In the Driver’s Seat Although some states do not require a new driver to complete a drivers ed course, I feel it is crucial and should be made mandatory prior to obtaining a license. A few years ago, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln completed an 8-year study of over 150,000 teens which proved that drivers who have not completed drivers ed are “75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident,” said the study. These number speak volumes. Taking a drivers ed course teaches new drivers the rules of the road and by learning the rules, new drivers also learn about the responsibility they are accepting by getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. I feel parents are a good resource, and should allow their teen to get some seat time, but let’s face it, it has been decades since many of them started driving and there is a good chance, they’ve picked up some bad habits along the way or possibly some of the rules have changed since they took drivers ed. It is imperative new drivers learn the rules from an instructor who has been trained to teach them properly and who will not take short cuts and leave out information. Just like most things in life, having experience brings confidence. The more correct information and the more seat time a new driver has, the more confidence they will have if faced with situations that may occur while driving. It is important new drivers have as few distractions as possible. They are not experienced; therefore, they should be giving their undivided attention to the road, their surroundings and to driving. I was in a car accident shortly after I got married. My husband was driving, and he was not paying attention to the road in front of him. It was dark and he missed a curve. The pickup we were in rolled several times. I was pinned. My ear was torn most of the way off, my skull was cracked, and my left cheek bone was broken. Spinal fluid was leaking out of my ear. I lost a lot of blood and nearly died. I had to have plastic surgery on my ear. My husband was not injured. To be a safe driver, I feel all new drivers should put their cell phones away, turn the radio down or off, and should not be allowed to have passengers other than a parent or a legal adult. Tieheena Lemerond [email protected]