Family members and advocates urge schools to offer behind‑the‑wheel driver training; subcommittee recommends reporting HB 22‑13

Lede: The Senate public education subcommittee recommended reporting House Bill 22‑13 to the full Senate after supporters, including a mother who lost a 16‑year‑old in a crash involving an unlicensed driver, urged school systems to offer behind‑the‑wheel training to broaden access to affordable driver instruction.

Nut graf: The bill does not mandate behind‑the‑wheel instruction but “strongly encourages” school boards to include behind‑the‑wheel driver training as part of driver‑education programs, either during school hours or before/after school, to improve equitable access to licensed driving instruction.

Details: Delegate McQueen explained the bill to the committee, saying it “strongly encourage[s] each school system” to offer behind‑the‑wheel instruction. A family member testified that her son, Connor, was killed in a triple‑fatal crash, and that the driver had been unlicensed; she said HB 22‑13 “is gonna help stop unlicensed driving here in the Commonwealth.” Kristin Petway, executive director of DriveSmart Virginia, told the committee that in some counties (she cited Goochland) there is only one private driving school and no public behind‑the‑wheel option, making access limited and costly for families.

Committee action: A motion and second were made to recommend reporting HB 22‑13; the committee voted 5‑0 to report the bill.

Context and limitations: The bill is permissive — it asks school boards to consider adding behind‑the‑wheel training and does not include statewide funding in the text discussed before the subcommittee. Advocates said the measure could reduce unlicensed driving and related harm if more students have equitable access to behind‑the‑wheel instruction.

Ending: The subcommittee advanced HB 22‑13 5‑0. The bill will next go to the Senate docket for further consideration.