\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIn August of last year, Florida expanded its requirements for a driver’s permit, increasing instruction time from four to six hours and broadening the curriculum to a generalized “Driver Education Traffic Safety” course. With car crashes being the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S., and distractions being a growing concern, some are asking if the changes are enough. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2019, drivers aged 15 to 20 were more distracted during fatal crashes than any other age group. In Florida, drivers in their 20s accounted for 25% of all distracted driving crashes last year, making them the most likely age group to be distracted at the time of a crash. \u201cWe tell the kids if you think you\u2019re going to go through your entire life without getting involved in a crash, you would be a rarity,\u201d said John Bolen, who has been teaching driver\u2019s education for about 35 years. In Florida, teens must hold a permit for a year and have a parent or guardian confirm they have practiced driving for 50 hours, including 10 hours at night, before obtaining a driver\u2019s license. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsHowever, practice is not mandated for individuals 18 or older. \u201cWe are arguably one of the easiest states in the U.S. to get a driver\u2019s license,\u201d Bolen said. \u201cThere is no driver\u2019s ed required as far as behind-the-wheel driving goes.\u201d Bolen runs A Treasure Coast Driving School, which partners with Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River County school districts to offer free behind-the-wheel lessons. Charter and home-schooled students in Palm Beach and Indian River counties qualify for the free classes as well. In addition to the state\u2019s six-hour course, Bolen said students take an additional online curriculum focused on defensive driving and avoiding distractions. \u201cWe\u2019re big on not being on the cellphone \u2014 big on being hands-free, voice-activated,\u201d Bolen said. He emphasized that distracted driving is a concern for all drivers, not just teenagers. \u201cDistracted driving is around us all the time, 24\/7. Not just for a teenager but for someone who is driving and has been driving for a long time,\u201d Bolen said. Distracted driving includes more than just phone use. It can involve activities like doing hair or makeup, reaching into the backseat, or eating while driving. Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Bolen noted that stricter requirements for obtaining a driver\u2019s license in Florida would need to be addressed at the legislative level.To see if your child qualifies for a free lesson, click here.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
In August of last year, Florida expanded<\/a> its requirements for a driver’s permit, increasing instruction time from four to six hours and broadening the curriculum to a generalized “Driver Education Traffic Safety” course. <\/p>\n With car crashes being the leading cause of death for teens<\/a> in the U.S., and distractions being a growing concern, some are asking if the changes are enough.<\/p>\n The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported<\/a> that in 2019, drivers aged 15 to 20 were more distracted during fatal crashes than any other age group. <\/p>\n In Florida, drivers in their 20s accounted for 25% of all distracted driving crashes last year<\/a>, making them the most likely age group to be distracted at the time of a crash. <\/p>\n \u201cWe tell the kids if you think you\u2019re going to go through your entire life without getting involved in a crash, you would be a rarity,\u201d said John Bolen, who has been teaching driver\u2019s education for about 35 years. <\/p>\n In Florida, teens must hold a permit for a year and have a parent or guardian confirm they have practiced driving for 50 hours, including 10 hours at night, before obtaining a driver\u2019s license. <\/p>\n Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News<\/a><\/p>\n However, practice is not mandated for individuals 18 or older. <\/p>\n \u201cWe are arguably one of the easiest states in the U.S. to get a driver\u2019s license,\u201d Bolen said. \u201cThere is no driver\u2019s ed required as far as behind-the-wheel driving goes.\u201d <\/p>\n Bolen runs A Treasure Coast Driving School<\/a>, which partners with Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River County school districts to offer free behind-the-wheel lessons. <\/p>\n Charter and home-schooled students in Palm Beach and Indian River counties qualify for the free classes as well. <\/p>\n In addition to the state\u2019s six-hour course, Bolen said students take an additional online curriculum focused on defensive driving and avoiding distractions. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re big on not being on the cellphone \u2014 big on being hands-free, voice-activated,\u201d Bolen said. <\/p>\n He emphasized that distracted driving is a concern for all drivers, not just teenagers. <\/p>\n \u201cDistracted driving is around us all the time, 24\/7. Not just for a teenager but for someone who is driving and has been driving for a long time,\u201d Bolen said. <\/p>\n Distracted driving includes more than just phone use. It can involve activities like doing hair or makeup, reaching into the backseat, or eating while driving. <\/p>\n Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bolen noted that stricter requirements for obtaining a driver\u2019s license in Florida would need to be addressed at the legislative level.<\/p>\n