Driver Education Today: A Troubling Problem for AmericaFrom the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 until September 2006, approximately 2,600 American soldiers were killed in combat and war-related incidents (Wilson 18). Did you know that during this same 41-month period, more than 22,000 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 died in traffic accidents on America's roads? (Wilson 18). That number now stands at around 4,500 soldiers and more than 40,000 teenagers lost. Parents in the United States rely on driver education and training to prepare their teens for the responsibility of driving. In fact, we rely too much on driver education. Recent studies have indicated that driver education, or DE, has failed to produce safe drivers. Although the common form of driver education and training has been cited as ineffective, efforts are being made across the country that have the capacity to profoundly change driver education as we know it and prepare young drivers , create safer drivers, and ultimately save teens. lives.Every year, thousands of teenagers receive their driver's licenses and millions of people drive on America's roads. Ensuring their safety and that of others is crucial. 16- to 18-year-olds have higher accident rates than drivers in any other age group. Between 5,000 and 6,000 young people will die on our roads this year and 300,000 others will be seriously injured. In the United States, far more young people die in traffic accidents than in military service, yet little political or public activity has been done to bring this problem to the attention of the nation. The history of driver education goes back a long way. The first known DE programs were developed between 1910 and 1920. However, it was not until the 1930s that formal courses were...... middle of paper ......ews March 1, 2010. EBSCO. Internet. April 21, 2010. Cox, Caroline. The Chronicle for Driver Education Professionals 57.1 (2009): 9. Web. April 29, 2010. Gritzinger, Bob. “Driver Ed vs. Driver’s Edge.” » Automatic week. September 4, 2006: 26. Web. April 28, 2010.Lonero, Lawrence, comp. Training program overview of the beginner driver training model. Representative of the AAA Foundation. Internet. April 28, 2010. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, comp. Assessing Driver Education in America. Rep. No. 367. District of Columbia: Preusser Research Group, 2009. U.S. Department of Transportation. Internet. April 28, 2010. “The Brutal Truth About Teen Driving.” »JourneySafe. The Gillian Sabet Memorial Foundation Inc. Web. April 29, 2010. Wilson, Kevin. “Back to School: Teenage Driving.” » Automatic week. September 4, 2006: 18-20. Internet. April 28, 2010.Zuber, Kenneth. “Death while driving”. Automatic week. September 4, 2006: 22. Web. April 28. 2010.