Driver's Education

The kids are nearly done with their classroom driver's ed class. They just have 1 more class next Tuesday, and then it is on to in-car hours. I'm going to schedule DS first because he will definitely be going for his license before his sister. It may not be as soon as he would like (it will be based on MY comfort level, not his!), but he will test sooner than she does.

I had been been kind of irritated with myself, thinking that I should have signed them up sooner in their learning-to-drive process. Waaaaay back when I took driver's ed (it was a semester class in school), you took classroom first before ever being allowed to get your permit, and so I was thinking that maybe DD especially would have been more comfortable had she gotten "professional" instruction at least in the classroom prior to hitting the road. Wrong! Apparently you don't take driver's ed now until you are ready to test for your permanent license as the kids were told by their instructor that the class they are taking is specifically to prepare them for the test. (Yes, another school teaching to "the test"! Don't get me started..... lol) It's not a class to teach you how to drive on the road as a beginner; they assume you have already had at least half your required hours (25) before signing up with them. So wouldn't "driving test preparation class" be more accurate than "driver's ed?" Just wondering.....

Anyhow, they've enjoyed it so far. They've learned all about street signs and the importance of insurance and have even seen the graphic, gruesome, this-is-what-happens-when-you-drive-distracted/drunk/high-and-crash-and-die films. Then came last night.....Another accident discussion. The instructor starts out by talking about a student he had last year...who was from a specific county school (no, it couldn't be).....who blew a stop sign last summer (could it?)....speeding (what school does he go to again?)....with too many unrelated kids in the car (oh no)....and killed a woman and injured 3 others, two critically (it is!). The un-named young man the instructor was talking about was the kids' cousin. *sigh* And discussion for the next 10-15 minutes centered on what this teen did wrong, how he could have prevented the accident, the lifelong consequences of the accident for the teen and the family of not only the woman who died but also the friends in his car and the baby in the other vehicle who were severely injured, etc. My kids did speak up and say he was their cousin, which hopefully prevented too much bashing, which had started. (It's one thing to use an accident as an example; it's another thing to bash.) This accident had affected my kids last summer, DD especially, and it really brought home the serious responsibility you have when you are behind the wheel back then, but it was definitely reinforced last night. (Their cousin has not been charged yet in regard to the accident. For some reason the Ohio State Highway Patrol tends to take months - 9 or 10 months sometimes - to bring charges in accidents that cause a death. )

So it has been an interesting 2 weeks for them. DS is pushing even harder to drive more and more and is anxious to get his in-car driver's ed hours started. DD has started to show some interest in getting behind the wheel again, although she still says she would rather be a passenger. :-) I know I need to loosen the apron string and let them have their independence (I well remember when I was 16 and wanting to drive!), but it sure is hard! Just trusting in God to protect them!