I remember teaching kids how to drive. When my daughter turned 15, we bought her a small used car with a manual transmission. My two children and I spent many hours exploring the maze of her addition to the Alliance Homestead. They learned how to handle a vehicle, change gears, reverse, park, use mirrors, measure speed, types of turns, and be aware of obstacles before actually driving on the road with other vehicles. For seven years, we had the pleasure of being chauffeured everywhere! And both of our children took a summer driver's education course, which earned us a deduction on our car insurance.
We all think country kids are better drivers. However, Box Butte and Scottsbluff counties are in the top 10 in Nebraska for accidents caused by poor driving, speed and distraction, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
The Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) is asking parents to fill out a survey at https://tinyurl.com/ypxrakpd regarding driver education courses. Only 20% of Panhandle teens take a driver's education course, compared to the state average of 50%. Driver education reduces accidents and traffic tickets.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released facts and figures for its driver education program. Their findings: Teen drivers who haven't completed driving education are 16% more likely to cause an accident. He is 24% more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident.
Teens who do not receive driving education are not only more likely to be involved in an accident, they are also 75% more likely to receive a traffic ticket.
In Nebraska, most teens must obtain a driving license and log 50 hours of driving practice under the supervision of a parent or other adult. UNL researchers found that during the first year of driving, students who took driver's education had significantly more accidents and traffic tickets than a group who logged driving hours without formal driving instruction. I discovered that there were few.
During the 2013-2014 school year, Nebraska high school students were asked to complete a survey about their teen driving experiences. The latest results online are from her January 2023 survey completed by 1,777 students from 12 Nebraska high schools. Research Highlights – All Risky Behaviors:
Drove a car without wearing a seatbelt: 29%
Riding a car without wearing a seatbelt: 51%
Talked on a cell phone while driving: 71%
Texting while driving: 66%
If a drunk driver is a passenger: 15%
Passenger was accompanied by a driver who used marijuana: 7%
Two or more teenage passengers and no adults: 59%
Driver education courses typically include classroom instruction on topics such as vehicle safety, laws and regulations, vehicle operation, and factors that affect driving such as alcohol, road conditions, and distraction. . Students will also practice rear wheel driving with a trained instructor.
Driving has changed. Our roads and technology have changed. If I were to teach my kids now, I would have to add things like roundabouts, zipper joins, backup cameras, and using GPS maps.
WNCC will be offering driver education courses for ages 14 to 17 from July 8th to 12th. The cost is $195 and the instructor is Richard Kennedy. Students must have a learner permit. The student must complete her 20 hours of classes and on the final exam she must earn a score of 70% or higher. She then has to drive for 5 hours with a driving test instructor and pass the driving test. For more information, please email drivers.ed@wncc.edu or call 308-635-6700 for a registration form.
Informed, competent, and safe teen drivers ultimately reduce the risk of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on our nation's roads. And driver education can help make teens safer drivers.
