SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington is expanding its driver’s education requirements, and supporters say it could make roads safer.
By 2030, all new drivers under 22 will need to complete driver’s education, not just 16 and 17 year olds. The law also includes additional safety measures that will take full effect by 2031.
Tim Gienapp, owner of Interface Driving Academy, says driver’s education helps young drivers make better safety decisions.
“If we can get young people to recognize what they do that creates the risk, and if we can get them basing their decision on what is at risk in a crash, rather than what are the odds of a crash, they’ll make better decisions,” Gienapp said.
Data supports that idea. Between 2017 and 2021, drivers aged 18 to 25 who didn’t complete driver training had a 70% higher rate of injury or fatal crashes, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
The new law includes an additional requirement for repeat violators. By 2031, Young drivers between 18 and 25 who rack up two moving violations will be forced to take an additional safe driving course.
“It’s important that people realize that if they’re getting tickets, they’re making some high risk decisions. And, those high risk decisions not only affect them, that they affect you and I, because we might be the recipient of a bad decision they make,” Gienapp said.
Cost has been a barrier for many families. Driver’s education courses can cost over $600.
“A lot of the reason some people don’t take driver’s ed is the cost,” Gienapp said.
The new law addresses this by creating a voucher program for lower-income families. The vouchers will be funded by higher fees on instruction permits, license services and other increases included in the new law.
In Idaho, Driver Education is required for anyone under the age of 17 who is pursuing their Driver’s License.
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