Proposed Model Legislation – Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE)
Overview
Under current Florida Law, drivers who have never held —or do not have in their possession— a driver license from any other state, country or jurisdiction, must complete a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course before applying for a license in Florida. [1] Driver license applicants must pay to take a 4-hour TLSAE course through a FLHSMV certified commercial driving school. Unfortunately, the content of the TLSAE course outlined in 322.095 does not meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) guidelines for basic driver instruction.[2]
K-12 students enrolled in a Driver Education Licensing Assistance Program (DELAP) certified Driver Education courses are eligible to have the TLSAE requirement waived. Florida’s Department of Education (FLDOE) defines a Driver Education course [3] whose standards and objectives are superior to the TLSAE objectives described in 322.095. Furthermore, Florida mandates that each school district offers Driver Education (1003.48). Finally, Florida recognizes that the completion of an approved driver education course is necessary to develop safe driving skills (409.1454).
Since Driver Education is mandated by law (1003.48), free for K-12 students[4], and superior to the paid TLSAE course, a best practice would be to make Driver Education the standard for minors to earn their learner’s license.
[1] https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/driver-improvement-schools/traffic-law-substance-abuse-education-tlsae-find-approved-listing-tlsae-course-providers/
[2] https://www.anstse.info/Images/2017%20Home/001%20-%202017%20NTDETAS.pdf