What If Driver’s Ed Started in Middle School?

A Little Observation

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the kids I see riding e-bikes around town. They’re everywhere—heading to practice, meeting friends, grabbing a snack downtown. The joy on their faces is contagious. But every so often, I’ll see a close call—like a kid rolling through a stop sign without realizing, or swerving to avoid a car turning in front of them.

And it makes me wonder: what if driver’s ed started earlier? Not the full-blown kind where you’re sitting in a car, but something scaled for middle schoolers.

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Why That Age Stands Out

By the time most kids are in middle school, they already have wheels of some kind—whether it’s a bike, a scooter, or now, more often than ever, an e-bike. They’re out on the same roads as cars, buses, and trucks, but they haven’t learned the “language” of the road yet.

When I think about it, middle school feels like such a natural time to teach a few basics:

• 🚦 What a four-way stop really means

• 🛑 Why yielding matters (even when you’re in a hurry)

• 🚴♀️ How to ride safely with cars and pedestrians nearby

It doesn’t have to be a big, official program. Even weaving a few lessons into health or PE class could make a big difference.

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Respect on the Road

Something else that keeps tugging at me—when kids know the rules, they gain confidence. And when drivers see kids following those rules, respect starts to build. That respect goes both ways.

I’ve noticed it with families we’ve helped at Jesse’s E-Rides. A little knowledge changes how kids ride, and suddenly parents feel more comfortable letting them go a little farther.

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Just Wondering Out Loud

I don’t have all the answers, but it’s a thought I can’t quite shake. With e-bikes becoming part of daily life for younger and younger riders, maybe it’s time to rethink when we teach road safety.

What do you think? Could middle school be the right time to start?

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📍 If you need service on your bike now, we have resources on our Services page, from safety checks to guidance for families with new riders.
📹 Or take a look at this quick Rules of the Road video, a good refresher for all ages.