SYLVANIA TOWNSHIP, OH (Toledo News Now) A bill allowing students to take part of driver's education online is awaiting governor Kasich's signature.

However, some driver's education training schools are not happy with the possible changes. The owner of Mid-America Driver Training in Bowling Green, Donna Foster, today says this decision is bad for business and safety.

"These are life-long, life saving skills that we're teaching these kids, it's not like a math class online or an English class online, life saving skills are being taught here," said Foster.

Each year, Foster teaches about 600 students. Currently, students in driver's education in Ohio must take 24 hours of in-class instruction, along with 8 hours of on-the-road training. Foster says once House Bill 487 gets Governor Kasich's signature it will take kids out of classrooms like hers, and put them in front of computers.

"What's going to happen ultimately is driver's ed is going to get very expensive, there's a possibility that I'm going to have to reduce my staff significantly. If the situation continues, there is a possibility that I may have to shut my doors after being in business for 14 years," Foster explained.

Foster says she is so passionate about steering her students into safe driving habits that she argued her case on the senate floor:

"I said would you be comfortable with your child taking an online driver education course not knowing if they are actually taking it because, their friend could sit beside them and take it. Anyone else can take it. There's no accountability on who is actually inputting info into the system."

The possibility that students aren't doing their own work is something that has Foster and other teachers and drivers concerned that's why she is urging others to contact Governor Kasich to put a stop to what she says is a horrible mistake as soon as possible.

Copyright 2012 Toledo News Now. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from:
Online driver's education waiting for governor's approval