Shanti Gooljar grabs some coffee before eight hours of heart-racing driving lessons around New York City. She caps off her day by having dinner with her son. By Sarah Bahr Taking a safe driver ...

I t’s 2:55 p.m. on a Monday when I pull up in front of [redacted] high school for my first day of driver education. School has just let out, and hundreds of kids are racing to their cars.

Students can sign up for behind-the-wheel driving lessons offered after school, but they cost $200 for four hours. (That’s much lower than what commercial driving schools charge.) ...