Road test: Hannah Boron gives thumbs up after passing her road test to qualify for a driver’s license. Boron was part of a 16-person backlog after the Division of Motor Vehicles stopped administering road tests this spring due to COVID-19. She was one of 13 Chilkat Valley teenagers who passed a road test last week after the Haines Borough contracted with Northern Industrial Training to conduct testing.
Last week, 13 prospective drivers passed behind-the-wheel tests, the penultimate step in getting driver’s licenses, a process that for some has taken several years.
“I’ve been practicing for three years, but I’m still nervous,” high schooler Natalie Jobbins said as she got into the Mazda sedan that would be her testing vehicle. Despite nerves, she passed.
Jobbins, who turns 17 this month, received her learner’s permit when she was 14. She had been scheduled to take a road test in March, right around the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S.
In response to pandemic concerns, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) stopped conducting road tests. Although DMVs in Juneau and Anchorage were able to restart testing using cameras to record tests for staff to grade after the fact, a delay in training and equipment availability prevented the tests from restarting in Haines.
Responding to the 8-month delay in road tests, which had created a 16-person waiting list, the Haines Borough Assembly approved the use of roughly $7,000 in CARES Act funds to contract the services of Northern Industrial Training, a Palmer-based vocational college that’s an approved vendor for road tests.
“This is the first bit of Class D driver’s license business thrown our way by the pandemic,” said Patrick Rose, director of business services at Northern Industrial Training, adding that he suspects Haines is not the only community with a backlog of drivers waiting to be tested.
A representative from Northern Industrial Training administered tests in Haines Oct. 29-30 to prospective drivers on the DMV’s waitlist, mostly teenagers in the 16-18 age range. Everyone on the waitlist was able to get tested, except for a few who didn’t submit complete information to Northern Industrial Training.
Drivers tested in Haines drove a course around town, beginning and ending in front of the pool, and including the dreaded parallel parking demonstration.
“Parallel parking typically knocks out a few, that’s why it’s (tested) up front,” test administrator Archie Vance said of the one Haines driver who didn’t pass.
Northern Industrial Training observed COVID-19 safety protocol while administering road tests.
“We’re making sure we’re following basic mandates that are out there, cleaning surfaces that are common touching points, wearing masks when inside the vehicle,” Rose said.
Now that the tests are complete, the company will submit the results to the DMV. Those who passed should be able to pick up licenses this week, an exciting moment for both the teenagers and parents.
“Honestly, it was weird. I’m sitting at home, and next thing you know, he pulls into the driveway. I don’t have to pick him up any more or take him anywhere. It’s great,” said Jen Bader, whose son Zander passed his road test on Friday. She said the first place her son drove after he collected his license was the basketball courts.
In total, the assembly has approved $15,000 in CARES Act funding to address the backlog in road tests. Use of the $8,000 that remains after the Northern Industrial testing has yet to be determined.