Driving lessons in American schools

Hi all,

Someone told me that American children learn to drive as part of the school
curriculum. This seems unlikely to me, because I can't really see 30 cars
and 30 driving instructors showing up at the school simultaneously, so I'm
wondering if I've been told the truth, and if so, how does it work. Thanks
in advance.

--
John Rowland - Spamtrapped
Transport Plans for the London Area, updated 2001
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...69/tpftla.html
A man's vehicle is a symbol of his manhood.
That's why my vehicle's the Piccadilly Line -
It's the size of a county and it comes every two and a half minutes

John Rowland wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Someone told me that American children learn to drive as part of the school
> curriculum. This seems unlikely to me, because I can't really see 30 cars
> and 30 driving instructors showing up at the school simultaneously, so I'm
> wondering if I've been told the truth, and if so, how does it work. Thanks
> in advance.
>
I believe it's untrue....


--
Paul
'91 XL1200
'77 GL1000 (W.I.P.)
"I feel more like I do now than when I got here"

John Rowland wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Someone told me that American children learn to drive as part of the school
> curriculum. This seems unlikely to me, because I can't really see 30 cars
> and 30 driving instructors showing up at the school simultaneously, so I'm
> wondering if I've been told the truth, and if so, how does it work. Thanks
> in advance.
>
I believe it's untrue....


--
Paul
'91 XL1200
'77 GL1000 (W.I.P.)
"I feel more like I do now than when I got here"

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004, John Rowland wrote:

> Someone told me that American children learn to drive as part of the school
> curriculum.

Nope, that's wrong.

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004, John Rowland wrote:

> Someone told me that American children learn to drive as part of the school
> curriculum.

Nope, that's wrong.

They did back in the 1970's. The cars were provided by the local Chevy
dealer and there was a driving track on the school premesis. The 1st half
of the semester was classroom training and "scare" films. The next quarter
of the semester was out on the driving track/course that has intersections,
parrallel parking, etc. with one licensed student trainer (typically
seniors) in the passenger seat. Usually there were three new drivers per
car...each got 1/3 of the driving each class period. The last quarter of
the semester the driving instructor took groups of two (or three...don't
remember) at a time out on the real roads for each class period.

Lawyers and liability killed most public school driving programs about 20+
years ago. They were fairly successful for the most part from the
standpoint of teenage accident rates in areas where public school programs
existed.

They did back in the 1970's. The cars were provided by the local Chevy
dealer and there was a driving track on the school premesis. The 1st half
of the semester was classroom training and "scare" films. The next quarter
of the semester was out on the driving track/course that has intersections,
parrallel parking, etc. with one licensed student trainer (typically
seniors) in the passenger seat. Usually there were three new drivers per
car...each got 1/3 of the driving each class period. The last quarter of
the semester the driving instructor took groups of two (or three...don't
remember) at a time out on the real roads for each class period.

Lawyers and liability killed most public school driving programs about 20+
years ago. They were fairly successful for the most part from the
standpoint of teenage accident rates in areas where public school programs
existed.

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 16:16:32 -0500, Daniel J. Stern > wrote:
>On Thu, 16 Dec 2004, John Rowland wrote:

>> Someone told me that American children learn to drive as part of the school
>> curriculum.

>Nope, that's wrong.

you're the one whose mistaken. Almost all american high schools have some
kind of driver's ed program. Not everybody participates, but they exist.

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 16:16:32 -0500, Daniel J. Stern > wrote:
>On Thu, 16 Dec 2004, John Rowland wrote:

>> Someone told me that American children learn to drive as part of the school
>> curriculum.

>Nope, that's wrong.

you're the one whose mistaken. Almost all american high schools have some
kind of driver's ed program. Not everybody participates, but they exist.

"John Rowland" > wrote
> Someone told me that American children learn to drive as part of the
> school
> curriculum. This seems unlikely to me, because I can't really see 30 cars
> and 30 driving instructors showing up at the school simultaneously, so I'm
> wondering if I've been told the truth, and if so, how does it work. Thanks
> in advance.

As Reeves says: not any more. Essentially, Driver's Ed. was passed off
to private contractors 15-20 years ago (although there may be some areas
where they're still in the public school system.) However, most public
schools
allow signups at the school, or provide bulletin board space, etc.

I learned in a Plymouth Satellite with my gym (physical ed.) teacher
Mr. Eustace - a 6'8" guy - way back. Actually, I learned 7-8 years
earlier in our WWII army Jeep on our farm and on Forest Service roads...

Floyd