Community Chat

[On It]

Driver's Education is a matter of public safety. In our area of Texas, it is no longer offered as a part of the public school curriculum. Students who can afford the cost enroll in private driving schools or can be parent taught. This is not working, and the course needs to be returned to being a part of the public school curriculum.

This week two emergency vehicles were hit by drivers. A fire truck was responding to a call. It was hit by a car driving down a straight section of street. An ambulance had a gun shot victim on board and was hit from the rear. 

Newer drivers are not being trained properly. The driving school gets its money and passes them through. Parents have enough responsibility without having to teach kids to drive.  My son and my husband and I (30 years apart in age) were all three taught by dfferent athletic coaches. They know how to get your attention, hold it, and achieve a level of satisfactory accomplishment. I think I know why it was removed from the public schools, but it was a huge mistake that needs to be corrected.

[deepwaterdotter]

Do those seeking a driver's license in Texas need to pass an in-car driving test attended by an official of the Department of Motor Vehicles?

[cjm61]

Unfortunately, this will probably not happen. Many good courses in high school have been removed. In addition to Drivers Ed, most Industrial Arts are being eliminated as teachers retire. In California, Small Engines, Wood Shop, Metal Shop, Auto Shop, etc have been eliminated. 

This is something I am very concerned about. Not all students want, need, or geared to go to college. We could keep these students in school if we could find their niche in life. I have seen this first hand since working in the school system for years. Some students really need a reason to attend school other than for math, science and technology. For some reason our educators feel this is what is important. We NEED citizens who can not only drive safely but also to build our homes, cabinets, furniture, etc as well as fix our vehicles, lawnmowers, etc. 

I won't get into any more of this but in my experience this is causing too many students to drop out of school with little hope for the future. 

[beckyb1012]

My son is 39 but back when he turned 16 we did not know that here in Texas he did not have to take a driving test with a DPS officer like his Dad and I had to.  He and his father went to the DPS office to get it all done but all they had to do was show proof of the class and the required paperwork.  The fact my son was not even aware of the no driving test did not make me feel real comfortable with his paying attention to his driving instructor.  We have entirely too many 16-18 year olds killed behind the whee here in my area of Texas.

[On It]

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@deepwaterdotter wrote:

Do those seeking a driver's license in Texas need to pass an in-car driving test attended by an official of the Department of Motor Vehicles?

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It is my understanding that the driving school may pass them and award the license. Parent-taught young drivers take tests at the DPS office.

[proudlyfromNJ]

They still offer Drivers Ed where I went to High School, so I guess not all have stopped.

[spumoni99]

Here in CA we paid for our daughters drivers training but that was just for a few hours, as parents we had to supplement with a lot of hours of training, that is part of being a parent and many years ago even though I had drivers training in school I learned most from my father than just the few hours in school.

It is shocking that there isn't a behind the wheel test, that is still a requirement here.

[occasionalrain]

I had to pass a driving test, both written and on the road, conducted by the state Police. I don't know that most parents are qualified to teach driving to their children. Their cars are not equipped with a passenger braking system that will disable the driver's side gas pedal. If the parent has poor driving habits, he will pass them onto their child.

[sunshine45]

they have not had driving school through public schools here in at least a dozen years or more. when they did have it it was an after school program OR a weekend program. i did take drivers ed after school when i was in high school.

in maryland......

you do have to go to a an accredited driving school and take the classes, take a certain number of hours behind the wheel with an accredited instructor, and you have to have a certain number of hours behind the wheel with a licensed driver (and it has to be documented.) you then have to pass the computerized test and then the behind the wheel driving test at the MVA.

learners permit (you can get it by passing the computerized test and be at least 15 years and 9 months old)

provisional license for 18 months if you are under the age of 18 (there are other driving restrictions that do apply with this step of the licensing progress.

regular drivers license.

[On It]

Since I made my OP, another car has crashed into a fire truck a few minutes ago.