Almost 20,000 Georgia teens receive driver's licenses without road test amid pandemic

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTGS) — Would you give your child the keys to your car without them passing a road test?

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp waived that requirement two weeks ago because of the coronavirus.

Since then, state officials say almost 20,000 teens have received their driver’s licenses by applying online.

Frenchye Mike owns Premier Driver Education Services in Savannah and has been a defensive driving instructor for years.

She says a driving exam without a road test is something that could put a lot of motorists at risk.

“If you don’t know what to expect, how can you be prepared?” Mike said. “The reason that you have a road test, to begin with, is to ensure that you have those basic requirements.”

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) says there are requirements for teens before they skip the road test, like having their learner’s permit for at least one year and a day, and parental permission.

But Mike says driving is more than just learning signs and symbols.

“It’s not easy. We’re using multiple brain cells trying to put the blinker on, remember to put on a seatbelt, put the phone down, and then couple that with people in the car that create a distraction,” she said.

Mike says she understands the governor’s reasoning in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she also says there is only so much she can teach through online classes.

“Someone who is a novice driver doesn’t know what a defensive driver is, what it means, how to prepare myself for the ride,” she said.

She also says instructors statewide have permission to continue teaching online until July.

According to the DDS, people over 18 can skip the road test after passing a written exam.

For more information on how to register for classes with Premier Driver Services, you access their website or give them a call at (912)-484-6344.