In August, my niece Zoey turned 13 (?!?) and is now in the second semester of her eighth-grade year. Imagine her surprise when I told her the other day she might be driving in two years if she wants to. Slow those clocks down kid!

One of the biggest milestones in a young adult's life is getting a driver's permit and a driver's license. When I turned 16 in 1991, it was very easy to get on the road. In Kentucky, all you had to do was pass the written test for your permit, wait a month, pass the road test with a score of at least 80 percent, and boom, driver's license.

Now, you pass a written and vision test for the learner's permit. The learner's permit period is 180 days/six months logging 60 practice hours including 10 hours that must be completed at night. The next step is the road test, however, when you pass you get an intermediate license, then another 180-day wait plus completing a required driver's education course. In the first two phases, drivers cannot drive between midnight and 6:00 a.m.

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A bill was introduced during the first week of the 2025 Kentucky Legislative Session to lower the learner's permit age to 15. Wow. Almost all of our border states allow a permit at 15; in Ohio and Virginia, the age is 15 years and 6 months. According the reps who have introduced bill, parents can choose to wait until age 16 or beyond for their children to acquire a learner's permit.

The entire chamber of the Kentucky House and Senate will not meet again until February 4th.

Winter Weather Life Hacks for Your Vehicle

Health Tips is an invaluable Facebook page loaded up with exactly what its name indicates. They also have some pretty nice life hacks for weather-proofing your vehicle when Old Man Winter gets an attitude.

Gallery Credit: Dave Spencer

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