Driving takes a backseat: Students struggle to make it to the DMV amidst COVID-19

BY KAREN SUROS

Teenagers wait their whole lives to experience the freedom driving brings. A license is a gateway to adulthood; teens often long to drive with the windows down, music blasting and either with friends or alone (safely, of course). 

Like so many other things this year, the pandemic hindered the process of obtaining one’s driver’s permit or license. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) shut down its offices across Broward County, leaving CCHS students who were looking forward to getting their permits and licenses at a loss.

Junior Kyara Woolley struggled to find an open DMV nearby and drove 45 minutes across Broward County to her appointment. Upon arriving, she found the test itself was not what she was expecting. 

“It was pretty simple,” Woolley said. “The only thing that caught me off guard was how different the test actually was. I was not expecting it to be that way at all.”

“The only thing that caught me off guard was how different the test actually was. I was not expecting it to be that way at all.”

Junior Kiara Woolley

Normally, the instructor sits in the passenger seat of the vehicle and instructs the testee from there. Due to the pandemic, DMVs have taken precautions and changed the format of the test.

“The instructor had my dad stay in the car with me and gave me a number to dial on my phone,” Woolley said. “This was so she could give me instructions on what to do over the phone while she sat outside under a tent to watch me.”

While the process to make the appointment might be seen as an inconvenience to students right now, the test itself might be seen as easier than ever before.

“I was super anxious at first, but I think having my parent in the car with me made me relax a whole lot more,” Woolley said. “I think driving tests should be like this normally, honestly.”

Other students found their solution outside of the county entirely. Sophomore Grace Malan drove to Naples, where the DMV was taking walk-in appointments while taking precautions against COVID-19, in order to get her permit.

“I think it was [safe] because there were very few people there and all Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines were enforced.”

Sophomore Grace Malan

“I went there really early, and they gave you hand sanitizer as you walked in and took your temperature,” Malan said. “Masks were required until you took your picture. There were also dividers between every station. I think it was [safe] because there were very few people there and all Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines were enforced.”

Although the Naples office was accepting walk-ins, students will find that most Florida DMVs are currently only serving appointments, as outlined by their website’s COVID-19 updates.

Junior Marek Covard drove to Key Largo in June in order to get his license, where he was able to make a reservation that allowed him to skip a lengthy line.

“It was a hassle,” Covard said. “But it would have been worse without a reservation.”

“It was a hassle. But it would have been worse without a reservation.”

Junior Marek Covard

For anyone hoping to get an appointment in Broward County, vigilance is of the essence. Even as DMVs begin to open up, the demand for appointments raises as well. As they say, the early bird gets the worm.

“You have to go [to the DMV website] on the dot,” senior Natalie Smith said. “Be ready at 11:59 [p.m.].”

Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind that DMVs do more than just hand out licenses and permits. The pandemic has delayed not only those services, but also the rest of the department’s responsibilities, like renewing licenses and vehicle registrations, leading to an intense pressure to get an appointment amidst social distancing.

“It’s pretty hectic,” senior Aaron Rodriguez said. “It’s not just people going to get their licenses, but also renewing them and replacing them.”

Although the circumstances are less than desirable, students can still look forward to getting their licenses right now. The freedom of driving has merely been delayed, not denied.

Photo by Anabella Garcia