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Driver's Ed

Turns out traditional driver's ed doesn't make teen drivers any safer, according to experts.

Next month, North Carolina officials will begin looking at revamping the $33 million driver-training program, which provides 30 hours of classroom driver instruction and six hours behind the wheel. Possible changes could include more instruction to parents on how to train their young drivers, driving simulators and more time behind the wheel.

Was your child's training adequate or does the system need an overhaul?

slindenf's picture

Comments

A1Mama's picture
by A1Mama 3 mon. ago.

It's hard for me to say anything about a system overhaul. One of my teens had a GREAT drivers ed class: excellent info and instruction. THe other of my teens had a WORTHLESS drivers ed class: poor information and instruction. Like a lot of education, it all depends on the teacher more than the system.

roberdave's picture
by roberdave 2 mon. ago.

Having taught driver education in North Carolina for over 38 years, I feel that driver education is needed now more than ever! A system overhaul is too expensive and does not address the one weak link in this
discussion - parent involvement! Parents need to provide the supervision of their teenagers during their "permit" driving period.
The driver education program is the first step in preparing our teenagers to drive in a very dangerous environment! An experienced
driver education instructor working with that nervous teenager is far better than that student playing a "video game" on a stimulator!!

starkitten42's picture
by starkitten42 2 mon. ago.

About 90% of the kids that took drivers ed through the high school were in an accident within a year of having their drivers' licenses. As for those of us who took a private driving education course, it took an average of 3-4 years before our first accident. Luckily, I've been driving for 11 years and have yet to have an accident (knock on wood)!

rrgreennc's picture
by rrgreennc 2 mon. ago.

My son's driver education was not as good as I would have liked, but it was an OK start. I found while supervising his driving during the learner's permit stage that there were a number of very basic rules that he had never even heard of. I do like the graduated system of licensing that North Carolina has, and I feel the year with the learner's permit was extremely valuable.
One thing that frightens me is the kids that get very little time driving under their parents' supervision, and then get a license as soon as they are eligible. How a parent could allow that is beyond me. When my son had his permit, he drove pretty much everytime we went anywhere together, and in all kinds of situations. Our household rule was that regardless of whether he was eligible for his license by the state's rules, he would not get his license until WE thought he was ready.
My son was always telling me of friends that rarely got to drive while they had their learner's permit. I realize that allowing a teenager to driver is a frightening experience. But far more frightening to me is allowing a teenager with almost no experience on the road completely unsupervised.
Parents must continue educating their young drivers long after the formal training has ended. As for changes to the public schools driver education, I thing an increase in time on the road would be very valuable. However, it should not be done at the expense of decreasing time in the classroom.  I also don't think we should rely too heavily on simulators.  There are too many kids that think they can drive based solely on doing so in video games.

When my daughter gets to the appropriate age, we will likely use private training, as she is homeschooled.

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