THE COURSE - SECTION 1b Section 1b YOUR CALIFORNIA DRIVER'S LICENSE As the most populous state in the union with thirty-three million people, California has twenty million licensed drivers with nearly twenty-seven million vehicles traveling over three-hundred billion miles each and every year. With so many people traveling so many miles, it is important for everyone to have a current driver's license and live within the rules governing the privilege. A driver's license is simply a physical representation that you have been given permission by the State of California to drive on public roadways. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will grant you a driver's license after you: Demonstrate your ability to drive safely. Correctly answer questions about traffic safety and the laws. Show that your physical and mental condition is satisfactory for the task of driving. If you live with a disability or medical problem, the DMV may require you to present a statement from your physician regarding your condition. Your physician is obligated to inform the DMV if you possess any type of medical condition that could pose a threat to others on the road. Most common medical conditions will not prevent you from getting a driver's license, but they may restrict your driving privileges. For instance, certain people are REQUIRED to wear glasses or contact lenses while driving. This requirement will be clearly printed on your license. Should you be pulled over by a police officer and you are NOT adhering to your driving restrictions (such as wearing glasses), your license may be suspended or revoked. Because all of our highway traffic and directional signs are printed in English, ALL DRIVERS must show the ability to read and understand SIMPLE ENGLISH. Driving tests for license renewals and holders of valid out-of-state licenses are normally waived. This being the case, most of us have NOT had to take a written test or had to demonstrate our skills behind the wheel to the DMV since we received our first driver's license. Is it any wonder that you're taking this course? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE DRIVER'S LICENSE EXAMINATION PROCESS If you are taking this course, you already have a driver's license. This information is provided to expand your recollection of the examination process. Do you remember when YOU took your driving tests? Do you remember the list of knowledge that you were supposed to demonstrate? For many of us, we haven't reviewed such things since we were sixteen years old. Use the knowledge you'll learn in this section to refresh your memory about what skills are expected of you. If you recall, during your first driving test, the examiner made note of: How you started your vehicle. How you left curbs. Did you use your signal? Did you turn your head and look for passing cars? Did you make sure to wait until it was safe to enter traffic? Your overall control of your vehicle. Did you use all the controls correctly, including your gas pedal, brake and steering wheel? How you obeyed the posted signs and traffic signals. How you drove in traffic. Did you follow other vehicles at safe distances? Did you signal before changing lanes and at the proper distance before turning? How you merged on and off freeways. How you steered your vehicle. Did you turn from the proper lane into the proper lane. Did you turn too wide or too sharp? How you stopped your vehicle. Did you smoothly come to a complete stop at the right spot? Could you stop safely and quickly in an emergency? Your use of taking and giving the right-of-way correctly. How you drove through blind or crowded intersections. Did you slow to the proper speed? Did you carefully look for pedestrians and other vehicles while adhering to posted signs and signals? How you backed up your vehicle. Did you look over your right shoulder? Did you back up in a straight line? Were you in complete control of your vehicle? Your respect for others. Were you courteous to other drivers and pedestrians? Your judge of distance. Did you remain a safe distance when following or passing other vehicles? Did you remain a safe distance from pedestrians or others riding on the road? Whether you changed your speed to accommodate the road conditions, the number of cars on the road, the weather, the amount of light, or the distance you could see ahead. Your knowledge of the arm signals in case your vehicle's signals were not working properly. How well you accomplished a three-point-turn. How well you simulated hill parking. Whether you paid full attention to the job of driving. At the end of your first driving test, the examiner tallied your score and went over the results with you. If you took this test today, how well do you think you would do? It's a lot to focus on, isn't it? DRIVING IS A FULL-TIME JOB! The state of California has issued 6 drivers licenses to Jesus Christ. In addition to everything above, you were also asked to demonstrate the knowledge of the location of your vehicle's windshield wipers, defroster, headlight switch, and hazard lights. It sounds silly, but do you know the location of these items in your current vehicle? Familiarize yourself with your vehicle's controls! When you find yourself in need of them, you won't be searching for them (or learning how to use them) while you are driving. Don't put yourself or others in danger. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGE REQUIREMENTS In California, if you are 18 years old, pass the tests, and meet all of the requirements, you may be issued a driver's license. THERE IS NO UPPER AGE LIMIT. LICENSING FOR MINORS: A MINOR is someone under the age of 18. If you are at least 16 years old, you may qualify for a PROVISIONAL driver's license. The application for such a license must be signed by BOTH parents to authorize consent if both are living and have custody of the minor. PARENTS MAY CANCEL A MINOR'S LICENSE AT ANY TIME. It is against the law in California for MINORS to be employed to drive a motor vehicle. In fact, you must be 21 years old to drive most commercial vehicles for hire in interstate commerce or to transport hazardous materials or waste. WHY PROVISIONAL? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fast Facts on Young Drivers: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people from 15 to 20 years old. In 2003, 14 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes were between 15 and 20 years old. The fatality rate for teenage drivers, based on estimated annual travel, is about 4 times as high as the rate for drivers between 25 and 69 years old. With statistics like this, the DMV has great concern about issuing licenses to young drivers and will be watching their records very closely. Studies have shown that parents or other role models have the most influence over young driver's driving habits. You may not realize it, but minor passengers are paying attention to what YOU do when you're behind the wheel. If you speed, if you curse at other drivers, if you show disregard for any of the traffic laws, your child (or other minor passengers) are learning bad habits and will most likely emulate them when they get behind the wheel. Think about this when you're driving. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1998: THE BRADY-JARED TEEN DRIVER SAFETY ACT The Brady-Jared Teen Driver Safety Act requires that teenagers under the age of 18 have an instructional permit for at least six months before applying for a provisional driver's license. Under this act, teens are also required to have 50 hours of SUPERVISED DRIVING PRACTICE prior to applying for a license. (10 of those supervised hours must take place during darkness) THE MINIMUM AGE FOR ISSUANCE OF AN INSTRUCTION PERMIT IS 15 YEARS, 6 MONTHS The Department, for good cause, may issue an instruction permit to any physically and mentally qualified person who meets the following requirements and who applies to the Department for an instruction permit: ? Is 15 years and 6 months, or over. ? Has successfully completed an approved course in automobile driver educaion and is taking driver training or is enrolled and participating in an integrated driver education program. ONCE A TEENAGER OBTAINS A PROVISIONAL LICENSE, CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY: For the first TWELVE months, no one under the age of 20 can be transported by a teen with a provisional license UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A LICENSED DRIVER WHO IS AT LEAST 25 YEARS OF AGE. For the first TWELVE months, a teen with a provisional license cannot drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A LICENSED DRIVER WHO IS 25 YEARS OF AGE. Exceptions to the nighttime driving rule: Driving to school Driving to work Driving because of medical emergency Driving because of family necessity NOTE: The DMV will not issue a license to operate a two-wheel vehicle to anyone under 21 years of age unless that person has completed a CHP approved motorcycle rider training program certified on the DMV Certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training (DL 389). Fixed and mobile motorcycle training sites are located throughout California. The telephone number for locating the nearest training site is 1-800-CCRIDER. More on provisional licenses later in the course. ALLOWING AN UNLICENSED PERSON TO DRIVE Did you know that it is not only against the law for YOU to drive with a suspended or revoked license, but it is also against the law to loan your VEHICLE to an unlicensed or suspended person? That's right. If you lend your vehicle to an unlicensed or suspended driver, the DMV will hold YOU partially responsible. If caught, your vehicle may be impounded for 30 days. (VC ?14602.6). Forget the inconvenience. You have a civic responsibility to make sure that an unlicensed person is not on the roadways. Remember, the person is unlicensed for a reason. This law extends to minors without licenses as well. If your child, ward, or employee is under the age of 18 and has a learner's permit, an adult 25 years or older must be in the vehicle. The law also says that you must not employ, permit, or authorize a person to drive a vehicle on a public street or highway unless the person is licensed to drive that class of vehicle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLASSES OF LICENSES Did you know that there are many types of driver's licenses available? Different types of vehicles require different types of knowledge to operate them safely and correctly. Let's take a look at some of the classes of licenses available to you: Class A A Class A license allows you to drive any type of vehicle, including those listed under Classes B and C. You are also permitted to tow any type of vehicle. The exception is a two-wheel motorized vehicle such as a motorcycle or moped, which requires an M1 or M2 type license. Class B A Class B license allows you to drive any bus (except a trailer bus), any farm labor vehicle, a vehicle with three or more axles, and all vehicles under Class C. Just as with a Class A license, you must obtain a separate M1 or M2 license if you plan to ride a motorcycle or moped. Class C A Class C license allows you to drive any two-axle vehicle. The average person who drives a passenger vehicle is issued a Class C license. With this license you are also allowed to drive a motorhome or tow a trailer weighing less than 10,000 pounds. You are NOT permitted to drive a bus or any M1 or M2 vehicles. As of January 1, 2005, a Class C license is REQUIRED before you can obtain one of the following endorsements: Class M1 A Class M1 license allows you to drive ANY two-wheel motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle or moped. Class M1 licensees are also permitted to drive any M2 vehicles. Class M2 A Class M2 license allows you to drive any motorized bicycle, moped, or any bicycle with an attached motor. *NOTE: California Highway Patrol approved training is required for ALL DRIVERS UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE for a motorcycle M1 or M2 license. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IDENTIFICATION In addition to giving you permission to drive on public roadways, your driver's license plays another important role in society: IDENTIFICATION (I.D.) All levels of the government have grave concern about the reliability, confidentiality, and integrity of Identification (ID's). As a government agency, the DMV has been given the responsibility of issuing ID's. It becomes critical that ID documents be completely authenticated and accurate in order to positively and uniquely identify each individual. The California Legislature has declared the driver license and ID card as the primary identification documents in this state. California state law now requires that all applicants for an original California driver license or ID card submit proof of legal presence in the United States (U.S.) authorized under federal law. Therefore, when applying for a driver license or ID card, you must present an acceptable birth date/legal presence document and provide your social security number to safeguard the accuracy and integrity of departmental documents. Below is a list of acceptable birth date/legal presence documents: U.S. Birth Certificate U.S. Certificate or Report of Birth Abroad Proof of Indian Blood Degree U.S. Passport U.S. Armed Forces ID Cards Certificate of Naturalization Certificate of Citizenship American Indian Card Resident Alien Card Canadian Passport Foreign Passport Mexican Border Crossing Card with a valid I-94 In 1984, the state of New York became the last of the United States to put photographs on drivers' licenses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LICENSE REPLACEMENT Earlier we discussed that the excuse "I lost my license" was not a legitimate reason for not carrying your license with you when driving. So...What should you do IF you lose your license, you damage it, etc.? You need to pay a visit to your local DMV office immediately and get a replacement. Of course, you will have to pay a small fee for the replacement. Most importantly, you will need to verbally verify your address and present acceptable identification such as a birth certificate, social security card, etc., much in the same way you did when your very first driver's license was issued to you. Once a duplicate license has been issued to you, your previous license is no longer valid. If you should find your lost license after the fact, destroy the old one. SPECIAL NOTE TO MINORS: In order to obtain a replacement license, your parents must sign the DMV application (FORM DL 44). INTERESTING FACT: Did you know that IT'S THE LAW TO GIVE THE DMV YOUR NEW ADDRESS WITHIN 10 DAYS OF MOVING TO A NEW RESIDENCE? If you move, you can telephone the DMV with your new address information OR send it in writing. HOWEVER, a vehicle registration change of address must be in writing and needs to include the license plate numbers of all vehicles that you own. Letters can be mailed to: DMV P.O. Box 942890, Sacramento, CA 94290-0001. Feel free to make note of this address for future use. You never know when it will come in handy.