Teen drivers in Ohio can take a modified driving skills test at select BMV locations this summer
Photo: State Farm via CC
This spring, quite a few DMV offices closed due to COVID-19 concerns. Now, some of them are starting to reopen.
That’s good news for teens in Ohio who have been waiting to take the driving skills test to get their licenses. Driving tests will look a bit different though, according to ABC 6 News.
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For starters, teen drivers will need to schedule their testing appointment online via the Ohio BMV’s website. The actual test will have some modifications, as well. BMV examiners will evaluate drivers’ skills from outside of the car while the driver navigates through a closed course set up in the BMV office’s parking lot.
Teens will also need to have a licensed driver sit in the front passenger seat for the duration of the test, explained Charlie Norman, state registrar of motor vehicles. The examiner will use written and oral instructions to guide the driver as they complete the test.
Only select BMV locations are providing the driving skills test right now. As of now, here’s a list of the sites where you can take the evaluation so you can get your license.
TONIGHT on @wsyx6
The driving skills test is going to look a bit different than what we’re used to. Starting with your appointment to test. You’ll need to schedule one through the @Ohio_BMV.
I’ll tell you what other changes you can expect to see. https://t.co/au8GRHlYfL
— Karaline_Cohen (@Karaline_Cohen) June 17, 2020
Some things to keep in mind for the test
Before scheduling your driving skills test this summer, here are some helpful strategies to enhance your success.
- Make sure you’ve practiced enough so you feel confident and comfortable behind the wheel.
- Use the vehicle you’ve been practicing in for the driving test.
- Arrive at the testing site earlier than your test’s scheduled time.
- Focus on driving well rather than on the test itself, to help you keep calm and composed during the evaluation.
- Remember to respect social distancing standards before, during, and after the testing process to keep the BMV examiner safe (e.g. wear a mask if you need to get closer than 6 feet to the examiner to discuss the evaluation beforehand or discuss your test results afterward).
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Whitney Russell is a current resident of Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not adventuring through the exciting world of car news, she can be found hiking with her husband and their two dogs, motorcycling, visiting her cute nephews and nieces, discovering new memes, reorganizing and/or decorating some corner of the world, researching random things, and escaping into a great movie, poem, or short story. See more articles by Whitney.
