https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 08:09:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532625 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 22:37:58 +0000 MrsSCB 2532625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had free drivers ed in high school. I thought everyone did, I had no idea people had to pay for it. I'd rather everyone have to take it in school than do away with it entirely. My parents did pay for private drivers ed for us as well because they wanted extra training. But it wasn't required. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532624 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 22:32:10 +0000 birdofafeather 2532624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hm, I did a class in HS, did some lessons (3?) with an instructor and had to drive with a permit with my parents to get my license right at 16. I don't think I knew any other way to go about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532437 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:04:29 +0000 ShootingStar 2532437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was a teenager growing up in NYS driver's ed wasn't required, but if you did take it, you got more privileges with your license. I like that model, it doens't exclude anyone who can't afford it from learning to drive. But it incentivizes kids to take it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532391 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:10:06 +0000 josina 2532391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is required in Iowa and I agree with that.<br /> I had my permit at 14 and school permit shortly after so I was driving to/from school at 14-1/2.<br /> In Iowa you can get a school permit 6 months after getting your regular permit, and after you've taken Driver's ed. I believe it is around $200?</p> <p>My step daughter will most likely have her school permit at 14-1/2 as well so she can get home after sports games without us having to drive 40 minutes round trip to pick her up. Any other day she will ride the bus.</p> <p>For an intermediate license (16) Drivers Ed is required + 20 addt'l hours of supervised driving. At 17 a full license is given. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532340 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 14:13:19 +0000 FancyGem 2532340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I just waited until I was 18. My husband waited until he was 18 as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532339 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 14:11:50 +0000 sleepybear 2532339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a quarter of classroom only driver's Ed in 10th grade (part of the curriculum), had to do the 50ish hours of supervised driving, and then took a week of a behind-the-wheel course, which my parents paid for. At the end of the week-long course I had a driving test and got my license.<br /> I think it's important to have some kind of required training to learn the traffic laws (the written test was pretty basic) but $1000 does seem quite excessive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532306 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:42:23 +0000 LuLu Mom 2532306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my state it is drivers ED or 50 hours of logged driving with a parents. Now I know some parents lie about this and just sign off, but I think it's at least an attempt at making sure educated drivers are hitting the road. I would hope parents would want their kids to be taught before giving them access to a vehicle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532229 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:35:45 +0000 MediaNaranja 2532229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took it as an elective for a quarter in high school. While the class itself was kind of a joke, I did find the time in a car with the instructor useful. However I (or rather my parents) would never have paid to take private driver's ed. </p> <p>However, now we are contemplating having my husband take a private driver's ed course--he is from another country and while he knows how to drive he never actually had a license (gotta love developing countries). I'm not patient enough to spend the 100 hours or whatever it is in the car with him, so I can see the appeal of having someone else do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532211 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:18:17 +0000 catomd00 2532211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meh, as long as you can pass the test I don't see an issue with not having it. People who took it and passed the tests still suck at driving anyways.</p> <p>What I really want is people to stop effing texting while driving!!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532207 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:15:15 +0000 Cole 2532207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Michigan and I swear half the people I know don't actually know what the law is in multiple daily scenarios. It drives me batty. I am a big fan of stricter *something* in regards to being able to get your license-and maybe even something again once you reach a certain age. I've seen multiple accidents due to people simply not understanding the traffic patterns.</p> <p>I do understand cost being an issue though, we had the option of taking it at our public high school so it wasn't an issue. I wish that were an option everywhere. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532137 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 11:08:31 +0000 coopsmama 2532137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: Yes, that's why. The driving schools around here are notoriously a bit of a joke with the exception of one (and he is tough to get into) so I was happy to wait and learn and have been a responsible driver ever since. I do agree with @LovelyPlum: that the driving age should be raised. In my state you can have a license at *14* if necessary for work purposes - like I had a friend who mowed lawns during summers at 14 and 15 - and he had his own license and vehicle because of that provision. And now, as an adult, that is terrifying. The maturity just isn't always there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532132 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 11:05:00 +0000 peachykeen 2532132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it should be required with a free option. It was required in MI when I got my license but not in TN for my DH and it's amazing to me the little road rules that he doesn't know. And he's a well-educated guy and generally a good driver! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532123 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:49:13 +0000 yellowbird 2532123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's a necessity. I got my license at 16 and never took it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532114 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:36:04 +0000 snowjewelz 2532114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't take driver's ed through school; my dad taught me, another uncle helped me, and I think I did take a few actual driving classes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532106 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:24:30 +0000 Umbreon 2532106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's a good idea... Some people are super responsible and others are not. $1000 seems like a LOT though. I don't understand why it needs to be that high. That seems ridiculous.</p> <p>I took it in High School, but it wasn't free. I bet it was around or less than $100. It was an optional after school course. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532104 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:23:42 +0000 LovelyPlum 2532104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: @coopsmama: I had to wait, as well.</p> <p>As far as free goes: I'm not sure about that. There are things you need to pay for in order to be eligible for a license, like a medical exam, glasses (if you need them), and the license fee. I think there should be low-cost or subsidized programs, but they should be held to the same standard. Too many accidents are caused by human error. It's a safrty thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532102 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:22:53 +0000 IRunForFun 2532102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nah. I never took it and I was fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532100 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:22:23 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2532100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't think it was required when I was a teen. You had to log like 100 hours or something with an adult while you had your permit but no class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532098 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:20:59 +0000 LovelyPlum 2532098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. </p> <p>Also, I think the driving age should be 17. I wasn't allowed to drive until 17 because research shows that 17 year olds are involved in many fewer crashes than 16 year olds </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532089 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:13:04 +0000 youboots 2532089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: I also waited until I was 17. @Mamaof2: it was not free I was in it with kids from other schools. My HS had drivers Ed- I'm not sure if that was free but my parents chose the Sears program. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532085 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:10:38 +0000 Maysprout 2532085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If they don't then their road test should be significantly more of a test than it is currently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532082 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:09:29 +0000 Mamaof2 2532082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: I took it in High School as part of the curriculum - it was free - not sure why they don't do it that way anymore? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532080 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:08:36 +0000 Mamaof2 2532080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: did you not need it because your were 17? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532074 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:06:39 +0000 coopsmama 2532074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never did. I waited to get my license until I was 17 - my mom taught me (and it wasn't just a one time thing, I had my permit and she spent several months off and on teaching/driving with me) and then I took the state tests and passed first time. No tickets, no accidents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532067 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:04:44 +0000 youboots 2532067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did Sears driving school and I think I benefited a lot. My Mom put in all the required hours too. So far I've only had 1 ticked (darn red light cam, but I did drivers school) and never caused an accident. I'll have T do it. Not sure that it should be required though unless it's state funded. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-drivers-ed-be-required-to-get-your-license#post-2532059 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:00:08 +0000 Mamaof2 2532059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just saw that DC is doing away with it due to the cost- stating parents cant afford it.</p> <p>Thoughts?</p> <p><a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-dmv-suspends-driver-education-regulations-376617201.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-dmv-suspends-driver-education-regulations-376617201.html</a> </p>