Virginia Driver's Manual

The Virginia Driver’s Manual will help you learn and understand safe driving practices. Study this manual to prepare for the knowledge test, obtain a Virginia driver’s license and become a safe driver. The information contained in this manual should be used as a general guide to the motor vehicle laws but not as a substitute for the Code of Virginia, which contains the laws that govern Virginia drivers and vehicles. If you are learning to drive, this manual will give you information you need to study for the knowledge exam. If you already have a Virginia driver’s license, review this manual for new laws or rules of the road. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Your driver’s license carries with it a great responsibility to be courteous of other drivers on the roadways and follow state and federal motoring laws. This manual is also available on the DMV website, www.dmvNOW.com. DMV offers the Virginia Driver’s Manual in an audio format for Virginians with special needs. The audio version is available at www.dmvNOW.com. V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L | 1 Section 1 – Testing Two-part knowledge exam .................................................3 Road skills test ...................................................................4 Vision screening .................................................................4 Vision standards ....................................................4 Section 2 – Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings Traffic signals ......................................................................5 Lane use signals .....................................................6 Traffic signs ........................................................................6 Sign shapes............................................................6 Regulatory or guide signs .......................................7 Warning signs ........................................................8 Work zones ...........................................................10 Pavement markings ............................................................10 Painted curbs .....................................................................12 Section 3 – Safe Driving Hand position ....................................................................13 Speed limits .......................................................................14 Stopping ............................................................................14 Yielding the right-of-way ....................................................15 Roundabouts .....................................................................15 Changing lanes ..................................................................16 Passing .............................................................................16 Over-correcting .................................................................17 Turning .............................................................................17 U-turns .............................................................................17 Turn signals ........................................................................17 Maintaining a space cushion ..............................................18 Following distance .................................................18 Searching ...........................................................................18 Virginia Driver’s Manual: Table of Contents Blind spots .........................................................................19 Sharing the road ................................................................19 Pedestrians ............................................................19 Bicycles .................................................................19 Mopeds .................................................................19 Motorcycles ...........................................................19 Light rail ................................................................20 Low speed vehicles ...............................................20 Trucks, tractor-trailers, buses and RVs ....................20 Light to medium trailers .........................................20 Backing .............................................................................21 Parking .............................................................................21 Visibility .............................................................................21 Lights .................................................................................21 Hazardous conditions ........................................................21 Night driving .........................................................21 Fog ........................................................................22 Rain ......................................................................22 Snow .....................................................................22 Dangerous driving behaviors ..............................................22 Aggressive driving ..................................................22 Distracted driving ..................................................22 Drowsy driving ......................................................23 Drinking and driving ..............................................23 Traffic crashes ....................................................................24 Traffic stops ........................................................................24 Section 4 – Seat Belts, Airbags, and Child Safety Seats Seat belts ...........................................................................25 Air bags .............................................................................25 Child safety seats ...............................................................26 Table of Contents 2 | V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L Section 5 – Penalties License suspension ............................................................27 License revocation .............................................................27 Conviction-related suspensions and revocations .................27 Other DMV requirements, suspensions and revocations .....28 Driver Improvement Program ................................28 Medical review program ........................................28 Insurance monitoring program ...............................29 Suspension for failing to satisfy child support-related requirements ................................29 Alcohol and the law ...........................................................29 Administrative License Suspension .........................29 Open alcohol containers in vehicles ......................29 Transporting children while under the influence of alcohol/drugs .....................................................29 Vehicle impoundment ...........................................30 Restitution .............................................................30 Alcohol related violations and penalties involving persons under age 21 .............................30 Section 6 – License Types Learner’s permit ................................................................31 Driver’s license ..................................................................31 Commercial driver’s license ...............................................32 School bus driver’s license .................................................32 Motorcycle learner’s permit ...............................................32 Motorcycle driver’s license .................................................32 International driver’s license ..............................................32 Section 7 – Other Important Information Receiving your license by mail ...........................................33 Address Changes ................................................................33 New to Virginia ..................................................................33 Titles, registrations, license plates, decals ............................33 Safety inspections ..............................................................34 Insurance requirements .....................................................34 Applying to register to vote ................................................34 Organ, eye and tissue donation ..........................................34 Section 8 – Sample Knowledge Exam Sample exam .....................................................................35 V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L | 3 In this section you’ll learn about: Two-part knowledge exam  Road skills test  Vision screening  Vision standards  Tests will include a vision screening and may include a two-part knowledge exam and a road skills test. A DMV representative will tell you which tests you need to take. Two-Part Knowledge Exam You will need to take the knowledge exam if you do not hold a valid driver’s license from another U. S. state, Canada, Germany or France. The two-part knowledge exam is given on a computer and tests your knowledge of traffic signs, motor vehicle laws, and safe driving. Exam questions are taken from information in this manual. You must correctly answer all ten traffic sign questions in part one of the exam before you can take part two of the exam. Part two tests your general knowledge with multiple choice questions. You must answer at least 80 percent of these questions correctly to pass part two. If you fail the exam and you are: Under age 18 – by law you must wait a full 15 days  before you can retake the exam. For example, if you fail the exam on January 1, the earliest you can take the exam again is January 17. Age 18 or older – you must pay a $2.00 fee if you  retake the exam within 15 days. The exam may be taken only once per business day. An audio version of the exam is available and the exam is also offered in Spanish. If necessary, you may request to have the exam translated. If you fail the driver’s license knowledge exam three times, you will not be able to take it a fourth time until you complete and pass the classroom part of driver education at a Section 1: Testing 4 | V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L Section 1: Testing driver training school approved by DMV or the Department of Education. The completion date for the classroom part must be after the date you failed the knowledge exam the third time. When you successfully complete the classroom part and give DMV your certificate of completion, you can take the knowledge exam again. When testing, you cannot: get help while taking the exam  help another person taking the exam  try to get test questions or answers before the exam  give another person exam questions or answers  use a cell phone during the exam  A sample knowledge exam is in Section 8 of this manual and at www.dmvNOW.com. Services for Persons With Disabilities Customers with special needs or who require special help with applications or testing should tell a DMV staff member at any DMV location. Road Skills Test You will need to take the road skills test if you do not hold a valid driver’s license from another U. S. state, Canada, Germany or France. You must provide a vehicle for the road skills test. The vehicle must have a valid safety inspection sticker, license plates, registration card and decals, working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors and speedometer. For applicants 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 you are home schooled, refer to the Home-Schooled In-Car Driver Education Information Sheet (HS 3) for more information about taking the road skills test. For applicants age 19 or older, the road skills test will be given by a DMV staff member. Only the applicant and the DMV staff member are allowed in the vehicle during the road skills test. The test may be taken only once per business day. If you fail the road skills test at DMV three times, you will not be able to take it a fourth time until you complete and pass the in-vehicle part of driver education at a driver training school approved by DMV or the Department of Education. The completion date for the in-vehicle part must be after the date you failed the road test the third time. Once you successfully complete the in-vehicle part and give DMV your certificate of completion, you can take the road skills test again. Vision Screening To screen your vision, a DMV staff member will ask you to look into a machine and read a series of letters or numbers. The vision screening is not a medical exam. The screening shows whether your vision meets Virginia’s standards to safely drive. If you fail the vision screening, you may be asked to visit 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 display an X for this restriction. To have this restriction removed after having laser surgery to correct your vision, you must visit a DMV customer service center and pass the vision screening without wearing glasses or contact lenses or submit a Vision Screening Report (MED 4). Vision Standards Driver’s license – unrestricted 20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes, and  100 degrees, or better, horizontal vision in one or both  eyes, or comparable measurement that shows a field of vision within this range. Driving – restricted to daylight hours only 20/70 or better vision in one or both eyes, and  70 degrees, or better, horizontal vision. If you have  vision in only one eye, you must have horizontal vision of at least 30 degrees or better when looking toward your nose and 40 degrees or better when looking toward your temple, or comparable measurement that shows a field of vision within this range. A daylight driving only restricted license permits you to drive only during the period of time beginning a half-hour after sunrise and ending a half-hour before sunset. Bioptic telescopic lenses: If you wear bioptic telescopic lenses, read the DMV publication Driver’s Licensing Information for Bioptic Telescopic Lense Wearers (MED 44) available at www.dmvNOW.com or contact DMV at (804) 497-7100. V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L | 5 In this section you’ll learn about: Traffic signals  Traffic signs  Pavement markings  Painted curbs  Traffic signals, signs and pavement markings are used for traffic control to provide a smooth, orderly flow of traffic. It is important to understand and obey them. It is illegal to avoid these traffic controls by cutting through a parking lot or field. Obey all signs and signals unless directed by a police officer; always follow the officer’s direction. Traffic Signals Traffic signals apply to drivers, motorcycle riders, bicyclists, moped-riders and pedestrians. Red light: At a red light, come to a complete stop before you reach the intersection, stop line or crosswalk. Remain stopped unless turns are allowed on red. Right turn on red: At some intersections you may turn right while the traffic light is red. Before turning, you must come to a complete stop. Look both ways and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic. Be sure to check for less visible vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds. You may not turn right if signs are posted at the intersection that read “No Turn on Red.” Left turn on red: You may turn left at a red light if you are on a one-way street and turning left onto another one-way street. Before turning, you must come to a complete stop. Look both ways and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic. Be sure to check for less visible vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds. Section 2: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings 6 | V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L Section 2: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings Note: If you are traveling in another state, make sure you know its laws for right and left turns at red and red arrow lights. Red arrow: Virginia law prohibits right and left turns at red arrow lights. Flashing red light: At a flashing red light, come to a complete stop and yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. You may go when the way is clear. At a railroad crossing, you must come to a complete stop even if you don’t see a train. Yellow light or arrow: A yellow light or arrow are cautions warning that the light is about to change. If you have not entered the intersection, stop. If you are already in the intersection, go through it. Do not speed up to beat the light. Flashing yellow light: A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution. Flashing yellow lights are at locations with higher-than-normal hazardous conditions. Green light or arrow: At a green light, you may go if the way is clear. At a green arrow, you may go in the direction of the arrow if the way is clear. If you are turning, you must yield the right-of-way to vehicles coming from the other direction and pedestrians in the intersection. If a traffic light changes from red to green while a pedestrian is in the street, allow the pedestrian to cross the street before turning. Lane use signals indicate lanes where you can and cannot drive during different hours of the day. These signals are used often to reverse a lane’s direction. They provide additional lanes for heavy morning and evening traffic. Red X: Never drive in a lane marked with a red X signal. Yellow X: A yellow X signal means that you should move out of the lane as soon as safely possible. Green Arrow: You are permitted to drive in a lane marked with a green arrow signal. Traffic Signs The shape of a traffic sign communicates important information about the sign’s message. In poor visibility conditions, such as heavy fog, you may be able to make out only the shape of a sign. Octagon (Stop): This eight-sided shape always means stop. You must come to a complete stop at the sign, stop line, pedestrian crosswalk or curb. Wait for any vehicle or pedestrian to clear the way. At some intersections you’ll find a sign beneath the stop sign that reads “All Way” or “4 Way.” At these intersections all vehicles on all roads leading into the intersection must stop. If you get to the intersection at the same time as other vehicles, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. Triangle (Yield): You must slow down as you come to the intersection. Be prepared to stop. Let any vehicles, pedestrians or bicyclists safely pass before you proceed. Rectangle (Regulatory or Guide): Vertical signs generally give instructions or tell you the law. Horizontal signs may give directions or information. Diamond (Warning): These signs warn you of special conditions or hazards ahead. Slow down and drive with caution. Be ready to stop. V I R G I N I A D R I V E R ’ S M A N U A L | 7 Pentagon (School Zone/School Crossing): This five-sided shape marks school zones and warns you about school crossings. Signs may display horizontal lines indicating the point at which a crosswalk exists. Two signs may be used together to show the actual location of the crosswalk. (Signs may also be bright yellow-green.) Regulatory or guide signs inform you of the law; you must obey their instructions. Remember that a red circle with a slash means NO — the symbol inside the circle tells you what is prohibited. Speed Limit: These signs tell you the maximum legal speed that you may drive on the road where the sign is posted when weather conditions are good. During rain, snow and ice, you may receive a ticket for driving too fast for the conditions even if you are driving at or less than the posted spe