How Have Safe Driving Classes Affected Teens' Driving?

Some states require teens to take safe-driving classes.

Safe-driving classes teach teenagers safe-driving methods and the ability to handle a range of driving situations. Some courses are offered in a classroom, while others provide at-the-wheel training. Each type of program has a different effect of teen driving.

Significance

When combined with other safety requirements, 16-year-old teens who have 30 or more hours of certified driving practice -- such as driving time as part of a safe-driving class -- have a 40 percent decrease in injury-involving crashes, notes the "Nationwide Review of Graduated Driver Licensing" by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Benefits

Safe-driving courses give teens greater confidence when driving and a greater sense of responsibility, according to autos.com. Teens are also more likely to remember driving laws and regulations when the information is explicitly taught though a course, rather than presented in a driver's manual.

Warning

Having a teen take a driving class is not the only step in creating a safe driver. The American Automobile Association suggests that parental involvement and limited exposure to risky driving situations play a role in keeping teens safe and preventing accidents.

References

• AAA: Teen Driver Safety
• autos.com: Five Benefits of Driver Safety Education