Classroom Cuts Down On Accident Crashes

July and August are the two most dangerous months on the road for teenage drivers. Here in Buchanan County, the Highway Patrol says teens account for about a third of all car accidents. Nationwide...a push is underway to tighten restrictions on young drivers. Many students are learning lessons behind the wheel at a driver`s ed class held at Missouri Western. "There`s a big need for it with parents being so busy these days...it`s hard for everybody to get out and get driving time, Drivers Ed Instructor Tom O`Brien says, "Since we`ve first started 16 years ago...my class only had 25 students in it. It`s gotten bigger and this year we had 99 for each class and thirty people on waiting list. The two-week course teaches just about everything young drivers need to know about riding the roads. "We cover a wide variety of things...we talk alcohol awareness and drinking and driving. Everyday we have a book that we work on and we go through the Missouri State Driver`s Guide," says O`Brien. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, in most auto accidents involving teens, inexperience is to blame. "Whether it be driving at night or in heavy driving they just don`t have a lot of experience driving period. So most drivers when they get to the age of 19 have already had at least one accident," says Sgt. Sheldon Lyon, Missouri State Highway Patrol. Which brings about a deadly and startling statistic facing car accidents. "It is the leading cause of death for young people up to age 25. Most people dont die from disease and violence...it that they make a mistake in their car," says Lyons. Instructors say these classes are powerful tools in keeping down the crash count. And the most important message here....this is a class you dont wanna fail. "You fail a math class and you not going to die. You fail in the driving part you can die or get seriously injured," said O`Brien. According to the highway patrol - in 2004 - St.Joseph ranked 7th in the state in the number of young drivers involved in crashes. Statewide, 249 young drivers were killed and more than 20-thousand injured. The most dangerous time for young drivers is after dark.