Ask any teenager in Idaho about the magical age of 14½. My daughter, Megan, reminded us on her half birthday that she could now get her driver's permit. I resisted for a long time, but then signed her up for summer driver's training to avoid scheduling conflicts during the school year. Robert Fenn of Idaho Driving School suggests students take driver's training as early as possible, because younger teenagers are easier to teach and it allows more time to practice. Since driving is a privilege, according to Chad Arnell, an owner at Excel Driving School, she will now have lots of time to practice that privilege.

With Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) Program, students can obtain their permits at 14½, must take an approved driver education course, and then must complete 50 hours of supervised driving. The requirements for driver's training include 30 hours of classroom time, six hours of driving, and six hours of observation. Courses are offered through public schools as well as many private companies. To determine which course fits your family's needs, consider the length of the course, the times of day, the cost, and the location for both the classroom portion and the driving.

Once a driver's training course and the supervised driving are completed, a student must pass a road test with an approved tester and take a written examine at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To save an extra trip to the DMV, Dallas Forester, one of the owners of Excel Driving School, suggests passing the road test and then going to the DMV to take the written test.      

Excel Driving School offers a program that includes interactive videos and PowerPoint presentations. Students take a pretest to find out how well they understand the material for the day. Each classroom lesson is followed with a post-test. For the driving portion of the course, Arnell and Forester designed routes that are safe and challenging. The routes are reviewed clearly before the students drive. Each drive must be completed successfully before advancing to the next.

Rockwell Holbrook took driver's training through Phillips' Driving School. The summer class lasted for two weeks, five days a week and combined class time and driving time.  He liked how the teaching started slowly and increased in difficulty. His class met at Mountain View High School in Meridian, which is near his home. The instructors were more relaxed about driving than his parents. His mom, Theresa Holbrook, said she ages every time a child drives, but she likes having her children receive their permits and take driver's training early so they have more time to practice before receiving their license.

During the school year, Mountain View High School's driving course lasts about three months with two classes a week. Joseph Newman liked the funny experiences shared by the instructors and working in groups. His driving instructor was calm, confident, and gave him good advice. His dad is still giving him lots of advice as he practices. Sara Newman, Joseph's mom, liked the convenience of the training right after school.

"A car is nothing less than a moving weapon," said Arnell, when Megan and I attended the first day. Megan wished he had tried to help me feel better about letting her drive instead of scaring me. But students need to understand the responsibility of the driving privilege. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 teens died a day in 2005 from motor vehicle injuries.[1] To encourage safe driving, Forester recommends not allowing your child to drive around with friends. According to Idaho law, license holders under age 17 may have only one non-related passenger in the vehicle.

Arnell also suggested students earn the privilege of driving not only through demonstrating good driving skills but by showing responsibility in all aspects of their lives, from chores at home to obedience to schoolwork. So, once Megan completes the driver's education course, she will have lots of time to practice and truly earn the privilege of a driver's license. I hope I won't lose too many years of my life in the process!

Docena Holm is a freelance writer and mother of five future drivers.

Obtaining a Permit

Driver Training/Supervised Instruction Permits (SIP) are issued to applicants age 14½ through 17 and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to obtain the permit. Applicants must pass the required vision test and provide the following:

• Social Security Number
• Certified original birth certificate
• Verification of school enrollment (letter of compliance from school most recently attended: contact the school office)
• Photo identification (activity card, year book picture, passport, state I.D. card, etc.)

Idaho's Graduated Driver's Licensing (GDL) Program

All applicants for an Idaho driver's license who are under the age of 17 must:

1. Pass an approved driver education class consisting of:

• 30 hours of classroom instruction
• Six hours behind-the-wheel instruction
• Six hours in-car observation.

2.  Complete a supervised driving period, which must include:

• No less than six months of supervised driving
• 50 hours of supervised driving (ten of the 50 after dark)
• Parents must sign and date a statement on the SIP to certify that 50 hours of driving were completed and granting permission to issue the license.

 3. Pass the written knowledge and road skills test.

• Must be at least 15 years of age to receive an Idaho driver's license

Drivers under age 16 may drive during daylight hours only if accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age and sitting beside the driver.

Licensees under the age of 17 are required-during the first six months from the date the license was issued-to limit the number of passengers in the vehicle who are under the age of 17 to not more than one passenger, unless the passengers are related to the driver by blood, adoption, or marriage.

Idaho Transportation Department Driver Services
http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/driverservices/ds.htm

Graduated Driver's License Program         
http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/DriverServices/young_drivers.htm

Idaho Driver's Licenses and Identification Cards FACT SHEET
http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/DriverServices/driver_license_facts.htm

Local Driving Schools (with websites)

AAA Idaho Driving School, Robert Fenn, Owner
www.idahodrivingschool.com
Stick shift Mustang available 

Excel Driving-xldriving.com, LLC
http://xldriving.com
Owner: Chad Arnell/Dallas Forester

Training Wheels Driving School
www.trainingwheelsdrivingschool.com
Owner: Tracy Hilliard

Treasure Valley Driving School
www.treasurevalleydrivingschool.com
Owner: Greg Wood

Turtle and Hare Driving School, LLC
www.turtleandharedrivingschool.com
Owner: Deanna Reed

List of Approved Idaho Private Driving Schools

AAA Idaho Driving School,
A Silver Key School
Robert Fenn, Owner
www.idahodrivingschool.com
Phone Number: 362-6000
Phone Number: 939-1385
10588 W. Business Park Ln.
Boise, Idaho 83709
Stick shift Mustang available 

A Street Smart Driving Academy
Phone Number: 249-0645
Owner: Faith Todd
930 S. Washington Ave.
Emmett, ID 83617

Christian Education Release Time (C.E.R.T.)
619 W. 12^th St.
Emmett, ID 83617

ABI Driving School
Phone Number: 376-7458
Owner: Mike Finnegan
208 S. Cole Rd.
Boise, ID 83709

Away We Go Driver Education
Phone Number: 880-0773
Owner: Melissa Hamilton
202 W. Main
Emmett, ID 83617

Centennial Job Corps
(JOB CORP STUDENTS ONLY)
Phone Number: 442-4500
Owner: Les Hite
3201 Ridgecrest
Nampa, ID 83607

Cracker Jack Driving Academy
Phone Number: 608-1776
Owner: Brian Eichler
112 N. Plymouth Ave
New Plymouth, ID 83655
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 255
New Plymouth, Idaho 83655

Eiguren Driving School
Phone Number: 345-8825
Owner: Dave and Jeannie Eiguren
3170 W. Overland
Boise, ID 83705

Excel Driving-xldriving.com, LLC
http://xldriving.com
Phone Number: 371-3869
Owner: Chad Arnell/Dallas Forester
Lowell Scott Middle School
13600 W. McMilland Rd.
Meridian, ID 83642

Fred Mui Driving Education
Phone Number: 331-1032/ 890-6462
Owner: Fred Mui
3730 Covered Wagon Way
Boise, ID 83713

Gem County Driving Academy
Phone Number: 794-0891
Owner: Camille Woodworth

Location 1:
3573 N. Cole Rd.
Boise, ID 83704

Location 2:
3330 N. Meridian Rd. #100
Meridian, ID 83642

Hatch's Driver Trainer
Phone Number:888-2044
Owner: Hal Hatch
2055 North Ten Mile Rd.
Meridian, ID 83642

Hawkins Driver Education
Phone Number:362-8026
Owner: Tomi Hawkins
7605 Thunder Mountain Dr.
Boise, ID 83709

Janene Snider Driver Education
Phone Number: 484-5508
Owner: Janene Snider
209 W. 38^th St.
Boise, ID 83714

Karen Ryals Driving School
Phone Number: 455-1200
Owner: Karen Ryals
204 E. Spruce
Caldwell, ID 83605

Phillips Driving School
Phone Number: 484-9603
Owner: Clancy and Sally Phillips
3660 S. Gallatin Way
Boise, ID 83709

Professional Driving School
Phone Number: 734-0586
Owner: Trans Ops. Incorporated
Director: James Noblin
1365 N. Orchard St. Suite 108
Boise, ID 83706

Rocky Road Driving School, LLC.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone Number: 794-7202
Owner: Mike McCrady
Rocky Mountain High School
2280 N. Marburg Pl.
Meridian, Idaho 83646

Ryals Driver Education, LLC
Phone Number: 939-7663
Owner: Mike Ryals
250 S. Harlan Place
Eagle, ID 83616

Safe N' Sound Driving School
Phone Number: 855-5066
Owner: Don and Lisa Howell
4173 W. Big Creek Dr.
Meridian, ID 83642

Safe Start Driving School
Phone Number: 453-9400
Owner: Don Ingram
Oregon Trail Church
23057 Old Hwy. 30
Caldwell, ID 83607

Training Wheels Driving School
www.trainingwheelsdrivingschool.com
Phone Number: 590-4555
Owner: Tracy Hilliard
1530 W. State St. Suite B
Meridian, ID 83642 

Treasure Valley Driving School
www.treasurevalleydrivingschool.com
Phone Number: 672-9400
Owner: Greg Wood

Location 1:
Nampa Christian High School
439 W. Orchard Ave.
Nampa, ID 83651

Location 2:
Launch Pad Church Ministry
1705 W. Pine Ave.
Meridian, ID 83642

Location 3:
Cole Valley Christian School
200 E. Carlton Ave. Rm. 311
Meridian, ID 83642 

Turtle and Hare Driving School, LLC
www.turtleandharedrivingschool.com
Phone Number: 409-2449
Owner: Deanna Reed
806 S. Willowcreek Way
Middleton, ID 83644

www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Teen_Drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html