Updated: October 2006
Parent Taught Drivers Education
Issue Description
Many states require driver's education to be administered through the local public school or a "state certified" commercial driving school. However, since parents are responsible for the well-being and safety of their children, they should also have the ability to teach their own children how to drive safely.
Issue Background
In the 1940s and 50s parents were the primary teachers of their own children in driver's education programs. Later, in the 1960s and 70s, the focus shifted to school-taught driver's education. This shift was made in the hopes of assisting teenagers in driving tests and in gaining important driving skills. However, this has not improved teenage driving safety. Therefore the insurance industry and state legislatures have been moving toward a system of graduated driver's licenses, where a student has certain restrictions imposed (like not driving at night) until they reach a certain age. The requirement for driver education has been maintained in many states as part of this program, and HSLDA has been working on legislation in these states which would allow parent's to teach the required driver's education program.