Brian Booth was a high school sophomore in 2005, and like most of his friends at the time, he could hardly wait to turn 15 years and 6 months old — the minimum age in Virginia for getting a learner’s permit to drive. “I marked it on my calendar and told Mom that no matter what, I was going to start driving on that day. So, she let me stay home from school, and we were in line at the DMV before it opened.”
Today, Booth helps new generations of students become safe drivers. A health and physical education teacher at Falls Church High School, Booth has been providing Fairfax County Public Schools with driver education and behind-the-wheel instruction for 10 years. “I’ve taught about 1,400 students to drive so far,” he says.
Booth says today’s teens are waiting longer to get their licenses. “Eagerness has definitely declined. About 50 to 60 percent of my students are almost 17, about 30 percent are approaching 18, and only about 10 percent are younger than 16. The majority have their permits longer than nine months before taking behind the wheel.” The Federal Highway Administration maintains data confirming a general decrease over the last several decades in the number of teen drivers.
“This is a competitive area. Our students load up with advanced classes or are so swamped with extracurricular and sports activities that they hardly have time to breathe,” says Booth. “Some students tell me they’re waiting to drive because they don’t have a car, or that they would need a job to pay for the insurance.” Booth also notes that more students are content to socialize online these days rather than in person, especially since COVID-19.
“There’s also anxiety,” adds Booth, referencing high-profile car accidents that have happened near his school. “The general quality of driving has gone down, and students are aware of the likelihood of encountering drivers who are distracted or aggressive.”
Even so, Booth says he believes high school is the perfect time to learn to drive. “It’s about comfort and developing good habits early,” he says. “Most of my students already know me from classes at school, which puts them more at ease. That age group is still in the mindset of soaking in lessons from their teachers, so it comes natural.”
While covering basic skills, Booth constantly reminds his students of required and recommended limits. “No distracted driving, no cellphones, no texting, no driving between midnight and 4 a.m.,” he says. “Most important, allow no more than one passenger in the car who is under 21 and unrelated to you. Filling the car with friends creates an opportunity to engage in behavior that’s probably different from how they would act around their grandparents, which leads to trouble.”
Booth’s job does carry risks. “Yeah, I’ve had some close encounters, at just about every intersection in Falls Church, Arlington, and everywhere else,” he jokes. “But the students know I have a brake on my side and that I’m trained how to take the wheel from the passenger side. I have had to do that, not often, but then we talk about it, figure out what went wrong, and try again.” Booth says the reward is knowing he is teaching life skills that stay with the students forever and make roads safer for everyone.
Finding Time
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reports that in 2022, out of 569,202 youth ages 15 to 19 living in Virginia, 218,261 were licensed to drive. In crowded Northern Virginia, school-based behind-the-wheel sections fill almost immediately. Students often turn to private companies for driving lessons.
Sundas Ahmad opened Aldie-based Nova Driving School VA in 2013. Ahmad says the rising financial cost of driving is not the biggest deterrent for most of her Northern Virginia customers. “It’s more about not having enough time. Especially in Loudoun County, I’ve found students are so busy with academics and activities, they struggle to identify a single free day to meet with me after school,” she says. “Also, during COVID, many parents began working remotely and became more available to drive their children to and from activities, creating less of a rush to get them driving as soon as age allows.”
Sticker Shock
Adding a young or inexperienced driver to an auto insurance policy is a serious consideration, says Maurice Springer, president and CEO of Cardinal Insurance and Financial, an Allstate firm in Vienna. “Depending on circumstances, adding that driver to your policy will cost an additional $200 to $900 every six months,” says Springer.
Before a child begins to learn to drive, Springer suggests parents have a talk with their insurance adviser to determine whether they can afford to add another driver to their premium. “Especially if you have more than one child, it’s necessary to be cognizant of that,” he says.
There are ways to keep the costs down. “First, do not buy your child a brand-new car,” says Springer. “Based on calculated probability and risk, it will cost a lot. It is better to have kids share a car and for the number of drivers to exceed the number of cars.” Parents can save significantly by bundling multiple policies (auto/home/life), maintaining a high credit rating (yes, that affects premiums), and by having the student complete a state-approved online safe driving course, such as teenSMART. A report card with high grades will qualify the student for additional discounts. “It indicates a level of maturity,” says Springer.
The worst mistake a parent can make, says Springer, is allowing a child to drive uninsured. If the child is involved in an accident while driving, the insurance company is not obligated to pay, and the parents will be responsible for all related replacement, repair, medical, and legal costs. “It’s called having an undisclosed driver, and it can be devastating. Don’t do it,” he advises.
At Their Own Speed
Kristine Leach of Herndon has two sons, ages 25 and 22, who both delayed driving until adulthood. “They passed the written test in high school, but neither wanted to drive right away,” says Leach. “My husband and I decided to not push it if they weren’t feeling ready.” Leach formerly lived in Chicago, where she says it is both acceptable and possible to go through life without driving. “We didn’t own a car and took public transportation and could catch a cab anywhere. It’s very doable in a city, and it’s becoming more possible in Northern Virginia these days.”
Although Leach’s older son now has a car and drives to classes at George Mason University, her younger son rarely uses his license, preferring instead to catch rides with family, friends, or Uber. “That may change when he starts working full time,” she says.
Eva Wall of Annandale says her daughter Lillie Bunney, now 18, was 17 when she took behind-the-wheel classes at school with Booth. “He is well liked by the students, so that immediately put her at ease,” says Wall. “Now she loves driving.” Wall notes that adding her daughter to her car insurance was another issue. “My rates increased dramatically, but Lillie does not pay any of the increase. She does participate in the incentives used by my insurance company, including the safe driving app, a vehicle tracker, and a good grades discount, and she has a part-time job to help pay for gas.
“My main rule for driving the car is for Lillie to maintain good grades, and I constantly remind her that driving the car is a privilege, not a right,” says Wall. “Parenthood is a journey, and teaching your kids to drive is a chapter in that journey. With the right tools and supervision, our kids will do just fine.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
This story originally ran in our April issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.