Students who successfully pass this course will satisfy the state law that requires a minimum of 36 periods of class room instruction and a minimum of 14 periods of in-car instruction. Also upon successful completion of the course, most insurance companies give an average of a 10% credit on a student’s insurance coverage and those students who maintain a 3.0 average or better will get an additional 10% - 20% credit. Some insurance companies also offer additional incentive programs for young drivers who complete them to receive additional deductions in their coverage.

Don’t forget when you drive to buckle up, never drink and drive and obey the laws.

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WHEN DO I TAKE DRIVER EDUCATION?

Driver Education is offered at Randolph-Henry as part to the Physical Education 10 requirement. The first requirement or the book part is given during this time. This class meets approximately 30 times, with each class counting one and a half periods, for a total of 45 periods of classroom instruction. The student MUST attend 24 classes or 36 periods to meet the state requirement therefore attendance is vital during this class. There is no cost for this class.

During the classroom phase, the students will be instructed in numerous areas of driving including alcohol safety, drug abuse awareness, aggressive driving, distracted driving, motorcycle awareness and organ and tissue donation.

The second phase or the Behind-the-Wheel part of Driver Education consists of a minimum of 14 periods, 7 driving and 7 observing. Classes for this phase are taught after school during the year and during the summer. Students are taught in specially equipped automatic transmission vehicles. Areas covered in this part include basic maneuvers, highway, rural and city driving, evasive and emergency maneuvers, parking and off-road recovery.

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HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR BEHIND-THE-WHEEL?

Students who want to take Behind-the-Wheel though Randolph-Henry MUST have successfully passed the book part, have their learner’s permit and logged 40 hours of driving time before signing up in the main office. The cost of this phase is $100. This part is optional at Randolph-Henry. It may also be taken at a private driving school.

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DRIVER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

If you are a Virginia resident under age 19, you must complete a state-approved driver education program and hold your Virginia learner's permit for at least nine months.

If you are a Virginia resident, 19 years of age or older, you must hold a Virginia learner's permit for at least 30 days or show completion of a state-approved driver education program.

Driver education programs are available statewide to students, adults and out-of-school youths. Public and private school programs are approved by the Department of Education. Commercial driver training schools follow the same course content and are licensed by DMV.

The program must present 36 classroom periods. It must include components about alcohol safety, drug abuse awareness, aggressive driving, distracted driving, motorcycle awareness and organ and tissue donation awareness. It must also include 14 in-car instruction periods, 7 periods of driving and 7 periods of observation.

You will receive a driver education completion certificate when you successfully complete a state-approved driver education program. A copy of your certificate will be sent by your school instructor to DMV for issuance of a permanent driver's license.

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DRIVER EDUCATION INFORMATION FOR HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS

If you are an approved home-schooled student, driver education can be taught at home. The student must currently be enrolled in a home-schooled program approved by your school. The classroom and / or behind-the-wheel portions can be taught at home.

If you are a home schooled student, you must visit a DMV office and successfully complete the road skills test.

Refer to the “Home-Schooled In-Car Driver Education Information Sheet,” HS-3 for additional information and the criteria you will need to satisfy your driver education requirements. This publication is available at www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/hs3.pdf or at any DMV customer service center.

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QUALIFYING FOR YOUR VIRGINIA DRIVER'S LICENSE

First Time Drivers:

You must be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia and at least 16 years and 3 months of age to obtain a Virginia driver's license. To obtain a learner's permit, you must be at least 15 years and 6 months of age. No exceptions will be made to these age requirements.

If you are under age 18, you must provide written consent from one of your parents or your legal guardian unless you are married or emancipated.

If you are under age 18, your learner’s permit or driver’s license application must be signed by your father, mother or spouse over age 18. If your parents are deceased or do have legal custody of you, your application must be signed by your custodial parent, legal guardian or judge of the juvenile and domestic relations court in your locality. A court order showing that you are an emancipated minor is acceptable in lieu of written consent. If you are a foreign exchange student, your host parents are not eligible to sign your application.

If you are under age 19, you must complete a state-approved driver education program.

If you are age 19 or older, applying for a driver's license and you have not previously held a driver's license, you must show proof that:

• you passed an approved driver education course, or,

• you held a Virginia learner's permit at least 30 days
before taking the DMV road skills test. You may take the road skills test NO more than three times in any three-month period.

If you previously have been found not innocent of any offense by a juvenile and domestic relations court in Virginia or any other state, you must obtain approval to be licensed from that court or a court in the city or county where you live.

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LEARNER'S PERMIT INFORMATION

You may get your learner's permit when you reach 15 years and 6 months of age. It allows you to operate a motor vehicle when a licensed driver at least 21 years of age is seated beside you. The driver accompanying you may be 18 years of age if he or she is your legal guardian, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother or step-sister. The driver accompanying you must hold a valid driver's license, be alert and able to assist you and be legally permitted to drive.

When you apply for a learner's permit, you will also complete the application process for your driver's license and pay the fees for both the permit and license. You will be required to pass a vision screening and the two-part knowledge exam.

If you are under age 19, you must hold the permit for at least nine months or until you turn age 19 before you can receive a driver’s license. You will receive a certificate when you complete a required state approved driver education program. Your parent or guardian must certify that you received at least 45 hours of driver practice, 15 of which must have been completed after sunset. You will not be required to take the road skills test at DMV to get your license.

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WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED?

To apply for a learner’s permit or driver’s license you must show:

• Two proofs of identity

• One proof of Virginia residency

• Proof of your social security number or a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that you do not have a SSN

• Proof of legal presence (birth certificate or un expired passport)

Photocopies will not be accepted. All documents must be originals and all documents must be verified with the issuing authority.

DMV will not accept any document when there is reason to believe it has be altered, fraudulently obtained or is fake, forged, counterfeit or otherwise non-genuine or illegitimate.

For a complete list of acceptable documents visit www.dmvNOW.com

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WHAT TESTS DO I NEED TO TAKE?

Vision Screening:

To screen your vision, you will be asked to look into a machine and read lines of letters or numbers to the DMV representative. This screening determines whether your eyesight and peripheral vision meet Virginia's standards to safely operate a motor vehicle. It is not a medical exam. If you fail the vision screening, you may be asked to see an eye care professional. If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses to pass the vision screening, you must wear them when you drive. Your license will show this restriction.

Two-Part Knowledge Exam:

The two-part knowledge exam is given in English or Spanish on a computer and tests your knowledge of traffic signs, motor vehicle laws and safe driving techniques. Exam questions are taken from information in the Virginia Driver's Manual.

All ten traffic sign questions in Part One must be answered correctly before you can take the 25-question general knowledge exam in Part Two. You must score at least 80% on these questions to pass Part Two.

The exam may be taken only once per business day. If necessary, the two-part knowledge exam may be taken using a translator provided by you. Oral exams are given in all DMV customer service centers.

If you fail the exam and are under age 18, you must wait 15 days before you can retake the exam. If you are age 18 or older, and fail the exam, you must pay a $2.00 re-examination fee if you retake the exam within 15 days.

It is unlawful to:

• receive assistance or to assist anyone while taking the knowledge exam;

• attempt to secure or provide answers to any parts of an exam;

• have unauthorized possession of an exam or exam answers; or,

• use a cell phone while taking the exam.

Failed Driver's Tests

Drivers License applicants who fail the knowledge or behind-the-wheel examination three times will be required to successfully complete the applicable knowledge or in-vehicle component of a drivers education course before they can take the examination a fourth time.

If you are unsuccessful in passing the exam a first and second time, before re-taking the exam, study the drivers license manual; if you hold a learner's permit, practice your behind-the-wheel skills with a licensed driver or a driver training instructor. Classes taken at a driver improvement clinic do not meet this requirement. Also, if you failed the exam three times, you must complete the driver education class after your third failure.

To prepare for the knowledge exam, familiarize yourself with all information in the Virginia Driver's Manual and try our sample knowledge exam online at www.dmvNOW.com

Road Skills Test:

If you are under 19, the road skills test will be given as part of the driver education course taken at a public, private or commercial driving school.

If your are 19 years of age or older, passed a state approved driver education course or you have held you learner’s permit at least 30 days, DMV may give you the road skills test. The test may be taken only once per business day and only three times during a 3 month period. See your local DMV for more information.

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GETTING YOUR FIRST LICENSE

If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or legal guardian must sign the certificate to attest to academic standing and to authorize issuance of a driver's license to you. Your parent or legal guardian must also certify that you have driven at least 40 hours, 10 of which occurred after sunset

If you are between age 16 years, 3 months and age 18, your driver education certificate and a valid learner's permit allow you to drive without a licensed driver beside you provided you have held your learner's permit for nine months and the certificate is signed by a parent or legal guardian.

If you are 19 years of age and older, you must hold a learner's permit for 30 days or more or show completion of a state-approved driver education program. You may take your driver education certificate to any DMV customer service center and take the road skills test. You may take the road skills test no more than three times in any three-month period.

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LICENSING CEREMONY

After you have held your permit nine months, turned age 16 and 3 months and completed driver education, you will receive a notice that tells you when to appear in court for a licensing ceremony where you will receive your permanent driver's license. You must appear before the judge with a parent or legal guardian to receive your license.

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RESTRICTIONS

Curfew Restrictions

Virginia's curfew laws prohibit drivers under age 18 who hold a learner's permit or driver's license from driving midnight to 4 A.M. If you hold a driver's license you may drive during these hours:

• in case of an emergency;

• when traveling to and from work or a school-sponsored event;

• when accompanied by a parent or other adult acting in place of a parent;

• when responding to an emergency call as a volunteer firefighter or rescue squad personnel.

Passenger Restrictions

If you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 18 during the first year that you hold your driver's license. After you have held your license for one year, you may carry only three passengers under age 18 until you reach age 18.

Learner's permit holders may not carry more than one passenger under age 18. Passenger restrictions do not apply to family members.

Violations of either the curfew or passenger restrictions can result in the suspension of your driver's license.

Medical and Mental Requirements

If you have a mental or physical condition that may impair your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, even temporarily, you must provide DMV with a medical statement from your doctor. Some of these conditions include:

• Level of consciousness
• Seizures
• Vision changes
• Impairment of judgment
• Loss of motor functions

DMV's Seizure/Blackout Policy, established by our Medical Advisory Board, states that a person must be seizure-free or blackout-free for at least six months to establish medication and regain proper medical control before driving. If a person is currently licensed and DMV is notified that the person has experienced a seizure, loss of consciousness or blackout, DMV will suspend the person's driving privilege for a period of six months from the date of the last episode.

DMV will evaluate the medical information to determine if a driver's license may be issued or restricted.

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CANCELLATION OF PERMIT OR LICENSE

While you are a minor and if you are unmarried or unemancipated, your father, mother, custodial parent, legal guardian or the judge of the juvenile and domestic relation court in you locality may ask DMV to cancel your permit or license.

If cancelled, you cannot reapply for six months.

DMV can deny or suspend driving privileges for persons under age 18 if the juvenile is found delinquent by a court, in need of supervision, involved in an alcohol or drug-related offense, or needs court-assigned services or programs such as counseling.

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BEFORE YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL

It’s your responsibility to ensure that the vehicle you are driving is:

• Properly registered. If the vehicle is registered in Virginia, plates must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. Decals indicating the month and year that the registration expires must be placed in the designated areas on the plates (except for vehicles displaying permanent plates). You must have the vehicle registration card with you when operating the vehicle. You must also register your vehicle in your locality if required.

• Insured by a company authorized to do business in Virginia. If the vehicle is not insured, verify that the owner has paid the Uninsured Motor Vehicle Fee (UMVF). Vehicles registered in Virginia must remain insured during the entire registration period even if the vehicle is not driven or is inoperable. If the vehicle is not insured and you have not paid the UMVF, you must cancel the registration and return the license plates to DMV immediately. Failure to cancel the registration will result in suspension
of your driver’s license

• In good working order. The vehicle must have a valid safety inspection sticker, license plates, working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors and speedometer.

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