COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio is at a crossroads regarding driver education. Gov. Mike DeWine is championing a bold initiative that could reshape how Ohioans learn to drive. his plan, centered on a $50 million investment to re-establish driver training programs in high schools, is envisioned as the frist step toward a more enterprising goal: making Ohio only the second state in the nation, after Maryland, to mandate driver training for *all* new drivers, irrespective of age.

This proposal comes at a time when the costs associated with learning to drive are soaring, and concerns about road safety are escalating. The current system often sees families delaying driver’s education for their teens due to the high price tags of private driving schools, some of which charge as much as $850 per student. Instead, many families wait until their children turn 18, at which point Ohio law no longer requires mandatory driver training.

Governor DeWine views this trend as a risky gamble.Citing a 2022 Ohio-specific study, state officials highlight data suggesting that 18 and 19-year-old drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in fatal car crashes compared to their 16 and 17-year-old counterparts. The Governor explicitly voiced these concerns:

“It’s just an absurd situation. And we’re losing lives as of it.”

Gov. Mike DeWine

DeWine’s budgetary proposal earmarks $20 million for 2025 and a further $30 million for 2026 to provide voluntary grants to high schools. The aim is to subsidize driver training programs within schools, thereby making them more accessible and affordable to families across the state.

The potential impact of accessible driver’s education extends beyond immediate cost savings. Studies, including research from the AAA Foundation for traffic Safety, consistently show that extensive driver education programs can lead to a significant reduction in traffic violations and accidents among new drivers. These programs instill crucial defensive driving techniques, hazard perception skills, and responsible driving habits early on.

Governor DeWine has stated his intentions to change the law, making training mandatory for all, once the accessibility issue is addressed. He questions the logic of the current system:

“Once we establish that driver’s training is available to people at a reasonable price, we have to change the law. It makes absolutely no sense to say that you can wait until you’re 18 and you don’t have to take driver’s training. What is that?”

Gov. Mike DeWine

though, the Governor’s vision isn’t without its critics. Concerns are arising from various stakeholders, including private driving school owners like David Cox, a veteran in the industry.

Industry Concerns and Choice Solutions

david Cox, owner of Heights Driving School, which operates across Northeast Ohio, raises pertinent questions about the long-term sustainability of DeWine’s plan. he argues that the initiative lacks a clear vision for the future, particularly beyond the current administration:

“Nobody’s looking at this long-term.”

David Cox, heights Driving School

Cox fears that if funding is withdrawn by a future governor or legislature, schools could be forced to discontinue their programs. He also worries about the potential impact on private driving schools,which already operate on tight margins. Government-subsidized programs could potentially drive them out of business,ironically reducing the number of driver education options available to the public.

“I just don’t see how that’s sustainable.”

David Cox, Heights Driving School

To address these concerns, Cox proposes an alternative approach: a voucher-based system. Under this model, the state would provide funds to families based on their economic needs. These vouchers could then be used to offset the cost of driver training at any existing, certified driving school.

This approach, Cox argues, would achieve the goal of making driver training more affordable without creating a potentially unsustainable and disruptive government-run program. He suggests that investing in existing infrastructure is a more prudent and efficient strategy:

“Otherwise, you’re going to invest all this money into these high schools, and then they’re just going to collapse the program as soon as the money runs out. Why spend all the money setting up programs, when they’re already here?”

David Cox, Heights Driving School

Historical Context and Evolving Trends

The relationship between high schools and driver’s education has deep roots in American history. the concept gained traction during the post-World War II era as the Baby Boom generation reached driving age. Actually, Heights Driving School claims to have been the first in the nation to partner with a public high school to provide driver education, starting in 1957.

Ohio took a significant step in 1961, mandating driver training for all individuals under 18 seeking a driver’s license. Together, the state required public high schools to offer driver training as part of their curriculum, further solidifying the connection between education and driving safety.

However, this landscape has changed dramatically over the decades. Budget constraints,shifting priorities,and the increasing availability of private driving schools led many high schools to phase out their driver education programs. This trend has contributed to the current situation where many young drivers receive little to no formal training before getting behind the wheel.

The Rising Costs of Driving: A National Crisis

The debate around driver’s education in Ohio is occurring against the backdrop of a nationwide increase in the costs associated with driving. Overall inflation, coupled with specific factors affecting the automotive industry, has made driving more expensive than ever before.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the average cost of a new car in 2024 is $48,000, a significant increase from $36,000 in 2019. This surge in vehicle prices makes it more difficult for families to afford a safe and reliable car for their new drivers.

Moreover, car insurance premiums have also skyrocketed. Data from the U.S. bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the average yearly premium per car rose from $1,500 in 2021 to over $2,000 in 2024. This increase puts additional financial strain on families, particularly those with young drivers who are often subject to higher insurance rates.

These escalating costs are directly impacting the driver training industry.As highlighted in the original article, private driver training courses have become considerably more expensive, making it harder for families to afford quality driver education.This financial barrier contributes to the trend of delaying or forgoing driver training altogether,raising concerns about road safety.

All of those factors explain why the cost of private driver training courses has skyrocketed, and why the driver training business is not a particularly lucrative one.

They’re not making a lot of money off this,just because it costs so much,” Schwind said.

Schwind

Examining the Safety Data

DeWine and Schwind cited a 2022 study from the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania that found that the crash rates among Ohio drivers licensed at 16 and 17 years old were 27% lower than those who got their licenses at 18 years old.

While DeWine’s proposal is partly motivated by concerns about teen driver safety, it’s crucial to examine the broader data on this issue. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has published statistics dating back to 1975, showing that the number of 16-to-19-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes across the country are near historic lows.

In 2022, there were 3,212 teen drivers involved in fatal crashes.while that’s up from the all-time low of 2,584 logged in 2013, the 1990s and early 2000s regularly saw more than 6,000 teen drivers involved in deadly crashes each year.

The first year that number dropped below 5,000 was 2007.

This data suggests that overall teen driver safety has improved significantly over the past few decades, even as driver education programs have declined in many schools. however, it’s significant to note that correlation doesn’t equal causation.various factors, such as improved vehicle safety features, graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws, and increased awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, may have contributed to this trend.

The Road Ahead: Policy and Practicalities

Ohio lawmakers face a crucial decision as they consider DeWine’s budget proposal, with a deadline of July 1.If approved, Ohio could potentially join maryland as the only states requiring mandatory driver training for all new drivers, regardless of age.

currently, most states have adopted a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system for teen drivers. GDL programs typically involve a multi-stage process, starting with a learner’s permit, followed by a restricted license, and finaly a full, unrestricted license. These programs frequently enough require a certain number of supervised driving hours and may include restrictions on nighttime driving or passenger limits.

Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alaska, Arizona and New York are among the 18 states where no classroom training is required to obtain a driver’s license.

For Cox,DeWine’s proposal raises more questions than it answers.

First,$50 million over two years,spread out among the state’s 823 high schools,amounts to about $30,000 per year for each school. It’s unlikely that every school would apply for the funding. But if DeWine’s long-term vision is for Ohio to return to the days of driver training in every school, “that’s not gonna do it,” Cox said of the investment.

When it comes to the logistics, Cox questioned whether districts in places with more than one driving school would be required to open the contracts for bidding to find the cheapest company and risk creating incentives for driving schools to cut corners.

he also said it’s unclear whether the schools even want to offer driver training He pointed to the speed with which many districts rushed to drop their programs in the 1990s, once it was no longer mandatory.

Cox suggested the state treat the problem the way it did when schools first began dropping driver training courses: create a voucher-based system in which each child gets money from the state, based on their family’s economic needs, to attend an existing driver training of their choosing.

“Otherwise,you’re going to invest all this money into these high schools,and then they’re just going to collapse the program as soon as the money runs out,” he said. “Why spend all the money setting up programs, when they’re already here?”

David Cox, Heights Driving School