mixed experience levels.
Exploring the Companion Website
The book comes with a website that adds several ways to engage with the material:
- Right Turn Contents: a table of contents so you can see what the book covers before you buy.
- Author Profile: background on Michael Templeton.
- Driving Test Quiz: a way to check understanding and spot topics that need more review.
- Reviews and Accolades: feedback from readers and others.
- Shop: where the book can be purchased.
- Our Screenplay: an additional project connected to the book.
- Just Ask Mike: a forum for asking questions.
The homepage also includes a photo gallery and a newsletter sign-up that offers a 10% voucher. Together, these pieces make the book part of a larger resource instead of a stand-alone product.
Getting the Most From the Book
Readers tend to get more from a guide like this when they have a plan. A few simple steps help:
- Start with the contents. Look at the topics first and decide which are most urgent for your situation.
- Read before the lessons begin. Parents benefit most when they understand the basics before their teen is behind the wheel.
- Turn chapters into practice. Choose one topic at a time and practice it in a safe setting.
- Use the quiz. Take it together and talk through the questions that feel difficult.
- Ask questions. If something is unclear, post it in the forum instead of guessing.
Common Questions
Is it only for parents? No. Parents are the main audience, but instructors, commercial drivers, CDL students, fleet managers and grandparents are also named as readers.
Can younger children benefit? Indirectly. The site suggests parents read the book and explain it to tweens as they observe adults driving.
Where can I see what is inside? The contents page on the website lays out the book’s topics.
Where can I ask a question? The “Just Ask Mike” forum is set up for exactly that.
Final Thoughts
Right Turn is best understood as a practical guide that serves several kinds of drivers at once. It gives parents a way to guide a new driver, gives instructors and commercial teams a common reference, and gives older drivers a chance to fill in what they never formally learned. With a clear contents page, a quiz, a forum and a gallery on the companion site, it is easy to explore before you buy.
For anyone who wants a straightforward starting point for safer driving, Michael Templeton’s work is worth a look.
