Teens applying for their learner’s permits in Florida will have a new requirement to get that ID card starting Aug. 1.
A law passed earlier this year requires first-time applicants under the age of 18 to complete a new six-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety course.
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The course is meant to be on par with the Florida Department of Education’s driver education and traffic safety curriculum.
The course standards require students to demonstrate knowledge of traffic laws and safe driving, including defensive driving strategies, understand the consequences of substance use while driving, as well as distracted driving, and know best practices for driving in Florida weather conditions, and know how to interact with law enforcement during a traffic stop.
The class can be taken in person or online. Students can take the course through Florida Virtual School.
Aside from Florida Virtual School, four companies have been approved to provide the DETS online in Florida.
Information on the four schools is available through the Florida HSMV website.
The new course will replace the current four-hour Traffic Law Substance and Education course.
However, any teen under 18 who takes or took the four-hour course before Aug. 1 and still has a valid certificate of completion will not have to worry about taking the new test, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.