Mississippi is taking a major step toward improving road safety by requiring driver’s education for first-time drivers, a move many riders hope will create safer roads for everyone.
Under changes to state law, all Mississippi high schools will now be required to offer driver’s education programs, while the Mississippi Department of Public Safety is also creating certified courses for homeschooled students and adults who never had the opportunity to take driver’s education. The new programs include both classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training. (https://www.wlox.com)
Beginning July 1, 2027, anyone applying for their first Mississippi driver’s license must complete a certified driver’s education course before receiving a license. Road tests, which were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, are also returning as part of the licensing process. (Driver Service Bureau)
For motorcyclists, this could be welcome news.
One of the most common phrases riders hear after a crash is, “I just didn’t see the motorcycle.” Better driver education won’t eliminate distracted driving or careless motorists, but teaching new drivers to properly scan intersections, check blind spots, and recognize motorcycles could help reduce crashes involving riders.
Mississippi officials say the changes are aimed at reducing the state’s high rate of crashes involving young drivers and producing better-trained motorists before they’re turned loose on public roads. (https://www.wlox.com)
Many riders have long argued that learning to share the road with motorcycles should be a bigger part of every driver’s education course. If these new programs place more emphasis on motorcycle awareness, they could make a real difference for the people who ride every day.
Only time will tell whether the new requirements lead to fewer crashes, but most bikers would agree that better-trained drivers are a step in the right direction.