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The Kansas Legislature recently passed a bill raising the driving age to 16 1/2, or 17 depending on if a teen driver has a restricted license, but the change does not affect whether a 15-year-old should consider taking driver’s education.
“Students will still have to take driver’s education if they want a restricted license,” said Charlie Triggs, driver’s education instructor for Newton USD 373.
The state no longer is giving funding to schools to maintain driver’s education programs, which forced the Newton district to increase fees by as much as $100 for the program. The new fee structure will be in place for this summer’s session.
The regular fee will be $275. Students eligible for a reduced meal plan will pay $175, and students eligible for free meals will pay $125.
Enrollment for the school’s driver’s education program will be at 6:30 p.m. April 8 in the Newton High School auditorium.
Triggs said a student who wants to get a restricted license needs to take driver’s education.
A 16-year-old with a restricted license can drive unsupervised between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., provided they have 50 hours of adult-supervised driving. After six months, the curfew on unsupervised driving could be dropped, as would a ban on cell phones.
The new law bans those with learners permits, farm permits or restricted licenses from operating cell phones, text-messaging devices, audio-video players or laptop computers while driving until they are at least 16 1/2. Drivers could use a cell phone to report illegal activities or summon emergency assistance.
Kansans still would be able to obtain farm permits and learner’s permits at age 14. Teens with learner’s permits may drive when they’re accompanied by an adult. But drivers would have to have a farm or learner’s permit for one year instead of six months before obtaining a restricted license. The state would keep its current policy of allowing a 15-year-old with a restricted license to drive unsupervised to and from school and work.
The new law will take effect Jan. 1, 2010.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Kansas Legislature recently passed a bill raising the driving age to 16 1/2, or 17 depending on if a teen driver has a restricted license, but the change does not affect whether a 15-year-old should consider taking driver’s education.
“Students will still have to take driver’s education if they want a restricted license,” said Charlie Triggs, driver’s education instructor for Newton USD 373. The state no longer is giving funding to schools to maintain driver’s education programs, which forced the Newton district to increase fees by as much as $100 for the program. The new fee structure will be in place for this summer’s session. The regular fee will be $275. Students eligible for a reduced meal plan will pay $175, and students eligible for free meals will pay $125. Enrollment for the school’s driver’s education program will be at 6:30 p.m. April 8 in the Newton High School auditorium. Triggs said a student who wants to get a restricted license needs to take driver’s education. A 16-year-old with a restricted license can drive unsupervised between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., provided they have 50 hours of adult-supervised driving. After six months, the curfew on unsupervised driving could be dropped, as would a ban on cell phones. The new law bans those with learners permits, farm permits or restricted licenses from operating cell phones, text-messaging devices, audio-video players or laptop computers while driving until they are at least 16 1/2. Drivers could use a cell phone to report illegal activities or summon emergency assistance.Kansans still would be able to obtain farm permits and learner’s permits at age 14. Teens with learner’s permits may drive when they’re accompanied by an adult. But drivers would have to have a farm or learner’s permit for one year instead of six months before obtaining a restricted license. The state would keep its current policy of allowing a 15-year-old with a restricted license to drive unsupervised to and from school and work.The new law will take effect Jan. 1, 2010. — The Associated Press contributed to this report.
