Tina Suehisa
Driving Schools should have specialized programs for different types of individuals. For example,
bor the young person who is just out of high school, there should be tips on what the the
possible attitudes of the drivers out there are, and how to handle the different possibilities. It
is extremely easy for new drivers to get used to the older or should we say 'more experienced
drivers' attitudes and accept them as the norm, and acquire these attitudes themselves. This is a
pitfall we must avoid if we are to have better traffic behavior in the future. Teach the new
drivers to develop a good attitude, by showing them techniques for coping with traffic and their
frustrations.
As for the older drivers out there, there should be refresher courses required at least every five
years. This refresher course should provide them with a way of assessing their driving behavior,
give them techniques for behavior modification, as well as traffic coping techniques. I'm not
suggesting drivers should have to pay privately for this schooling. If the state were to provide
the schooling, they could add a training fee to the driver license fee. By doing this, it would
ensure the driver would get the necessary education so sorely needed by all of us these days.
Driver Education in high schools could easily incorporate lessons in behavior assessment and
modification into their curriculum as well.
A Penton
I feel that the whole nation should follow California's model of Drivers
Education. It consists of 9 weeks of in-class drivers education and 8
hours driving behind-the-wheel with cars and instructors provided free by
the state. This drivers ed must be taken in high school and the best part
is that a youngster can't graduate without completing the whole course.
The drawback of the system is that people from outside of California
bring in their bad habits and people that are out of high school that
want to get a license don't get the same driving education that a
highschooler receives. Since Hawaii has a problem with a multi-cultured
driving population, a mandatory drivers education course should by implemented.
Hawaii should also implement the same highschool driving education system
as California.
California's driving schools follow the "defensive driving" model. I have
written my councilwoman (guess who) about the big number of accidents for
a population that drives, in my opinion, too slow. The dragonlady
responded by telling me that there wasn't that big of a problem and there
is no funding for mandatory drivers education. I guess we're just going
to have to be extra careful trying to exist in the dark ages.
Ron Simon
High school is the time when independence grows for a teenager. What
better way to have more freedom than by owning a driver's license. It
means (almost) unconditional freedom. In other words they don't have to
ask their parents to pick them up or take them out, but most of the time
they do have to inform them of where they are going.
Owning a driver's license does not come without danger. It is crucial
that people stick to the laws of safety on the road at all times of
driving, but it is obvious that many don't. One option that some have is
to take a high school driver's education course. Although in my opinion
I am not sure how much this increases the safety of everyone.
I have never personally taken a public driver's education course, but
from what I understand is that students get minimum actual driving time.
I did take a private driver's education course prior to my getting my
license, and it took me only five hours to do so. One hour a day for
five days. I drove the entire five hours and I learned the rules of the
road, as well as getting comfortable behind the wheel.
I believe that somehow the driver's education that is being offered at
the public schools could adopt this principle when teaching driving to
teenagers. i understand the financial situation but one must remember
that it took me only five hours to feel comfortable behind the wheel, and
isn't that the main goal of driver's education?
Honolulu, Hi
Honolulu, Hi
Honolulu, Hi
March 7, 1996