Bob,
I heartily agree with you that our kids need that parental involvement in the
driving process. I remember my dad working with me, many times at extra
legal speeds, but I learned.
I took my high school driver ed class on a "field trip" the other day and we
watched traffic at two intersections close to the school. We saw the makeup
artist, one woman filing her nails (must have been driving with her knees) as
well as other violations in a relatively short period of time at other than
peak traffic times.
Now I will get on my soap box. In 2004 California changed the permit age of
drivers from 15 to 15 1/2. Their reasoning was they wanted young drivers
"more experienced" before they get their driver license, so the shortened the
time
before 16 they can hold a permit. This is a real problem in California
because those new drivers could get their permit in March, their license in
September and NEVER drive in the rain or other inclement weather conditions.
In 2004 I had the opportunity to drive with the overlap drivers, those that
had had their permits almost a year, obtaining them at 15 plus a couple of
weeks, and those bound by the new law that made them wait until they were 15
1/2.
As would be expected, those drivers that had almost a year of supervised
driving practice were very good drivers while the ones with a permit for 6
months
were competent. If you are letter writers, I would ask you to write your
state senator, assembly person and the governor and urge them to roll the
permit
age back to 15. I am confident it will make those young drivers MUCH safer on
the highways, and the highways safer for us and our beloved Healeys
Followed by a tailgater, increase you following distance to 6 or more
seconds, time is your friend.
Cheers,
Dave Duffey
59 BT 7 project
Credentialed High School Teacher, State licensed Driver Education/Training
and Traffic School Instructor.
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Healeys@autox.team.net
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