| Just a few years ago, getting a driver's license | | | | 4. Log 6 hours of supervised night driving |
| was easy. Go get a learners permit, pick up a | | | | 5. Study the driver's handbook and learn all the |
| driving handbook, study the laws, wait until you | | | | driving laws |
| are 16, and go take a driving test. You pass the | | | | With all these requirements met, a sixteen year |
| test, you get your license, and you are off driving. | | | | old will be eligible to take the driving test to get |
| That is no longer the case. With the introduction | | | | their driver's license. If all the requirements above |
| of Joshua's Law, 16 year old students looking to | | | | are not met, then the student must wait until |
| get their driver's license must now accumulate 40 | | | | their 17th birthday to become eligible for a driver's |
| hours of supervised driving (6 hours must be at | | | | license. |
| night) and complete an approved drivers | | | | This is quite a change from years past, but this |
| education course. If the two requirements are not | | | | new system is geared towards getting teenage |
| met, then the student must wait until they are 17 | | | | drivers better prepared for the responsibilities of |
| years old to get their driver's license. Being 17 will | | | | being behind the wheel. Some of the driver |
| waive the requirement for the driver's education | | | | education courses even offer electronic simulated |
| course, but they still need to get the 40 hours of | | | | driver training on a driving simulator that gives |
| supervised driving and have it verified by their | | | | them a feel for what driving a car is like. |
| parents or legal guardians. | | | | Make sure you know what the requirements are |
| What does this mean for teenagers? When they | | | | for teenage drivers so you can be prepared to |
| turn 15, they have a few things to accomplish | | | | help your teenager complete all the steps above. |
| before they can get their license at age 16: | | | | Knowing your teen driver has completed these |
| | | | requirements will give you peace of mind, and |
| 1. Get their learner's permit | | | | empower them to make good decisions behind |
| 2. Sign up for an approved driver education | | | | the wheel. The goal is safer teen drivers, so get |
| course | | | | your teens signed up to take a drivers education |
| 3. Log 40 hours of supervised driving | | | | course and learn the responsibilities of driving. |
