WKSU News: Gov. Kasich reviewing a proposal to allow driver's ed to be taken online

Thursday, May 31, 2012 Gov. Kasich reviewing a proposal to allow driver's ed to be taken online Groups opposing the proposal say it raises questions about the effectiveness of learning to drive outside the classroom by WKSU's STATEHOUSE CORRESPONDENT JO INGLES	Reporter Jo Ingles

Safety advocates and driving schools in Ohio are urging Ohio Governor John Kasich to veto a part of the budget correction bill that would allow driver’s ed to be taken online instead of in classes. Rick Oxender, a lobbyist for Ohio Triple A, says teachers need to personally observe young drivers for cues that the message might not be sinking in. And he says there’s no way to guarantee that the person who is supposed to be taking the course is the one actually doing the work. There’s also a question about how this affects driving schools throughout Ohio. Ruth Thompson works with the Four A International Driving School in Cincinnati.

Ingles on driver's ed short version

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Ingles on driver's ed long version

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“I also think this will harm Ohio’s jobs. When you google search online driving schools, all of the top results are large companies that are based out in California. And in the greater Cincinnati area alone, we have about 10 driving schools that are small businesses, most of them are run by local entrepreneurs and all of them would be hurt by this.”

Connie Wehrkamp, a spokeswoman for Governor Kasich, says he has not made up his mind about whether to line item veto this part of the budget bill. Wehrcamp says Kasich is still reviewing the issue.

Listener Comments:

Eliminate Drivers Education Requirement Altogether!

My teen just got through it and I could not believe what was NOT TAUGHT!!!!

I taught Drives Education, The Theory portion in the Classroom back in the "80'in

Ohio, parents could present it to their own teens.

I also taught my younger siblings to drive and did a much better job than my son

got here in Ohio for $360.00. One example, he and his class was told they could

listen to loud music in the car!!! Where is the Common Sense in that teaching for over $300 and how are they going to hear any

emergency vehicles coming??? It was game playing in the theoretical portion of the

class and party time I was mandated to pay for!!! You want my money for this!!!

If I have to pay $360.00 let the Instructors take them out and give them all the hours

in the car Ohio is asking for Day and Night Driving it is ridiculous!!

Posted by: C. B. on June 7, 2012 8:06AM

My name is Tom Deighan CEO of TopDriver Ohio. We have been opposing this since this all started.

The real issue here is not driver's ed on-line but that fact that driversed.com has paid lobbiest who have influenced this bill.

There is no doubt that this bill will result in the loss of jobs, loss of income leavinging Ohio going to California.

Our representatives should be representing Ohio residents and the interest and safety of our children.

If we are going to institute on-line then it should be pushed out until 1/1/14 to let preset providers put together thier own platforms to compete, not shoved down our throats with a 90 day window.

Besides this there are many things one can learn on-line but driving is not one of them.

Tom Deighan
330-606-5611

Posted by: thomas deighan (kent ohio) on June 1, 2012 11:06AM

Why not eliminate the Driver Ed. requirement totally? People 18 and over learn to drive without it, as do teens in many other states. Also, prior to the 1970s, Ohio also did not have a driver ed. requirement, and we survived just fine. This is a glaring example of a special interest group making money at the expense of parents of teens.

Posted by: Mark Slutz (Canton, Ohio) on June 1, 2012 10:06AM

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