Summer driving courses return to St. Joseph for teens
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The first session of teen summer driving courses in St. Joseph is set to begin next week.
Teen drivers will learn essential rules of the road, including proper signal usage, maintaining appropriate speed, and how to become overall safe and responsible drivers.
The first session of the 2025 Teen Drivers' Education Program hosted by the St. Joseph Safety Council begins Monday, June 2, and concludes Friday, June 6. The program includes 20 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours of ride-along observation with another student driver and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
"This is a good experience for the students every time because they have the opportunity to observe both good habits and mistakes made by other drivers," said Frank Till, executive director of the Safety Council. "It truly puts things into perspective as you’re learning how to properly operate a motor vehicle."
Missouri State Troopers will also participate in the course, providing students with drunk driving simulation goggles and a 'seatbelt convincer' that safely demonstrates the impact of a crash when a seatbelt isn’t worn.
"The class is taught by many retired highway patrolmen and police officers, so the students receive a comprehensive understanding of traffic laws," Till said. "It helps them not only locally but also when they travel elsewhere, interpreting road signs, navigating lanes at intersections or highways and even knowing how to stay safe when pulling over on the side of the road."
Till encourages parents to enroll their teenagers in the course to ensure they learn all the proper rules of the road.
"It's just very difficult for a parent in this day and age to set aside that kind of time," Till added. "Our instructors are professional and dedicated."
Students must be between 15 and 19 years old to enroll in the Teen Driver’s Program and a driver's permit is required.
The cost of the course is $350. The registration deadline for the first session, June 2–6, is midnight on May 28. Registration for the second session, which runs from June 23 to June 27, is now open and will close on June 18.
The June 2–6 session will be held in the mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
The June 23–27 session will take place in the afternoons from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. All classes will be held at Missouri Western State University.
For more information and to register, visit www.stjoesafetycouncil.org/drivers-education.
