Novice drivers can now take the written portion of the driving exam as soon as they are enrolled in a high school driver education program. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Learner's licence

Changes to licensing program allow young drivers to start practicing earlier

Mar 11, 2020 | 9:00 AM

SGI has made changes designed to give novice drivers more practice time behind the wheel before they complete the road test.

Previously 15-year-olds had to wait until they were actively taking a high school driver education program to write the test that, along with a vision test, allows them to get behind the wheel with another driver who has a full licence. Now, since January, just being registered in such a class is enough to take the written exam.

“Due to course scheduling there were time that students couldn’t actually get into a class until well after their fifteenth birthday,” Tyler McMurchy told paNOW.

Novice drivers still must be at least 16-years-old and have had their learner’s licence for a minimum of nine months to complete the road test portion of the driving exam. But they now have the opportunity to get a full year of practice before taking that final test.

“We’d like them to get them to get out on the road driving with their supervising driver,” McMurchy said. “The more experience the better. It’s not just about passing a test, it’s about being a safe driver for life and experience is a big part of that.”

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Students still must complete the full driver education course. If a student becomes unenrolled, their learner’s license will be cancelled.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom