I have a 16-year-old daughter who got her Kentucky Learner’s Permit in September of last year. We have an ongoing debate as to whether or not she should attend and complete a driver education class (which incidentally I won). I believe that she should attend and complete a driver’s education class, if only for the insurance discount that will help to keep my car insurance premiums at a lower rate.
As everybody is aware, teenage drivers’ insurance policy premiums are very, very high. My daughter claims that she is a good driver (which she is) and she doesn’t need to waste her time going to “this stupid class”. Now here is a strange twist. Believe it or not, my 21-year-old became an unexpected ally and is on my side. She says that a driver’s education class is a must.
New drivers and all drivers under the age of 21 are more likely to be involved in an accident than their older counterparts. So do driver education classes really work? Is this something that all new drivers should take? Or is it just a money making racket?
As a parent I believe that safe and good driving habits come with time and practice. I believe the same thing as a personal injury and accident attorney. The more time you spend behind the wheel the better driver you become, especially if you have the proper training and guidance to begin with. This is how automobile accidents are prevented. As with any activity, if you practice bad habits you only develop bad habits. If the parent is guiding the new driver in the proper direction time behind the wheel will help prevent serious automobile accidents in Kentucky. As with any activity you are learning multiple teachers can be good thing. This adds to the perspectives the student is exposed to.
This is where driver education classes come in to play. Somebody that can actually teach you the correct rules of the road and the law is invaluable. A second opinion is invaluable. Oftentimes a parent is not listened to. An outside authority figure is more likely to get through to a teenager. The bottom line is driver education classes are not the only avenue of teaching kids how to drive but it should be a part of it.
Parental responsibility is still the main avenue of learning. Teaching children responsibility in their driving habits should be a priority. The National Safety Council has implemented a program called “Alive at 25”. Their motto is “Saving Lives Through Education”. This is the key to safe accident free drivers, education and time behind the wheel.
This is why the Kentucky Graduated License Program works. It doesn’t give a new driver a total control and driving privileges immediately. This program requires the parent to sign the permit applications for anyone under the age of 18, putting responsibility with the parent. A permit driver must drive with another driver over 21 for a minimum of 60 hours of practice driving, 10 hours of which must occur at night.
After the driver gets their license they are placed in an intermediate driving phase. Drivers under the age of 18 are not allowed to drive between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless good cause is demonstrated. Additionally there are passenger restrictions. All of these rules gradually place the new driver in situations they can handle before more difficult situations may be encountered. They remain under the guidance of more experienced drivers for this time period.
In my opinion any and all education prevents auto accidents and is a good thing, whether teenagers believe it or not. As for now my 16 year old is driving a car around one time a week that has a big yellow sign on top that says “Caution New Driver”
