I have set up this petition because I believe that New Hampshire citizens are in a position where we need to start asking the legislation for a change- that change would be to Driver Education.
Currently right now in the Senate there is a bill, SB 39, to make a change in the driver’s ed program. There have been a few of these in the past couple years that never got any follow through. 2023- HB55 and 2024 - SB427.
Sponsors of this bill - 2025 SB 39
Sen. Timothy Lang [R] Sen. Ruth Ward [R] Sen. Keith Murphy [R] Sen. Daniel Innis [R]
Sen. Tara Reardon [D] Sen. Howard Pearl [R] Sen. Victoria Sullivan [R] Rep. Jason Osborne [R]
Rep. Jess Edwards [R] Rep. Michael Moffett [R] Rep. Judy Aron [R] Rep. Matthew Coker [
This website is where you can look up past n present bills.
https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/SB39/2025
What I would like is for the public to inform our legislation that the NH drivers education program is currently monopolized by the fact that teens are only able to use one program to gain their license.
New Hampshire needs to change this.
There are so many other options that are available and I have researched different states across our wonderful country.
There is of course the traditional drivers program that is either offered in public schools or through private businesses. There is an online course that children can take, there is even parent led drivers education. It is my personal belief that this would be a fantastic option for families in our state and one that even the parents get a refresher.
With all of the options available drivers education should have options for our up-and-coming driver teens The current cost for a drivers program is anywhere from $ 800 to over $1000. We are finding ourselves in an economy that the every day person is having to pinch pennies to just put food on the table. Never mind pay a ridiculous fee per child for them to have the ability to learn to drive which is a very important skill for these young people to have in order to make their way into the workplace.
This past holiday season, I actually noticed a decline in youth working in the workforce due to the fact that they have the lack of transportation.
Here is some research I have done on other states and methods of drivers education.
https://transfersmagazine.org/magazine-article/issue-2/what-makes-a-good-driver/
https://driversed.com/trending/instructor-taught-vs-parent-taught-drivers-ed
https://media.nationalsafetycommission.com/parent_handbook/Driver-Ed-Handbook-Parents.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1942043/
https://onlinedriversed.com/blog/what-are-benefits-getting-drivers-permit
https://www.driverknowledge.com/driving-tests/
Thank you
Abigail Smith Bellemore
Updates
February 13, 2025
I am currently compiling the feedback from those who signed to prepare a formal brief for the sponsors of SB 39. This document will highlight the demand for diversified driver education options beyond the current monopoly. Expect a summary of my requested meeting with the legislative committee once my initial outreach is complete.
11 Comments
Not only is it the only way to obtain the drivers license, there are few programs in the north country and limited class space. Not to mention the short window to actually take the class prior to the 16th birthday. Then if you manage to get in the one class offered in your area in that timeframe, you have to give up sports or other extracurriculars during that period as you cannot miss classes.
Drivers ed and the cost/time commitment that comes with it is a struggle for many. There should be other options available so that families are able to choose the option that works best for their situation.
Home Educators have the time and expertise to devote to practice hours, in car instruction and teaching the material in the NH Driving manual to prepare students for the exams. Thank you, Darlene Gildersleeve Hopkinton, NH
Many opponents of this Bill do so citing safety concerns and lack of oversight to ensure drivers are actually learning. There is already a system in place for this. All new drivers in NH are required to pass a written and driving test. There is no need to add extra financial burden on parents for the sake of checking an additional box.
I think NH should have drivers ed for students that is part of school Curriculum. Having to pay privately for private drivers Ed classes seems as though it’s only funneling money to specific areas and not taking into consideration the students themselves.
As is with the NHMRO and MOST, this too needs to have options.
Choice NH need choices
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I have set up this petition because I believe that New Hampshire citizens are in a position where we need to start asking the legislation for a change- that change would be to Driver Education.
Currently right now in the Senate there is a bill, SB 39, to make a change in the driver’s ed program. There have been a few of these in the past couple years that never got any follow through. 2023- HB55 and 2024 - SB427.
Sponsors of this bill - 2025 SB 39
Sen. Timothy Lang [R] Sen. Ruth Ward [R] Sen. Keith Murphy [R] Sen. Daniel Innis [R]
Sen. Tara Reardon [D] Sen. Howard Pearl [R] Sen. Victoria Sullivan [R] Rep. Jason Osborne [R]
Rep. Jess Edwards [R] Rep. Michael Moffett [R] Rep. Judy Aron [R] Rep. Matthew Coker [
This website is where you can look up past n present bills.
https://legiscan.com/NH/bill/SB39/2025
What I would like is for the public to inform our legislation that the NH drivers education program is currently monopolized by the fact that teens are only able to use one program to gain their license.
New Hampshire needs to change this.
There are so many other options that are available and I have researched different states across our wonderful country.
There is of course the traditional drivers program that is either offered in public schools or through private businesses. There is an online course that children can take, there is even parent led drivers education. It is my personal belief that this would be a fantastic option for families in our state and one that even the parents get a refresher.
With all of the options available drivers education should have options for our up-and-coming driver teens The current cost for a drivers program is anywhere from $ 800 to over $1000. We are finding ourselves in an economy that the every day person is having to pinch pennies to just put food on the table. Never mind pay a ridiculous fee per child for them to have the ability to learn to drive which is a very important skill for these young people to have in order to make their way into the workplace.
This past holiday season, I actually noticed a decline in youth working in the workforce due to the fact that they have the lack of transportation.
Here is some research I have done on other states and methods of drivers education.
https://transfersmagazine.org/magazine-article/issue-2/what-makes-a-good-driver/
https://driversed.com/trending/instructor-taught-vs-parent-taught-drivers-ed
https://media.nationalsafetycommission.com/parent_handbook/Driver-Ed-Handbook-Parents.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1942043/
https://onlinedriversed.com/blog/what-are-benefits-getting-drivers-permit
https://www.driverknowledge.com/driving-tests/
Thank you
Abigail Smith Bellemore
Updates
February 13, 2025
I am currently compiling the feedback from those who signed to prepare a formal brief for the sponsors of SB 39. This document will highlight the demand for diversified driver education options beyond the current monopoly. Expect a summary of my requested meeting with the legislative committee once my initial outreach is complete.
11 Comments
I agree because I too had to pay 750 in 2014 and without that course I wouldn't have started out in the workforce at 16. Teens should learn work is a vital skill not a privilege
Not only is it the only way to obtain the drivers license, there are few programs in the north country and limited class space. Not to mention the short window to actually take the class prior to the 16th birthday. Then if you manage to get in the one class offered in your area in that timeframe, you have to give up sports or other extracurriculars during that period as you cannot miss classes.
Drivers ed and the cost/time commitment that comes with it is a struggle for many. There should be other options available so that families are able to choose the option that works best for their situation.
Home Educators have the time and expertise to devote to practice hours, in car instruction and teaching the material in the NH Driving manual to prepare students for the exams. Thank you, Darlene Gildersleeve Hopkinton, NH
Many opponents of this Bill do so citing safety concerns and lack of oversight to ensure drivers are actually learning. There is already a system in place for this. All new drivers in NH are required to pass a written and driving test. There is no need to add extra financial burden on parents for the sake of checking an additional box.
I think NH should have drivers ed for students that is part of school Curriculum. Having to pay privately for private drivers Ed classes seems as though it’s only funneling money to specific areas and not taking into consideration the students themselves.
As is with the NHMRO and MOST, this too needs to have options.
Choice NH need choices
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I agree because I too had to pay 750 in 2014 and without that course I wouldn't have started out in the workforce at 16. Teens should learn work is a vital skill not a privilege