Driver Education

Congratulations on your Oct. 12 editorial calling for steps to address the rash of recent pedestrian traffic deaths. One of your steps refers to restoring driver education and driver training to our public schools. Given that there are far more deaths and injuries from traffic collisions on our highways than from any other cause for young people, does it not seem sensible to include such instruction in our schools?

Unfortunately, in recent years state officials have diverted traffic fine money collected away from high school driver training to other programs. High schools have had no choice but to drop these classes. And to add to the problem, many of these schools have also dropped or drastically reduced any classroom instruction in driver education. Traffic safety is a health/safety issue and should be included in an overall health/safety program in our schools.

JERRY GAINES, President

Calif. Assn. for Safety Education

San Pedro