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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg “Unlike the 17-year-olds who think they know it all, a 12 or 13-year-old really listens,” he says. “They soak it up like sponges.” (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/features/article6505094.ece)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/young_driver.jpgJanice Turner - TIMESONLINE (http://www.timesonline.co.uk) - June 16, 2009

Lends support that good driving is behavioral - not skills --Ed.

Within the first ten minutes of being driven around by my 11-year-old I was hit by a cascade of thoughts. First: “Wow, the little sod has already cracked that tricky ‘biting point’ business that took me about six months.” Then: “How handy if he could schlep himself to football training or — better still — be my designated driver at parties.” And finally: “Oh no, please stop! This is why we don’t let children really drive cars.”

At that point Ed Redfern, the instructor, was saying repeatedly, louder each time, yet without losing his dogged patience: “Jake, come off the gas! Jake . . . ” But still my son kept his foot on the throttle. We were doing only about 30mph but the circuit was pretty bendy and Jake seemed to think that he was The Stig rounding Hammerhead on the Top Gear track.... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/features/article6505094.ece

This is a very good thing for a kid to do. As the instructor said:
“Unlike the 17-year-olds who think they know it all, a 12 or 13-year-old really listens,” he says. “They soak it up like sponges.”
That is the key element here. Teach them to drive, in some form or another, at an early age and get the speed out of their system. They need to appreciate how dangerous a vehicle is.
I grew up on a farm and was driving tractors when i was about 8 or 9. It helped somewhat when i first started driving on public roads....in a car that is!

ollie

The younger the better. I grew up on a farm also. I started driving farm tractors and farm trucks at 8. My first vehicle was a 1957 Chevy truck that I drove around the farm. I had just stopped a large Ford grain dump truck when the New Madrid quake of 1968 hit. I was 8 and thought I had done something wrong when the truck started rocking. It is a good experience. Growing up on a farm helped also. You learn a lot at an early age about emergency repairs.

i think the whole Drivers ED concept in america is in the crapper.
we do not teach or train anyone.

I would be all for earlier training of drivers but even before we get that far - i would like to see better driver training NOW...

That's odd Steve,
I attribute my driving skills to a private driving school that showed me about 2 dozen things my parents were doing wrong.
Boy were they annoyed with me.
They also hated it that I drove with the right side just at the white line, those country roads can be narrow here (but nothing like the ones in the UK!)

I attribute my driving skills to a private driving school that showed me about 2 dozen things my parents were doing wrong.
Yes, there is that. All the more reason to teach kids properly. Because what you teach them....sticks.

ollie

I remember when I was very young watching a TV program on driving safely which had a profound effect on my attitude towards safe driving. I can attest that teaching safe attitudes towards driving is the most important aspect, and the time to do it is at a very young age.

And there is no such thing as too young, because children are pedestrians, and need to be aware of safety from as early an age as possible. My mother's advice to "look both ways before crossing the street," is just as valid now, when the light turns green when I am behind the wheel or on my motorcycle. Look both ways before proceeding is a bedrock principle of safe driving, yet look around and see all the drivers who don't do that...

I've always wondered why there are no similar programs on TV now. This would be a very beneficial use of television.

Harry

Hi, I have a slightly different view.
Mainly because of 2 reasons:
- Firstly I'm from Belgium where you can get your license officially at 18 (17 with severe restrictions like not being allowed to ride alone)
- I got my license when I was 25 years old
If you let them start young, yes, they will be more eager to pay attention. But they'll be driving for a few years, and thinking they know it all, when they are in there late teens. Which is dangerous. I've seen it happen here in Belgium. While I was in the US a few years ago somebody mentioned that a lot of drivers where killed on their 21th birthday. Why? The alcohol. It's never a good idea to drink and drive but with 5 years of driving experience (16y - 21y) these kids think they can handle it. I don't say these things don't happen in Belgium, but since here the order is the other way around drink then drive for most people they know how alcohol changes your perception, and skills.
I learned how to drive at 25. And I think I'm a better driver because of that. More relaxed, more controlled. Seeing the stupid thing some of my friends did (who did get there license at 18) with a car certainly helped with that.

I just don't see the point of it.