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Program designed to help parents, young drivers

Idaho Department of Education
Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna announced this week the creation of a new program to help parents and guardians of teen drivers.

The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program, sponsored by Ford Motor Company, is designed to optimize the 50 hours (10 at night) of supervised driving teens are required to complete with parents before receiving their license.

“The skills outlined in this guide are meant to help teens learn to be better drivers. It is one of the ways Ford works to help teens,” said Steve Kenner, global director of Ford’s Automotive Safety Office.

“In addition to this program, Ford offers Driving Skills for Life, which gives teens advanced, real-world training. Ford also offers MyKey technology, which gives parents options to help encourage safe-driving behaviors even when the parents aren’t in the car.”

MyKey technology, available on some new Ford models, can automatically control potential driving distractions, such as limiting the radio volume, disabling cell phone options, and providing more active alerts for drivers to engage seat belts.

“The State Department of Education is pleased to partner with Ford Motor Co. and the Idaho Transportation Department to make (supplemental teen-driving material) available to parents and students across the state of Idaho,” Luna said.

“Parents play a critical role in their children’s education, including their education behind the wheel. I encourage every parent to use The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program in helping every Idaho teen become a safe and responsible driver.”

ITD Chief Deputy Scott Stokes reminded Wednesday’s audience of the importance the department places on driving safety and joined the call for parents to play a larger role in preparing teens for driving.

The supplemental education program is available to parents and teens on multiple platforms, beginning with the printed curriculum distributed through driver’s license offices statewide when the teen receives his or her provisionary permit.

The printed curriculum is divided into skill sets and asks parents and teens to initial each lesson as the material is covered and the lessons are completed. The program is specific to the experience parents and teen encounter during the driver-education process and incorporates and supplements the driver’s manual and information provided by driver’s education instructors.

It is similar to programs used in other states, but the parents’ guide is tailored to the laws and license requirements of each respective state, explained Jeff Larson, president of Safe Roads Alliance, based in Massachusetts.

Parents and teens also can access the program online and through social media. A free mobile app that will help parents and teens track their drive times will be released in the fall.

Through a public-private partnership with Ford Motor Company, the ITD and SDE are able to provide the valuable resource to parents of teen drivers at no cost to families or taxpayers. The Ford sponsorship allows the ITD and SDE to address a need and to provide parents with a resource to ensure their teen receives the best experience on the road before licensing, during the state-required 50 hours of supervised driving.

“This exciting new opportunity will help young drivers develop and use the skills necessary to remain safe on our highways,” explains Ed Pemble, ITD’s driver services manager. “It will take driver education to a new level in Idaho and ultimately will result in fewer accidents and deaths.”

The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program encourages parents and teens to drive in a variety of weather conditions, on different road types, including rural roads, highways, city streets, and heavy traffic routes, and during different times of day. Increased experience driving with parents is a key to reducing teen-crash rates.

The program was developed in partnership with Safe Roads Alliance, a not-for-profit advocate for improved highway safety.

“Parents are in the best position to assure that their teens become safe, smart drivers,” Larson said. “This program is a resource that will help teens make good decisions once they are licensed."

More information on the program and downloads of a PDF or e-reader file is available at: www.theparentssuperviseddrivingprogram.com