After 24 years in business, AmeriDrive Driving School is under new ownership after former owner Mary Lyons sold the business to Bethany and Josh Baxter in January. (Photo Provided)

A new law takes effect at the end of September that will require new Ohio drivers up to age 21 to complete a full driver’s education course.

Beginning Sept. 30, those seeking their first driver’s license will be required to take an Ohio-approved driver training course and complete 50 hours of driving practice supervised by a licensed adult.

This “Class D” training aligns with the training requirements that remain in effect for youth ages 16 and 17. The training must be completed before scheduling a driving test with an Ohio Driver License Examiner, according to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office.

AmeriDrive Driving School co-owner Bethany Baxter said the change was prompted by information provided by crash statistics.

“In the past, it’s always been that the crash statistics, the most crashes that happened were younger ages like 18 and below,” Baxter said. “From what I’ve heard, for the first time, it’s now an older age group that has had the most crashes, which is the 19 to like 20-something range.”

Baxter recently purchased AmeriDrive locations in St. Clairsville and Wintersville with husband Josh Baxter in January. The two driving schools are located at 157 E. Main St. in St. Clairsville and at 58 Maplewood Ave. in Wintersville.