OREGON, Wis. -- For three and a half years, Wisconsin parents could sign off on their teens getting a drivers license without them taking a road test. But now, it's back to the old way of getting behind the wheel at the DMV.
The pilot program by the Wisconsin DOT was designed to ease a backlog of teens trying to get their drivers licenses during the height of the pandemic. Dave Gratz, owner of the Oregon Area Driving School says it's a good move to get that one last check before letting our youngest of drivers out on the roads.
Gratz, a former semi driver turned drivers ed instructor says he's seen a lot of unprepared drivers over the years. He says the pilot program has served out it's purpose.
"I was somewhat surprised that it lasted as long," said Gratz.
It was in May, 2020 when the DOT implemented the program allowing parents to sign a waiver, allowing their teens to skip the road test.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has called the program innovative. The state agency says the program's permanent implementation didn't come to fruition due to the state Legislature.
Now, three and a half years later, student drivers will now head back to the DMV to obtain the coveted piece of plastic.
"Overall they're trying to make sure you know how to control the car, you know the rules of the road and you're not going to put anybody in danger by being out there on the road," said Gratz.
A DOT representative says during the time of the course, 171,794 waivers were issued. Since the beginning of the pilot, 85% of teens that received a probationary driver license utilized the road test waiver option.