Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
State study urges phased expansion of driver education, funding to fix ‘driver education deserts’
Summary
A presenter summarizing Washington State University research told the Transportation Committee that expanding mandatory driver education to ages up to 24 would require major growth in the instructor industry and urged a phased approach, targeted funding, instructor training and pilots to boost access in underserved areas.
A presenter for the Washington State Department of Licensing told the Transportation Committee that Washington should phase any expansion of mandatory driver education and invest first in access, instructors and affordability before raising the age of required instruction.
The presenter summarized Washington State University research finding that expanding the driver education requirement through age 24 would require a 60% growth in the driver education industry — more schools, instructors, vehicles and facilities — and said the state’s public and private infrastructure cannot support that expansion immediately. “If we were to increase the driver education requirement through the age of age 24, we would require a industry growth within the driver education industry of 60%,” the presenter said.
Committee members were told the plan prioritizes improving quality and availability for learners under 18, then building capacity so older novice drivers could be included later. The presenter said the committee should aim to get more people into driver education while they…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
