A proposal in the legislature would eliminate the requirement for driver's education for 16- and 17-year-olds in North Carolina.
The NC Senate's current budget plan already eliminates state funding for driver's education, which could move instruction to community colleges instead of high schools.
The move could end the $65 cap on instruction, potentially costing parents between $300-400 for the same class. A new amendment to the plan would eliminate the requirement for driver's education altogether, instead increasing the minimum score needed on the exam and requiring more hours behind the wheel, though not with instructors.
18-year-olds are already not required to take driver's education to get a license. 17-year-old Madisyn Craig said she thought about waiting until 18 to get around taking the class.
"But my parents were like no you should probably do the driving part," said Craig, who took the class last year, but has just gotten behind the wheel with an instructor this week. "And I'm so thankful I did, because if I hadn't and I'd just tried to get my license, I would have been very flustered."
Chris McRoberts is a driver's education instructor with Mountain Professionals Driving School, the company that contracts with Buncombe and other western NC counties to provide driver's education services. His son took driver's ed last year -- even though he's a certified instructor.
"Most of the kids I drive, I don't know," said McRoberts. "They go to Enka high school, but I don't have them in class. So it gives them a nervousness behind the wheel, they're a little more cautious of what they're doing. And that's a good thing."
The NC House budget proposal does not remove funding for driver's education, so the two bodies will have to come to an agreement on how to move forward before the budget can be sent to Governor McCrory.
The NC Senate's current budget plan already eliminates state funding for driver's education, which could move instruction to community colleges instead of high schools.
The move could end the $65 cap on instruction, potentially costing parents between $300-400 for the same class. A new amendment to the plan would eliminate the requirement for driver's education altogether, instead increasing the minimum score needed on the exam and requiring more hours behind the wheel, though not with instructors.
18-year-olds are already not required to take driver's education to get a license. 17-year-old Madisyn Craig said she thought about waiting until 18 to get around taking the class.
"But my parents were like no you should probably do the driving part," said Craig, who took the class last year, but has just gotten behind the wheel with an instructor this week. "And I'm so thankful I did, because if I hadn't and I'd just tried to get my license, I would have been very flustered."
Chris McRoberts is a driver's education instructor with Mountain Professionals Driving School, the company that contracts with Buncombe and other western NC counties to provide driver's education services. His son took driver's ed last year -- even though he's a certified instructor.
"Most of the kids I drive, I don't know," said McRoberts. "They go to Enka high school, but I don't have them in class. So it gives them a nervousness behind the wheel, they're a little more cautious of what they're doing. And that's a good thing."
The NC House budget proposal does not remove funding for driver's education, so the two bodies will have to come to an agreement on how to move forward before the budget can be sent to Governor McCrory.
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