At 9:18 a.m. I observed ten Morrison High School Driver’s Education students at work collecting data about motorists, on Friday, May 1, 2015. They perched comfortably on brickwork at the northeast corner of U. S. Highway 30 and N. Madison Street–the location of Sullivan’s Foods parking lot.
Instructor Rod Scott was present to guide the exercise. He has taught Driver’s Education in Morrison since 1988. This was the first-hour class; later he returned with 22 student in the second-hour session.
Wearing my seat belt, as always, and signaling my anticipated turn, I approached the stop light and braked. I noticed the students were all looking at my vehicle. After taking their photograph, I asked, “What are you doing?”
They were counting drivers that
- wore a seat belt
- did not wear a seat belt
- made improper stops
- made no stops
- used a cell phone
- had distractions in the car.
Scott gave examples of distractions as eating, drinking, or animal passengers. He brings students once a semester to observe drivers. He hopes to focus their attention on being careful at those intersections where they soon will do most of their driving.
Data collection was converted into percentages in the classroom. What do you think was the most-recorded offense?