Should Indiana Offer Drivers' Ed Online?

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(INDIANAPOLIS) - Legislators may take a look at whether it’s practical to offer driver’s ed online. Indiana doesn’t offer online driver’s ed now, but some driving schools have asked the state to approve it.

Since state law sets different age limits for granting a license to teenagers who have taken driver's ed and those who haven't, the decision the state makes could have broad consequences. Senator Travis Holdman (R-Markle) is already authoring a bill to raise the minimum age for a license from 16-and-a-month to 16-and-a-half. Those who haven't passed driver's ed, who now must wait till 16-and-a-half, would have to wait till 17. A house committee has voted to split the difference and set a limit of 16-and-nine-months for students who take driver's ed online, assuming the state approves such a class.

The changes wouldn't take effect until July 2010, allowing time for a study committee to review online education in more detail. Holdman says he hopes the study panel will also review which agency has jurisdiction over driver's ed.

He says it's not clear whether those classes are governed by the Department of Education, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, or some combination of the three.

Holdman's bill also includes a ban on cell phone use and texting by drivers under 19.

Holdman says there's now apparently consensus on that, as well as limits on carrying passengers or driving at night for the first six months after receiving your license.

The House could vote on the bill as early as Tuesday, leaving senate approval of the changes as the final step before sending it to Governor Daniels.

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