K2, Do the public schools still offer Drivers Education? When I was a teenager in the '50s, we could get a drivers license at age 14 upon successful completion of Drivers Ed, which was offered in the 9th grade. Pretty scary, huh? But back then there was no high-volume traffic nor any freeways in my part of the state.
My instructor in the spring of 1958 was the head football coach, who had suffered a losing season the previous autumn and was concerned about his coaching future. So he wasn't always in the best humor when he took us out driving in a two-tone '57 Ford. We were fortunate that a blossoming girl who later became head cheerleader was in our class and kept his spirits lifted somewhat. One day I was driving and didn't come to a complete stop at a Stop sign. He let me get into the middle of the intersection and then stomped on his passenger-side brake. "Back up!" he ordered, and then pointed and said, "What does that sign say?" He was big on following the rules, always looking carefully before backing up or changing lanes, and generally driving defensively. I've been driving for 45 years and have never been involved in a traffic accident and have gotten only one traffic ticket (72 in a 55 zone during the reduced speed limits during the '70s gasoline shortage). I have to attribute my record in large part to good habits ingrained in Drivers Ed. Today the football coach / driving instructor probably would be sued for some of his tough teaching tactics.
You must have some saintly qualities (that the girl's parents have recognized) to volunteer for driving instruction.
