Module 1

What does behind the wheel instruction include?

seven periods of driving and seven periods of in-car observation

What are some examples of what the student observing my driving would be looking for?

what their steering is like, do they read signs correctly

What did I need to have to practice my driving skills?

1. the 45-hour parent-teen driving guide

2. a parent or licenses adult mentor at least 21 years old sitting in the front seat next to me

What must I have to obtain a temporary driver’s license?

must have a learner’s permit for 9 months and document my practice driving experiences with a parent or designated adult driver for 45 hours

What is the minimum age for a student to be issued a TDL-180?

16 years and 3 months

What is the biggest difference between a license for someone under 21 and someone older than 21?

the license of someone under 21 is vertical, the license of someone older than 21 is horizontal

How long are driver’s licenses valid for and when do they expire?

valid for 8 years, expire on licensee’s birthday

What does a star in the upper right corner of a license indicate?

that the holder of the license has a REAL ID compliant license

Who is a driver privilege card a driving credential for?

individuals who are non-US citizens and cannot meet VA’s legal presence requirements, making them ineligible to receive a standard or REAL ID-compliant driver’s license in VA

What does a heart on the front of a license mean?

the driver has made a decision to be an organ donor to save or improve the quality of life for more than 50 people

What is different about the teen brain that makes young drivers more susceptible to crashes?

the teen brain is not fully matured compared to the adult brain

What does the Frontal Lobe area in the brain do?

its controls understanding of consequences and suppressing impulses

What age does the brain fully mature?

25

What are 2 driving situations where an underdeveloped frontal lobe could impact driver decision-making abilities on the road?

1. speeding

2. weaving in and out of traffic

What contributes to teen crashes?

1. distractions

2. not using seatbelts

3. speeding (and street racing)

4. driving under the influence

5. nighttime and drowsy driving

6. reckless driving and risk-taking

What does driver inexperience require teens to have?

lots of guided practice so they can correctly respond to driving hazards

What does “take five before you drive" include?

1. check car condition

2. adjust seat and mirrors

3. focus your mind

4. eliminate distractions

5. observe surroundings

What must you do to obtain your learner’s permit?

1. you must have parent permission if you are under 18 years of age

2. you must be at least 15 years and 6 months old

3. you must provide proof of Virginia residency, identity, social security number, and legal presence

What do you need to provide proof of Virginia residency for a driver’s license?

1. verification by the parents if under 18 years of age

2. a DMV-issued card

What do you need to provide proof of legal presence?

birth certificate or a passport

What do you have to do to obtain a learner’s permit?

1. correctly answer all 10 traffic signs, signals, and pavement marking questions (100%)

2. correctly answer 28 of the 35 General Knowledge questions (80%)

3. pass the vision test- correctable vision (20/40), day time only driving (between 20/40 and 20/70)

What must you do if you fail the permit test?

1. Applicants under age 18 must wait 15 days to retake. 

2. Applicants over age 18 must pay $3 or wait 15 days.

3. Applicants under age 18 who fail three times after they complete classroom driver education must take a driver education classroom course again or take an 8-hour driver’s manual course.

What does a learner’s permit allow you to do?

practice with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age or a family member who is at least 18 years of age

What does a learner’s permit not allow you to do?

may not carry more than 1 passenger who are under the age of 21

What is the curfew restriction for young drivers?

no driving between the hours of 12 am and 4 am

Why is it dangerous to drive while using a cell phone?

1. cell phone use increases the risk of crashes or near-crashes by 4 times

2. text messaging increases the risk of crashes or near-crashes by 23.2 times

What does every driver in Virginia start out with on their license?

demerit points

What are consequences of traffic violations?

1. Conviction(s) will be documented on the driver’s DMV record.

2. Drivers can receive demerit points on their DMV record.

3. Excessive demerit points will result in suspension of the driver’s license.

4. Drivers may be required to complete a driver improvement clinic.

5. The driver’s insurance company will be notified and the cost of the insurance premium may increase.

What can happen depending on the severity of the infraction?

1. Three, four or six demerit points per traffic violation can be added to a driver’s record.

2. Demerit points remain on the driving record for a minimum of two years from the date of the offense. 

What is suspension?

The privilege to drive has been withdrawn temporarily

What is revocation?

The privilege to drive has been terminated.

If convicted, what can the judge assign for you?

1. 1st offense under age 18-you must attend a driver improvement clinic. If you do not complete the clinic within 90 days, DMV will suspend your driving privilege until you complete the clinic and pay a reinstatement fee

2. 2nd offense under age 18- results in the suspension of your driver’s license for 90 days

3. 3rd offense under age 18- results in the revocation of your driving privileges for 1 year or until you reach 18, whichever is longer

What can a judge also suspend your license for?

1. you have 10 or more unexcused absences on consecutive school days

2. If you are convicted of driving after illegally consuming alcohol, and your BAC was at least .02 percent and less than .08 percent, the court penalty will include:  a suspension of your driving privilege for one year from the date of conviction, and  a minimum mandatory fine of $500, or the requirement that you complete at least 50 hours of community service

Why would your driver’s license be suspended for a minimum of 7 days for?

1. Register a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

2. Are under age 21 and register a BAC of at least 0.02 and less than 0.08 (Zero Tolerance Law).

3. Refuse to take the field sobriety test (Implied Consent Law)

What are the consequences for driving with a suspended or revoked license?

1. six months of jail time

2. $1,000 fine

3. extension of initial suspension-same period for which it had been previously suspended, or up to 90 days if the suspension was indefinite

What penalties might result from driving without a driver’s license?

1. class 2 misdemeanor

2. suspension of driving privileges up to 90 days

3. $1,000 fine

4. 6 months in jail

What is the purpose of traffic signals?

to maintain safety and orderly movement of vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians on the street

What does a red steady (traffic light) mean?

stop and remain stopped

What does a red traffic signal arrow mean?

stop; Virginia law prohibits right or left turns on red arrow unless there is a sign indicating it is allowed

What does a red flashing light mean?

stop before entering the intersection, yield, and go when clear

What does a yellow steady (traffic light) mean?

indicated that the light is about to changes to rediaction-clear the intersection

What does a yellow traffic signal arrow mean?

slow down and clear the intersection, it is about to change to red

What does a yellow flashing light mean?

slow down and use caution-dangerous intersection

What does a green steady (traffic light) mean?

go if the way is clear

What does a green traffic signal arrow mean?

you may proceed in the direction of the gree arrow

What does a green flashing light mean?

keep driving

When and how do you turn right on red?

before turning, stop and check for traffic and pedestrians. You may not turn right on red if a sign prohibits it

When can you turn left on red?

permitted from a one-way street to another one-way street. Must stop and yield to traffic and pedestrians

What do you do if the traffic signals are not working?

1. stop and treat the intersection like a four-way stop

2. if a police officer is directing traffic, follow the officer’s directions

True or false: unless directed by a police officer, you must obey all signs and signals?

true

True or false: pedestrians do not have to obey traffic signals?

false

True or false: if you see a yellow arrow lane-use signal over your lane, move out of the lane as soon as safely possible?

true

True or false: bicyclists do not have to obey traffic signals?

false

True or false: lane use signals indicate where you can and cannot drive during different hours of the day?

true

True or false: when you encounter a red arrow signal, you may turn after you come to a complete stop and look both ways for traffic and pedestrians?

false

True or false: avoiding traffic controls by cutting through a parking lot is legal?

false

What does the octagon sign shape mean?

stop

What does the vertical rectangle sign shape mean?

regulatory