T2.12 Ecodriving education
Include awareness of fuel economy through driving techniques in curriculum for new drivers to reduce GHG emissions and develop long term habits.
Washington has a required curriculum for the thirty hours of classroom instruction young drivers need to get a license. One item in the eleven sections relates driving and environmental issues:
10.2 To safely and responsibly respect the environment as it relates to operating a vehicle, the student must:
A. Identify environmentally conscious behavior including mandatory emissions testing, proper disposal of vehicles, fluids, tires, and not littering;
B. List efficient driving behaviors including fuel efficiency, planned and regular maintenance, planning safer and more efficient routes, group driving activities, and the economic benefits of efficient driving; and
C. Understand how being environmentally conscious contributes to driving safety.
The curriculum doesn’t include anything about electric vehicles. (It would be great if driving one at least briefly were part of the requirements. The State might provide incentives for driving schools to acquire them, or have one at the Motor Vehicle locations that students could use for a required drive.)