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Teen Driver Education Programs

Written By Rebecca White-Glanders

Driving a car has become an indispensable part of life in most U.S. cities today. We use our cars to get everywhere - work, school, the store or just for fun. When our children are young, we do the driving for them. But as they age and, hopefully, mature, we know that they will soon become drivers themselves. Driver education courses are a wonderful way to teach safe driving practices to our children before they get behind the wheel. In fact, many states require some type of driver education prior to issuing an operator's license. It is our responsibility as parents to make sure our children are as safe and prepared as possible for driving, and we have many good reasons for doing so.

Motor vehicle accidents account for 44 percent of all teenage deaths in the United States. This makes motor vehicle accidents the leading cause of death for our teenaged children, beating out homicide, suicide and all other causes. Compounding this problem is the fact that teenaged drivers are among the least likely to buckle up, meaning more fatalities in the crashes that occur.

Benefits of Teen Driver Education

Driver education courses offer many benefits for the teenagers taking them. They give students a basic knowledge of laws and standard driving practices regarding the road. They also teach children the importance of being careful and the dangers of drug and alcohol use while driving. This last bit is especially important - in 2006, 25 percent of all automobile accidents involving teenagers also involved alcohol. And lastly, the driving lessons often associated with driver education give students real, hands-on experience behind the wheel in a safe environment with a qualified instructor present. They teach many driving skills, including parallel parking, which can come in handy later on.

Today's Options in Driver Ed

Today, there are countless options available for concerned parents who want their children to complete a driver education course. As a parent, what are your driver education options for your child? There are four basic types of driver education programs: public, private, do-it-yourself kits and, most recently, interactive online driver education.

Public classes have, traditionally, been the most popular way to complete a driver education course. These classes are often held during the summer months, in connection with your child's school system. They are usually conducted by teachers, school officials or other qualified persons from the community. Classes usually last for several weeks and include lectures, special guests, tests and hands-on driving with an instructor. At the end of the course, students are given a letter grade or pass-or-fail status based upon their performance. These classes are generally well-planned and comprehensive. However, tuition costs vary by location and can cost hundreds of dollars per student, making them financially prohibitive for some families.

Private classes have gained in popularity, as many local driving schools and franchises are popping up. Although there are no widespread national franchises to date, local driving schools are available in most areas, with varying tuition fees. Schools like AAA Driving School and 911 Driving School are examples. Private driving schools allow you to choose the program or facility which best fits your child and his or her needs. You can generally request extra assistance in a specific area if your child needs it. The downside is the cost, which varies from school to school but can easily surpass the tuition costs of comparable public programs.

The third option for driver education is relatively new - the parent-taught, do-it-yourself driver education kit. You may be say " What?" But, if you have the time and energy to teach your child, it actually makes sense. You, after all, know your child better than anyone else, and certainly better than an instructor he or she has never met. Comprehensive driver education kits from which you can teach are available to parents online. One example is the Driver Ed In A Box Kit ($229). This comprehensive DIY kit includes 17 videos, six audio sessions, textbooks, workbooks, a parent companion guide and special training mirrors for hands-on driving lessons. Again, if you have the energy and motivation, this driver ed option offers ample room for personalization and a significant savings over some other methods.

One growing trend in driver education is the interactive course conducted solely or primarily online. These sites are designed to appeal to the teenage driver-to-be, and try hard to be user-friendly. A few examples of these Web sites are: TeenDriverEd.com ($75), TeenDrivingCourse.com ($95) and DriversEd.com ($39). Each course is different, so it's important that you and your child look at each of the Web sites and what they offer before making a decision. If you are not clear on what the curriculum on an interactive Web site will offer your child, he or she could end up with a sub-standard driver education. Be sure to do your homework. The two obvious benefits are the flexible time frame in which the course can be completed and the significantly lower price than many other options.

Whichever method of driver education you choose for your teenager, the emphasis you place on safe driving practices will make an impact. With a solid educational foundation and strong family support, your child can beat the odds to become a competent, safe teenaged driver.

Youth Traffic Safety Statistics, obtained June 19, 2008 from: http://www.teendrivingfoundation.org/statistics.php

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