Drivers Lincense Rwanda

8/3/2019 Drivers Lincense Rwanda

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Governor Dannel P. Malloy | Search: Go

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ONLINE SERVICES TEEN DRIVERS SelectCT ID SUSPENSION COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Obtaining a Connecticut Driv er's License

Chapter 2 Before You Get Behind the Wheel

Chapter 3 Driving Behaviors

Chapter 4 Road Safety

Chapter 5 Know t he Road

Chapter 6 Maintaining Your License

Chapter 7 Requirement s for New orTemporary Residents

Chapter 8 DMV Consumer Dir ectory

Page 1 of 42DMV: Entire Driver's Manual

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This manual provides information needed to dr ive a passenger vehicle. If you want a license to drive a commercial or public servicevehicle (such as a truck or bus), you need to read the Commercial Drivers License (CDL) manual. I f you want an endorsement todrive a m otorcycle, you need to read t he Motorcycle Operators manual.

Due to the continuous changes in DMV laws, you should always check the DMV Web site at ct.gov/ dmv for the m ost up-t o-dateinformation.

First Time DriversA learners permit is required before 16 and 17 year olds begin practicing driving. Dr ivers 18 years of age or older are not r equired toobtain a learners permit before practicing with a licensed driver. A permit holder must carry a learners permit w henever he or sheis operating a v ehicle.

Connecticut law requires anyone, regardless of age, who has not previously held a license in Connecticut or who does not hold avalid license issued by another state, t o tak e an 8- hour Safe Driving Practices course at a Connecticut Commercial Driving School

before he or she can obtain a license. DMV will issue a new photo image learners permit for all qualified applicants.To obtain a learners permit:

You m ust be between 16 and 17 years of age. You m ust pass both a vision and a 25-question know ledge test. You must have the consent of y our parent, legal guardian or certain other persons as listed in Section 14-36 (c) ( 1) of t he

Connecticut General St atutes. You must pr esent your certified U.S. Birth Certificate or valid Passport, in addition to one form of identification from the list on

Page 10. Photocopies and/or laminated document s are not acceptable. You m ust provide t wo original documents t o prove your hom e is in Connecticut ( P.O. Box is not acceptable). Verification may

be in the form of your utility bill, mortgage document, lease or rental agreement, or post marked mail such as magazines,letters, etc.

You must pr esent your Social Securit y number . In accordance with state and federal laws, it will be r equired that t he SocialSecurit y card or recent W-2 form to prove your Social Security number in accordance with state and federal laws.

The perm it is valid until y ou obtain a drivers license or tur n 18 years of age (whichever comes first).

An applicant for a learners permit must m eet the health and fitness standards for license holders. An applicant w ho has physical ormedical conditions that affect his or her capability to operate a mot or vehicle safely will be required to under go a review of his or her

condition(s). A favorable review m ust be obtained prior t o issuance of the learners permit . Therefore, to avoid the possibility of adelay in the issuance of a learners permit , it is recommended the applicant or applicants parent or legal guardian contact the DMVDriver Services Division at ( 860) 263-5720 as far in advance of making the application as possible.

Learners Permit Fees

When you apply for your learners permit, you must pay:$40 fee for your vision, knowledge and road test.$18 fee for your permit.

Learners Permit Passenger RestrictionsThe person giving instruction t o the learners permit holder must sit in the fr ont passenger seat next t o the learner and must be alertand ready to take over contr ol of the vehicle. The safe operation of the vehicle is the responsibility of both t he instructor and t hedriver. The following restrictions apply to ALL learners permit holders regardless of when they received their permit .

For the entire time a driver holds a learners permit , he or she may not have any passengers except for:


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One person who is pr oviding instruction and is at least 20 years old, has held a drivers license for four or m ore consecutiveyears and whose license has not been suspended during th e four years prior to t raining. OR

A licensed driving instructor giving instruction. AND

His or her parents or legal guardian, at least one of whom holds a valid drivers license.

Passenger restrictions do not apply dur ing the actual t ime when a learners permit holder is receiving specific instruction from alicensed driver instru ctor from a commercial driving school or driver education program.

Failure to follow t he rules pertaining to a learner's permit may r esult in a permit suspension.

Driver Education Requirements16- and 17-Year- Old Applicants

All 16 and 17-year- old applicants for a drivers license must complete a driver t raining program t hrough one of the following:

Licensed Commercial Driving School Secondary School Program (high school) Home Training Program and eight-hour course on safe driving practices (including 2-hour parent tr aining)

Parent Training Requirements

A parent or legal guardian of a teen who obtains a learners permit on or after August 1, 2008, is required to complet e two hours ofinstruction wit h his or her teen concerning the laws governing drivers under age 18 and the dangers of teen driving. This coursemay be offered by a comm ercial driving or secondary school and will be included in the eight- hour program already required for all16- and 17-year-olds.

Commercial Driving School or Secondary School TrainingClasses offered through a Connecticut commercial or secondary school licensed and approved by DMV consist of 30 hours ofclassroom instruction and at least 40 hours of behind-the-wheel, on-the-road training for teens with a learner's permit. Aftersuccessful completion of th e courses, the school will issue you a course completion certificate (form CS-1) . This certificate is requiredin order for you to be eligible for the road test.

Applicants who successfully complete driver education through a comm ercial driving school or a secondary school mu st wait 120days after the issuance of the learners permit before taking the r oad test.

Home Training Program

Applicants for home t raining must train w ith an instr uctor who is at least 20 years of age or older, and who has held a license forfour or m ore years prior to t raining, which has not been suspended during the four y ear period. Home training m ay be done by oneof the f ollowing people:

Parent Foster parent or legal guardian Grandparent Spouse of a marr ied minor applicant

If the applicant has none of the above, providing the person is qualified, home training may be done by: Uncle or aunt Brother or sister Stepparent

The home instructor must sign a statement at the time of the road test, which states that the applicant has obtained a learnerspermit and successfully complet ed at least 30 hours of course study, including an 8-hour Safe Driving Practices class at aConnecticut commercial driving or secondary school. The home t raining course must cover all of the material in t his manual, andsuch other information on driver education that is deemed necessary for a person to know in order to safely operate a motor vehicleunder present day driving conditions. A student driver must also be given at least 40 hours of behind-the-wheel, on-the-roadinstruction as well as completing t he two- hour parent t raining class accompanied by a parent/ legal guardian.

In addit ion, home-t rained applicants must also show a course completion certificate (form CS-1) from a local secondary school orcommercial driving school of an approved eight- hour course that includes a minimum of four hours on the:

Nature and t he medical, biological and physiological effects of alcohol and drugs and t heir impact on the operator of a m otorvehicle.

Dangers associated with the operation of a m otor v ehicle after the consumption of alcohol or drug abuse. Problems of alcohol and drug abuse and the penalties for alcohol and drug-related m otor vehicle violations. Two-hour mandatory parent training class.

This eight-h our course requirement is also necessary for 16 and 17- year-old licensed drivers from out- of-stat e who wish to obtain alicense in Connecticut.

Applicants who receive the full 30 hours of classroom training m ust also receive at least 8 hours of behind-the- wheel training fr om aConnecticut commer cial driving school to be eligible to begin testing for a drivers license in 120 days. All other applicants must wait180 days after t he issuance of the learners permit before taking the driver s exam.

All applicants who are 16- or 17 years of age must have at least 40 hours of behind the-wheel, on-t he-road training. This trainingmay be accomplished by any combination of pr ofessional (driving school) instruction or hom e training.

Applicants 18 Years of Age or OlderA person 18 years of age or older can practice driving wit hout a learners perm it as long as his or her pr ivilege to drive h asnt beensuspended or revoked. However, t he person must be under the instr uction and while driving be accompanied by a comm ercialdriving school instructor, secondary school instruct or or a person 20 y ears of age or older who has held a license, which has not beensuspended for four or mor e consecutive years prior t o tr aining. Training certificates are not required for applicants who are 18 yearsof age and older. All applicants 18 years of age or older who have not previously held a license in Connecticut or who do not hold avalid license issued by another state will be required to t ake an 8-h our course on safe driving practices and present a certificate




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showing proof of att ending this course.

Preparing for your Drivers TestAll full-service branch offices conduct knowledge testing f or operator licensing for applicants 18 years of age and older on a walk- inbasis. After an applicant successfully complet es the knowledge testing you will be able to schedule an appointm ent for t he road testat any full service office as well as the Winsted satellite office. Knowledge testing hours for all offices can be found on the DMV Website, ct.gov/dmv. Applicants must be pr epared with all n ecessary documents before t he knowledge test is administered.

To Begin Testing You Will Need:1. Identification: You must pr esent your certified U.S. Birth Certificate or valid Passport, in addition to one form of identificationfrom the following list of acceptable forms of identification as listed below. At least one document m ust include your photograph orhave both your f ull legal name and date of birth. Two forms of the same identification will not be accepted. I dentification beingpresented must be in th e name in which you are applying. Photocopies and/ or laminat ed document s are not acceptable. If anapplicant has been issued a Connecticut Non-Driver I dentification Card (I D), it must be surrendered when t he new credential isissued.

Acceptable Forms of Identification* Note: Photocopies and/ or laminated documents are not acceptable.

Note: If you are not a citizen of the United States, you will be required to show proof of your legal status in this country.

Holders of a B1 or B2 Visitors Visa are not eligible for a drivers license or identification card unless a valid EmploymentAuthorization Card ( EAC) and verification of an application pending for Lawful Permanent Residence is provided.

Foreign students wit h an F1 Visa status m ust show U.S. Citizenship and Im migrat ion Services (USCIS) d ocument I -20 andverification of current enrollment in a Connecticut school.

Exchange visitors wit h a J1 Visa status are required t o show USCI S document DS2019. H1B Visa holders are required to show a valid USCIS Employment Aut horization Card and an em ployee verification letter from

a Connecticut employer or an em ployer from a state that borders Connecticut. All applicants will be verified thr ough USCIS f or legal status before a drivers license will be issued and may be r equired to

show additional documents t o verify legal presence.

2. Proof of Full Legal Name: An original or certified copy of a court order, m arriage or civil union certificate, marr iage or civilunion dissolution, or certificate of adoption is required to prove full legal name where it is different than that shown on the birthcertificate or passport.3. You must provide two original docume nts to prove your home is in Connecticut (P.O. Box is not acceptable) :Verification may be in the form of your utility bill, mortgage document, lease or rental agreement, or postmarked mail such asmagazines, lett ers, etc. dated within 90 days.

4. Social Security card or recent W-2 form: In accordance with the state and federal laws, it w ill be required that a v erifiedSocial Securit y num ber of any applicant applying f or a new driv ers license be recorded on the application.5. Physical Disability requires a favorable medical certificate t o be submitt ed on the appropriate DMV form . For additionalinform ation, please contact the Medical Review Division at (860) 263-5223 .6. License Fees: If y ou have a photo learners permit, you must pay $66 for a six-year license or $77 for a seven year license(depending on your birth year) after you pass the road test. If you are 18 and older you must pay a $40 testing fee for the vision,knowledge and road tests. Then once you pass the road test, you must pay t he above fees ($66 or $77) for y our license.7. Required Form: A completed application for Non-Commercial Drivers License (form R229).

If you are 16 or 17- years- old you wil l also need:1. Proof of Driver Training: A permit holder m ust show proof of completion of a drivers education course:

If home tr ained, a completed CS-1 t hat certifies the student has att ended an eight- hour course on safe driving practices. Connecticut Comm ercial Driving School Certificate.

Valid Passport Cert ified U.S. Birth Certificate Valid US/ US Territory or CanadianPhoto Drivers License Certif ied Adoption Papers Cerifi ed Marriage License Military ID or Dependant Card withPhoto or US MilitaryDischarge/Seperation Papers (DD- 214) Baptismal Certificate or SimilarDocument Connecticut Dept. of Social Services(DSS) Public Assistance Card wit hphoto Connecticut ID Card issued on orafter October 1, 2001

Social Security Card WithSignature Connecticut Pistol Permit withPhoto Naturalization / CitizenshipCertificate Permanent Resident Alien Card ( I-551) Cert ified School Records Pilot 's License (issued by U.S.DOT FAA) Employee ID from State orFederal Government with Signature,Phot ograph and/ or PhysicalDescription An original Department ofCorrections certif icate ofidentification Connecticut Photo LearnersPermit




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Connecticut Secondary Driv ing School Certificate.

2. Proof of Parental Training (CS-1): A parent or legal guardian of a teen who obtains a learners permit on or after August 1 ,2008, is required t o complete two hours of instruct ion concerning the laws governing drivers under age 18 and the dangers of teendriving. This course may be offered by a commercial or secondary driving school and will be included in t he eight-hour pr ogramalready required for all 16- and 17-year-olds.3. Learners Permit: A learners permit issued at least 180 days prior to taking your tests, or 120 days prior if you have completeda Commercial or Secondary School driver training course.4. Parental Consent: You must br ing your parent or legal guardian with you or pr ovide a completed from 2- D signifying consent ofyour parent, legal guardian, or cert ain other persons as listed in Section 14- 36(c) (1) of the Connecticut General Statutes.5. Clearance letter from DMV Medical Review Division (only if required, see page 5 under First Time Drivers).

The Knowledge TestThe knowledge test, consists of 25 questions and you need 20 correct answers to pass. If you are 16 or 17 y ou must pass aknowledge test before you receive your learners perm it and an additional, Teen Final Exam, before you receive your license. Thetest is based on the information contained in this manual. Sample tests are available on the DMV Web site at ct.gov/ dmv.

The Vision TestGood vision is a must for safe driving. You drive based on what you see. If y ou cannot see clearly, you will have trouble identifyingtraffic and raod conditions, spotting potential trouble, or reacting in a timely manner. Vision is so important t hat Connecticutrequires that you pass a vision t est before you get a dr iver' license.The eye test evaluates:

Acuity (how clearly you see). Peripheral vision (how far you can see to either side while looking str aight ahead). Depth and color perception.

The minimum vision requirements for all classes of license are at least 20/ 40 wit h or wit hout glasses or contact lenses. If theapplicant is blind in one eye, the ot her eye must be at least 20/ 40 with a minim al visual field of 100 degrees or mor e. (Persons withmonocular vision do not qualify for certain special licenses or endorsements).Other import ant aspects of vision are:

Side Vision. You need to see out of t he corner of your eye. This lets you spot vehicles and other potential t rouble on eitherside of you while you look ahead. Because you cannot focus on things t o the side, you m ust also use your side mirr ors orglance to the side if necessary.

Judging Distances and Speeds. Even if you can see clearly, you still m ay not be able t o judge distances or speeds very well.In fact, you are not alone - many people have problems judging distances and speeds. It takes a lot of practice to be able tojudge both. I t is especially impor tant in knowing how far you are from other vehicles and in ju dging safe openings whenmerging and when passing on t wo-lane roads.

Night Vision. Many people who can see clearly in t he daytime have t rouble seeing at night. It is more difficult for drivers tosee at night than in the daytime. Some drivers have problems with glare while driving at night, especially with the glare ofoncoming headlights. If y ou have problems seeing at night , dont dr ive more t han is necessary and be very careful when youdo.

Because seeing well is so im portant to safe driving, you should have your eyes checked every year or t wo by an eye specialist. Youmay n ever know y ou have poor vision unless your eyes are tested. If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses for driving,remem ber to always wear them when you drive. I f your driv ers license says you must w ear corrective lenses and you are stoppedby a law enforcement officer while not wearing them, you m ay be issued a citation.

Hearing can be helpful to safe driving as well. The sound of horns, a siren, or screeching tires can warn you of danger. Hearingproblems, like bad eyesight, can come on so slowly that y ou do not notice them . Drivers who kn ow that they are deaf or havehearing problems can adjust to be safe drivers. These drivers learn to rely mor e on their vision and tend to st ay more alert. Studieshave shown that t he driving records of hearing-impaired drivers are ju st as good as those drivers with good hearing.

The Road TestIf you are 18 and older, after successfully passing the vision test and know ledge test y ou will be given a date to ret urn for t he roadtest at the same office. If you are 16 or 17, you must pass the road test before t aking the Teen Final Exam. At the t ime of the roadtest you m ust appear at the office with a v ehicle that is appropriate for the license class for wh ich you are applying t hat ismechanically safe, and have a valid registrat ion and proof of insurance. There is no limit t o the num ber of individuals who can betested in the same vehicle; however, driving schools are limit ed to four per vehicle. A non-licensed operator cannot drive t o the t estlocation alone.

A long-term leased vehicle may be used for a road test if the vehicle has proof of insurance identifying t he vehicle and the r egistr ant(lease company). Only those long-term leased vehicles that are properly insured may be used for drivers testing. I f you do not have

a valid drivers license you cannot t est in a rent ed vehicle.

If the t est vehicle is found to be in an unsafe operating condition, no behind the- wheel evaluation will be conducted. The applicantwill be given a no fee card for a re-t est at a futur e date. Road tests may be conducted if minor defects are found.The road test evaluates:

Ability to properly adjust seat, mirrors, steering wheel, and seat belts Operation of vehicle equipment such as windshield wipers and washers, heater and defroster, parking brak e, headlights and

high beams, and the horn Response to tr affic control signs and signals, signaling, interaction wit h other m otorists (yielding right -of- way, r esponse to

emergency vehicles) Backing and/or parking the vehicle Proficiency in basic driving skills such as turns




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Ability to recognize any warning lights that may be displayed on your instrument panel

Things you should now before you ta e your test:Speed. What is an acceptable and proper speed and how to m aintain th at speed.

Turning. Which lane you should turn int o, which lane you should drive in and which lane you should turn from.

Right of Way. When and to whom you must yield the right of way and recognize when it is being yielded to you.

Stopping. When you must stop for a yellow traff ic signal and when it is perm issible to keep going.

Bac ing. How to safely control your car while driving in reverse.

Par ing. Park in and exit any style parking space as well as park next to a curb in front of, behind, or betw een cars and the properway to park on a hill.

Things you should remember during your test

Follow th e directions you are given. Prior to entering the t est vehicle, observe nearby parked cars, people, or objects that could affect your abilit y to safely put the

car in motion. Make sure you can see clearly t hrough t he windows and in the m irrors. They should be cleaned and defogged. Apply the brake before you shift the car into gear from t he park position. Accelerate and/or shift smoothly, m aintaining good control of the vehicle. Bring the car up to driving speed in a reasonable amount of tim e. Maintain a space cushion around your vehicle that is appropriate for the existing speed, road, and traffic conditions. In normal t raffic situations, you should be able to bring your vehicle to a stop by smoothly and safely applying your brakes. Use the turn signals every t ime it is appropriate and be able to demonstrat e hand signals. Be aware of other tr affic and pedestrians every time you make a tur n and your speed should also be adjusted for t he turn.

You should have had enough experience and tr aining to enable you to determine w hat your best course of action should be in aparticular driving situation.

Be alert to what is happening around you.

Ne w Teen Final Exam for 16 and 17 Year Olds

All 16- and 17-year- old applicants applying for a Connecticut drivers license will be required to t ake and pass a second knowledgetest. This Teen Final Exam will be administered by DMV after successful completion of the on-t he-road skills test. Any f ailed testrequires a seven day wait and paym ent of $40 t est fee.

Pay for Your LicenseThe expiration date and cost for your license depends on the mont h and year you were born. Acceptable forms of payment at theDMV branch offices are cash, money orders, personal checks and bank checks. Please make all checks payable to DMV. ATMmachines are available at all full-service branch offices.

Restrictions for 16 and 17-Year Old DriversPassenger Restrictions

The following restrictions are imposed on 16- and 17-year-old drivers who received their drivers license.

During the firstsi x

months the newly licensed driver may not have any passengers in the vehicle except for:

A licensed driving instructor giving instruction OR

His or her parents or legal guardian, at least one of whom holds a valid drivers license OR One person who is pr oviding instruction and is at least 2 0 years old, has held a drivers license for four or m ore consecutive

years and whose license has not been suspended during the four years prior to t raining.

During the second si x months (months seven through twelve) the only additional passengers allowed in the vehicle aremembers of the drivers immediate family.

Hour Restrictions (Curfew)A 16- or 17-year- old driver must not operate a vehicle between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless for employm ent, school orreligious activities, a medical necessity or because they are an assigned driver in the Safe Ride Program.

Please note: These passenger and hour restrictions do not apply to driv ers who are active m embers of volunteer fire companies ordepartments, volunteer am bulance organizations or em ergency medical service organizations or m embers of t he Safe Ride Programand are engaged in th e performance of dut ies for such organizations.

Other RestrictionsIn addit ion to the laws above, learners permit holders and 16- and 17-year-old licensed drivers may NOT:

Transport more passengers than the num ber of seatbelts in the vehicle.

Operate any vehicle that requir es a public passenger t ransportation perm it or a vanpool vehicle.

Use a cell phone (even if it is hands-free) or m obile electronic device while driv ing.

Transport any passenger on a mot orcycle for six mont hs after th e issuance of a motorcycle endorsement.




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Non-Commercial Drivers LicenseA non-commercial drivers license is known and designated as Class D. Unless restrictions appear on the license, a Class D license

may be used to operate any mot or vehicle except a commercial mot or vehicle.

Commercial Drivers License (CDL)Class A License - Combination Vehicles. Any combination of vehicles with gross combination w eight rating ( GCWR) of 26, 001 ormore pounds falls in Class A, providing t he gross vehicle weight rating ( GVWR) of the vehicle(s) being t owed is in excess of 10,000pounds. Most Class A vehicles are trucks, such as tractor- tr ailer or truck and t railer combinations. However, tractor- trailer buses maybe found in a few communit ies. Driving a Class A vehicle requires considerably more skill and knowledge than dr iving vehicles inClasses B and C. Since these skills include those required to drive a Class B and C vehicle, a driver who has a Class A license alsomay drive vehicles in classes B and C.

Class B License - Heavy Straight Vehicles. Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or m ore pounds, or any such vehicle towinganother vehicle of no more than 10,000 pounds GVWR, falls in Class B. Class B includes straight trucks and large buses, includingarticulated buses. Safely driv ing these heavy vehicles requires considerably m ore knowledge and skill than driving t he small trucksand buses found in Class C. Since they include the skills required to drive Class C vehicles, drivers who have qualified for a Class Blicense may also drive vehicles in Class C.

Class C License - Small Vehicles. Any single vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds, or any such vehicle towing anothervehicle of no more than 10,000 pounds GVWR, falls in Class C. However, vehicles of this size are included in the CDL program only ifthey are: (1) Designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver, or (2) Used to tr ansport hazardous materials inquantities requiring placarding under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Part 172, subpart F).

There are a great variety of vehicles in Class C. Some large Class C vehicles may require more skill and knowledge to operate thando the smaller ones. However, the licensing category is based principally on the type of cargo carried. Because of the seriousness ofan accident involving hazardous material or hum an passengers, the safe operation of even t he smaller vehicles in Class C requiresspecial knowledge. Therefore, the drivers of such vehicles must have a Commercial Drivers License (CDL).

All commercial drivers who dr ive certain t ypes of vehicles or haul certain t ypes of cargo must add endorsements to their CDL licensesto show t hat t hey have the specialized knowledge required for t hese operations. There are five kinds of CDL endorsements that maybe required, depending on the v ehicle or t ype of cargo.

No person under 18 years of age may be issued a CDL. For more information on CDLs please see Connecticuts Commercial DriversManual.

Limited Licenses ProgramThe Connecticut DMV, wit h the help of its Medical Advisory Board (a group of m edical doctors who volunteer t heir tim e), hasdeveloped a Limit ed Drivers License program. This licensing program is for t he person whose physical abilities, for whatever r eason,have changed since his or her initial licensing. I t also allows the D MV to issue new licenses to persons who previously would not havequalified for a license. Before a limit ed license is issued to a person, report s made by one or m ore physicians must be submit ted andthe person may be required to pass an on-the-r oad skills test w ith a DMV inspector.

Even though a person may have certain conditions or lim itations, t hat person still may be able to drive a m otor vehicle safely if suchconditions have been stabilized and are monitored by such persons physician. I nformat ion regarding license, health and fitnessstandards should be directed to the DMV Driver Services Division, which will advise as to th e information that m ay be required to befiled depending on a persons condition. I t is recomm ended that any person having a mental/ medical/physical condition, impairm entor disability t hat affects such persons driving capabilities contact the Driver Services Division at least four m onths prior t o applyingfor a Connecticut li cense, whether a new driver or a new resident. For fur ther infor mat ion, please contact t he Driver Services Division

at (860) 263-5723.

Health standards are more stringent for the holder of a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) or the holder of a license to operate avehicle carrying passengers (tax i, delivery v ehicle, bus, school bus, et c.).

A limit ed license may contain one or more of t he following restrictions, which will be noted on t he license document, and whichpermit operation of a motor vehicle:

During th e period of daylight beginning a half an hour before sunrise and ending a half an hour after sunset. When the person is using corrective lenses (not including telescopic lenses) as prescribed by a licensed optom etrist or

ophthalmologist. On highways that are not lim ited access highways. In a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission. In a motor vehicle equipped with external mirrors located on both the left and right sides of the vehicle to reflect to the vehicle

operator a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear. In a motor v ehicle having special controls or equipment.




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Disabled Driver Training ServicesConnecticut offers training services for permanent state r esidents who are disabled and may still have the ability t o drive usingspecial adaptive equipment. Residents interested in the pr ogram should contact t he DMV Handicapped Driver Training Unit at (860)263-5097 to discuss their eligibility.

Applicant eligibility requirements:

Must be at least 16 years of age and have obtained a learners permit fr om a DMV Branch Office Must be a perm anent Connecticut resident Must require adaptive equipment to operate a motor vehicle Must be cleared medically by a licensed physician

etting Started. Once contacted, the unit will mail the appropriate medical form(s) to the applicant. Forms must be completed by alicensed physician fam iliar wit h the applicant and his or her disability. A licensed physician is required to r eport any m edical concernsregarding the applicants ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Once the DMV receives the required inf ormat ion and t he applicant is medically cleared, the case will be assigned to a HandicappedDriver Training In spector, who will t hen contact the applicant by phone when he/she is able to begin on-the-r oad training. Theinspector will evaluate driving abilities, and limitations, and determine the appropriate equipment and/or modifications required forthe applicant and v ehicle.

Training. Driver training lessons are generally conducted using one of the DMVs specially equipped driver-t raining passengervehicles. Some disabilities may require an applicant to drive an equipped van, if t his is the case, the client m ust provide the properlyequipped van in order to be trained.

All aspects of on-the-r oad driver training w ill be taught i ncluding, rural, city, and limit ed access highway driving. The unit does notprovide instruction on the theory or laws portion of driving that is contained in this manual.

Licensing. After an applicant has successfully demonstrated t he ability t o safely operate a motor vehicle to the Handicapped Driver

Training Inspector, the last lesson will be the actual motor v ehicle operator t est. If a law test is required, applicants will be providedwith a 16 question written or oral test.

Equipment. Upon passage of the license test, the Handicapped Driver Training I nspector will provide t he applicant with a writ tenprescript ion for special adaptive equipment for t heir vehicle. A list of vendors who install adaptive equipment will be provided ifrequested. It is suggested that several vendors be contacted to compare prices and service options.

How safely you can drive starts with the vehicle you are driving. It is the duty of drivers to make certain that the vehicles they driveare safe to operate. A vehicle that is in bad shape is unsafe and costs m ore to run t han one that is maint ained. It can break down orcause a collision. I f a vehicle is in bad shape, you might not be able to get out of an em ergency situation. A vehicle in good shapecan give you an extra safety margin when you need it.




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Your vehicle may be required to have an em issions inspection at an authorized inspection stat ion. I f t he vehicle does not pass, youwill be given 60 days to have t he problem fixed and t he emissions rechecked.

You should follow your vehicle owners manual for routine m aintenance. Some you can do yourself; a qualified m echanic must dosome. A few simple checks will help prevent t rouble on the road.

Exterior Equipment

Bra ing System. Only your brakes can stop your vehicle. It is ver y dangerous if they are not wor king properly. I f they do not seemto be working pr operly, make a lot of noise, emit an unusual odor, or the brake pedal goes to t he floor, have a mechanic checkthem . If the vehicle pulls to one side when the brake is applied this would indicate a problem in the braking system and that it shouldbe serviced.

Lights. Make sure t hat t urn signals, brake lights, t aillights, and headlights are operating properly. These should be checked from theoutside of the vehicle. Your brake lights t ell other road users that you are stopping j ust as turn signals tell them that y ou are turning.An out-of- line headlight can shine where it does not help you and may blind ot her drivers. I f you are having t rouble seeing at night,or if other drivers are often flashing their headlights at you, have a mechanic check the headlights.

Windshield Wipers Windows. It is import ant that you are able to see clearly through t he windows and windshield. Clear snow,ice, or frost from all windows before driving. Windshield wipers keep the r ain and snow off t he windshield. Some vehicles also havewipers for rear windows and headlights; make sure all wipers are in good operating condition. I f th e blades are not clearing waterwell, replace them. Keep your window w asher bottle full. Make sure the inside of t he windshield and windows are clean as well.Bright sun or headlights on a dirty windshield make it hard to see. Damaged glass can break very easily in a m inor collision or whensomething hit s the w indshield. Have a damaged windshield replaced.

Tires. Worn or bald tires can increase your stopping distance and make turning m ore difficult when t he road is wet. Unbalanced tiresand low-pr essure cause faster t ire wear, r educe fuel economy, and make t he vehicle harder to steer and stop. I f t he vehicle bounces,the steering wheel shakes, or t he vehicle pulls to one side, have a mechanic check it. Worn tires increase the effect of hydr oplaningand increase the chance of having a flat t ire. Check your tires air pressure wit h an air pressure gauge when the t ires are cold. Checkthe vehicle owners manual or the side of the tir es for the proper pressure.

Suspension System. Your suspension helps you control your vehicle and pr ovides a comfortable ride over varying r oad surfaces. Ifthe vehicle bounces a lot, after a bum p or a stop, or is hard t o control, you m ay need new shocks or other suspension parts. Have amechanic check it out .

Exhaust System. The exhaust system helps reduce the noise from t he engine, helps cool the hot gases coming from the runningengine, and mov es these gases to t he rear of the vehicle. Gases from a leaky exhaust can cause death inside a vehicle in a veryshort time. Never run the motor in a closed garage. If you sit in a vehicle with the motor running for a long time, open a window.Some exhaust leaks are easily heard, but many are not . This is why it is important to have the exhaust system checked periodically.

Engine. A poorly running engine may lose power that is needed for normal dr iving and emergencies, m ay not start , gets poor fueleconomy, and pollutes the air. I t could also die on you when you are on the road, causing a problem for you and other driversaround you. Follow the procedures recomm ended in the owners m anual for m aintenance.

reen DrivingAccording t o the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), t he burning of fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into theatm osphere and contribut es to climate change. These 2 emissions can be reduced by impr oving your car's fuel efficiency. Buy smart .

Before you purchase a vehicle, research the em issions and fuel economy of different v ehicles. Drive sm art. Many factors affect f ueleconomy of your car. Learn about these and practice them.

Interior Equipment

Steering System. If the steering system is not working properly, it is difficult to control the direction you want to go. If the vehicleis hard to tur n or does not tur n when the steering w heel is first t urned, have the steering checked by a mechanic.

Horn. The horn may not seem like it is important for safety, but it could save your life as a warning device. Only use your horn as awarning to others.

Seat Belts. Before you drive away, always fasten your safety belts and m ake sure all your passengers are using safety belts or childrestraints. Connecticut has a mandator y seatbelt law.

Mirrors. You should always check your seat and mirrors before you start to drive. Make any adjustm ents to the seat and mir rorsbefore you drive off. Adjust your rear v iew mirr or and side mirrors. You should be able to see out t he back window w ith t he rear view




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mirror and to the sides with the side mirrors. A good adjustment for the side mirrors is to set them so that when you lean forwardslightly, y ou can see the side of your vehicle.

Loose Ob ects. Make sure that there are no loose objects in the vehicle that could hit someone in the event of a sudden stop orcrash. Make sure there are no objects on the floor that could roll under the brake pedal and prevent you from stopping the vehicle.

Note: After m arket, changes to equipment such as tinted windows and lighting m ay violate legal standards.

It is important that y ou and your passengers use seat belts. Studies have shown t hat if you are in an accident while using seat belts,your chances of being hurt or killed are greatly reduced. In Connecticut, it is illegal to drive or t o be a front- seat passenger withoutwearing a seat belt.Drivers 16 and 17 years old and each of their passengers are required to wear a seat belt. If either t he driver or t he passenger failsto wear t he seat belt, each could be cited for a seat belt violation and f ined $75.

If your vehicle has a two-part seat belt system, be sure to wear both the lap belt and the shoulder belt. Wearing either part alonegreatly reduces your protection. I f you have an automat ic shoulder belt, be sure to buckle your lap belt as well. Otherw ise, you couldslide out of the belt and be hurt or killed in a collision.

In addition to protecting yourself from injury as a driver, safety belts help you keep control of the vehicle. If you are ever struck fromthe side or m aking a quick tur n, t he force could push you sideways. You cannot steer t he vehicle if you are not behind the wheel.

State law requires that seat belt s must be worn even if the vehicle is equipped with airbags. While airbags are good protectionagainst hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, they do not protect you if you are hit from the side or rear or if thevehicle rolls over. Also, an airbag w ill not keep y ou behind the wheel in t hese situations.

Child Safety RequirementsState law r equires children under 16 to be secured in proper child restraint and safety systems while riding in a vehicle.

In addit ion to complying wit h state laws requiring child restraint systems in vehicles, ALL drivers are obligated to ensure that anypassenger between 7 and 16 years old is wearing a seat safety belt. Driver s 16 and 17 y ears old and each of their passengers arerequired to wear a seat safety belt. If eit her the driver or t he passengers fails to wear the seat belt, each could be cited for aviolation.

Misconceptions still exist

Some people still have bad information about using safety belts. For example,

Safety belts can trap you inside a car.It takes less than a second to undo a safety belt. Crashes in which a vehicle catches fire or sinks in deep water and passengers aret rapped seldom happen. Even if t hey do, a safety belt may keep you from being knocked out. Your chance to escape will be betterif you are conscious.

Safety belts are good on long trips, but I do not need them if I am driving around town.Over half of all traffic deaths happen within 25 miles of home. Many of them occur on r oads posted at less than 45 mph.

Some people are thrown clear in a crash and walk away with hardly a scratch.Your chances of not being killed in an accident are much bett er if you stay inside the vehicle. Safety belts can keep you from beingthrown out of your vehicle and into the path of another one.

If I get hit from the side, I am better off being thrown across the car and away from the crash point.

When a vehicle is struck from t he side, it will m ove sideways. Everything in t he vehicle that is not fastened down, including thepassengers, will slide toward the point of crash, not away from it.

I can brace myself at slow speeds.Even at 25 mph, t he force of a head-on crash is the same as pedaling a bicycle full- speed into a brick wall or diving off a thr ee-storybuilding onto the sidewalk. No one can brace for that im pact.

Remember: Clic it or Tic et

Age Weight RequiredChild

RestraintSystem

Other Requirements

Infant-under 1year of age

Less than 20pounds

Rear-facinginfant car seat

1 y ear o f a geto 7 years ofage

Less than 60pounds

Approved childcar seat

7 years of ageand older

Less than 60pounds

Approvedbooster seat

Booster seat m ust be secured by aseat safety belt that includes ashoulder belt

7 years of ageand older

60 or morepounds

Approvedbooster seat orseat belt

Booster seat m ust be secured by aseat safety belt that includes ashoulder belt




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Hand-held cell phones or m obile electronic devices may not be used while operating a mot or vehicle on any public highway. Driversare permitt ed only to use hands-free m obile telephone accessories. However, drivers w ho are 16 or 17 years of age are notpermit ted to use any type of cell phone or m obile electronic device while driving, including a hands-free device. A m obile electronicdevice includes a laptop computer, personal digital assistant or paging or text -m essaging device.

The exceptions to this requirement , where a cell phone or mobile electr onic device may be used, by a driver of any age, is anemergency situation, when contacting an emergency response operator, a hospital, physicians office, health clinic, am bulancecompany or fire or police department . I n addition, drivers who are 18 years of age and older who are peace officers, firefighters, orambulance drivers may use hand-held cell phones and electronic devices.

Any 16- or 17-year old found violating Connecticuts cell phone law will be charged with a m oving violation. If an operator is underthe age of 18, a conviction for violating the cell phone law will result in a license suspension. If an operator is under age 18, it is alsoa moving violation, which is counted when determ ining if attendance is required in the operator ret raining program.

Connecticut law requires continuous insurance coverage on any registered vehicle. If you ( or t he vehicle owner) fail to m aintaininsurance, the insurance company will send a report of cancellation to the DMV. You will be notified by the DMV of the violation.

This notice offers the registered owner t he opportunity to ent er into an I nsurance Compliance agreement, show proof of insuranceand pay t he insurance compliance fine. By doing so, no fu rther action will be taken against t he registered owner as long as insurancecoverage on the vehicle is continually m aintained while the v ehicle is registered in the owner s name. Failure t o respond to y ourwarning notice will result in suspension of the registr ation. A vehicle cannot be operated legally on any public highway wit houtregistration.

For mor e information visit t he DMV Web site under insurance at ct.gov/ dmv.

StartingCheck the vehicle owners manual for how t o best start the vehicle. Make sure the park ing brake is on before you start the vehicle. If




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the vehicle has a manual transmission, it must not be in gear. I n some vehicles, the clutch m ust be depressed. For a vehicle that hasan automatic transmission, you must put the shift selector in park.

AcceleratingAccelerate gradually and smoothly. Trying to star t too fast can cause the dr ive wheels to spin, particularly on slippery surfaces, andcause the vehicle to slide. Wit h a m anual-shift vehicle, practice using t he clutch and accelerator so t hat t he engine does not overaccelerate or st all when shifting bet ween gears.

SteeringBoth hands should be placed on opposite sides of the steering wheel ( i.e., left hand between 8 and 10 oclock and right handbetween 2 and 4 oclock). This position is comfortable; on high-speed roads it allows you to make t urns without t aking your hands

from the wheel.

Hand-over-Hand

When turning sharp corners, turn th e steering wheel using the hand-over- hand technique. When you complete a turn,straighten out the steering wheel by hand. Letting it slip through y our fingers could be dangerous.

Push Pull

In the Push/ Pull method a dr ivers knuckles should be facing outward as the hands are holding the steering wheel firmly on theoutside rim. Push one hand to th e 12 oclock position lett ing the wheel slide through t he other hand. Bring that hand to t he 1or 11 oclock position and then pull down. The other hand slides back to the original starting position. Continue as necessaryuntil t he process is complete. I f t his is done correctly, t he two hands will never cross and will remain on the wh eel at all times.

ScanningTo be a good driver, you m ust know w hat is happening around your vehicle. You m ust look ahead, to t he sides, and behind yourvehicle. Scanning helps you to see problems ahead; v ehicles and people that m ay be in the road by the t ime you r each them , signswarning you of problems ahead, and signs giving you directions.

Loo Ahead. In or der to avoid last minute braking or turning, you should look well down the road. By looking well ahead and beingready to st op or change lanes if needed, you can drive more safely, save on fuel, help keep tr affic moving at a steady pace, andallow yourself t ime to better see around your vehicle and along the road. Looking well down the road will also help you to steer m orestraightly w ith less weaving. Safer drivers tend t o look at least 12 seconds ahead of t heir vehicles. This is the distance that yourvehicle will travel in 12 seconds.

In t he city, 12 seconds is about one block. When you drive in city t raffic, you should try t o look at least one block ahead. On thehighway, 12 seconds is about four city blocks (or a quarter of a m ile).

Here is how to figure how far ahead you are looking:

1. Find a non-m oving object (a sign, a t elephone pole, etc.) near the r oad about as far ahead as you are looking.2. Start counting one-one-thousand, two- one-thousand, t hree-one-thousand, etc. unti l you reach the object.3. The number of seconds you have counted is the num ber of seconds ahead that you were looking.

You can be a safer driver by looking well ahead. By doing so, you can avoid the need to stop or turn quickly. The least amount oftimes you have to st op or turn quickly, the less likely you are to run into someone or have someone run into y ou.

By looking well ahead, you can save on fuel. Every tim e you have to st op quickly, it t akes time and fuel t o get your vehicle back upto speed. Drivers who look ahead can slow down gradually or change lanes and avoid the unnecessary braking, which leads to lowermiles-per-gallon.

Traffic would flow more smoothly if everyone looked well ahead. Making driving changes early gives drivers behind you more t ime t oreact. The earlier you act, the earlier the vehicle behind you can act. By seeing necessary driving changes early, you can drive moresafely; this helps drivers behind you drive more safely too. I t also keeps traffic moving at a steady pace.

Loo to the Sides. As other vehicles or pedestr ians may cross or enter your pat h at any time, you should look to t he sides to m akesure no one is coming. This is especially true at intersections and railroad crossings, or while changing lanes.

Loo Behind. You must also check t he traffic behind you. You need to check more often when t raffic is heavy. This is the only wayyou will know if someone is following too closely or coming up too fast. I f you check, you will have time to do somet hing about it. I tis very import ant t o look for vehicles behind you when you change lanes, slow down, back up or drive down a long or steep hill.

Intersections. In tersections are any place where t raffic merges or crosses. These include cross streets, side street s, driveways, and

shopping centers or parking lot entrances. Before you enter an intersection, look bot h left and r ight for approaching vehicles and/orcrossing pedestrians. When stopped, look both left and right just before you start moving. Look across the intersection before youstart to move to make sure that the path is clear all the way through the intersection and that you will not block it if you have tostop.

Before you turn left across oncoming t raffic, look for a safe opening in the t raffic. Remember, oncoming tr affic always has the right -of-way. Look to the street onto which you are turning to make sure that no vehicles or pedestr ians are in your path - this wouldleave you stuck in the path of oncoming tr affic. Look one more t ime in the direction of oncoming tr affic before you turn.

Before turning right, make sure that there is no traffic approaching from your left and no oncoming traffic turning into your path. Donot begin your t urn without checking for pedestrians crossing where you will be turning. You may turn r ight at a r ed light afterstopping, unless it is prohibited by a tr affic sign.

Do not rely on traffic signals or signs to t ell you that no one will be crossing in front of you. Some drivers do not obey traffic signalsor signs. Look left and right at an intersection, even if other t raffic has a red light or a stop sign. This is especially import ant just




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after t he light has turned green. This is when people on the cross street are most likely to hur ry t hrough the inter section before thelight changes to red. Some drivers who fail to pay attent ion may not stop.

Make sure you can clearly see crossing tr affic before entering an int ersection. I f y ou are stopped and your view of a cross street isblocked, edge forward slowly until y ou can see. When you m ove forward slowly, crossing drivers can see the front of your vehiclebefore you can see them. This gives them a chance to slow down and warn you if necessary.

During heavy tr affic, drivers are prohibited from entering any inter section unless there is sufficient space on the opposite side of theintersection to accommodate t heir vehicle without obstr ucting the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. This is commonly knownas blocking the box or causing gridlock.

Whenever there is a lot of activity along the side of the road, there is a good chance that someone will cross or enter t he road.Therefore, it is important to look to the sides when you are near shopping centers, parking lots, constr uction areas, busy sidewalks,playgrounds, school yards, etc.

Railroad Crossings. As you approach any railroad crossing, slow down and look up and down the t racks to make sure t hat no t rainsare coming. Even if you have never seen a train at that crossing before, do not assume t hat none are coming. Assumingthat a tr ain is not coming is one of the leading causes of fatalities at railroad crossings. Make sure there is room for y our vehicle onthe far side before you cross the tr acks.

At crossings with more t han one track, wait un til the passing train is well down the t rack before starting to cross. The train that j ustpassed may hide another one t hat is approaching.

Sharing the Road with OthersSharing the road means gett ing along, not getting ahead. A courteous, alert, and knowledgeable driver will make the highwayssafer for all. Drivers of passenger vehicles share the road with many other u sers.

Emergency Vehicles Pedestrians Bicyclists Moped and Motor cycle Riders Slow Moving Vehicles Hor seback Riders

Emergency Vehicles

You mu st yield th e right- of-way to police vehicles, fire engines, ambulances or ot her emer gency vehicles using sirens, air horns orred or blue flashing lights. When you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching from any direction you must pull over to theright edge of the road, or as near to the r ight as possible, and stop your vehicle. You must remain stopped until t he emergencyvehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a state or local police officer or a firefighter.

Move Over Law

When an emergency vehicle is pulled over on any part of a highway or r oad, drivers must: SLOW DOWN (below t he posted speed limit )

and Move their vehicle over one lane whenever it is safe to do so.This is required for vehicles with activated flashing lights including ambulances, fire tr ucks, police cars, tow tr ucks and roadmaintenance vehicles.

Pedestrians

Drivers mu st r ecognize the special safety needs of pedestr ians. Drivers should be especially alert for children, the elderly, anddisabled pedestrians. They are t he m ost frequent victims in auto pedestrian collisions. Elderly and disabled pedestrians m ay havepoor vision and hearing and may move slowly. Generally, pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks. There is a crosswalk atevery intersection, even if it is not m arked by painted lines. To determine where an unm arked crosswalk is, imagine that t hesidewalk or shoulder at t he corner extends across the road and m eets the sidewalk or shoulder on t he other side. Drivers must slowor stop your vehicle and grant the right-of- way for a pedestrian crossing at a crosswalk (m arked or unm arked) when t hepedestr ian: Steps to the curb at the entrance to the crosswalk Is within any port ion of the crosswalk.

Children at Play and School ones. Children are often t he least pr edictable pedestrians and th e most difficult t o see. Take extracare to look out for children, especially near schools, bus stops, playgrounds, parks and ice cream tru cks. Always be ext ra watchfulwhen backing in or out of a driveway. Children may ru n behind or be playing behind your vehicle. Be particularly alert at all tim es forchildren and pedestrians in a school zone. Follow the signs or flashing lights that warn you that you are approaching a school or aschool crossing. School hours are not the only t ime children are present. You m ust obey t he slower posted speed limit in schoolzones or be subject to fines. Stop and yield to students who are crossing or if a crossing guard signals you to do so.

White Canes and uide Dogs. Blind or partially blind pedestrians may carry a white cane or use the assistance of a guide dog. Youmust give the right- of-way t o a pedestrian wit h a guide dog or who is carrying a white cane, with or w ithout a colored tip. Stop andstay stopped if t he person is att empting t o cross or is in t he process of crossing the r oad. At regulated intersections, remainstopped until the pedestrian is out of the road, even if you have a green light.

Bicycles

Under Connecticut law, a bicycle is considered a vehicle with the same rights and responsibilities as cars and other vehicles on theroad. Drivers should expect to see bicyclists on t he road, riding wit h traff ic. A bicyclist may use the left lane when turning. When aroad is too narrow for cars and bikes to ride side-by-side, the bicyclist will t ake the travel lane which means riding in or near thecenter of th e lane. A major pr oblem for dr ivers is the ability to see bicyclists, especially at night. Sometim es they m ay be in the blindspot of y our vehicle. When you approach a bicyclist, k eep on the lookout and slow down. Learn to recognize situationsand obstacles which may be hazardous to cyclists, such as potholes, drain grates and narrow bridges or roadways. Give themadequate space to maneuver. To avoid conflict, drivers of m otor vehicles need to know the ru les:

1) Do not drive or park in a bicycle lane. You may cross a bicycle lane, such as when turning or when entering or leaving an alley,private road, or driveway. 2) Fines are doubled for failure to yield right- of-way to a bicyclist. 3) You must yield to bicyclists in abicycle lane or on a sidewalk, before you turn across the lane or sidewalk. 4) Do not crowd bicyclists. Wait for a clear str etch of roadbefore passing a bicyclist who is m oving slower t han your m otor vehicle in a lane too narrow t o share. Remember, the bicycle is aslow-moving vehicle and this may r equire you to slowdown. The greater t he speed difference between you and a bicyclist, t he more room y ou should allow when passing. 5) Do not honkat a bicyclist, unless you have good cause to warn the r ider. The loud noise could start le the r ider. There may be a good reason for


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the bicyclist to be riding in t he travel lane, such as roadway hazards not v isible to m otorists. 6) When turning left at an intersection,yield to oncoming bicyclists just as you would yield to oncoming mot orists. 7) Do not pass bicycles if you will be m aking a right turn.Always assume bicyclists are traveling t hrough unless they signal otherw ise. 8) Children on bicycles are often unpredictable theycannot see things out of t he corner of their eyes as well as adults, so th ey may not see you even when they glance back beforepulling out in front of you. They also have trouble judgingthe speed and distance of oncoming vehicles. They believe adults will look out for them, and lack a sense of danger.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles are everywhere! I n mor e than half of all crashes involving m otorcycles and automobiles, the autom obile driver didnt seethe m otorcycle until it was too late. Motorists are conditioned to look for four- wheeled vehicles, but t hey dont expect to see two-wheeled vehicles. A motorcycles small size also makes it difficult to see. Check your blind spots. A motorcycles small size allows it

to slip into your blind spot easily.

It is often hard to ju dge how far away a motorcycle is or how fast it is approaching. Many motorcycle crashes that involve othervehicles occur when t he driver of t he other v ehicle misjudges the m otorcyclists speed or distance, or fails to see the mot orcycle atall, and then stops or turns left in f ront of the mot orcyclist. I n addition, you m ust always keep a safe following distance. A motorcyclecan stop much faster t han a standard vehicle, so if you follow too closely you are creating a situation t hat is very dangerous for youand the cyclist.

Motorcycles travel as fast as automobiles and motorcyclists must obey the same tr affic laws. Motorcyclists, however, also shareproblems faced by pedestrians and bicyclists, such as lower visibility, less stability and less protection.

Do not pull along side a motorcycle already occupying your lane. A motorcyclist has the right to the full use of a lane. An experiencedmotor cyclist will often change position wit hin a lane to get a clearer view of t raffic, avoid hazards and be more visible to drivers. Youmay n ot pass or drive alongside a mot orcycle in t he same lane, and a motor cyclist may not share a lane with y ou.

Take care when passing a motorcyclist. The air pressure - the wind - from a passing vehicle can have an impact on motorcycles.Always check for mot orcycles before you pull out, change lanes, turn, back up or proceed through an int ersection.

16- and 17 year-old Motorcycle Endorsement Holders. A 16- or 17-year- old may not transport any passenger on a motorcyclefor a period of six mont hs after receiving his or her motorcycle endorsement. Please refer to page 15 for more restrictions for 16-and 17- year-old drivers.

Slow Mo ving Vehicles

Some vehicles cannot t ravel very f ast or have t rouble keeping up with t he speed of tr affic. If you spot t hese vehicles early, y ou havetime to change lanes or slow down safely. Slowing suddenly can cause a traffic accident.

Watch for large t rucks and small underpowered cars on steep grades or when they ar e entering tr affic. They can lose speedon long or steep hills, and it t akes longer for t hese vehicles to get up to speed when they enter t raffic.

Farm tr actors, animal-drawn vehicles and roadway m aintenance vehicles usually go 25 m ph or less. These vehicles shouldhave a slow-moving decal (an orange tr iangle) on the back.

Drive at a speed where you can always safely stop. To tell if you are driving too fast for conditions, use the four- secondsight-distance rule. Pick out a stationary obj ect as far ahead as you can clearly see (e.g. a sign or a telephone pole).Start counting one-one-thousand, t wo-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, f our-one-thousand. If you reach t he object beforeyou finish saying four- one-thousand, you need to slow down. You are going too fast for your sight- distance. You must notdrive faster than t he distance you can see. If you do, you are not safe and could injure or kill yourself or others.

Horses

Horseback riders are subject to, and pr otected by, t he rules of the road. They also must r ide single file near the right curb or roadedge, or on a usable right shoulder, lane or path. When you approach a horse on a public highway, you m ust reduce your speed (orstop, if necessary) t o avoid striking, endangering or fr ightening a horse.

The law requires you to exercise due care when approaching a horse being ridden or led along a road. You must drive at areasonable speed, and at a reasonable distance away fr om t he horse. I t is illegal to sound your horn when approaching or passing ahorse.

Sharing the Road with Truc s

Truc Tractor-Trailers and RVs

We all depend on trucks for everything we eat, wear, or use. A truck brought the car you are driving, the fuel to run it, and the partsand accessories that keep it in good condition. Safely sharing the r oad with t rucks is an essential part of dr iving and is every bit as

import ant as sharing the road with other v ehicles.

No - oneTrucks, tractor- trailers, buses and recreational vehicles (RVs) including m otor homes, campers and t ravel trailersare longer,higher and wider t han other vehicles. They accelerate slowly and require greater st opping and tur ning distances. Plus, t here aredanger areas around these vehicles where crashes are more likely to occur. These areas are called No-Zones. No-Zones on the side,front and rear also include blind spots where y our car disappears from t he drivers view. Learning th e No-Zones can save your life!




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Side No- ones: Trucks, tractor-trailers, buses and RVs have big No-Zones on both sides, which are dangerous because thesevehicles must make wide tur ns. These No-Zones or blind spots are much larger t han your cars blind spots. If you cant see thedrivers face in his side view mirr or, t hen he cant see you.

Rear No- one: Trucks, t ractor-t railers, buses and RVs have huge No-Zones directly behind t hem. The driver cant see your carbehind his vehicle and you cant see whats happening in t raffic ahead of his vehicle. I f the t ruck, bus or RV brakes or stopssuddenly, you have no place to go and could crash into the vehicles rear-end. Always maintain a safe following distance.

Front No- one: You could get rear- ended by a truck, bus or RV if you cut in front too soon after passing t he vehicle. I f you cut infront and then suddenly slow down, tru ck, bus and RV drivers are forced to slam on their brakes. These vehicles need nearly twicethe t ime and room t o stop as cars. A truck and its tow v ehicle may be as long as 65 feet and it may t ake you more t han half a mileof clear road t o pass. When passing, look for the entire fr ont of t he truck in your rearview mirror before pulling in front. And then,dont slow down!

Wide Turns: Trucks, buses and RVs sometimes need to swing wide t o the left or right in order t o safely m ake a tur n. They cantsee the cars directly behind or beside them. In fact, their blind spots may stretch up to 20 feet in front of the cab and approximately200 feet behind the tr uck. Trying t o squeeze between a truck, bus or RV and the curb, or another vehicle is an invitation to disaster.

Truc Drivers Are HumanLike everybody else, truck drivers want to avoid being involved in crashes. I f you mak e a mistake, the t ruck driver will tr y to avoid acrash. However, an evasive maneuver in a truck can result in the t ruck driver crashing, even though you m ay get away unscathed.We hope this inform ation will help you avoid such situations.

Trucks accelerate m ore slowly than cars. Trucks need more room to m aneuver safely. In a panic stop, tr ucks need more stopping distance. Because trucks are higher than t hey are wide, it is harder for t he truck driver to safely take evasive action. Avoid the No-Zone (blind spots) around trucks.

Pass Truc s Safely

Dont take needless chances to pass a truck. Always make sure you hav e room t o complete your pass without having toresort to excessive speed. Check t raff ic in both t he front and rear. Sign al and change lanes when it is safe and legal to do so. Pass only where it is safe- never where you will have to complete your pass in a no-passing zone. When you do pass, complete the pass as prompt ly as traffic conditions permit . I f you linger alongside the cab, you may be ina position where the truck driver cannot see you in the m irrors. I f the t ruck driver has to change lanes for any reason, yourvehicle could be involved in a crash because you were in a position where the truck driver could not see you. Signal and retur n to t he right lane when you can see the front of the t ruck in your inside mirror. After passing, keep yourspeed up. Passing a vehicle and then slowing down is both dangerous and irritat ing. Avoid pulling in front of a truck when tr affic may stop or slow down. By doing so, you take away the tr uck drivers margin ofsafety and r isk causing a crash. The tr ucking industry stresses the im portance of safe following distance. If a tru ck passes you, help the truck driver to pass safely by slowing down slightly to shorten t he tim e required to pass.Never speed up. That is dangerous and illegal. When you meet a truck going the other way, k eep as far to the right as you safely can for a greater margin of safety and tominim ize wind turbulence.

Keep a Safe Follow ing Distance Behind Truc s

If you follow a truck closely, you are driving blind. You cant see around the truck and t he truck driver cant see you in the m irrors.

Never follow a truck at a time int erval of less than three seconds. To check your following distance, pick a landmark on the side ofthe road. When the rear of the t ruck passes that point, count one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-t housand at anormal rate. If you pass the same point before you have finished counting t hree-one-thousand, you are following the tr uck tooclosely.

If you edge out to t he left to see if there is room t o pass, you m ay find yourself face-to-f ace with an oncoming vehicle that you couldhave seen if you had been following at a safe distance. You may h it a pot hole or debris that t he tr uck has safely passed over.

In some cases, because of more brakes and more t ires in contact wit h the r oad, a truck can slow or stop more quickly than a car. I fyou are following too closely, you may be unable to avoid a r ear-end collision with t he tru ck.

Never use your high beams when following a truck at night. The glare in the large side mirrors can blind the t ruck driver.

Avoid stopping too close behind a truck on an upgrade. I f the t ruck rolls back when start ing up, your vehicle could be damaged. Also,if you stop a little t o either side of the truck, t he truck driver will be able to see your vehicle in the m irrors.




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Truc s Ma e Wide Right Turns

Did you ever feel the back of your vehicle go up over the curb when you were m aking a right tu rn? On every vehicle, the rear wheelsfollow a shorter path t han the fr ont wheels. The longer th e vehicle, t he shorter th e path followed by th e rear wheels. This is calledoff-track.

Off-track occurs on both left and right turns, but presents a greater safety problem on the right turns where a truck driver may haveto first move to the left so the rear wheels wont jump the curb.

Resist the temptation to pass on the right of a truck that is approaching an intersection. If the truck driver makes a right turn, youcould be caught between the t ruck and the curb.

Truc s Need Space While Bac ing Up

Truck drivers often must back from the street into a loading area. If you see a truck driver attempting to back, stop to give them achance to do so safely. Never attem pt to drive around a backing truck. You are likely to get out of the t ruck drivers field of view andmay be needlessly involved in a crash.

Other Hints

If a tru ck driver slows, stops, signals or changes lanes, you may be sure that there is a good reason for it. Be alert. Slowdown and hold your position. Dont attem pt t o pass until you are certain that it is safe to do so. If you are approaching the entr ance ramp to a highway, allow entering tr affic to merge safely. When on the entranceramp, check for an opening in the m ain flow of tr affic that will allow you t o merge safely. Never go all the way across severallanes of traffic from an on-ramp. Some trucks are required by law to stop at r ailroad crossings. Be alert and allow the t ruck driver t o stop and to resume tr avelsafely if no train is approaching. On a road with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, except t o pass, stay in the r ight lane. On a road with thr eeor m ore lanes traveling in the same direction, use the center travel lane if there is a lot of entering or exit ing traffic: Unlesstold t o do so by officials, never dr ive on the shoulder of t he road.

Maintaining a Space Cushion

You mu st always share the road with ot hers. The more distance you keep between y ourself and everyone else, the m ore time youhave to react. This space is like a safety cushion. The more you have, the safer it can be. This section describes how to make sureyou have enough space around you when y ou drive.

Space to Enter

When you enter into t raffic, tr y to ent er at t he same speed that t raffic is moving. High-speed roadways generally have ramps to giveyou tim e to build up your speed. Use the ramp t o reach the speed of other vehicles before you pull onto the road. Do not drive t o theend of the ramp and stop or you will not have enough room t o get up to t he speed of tr affic. Also, drivers behind you will not expectyou to stop. If they are watching the traffic on the main road, you may be hit from the rear. If you have to wait for space to enter aroadway, slow down on the ramp so you have some room t o speed up before you have to merge ont o the m ain road.

Space to Merge

Any time you want to merge with other traffic, you need an opening of about four seconds. If you move into the middle of a foursecond opening, both you and the vehicle that is behind you have a two-second following distance. You need a four-second openingwhenever you change lanes or enter a roadway and when your lane merges with another t ravel lane. Do not t ry t o merge into a

opening that is too small. A small opening can quickly become even smaller. Enter an opening that gives you a big enough spacecushion to be safe.

Keep Pace w ith Traffic

Vehicles moving in the same direction at t he same speed cannot hit one another. Crashes, involving two or mor e vehicles, oftenhappen when drivers go faster or slower t han other vehicles on the road. I f you are going faster than t raffic, you will have to keeppassing others. Each time you pass someone, there is a chance for a collision. The vehicle you are passing may change lanesunexpectedly. An oncoming vehicle may also appear suddenly on a tw o-lane road. Slow down and keep pace with other t raffic.Speeding does not save more than a few minut es an hour.

Space to Leave

Keep up with t he speed of traffic as long as you are on the m ain road. If the road you are t raveling has exit r amps, do not slow downuntil you move onto the exit ramp. When you turn from a high-speed, two-lane roadway, try not to slow down too early if you havetr affic following you. Tap your brakes and reduce your speed quickly but safely.

Space to Cross

When you cross traffic, you need a large enough opening to get all the way across the road.

Stopping halfway across traffic is only safe when there is a m edian divider large enough for y our vehicle. Do not stop in adivider where part of your vehicle is sticking into traffic. If you are tur ning left, m ake sure there are no vehicles or pedestrians blocking your path. You do not want to be caughtwaiting for a path to clear while stuck across a lane with v ehicles coming t oward you. Even if you have t he green light, do not start across the intersection if there are vehicles blocking your way. If you arecaught in t he intersection when the light changes to red, you will block other t raffic. You can get a t icket for blocking thr ee ormore lanes traveling in the same direction, use the center travel lane if there is a lot of entering or exiting t raffic. anintersection. Never assume another dr iver will share space with y ou or give you space. For example, do not assume t hat you can t urn j ustbecause an approaching vehicle also has a turn signal on. The driver m ay plan to t urn aft er they pass your vehicle or m ay haveforgott en to t urn t he signal off from a prior tur n. This is particularly true of m otorcycles, as their signals often do not cancel bythem selves. Wait until the ot her driver actually starts to t urn, t hen go if it is safe to do so. When you cross railroad tracks, make sure you can cross without having t o stop on the tr acks.

Space Ahead




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Rear-end crashes are very comm on. They are caused by drivers who f ollow too closely to be able to stop before hitt ing the vehicleahead when it suddenly stops. There is an easy way t o tell if you are following too closely. I t is called the t hree-second rule and itworks at any speed.

How to use the three-second rule:

Watch for when the rear of t he vehicle ahead passes a sign, pole, or any other stat ionary point. Count th e seconds it takes you to reach the same spot- one-one-t housand, two- one-thousand, three-one-t housand. You are following too closely if you pass the m ark before you finish counting. If so, dr op back and then count again at another spot to check the new following distance. Repeat unt il you are following no closer than t hree seconds.

There are also situations where you need more space in front of your v ehicle. I n the f ollowing situations, you m ay need a four-second following distance to be safe.

When to use the four-second rule:

Slippery Roads . Because you need more distance to stop your vehicle on slippery roads, you must leave more space infront of you. I f the vehicle ahead suddenly stops, you will need the extra distance to stop safely. The Driver Behind You Wants to Pass. Slow down to allow room in front of your vehicle. Slowing will also allow th e passto be completed sooner. Following Motorcycles. If the m otorcycle should fall, you need extr a distance to avoid the rider. The chances of a fall aregreatest on w et and icy r oads, gravel roads, and met al surfaces such as bridges, gr atings and streetcar or railroad tracks. Following Drivers Who Cannot See You. The drivers of t rucks, buses, vans, or vehicles pulling campers or trailers maynot be able to see you when you are directly behind them . They could stop suddenly without knowing you are t here. Largevehicles also block your view of the road ahead. Falling back allows you more room to see ahead. You are Being Follow ed Closely. If you are being followed closely, pull to t he right and allow the vehicle behind you t opass. Pulling a Trailer. The extra weight increases your stopping distance.

Low Visibility. When it is hard for you to see ahead because of darkness or bad weather, you need to increase yourfollowing distance. Following Emergency Vehicles. Police vehicles, ambulances, and fire t rucks need more room to operate. Railroad Crossings. Leave extr a room for v ehicles required to stop at r ailroad crossings, including t ransit buses, schoolbuses, and vehicles carrying hazardous materials. Stopped on a Hill or Incline. Leave extra space when stopped on a hill or incline. The vehicle ahead may roll back when itstarts up.

Space Behind

It is not always easy t o maintain a safe distance behind your vehicle. However, you can help keep the driver at a safe distance bykeeping a steady speed and signaling in advance when you have to slow down or turn.

Stopping to Pic Up or Let Off Passengers. Try to find a safe place out of tr affic to stop. Parallel Par ing. If you want t o parallel park and there is traffic coming behind you, put on your turn signal, pull next to thespace and allow following vehicles to pass before you park. Driving Slowly. When you have to drive so slowly that you slow down other vehicles, pull to th e side of t he road when it issafe to do so and let t hem pass. There are t urnout areas on some two-lane roads you can use. Other two-lane roadssometimes have passing lanes.

Slowing Down. Always check behind your vehicle whenever you slow down or stop. This is very im portant when you slowdown quickly or at points where a following driver would not expect you to slow down, such as private driveways or parkingspaces. Being Tailgated. Every now and then, you may find yourself being followed closely or tailgated by another driver. If youare being followed too closely and there is a right lane, move over t o the right . I f there is no right lane, wait u ntil the r oadahead is clear, t hen reduce speed slowly. This will encourage th e tailgater t o drive around you. Never slow down quickly t odiscourage a tailgater. I t increases your r isk of being hit f rom behind.

Space to the Side

You need space on both sides of your vehicle to have room to turn or change lanes.

Avoid driving next to ot her vehicles on multi- lane roads. Someone may crowd your lane or t ry t o change lanes and pull intoyou. Move ahead of or drop behind t he other vehicle. Keep as m uch space as you can between yourself and oncoming v ehicles. This means not crowding the centerline on a two-lane road. In general, it is safest to drive in the center of your lane. Make room for entering vehicles on a roadway that h as two or mor e lanes. I f there is no one next to y ou, move over a lane. Keep extr a space between your vehicle and parked cars. Someone could step out f rom a parked vehicle or fr om betweenvehicles or a parked vehicle could also pull out.

Give extra space to pedestrians, bicycles and especially children. They can move int o your path quickly and wit hout warn ing.Do not share a lane with a pedestrian or bicyclist. Wait until it is safe to pass in the adjoining lane. Split the difference between two hazards. For example, steer a middle course between oncomi

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