Starting this summer, Florida teens won’t just click through a 4 hour quick module to get behind the wheel. Originally, students were only required to take Drug, Alcohol and Traffic Awareness to receive their permit and license. Now, teens from ages 15-18 are required to complete a mandatory driver education course, in addition to other preexisting requirements to obtain their permit. This new law has changed driving forever for teenagers. The law, put in effect on July 1st, was passed to ensure safety of teen drivers and to enhance the understanding of traffic laws before they start to drive.

This law was enacted due to a number of car crashes by teens driving recklessly and not following the rules. Most students agree with this law, finding it a way to ensure safety on the road. Nandhana Raghubala, an IB sophomore, says, “I think this new law would help me become a better driver, because the long course I completed helped me understand and succeed on the road better as I started to drive.” Jy’Mez Postell, a sophomore who also finds this law important, shares: ”I feel more safe on the road due to the new law, which is why I believe it is important.” 

Now, instead of passively glancing at the course and not obtaining the information, students have to engage and pay attention helping them to better retain the information. The driving course now required to take also emphasizes the risks of bad driving, such as distractions and impaired driving which could lead to fatal accidents. By passing this law, Florida is not only trying to ensure safety for young drivers, but also for others on the road.

For families who have teens, this law is a game changer. Instead of just tossing their kid the car keys and hoping for the best, families can now trust that their child is more safe on the road as they are receiving  proper practice and instructions on how to behave while driving. The course goes beyond plain rules as it teaches teens to handle everyday risks while driving, leading to more confidence in themselves. You may be wondering where to find the information to join this course. This course is available at Florida virtual school called Drivers education. The course offers students many opportunities including receiving a 0.5 credit after finishing the course. The credit earned from this course can help boost up your GPA for future opportunities. 

As time continues, this law will make a huge impact on road safety and will save many lives due to students now being able to understand road safety and the implications of not following the safety rules and concerns. Florida’s new permit law may have added extra steps for teens, but it’s a small price to pay for safer roads.