Research
Studies that prove the safety of parent-taught or home-study driver ed:
(Online driver ed is under the "parent-taught" or "home-study" umbrella in many states. Those state also allow workbook [parent taught] driver ed courses. Online courses, though more secure and advanced than workbooks, are grouped under the same category.)
The Effectiveness of Home-Study Driver Education Compared to Classroom Instruction: The Impact on Student Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes
Study done by the California DMV in April 2003. Reported to the legislature before California chose to allow home-study driver ed in their state.
Highlights of the study:
"The American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association recognizes the existence of internet driver education courses and specified typical components of such courses, suggesting that there is growing acceptance of using home-study driver education courses as an alternative to classroom instruction."
"Results of comparing the exit exam knowledge scores of students did not indicate a statistically significant difference in the knowledge levels of students completing the home-study courses compared to those completing classroom instruction. "
"Based on the overall pattern of findings it is concluded that the home-study driver education courses were just as effective as classroom instruction for teaching the driver education curriculum material. This decision was heavily influenced by the fact that home-study students performed just as well or better than classroom students on the study exit examination knowledge and attitude outcome measures. "
"Findings suggest that computer based courses are more effective than workbook courses. Because of the evidence that students who completed the courses involving computer-based and internet instruction performed better on the study exit examination than did students in the workbook and classroom courses, the findings in this regard suggest that using interactive technology to teach driver education resulted in superior learning, consistent with recommendations by some traffic safety researchers for improving the effectiveness of driver education in general."
"The use of home-study interactive courses as part of a multi-staged driver education system integrated into graduated licensing programs may make such a system more feasible. Such courses, once made, should be relatively inexpensive, therefore placing minimal demand on the finances and time of parents. Home-study courses may also have the additional benefit of increasing parental involvement in their teen’s learning process, which has been shown to be an important factor in the effectiveness of graduated licensing laws in general."
The Allstate Foundation- State of Teen Driving Report
Study done by the Allstate Foundation in 2005.
Highlights of the study:
"While the influence of peers on teen driving behavior is relatively uncharted, parental influence and control are clearly effective in making their teenagers safer drivers. Three quarters of the teens we surveyed said their parents would be best at getting them to drive more safely. And most parents are highly motivated to protect their children."
Of the following, which three have the most influence on how you drive?
Friends 47.4
Girlfriend or boyfriend 15.3
Parents 89.4
Brother or sister 21.3
Driver’s-education teacher 40.6
Police 61.1
Media (such as news stories, scenes from movies, advertising, etc.) 21.1
Video games 3.8
Young Drivers: A Study of Policies and Practices
Done by George Mason University's Center for Advancement of Public Health and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
"The belief that parents currently have a large influence on their sons and daughters is supported from a variety of sources."
"An increase in parent involvement is critical for young driver safety and training programs to be successful."
"Driver education does not include sufficient interactive elements or use of technology."
Texas DPS Driver Ed Collision Rate Report
Released in November 2011. Data is of drivers ages 15-18 from Sept. 2009-August 2011. (Note that Texas didn’t require teens to take/pass a driving test before getting their license until January 2010.) Study reports the rate of collisions that occur within the first year of a teen receiving their driver’s license.
Highlights of the Study:
This study found no statistical difference between the collision rates of teens who took parent taught driver ed, took a course at a commercial driving school, or went to a public driving school (a driving school provided by a public school).
Commercial driving school student collision rate……………………………………9.05%
Parent taught driver ed student collision rate………………………………………...8.84%
Public driving school collision rate……………………………………………………..8.63%
