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Nearly 20,000 Georgia Teens Are Issued Driver’s Licenses Without a Road Test Nearly 20,000 Georgia Teens Are Issued Driver’s Licenses Without a Road Test
(7 days later)
Last month, Georgia waived its road-test requirement for most drivers in an effort to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. This week, the state said it had issued driver’s licenses to thousands of teenagers without one.Last month, Georgia waived its road-test requirement for most drivers in an effort to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. This week, the state said it had issued driver’s licenses to thousands of teenagers without one.
“There have been 19,483 teens who upgraded their permit to a provisional driver’s license with the consent of their parent or responsible adult,” Susan Sports, a spokeswoman for the state’s Department of Driver Services, said on Thursday.“There have been 19,483 teens who upgraded their permit to a provisional driver’s license with the consent of their parent or responsible adult,” Susan Sports, a spokeswoman for the state’s Department of Driver Services, said on Thursday.
“These teens held a permit for a year and a day and complied with all Georgia’s mandatory driver education requirements,” including 40 hours of supervised training behind the wheel, she said.“These teens held a permit for a year and a day and complied with all Georgia’s mandatory driver education requirements,” including 40 hours of supervised training behind the wheel, she said.
Gov. Brian Kemp suspended the road-test requirement for most Georgians applying for driver’s licenses in an April 23 executive order. Gov. Brian Kemp suspended the road-test requirement for most Georgians applying for driver’s licenses in an April 23 executive order. (He later signed another executive order that clarified the suspension, saying that Georgians who are issued licenses while it is in effect would still have to take a road test by Sept. 30 to keep their licenses.)
Georgia isn’t the only state amending its licensing process. In Wisconsin, the Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that drivers under 18 who had successfully completed their required training and who had a parent or guardian’s endorsement would be able to get a probationary driver’s license without completing a road test. The solution was created to “safely address a backlog of demand” created by the pandemic, the department said in a statement. Texas has also modified its procedures for individuals with a learner’s license seeking a provisional license.Georgia isn’t the only state amending its licensing process. In Wisconsin, the Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that drivers under 18 who had successfully completed their required training and who had a parent or guardian’s endorsement would be able to get a probationary driver’s license without completing a road test. The solution was created to “safely address a backlog of demand” created by the pandemic, the department said in a statement. Texas has also modified its procedures for individuals with a learner’s license seeking a provisional license.
In California, in-person road tests will remain on hold until offices are reopened, said Steve Gordon, director of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, at a news conference on Tuesday. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission said it was “not considering” granting licenses without a test at this time.In California, in-person road tests will remain on hold until offices are reopened, said Steve Gordon, director of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, at a news conference on Tuesday. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission said it was “not considering” granting licenses without a test at this time.
While some teenagers in Georgia may have been relieved to learn they could receive a license without a road test, one woman started an online petition urging Governor Kemp to reverse his executive order on the matter.While some teenagers in Georgia may have been relieved to learn they could receive a license without a road test, one woman started an online petition urging Governor Kemp to reverse his executive order on the matter.
“We understand that this is supposed to be temporary, but the ramifications from even a few weeks of unskilled drivers getting their license can be catastrophic,” the creator of the petition, Sarah Casto, a driving instructor in Monticello, Ga., wrote.“We understand that this is supposed to be temporary, but the ramifications from even a few weeks of unskilled drivers getting their license can be catastrophic,” the creator of the petition, Sarah Casto, a driving instructor in Monticello, Ga., wrote.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among drivers ages 16 to 19 than among any other age group, the C.D.C. said, noting that drivers in that age group were three times as likely to be in a fatal crash compared with drivers 20 and older. Teenage drivers’ risk of crashing is particularly high during their first months of having a license.Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among drivers ages 16 to 19 than among any other age group, the C.D.C. said, noting that drivers in that age group were three times as likely to be in a fatal crash compared with drivers 20 and older. Teenage drivers’ risk of crashing is particularly high during their first months of having a license.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,370 people were killed in crashes involving a driver age 15 to 19 in 2018.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,370 people were killed in crashes involving a driver age 15 to 19 in 2018.
“There’s concern that with waiving the road test, states are permitting teens to achieve a license when they could possibly be benefiting from additional practice,” said Jeanette Casselano, a spokeswoman for the AAA.“There’s concern that with waiving the road test, states are permitting teens to achieve a license when they could possibly be benefiting from additional practice,” said Jeanette Casselano, a spokeswoman for the AAA.
Robert Gillmer, president of Driving School Association of the Americas, said the recent moves by Georgia and Wisconsin were not smart. Those states were “putting an unproven person out there on the road driving, which is more dangerous,” he said.Robert Gillmer, president of Driving School Association of the Americas, said the recent moves by Georgia and Wisconsin were not smart. Those states were “putting an unproven person out there on the road driving, which is more dangerous,” he said.
The road test is the culmination of months of preparation, Ms. Casselano said, adding that road tests are intended to determine whether teenagers are ready to drive by themselves.The road test is the culmination of months of preparation, Ms. Casselano said, adding that road tests are intended to determine whether teenagers are ready to drive by themselves.
“It’s important that the parent is involved, as much as possible, in the learning-to-drive process,” she said, noting that parents should be objective about their child’s driving skills.“It’s important that the parent is involved, as much as possible, in the learning-to-drive process,” she said, noting that parents should be objective about their child’s driving skills.
Mr. Gillmer said he wasn’t sure whether other states would follow Georgia’s and Wisconsin’s lead. “I don’t really think it’s a very good way to deal with a backlog in numbers, because in most states the driver’s test backlog is pretty bad anyway,” he said.Mr. Gillmer said he wasn’t sure whether other states would follow Georgia’s and Wisconsin’s lead. “I don’t really think it’s a very good way to deal with a backlog in numbers, because in most states the driver’s test backlog is pretty bad anyway,” he said.