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

Program Overview

Bằng cách bồi dưỡng thói quen và thái độ lái xe an toàn, Chương trình Giáo dục Người lái xe hướng đến mục tiêu giảm thiểu tai nạn giao thông, thương tích và thiệt hại tài sản. Chương trình này cung cấp cho sinh viên các kỹ năng suốt đời hỗ trợ khả năng di chuyển và tính độc lập của họ khi theo đuổi giáo dục đại học và sự nghiệp sau khi tốt nghiệp.

Chương trình bao gồm các lĩnh vực nội dung, bao gồm:

1. Nguyên nhân gây ra tai nạn và những tổn thất về kinh tế, cá nhân và xã hội; 
2. Thái độ đúng đắn khi lái xe; 
3. Vai trò của người lái xe liên quan đến luật giao thông và các quy luật vật lý của tự nhiên; 
4. Kỹ thuật và kỹ năng lái xe; 
5. An toàn cho người đi bộ; 
6. Xử lý các điều kiện bất lợi và tình huống khẩn cấp; và 
7. Các yếu tố cá nhân ảnh hưởng đến khả năng lái xe của người lái xe (rượu, ma túy, lái xe mất tập trung, tức giận khi lái xe, v.v.).​

Students will complete*:

• 38 giờ học trên lớp.
• 6 giờ đào tạo thực hành lái xe.

*Also see list of prerequisites below.

Student Eligibility and Priority

Theo đúng với 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.