Many coming-of-age high schoolers are overwhelmed by obtaining a driving permit or provisional license. Every state may have varying requirements; however, like all states, Maryland’s process includes age requirements, documents, tests and driving school. Each step of the process has unique limitations and rules.
The first step to earning a driving license is obtaining a driving permit. In Maryland, one must be 15 years and nine months old to apply, usually sophomores and juniors. When arriving at the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) for the test, one must bring proof of identity and social security. Those 16 years or younger are required to obtain a ‘Verification of identity and/or school attendance, form (#DL-300)’ or ‘Verification of Identity and/or School Attendance by Parent or Guardian (DL-300A)’, according to the MVA.
Sophomore Jack Newton noted, “The fact that you have to get permission from your school to get your license; I never expected it.”
The required tests to obtain a driving permit are a simple vision screening test and a knowledge test on the Driver’s Manual. Fortunately, many resources can be used to study the Driver’s Manual, which is available on Google or apps in the Play Store. To pass the knowledge test, one must score at least 22/25 questions correctly, 88% or higher, with the given lengthy 20-minute time limit to complete the test.
Restrictions of a driving permit include, for those under 18, an adult at least 21 years old who has held a license for a minimum of three years. The license holder must be in the front row of seats with no other passengers besides the driver. The driver may not operate a cell phone for all ages, even with Bluetooth//hands-free devices, except to make a 911 call, according to law.
Those under 18 must have a driving permit for at least nine months and complete 60 hours, 10 of which are driving at night, notated in a ‘practice skill log’ to be submitted to the MVA to advance to a provisional license. After driving with their driving permit, the fledgling driver must complete a minimum of 30 classroom hours and six hours behind the wheel in a driver education course. After these requirements are met, one may make an attempt to get a provisional license.
They are to bring their own vehicle to the MVA when applying for a provisional license to complete the driving test. In addition to the aforementioned documents, the testee must bring proof of insurance and a valid registration card for their vehicle to take the test.
Sophomore Rachel Jung stated, “The hardest part for a friend of mine… was, out of everything for him, getting the paperwork in order and knowing what you are supposed to take to the MVA.”
The car is required to meet all safety standards and be fully operational. Lastly, some testers have personal requirements that may vary, such as no operational dash cam or the removal of non-essential eyewear.
The driver will be taken through a driving course on public roads while the tester watches for any violation of driving laws. Direct violations of law will warrant an immediate failure, while the driver may alternatively rack up points, subjective to the tester, which could also cause a failure.
Road signs are all considered law, and one’s tester may at any point ask about signs the driver has recently passed by, creating a challenge for many testees. Jung could relate, as she commented “Memorizing all the signs and signals [are the most difficult for me], and what they mean.”
In addition to the road test, there is a parking test. The driver will need to go back into a parking space successfully. If the driver collides with the set cones, they fail. Contrary to common belief, no parallel parking or three-point turn test exists.
After obtaining one’s provisional license, minors are still restricted. They may only drive a person over the age of 18 for the first 151 days of holding their license, except for immediate-family-members, they may not use devices of any kind, no matter if they are hand-free, and unless driving for a work or school purpose, may not drive between the hours of midnight to 5:00 am without a licensed driver over the age of 21 in the passenger seat.
Finally, after waiting 18 months, given the driver has had no legal driving penalties, they may apply for a full-fledged license, requiring a completed driver’s license application form, proof of name, date of birth, Social Security Number, legal presence, residence address, and to achieve complete a vision screening test. Everyone is sure to have their own experiences behind the wheel, but this process is designed to ensure the utmost safety of all drivers.