Young drivers will face new legal requirements from August 1 in Florida before they can drive. Learners in driver’s education classes from the age of 15 will have to complete an additional safety course to obtain their permits from the start of August, which will take around 50 hours to complete.
The 50-hour driver education and traffic safety course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is hoped to reduce the number of preventable crashes and fatalities among teen drivers. This will be in addition to the existing Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course, which is a mandatory program for novice drivers in Florida.
Developed by the Florida Department of Education, it has been designed to educate drivers on traffic laws as well as safe driving and decision-making behaviors.
Originally set to take effect this month, it will now be enforced on August 1. It was first signed into law in May by Governor Ron DeSantis after unanimously passing in the state’s House and Senate.
Driver’s Education, often called Driver’s Ed, is a formal programme in the United States designed to prepare learners for obtaining a learner’s permit or driver’s license.
It typically involves a mix of classroom instruction on traffic laws, vehicle operation, and safe driving practices, and in-car training.
In Florida, drivers must be at least 15 to enroll in the course, and those under the age of 18 must have a signed parental consent form.
Drivers must have TLSAE certification, a vision and hearing test in a service centre, and a Class E knowledge exam to be able to take their test, in an insured vehicle that passes inspection.
Licensed 16-year-old drivers are only allowed to drive between 6am and 11pm, which changes to 5am and 1am once they turn 17. When they turn 18, restrictions are lifted.
