Student drivers in Georgia seemingly caught a lucky break two weeks ago, when Governor Brian Kemp announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they would be able to acquire their license without having to take a road test.
While the executive order still mandated a certain amount of hours of supervised driving and written parental consent, opinions were split over whether or not it was a good idea. Some parents felt that a driving test is unnecessary after so many hours of supervised driving with adults. Others felt that since the supervised hours are signed off based on the honor system at home, a driving test is necessary to prove a student driver’s ability behind the wheel.
In the two weeks since Governor Kemp waived the driving test requirement, nearly 20,000 student drivers have acquired licenses after applying online.
In a press conference yesterday (May 12th), Governor Kemp clarified his previous mandate with a new executive order, saying that any student driver who gets their license without a road test during the pandemic, WILL have to return to the DMV and complete a road test at a later date. The deadline to take the road test is September 30th, 2020.