MAY 24, 2005

The Department of State is in the driver’s seat when it comes to making sure that new motorists are ready for the road, according to Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land.

With spring and summer being peak times for driver education, Land outlined steps that the department is taking to ensure greater consistency, communication and collaboration in the instructional process. These include a comprehensive review of every program aspect and the creation of a Driver Education Advisory Committee to encourage input from all stakeholders.

"Preparing new drivers for their responsibilities behind the wheel demands participation by all partners," said Land, the state’s chief motor vehicle administrator. "We’re working more closely with instructors and safety advocates to enrich our program. Their expertise will help us to develop the highest testing and training standards that keep our roads safe. This is a tremendous opportunity to make Michigan’s program a national model and we’re taking full advantage of it."

This is the first full year in which the department is administering Michigan’s driver education program. Public Acts 70 and 71 of 2004 transferred it from the Department of Education.

One of the primary benefits of giving driver education responsibilities to the Department of State is that it consolidates all program components under one roof. That promotes greater consistency and innovation in curriculum development, training and program oversight.

As more public schools are choosing to discontinue their driver education programs, a greater number of private driver-training schools are opening. In 2000, more than 470 public schools offered driver education. That number fell to 360 last year. During that same period, the number of private driver-training schools teaching teens climbed from 119 to 183.

The department is responsible for the oversight of nearly 3,000 driving instructors and more than 540 public and private organizations conducting driver education programs statewide. The majority of schools serve first-time vehicle operators while others teach commercial vehicle drivers.

More than 126,000 students were trained in 2004.

The department and its partners are launching a comprehensive review of the entire program to guarantee consistency in objectives, curricula, driver education program requirements and instructor qualifications. Changes to the law or administrative rules may be recommended based on the evaluation.

Land also has created a Driver Education Advisory Committee to promote collaboration among stakeholders. The 10-member committee has a unique chance to shape the driver education agenda by directly working with Land and her key staff. The group is comprised of instructors, school owners, third-party skills testers, law enforcement and traffic safety leaders.

More information about the program, as well as a list of road-skill testing organizations, is available at www.Michigan.gov/sos.

Driver Education Advisory Committee Members

• Cindy Agle, executive director, Michigan Resource Center for Health and Safety, Lansing
• Sue Allen, driver education instructor/coordinator, Haslett Public Schools, Haslett
• Robin Bordner, public/private school driver education instructor, White Pigeon High School, White Pigeon
• Steve Brieve, administrator/part owner, Lakeside Driver Education, Grand Rapids
• Tom Gamet, administrator/owner, ABC Training & Testing, Horton
• Doreen Olko, chief, Auburn Hills Police Department, Auburn Hills
• Dianne Perukel, youth coordinator, Michigan State Police, Lansing
• John Tobin, driver education instructor, Dearborn Public Schools, Dearborn
• Dave VanDyke, president-elect, Michigan Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association, Royal Oak
• Mickie Verderbar, owner, Same Day Testing, Detroit

Related Link
> Driver training schools licensed to provide training to teens