AAA donates SUV to Platte County High School to expand driver education program

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- AAA Missouri donated a SUV to Platte County High School last Friday to help expand it's driver education program.

Missouri is one of the few states that doesn’t require any form of driver education to obtain a driver’s license.

Platte County High School’s driver education program trains 60 to 70 students each year and has operated for more than two decades.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traffic crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens ages 16 to 19 in the United States.

Platte County recorded the second-lowest traffic fatality rate in the state from 2013 to 2023, about 41% lower than Missouri’s overall average, according to AAA.

Bret Anderson, a driver instructor at Platte County High School said the additional car will allow more students to take driver's ed.

"We have two instructors, and to have two cars means the two of us can get out there and double the number of kids that we teach," he said.  “We been able to expand and teach more than just in the summer. We’re doing it during the school year, I actually teach one hour during the day."

Anderson said the additional car will create more opportunities for students to get behind the wheel.

“When they are 15 or 16 years old the more driving the better. Every opportunity, every second they get to drive make them better driver," he said.

Anderson said the next step for the SUV is adding a training break on the passenger side.

"Most parents send their kids to us to get them to learn how to drive because we have a break. We can stop the car and that's something that parents don't have and that makes this cart so much better for learning how to drive," he said. "It's an essential piece to it."

Anderson said having a vehicle helps ensure the school can continue offering driver’s education.

"We had this car that was given to us and now it will become kinda tough to cut it. I think it's gonna make it where the program stick around for longer,'" he said.

Nick Chabarria, AAA Spokesperson said they want to be able to support schools making an effort to improve traffic safety.

"That's why we are so excited to be able to donate a vehicle to Platte County High School driver's education program," he said.

Chabarria hopes the donation shows the importance of drivers education.

"Only about 7% of high schools around the whole state offers drivers education through their schools," he said. "We really hope that it just sends a message that traffic safety is a priority for these young students and it should be priority for everybody out on the road."

The Blue Springs Ford Collision worked with AAA team to get the SUV refurbished for Platte County High School.