Driver education for parents

Rhode Island recently mandated that parents of teens taking driver’s ed attend a class aimed at helping them prepare their children for the open road. Massachusetts and Connecticut already require parents to take similar classes and New Jersey may soon follow suit. Should New Hampshire require that parents of young drivers take such a class?

Drivers ed in NH

New Hampshire requires drivers ed for beginning drivers younger than 18. Teens spend less time driving than almost any other age group; still, they are in fatal crashes at nearly 3 times the rate of drivers over 20. While the last decade saw a significant decline in teen crash fatalities, the trend has reversed in recent years, due in part to a rise in distracted driving.

Classes for parents

The new Rhode Island law requires a parent or guardian of each driver’s ed student take a free two-hour class. The class, which can be done online or in a classroom, teaches parents about laws pertaining to young drivers. Parents of multiple children only have to take the course once within a five-year period.

Proponents of the classes believe they equip parents with valuable information for coaching their teenage children. Parents are often unaware of traffic laws specifically affecting teen drivers. These classes help inform parents and encourage them to remain actively involved in their child’s driver education.

Opponents of mandating parent classes argue that parents already shoulder a heavy burden in preparing their children to drive. Starting at age 15 ½, New Hampshire allows teens to start practicing with a parent in the passenger seat. Since there is currently no data specifically indicating the classes improve public safety, many feel they are merely another inconvenience for parents.

What do you think? Should NH require parents to take a class before their teens can drive? Or, do you think New Hampshire’s current driver education program is sufficient? Weigh in by commenting below.