Teen Driver Education:
The Young and The Reckless
Here Comes the Son

I'm now in the challenging position of being the parent of a teenage driver: My son, Matt, has recently acquired his license. Unlike many kids his age, Matt didn't seem to be in a hurry--instead of applying for his learner's permit on his 15th birthday (the minimum required age in our home state of California), he waited six additional months. Because California law requires that new drivers under age 18 take courses in driver's education and drug and alcohol awareness before a learner's permit can even be issued, Matt signed up for an online study program from California's Private Educational Network. My wife and I then had to certify that Matt had studied the material and answered the questions with no outside help. (Those who might scoff at the notion of such an honor system probably aren't considering the costs of "cheating." One cringes at the thought of a parent who would willingly allow his child to climb behind the wheel of an automobile with falsified credentials.)

Once Matt had completed his study course and obtained his permit, he signed up for six hours of driver training with a local driving school (California law requires that the first hour of highway driving be with a professional instructor). That class complete, Matt chalked up the required 50 hours of practice driving (the law specifies that 10 of these hours be at night and all 50 accompanied by a licensed driver age 25 or older) and waited for his 16th birthday.

A week before Matt took his driver's test, I installed a CarChip monitoring device (see sidebar) in the family Ford Windstar. It proved an invaluable tool for Matt to see how he was doing as a driver. It helped him realize, for instance, that he was often braking too hard and revving the engine too much.

I left the CarChip in the Windstar when Matt took his test--and was later amazed and disappointed when the unit revealed that the test had lasted only nine minutes and covered only four miles (Matt did pass, and the CarChip confirmed that he drove smoothly). I intend to leave the CarChip where it is to periodically check on Matt's progress as he begins to drive alone.

Matt's new provisional driver's license states that, for six months, he cannot carry any passengers under age 20 or drive between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., unless he's accompanied by a driver at least 25 years old (the restrictions relax after six months, but are fully lifted only after a full year of infraction-free driving). This is proving the toughest policy to enforce, as Young Master Rettie naturally wants to go places with his friends--without a chaperone.

Yet GDL programs seem to offer a sensible compromise. Rather than preventing teenagers from obtaining a driver's license until they reach age 18 (which is the case in many countries), graduated licenses let them dip their toes into driving waters at a relatively young age. Then, in the presence of an adult, novice drivers can be gradually introduced to greater risks (such as driving at night or carrying friends) over a period of a year or more. Again, the key element is a parent who cares enough to be a good teacher.