Ohioans under 21 must pass a full driver's education course to get a license starting Sept. 30.
The two-year state budget, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine over the summer, requires Ohioans who are 18-20 to complete the same driving class as teenagers under 18. Ohio previously allowed that age group to take an abbreviated course or skip lessons if they passed a road test.
DeWine said the change will make roads safer. In 2024, 58% of fatal crashes caused by a teen driver involved 18- and 19-year-olds, according to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office .
"We know that young people who go through driver's training become safer drivers − safer for themselves and safer for everyone else on the road," DeWine said in July. "And that's not just true for young people. It's true for adults."
What are Oh