“Driving lessons” begin well before the age of 16: survey

Driving instructors want parents to act as good role models to their children, long before those children are ready to get behind the wheel, according to a new survey by “I Promise Program” executive director Gary Direnfeld. “It is difficult for the instructor to instill good driving behavior when parents consistently exceed the speed limit themselves,” says Direnfeld, adding speed is the number one cause of driver fatality.Instructors also encourage parents to give their children 40-100 hours of driving instruction, on top of formal classes. And, instructors add, parents need to set clear guidelines for teens to retain the privilege of driving, including cost-sharing. Direnfeld released the results as part of the National Safety Council’s “crash free June”, which promotes safe driving for the summer months, traditionally the time when the highest number of teen driving fatalities occurs.