Driver's Ed Prepares Teens For Getting Licensed

What is the first thing you do when you enter a vehicle?

"Put on my seat belt," replied Abigail Kulczyk, 14, an incoming freshman at Glasgow High School who recently completed a Driver's Ed course taught by Chuck Barstad.

What is the second thing?

"Check my mirrors," Kulczyk said.

Barstad taught her well.

Earning a driver's license as a teenager is one of the greatest accomplishment's in a young person's life. To help Valley County students earn their licenses, Glasgow Schools offers the Driver's Ed program for a fee of $200, which Includes 60-hours total classroom time, riding with the instructor and driving practice.

Teens are eligible for the class as soon as they are 14-1/2-years-old.

Barstad has been a Driver's Ed Teacher for the past eight years, and teaches about 30 students per session, twice a year. He has taught hundreds of students over the years.

"My biggest class was 48 students," Barstad said. "That one was busy."

It has been a busy summer session as well, with students making up for lost time due to COVID-19 Restrictions during the last school year.

Now, motorists can spot Barstad driving around with his students in a new red Ford Escape with a placard noting it is driven by a novice. The vehicle was recently purchased by Glasgow School District to replace an aging 2013 Chevrolet Impala.

"There have been four vehicles since I have been doing this," Barstad said. "We used to have another instructor as well, but they have always had the sedans in the past. It was time to trade [the Impala] off. We drive these vehicles pretty hard. It seems we hit every pothole in town because we are a little unsure about swerving or turning around them. We take it out on the gravel. We go a lot of places. It was at the point where it needed to be updated."

The Ford Escape offers modern features, such as a head's up display.

"There was a little more leg room in the Impala in the backseat, but [the Escape] is much more comfortable and a lot more easy to get in and out of," Barstad said. "It has new safety features and is keeping us safe."

Safety is key in the course, Barstad said.

"We start everything by learning the cars. Starting, stopping, turns. We do intersections. We go on the gravel, the highway, the four lane around town. Parking, including parallel."

One of the biggest lessons is learning to deal with the wild deer often sprinting across roadways.

"We teach the kids who live out of town, especially the ones who live out on Tampico Road or at Fort Peck or Nashua that are along the Milk River, that there is Wildlife everywhere, so please look for that," Barstad said. "We also teach defensive driving, getting them to realize the other [motorists] can make mistakes."

Asked if it took courage to get in car driven by an inexperienced driver, Barstad replied, "no. The kids are really good about it. They drive really carefully. I do have a break on my side. I can grab the steering wheel and have good control of the car."

Another lesson is dealing with police traffic stops. During her first session behind the wheel, Kulczyk was stopped by Glasgow Police Department Interim Chief Tyler Edwards. The entire process was for educational purposes.

"I got pulled over three minutes in," Kulczyk said incredulously.

"We've talked about [traffic stops], but [Edwards] also explained it very well," Barstad said. "Usually, when he does that, it takes about five or ten minutes and he talks about why he does what he does."

Kulczyk said she was not nervous during her first session.

"Not really, because I drove with my mom some before."

That prior experience helped, as Kulczyk had to deal with a couple of other motorists disobeying traffic laws, Barstad said.

"We had one person run the stop light, and had we not used the brake, we would have been hit. Then, we had another person who ran the stop sign, and that happened to her on the same day. We had the right of way, and the person swerved around us and was looking at us [accusatorily], but we were in the right. It does happen."

Most motorists give the students plenty of space, but that is not necessary, Barstad said.

"I think some people will back off. I think the kids notice right away that everybody points and laughs or smiles at them. I tell them not to have any issues with them, because the {other party has] done it and they have all taken it. I think the big thing is a lot of the older more experienced people in our community see us at the intersections and will stop and want to wave us through. They are being very nice and we don't always like that, because we know that is not going to happen" in an unmarked car on their own.

People should drive normally around the car, so the students can gain real life experience, Barstad said.

Kulczyk said the most important lesson she learned in class was "not to cut corners," adding the class has prepared her well to be a good driver.

Kulczyk is eligible to receive her license come December.

"We give them two years of being in the most critical age group for driving," Barstad said. "We are one of the few states that allow driving at 15. We have a lot of kids who live long distances and that makes it more convenient for families for the kids to get to school."

Seeing his students successfully get licensed brings joy to Barstad, he said.

"It is very enjoyable to see them go out and be successful. Likewise, it is a little heartbreaking when I hear of some not driving so well or having problems with crashes or things like that."

For more information about the class, call Barstad at 406-853-6689.