High school is largely about passing milestones, and one of the biggest milestones is obtaining a driver’s license. Most teens have a zeal for independence, so getting a license can literally be the key to that, enabling them to get coffee, hang out with friends, or only have to rely on themselves for transportation.

“I hate riding the school bus, so my cousin drives me home from school. When she can’t, I still have to ride the bus. I can’t wait to get my license so that I can drive myself to and from school, and other places,” said freshman Henry Bazzarre.

While most teenagers only see a driver’s license as a symbol of freedom, there are surprising responsibilities that come with the privilege, some of which budding drivers fail to consider.

“Before getting my license, I did not think about the fact that I would have to wait for my brother for his practices to end before driving home,” said senior Aryann Baskfield.

Some students–particularly freshmen and sophomores–may not be familiar with the help that FCHS school offers when it comes to getting their license, such as a required PE/Driver’s Ed class, and access to taking a learner’s permit test at school several times a year.

These forms of assistance can be extremely helpful to families with limited methods of transportation or gas money, as it is much more convenient to take the test at school rather than having to drive into Charlottesville to go to the DMV.

“As the Driver Ed. curriculum continues to grow, the students are getting more and more knowledge. Of our Learner’s Permit tests taken at school, our pass rate has gone up. That is a testament to the preparation of the students,” said Drivers Education teacher Heath Bralley.

Students take a one-semester Drivers Ed class during their sophomore year of high school. This is because students are generally around age 15 when they are eligible to get their learner’s permit, so it is integrated into the 10th-grade gym curriculum. This program is important because it stresses how a person’s driving affects not just themselves, but others as well.

The learner’s permit test is an important obstacle that those attempting to obtain their license have to pass. While some of the questions make complete common sense, some can be difficult, such as exactly how many feet you should be behind a car, or how far you must remain behind a school bus when it stops. A lot of students don’t pass their test the first or even second time, so it is highly important to study before taking it. The DMV has a plethora of study materials and practice tests for people preparing to take the test.

Thanks to FCHS, students don’t even need to leave the school to take the learner’s permit, as it is administered several times a year at the high school. Students who are of age can register to take this test at this link with their parents’ permission.

“Students can try the test at FCHS for their first two tries. On a third try, they must go to the DMV. If they fail the test three times, they must take a class outside of school and pay for it,” said FCHS Testing Coordinator Angela Blevins.

Students who have previously taken the learner’s permit test can offer beneficial advice to people who have yet to take it.

“Study what you can, but don’t expect any of the questions you studied to be on the test. Rely on your common sense,” said senior Amina Seiden.

“It’s super important to study before the test, but also don’t worry if you don’t pass the first time. You can always retake it,” said senior Molly Cook.

Getting your learner’s permit doesn’t mean you are free to drive whenever and however you want. If you are under 18, you can only drive with an adult family member or a person over the age of 21 in the car to supervise. To obtain an actual, real, drive-by-yourself license while under the age of 18, you must complete a behind-the-wheel class as well. (If you don’t want to start driving until you are older than 18, you can skip the behind-the-wheel and learner’s permit.)

There are a few behind-the-wheel companies in Fluvanna. One is Fork Union Driving Academy, which can be reached on their Facebook page or by calling (434) 842-1717. If you don’t mind driving to Charlottesville, Dave Rocco’s Driving School is another option.