Driver education needs U-turn back to the past
Your Aug. 23 editorial on high school driver education failed to elaborate on the most important point: Accidents and serious injuries are up primarily because proper training has declined.
Because of attempts to save money, the quality of driver education has diminished. The original course consisted of more than just teaching how to drive from Point A to Point B. Science and technology also were taught.
Up until a few years ago, high school teachers taught the courses and graded the students. The course was downgraded to noncredit status, eventually taken out of the school day and opened to bids by private contractors.
The state gives each school district $300 for each eligible student, whether they complete the course or not. If a private contractor bids less than $300 per student, the schools pocket the balance.
But private contractors don’t use the certified high school teachers. Some of their instructors have only a GED and a DMV certificate.
This saves money and increases profits. But it also lessens the quality of instruction.
If the state and local systems are really committed to upgrading driver education and lowering insurance rates, they will return to the original system.
It was not broken and did not need fixing.
M.H. Dalton
Greensboro
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