Young drivers need practice, instruction

I read with sadness about the 16 year-old- girl learning to drive who crashed her vehicle, killing a young boy ["He made world 'happier,'" News, May 17].

Years ago, when my daughters were teenagers, they were afforded the luxury of taking driver's education in school before getting behind the wheel of a car. The teacher had a brake on his side as well, to ensure the safety of passengers in the car, and to protect those in the driver's path.

My husband, who taught driving at East Meadow High School in the late 1960s, had peace of mind knowing that if his student could not avoid an accident, he had an option. Many schools still teach driver's ed, but some do not. However, that does not mean it is not necessary to have an experienced, professional instructor take your child out for the first time, once they have their permit, and after classroom training.

The best present a parent can give an enthusiastic teenager is not a car, but prepaid lessons at an accredited driving school. This instruction will serve them well for many years to come.

My heart and prayers go out to both families involved in this tragic event.

Lila Marie Kropf, East Meadow
 

The tragic accident in which 9-year-old Andrew Burrous was killed has brought to mind the lack of guidelines for training inexperienced drivers. Most important, I believe a new driver should be learning on empty roads, with neither traffic nor pedestrians.

In our area, this could be an empty beach parking lot or an empty school lot. Only after mastering the control of a car in this setting should the young driver enter a busy roadway.

Joseph Quinn, Southampton