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ODOT backs student driver courses For well-traveled road warriors there may be nothing quite so infuriating as "student drivers." But summertime driver education courses aim to curb the awkward stops, mangled lane changes and signaling faux pas common among young drivers. The Oregon Department of Transportation has endorsed one private driver education instructor and several area high schools to teach teens the rules of the road. Legislators transferred responsibility for statewide driver education to ODOT in 1999, when they adopted new driving laws for teen drivers. Proposed changes to the driver education curriculum are expected to better complement the new driving laws, which require student drivers to complete traffic safety courses and practice driving at least 50 hours to get a license. Kent Puckett, of Kent Puckett and Associates in Medford, offers private driving lessons. To learn more, call 773-3735. For information on driver's education courses at local schools, call the following numbers: Ashland High School, 482-8771. Crater High School, 664-7494. Eagle Point High School, 830-1312. North and South Medford high schools contract for driver education with Rogue Community College, (541) 245-7919. ODOT officials encourage parents who want to teach their children to drive to get a copy of "Tuning Up," a made-for-parents driver's education instruction guide at local Department of Motor Vehicles offices. For more information on the teen driving laws and driver education programs, visit the DMV's Web site at www.odot.state.or.us/dmv. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA