The Driver Education Program equips high school students with the essential knowledge, skills and experience to become responsible and safe drivers.

Program Overview

安全運転の習慣と態度を養うことで、運転教育プログラムは交通事故、負傷、物的損害の削減を目指しています。このプログラムは、卒業後に高等教育やキャリアを追求する学生の移動性と自立性をサポートする生涯にわたるスキルを学生に提供します。

このプログラムは、以下のコンテンツ領域をカバーしています。

1. 衝突の原因とその結果生じる経済的、個人的、社会的損失。 
2. 運転に関する適切な態度。 
3. 交通法規および自然の物理法則に関連した運転者の役割。 
4. 運転技術およびスキル; 
5. 歩行者の安全; 
6. 悪条件や緊急事態への対処 
7. 運転者の能力に影響を与える個人的な要因（アルコール、薬物、不注意な運転、ロードレイジなど）。

Students will complete*:

• 38 時間の教室での指導。
• 6時間の実車運転訓練。

*Also see list of prerequisites below.

Student Eligibility and Priority

に従って Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Section 302A-413, the Driver and Traffic Safety Education Program is open to all Hawai‘i teens who are at least 15 years and 6 months of age and under 19 years of age with a valid teen permit.

All driver education courses must be taught by instructors certified by the state Department of Transportation and licensed by the HIDOE. Public high schools offer the program based on the availability of instructors. Schools may offer credit and non-credit courses.

Elective course for high school credit
A credit-bearing driver education elective course may be offered during the school day or summer school. This elective course covers only the classroom content and is open to students in Grades 10–12. Students earn one-half elective credit upon successful completion. Students who meet the criteria to earn a Department of Transportation Certificate of Completion for licensure prior to the age of 18 will receive the documentation after the semester course. The student must complete the required behind-the-wheel course in order to receive the DOT Certificate for this.

Before- or after-school, non-credit program
A non-credit program may be offered before or after school. The before- or after-school, non-credit course is one program and not two separate courses. Students cannot enroll just for the classroom course or only for the behind-the-wheel course.

Enrollment at each high school must be given on an equal basis to all eligible students. To contact a program coordinator, refer to the listing of Driver Education Programs at Public High Schools (PDF).

Eligible students include:

• Students attending the high school (including students on geographic exceptions).
• Any other Hawai‘i resident under the age of 19 years who lives in the high school’s attendance area, including students attending private schools, being home-schooled, or enrolled in a General Education Diploma course at a HIDOE Adult Community.
• Private school students living outside the school attendance area who cannot access a public high school driver education program in their attendance area.

Eligible students must meet the following prerequisites for enrollment:

• Be at least 15 years and 6 months and under 19 years of age.
• Complete and submit the Driver and Traffic Safety Education Program application form;
• Attend the mandatory parent/guardian orientation meeting with a parent/guardian;
• Possess a current Hawai‘i Instructional Permit (for the before- or after-school, non-credit course only). Students enrolled in the credit semester course need to obtain their Hawai‘i Instructional Permits prior to the start of the Behind-the-Wheel course held during after-school hours.

Brochures with application forms are available from Driver and Traffic Safety Education Program coordinators at public high schools.

Student Fees

The driver education fee of $10, payable to the high school, includes the classroom instruction (credit or non-credit) and behind-the-wheel instruction. Students who enroll in the semester credit course or summer school course must also pay the $10 fee to access the behind-the-wheel instruction.