Soon the days will be gone where you would take a four-hour class and a written exam to get what is, essentially, a rite of passage: your learner’s permit. With the introduction of a new law, teen drivers will be required to complete an additional 50 hours of driving education before hitting the busy Florida streets.
The law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as part of SB 994, was set to be implemented on July 1st but will now take effect on August 1st. This allows parents and young motorists to have a bit more time to prepare. Here’s what you need to know:
What is this new law?
Before August 1st, teenagers 15 and up have been required to complete the four-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) class to apply for a learner’s license. Under the new state requirements, they’ll have to complete a six-hour driver education course approved by the state on top of the already-existing TLSAE class. They’ll also need to pass a vision and hearing test as well as submit a signed parental consent form.
In addition, teen drivers will need to log 50 hours of driving experience — 10 of which must be at night — under the supervision of a parent or responsible adult over 21. Once obtaining their permit, there are additional rules they must follow, such as driving during daylight hours for the first three months and having a licensed adult in the passenger seat with them.
For more information and a full list of licensing requirements, visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website.
Why the change?
As more and more traffic accidents involve our youth, the state aims to make young drivers better prepared to take the roads with more than just a four-hour course. According to the FLHSMV:
“Florida’s GDL [Graduated Driver Licensing] laws are designed to help teens gradually and safely build their skills and experience behind the wheel. It is important for teens and their parents to understand these laws and obey them.”
This isn’t the only new Florida law aiming to improve road safety. As of this month, a new law establishes “dangerous excessive speeding,” such as 50 mph over the speed limit or driving faster than 100 mph, as a criminal offense.
Another law under HB 961 makes a variety of changes to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, including penalizing scammers from selling DMV appointments and requiring driver applicants who cheat on their driver license exams to retake them.