Drive Time Driving Instruction announces plans to resume in-car instruction in early May, according to Sara and Doug Kisseberth, owners of the Bluffton-based school.

Gov. DeWine has set for an opening of select non-essential businesses for May 1. Drive Time is planning to resume in-car instruction on May 5 and in-person classroom on May 31 (subject to change).

"We are taking Gov. DeWine’s challenge to heart and are preparing for in-person driver’s training in a world where the Coronavirus still exists, and anybody could be a carrier," said Sara.

"Our plan, as of April 23, is to resume in-car instruction in early May and in-person classroom instruction in late May, with the following adjustments."

In-car instruction
Both the student and instructor will wear a mask. Students are encouraged to provide their own masks if possible. If they do not have one, one will be provided.

All surfaces, but especially the steering wheel, levers, gear selector, door handle, arm rest, review mirror and seat belt, will be cleaned with disinfectant wipes before and after each student.

Students will be encouraged to use a disinfectant wipe at the fuel pump when getting gas, and to use hand sanitizer when getting back in the car.

The student’s certificate of completion will be sent by US Mail to eliminate the possibility of multiple students and instructors being in the office at the same time.

If either the instructor or student has a fever or is feeling ill, the driving lesson will be cancelled with no financial penalty to the student. Instructors will take their temperature before picking up their first student of the day.

Extensions: If one’s permit expired between March 9 and when the BMV reopens, that student will be given a 90-day grace period beyond when the BMV opens. Find the expiration date under the address on the permit.

Additionally, the state has temporarily suspended the six-month rule, which required all driver’s ed be completed within six months of when the contract was signed.

In-person classroom
"In our experience, nearly half of all driver’s ed students in a given year, take class during the summer months. Drive Time calls this our “Summer Tsunami.” It will be a challenge to serve these students while maintaining good social distancing," said Sara.

But here’s our plan:
Limit class size to 15 students (plus make ups). This will allow students to remain six feet apart in both Bluffton and Findlay classrooms.

Additional classes will be scheduled in order to accommodate all students while maintaining safe spacing.

We will continue to offer a parents’ orientation at the beginning of the first class. However, we request that only one parent per student, and no siblings, attend this session. Oftentimes this session is SRO. With smaller student numbers and only one parent per student, this will be a much more reasonably sized group.

Registration process:
Temperatures will be checked with a no touch thermometer as students and parents arrive.

Registration paperwork will be handed out. Then students and parents will be directed into the classroom where there is more space.

A second instructor will collect signed contracts, payments and write receipts.

Hand sanitizer will be available at the door and near the restroom.

Before and after every class session, all tables, doorknobs, light switches, etc. will be disinfected.

Student and instructor temperatures will be checked before every class.

Of course, we will continue to monitor the situation and reserve the right to make additional changes for the safety of our students, instructors, families and community.

Our expectation is that this process will not continue forever. Like you, we are so looking forward to the days when our smiles will not be hidden behind masks.