By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer
Goodrich – Except for an extra brake and a sign on top, the car looks like any other.
It’s the vehicle that may help launch three new drivers onto the road in Goodrich High School’s driver education program.
Justin Miller, 15, swings into the back seat. Aaron Bigler, 16, is driving. His twin brother Todd Bigler climbs in behind him. They’ve never had a moment’s hesitation about learning to drive, they say. No qualms about their own driving skills, no worries about fellow drivers in the car.
Calmly, Dick Lemery takes the front passenger seat.
A retired GHS social studies teacher, this is Lemery’s 35th’and last’year as a driver’s ed instructor.
With an automatic transmission and ignition switch near the center console, teaching young drivers is less taxing than in past years, like the Davison student who stalled on a railroad track when she mistook the clutch for the brake.
‘Luckily it was a slow-moving freight train coming,? said Lemery.
‘I’ve had some close calls but most often kids are pretty level-headed when I’m in the car with ’em.?
The occupants automatically reach for their seatbelts. Aaron starts up the car and places his hands on the wheel.
‘Turn left here,? says Lemery.
He takes pride in these students, who are better about signaling intentions than even adult drivers.
Aaron and Todd’s mom, Gail Bigler, has mixed emotions about her sons driving.
‘It’s scary to think of them being responsible enough to drive and how much insurance it’s going to cost for two. But I think it’s an esteem builder and it’s good for them to become independent.?
Driver’s ed starts younger than it did when students? parents learned to drive.
The summer instruction is the first of a two-part course offered by GHS under Michigan’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program for teenagers younger than 18.
At 14 years, 8 months of age, students are eligible to take the first segment, meaning 24 hours of in-class instruction, plus six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. With a certificate of completion and state-issued green paper license, the student needs to log at least 30 parent-teen hours, including at least two hours in the dark before enrolling in the second segment.
In the fall’or spring of 2006 if students want more practice time’GHS driver’s ed students get six more hours of classroom instruction.
It’s not mandatory, but the instructor encourages parents to supervise teens in all types of Michigan weather before driving on their own. Drivers should also take driving conditions into consideration, he says, since they’re required by law to keep a vehicle under control at all times.
‘They need to realize 55 (mph) in a snowstorm is not the same as 55 at other times.?
Not everyone passes the course.
‘Parents have been really good here,? says Lemery. ‘They accept our decision. Most realize if you put somebody on the road and they’re not ready to drive that would be dangerous.?
GHS driver’s ed cost $295 per student this year. It’s the last year the school is offering the program. Next year, parents will have to find private driving instruction schools.
School districts used to get state reimbursement for driver education programs, funded by Michigan driver’s license fees. Last year, school officials received word funding was being discontinued altogether.
Lemery feels Michigan allows students to start driving too soon.
‘They might have the physical ability to handle a car, but they don’t always make the right decisions.?
When choosing driving instruction for their teens, parents should consider a school’s failure rate.
‘That’s a lot of the reason why we have bad young drivers on the road,? Lemery said. ‘How can everybody be that good of drivers??
Lemery has helped teach nearly 2,000 students to drive. Despite joking that he’s made it on a ‘brake and a prayer?, it’s been a great 35 years, he says.
Before learning this was the last year for the Goodrich program, Lemery had already decided it was his.
‘After 35 years I’m kind of pushing my luck a little bit.?
To learn more about driving requirements, go to http://www.michigan.gov/documents/wedmk_16312_7.pdf.

By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer
Goodrich – Except for an extra brake and a sign on top, the car looks like any other.
It’s the vehicle that may help launch three new drivers onto the road in Goodrich High School’s driver education program.
Justin Miller, 15, swings into the back seat. Aaron Bigler, 16, is driving. His twin brother Todd Bigler climbs in behind him. They’ve never had a moment’s hesitation about learning to drive, they say. No qualms about their own driving skills, no worries about fellow drivers in the car.
Calmly, Dick Lemery takes the front passenger seat.
A retired GHS social studies teacher, this is Lemery’s 35th’and last’year as a driver’s ed instructor.
With an automatic transmission and ignition switch near the center console, teaching young drivers is less taxing than in past years, like the Davison student who stalled on a railroad track when she mistook the clutch for the brake.
‘Luckily it was a slow-moving freight train coming,? said Lemery.
‘I’ve had some close calls but most often kids are pretty level-headed when I’m in the car with ’em.?
The occupants automatically reach for their seatbelts. Aaron starts up the car and places his hands on the wheel.
‘Turn left here,? says Lemery.
He takes pride in these students, who are better about signaling intentions than even adult drivers.
Aaron and Todd’s mom, Gail Bigler, has mixed emotions about her sons driving.
‘It’s scary to think of them being responsible enough to drive and how much insurance it’s going to cost for two. But I think it’s an esteem builder and it’s good for them to become independent.?
Driver’s ed starts younger than it did when students? parents learned to drive.
The summer instruction is the first of a two-part course offered by GHS under Michigan’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program for teenagers younger than 18.
At 14 years, 8 months of age, students are eligible to take the first segment, meaning 24 hours of in-class instruction, plus six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. With a certificate of completion and state-issued green paper license, the student needs to log at least 30 parent-teen hours, including at least two hours in the dark before enrolling in the second segment.
In the fall’or spring of 2006 if students want more practice time’GHS driver’s ed students get six more hours of classroom instruction.
It’s not mandatory, but the instructor encourages parents to supervise teens in all types of Michigan weather before driving on their own. Drivers should also take driving conditions into consideration, he says, since they’re required by law to keep a vehicle under control at all times.
‘They need to realize 55 %2