SEPTEMBER 20, 2006

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land's plan to strengthen driver education in Michigan by setting higher standards for students and instructors awaits the governor's signature after earning legislative approval today.

Senate Bill 1290 creates the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act. It is based on recommendations of an advisory committee created by Land to improve training while bringing greater consistency and oversight to the program.

"We're making a good system even better," said Land, whose agency began overseeing the entire program in 2004. "This well-rounded approach raises the bar for students and instructors. The result is a program that better prepares new drivers to handle their responsibilities on the road. We have an excellent foundation on which to build and we're excited about taking this program to the next level."

State Sen. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, sponsored SB 1290. He said that bolstering the educational and training fundamentals for teens is key to promoting traffic safety.

"Driver education is where proper habits are formed and sound skills are learned," said Gilbert, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. "Ensuring a smooth transition from the classroom to the highway is what this comprehensive initiative is all about. Safer roads mean safer families - that's the bottom line. I urge the governor to sign this bill without delay."

Highlights of the bill include:

• Requiring students to pass a knowledge test before completing Segment 2. A knowledge test currently is required for Segment 1 only.
• Prescribing a model curriculum for Segments 1 and 2 to promote uniform instruction across Michigan and ensure consistency with national standards. Right now, Segment 1 has general performance objectives but no prescribed curriculum.
• Reducing the number of hours on a closed-course driving range that can count toward the number of hours required for behind-the-wheel instruction. That gives students more time in a realistic driving situation.
• Creating a uniform, two-year certification cycle for driver education providers and instructors. Currently, public schools obtain a lifetime approval, private providers who teach adults are licensed annually, and private providers teaching teens are licensed annually in addition to going through an approval process. The new process also requires all instructors to submit favorable medical reports in order to maintain certification. That requirement currently does not include public school instructors.
• Establishing a model driver-education preparation program for instructors. The curriculum will be based on nationally recognized standards. The program also includes "hands-on" training opportunities for instructors.
• Establishing professional development criteria for instructors.
• Creating uniform background-check requirements for public and private providers and instructors, as well as more stringent sanctions for violators.

The driver education program served about 112,000 students in 2005. Nearly 1,400 approved instructors taught driver education at 300 public schools. About 1,300 instructors taught at nearly 200 private, noncommercial training schools.

If signed, the new law will take effect Oct. 1.

Visit the Department of State Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos for more information on driver education or other programs and services.