This study examined how driver education courses are implemented in the United States. Driver education curricula currently in use in select States were compared with the latest recommendations of the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association. A panel of 57 pre-license teens from 18 States newly enrolled in driver education courses were recruited and asked to report periodically on their progress. All or nearly all of the recommended topics were included in curricula provided by the 18 states. Nearly all the teens reported receiving instruction on all or nearly all topics. Teens reported that the material was well presented and that their classes lasted for the full required 30 hours. Teens also reported that their on-road supervised driving covered all or nearly all of the recommended on-road topics. However, barely half of the teens said they received the full required 6 hours of on-road instruction (average 4.6 hours/student); only about 1 in 10 received the updated recommended 8 hours of on-road instruction. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting