New Law: Younger Drivers Must Complete Mandatory Training

Starting November 1, 2026, Washington will require first-time drivers under age 25 to complete a new safety course before they can get their driver’s license.

We first covered these changes when Washington passed the new law in 2025. Now, the first new requirement is rolling out, and we have more details on what young drivers need to know.

The free online course focuses on two important topics: work zone safety and first responder safety.

Here’s what young drivers and their families need to know.

New Training Required for Young Drivers

Under the new law, first-time Washington driver license applicants under age 25 must pass a free online course about work zone and first responder safety.

The course is available now at the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) website. It becomes a requirement for eligible drivers on November 1.

Here are the basics:

It is free. There is no cost to take the course.
It takes about an hour. There is a test at the end.
You can take it online. The course works on both mobile devices and computers.
It is available in 14 languages.
There are no prerequisites. You can complete the course before or after other required driver training and testing.
Anyone can take it. The course is required for certain new drivers, but it is available to anyone who wants to learn more about work zone and first responder safety.

The DOL says the course is designed to help reduce collisions involving emergency responders and other people working along the roadside.

Who Needs to Take the Course?

Whether you need to take the new course depends on two things:

Your age when you get your first Washington driver’s license.
The date you get that license.

If you get your first Washington driver’s license on or before October 31, 2026, you do not need to take the course.

If you are 24 or younger and get your first Washington driver’s license on or after November 1, 2026, you will need to take it.

For example:

Getting your license October 31, 2026? No course required.

Getting your license November 1, 2026? The course is required if you are under 25.

The requirement applies to first-time Washington license applicants. It is not a new requirement for everyone who already has a driver’s license.

What Does the New Driver Course Cover?

The course focuses on two areas that every driver should understand: work zones and first responders.

Work Zone Safety

The course teaches new drivers how to recognize and safely navigate work zones, including construction signs, cones, lane changes. and reduced speed limits. Drivers will also learn why slowing down and staying alert can help prevent crashes.

First Responder Safety

The course also covers how drivers should respond when they encounter police officers, firefighters, emergency crews and other first responders on the road. The goal is to help new drivers understand when to slow down, move over and give emergency workers the space they need to work safely.

Why Is this Training Necessary?

Washington has a goal of reducing traffic deaths to zero by 2050. Education is one part of that effort.

Consider these stats:

Young drivers are overrepresented in fatal crashes. They make up about 11% of Washington’s driving population but nearly 1 in 5 drivers involved in a fatal crash. (Source: Washington State Traffic Commission)
594 traffic fatalities involved a young driver. That’s the number of traffic deaths involving drivers ages 15 to 24 from 2022 through 2024. (Source: Washington State Traffic Commission)
Work zones remain dangerous. In 2025, Washington had 1,557 work-zone crashes, resulting in 542 injuries and nine deaths. (Source: WSDOT)
First responders face serious risks. Transportation incidents are the second-leading cause of death for police officers and firefighters and the leading cause of death for tow-truck operators. (Source: Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

The new training gives young drivers more information about two situations they are likely to encounter on the road: work zones and emergency scenes.

More New Driver Requirements are Coming in 2027

The work zone and first responder course is just one part of a larger Washington law focused on young driver safety. Here are three other changes to know about.

Driver Education will Expand to Older New Drivers

Starting January 1, 2027, Washington will begin requiring driver education for first-time drivers who are 18. The requirement will then expand by one age group each year through age 21 by 2030. Drivers 22 and older will not be included in this requirement.

Driver Education Vouchers are Coming

The state is also developing vouchers to help eligible low-income drivers ages 15 to 24 pay for driver education. The program is expected to begin in January 2027.

Some Young Drivers with Violation will need More Training

Starting January 1, 2027, drivers ages 18 to 24 who receive two moving violations will be required to complete a safe-driving course. Drivers who do not complete the required training could face a license suspension.

More information about these requirements will become available as the January 2027 launch gets closer.

Helping Your Young Driver Stay Safe

Getting a driver’s license is a big milestone, but it also comes with new responsibilities. We’ve written extensively about helping teens and young adults stay safe behind the wheel.

Some of our resources include:

Visit our blog for more information about safe driving, car accidents and what to do after a crash.

Accident Involving a Young Driver? Call us.

If your young driver was injured in a crash caused by someone else, or if you were injured in a crash involving a young driver, you may have questions about what happens next.

The team at Ladenburg Law Injury Attorneys offers free, no-obligation consultations. We can help you understand your rights and your options after an accident.

Call 253.272.5226 or fill out our short contact form to get started.