affic offenders. When the judge sentences the offender, he or she is required to attend a class on traffic safety and the consequences of poor decisions. Both programs have been effective in decreasing reckless driving among young people. In addition, states should provide better driver’s education classes that are more readily available to teens. Current classes consist of bookwork, lectures, and the occasional simulation. The classes should use actual cars or simulations whenever possible. There is no substitute for driving experience. Bob Bondurant, former professional race car driver, current president of the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Phoenix, Arizona, and consumer advisor for Ford Motor Company strongly believes in driver education. He states, “teenage drivers need to be equipped with sight and thought processes which allow them to make correct decisions in the ever-changing traffic environment. Proper on-road instruction and experience can help a young driver meet the many challenges of vehicle operation” (Bondurant 1).An alternative to increasing the driving age is to use the graduated license system. This system utilizes curfews for drivers under the age of 18, the strict enforcement of seatbelts, adult accompaniment for a designated time period, and limits the transport of other teenagers. It also places restrictions on drivers under 21 with moving violation convictions or major driving offenses. A 16-year-old obtains his or her full license after supervised behind-the-wheel practice, a completed driver’s education class, and having a learner’s permit for a minimum of three months. These steps have proven to be beneficial to teens; reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) declare that “states with night-time driving restrictions are associated with crash redu...
