Driver’s Education offered at TAHS

By Rhett Everhart

Driver’s Education is an extra-curricular course provided by TAHS that is held after school from 3:15-5:15 every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, for five and a half weeks every marking period to provide students who are acquiring driving permits with the rules of the road.

“I love the time I get to spend with the students and I love teaching Driver’s Ed,” Mr. McNitt, Drivers Ed instructor, said. “It’s perhaps the only class offered here where the lives of so many are at stake. What you learn as a student can literally make the difference between life and death.”

Driver’s Ed is held in 4 sessions during the school year (one every marking period.)

There is also a course over the summer that runs for two weeks, for three hours a day.

“I’m thinking about taking behind the wheel in the summer because that way I can get my license even sooner through the school,” Nathan Sechrist, sophomore, said.

If the course is successfully completed and behind the wheel training (B-T-W) is done through the school students will receive a discount on their car insurance.

“The advantage to taking Driver’s Ed here is that you can take the test here too! When you are done with both elements you are then eligible for a discount on your insurance, this is something that your parents love,” McNitt, said.

Throughout the marking period classes must go for a minimum of 34 hours because this is the state standard of class time to qualify for the discount along with six hours of B-T-W for a total of 40 hours of training.

“It was a lot of work when I took it, but I think it was worth it because now I know how to stay safe on the road when I am driving,” Tyler Divley, junior, said.

A student can still obtain a learner’s permit without taking Driver’s Ed, but according to McNitt, “Students who complete the classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction are far better drivers than those who don’t,” so it is recommended.

Once the learners permit is obtained through The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the student must log at least 65 hours of driving time with a parent total before they can go for a license.

These 65 hours consist of 10 hours of night driving, 5 hours driving in bad weather, 2.5 hours of parking practice, and the rest of the time is normal, daylight, driving.

Next year the Drivers Ed program is remaining at TAHS after school just like it is this year.