The state of Mississippi doesn’t require applicants to take a road test to receive their license, leaving some people fearful of the drivers they share the road with.
In September 2021, Mississippi eliminated the driving portion of the license test because of social distancing regulations and because the test had already been significantly reduced. Since then, new drivers are required to take a computerized test and have their parents sign off that they drove with them at least 50 hours. An exception applies if an applicant is 17 or older. In that case, they can apply to take the license test the same day.
Some people express fear knowing new drivers didn’t have to take an actual driving test to get their license.
“It is scary,” said Hattiesburg resident Sheena Easterling. “My daughter didn’t have to take one because of COVID, but I didn’t realize they never brought it back. I’ve seen how she drives, so I think they should have to take the test.”
The road test is not coming back for Mississippians. Instead, there is a strong push for parents to get involved with their child’s driving and for new drivers to take driver’s education courses.
Kali Murry, a student at the University of Southern Mississippi from Louisiana, said she was required to take the road test and practice driving for four hours with an instructor.
“I had to take one and it was easy. I think it should be required,” Murry said. “I think it’s crazy, because parents can easily lie and say, ‘My baby can drive,’ and that not be true.”
But students like Myles Reed feel differently.
“I was relieved I didn’t have to take the test, even though it was a risk,” he said. “But I knew I could drive.”
In May 2024, Gov. Tate Reeves signed Senate Bill 2695, which expanded driver’s education in public schools for grades nine through 12. According to the Driver Service Bureau, “A good driver’s education program can be very beneficial. Statistics have shown that drivers who complete driver’s education courses are far less likely to be involved in accidents.”
Insurance companies also reward people who have taken driver’s education by offering lower rates for those who complete approved courses, according to the Driver Service Bureau.
In Mississippi, the three months in 2021 with the highest number of traffic fatalities were September, January and May, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a 3% increase in traffic fatalities nationwide in 2021 compared to 2020.
“The fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was 14.18 for the United States in 2021, ranging from a high of 32.36 in Mississippi to a low of 7.61 in Hawaii,” the NHTSA said.
Hattiesburg Police Department Public Information Officer Tate Rutland said there isn’t a clear connection between license requirements and accident rates.
“Connecting the crash trends to licensing requirements would be speculation more or less,” Rutland said.
