Drivers Ed

Today I finished my 5 week long Drivers Ed course. Starting October 13th, I took a 3 hour long Drivers Ed course from 10-1 every Saturday and Sunday. I am very excited to start driving, though I can't do so yet because I have to wait until December to get my permit. Most people wait until right before they get their provisional license to take Drivers Ed, so it was weird for me to take it before even getting my permit. However, one of my good friends Kristina found a class out in Burtonsville that only cost $200. This was a good price because most Drivers ed courses, like the I Drive Smart course at Blair, are around $600-$700. So, Kristina and I went to the class in Burtonsville.

In Drivers Ed we earned everything you need to know out on the road, and to get your license/permit. To get your permit you need your birth certificate, your social security card, at least 2 things to prove you live where you do, and a document form your school. You can get your permit once its 9 months past you 15th birthday. Once you get to the MVA to get your permit, you will take a 25 multiple choice question test about general driving knowledge. If you pass they will give you your permit and your rookie-book.

To get your provisional license you must have held your permit for 9 months and completed 60 hours of drive time with someone over 21 who has had their license for at least 3 years. 10 of your 60 hours must be at nighttime and you record your hours in the rookie-book. After taking Drivers Ed, holding your permit for 9 months, and completing 60 hours of driving, you can go to the MVA to take the test for your license. The test includes a parking lot part and a part on the road. The parking lot section consists of parallel parking and a two-point turn. If you pass this section adequately then you will move onto the out on the road section. The MVA tester will have you drive out on the road for about 15 minutes and grade your driving, as well as asking you about what different signs mean. If you pass both of those sections then you can get your provisional license.

With your provisional you may not drive anyone who is not related to you until 151 days after getting it. You must also hold your provisional license for 18 months before getting your full license. If for some reason you get pulled over, they can restart your 18 month of waiting before you can get your full license. Once you get your full license you are free to drive whomever you want whenever you want as long as you're being a safe driver.