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Driving instructors speak out
By Julie Becker
Daily News staff writer
The number of drivers who take a defensive driving approach when they see a nearby teen behind the wheel may be high, and their reactions may be for good reason.
A recent Associated Press story suggested that many Illinois teens are bad drivers and should have additional training before having free reign over the road. But according to driving schools in the Stateline Area, reckless driving among teens may have less to do with instruction than a lack of responsibility in using what they've learned.
“I think the skills are in place, but when you get teenagers in a car together everything they learned in drivers ed. goes out the window,” said Barry Molencupp, owner and instructor for Drive Right school in Rockford. “Those teenagers that don't do what they're taught will have problems.”
Jon Nortemann, Program Director for CESA 2 driver education, agreed young drivers often have a “bulletproof” mentality. For many, accidents end up being almost a reckless rite of passage, and he said it's difficult to teach teenagers not to behave that way.
An investigation conducted by the Chicago Tribune paints a different picture. Poor driving, they found, can be attributed to the fact that students who receive driver instruction through Illinois public schools may have as little as one hour of on-road training before passing the class.
In the Stateline area that doesn't appear to be the case. Of Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, Hononegah, Parkview and Clinton high schools, Hononegah is the only one with a class taught by the school's own staff.
Some local driving schools also offer their services at local high schools. CESA 2, one of 12 Cooperative Education Service Agencies in Wisconsin, offers a driver education program to 52 school districts in south central Wisconsin. Because it is entirely student-funded, however, Nortemann said students receive training that meets Wisconsin requirements.
Drive Right also offers classroom and behind-the-wheel components to student drivers at both its Rockford location and five surrounding high school classrooms. Molencupp said Illinois state law dictates that students must have at least 30 hours in the classroom and 12 hours behind the wheel - six driving and six observing - to pass the class and be eligible to take their road test.
Hononegah driving instructor Bob Young said, like any private driving instruction, the public high school's semester-long course must meet minimum state requirements.
Although simulation may account for part of the six hours of driving at Hononegah, Young said students would not pass the class with only one hour of actual on-road experience.
“There are 10 simulation lessons, and four simulators equal one hour of driving,” Young said. “The second half of the class is pretty much all on-road driving.”
Wisconsin state law specifies the same requirements for driving education. Above and beyond that, Illinois teens are required to hold their instruction permit for at least three months and, during that time, log 50 hours of driving practice - 10 of which must be at night - with a parent or driver over age 21.
Wisconsin teens must hold their permit for at least six months and have 30 hours of driving practice, 10 at night.
The classroom part is generally covered over a six to nine week time period with no more than 35 students per class, and the six hours of driving time can be completed over a period of three weeks to six months.
John Mayfield, owner of Rock Valley Driver School in Janesville, said he prefers students to complete their driving over the course of six months so they can take what they learn in each lesson and practice it with their parents until the next one.
All three instructors said it's obvious to them - and will be obvious to those administering road tests - which students have practiced with their parents and which have not. Although they guarantee students at least six hours of practice through class time, they said it's hard to ensure parents remain diligent beyond that.
“The parent component here is critical,” Nortemann stressed. “Without it, it's tough and almost impossible for them to pass. Six hours is nowhere near enough driving time.”
Molencupp added that there are consequences for parents who don't want to practice with their kids.
“If parents don't do the 50 hours, the parents will pay. It's very beneficial to take the time in the long run,” he said.
After taking a closer look at the number of teens injured and killed in car accidents - it's the number one killer of teens - Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White increased the number of hours required behind the wheel from 30 to 50 in June, and also added the requirement that 10 hours be at night.
A recent Associated Press story suggested that many Illinois teens are bad drivers and should have additional training before having free reign over the road. But according to driving schools in the Stateline Area, reckless driving among teens may have less to do with instruction than a lack of responsibility in using what they've learned.
“I think the skills are in place, but when you get teenagers in a car together everything they learned in drivers ed. goes out the window,” said Barry Molencupp, owner and instructor for Drive Right school in Rockford. “Those teenagers that don't do what they're taught will have problems.”
Jon Nortemann, Program Director for CESA 2 driver education, agreed young drivers often have a “bulletproof” mentality. For many, accidents end up being almost a reckless rite of passage, and he said it's difficult to teach teenagers not to behave that way.
An investigation conducted by the Chicago Tribune paints a different picture. Poor driving, they found, can be attributed to the fact that students who receive driver instruction through Illinois public schools may have as little as one hour of on-road training before passing the class.
In the Stateline area that doesn't appear to be the case. Of Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, Hononegah, Parkview and Clinton high schools, Hononegah is the only one with a class taught by the school's own staff.
Some local driving schools also offer their services at local high schools. CESA 2, one of 12 Cooperative Education Service Agencies in Wisconsin, offers a driver education program to 52 school districts in south central Wisconsin. Because it is entirely student-funded, however, Nortemann said students receive training that meets Wisconsin requirements.
Drive Right also offers classroom and behind-the-wheel components to student drivers at both its Rockford location and five surrounding high school classrooms. Molencupp said Illinois state law dictates that students must have at least 30 hours in the classroom and 12 hours behind the wheel - six driving and six observing - to pass the class and be eligible to take their road test.
Hononegah driving instructor Bob Young said, like any private driving instruction, the public high school's semester-long course must meet minimum state requirements.
Although simulation may account for part of the six hours of driving at Hononegah, Young said students would not pass the class with only one hour of actual on-road experience.
“There are 10 simulation lessons, and four simulators equal one hour of driving,” Young said. “The second half of the class is pretty much all on-road driving.”
Wisconsin state law specifies the same requirements for driving education. Above and beyond that, Illinois teens are required to hold their instruction permit for at least three months and, during that time, log 50 hours of driving practice - 10 of which must be at night - with a parent or driver over age 21.
Wisconsin teens must hold their permit for at least six months and have 30 hours of driving practice, 10 at night.
The classroom part is generally covered over a six to nine week time period with no more than 35 students per class, and the six hours of driving time can be completed over a period of three weeks to six months.
John Mayfield, owner of Rock Valley Driver School in Janesville, said he prefers students to complete their driving over the course of six months so they can take what they learn in each lesson and practice it with their parents until the next one.
All three instructors said it's obvious to them - and will be obvious to those administering road tests - which students have practiced with their parents and which have not. Although they guarantee students at least six hours of practice through class time, they said it's hard to ensure parents remain diligent beyond that.
“The parent component here is critical,” Nortemann stressed. “Without it, it's tough and almost impossible for them to pass. Six hours is nowhere near enough driving time.”
Molencupp added that there are consequences for parents who don't want to practice with their kids.
“If parents don't do the 50 hours, the parents will pay. It's very beneficial to take the time in the long run,” he said.
After taking a closer look at the number of teens injured and killed in car accidents - it's the number one killer of teens - Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White increased the number of hours required behind the wheel from 30 to 50 in June, and also added the requirement that 10 hours be at night.
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Whaaa wrote on Nov 3, 2006 9:50 AM: