Ohio Drivers License

The State of Ohio has graduated stages licensing.

At age 15 ½ you being the graduated stages but you must have the following (the information is also provided in the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws:

1. Proof age
2. Proof identity
3. Social Security Card
4. Your parent, or legal guardian, must co-sign the temporary permit application (if you are under the age of 18).
5. You will be required to take a knowledge test
6. You will be required to take a vision exam (eye test)

Once the above has been completed, you:

1. Will be eligible to drive as long as you have your application and photo identification with you when you are driving, and you are with a parent, guardian or a certified driving instructor (until you are 16).

2. Must then complete classroom instruction totaling 24 hours, an additional 8 hours of driving time with a certified instructor, and fifty additional hours of driving which is with a parent with 10 of those hours being nighttime driving

A Fifty Hour Affidavit is required when applying for your driver’s license, which may be no less than 6 months after you have obtained your temporary permit.

Once the above has been completed, you:

1. will be eligible for a probationary drivers license which has a number of restrictions including:

a. not more than one person who is a family member in the vehicle

b. no driving between midnight and 6am unless it is an emergency,

c. no driving unless you are going back and forth to work or school (provided you supply the necessary written documentation as proof of these activities)

d. everyone in your vehicle must be wearing seatbelts (or age appropriate restraints) when you are driving.

*This restriction remains until you are 18 under laws that changed in 2007.

If you are convicted of one moving violation during the first 6 months you hold a license, you will then be required to have a licensed parent or guardian in the vehicle with you for an additional 6 months.

TEMPORARY PERMITS & PROBATIONARY LICENSE SUSPENSION RULES

1. Temporary permit holders and probationary license holders will be suspended for one year for accruing 3 moving violations before age18.
2. Temporary permit holders and probationary license holders may be suspended for six months if convicted of certain traffic-related violations before age 18.
3. Temporary permit holders and probationary license holders who are convicted of certain alcohol-related violations (4511.11 D.U.I.) before age 18 will be suspended for six months. If the offender is not yet 15½, the offender will not be eligible for a temporary permit until the age of 16.

New Mexico Drivers License

In the State of New Mexico there is a three step, or phase, graduated drivers program. All first time drivers under the age of 18 must go through all three steps until they have completed all the requirements for an Unrestricted License.

1: Instructional Permit:

1. You must be at least 15 years of age.

2. You will need to pass a knowledge test as well as a vision test and must have your parents, or guardians, permission.

3. You will be able to drive as long as there is another driver who is over the age of 21 in the vehicle with you.

4. While keeping this permit for six months you must also be enrolled in and attending a driver education course. This course includes DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) education as well as practice driving.

5. Before you are able to participate in the next step you must have approval by an instructor or a driver who has been licensed for at least three years and is over the age of 21.

2: Provisional License Program:

1. You must have held the Instructional permit at least six months.

2. This Program allows you to drive without supervision after 5 a.m. and before Midnight.

3. You must complete not less than fifty hours of practice driving. This includes not less than ten hours of nighttime driving. Your parent or guardian must agree that you have completed the practice portion.

4. You will also need to pass a written test, a road test, and a vision screening.

5. You must be no younger than 15 years and 6 months, of course holding the instructional permit for at least 6 months.

6. If convicted of any traffic violation in the 90 days prior to applying for your Provisional License you will be disapproved.

7. You must only operate a motor vehicle on public highways between 5 a.m. and midnight.

8. You can drive at any hour if:

   1. you are accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years or

   2. Are required by family necessity as evidenced by a signed statement of a parent or guardian;

   3. Are required by medical necessity as evidenced by a signed statement of a parent or guardian

   4. Are driving to and from work as evidenced by a signed statement from your employer;

   5. You are driving to and from school or a religious activity as evidenced by a signed statement of a school, religious official or a parent or guardian,

   6. Or if it is required due to a medical emergency.

You may find the New Mexico Drivers Handbook helpful in preparing for your permit and the written tests.

Drivers Education and Cell Phones

As you will learn during your drivers education course, many states have strong restrictions in place for teen drivers and cell phone use during the learning and ‘new’ driving phase. There are many reasons for this that are important.

Cell phones in a vehicle today are as common a sight as a cigarette lights and now even more common than that.

While we understand the use of cell phones but here are a few notes since this past weekend I noted at least 12 different drivers on cell phones speeding along, almost hitting curbs, almost hitting other cars and almost hitting pedestrians and I didn’t spend much time outside of my home.

Cell phones are not meant to be a hazard in our driving but when they are not used wisely that is just what they are a hazard. Some states even have passed laws forbidding driving while on a cell phone. The safest place while on the phone is when your vehicle is parked. I don’t mean just stop in the middle of the highway, pull your vehicle over to the side of the road. Tell the caller you’ll call them back when you are able to talk safely or just don’t answer the phone while you are driving.

Teen drivers need to be able to focus their FULL attention to the road – especially since they don’t have as much experience driving as you do.

Understandably you’ll argue that you can do both but in actuality you can’t. There are too many disruptions to our driving as it is, billboards, pedestrians, traffic tie ups etc. Being on the cell phone increases the chance of an accident just as putting your makeup on as you are driving is.

Please remember to use your cell phone wisely. Teach the new driver in your home to not use the cell phone while driving. The instant your attention is distracted from the road the higher the chances for an accident.

And guess what your passenger on the cell phone is also a distraction. How many times have you found yourself listening to their conversation while driving and then commenting and getting distracted.

Windshield & Mirrors – do you clean them?

I was driving behind someone the other day and caught a glare off THEIR windshield. The inside was a mess. I may not be a cleaning nut but REALLY how do you see out of a filthy windshield. Even the frailest of us can clean the windows of a car. Granted you can get the outside done by going through the carwash (and you should if you don’t do it yourself. Mother Nature can only clean so much off your car) but the inside needs to be cleaned as well. Let’s not discuss vacuuming or just generally get the junk out of the car that’s another discussion to have another time.

Taking some Windex (or whichever window cleaner your prefer) and some paper towels and spending say 15 minutes cleaning your windows monthly will help your visibility so immensely which in turn will do a great deal in the prevention of an accident. Oh the old standby of using old newspaper is still a great tip! The ink really does help clean your windows better.

I again use Rainex on the outside of the windows once a month. I may skip the rest of the windows but the windshield is done faithfully. I find it increases my visibility in the elements immensely. On several occasions of rain I didn’t even need my wipers running to see.

As you’re learning to drive or taking driving lessons it’s helpful to stash these little tips in your manual! Enjoy!
Oh and let’s discuss stickers in the windows. You remember your third break light in the rear window – it’s meant to be seen by the driver behind you. Putting a sticker there doesn’t do anything for their view.

Website is now active!

We worked very hard to get our website active! It’s up and running and we hope that you’ll stop by and visit us.

DMV Drivers Education website has all of the information that you need to get your first drivers license, what you can expect at the Registry and in addition, you can study for your written test by using our online state approved courses.

We hope that you’ll enjoy our website and if you have changes or additions you’d like to see please let us know!