Ohio’s New Driver’s Education Law goes into effect
Ohio’s updated driver’s education law officially took effect this week, changing the way young drivers earn their licenses. Under the new rule, anyone under 21 must now complete a full driver training program before applying for a license.
To help streamline this process, the state has launched a new tool: the RoadReady Ohio app. This mobile app is designed to make logging the mandatory 50 hours of supervised driving much easier for families and new drivers.
According to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, the app not only records the number of practice hours but also separates daytime (40 hours) and nighttime (10 hours) driving as required by law. Using a smartphone’s sensors, it also tracks critical safety behaviors such as braking, speed, and turns, providing immediate feedback and a performance score after each trip.
Until now, Ohio relied on the honor system for practice hour reporting, leaving room for inaccuracies. Seventeen-year-old Jack Beale, one of thousands of teens working toward his license in Columbus, says the app gives both students and parents a reliable way to measure progress: “It is going to keep me consistent and show me where I can improve,” he said.
The initiative comes as Ohio continues efforts to reduce car accidents involving young drivers. In 2024, drivers under 24 were linked to more than 7,000 crashes in Franklin County alone, the second highest in the state. Experts stress that structured driver education is key to lowering these risks.
Driving instructors also see value in the new tool. David Berk, owner of Faith Driving School in Hilliard, noted that while the app doesn’t replace in-person lessons, it helps families feel more confident while supervising teens behind the wheel.
Ohio is the first state to integrate telematics technology into the RoadReady app, giving drivers personalized feedback and safety tips. Once the full 50 practice hours are logged, the app syncs directly with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to generate the required affidavit and driving log for license testing.
With this new law and digital support, Ohio aims to make the roads safer and ensure young drivers build stronger skills before getting behind the wheel on their own.
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