APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Starting January 1st, teen drivers will once again need to take a road test to get their license.
Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation is ending a pandemic-era pilot program, allowing teens to get a license with just the signature of a parent or guardian.
The state DOT’s Department of Motor Vehicles road test waiver was implemented in 2020 during the “Safer at Home” order as a way to reduce close contact between people.
“My parents were okay with it, it was like in the middle of COVID so they didn’t want to mess with any of that,” said Tyson Salm from Appleton.
Salm became a licensed driver at 16-years-old, two years ago. He is one of many Wisconsin teens whose parents signed a road test waiver.
“I did not take the road test.”
Salm says thinking about it now, he wishes he would’ve done the road test.
“I feel like a lot of kids don’t have as much experience as they did before they had the test, because I mean, driving is a lot of pressure.”
As of Aug. 31, the DMV says 144,082 parents and guardians of 16 and 17-year-olds signed road test waivers.
The DMV says it tracked potential safety implications and found no negative effect on driver safety.
“I think I was nervous getting on the road the first time, I mean I didn’t have to do it in front of anyone,” said Salm.
Drivers 16 and 17-years-old will be able to apply for a road test waiver until Dec. 31. To be eligible, drivers need to have completed their required driver education course, behind-the-wheel training and 50 hours of supervised driving.
“I’m looking to purchase my first car soon,” said Appleton resident, Nate Verstegen.
Verstegen is 15-years-old and currently has his temporary license. He will be turning 16 in April, meaning he’ll be required to take the road test to get his probationary license.
“I would rather do the road test because then you know you can drive well on the road so you don’t like accidentally run into someone.”
FOX 11 reached out to the Wisconsin DOT for comment.
They said they’re not doing interviews, but Reggie Paradowski, deputy DMV administrator, provided a statement saying, “Wisconsin DMV launched this innovative pilot program to continue to meet our customers’ needs as we all faced tremendous challenges during the pandemic. We will continue to develop online services to provide greater convenience and efficiency for our customers.”
Appointments for road tests can be scheduled 11 weeks in advance on the DMV’s website.
