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House Bill 1299: Prohibit Parent-Directed Driver’s Education
Author:
Representative Ambler
Summary:
This bill requires that a minor complete an approved and specified driver education course, which does not include those taught by parents.
Status:
| 3/4/2008 |  | (House) Introduced |
| 3/7/2008 | | (House) Referred to Policy and Budget Council |
| 3/10/2008 | | (House) Referred to Committee on Infrastructure by Economic Expansion & Infrastructure Council |
| 3/10/2008 | | (House) Infrastructure Committee reported favorable passage, 10-0 |
| 5/2/2008 | | (House) Session ended; bill died |
HSLDA's Position:
HSLDA is opposed to this bill.
Action Requested:
None requested at this time.
Background:
Parents have two choices for their children’s driver education: pay for their children to be taught how to drive at a commercial driving school by certified instructors, or try to persuade the local public schools to make room in their driver’s education courses.
Many states allow parents a third option: teach your own children how to drive. States for too long have restricted parents’ right to teach their children to drive.
In addition, statistics show parent-taught driver training saves lives. For example, compare the following facts:
According to insurance company statistics, out of every 100 teen drivers:
- 37 will be ticketed for speeding,
- 28 will be involved in accidents,
- 13 will be injured in an automobile accident,
- 4 will be ticketed for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and
- 1 will be killed in an automobile accident.
On the other hand, according to a University of Colorado-Colorado Springs survey, for every 100 students using a parent-taught driver education program (provided by the National Driver Training Institute of Colorado Springs):
- 8 were ticketed for speeding,
- 8 were involved in accidents,
- 6 were injured in automobile accidents,
- 1 was ticketed for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and there were NO fatalities.
This study and others demonstrate that parent-taught driver education produces safer drivers.
 Other Resources |
