2006 Traffic Safety Summit Youth Driver Education Workshop March 1, 2006

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2006Traffic Safety SummitYouth Driver Education
Workshop March 1, 2006
Presented by Gary Bubar, AAA Michigan
Greg Lantzy and Darcy Bozen Michigan
Department of State
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Driver Education Segment 1

• Minimum age of 14 years, 8 months.
• Vision/health screening.
• 24 hrs. classroom instruction.
• 6 hrs. behind-the-wheel.
• Written exam.

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Level 1 License

• No fee.
• Minimum age of 14 years, 9 months.
• Vision exam.
• Health Standards Certification.
• Written approval of parents.
• May drive only with licensed parent or designated
  licensed adult age 21 or older.

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Preparation for Driver Education Segment 2

• Minimum 30 hours of behind-the-wheel experience
  with a licensed parent or designated licensed
  adult, including 2 hours of night-time driving.
• Minimum of 3 months between
  completion of Segment 1 and
  start
• of Segment 2.

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Driver Education - Segment 2

• 6 hours of
• classroom
• instruction.
• Possible
• written
• exam.

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Preparation for Road Test

• Complete what remains of the required 50 total
  hours of behind-the-wheel day and night.
• Review study guides.

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Road Test

• Conducted by a certified third party testing
  organization.
• Fee will vary.
• Minimum of 6 months
• at Level 1.
• Vehicle Inspection.
• Off-roadway test.
• On-roadway test.

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Level 2 License

• Fee.
• 16 years of age.
• 90 days violation/crash-free prior
• to application for Level 2 license.
• May drive unsupervised except from midnight to
  500 a.m.
• Driving permitted from midnight to 500 a.m. if
  driving to or from employment or with a licensed
  parent or designated adult age 21 or older.

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Level 3 License

• No fee.
• 17 years of age.
• Minimum of 6 months at Level 2.
• 12 consecutive months of violation/ crash-free
  driving at Level 1/Level 2 prior to application
  for Level 3.
• Full driving privileges with no restrictions.

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Driver Education Programs 2004
Teen Licensed Driver Training Schools
180
360
Adult Licensed Driver Training Schools
Teen and Adult Licensed Programs
12
21
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Commercial Licensed Driver Training Schools
126,500 Students Trained
Public Schools
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Driver Education Instructors 2004
Public School Instructors
288
Licensed Instructors Teaching Teens
1400
1245
Licensed Instructors Teaching Adults
2933 Total Driver Education Instructors
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Michigan Driver EducationProgram
Comparisons2000 - 2004
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Public Schools 473
460 448 422 360 90 88 85 80
69 Driver Training Schools 119 124 133
149 180 Total Programs 592 584 581 571
540 Indicates percentage of public school
districts in Michigan






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Average Charge for Programs
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Michigan Young Driver Action Plan Member
Agencies AAA Michigan Michigan Department of
State Police Michigan Department of
State Michigan Driver Traffic Safety Educators
Association Michigan Center for Truck Safety
Michigan Resource Center for Health and Safety
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• Young Driver Action Team
• In December 2004, the Young Driver Action Team
  was charged with the responsibility of addressing
  the continued over-representation of drivers
  under the age of 24 in traffic crashes.
  Strategies to be considered include
• Provide high-risk driver education programs
  targeting
• drivers age 16-24 with injury prevention,
  occupant
• protection, DUI, speed and attention messages.
• Develop public information and education
  campaigns with
• activities targeting behaviors that endanger
  young drivers.
• Employ selective targeting of ages with
  tailored messages.
• Participate with national legislative advocacy
  groups.

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• Additional Strategies To Be Considered
• Enhance effective existing safety programs such
  as graduated licensing and drivers education.
• Increase monitoring of new and existing high
  school driver education and private driver
  training school programs.
• Standardize the driver education curriculum
  required for both the classroom and behind the
  wheel driver education.
• Upgrade the driver education teacher preparation
  and continuing education programs.
• Explore possible engineering countermeasures.
• Enforce laws prohibiting underage drinking,
  serving and purchasing of alcohol.

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Young Driver Issues
A breakdown of the group of drivers 16-24
indicates a weighting toward those drivers beyond
high school years. This is indicative of either
fewer persons in the younger age groups, or a
willingness on the part of those 16-17 to
postpone obtaining a license until age 18 or
older. Census data comparing 16-17 year olds
from 1990 to 2000 indicated 6 and 8 increases
in the number of persons, respectively. If there
are ample 16-17 year olds, it may be reasonable
to conclude that drivers are more willing to
postpone licensing until age 18 or older. This
may be problematic, as it allows the new and
inexperienced driver to gain licensure without
the benefit of driver education or the guided
learning of Michigans Graduated Driver License
(GDL) process.
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Within the 16-24 age group, 18 year olds had the
most crash involvements and the highest crash
rate among these drivers. This may reflect the
lack of experience and the need for driver
education for all new drivers, regardless of age.
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Trends in Young Driver Crashes Graduated Driver
Licensing (for drivers under 18) and the testing
procedures in place for new drivers over 18 have
placed emphasis on late night crashes as
evidenced by the Midnight-5AM restriction for
drivers holding a Level 2 license. Though this
is true for fatal crashes, it is less so for
non-fatal crashes.
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Trends in Young Driver Crashes (contd)
This is also true for day of the week, with
Saturday recording the most fatals, but a nearly
even distribution when considering crashes of all
types.
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Strategies and Actions
Strategy Provide for an in-depth analysis of
crash causation for drivers in the GDL process,
as well as those 18 and over who do not go
through this process.
Action Short term Explore the potential funding
sources to continue this valuable research. This
ensures that the proper content and delivery of
driver education curriculum and the licensing
process itself contributes to addressing crash
causes among this age group. Long term Work
with the MDOS, MSP and other agencies to create,
within the GDL law framework, a permanent
requirement and funding source for this research
and analysis to ensure that we are providing the
best opportunity for our youngest and least
experienced drivers to succeed.
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Strategies and Actions
Strategy Enhance the capability and knowledge
base for the law enforcement community to better
monitor the actions of new drivers.
Action Short Term Create a ticket book-sized
cheat sheet that has all pertinent information
for the various licensing levels and the
documents required for drivers at the various
levels or licensing and education. Long Term
Include the law enforcement community in all
changes to GDL, driver education and licensing
that make their job easier. This may include
public information and education (PIE) efforts,
training opportunities and inclusion on
appropriate committees, in order that information
and tools can be more effectively disseminated.
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Strategies and Actions
Strategy Assist the novice driver, regardless of
age, in forming the attitudes, behaviors and
gaining the knowledge necessary to reduce the
incidence of traffic crashes within this group.
Action Short Term Explore the feasibility of
and the options available for a driver education
program aimed at all new drivers not currently
being served by the GDL process. Long Term
Within the evolution of Michigan driver licensing
law, formulate policy, procedure and curriculum
recommendations whereby driver education would
become a requirement for all drivers applying for
licensure for the first time, regardless of age.
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Questions?
Gary Bubar, Chair Young Driver Action Team AAA
Michigan
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Public Acts 70 and 71 of 2004 transferred the
Driver Education Program from the Department of
Education to the Department of State
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Department of Education Program

• Teen program criteria
• Review of performance
• objectives, classroom
• locations, fire marshal inspection, motor
  vehicle safety equipment and identification.
• Issuance of driver education certificates.

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Department of Education Program (continued)

• Instructor criteria
• Completion of teacher preparation courses.
• Driving record review for instructors.
• Initial approval of programs and instructors,
• continues until withdrawn.

MCL 257.811 and Driver Education Administrative
Rules, 1999 AC R 388.301 R 388.339
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Department of State Program

• Teen, adult, and truck driver training criteria
• Established place of business.
• Student records and contracts.
• Surety bonds and insurance on motor vehicles used
  for instruction.
• Motor vehicle safety equipment and
  identification, minimum number of students in
  vehicle for teen program.

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Department of State Program (continued)

• Instructor criteria
• Criminal history check for school operator and
  instructors.
• Driving record review for instructors.
• Medical examination for instructors.
• Annual license application fee for driver
  training
• schools and instructors.

Legal Authority MCL 256.601 et seq. and the
Driver Training School Administrative rules, 1999
AC R 388.351 to R 388.362
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Driver Education Advisory Committee Purpose

• Provide a forum for the driver education
  community to directly interact with the Secretary
  of State to identify issues and concerns related
  to driver education.
• Draw upon the vision and expertise of the driver
  education community to strengthen the driver
  education program in Michigan.
• Provide input for new legislation to replace
  existing Driver Training Act that will sunset
  October 2006.

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Committee Members
Jacqueline El-Sayed, PhD Professor, Mechanical
Engineering at Kettering University, Flint,
Michigan Truck Safety Commissioner. Sue Allen
Driver education instructor/coordinator, Haslett
Public Schools, Haslett. Cindy Agle Exec.
Director, Michigan Resource Center for Health and
Safety, Lansing. Robin Bordner Public/private
school driver education instructor, White Pigeon
High School, White Pigeon. Steve Brieve
Administrator/owner, Lakeside Driver Education,
Holland. Driver education instructor/coordinator,
Kelloggsville Public Schools. Tom Gamet
Administrator/owner of ABC Training and
Testing. Doreen Olko Chief, Auburn Hills Police
Department, Auburn Hills. Diane Perukel Youth
coordinator, Michigan State Police, Lansing.
John Tobin Driver education instructor/coordina
tor, Dearborn Public Schools, Dearborn. Dave
VanDyke President, Michigan Driver and Traffic
Safety Education Association, Royal Oak. Mickie
Verderbar Owner, Same Day Testing, Detroit.
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Subcommittees

• Program Requirements
• Instructor
• Instructor Preparation
• Curriculum

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Recommendations

• Program Requirements
• Require all providers to meet same requirements
  (i.e. record-keeping, reporting).

• Require providers to
• submit a criminal
• background check every
• four years.

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Recommendations

• Instructor
• Ensure all instructors meet the same requirements
  - criminal background check, physical exam,
  driving record, etc.
• Certify instructors individually versus through a
  school(s) and include a photo on certificates.
• Require periodic, mandatory professional
  development for all driver education instructors.

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Recommendations

• Instructor Preparation
• Include an internship/practicum as part of the
  require- ments of the driver education instructor
  preparation program.
• Require MDOS approval for any courses offered for
  driver education instructor certification or
  professional development.
• Requires a person who provides training to driver
  education instructors be a MDOS certified driver
  education instructor.
• MDOS will develop a course guide for each driver
  education instructor preparation class.

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Recommendations

• Curriculum
• The Segment 1 curriculum should add 4 clock hours
  of observation to existing 24 clock hours of
  classroom instruction and 6 clock hours of
  behind-the-wheel instruction.
• Develop curriculum guides
• for Segment 1 and 2 driver
• education courses.

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Oversight Plan
Plan is multi dimensional
I. Communicate
II. Monitor
III. Inspect/Investigate
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Oversight Plan

• Communicate
• Educate school owners, coordinators and
  instructors on requirements under the Driver
  Education and Training Schools Act and
  Administrative Rules

Web
Provider Manuals
Written Communications
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• Monitor

Data Analysis
- Ensure accuracy of database
-Verification of instructor qualifications
- Review of driving records
- Oversight of third party test providers
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• Monitor (cont)

Business Application Modernization (BAM)
- Department of State priority implementing new
computer system department-wide
- allows enhanced data monitoring
-providers working on-line with DOS
Active in statewide interagency
consumer protection group
BBB, A.G., FTC, TV stations
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Oversight Plan

• Inspect/Investigate
• Based on criteria discovered from
• data analysis or other observations
• Complaints
• Investigators perform investigations

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Current/Future InitiativesSummary

• Identify oversight needs of public and
• private organizations
• Develop legislative package
• Business Application Modernization
• Review teacher preparation programs
• Instructor and Coordinator procedures manual
• DOS Web site that includes a school locator

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Contact Information

• Gary Bubar/AAA Michigan 313-336-1411
• GTBubar_at_aaamichigan.com
• MDOS Web Site
• www.michigan.gov/sos/
• MDOS E-Mail
• www.soswebmaster_at_michigan.gov
• Greg Lantzy/MDOS 517/241-6850
• lantzyg_at_michigan.gov
• Darcel Bozen/MDOS 517/241-6850
• bozend_at_michigan.gov