Commercial Driving School and Traffic Safety Professional Roundtable

Driving Conversations Roundtable Summary

Date: February 26, 2025

Attendees: Representatives from various Commercial Driving Schools and Traffic Safety Professionals from around Florida

Key Discussion Points

• Challenges in Driver Education: Declining course completions despite increased collisions, legislative changes affecting training, instructor shortages, cost concerns, and language barriers.
• Instructor Training & Certification: Need for improved and standardized instructor training, addressing inconsistencies in the current 32-hour training programs.
• Collaboration Between Public & Commercial Schools: Overcoming barriers between public and commercial driver education programs for better student outcomes.
• Quality Management & Regulation: Proposal to create a quality management program to monitor instruction and incentivize high-quality providers.
• Technology & Innovation: The potential role of automation, simulation, and modern tools to enhance driver education.
• Addressing Diversity & Language Barriers: The importance of accommodating diverse learners, including non-English speakers and individuals with disabilities.
• Regulation & Oversight: Discussion on the lack of regulatory oversight for commercial driving schools and how better enforcement could ensure quality education.

Action Items & Next Steps

• ADTSEA-FL will continue to hold roundtables and use stakeholder input to develop services to address known issues.
• Missed the meeting and still want to participate? Take this survey.

Conclusion

The meeting underscored the need for improved training, increased collaboration, and better quality control in driver education. Participants emphasized the importance of industry-wide cooperation to improve driver education and traffic safety outcomes.

For more information, visit ADTSEA-FL.