Richfield Public Schools Community Education

Safeway Driving School has been graduating teen drivers in the Twin Cities area for 50 years. Safeway's only focus is creating safe, responsible teen drivers. Classroom and Behind The Wheel lessons emphasize defensive driving techniques tailored for the inexperienced teen driver while targeting to influence the invincible teen attitude. All Safeway's instructors are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Class Instruction prepares the student to take the Minnesota permit test and begin the responsibility of driving. The 30 hours of classroom is structured into 10 independent lessons. If a student misses a lesson, they can make up that exact lesson number at the next session or at one of Safeway's other classroom locations. After class is completed, students who are 15 years old are eligible to take their permit test at any Minnesota exam center. The permit test is not provided during the class. This class is not designed for students over the age of 18, as their requirements are different to obtain a permit.

Behind The Wheel instruction includes six hours of driving in three, two-hour private lessons. All driving is done in a Safeway car on city streets, highways and freeways with a responsible, licensed Safeway instructor. Safeway recommends students take their first lesson 2-3 weeks after receiving their permit card and after 5 hours of practice driving. Students have one year after completing the classroom to finish their Behind The Wheel lessons. Scheduling is offered online for 24/7 convenience. All of Safeway's cars are white with identical graphics so parents and students are confident that it is a Safeway car picking up the student for a lesson. Students can get picked up for their Behind The Wheel lesson from home, school, or work.

Parent/Guardian involvement is required to produce safe, responsible teen drivers. It is critical that parents/guardians practice regularly with their student drivers. The state requires that students have a minimum of 50 hours of practice (15 hours at night). Parent classes are offered monthly at Safeway's nearby classrooms or via distance learning.

How To Get Your Driver License (ages 15-17)

Classroom Instruction: at age 15, students are eligible to register and attend the classroom portion of the training program. Students must attend all 30 hours of the classroom training to be eligible for the next step of training.

Pass the Classroom Training: After completing 30 hours of classroom, receive a blue card to be presented at the time of the permit test (must be registered for a Behind The Wheel program in order to receive the blue card). Those not registered for a Behind The Wheel program receive a letter of completion for future Behind The Wheel training.

Get Your Driving Permit: Test is arranged independently at a Minnesota Drivers and Vehicle Services location. You will need the blue card, appropriate ID, social security number, corrective lenses (if needed), and test fee.

Schedule Behind The Wheel: After receiving the permit, schedule six hours of Behind The Wheel by notifying Safeway Driving School to schedule your lessons.

Complete Behind The Wheel Instruction: After completion of the required 6 hours, receive a white card necessary for the license test. 

Practice Driving for 6 Months. Minnesota law requires a student to have a permit for 6 months and maintain a driving log with a parent/guardian. The driving log must be submitted at the time of the road test. 

Schedule the Road Test: The road test needs to be scheduled at a Minnesota Drivers and Vehicle Services location. Students must be 16 years old to take the road test. On the day of your scheduled test, bring white card, proof of insurance, fee, permit, social security number and corrective lenses (if needed).