Michigan Officials Push To Extend Free Driver’s Education Grant for Teens

Michigan mayors and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are pushing lawmakers to keep grant funding alive for free driver's education programs. These programs have helped teens in Dearborn and Westland. The money runs out in December 2026.

"Driver's education should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. It should be something every young person in Michigan has access to," said Benson, according to WXYZ 7 News Detroit.

The state quit paying for driver's education back in 2004. Benson says this created problems for families who can't pay.

A pilot program has given students in Dearborn Public Schools free driver's education through their district, funded by the grant. The Wayne-Westland district got the same help. Both districts have trained about 1,000 young drivers so far.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud says the program fixes a big problem in his city. "When you talk about young drivers, Dearborn is the capital of young drivers. Roughly 50% of our population is younger than 28," said Hammoud per WXYZ 7 News Detroit.

Aisha Hedwood owns Wheel to Drive Driving School and teaches students to drive. She thinks kids should learn road rules early. "It cuts back on the amount of crashes that we have," said Hedwood.

Hedwood says the training helps parents relax when their teens start driving. "It makes the parents feel better when they're turning the keys over to their teen, and it just makes a big difference," said Hedwood.

The mayors and Benson want lawmakers to extend the grant. They also think more cities should get access.