Driver Education: Starting Young

Drivers on the Path to Safety

June 4, 2013

Donald Brown

Romona Cook

Dr. Patrica Larke

Nina Saint

Dannell Thomas, Moderator

Fort Worth, TX

Current overview of the efforts of

Texas driver education programs

– To prepare young drivers to manage

risks using proven safety

countermeasures

– To reduce deaths and injuries on our

streets and highways.

Agenda

• Classroom Instruction

• In-Car Instruction

• State Oversight

• Multicultural Educational Principles

DRIVER EDUCATION CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

Classroom Instruction

• ½ State High School Graduation Credit (Public School programs only)

• Core Program (No State Credit)

½ State High School

Graduation Credit • Minimum 56 hour classroom course,

may include:

– 7 hours behind the wheel & 7 hours in-car

observation instruction

• Multi-Phase - Minimum 40 hour

classroom course, must include:

– 4 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction

– 8 hours of in-car observation

– 12 hours of simulator instruction

Core Program

• Minimum 32 hours classroom

• Minimum 7 hours behind the wheel

• Minimum 7 hours of in-car observation

Classroom Instruction

Delivery Methods

• Traditional Classroom

• Online

– Texas Virtual School Network (State

Credit)

– Online – 32 Hour Core Program

Content Standards

• Modules 1 -12 Classroom Instruction

– Traffic Laws

– Driver Preparation

– Vehicle Movements

– Driver Readiness

– Risk Management

– Environmental Factors

Content Standards

– Distractions

– Alcohol and Other Drugs

– Adverse Conditions

– Vehicle Requirements

– Consumer Responsibilities

– Driver Responsibilities

DRIVER EDUCATION IN-CAR INSTRUCTION

In-Car Instruction

• Requirements – Instructor/Teacher

– Minimum 7 hours behind the wheel

– Minimum 7 hours in-car observation

In-Car Instruction

• Parent/Guardian/Mentor

– 20 hours behind the wheel (at least 10

hours at nighttime)

– Licensed driver at least 21 years of age,

one (1) year experience driving, occupying

the seat next to the driver

In-Car Instruction

Delivery Methods

• Vehicle

• Simulator

• Multi-Car Range

In-Car Instruction

Delivery Methods

• Simulator

– 4 hours simulator instructional hours to 1

hours behind the wheel & 1 hour in-car

observation

– Maximum substitute for 3 hours

• In-Car Hours w/Simulator

– 4 hrs behind the wheel, 4 hrs in-car

observation,& 12 hrs simulator hours

In-Car Instruction

Delivery Methods

• Multi-Car Range

– 2 hours Multi-Car Range instructional

hours substitute for 1 hour behind the

wheel & 1 hour in-car observation

– Maximum substitute for 3 hours

• In-Car Hours w/Multi-Car Range

– 4 hrs behind the wheel, 4 hrs in-car

observation, & 6 hrs Multi-Car Range

Content Standards

– Distractions

– Alcohol and Other

Drugs

– Adverse Conditions

– Vehicle Requirements

– Consumer

Responsibilities

– Driver

Responsibilities

• Modules 1 -12 In-Car

Instruction

– Traffic Laws

– Driver Preparation

– Vehicle Movements

– Driver Readiness

– Risk Management

– Environmental

Factors

STATE OVERSIGHT OF

DRIVER EDUCATION

SCHOOLS

Programs

• Texas Education Agency – Education

Service Center, Region 13 School

Programs

– Public School (10%)

– Licensed (Commercial) Schools (54%)

• Department of Public Safety

– Parent Taught Programs (36%)

Public Schools

• Public Schools, Education Service

Centers, and Colleges/Universities

– Statues:

• Section 7.021 (b) (9), Education Code

• Section 29.902, Education Code

– Rules: Chapter 75, 19 Texas

Administrative Code

Licensed (Commercial)

Schools

• Statute: Chapter 1001, Education Code

• Rules: Chapter 176, Title 19 Texas

Administrative Code

Parent Taught Programs

• Department of Public Safety

– Statute: Section 512.205, Transportation

Code

– Rules: Parent Taught Driver Education,

Title 37 Texas Administrative Code, Part 1,

Chapter 18, Subchapter B

Number of

Programs/Instructors

• Programs

– Public School Programs - 285

– Licensed (Commercial) Schools - 415

• Instructors

– Driver Training Schools (1,500)

– In-School Programs (1,000)

2011 – 2012 Certificates Sold

to Different Programs

• Driver Training School – 137,158

• In-School Programs – 21,071

• DPS Parent Taught – 60,000

Driver Education Curriculum Content Standards

• The agency shall develop a program of

organized instruction in driver education

and traffic safety for public school

students.

• All programs must meet these

curriculum standards.

Different Types of Driver

Education Programs

• Core program.

• In-car only program.

• Classroom only program.

• School day credit program.

• Non-school day credit program.

• Multi-phase school day or non-school

day credit program.

DIVERSE CLIENTELE IN

DRIVER EDUCATION

National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration

• “I firmly believe that an effective driver education program-along with

proven safety legislation, active law enforcement and positive

engagement of parents, schools and other community members - is an

important element in a program to protect these young drivers” (David

L. Strickland, NHTSA Administrator).

• Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards

that guide all novice and teen driver education and training programs. – 1.1.9 ensure that programs reflect multicultural education principles and are free of

bias.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/DriverEducationProgram

Multicultural Education

• A field of study whose major aim is to

create equal educational opportunities

for students from diverse racial/ethnic,

social class and cultural groups and

religious groups.

Levels of Diversity

Awareness

• Contributions – Share heroes and sheroes -

food, fashion, fun, folklore, list of people. Add

a few pictures

• Additive – Use as extra credit, not part of the

“cannon.” Discuss concepts within, not

alone—race, gender as relate to driving…

Levels of Diversity

Awareness

• Transformation – Increase the knowledge to

change the subject area. Showing how to

drive in a diverse areas.

• Social Action – Change views of society.

Reducing crashes, fatalities… Safe driving

habits.

Ethnic and Cultural Diversity

in Curriculum Content

• All knowledge in order to be effective

must be connected to their interests,

dreams and needs outside of institution

and work environment.

• Students must be allowed to help

originate, design and direct their own

curriculum. They need ownership in

their learning.

Gay, 2000

Embracing Diversity

Be Aware

Know Others

Culturally Sensitive

Words & Actions

High Expectations with

“Real Meanings”

Value All Languages

Accept & Respect

Topology Includes

• Curriculum

• Visual representation

• Instruction

Larke, 2013

Curriculum

• Invisibility

• Stereotyping

• Selectivity and Imbalance

• Unreality

• Fragmentation and Isolation

• Improper Linguistic

• Loaded Words

Visual Representation

Visual Representation

Practice Example

Body size bias occurs in the curriculum when visual images portray only the model image, such as skinny, fair skinned, and blonde

Illustrate all body sizes in positive situations. Cars to fit sizes

Authentic images of people in accurate environment areas must be portrayed in the curriculum

Illustrate people in genuine situations accurate to the environment.

Contact Information

• Driver Training, www.esc13.net/drivers

– Nina Saint

• ESC 6, www.esc6.net

– Donald Brown

– Romona Cook

– Dannell Thomas

• Dr. Patricia Larke, plarke@tamu.edu

References

• Banks, J. A. & Banks, C. A. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of research on

multicultural education. New York: Jossey-Bass.

• Grant, C. (Winter 1994). Challenging the myths about multicultural education.

Multicultural Education. 4-8.

• Gay, G. (2000). Culturally responsive teaching: Theory, research and practice.

New York: Teachers College Press.

• Larke, P.J. (2007).Multicultural education guidelines for examining culturally

responsive practices in driver education and traffic safety curriculum.

Unpublished document. Austin, TX

• Larke, P.J. & Saint, N. J. (2008). Curriculum to prepare instructors to serve

diverse populations. The Dual News (36)3, 12-13. www.thesaa.org

• Texas Education Agency, Program of Organized Instruction for Driver Education

and Traffic Safety, Texas Administrative Code, Texas Education Code

• Texas Department of Transportation, 2011 Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic

Control Devices