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Senate advances driver-education changes requiring six hours of dual-control driving
Summary
Senators amended and approved HB 12 to require six hours of dual-control driving in driver education (minimum three on-road), allow limited substitution (simulator, driving range), and encourage one hour of freeway driving 'where feasible'; senators debated potential costs and fee-waiver implications.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on Feb. 17 approved House Bill 12 after adopting a senator-friendly amendment that clarifies behind-the-wheel requirements for driver education.
Senator Sarah Knudson, the floor sponsor, told colleagues the bill requires driver education to include six hours of dual-control driving, with at least three hours completed on public roads. Up to three hours may be substituted — one hour by an approved driving simulator and up to two hours by driving on an approved driving range — but the statute establishes a minimum of three on-road hours.
A senator-friendly amendment, offered on the floor and described as non-mandatory, encourages that where feasible at least one of the on-road hours include freeway driving to expose young drivers to higher-speed conditions during training.
Several senators asked about implementation costs. Senator Blackcomb cited a newspaper claim that implementation might cost local school districts approximately $500,000; proponents and the bill sponsor said the fiscal note indicates the requirement can be absorbed in existing budgets but acknowledged districts could pass costs on to students. Senators raised concerns about fee-waiver rules: if districts charge for additional instruction, the state or taxpayers may bear some costs through fee waivers for eligible students.
Senators debated rural and logistical issues — how districts would provide freeway-time instruction and whether a carte-blanche permission at the beginning of the school year could satisfy consent requirements — and requested further information on cost distribution between districts and families. With those clarifications and the adopted amendment, the Senate passed HB 12 by roll call (reported 27 ayes, no nays).
The bill now moves to third reading for final consideration.
