When I got my driver’s license in the late 1980s, I had maybe a few weeks of “behind the wheel” driving experience at my high school. I basically learned everything about driving AFTER I got my driver’s license. Thankfully, times have changed. We now recognize how important it is for teens to get thorough education and practice BEFORE they get a driver’s license. As a mom of teenagers, I am so grateful the driver’s education and licensing process has become more thorough and comprehensive.
The truth is that roads can be dangerous for inexperienced drivers. Teen drivers have a higher rate of fatal crashes mainly because of their immaturity, lack of skills and lack of driving experience. Add in the distractions like cell phones and friends riding in the car and it gets even more dangerous.
My sixteen-year-old son is working hard to get his driver’s license. He has held a learner’s permit for more than 9 months. He has finished a comprehensive driver’s education course which included classroom and driving practice. We know teen boys are at higher risk for crashes, so he is currently getting well beyond the required 50 hours of driving practice (including 10 hours at night) supervised by his dad or me. We are also making sure he has exposure to a wide variety of driving situations beyond nighttime driving. He has driven on the highway, on country roads, in the city and on the suburban roads close to our home. His dad took him out in a snowstorm recently, so he got practice driving in inclement weather.
Once he gets his license, he will have to comply with the requirements of the initial licensing phase which include nighttime driving restrictions, limiting passengers, and no texting and driving. He also must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months prior to turning 18 before he moves to the Full Licensing Phase.
It takes patience and support from parents to help teens obtain their driver’s license. But we know it is worth it. Studies have shown that Illinois’ graduated driver’s licensing laws has reduced teen crash fatalities by 50%.
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