CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Under Phase 2 of the state's plan to safely reopen, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that bars, child care centers, and other services can reopen at a 25 percent capacity.
Under the new proclamation, driver education programs can also resume operations.
COVID-19 put the brakes on driver’s education classes. Many shifted to online learning to give their students an opportunity to continue their education and not delay it.
“And we actually had to close down on the 21 on our last day in March, and we went virtual to finish up that class,” said Texas Driving School driving instructor Lisa Duncan.
Once Governor Greg Abbott announced the openings of all driving schools, the Texas Driving School phones would not stop ringing.
“We were inundated with phone calls day and night, messages. We now have a new class coming in. So we are at 25 percent as Governor Greg Abbott requested us to do. We also have a Zoom class to take care of our afternoon class because we have more than 25 percent registered,” said Duncan.
Under new rules for driver’s education, classes are continuing online but students can now receive road instruction.
“The protocol before they come in, they have to have their face mask on as well as I will. They will be temperature checked then they will come through the door. We will have hand sanitizer for them to sanitize, and then they will have a seat at their desk, and they will stay in that position in that desk until the whole class is finished throughout. We only have the instructor and the driver in the car at this point,” said Duncan.
Now students can get behind the wheel and, if they pass, they can head to the DPS Drivers License Center, which has reopened by appointment only. Limited services at this time include:
- Applying for an original Texas driver's license or identification card
- Applying for a Texas learner license
- Driver's license services requiring a skills exam
- Applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL) or taking a CDL skills test
