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Iowa recently (2021) passed a bill allowing parents to teach their children to drive instead of requiring an instructor led class. I can't wait to see the resul

Iowa recently (2021) passed a bill allowing parents to teach their children to drive instead of requiring an instructor led class. I can't wait to see the results of allowing people who cannot navigate a roundabout to be responsible for teaching their children how to drive. https://www.kcrg.com/2021/05/10/bill-redefining-drivers-education-standards-in-iowa-enacted-after-reynolds-signature/ https://www.kcrg.com/2021/05/10/bill-redefining-drivers-educ...

kbelder 3y ago
They used to require instructors? I didn't realize any states did. Do any other states require them?
- smelendez 3y ago
  That law (https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF546&ga=89 https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF546&ga=...) appears to only apply to minors. Other states definitely require formal education for teenagers to get their licenses. I'm not sure if any require it for adults.
  - tstrimple 3y ago
    Yep. I wasn't clear about that in my post. Now a 14 year old's parents can "teach" them to drive so they can work their meat packing plant job for a six hour shift on school nights. And don't worry about kids getting injured working dangerous jobs for long hours after school. The state decided to give companies indemnity from child worker injuries!
Nullabillity 3y ago
This isn't a purely american thing, the swedish system largely relies on a mix of instructor-led classes and parent-led "homework". Although there are a bunch of safeguards in place: the amateur instructor must have had a license in good standing for N years, must have taken a special instructor's course recently, and must have a license to instruct that specific student. It does end up with a bunch of weird legal quirks though (for example: DUI laws apply to the amateur instructor but not the student). There are also separate car signs for professional vs amateur instructors.
bluefirebrand 3y ago
I think this is more common than you think. For instance, I've lived in two provinces in Canada and neither required official instruction. Hell, to get your learners you don't even have to have your parent teach you anything. There is an app nowadays that teachers you to pass the written exam (which is multiple-choice anyways, and kind of a joke) Then you can drive a car as long as you have a licensed adult > 25 years old in the front passenger seat. My nephew recently got his learners at 15, with a written test only, then drove his mom home. How's that for lax?
cozzyd 3y ago
I had to take driver's ed in high school (in Nevada), but that was all theory and no behind the wheel instruction. My parents had to sign some thing saying I had at least 50 hours of practice.

kbelder 3y ago

They used to require instructors? I didn't realize any states did. Do any other states require them?

smelendez 3y ago
That law (https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF546&ga=89 https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF546&ga=...) appears to only apply to minors. Other states definitely require formal education for teenagers to get their licenses. I'm not sure if any require it for adults.
- tstrimple 3y ago
  Yep. I wasn't clear about that in my post. Now a 14 year old's parents can "teach" them to drive so they can work their meat packing plant job for a six hour shift on school nights. And don't worry about kids getting injured working dangerous jobs for long hours after school. The state decided to give companies indemnity from child worker injuries!

Nullabillity 3y ago

This isn't a purely american thing, the swedish system largely relies on a mix of instructor-led classes and parent-led "homework". Although there are a bunch of safeguards in place: the amateur instructor must have had a license in good standing for N years, must have taken a special instructor's course recently, and must have a license to instruct that specific student. It does end up with a bunch of weird legal quirks though (for example: DUI laws apply to the amateur instructor but not the student). There are also separate car signs for professional vs amateur instructors.

bluefirebrand 3y ago

I think this is more common than you think. For instance, I've lived in two provinces in Canada and neither required official instruction. Hell, to get your learners you don't even have to have your parent teach you anything. There is an app nowadays that teachers you to pass the written exam (which is multiple-choice anyways, and kind of a joke) Then you can drive a car as long as you have a licensed adult > 25 years old in the front passenger seat. My nephew recently got his learners at 15, with a written test only, then drove his mom home. How's that for lax?

cozzyd 3y ago

I had to take driver's ed in high school (in Nevada), but that was all theory and no behind the wheel instruction. My parents had to sign some thing saying I had at least 50 hours of practice.