I think the Skip Barber course is a good idea. I remember back in HS a lot of kids smashed up cars playing racer on the street or just not paying attention.

Snow gets them to, I saw a kid having a heck of a time with a FWD econo box in some light snow the other day. He just didn't understand that you can't floor it and expect to have the same grip you have on dry pavement.

Tire Rack also has a teen driver training course... in my opinion such training should be required for every driver. Driver's ed in this country is mostly a farce, new drivers don't learn many critical stills. Like how to handle bad weather / low traction situations... but that's a rant for another day.

Tires are something most driver's also don't understand... I was able to drive 20-30 mph faster then everyone else coming from New Hapmshire back to Michigan last weekend because my car has proper tires on it. The people in trucks, cars (even a few Subarus!), and a couple benzes were sliding all over the place while I went safely by in my little FWD econobox ;) Proper tires make my car more stable at speed then my friends F350 4x4 :eek:

Write a letter about this to Click and Clack from Car Talk

Driver's training when I took it was sponsored through the school district in Erie and in my opinion is very well done.

There were two teachers that did it. One did the road portion and the other the in class portion.

The road test was pretty all encompassing and I did dry/wet and snow road driving.

The classroom was very very interesting. I've never meet a teacher so into a subject such as driving. At the time I drove a little fwd honda wagon and most of the things that were taught only pertained to older 80s era vehicles.

Still I learned how to change a tire during the road portion, and all of the junk like break pumping pertains to my 300D so the class was really worth it.

All in all it was a great class and I left it learning a lot of incredibly useful things.

You got to take into consideration that those cars you were blowing past might have been rear wheel drive. I used to be able to plow through snow with no car in my front wheel drive accord. Now I slide all over the place in my little 300D with Blizzaks. Tires however are things one should never skimp on.

When the time comes I'm probably going to go and buy studded tires.

Unfortunately for our youth, the US is unlikely to adopt a national educational requirement as used in Europe, particularly those in Germany or the ultra tough northern European licensing requirements. In Sweden, applicants have to pass a skid circuit test.

My 16 year old son has been driving the 240D solo for two months now. He has an 18 mile one way commute to school. His driving instructor was a retired Cal. HP officer, certified defensive driving instructor. Did a pretty good job overall but I'd still like to send him down to the Bondurant Teen driving school in Phoenix. It's pricey too, theirs is a two day course I think. Kids really have no idea what they're in for or how many drunk/agressive drivers there are out there, plus they all think they're invincible. Not a pretty combination.

I have to say if you really want to learn how to drive and can't afford one of those schools go to NY City and drive around for a bit, or in my case New Haven.

Nothing will teach you how to really DRIVE like the City. The cabs do not give you an inch, you better make the right decision and fast or they will run over you.:D

I see, and did you learn how to swim by slathering your body in fish chum and skinny dipping at night?

Certainly worked for me :wacky:

Everyone, cue up Chuck Berry's "My Ding A Ling"

Yeah worked like a charm!

More nonsense from the nutters in the motorcycle chapter. Chapter study guide states that Colorado requires helmets for motorcycle riders. Clearly false. Study guide also that it is illegal to split lanes on a motorcycle in Colorado. Correct answer on test states that is legal but safe.
Impossible to pass the chapter test given this misinformation.

That is really bad, I wonder if just adapted some generic course material.

I assume they have contracts with multiple States and can't keep the laws/tests straight.

Sounds that way, but how hard can it be? I could probably do better than that from memory.