Picture the driving exam: new driver in the driver's seat, driving examiner-with-clipboard-in-hand sitting beside him in the passenger's seat, giving instructions and with an ever-so-tight grip on a pen, taking notes. The driving exam can be grueling for new drivers who are worried about passing/failing --- in other words, anxiety may become a factor in passing the driving road test.

Here are the top 5 hints for passing the driving road test:

• 1. Get lots of practice during your learner's permit period. In most states, there is a required waiting period from getting a permit or intermediate license before a new driver is allowed to take the road test. This is essentially the state giving the new driver a chance to practice all the skills needed to pass the road test.
• 2. Obey signs/signals and avoid hitting the cones/curbs. Just because the driving examiner is writing notes on the examination form, that doesn’t mean that new driver has made a mistake. The examiner has to write down the good things as well as the bad. Minor mistakes are allowed but, if those minor mistakes add up to 30 points, you will fail the exam. There are several things that will cause you to automatically fail the exam. Failure to obey traffic signals/signs or hitting the cones/curbs while parking or conducting the three-point-turn are the most common reasons for an automatic failure. For the stopping part, there's this 4-second-stop rule: to be sure that the car is in a complete halt, step down on the brakes and count to 4 to make sure that the car is totally stopped. For the parking segments, ask a family member (who is a valid license holder) to show you exactly how to park the right way and then practice it - - a lot! Practice the three-point-turn on a narrow street. Practice makes perfect.
• 3. Follow the examiner's directions, while demonstrating the ability to make the right decisions. The driving examiner will not ask you any trick questions nor will he or she ask you to do anything that is illegal. Driving is tricky enough all by itself so they don't have to try to trick you. The examiner will give you straight, simple instructions. Don't look for the hidden meaning in the instructions; just do as he/she says. If you truly don’t understand the instruction, ask for clarification. It is better to ask than to try to guess and make a mistake. The stupid questions are the ones that don't get asked.
• 4. Obey the state's driving law. This one's pretty simple, even with varying laws between states, there are still driving laws that are common to most. An example would be:
  
  • Properly wearing a seatbelt before starting the vehicle.
  • Properly yielding to other traffic when changing lanes.
    
  • Properly giving a turn signal when turning, changing lanes, or turning into or backing out of a parking space
  
  
  • Safe driving around school buses and school zones. (There will usually be signs to follow.)
  
  
  • Knowing the meaning of a Yield sign. Slow and look for other traffic or pedestrians crossing your path and be prepared to stop if necessary. If the way is clear, keep going.
  
  
  • Stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.
  
  
  • Don't follow too close, maintain a two to three-second following distance.
  
  
• 5. Make sure you have all of the documents that will be needed. In order to take the road test, you will need a current vehicle registration slip that matches the dates on your tags. You will also need a current proof of insurance form. Both of these documents should be in the vehicle at all times. For proof of your ID to get a license, you will need a minimum of the following (check with your local DMV for a complete list):
  
  • Birth Certificate with raised seal (or current passport)
  • Social Security Card
  • More than one proof of address, such as your parent's electric or home insurance bills.
  
  You will also need:
  
  • A form signed by your parent of guardian showing you have received the necessary number of driving instruction hours for both day and night driving.
  • Your parent's written permission to receive a license (if under the age of 18).
  • A certificate showing you have completed any state required driver education.
Master the Driving Maneuvers for the Road Test with a "Behind-the-Wheel" Online Simulator Course.

Labels: behind the wheel driving test, dmv road test, drivers license, new york gdl laws

According to a report (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5941a2.htm) by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fatalities among drivers age 16-17 are the lowest in New York and New Jersey.

The reason for this is simple: New York and New Jersey both have rigorous requirements for their licensing/graduated driver's license programs, including passenger restrictions and limited night time driving. The fatality rate for teen drivers age 16-17 for New York and New Jersey is roughly 10 per 100,000 people that age, compared to Wyoming, which averages to 60 per 100,000.

What does this all mean? It means that graduated driver's licensing programs along with adequate driver education works. Though teens in these states may have learner's permit and driver's license restrictions, what’s clear is: the stages of a GDL program will only give new drivers more time to prepare to become safe drivers in the future.

Learn more about Graduated Driver Licensing Laws: A Comparison

Labels: driver's license, gdl law, new york gdl laws, teen drivers

The New York State Graduated Driver License Program limits the driving privileges for New York drivers under the age of 18 and who posses either a junior learners permit or a junior drivers license. Some of the limitations placed on the young drivers include where in New York State they can drive and what times of the day they are permitted to drive. Understanding the privileges and limitations is extremely important because if young drivers are convicted of violating the rules their driving privileges could be suspended or revoked for 60 days. New York State has general restrictions for young drivers with learner permits and junior licenses. However, there are also specific restrictions for young drivers depending on the region of the state in which they are driving.

The general restrictions for young drivers with learners permit are the same throughout the state. Teenagers are eligible to obtain their learner’s permit once they turn 16. After they have held their learners permit for six months they are eligible for their junior driver’s license.

Drivers with learner’s permits are prohibited from driving:

• On streets within New York City Park’s


• On bridges or through tunnels under the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority’s jurisdiction


• On the following parkways in Westchester County: Cross Country, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill Ricer and Taconic State


• On a DMV Road Test Area


• Without a proper supervising driver

After someone under the age of 18 has held their permit for at least six months they are eligible to take the road test and obtain their Junior Driver License. Drivers possessing a Junior License are not permitted to have more than one passenger under the age of 21 in their vehicle. The only exception to this rule is for immediate family members. In New York State, in order to get a Senior Drive License at 17 instead of 18 young drivers need to take a driver education course as well as complete 50 hours of supervised driving, 15 of which needs to take place after sunset.

New York State has specific driving restrictions for young drivers depending on which region of they state they are driving in. New York is divided into four regions and each region has different restrictions for young drivers. Below, you will see a breakdown of the restrictions by region for drivers with learner’s permits and junior licenses.

Upstate New York – Junior Learner’s Permit

• Supervised driving between 5am – 9pm. Under the supervision of someone at least 21 and with a valid license


• Supervised driving between 9pm – 5am. The supervisor must be a parent, guardian or driving instructor.


• Only one passenger under the age of 21 is allowed in the vehicle. Unless they passengers are member of your immediate family.

Upstate New York – Junior Driver’s License

• Unsupervised driving between 5am – 9pm


• Unsupervised driving between 9pm – 5am only to and from employment (must have proof) or a school course.


• Supervised driving by a parent, guardian, or driving instructor between 9pm-5am when not driving to or from work or a school course.


• Only one passenger under 21 that is not immediate family.

Lower Hudson Valley – Junior Learner’s Permit
(Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties)

• Follows the same privileges and restrictions for as Upstate New York.

Lower Hudson Valley - Junior Driver’s License
(Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties)

• Follows the same privileges and restrictions for as Upstate New York.

Long Island – Junior Leaner’s Permit
(Nassau and Suffolk Counties)

• Supervised driving between 5am-9pm. The supervisor must be a parent, guardian, a person with written authorization from your parent or your guardian to supervise your driving or a driving instructor. The supervisor must be at least 21 with a valid driver’s license.


• Driving is prohibited between 9pm-5am


• Only the supervising driver may sit in the front seat


• Only one passenger under 21, unless the passenger(s) are immediate family.

Long Island – Junior Driver’s License
(Nassau and Suffolk Counties)

• Unsupervised driving between 5am-9pm between home, place of employment (must have proof) and school or driver’s ed courses.


• Supervised driving between 9pm-5am. The supervisor must be a parent, guardian or driving instructor.


• No more than one passenger under 21, unless the passenger(s) are immediate family.

New York City – Junior Learner’s Permit
(5 Boroughs)

• Supervised driving between 5am-9pm. Supervisor must be a parents, guardian or driving instructor.


• Vehicle being driven must have dual breaks.


• The only passenger allowed in the front seat is the supervising driver.


• No more than one passenger under 21 that is not immediate family.

New York City – Junior Driver’s License
(5 Boroughs)

• Supervised driving between 5am-9pm. Supervisor must be a parent, guardian or driving instructor.


• Supervised driving between 9pm-5am. Supervisor must be a parent, guardian or driving instructor.


• The vehicle must have dual breaks.


• No more than one passenger under 21 that is not immediate family.

Learn more about how Graduated Driver License (GDL) Laws compare between states at our Teen Safe Driving Blog.

Labels: drivers license, gdl law, graduated drivers license, learners permit, new york driving laws, new york gdl laws, ny driving laws