ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — New accident data shows teenage driving deaths are way up for the first time in nearly a decade.
It comes as budget cuts have forced most public schools in central Florida to eliminate driver's education programs over the last few years.
At 15-years-old, Courtney Ruud-Johnson said she can't imagine driving on Interstate 4 without a private instructor sitting next to her showing her how to drive.
"It's nerve-wracking, because there's a lot more at stake, because you're going faster, and you have less control of the car," said Ruud-Johnson.
Now that most counties have eliminated driver's education, it means students have to fend for themselves.
Private driving teachers aren't cheap. On average, in Florida a 10-hour driving course costs $569.
That's a far cry from the free, approximately 200 hours of driving instruction teens used to get in high school.
There haven't been any studies linking driver's education to teen safety, but over the last few years, since driver's education has been eliminated, there has been an 11 percent increase in teen traffic deaths statewide.
"One person dead is too many. Unfortunately we have to balance a budget, but we're hurting our future," said Milly Benetti of B & W Driving School.
Private businesses are getting in on the task where public tax dollars have failed.
State Farm Insurance is giving $100,000 to the local high school that can bring the most students to an upcoming driver safety course.
"Statistics show us that for every mile driven, that first year, teenagers are four times more likely to get into car crashes," said Michal Brower of State Farm.
Florida still requires 50 hours of driving time for a new driver to get a license, but there's no way to prove a teen has actually done those hours.
Some counties still offer driver's education, through either virtual school or an after-school program.
The State Farm Celebrate My Drive event where the $100,000 will be given out to a local high school will be held Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Florida Mall.
WFTV
