A NEW law that’s set to go into effect on September 30 will require young drivers to complete a full driver’s education course, including classroom hours.
This will be as well as regular driving lessons with an instructor and supervised practice sessions – meaning learners will have far more work to do to obtain their licence.
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According to FOX8, those aged 18 to 20 who want to drive will not be able to obtain their full driver’s licence unless they complete these requirements.
Coming to the state of Ohio on September 30, the law will see a change to the rules which previously allowed individuals aged 18 and older to bypass full driver training or opt for a shorter course.
Now, everyone under the age of 21 will be made to complete a full driver’s education course.
This will include 24 hours of classroom instruction, eight hours of driving lessons with a professional instructor and 50 hours of driving practice with a licensed driver aged 21 or older – including 10 hours of nighttime driving.
These changes aim to improve road safety, as recent statistics show that 58% of fatal accidents caused by teen drivers last year involved 18 and 19-year-olds.
Officials believe that the further training will reduce serious crashes among young drivers.
Kimberly Schwind, Ohio’s Traffic Safety Office Assistant Director, said: “We know that young people who go through driver training have less serious crashes within that first year of licensure than those who are licensed at ages when the training is no longer required.
“So, we know that this is a critical safety component that is going to save lives on Ohio’s roads.”
Driving instructors and safety officials are said to support the new rules, emphasizing that professionally trained instructors can provide critical information and skills that parents may not be able to teach.
Faith Driving School instructor David Berk said: “It does give them a lot more information, even if they’ve been driving with their parents for a year or even longer on a temporary permit.
“Professionally trained licensed instructors do this every day, and so we can give them a lot more information.
“I really study my students and see what they’re observing so I can get them to be as safe as possible on the roads.”
The goal, ultimately, is to ensure safer driving habits and reduce fatalities among young drivers.
Schwind added: “A lot of times, we see people thinking that if they wait until they age out of driver training, they can just get their license.
“But that means that they’re missing this critical safety component of that training and that practice.”
This comes as a woman from Ohio recently hit back at a car dealership who repossessed her vehicle by stealing their name and then sending them a cease and desist letter.
Tiah McCreary purchased a 2022 Kia K5 in February 2022 from Taylor Kia, according to court documents.
The Ohio resident was preliminarily approved for a loan, allowing her to drive off in her brand new car – though the Global Lending Services (GLS) later concluded that there was not enough information to issue a loan.
Taylor Kia responded by repossessing the car while Tiah was at work, prompting her to retaliate.
Tiah discovered that neither Taylor Cadillac or the Taylor Automotive Group had ownership of the name Taylor Kia of Lima – after Taylor Cadillac failed to submit a renewal application to the name.
She registered Taylor Kia of Lima under her own name and sent a cease-and-desist letter to the car dealership.
Tiah said that no business was allowed to be done under the name Taylor Kia of Lima without her consent.
Driving laws taking effect August 1, 2025
Seven new traffic‑law measures taking effect on August 1, 2025:
- North Dakota drivers face a new speeding fine structure: the greater of a $20 minimum or $5 per mph over the limit, with extra penalties for exceeding by 16+ mph, alongside an increase in highway speed limits to 80 mph
- Florida now requires teenage drivers aged 15 and over to complete 50 hours of driver education, a four‑hour traffic-law and substance abuse course, vision/hearing tests, and parental consent before getting licensed
- In Louisiana, a new “clogged‑up” law penalizes drivers traveling even 1 mph under the speed limit in left lanes, with fines starting at $150, increasing to $250‑$350, and up to 30 days in jail for repeat violations
- North Carolina mandates ignition interlock devices for drivers convicted of DWI, so the vehicle won’t start if alcohol is detected by breath samples
- Louisiana also implements a hands‑free law banning handheld phone use while driving—fines reach $250 in school or construction zones
- Minnesota begins installing speed enforcement cameras in Minneapolis and Mendota Heights; repeat offenders face fines of $40 to $80, depending on speed over the limit
- In Newport, Oregon, police may now tow vehicles that have a single unpaid parking ticket older than 45 days or four unresolved citations
