A Fresh Look at Driver Education in America

Final report; 8/31/06-8/29/08.PDFTech ReportDOT HS 811 543211.4-1DTNH22-05-D-35043, Task Order 4Traffic safety educationDriver educationDriver licensesLicensingDriver licensingAdolescentsTeenage driversHigh risk driversGraduated licensingUnited StatesUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationThomas, F. DennisBlomberg, Richard D.Fisher, Donald L.Dunlap and Associates, inc.United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety ResearchNTL-LAWS AND REGULATIONS-State Laws and RegulationsNTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-EducationNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human FactorsNHTSA - Behavioral Safety ResearchThe objectives of this study were to: (1) identify and review current driver education and training programs in use nationally andinternationally; (2) identify best teaching practices for teenagers; (3) examine the optimal sequencing for the presentation of safe drivingskills in the classroom and behind-the-wheel training; and (4) assess whether a new approach to driver education would be beneficial.These objectives were accomplished using a survey of the driver education rules and practices in the 50 States performed by the AmericanAssociation of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) and Driver Education and Training Administrators (DETA); literature reviews ofresearch on teen crashes, the best teaching methodologies for teenagers, and injury prevention strategies for teens; and an expert panelanalysis that compared current teaching practices with identified best practices, combining driver training with graduated driver licensing(GDL) systems.Twenty-three States require driver education for all drivers under the age of 18; in 35 States a teen can obtain an unrestricted license before18 whether or not he/she takes driver education. In 25 States, a teen who takes driver education can get an unrestricted license at a youngerage. At least 18 States offer some benefit (waiving practice driving requirements, knowledge tests, road tests, or younger licensure) if ateen takes driver education. Twelve States said they developed specific curriculum guides for their driver education programs to use. Only13 of 40 responding States were able to indicate how many teen drivers who received their first licenses in 2006 had taken driver education.Most of the States had both high school and commercial programs in operation; a few accept only one type. Six States accepted Internetdriver education and 3 States accepted parent-taught driver education. The great majority of driver education programs include 30 hours ofclassroom instruction although the lowest number is 8 hours and the highest number is 56 hours. Oversight varies widely among States andoften involves multiple agencies if more than one form of driver education is acceptable.The key findings were: (1) driver education appears to do a good job in preparing students to pass State licensing examinations; (2) theexpectation that driver education by itself will lead to a decreased teen crash rate is unrealistic; (3) GDL has shown evidence of asignificant safety benefit and may benefit from greater parental involvement; (4) expanding driver education training beyond the currentclassroom and behind-the-wheel training by integrating it with graduated driver licensing may have increased traffic safety benefits foryoung drivers; and (5) an expanded driver education system would start preparing future drivers at an earlier age and encompass morestringent testing than is characteristic of current driver licensing practices