It’s an American tradition, that early morning drive to the Department of Motor Vehicles on your 16th birthday. It’s not quite Thanksgiving or July 4th, unless of course, you’re 15.
If Phil Berardelli gets his way, that American tradition will be postponed for a few years. Mr. Berardelli, author of “Safe Young Drivers” advocates parents taking control of their children’s drivers education, and delaying that DMV visit until a teen is fully prepared to handle the responsibility of driving.
Citing statistics that 16-year-olds are three times more likely to be killed in a car accident than 17-year-olds, Mr. Berardelli says his advice is simple, “A driver’s license can wait. Stay away from the DMV as long as possible and increase the chance that your child will survive to adulthood.”
Mr. Berardelli will be headlining an evening of driver’s safety Tuesday night at the Tivoli. The event is sponsored by MAKUS (Michael Appleby Keeping Us Safe) and free to the public. It will begin at 7 p.m. and will also feature WRCB’s David Carroll, Judge Russell Bean and Bob Moore.
MAKUS founder Judy Appleby will also be speaking at the event. Mrs. Appleby knows better than most the importance of driver’s safety education for young people. Her son, Michael Appleby, was killed in a car accident last November. She has joined with Judge Bean and Bob Moore, who lost his daughter in a car accident in January, to push for a re-instatement of driver’s education in Hamilton County schools.
“The Hamilton County Board of Education, city officials, parents and educators need to rally behind the effort to get driver’s education back in schools,” Mrs. Appleby said. “It’s sad that parents usually don’t want to get involved until it affects them, and then it’s too late - either their child is gone or seriously injured.”
Mrs. Appleby said although the event is geared for parents of young drivers, the young drivers themselves are also welcome.
Mr. Berardelli places the responsibility for teaching teens to drive squarely on their parents. He advocates parents spending at least 100 hours behind the wheel with their teen before that trip to the DMV. His book, “Safe Young Drivers” is meant to be used a guide for parents as they walk their child through every step of the driving experience.
“A 16-year-old is 12 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than his or her parents,” Mr. Berardelli said. “This may be the most important 100 hours you ever spend with your child.”