Driving instructors busy as permit age drops to 15 – WTVQ

Kentucky lowers driving permit age to 15; the new law takes effect immediately

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Kentucky 15-year-olds can now apply for their driver’s permit after Governor Andy Beshear signed House Bill 15 into law earlier this week.

The bill, which included an emergency clause, took effect immediately, some driving instructors say the last few days have been….

“Chaos, chaos, people are calling all the time wanting to get their 15-year-old registered to do their permit. And then the DMV, they’re in shock too because they just got the notice that it’s in effect, so it’s chaos right now, it’s fun chaos but it’s chaos,” said Jim Peters, lead instructor at Apex Driving School.

While the new law marks an exciting milestone for many teens, Peters acknowledges it can be a stressful transition for parents.

“I can’t imagine when my kids were 15 to go, ‘hey, let’s get you ready to drive a car.’ Like the idea, the shift of, ‘I got another year,’ but now it’s like, ‘I got a 15-year-old or going to be 15, I got to get him ready or her ready for driving a car,’ it’s a huge responsibility,” said Peters.

Peters says a major challenge with younger drivers is their distractions and phones, which impacts their ability to focus on the road.

“It really does scare me a little bit to have one-year-younger students out there driving. But I think it gives us an opportunity to express how important it really is to stay focused on the road. There are so many distractions in the car,” said Peters.

“Distractions are the big thing, they come in and they don’t really know the rules of the road because they’re distracted as a passenger, so we encourage them to put their phones down and become an active passenger, but really an active driver because when you get behind the steering wheel, it’s you.”

Despite the lowered age for a permit, drivers with a permit must still drive with an adult and will have to wait until they turn 16 to obtain a full license.