COLUMBUS – The auto AAA is expanding its online driver education program to Ohio to help busy teen students complete the classroom training required before they obtain their first driver’s license.
The $79 online course, which has been approved by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, uses videos, simulations and interactive exercises to allow students to get their state-required 24-hours of classroom instruction in order to qualify for their first driver’s licenses, said Kellie O’Riordan, traffic safety program manager for AAA Ohio Auto Club.
“Busy families want the best for their children, which is why we are excited AAA’s ‘How to Drive Online’ course is now available in Ohio. The curriculum exceeds all standards of care for new drivers,” O’Riordan said.
A new report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that, since 2012, there has been an 11 percent increase nationwide in the number of teens getting their licenses before the age of 18 and 70 percent of Midwest teens obtained their license before age 18, compared with 60 percent across the country.
Teenage drivers have the highest crash risk per mile traveled, compared with drivers in other age groups.
Those that take online driver training are still required to find a driving school to complete the state-required eight hours of in-car driver training, which they can begin after two hours of the online training, O’Riordan said.