Module 1: Topics 1 & 2 Program Goals and Licensing Laws 1. Being a safe and responsible driver takes a combination of knowledge, attitude and skill: a. You must know traffic laws and safe driving practices - breaking the “rules of the road” is the major cause of collisions b. You must care about the safety of others c. You must be predictable and courteous 2. Driver education is a “collision avoidance” course: a. You will learn to see dangerous situations before they happen and b. Drive strategically - responding quickly and effectively to prevent collisions 3. The Teenage Brain: a. The Frontal Lobe is the area of the brain that controls understanding consequences and suppressing impulses and does not mature until about age 25 b. How do you think this could impact your decision making on the road? 4. Restrictions in VA: a. You have a curfew restriction between the hours of 12 am and 4 am with the following exceptions: EMERGENCY Driving with a LICENSED PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO AND FROM WORK YOU are driving to or from a SCHOOL SPONSORED event b. Until you have your license for 1 year, you may only have one non-family member in your car under the age of 21; unless accompanied by a licensed parent or adult acting place of the parent in the front seat. Once you have had your license for 1 year, you may have up to three non-family members under the age of 21 in your car at one time in the following situations; c. Traveling to and from work d. A licensed driver over 21 is in the front seat e. There is an emergency ***PASSENGER RESTRICTIONS DO NOT APPLY TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS f. Cell phones or other wireless communication devices are prohibited. 5. Why do you need a driver’s license? So you can be able to drive and get to places 6. What should you know before you get behind the wheel? You should be licensed and know how to drive so you don’t crash or put others in danger 7. Are you mature enough to handle the responsibility of owning and operating a motor vehicle? Yes I have a job and I think I’m pretty mature 8. What do you hope to learn in this course? To learn the basics about driving and the rules and laws 1. To obtain your learner’s permit: a. You must have parent permission b. You must be at least 15 years and 6 months. c. Provide proof of residency, identity, social security number and legal presence 2. Proof of Virginia Residency – need one: a. Verification by the parents if under the age of 19 b. DMV issued ID Card 3. Proof of legal presence – need one: a. Birth Certificate b. Legal Passport 4. To obtain a learner’s permit applicants must successfully complete: a. Must correctly answer all 10 traffic sign, signals and pavement marking questions (100%) b. General Knowledge Test (80%) c. Vision Test - Correctable Vision (20/40) Day Time only driving (between 20/40 and 20/70) 5. If you fail the learners permit test: a. Applicants less than 18 must wait 15 days to retake the test. b. Applicants older than 18 pay $2 or wait 15 days. c. If you fail the learner’s permit test 3 times you must complete a driver’s education course subsequent to the third failure. 6. Permit Guidelines: a. You should practice with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age or a family member that is at least 18 years of age. b. Learner’s Permit carriers may not carry more than 1 passenger who is under the age of 18. 7. To obtain a Driver’s License: a. You must be at least 16 years and 3 months old. b. You must hold a learner’s permit for at least 9 months. c. You must also successfully complete an approved driver education program. d. Having parent permission as well as a certified 45 hours (at least 15 of which were after sunset) is a must for applicants under the age of 18. e. You must attend Partners for Safe Teen Driving Program with you parent/guardian f. When you start driving, you must carry with you, your 180 day temporary license (TDL-180), issued by your in car driver education teacher AND your learner’s permit. g. Also note that under 21 the license is vertical and 21 and over the license is horizontal. 8. Juvenile Licensing Ceremony: a. You will receive notice of date to appear within the initial 180–day licensing period. b. A Judge will give your PARENTS the hard copy of your license at a ceremony held by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court that serves your zip code c. You must dress appropriately, be on time, and bring learner’s permit and 180-day temporary driver’s license 9. License Expiration Date: a. License expires on 20th birthday b. Applicants 20 years of age or less will be required to retake the signs and general knowledge tests if they have any traffic convictions 10. License Suspensions and Revocation: a. Suspension - Your privilege to drive has been withdrawn temporarily b. Revocation - Your privilege to drive has been terminated c. 1st offense under 18 Anyone convicted of a violation under the age of 21 will be mandated by a judge to attend a driver improvement clinic d. 2nd offense under 18 – Suspension e. 3rd offense under 18 – Revocation Must reapply for a driver’s license after revocation period has passed 11. Administrative License Suspension (ALS): a. Your driver’s license will be suspended for a minimum of seven days if you: Register a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher Are under age 21 and register a BAC of 0.02 or higher (zero tolerance law) Refuse to take the field sobriety test (implied consent law) 12. School Attendance and Your License: a. Ten consecutive unexcused absences from school can result in a license suspension 13. Consequences for driving with a suspended license: a. Jail time b. Fine c. Extension of the initial suspension Module 1: Topic 3 Virginia Driver’s Manual Signs, Signals and Pavement Markings Type of Light STEADY (traffic light) RED stop and remain stopped TRAFFIC SIGNAL ARROWS FLASHING LIGHTS DO NOT proceed in the direction of that arrow. stop, yield and go when clear LANE USE SIGNALS RED X – never drive in this lane YELLOW clear the intersection GREEN go if the intersection is clear warning that the light is proceed in the direction about to change of that arrow. caution dangerous go in the direction of intersection arrow if clear; If turning, yield to vehicles from other direction Yellow X: Move out of Green Arrow: Safe to the lane as soon as safely drive in this lane possible 1. When can you turn RIGHT on red? a. At some intersections you may turn right while the traffic light is red b. BEFORE turning STOP c. Check for traffic and pedestrians d. You may NOT turn right on red if one of these signs is present 2. When can you turn LEFT on Red? a. It is permitted on a one-way street. b. BEFORE turning STOP c. Check for traffic and pedestrians d. You may NOT turn left on red if one of these signs is present 3. What if the traffic signals do not work? a. You are required to STOP and treat this situation like a 4 way stop b. If a police office is there directing traffic than follow the officer’s directions 4. The color of a traffic sign conveys a specific meaning. SIGN COLOR Category Red used with White Black used with white Yellow used with black Blue Prohibitive Example (Draw or name a sign here) No entry Regulatory Speed limit Warning Warning sign Motorist Services Motorist service sign Green Guide Directional guide sign Fluorescent optic yellow Pink School zone Children walking school sign Warn about incidents Warning incidents sign Orange Construction Brown Recreational Make sure to slow down, be alert and protect the workers who build and maintain our roads. You may be fined up to $500 if convicted of exceeding the speed limit in a highway work zone. Walking trail only sign 5. The shape of a traffic sign conveys a specific meaning. Shape Category Vertical Rectangle Example (Draw or name a sign here) Regulatory or Guide Speed limit Horizontal Rectangle Directions or Information Round Advance warning of a railroad A directional sign Railroad crossing Diamond Warning Pentagon School Zone Reduced speed ahead Children crossing sign Octagon Stop Stop sign Triangle Yield Yield sign Pennant No Passing No passing sign 6. Pavement markings: a. Broken lines – may pass with caution b. Solid lines – do not cross c. Yellow lines – two way traffic d. White lines – one way traffic What does a broken white line mean? One-way traffic passing allowed What does a double solid yellow line mean? Two way traffic passing not allowed 7. Shared Left Turn Lane: a. Traffic from both directions uses the lane to turn left b. You may not go more than 150 feet 8. What is an (High Occupancy vehicles) HOV Lane? a. A lane that is reserved at peak travel times or longer for the exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers b. The lane has a white diamond shape on the road. 9. Triangles painted on the pavement show that you must yield.
