New Requirement Ups the Prerequisites for Student Drivers

Drivers Ed? Check. Behind-the-Wheel? Check. Attending class with mom and dad? Wait, what?

Times have changed for Burke students looking to apply for their driver's licenses. Starting this September, new state legislation will require each student and his or her parent or guardian to attend a 90-minute Virginia Department of Education parent-teen driving program, in addition to completion of the driver education class and the behind-the-wheel course.

The purpose of the new addition to the adolescent driver education curriculum is to "reduce teen crashes by providing parents and their teens information on parental responsibilities regarding juvenile driver behavior," said Liz Payne, Coordinator for Health and Physical Education for Fairfax County Public Schools. "Information will also be shared to help parents coach and guide their child's driving practices."

Payne's hopes for the new program are to "provide common knowledge for teens and parents, facilitate communication between teens and parents, and ultimately reduce teen crashes."

The Countywide Initiative to Reduce Underage Drinking, a coalition group in Fairfax consisting of representatives from the Fairfax County Police Department, health care providers, insurance agents, school teachers, guidance counselors, parents and more, spearheaded the legislative effort last year when they advocated for the passage of the new bill. After several months of committee discussions and changes to the bill, it finally was passed into law for the 8th District of Virginia, a district including Fairfax, Prince William, Arlington and Alexandria Counties.

"The committee, having seen a voluntary safe driving program that was already being offered by driver education teachers in some schools in Fairfax County, decided that this program needed to be offered in all schools to parents and students throughout the state," said Lisa Adler, an active participant and member of the Drinking and Driving sub-committee for CIRUD. "We felt parents who had learned how to drive 20 years ago needed to be updated on what has changed to more appropriately teach their children."

The parent component of the new program will emphasize parental responsibilities and legal restrictions relative to Virginia juvenile driving requirements, including underage consumption of alcohol. By providing parents and teens an opportunity to begin and continue discussions about driving, this new requirement will aim to improve the behavior of new, young drivers.

"It is our hope that this program will be a model for the rest of the state," said Adler. "We will better equip parents and their students with valuable knowledge that will keep our children and residents safer on our heavily traveled roads."

Every high school will offer an evening program once during each quarter with a fifth presentation at the end of the school year. Further information on dates, times and locations will be advertised through driver education classes and on the FCPS public web site.