Wichita Driving School
WEST-SIDE (316) 721-7950           About Us        EAST-SIDE (316) 651-0848

Wichita Driving School offers flexible scheduling & one-on-one instruction  
 2012

Mike Johnson has good news for parents & teens --your family's summer schedules need not be held hostage by lengthy, drawn-out high school driver's ed programs. Mike is the owner of Wichita Driving School & Wichita Driving School East which offer year-round driver education courses for students who have busy schedules, vacation or camp conflicts, or have been left out of the school program due to date of birth.  Now in its 8th year, WDS allows teens to get qualified to drive at their convenience.
     
WDS driver ed classes offer personalized, one-on-one instruction at times that are convenient.  They even offer door-side pickup for the driving lessons.  Mike believes that one-on-one instruction builds confidence and is a key to greater safety.  He says few, if any public school courses offer one-on-one instruction behind the wheel.  In large, oversized summer classes, important points can be missed. Many students across Kansas are currently forced to take their academic driver ed course work on line, due to budget cuts in certain districts.  In a crowed van or car, a teen may worry what their peers in the backseat think, or may be put in danger by another student driver.

In the classroom, WDS emphasizes defensive driving and stresses the importance of having a good attitude and using common sense.  Some high risk areas for teen drivers include driving with other teen passengers, driving after 9 p.m., unwillingness to wear seat belts, riding with an immature or impaired driver, and the use of cell phones/text messaging while driving.  WDS emphasizes ways to handle or avoid such problems in their academic courses and driving lessons.

Wichita Driving School, a member of the National Safety Council, also offers an extra course for those looking for more academic training or an insurance discount.  The NSC course, Defensive Driving, promotes a personal, life-long commitment to being a responsible, low risk defensive driver.
    
Wichita Driving School Inc. is located at 724 Country Acres (1 block west of Central & Ridge). Wichita Driving School East is located at 6115 E. Central (1 block west of Central & Woodlawn).  The main office is currently at the west location.  Both schools are licensed by the State of Kansas. WDS is a member of the BBB, National Safety Council & the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce.

                                 One-on-one instruction for teens, adults at Wichita Driving School  
                                                                                                2005

In previous decades, driver education was a right of passage for many high school students. While the course is invaluable for teaching teens the rules of safe driving, it is not as easy to take these days. Many schools offer it only during the summer or at other times that are difficult for busy families.
to offer a better alternative, Mike Johnson, an educator for over 15 years, recently opened Wichita Driving School, Inc. at 724 Country Acres (Central & Ridge Road).
Mike offers drivers education classes with personalized, one-on-one professional instruction at times that are convenient. He even includes door-side pickup.  The driver ed course offered by Wichita Driving School allow beginning drivers to get qualified to drive at their convenience. 
'Many teens have busy schedules involving sports and studies, and have difficulty fitting In driver education. Our class times offer much more flexibility, so we're able to make it work for them." Mike says. The course, also available to adults, provides eight hours of classroom instruction and six hours behind the wheel. Defensive driving is highly emphasized in class and behind the wheel. Students with hectic schedules can get their driver education completed in a timely fashion with one-on-one instruction.

Wichita Driving School Inc. is located at 724 Country Acres (1 block west of Central & Ridge). Wichita Driving School East  (opened 2010) is located at 6115 E. Central (1 block west of Central & Woodlawn).  The main office is currently at the west location.  Both schools are licensed by the State of Kansas. For more information or to enroll, call 651-0848 or 721-7950

For Defensive Driving  click here

QUESTION: NOTE: NEW LAW CHANGES START JAN. 1, 2010!
My teenager is 14 years of age and would like to learn how to drive.  How do they get qualified to drive, and what are the requirements for obtaining the RL?
ANSWER:
Keep in mind most students must be 15 years old to get a Restricted License. But at age 14, teens can get a permit, practice with parents, and even take Driver Ed.  To obtain a RL, a beginning driver must fulfill the following requirements:

• Successfully complete a Driver Education Program. Graduated Licensing Laws, which were passed in Kansas about a decade ago, require all students under the age of 16 to complete a Driver Education Course. Students 14 or older, can either take such a course from their local high school, or from a private driving school. The Certificate of Completion earned by passing the Driver Ed course allows one to get the Restricted License at the DMV or Driver‘s License Office. (The only testing usually required is the eye test)

• Be the holder of a Photo Instructional Permit for a minimum of 12 months.  An IP can be obtained at age 14 or more by taking a written test at the DMV, or by participating in a Driver Education course. This 12 month rule no longer applies at age 17 or more.  The IP is for supervised practice only!

• Complete 50 hours of practice with a parent or guardian, with 10 of the hours occurring at night. The 50 hours of practice are required for anyone under age 18.

• Students 16 or older can also get their regular Driver's License by providing the Driver Ed Certificate of Completion to the DMV. (The only testing usually required is the eye test)  Note:  There is a new 6 month probationary period for 16 year old drivers, which obtained their first Photo IP in 2010. This is detailed on our link.   After this 6 month (successful) probationary period, the license automatically converts into the next stage. New Laws for TEENS

• For 15 year olds, there is a provision that allows for 25 practice hours, but a teen must go back to the DMV at age 16 to renew their license. Students, which have completed the 50 hours prior, will not have to go back at age 16, because their Restricted License will automatically turn into a regular Driver's License at age 16. Also, the parent or guardian is required to sign an affidavit at the DMV confirming the completion of the practice hours. In the late 90's, the Kansas Legislature followed the lead of other states, and formed new laws that changed the procedure for obtaining restricted licenses and drivers' licenses. "Graduating Licensing" is designed to give teens a better-rounded driver training experience, which in turn makes them more successful on the road, which is a good thing for all of us!

Mike Johnson, owner of Wichita Driving School & Wichita Driving School East has been involved in Driver Education for over 15 years. He graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Mike taught Driver Ed in the public high school sector for 5 years before getting involved in private driver training. Wichita Driving School, Inc. opened by Mike in 2003, is located at 724 Country Acres (1 block west of Central & Ridge Road). Wichita Driving School East, LLC.  is located at 6115 E. Central (1 block west of Central & Woodlawn Road). Both schools offer year-round driver education and defensive driving courses for teens and beginning drivers. WDS can help students with busy schedules, vacation or camp conflicts, or who have been left out of the school program due to date of birth. It is also an option for adults, which have not yet learned to drive. Locally owned and licensed by the state of Kansas, Wichita Driving School is a member of the National Safety Council, Wichita Metro-Chamber of Commerce & the Better Business Bureau. For more information or to enroll, please call  (316) 721-7950 or 651-0848