Driver Education - What is it really?

By Tim Howson

Driver Education is a term which is widely used and yet poorly understood.

Many people fail to understand the objectives or the purpose of a complete driver education program.The idea that taking a few driving lessons will save some insurance dollars and help a student get past the dreaded drivers test are the main reasons that people enroll their children in a driver education program.

Driver education is designed to prepare new drivers with the tools required in order to drive safely for many years of driving ahead. When compared to any single course at a high school level, driver education falls far short.The average driver education program in Canada is comprised of 25 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of in-car instruction. This is far less than many areas in the world which require an average of 100 hours training in order to begin driving. The number of collisions which occur in Canada is seen as normal for new drivers.The chance of injury and the extreme financial cost would make this perspective unbelievable at best.

We allow new drivers to enter a world of vehicles which becomes more crowded each year, and more dangerous.We allow this with less training than most people take for swimming, skiing or music lessons.The cost of driver education is far less than even a one year insurance policy.

The average amount of practice that new drivers get with parents is steadily decreasing due to increased stress and workloads for parents. It is a known fact that 100 hours of behind the wheel driving is a minimum before a new driver can drive alone in todays society.Driver education provides approximately 10% of this. Most people realize that skiing, swimming or music lessons are of little use without practice. Driving is no different.

Driving can and should be fun. If it feels scary then it isnt safe. Students should start practicing in quiet areas and proceed slowly to more difficult tasks.Parents should take care not to suddenly throw their children into high risk driving situations.Remember that the skills they learn will be used a lifetime so help them learn about the car controls and the street patterns in your area. You can discuss safe driving with them when you are driving. It will make you safer and give them the knowledge that you care about safe driving. For more information about How to Practice with Your Teen contact us at howson@soonet.ca