Kentucky Driver Manual

Phillip Burnett, Jr.

Commissioner

Kentucky State Police

Contents i 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents
 
 
 
Section One  The Driver’s License ............................................................................................................ 1  
About This Manual ...................................................................................................................................... 1 
Types of Driver’s Licenses and Driver’s Permits ................................................................................... 1 
Licensing Requirements ............................................................................................................................. 4 
Testing Requirements and Preparation .................................................................................................. 10 
Test Scheduling .......................................................................................................................................... 13 
Out-of-State License or Driving on an Existing License .................................................................... 13 
Driver License Renewal and Updates ..................................................................................................... 16 
Loss of Driving Privileges ........................................................................................................................ 16 
Section Two  General Information  ......................................................................................................... 19 
Motor Vehicle Registration  ..................................................................................................................... 19 
Insurance Law ............................................................................................................................................... 19 
Medical Review Board  ................................................................................................................................. 20 
Motor Vehicles and the Environment  ......................................................................................................... 21 
Organ Donation  .......................................................................................................................................... 21 
Section Three  Be in Shape to Drive .......................................................................................................... 22 
Vision ........................................................................................................................................................... 22 
Hearing ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 
Fatigue ......................................................................................................................................................... 22 
Driver Distractions .................................................................................................................................... 23 
Emotions, Aggressive Driving and Road Rage ..................................................................................... 23 
Aging Drivers ............................................................................................................................................. 24 
Alcohol, Other Drugs and Driving ......................................................................................................... 25 
Section Four  Before You Drive ............................................................................................................... 28 
Inspecting Your Vehicle ............................................................................................................................ 
28
 
Adjusting Seat and Mirrors....................................................................................................................... 28 
Using Safety Belts ....................................................................................................................................... 
29
 
 

Contents ii

Air Bags ....................................................................................................................................................... 30

Child Passenger Safety Laws .................................................................................................................... 31

Secure Your Load ...................................................................................................................................... 31

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Safety Features ......................................................... 32

Section Five Basic Driving .................................................................................................................... 33

Starting the Engine .................................................................................................................................... 33

Moving the Vehicle ................................................................................................................................... 33

Stopping the Vehicle ................................................................................................................................. 33

Steering ........................................................................................................................................................ 33

Backing Up ................................................................................................................................................. 33

Section Six Rules of the Road ............................................................................................................. 34

Yielding Right of Way ............................................................................................................................... 34

Traffic Control Devices ............................................................................................................................ 34

Traffic Signs ............................................................................................................................................... 35

Pavement Markings ................................................................................................................................... 39

Other Lane Controls ................................................................................................................................. 39

Section Seven General Driving ................................................................................................................ 42

Turning and Turnabouts .......................................................................................................................... 42

Intersections ............................................................................................................................................... 43

Roundabouts and Traffic Circles ............................................................................................................ 44

Rules for School Buses ............................................................................................................................. 44

Parking......................................................................................................................................................... 44

Use of Lanes ............................................................................................................................................... 46

Entering a Multi-lane Highway ............................................................................................................... 47

Exiting a Roadway ..................................................................................................................................... 47

Passing ......................................................................................................................................................... 47

Section Eight Safe Driving Tips ...............................................................................................................49

Visual Search .............................................................................................................................................. 49

Speed Management .................................................................................................................................... 49

Stopping Distance ......................................................................................................................................

Space Management ....................................................................................................................................

Contents iii

Backing ........................................................................................................................................................

Communicating .......................................................................................................................................... 52

Section Nine Emergency Situations and Avoiding

Crashes

....................................................................54

Emergencies and Avoiding Crashes ....................................................................................................... 54

Collisions ..................................................................................................................................................... 55

Vehicle Malfunctions ................................................................................................................................. 56

Section Ten Sharing the Road .............................................................................................................. 58

Pedestrians .................................................................................................................................................. 58

Bicyclists ...................................................................................................................................................... 59

Motorcyclists .............................................................................................................................................. 61

Commercial Vehicles ................................................................................................................................ 62

Emergency Vehicles .................................................................................................................................. 63

Police and Traffic Stops ........................................................................................................................... 64

Move-Over Laws ....................................................................................................................................... 64

Slow-Moving Vehicles .............................................................................................................................. 65

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) .................................................................................................................... 65

Section Eleven

Special Driving Situations

.................................................................................................

Night Driving ............................................................................................................................................. 67

Funeral Processions .................................................................................................................................. 67

Work Zones ................................................................................................................................................ 68

Rural Road Driving ................................................................................................................................... 68

Autocycles ................................................................................................................................................... 69

Safe Trailering ............................................................................................................................................ 69

Section Twelve Test Your Knowledge ....................................................................................................... 71

1 Section One: The Driver’s License

Section One

The Driver’s License

About This Manual

Any new or current resident of Kentucky who

plans to drive a motor vehicle on Kentucky

roadways must first secure a Kentucky

driver’s license. Kentucky issues a driver’s

license to ensure that each driver has the

basic skills necessary to be a safe, efficient,

and responsible driver. Safe driving may be

achieved by acquiring the necessary skills,

mastering those skills through practice,

being mindful of safe driving practices, and

adhering to Kentucky traffic laws. The

purpose of this manual is to help all drivers

achieve a basic understanding of safe

driving skills and best practices. It also

provides a review of the licensing process

and Kentucky traffic law. Studying the

contents of this manual is the best way to

prepare for the testing required to obtain a

Kentucky driver’s license.

Types of Driver’s Licenses and

Driver’s Permits

In Kentucky, there are several types of

driver’s licenses represented by classes, and

the vehicle driven determines the type of

license needed. The Class A, B, and C

licenses are types of commercial licenses.

The Class D license is the basic Operator’s

License. The Class E is for mopeds only,

and the Class M is for motorcycles.

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) –

Class A, Class B, Class C

Commercial Motor Vehicle means a motor

vehicle or combination motor vehicle used

on a highway in interstate commerce to

transport passengers or property.

Commercial drivers are persons who

operate commercial motor vehicles whether

they are employed to do so or not.

This means the CDL requirements apply to

volunteer drivers, such as church bus

drivers, private and public-school bus

drivers, mechanics, salesmen, etc.

Commercial drivers must have one of the

following three classes of CDL:

Class A – Any combination of vehicles with

a gross combination weight rating of 26,001

pounds or more provided that the gross

vehicle weight rating of the towed vehicle is

in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B – Any single vehicle with a gross

combination weight rating of 26,001 or more

pounds or any such vehicle towing a vehicle

not in excess of 10,000 pounds gross

combination weight rating.

Class C – Any single vehicle with a gross

combination weight rating of less than

26,001, which is placarded for hazardous

materials or designed to transport more than

sixteen (16) people including the vehicle

driver.

A Commercial Driver’s License is not

required for:

 Operators of passenger trucks and cars,

motorcycles, and mopeds that do not

meet CDL requirements and not used for

commerce.

 Non-civilian operators of military vehicles

owned and operated by the military.

 Operators of firetrucks and rescue

vehicles while such vehicles are being

used in emergency and related

operations.

This

Section

Covers

•

About This Manual

•

Types of Driver’s Licenses and Driver’s Permits

•

Licensing Requirements

•

Testing Requirements and Preparation

•

Test Scheduling

•

Out-of-State License or Driving on an Existing

License

•

Driver License Renewal and Updates

•

Loss of Driving Privileges

Section One: The Driver’s License 2

 Operators of recreational vehicles not for

commerce.

 A driver of vehicles used exclusively in

farm-to-market agricultural transportation,

owned, and operated by the farmer or his

employees, and used within 150 miles of

the point of origin.

Additional information can be found on the

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)

website drive.ky.gov and in the CDL Manual.

Operator’s License – Class D

A Class D Operator’s License is the driver’s

license required to operate a motor vehicle.

The Class D license is the class most

commonly held by Kentucky drivers and is

the primary focus of this manual. Any current

or new resident of Kentucky who plans to

drive a motor vehicle will need an operator’s

license. Applicants must be a Kentucky

resident and be at least 16 years of age. If

the applicant is under the age of 18, a parent

or legal guardian must sign the application.

All first-time applicants must pass the vision,

knowledge, and skills tests.

A Kentucky driver’s license is not required

for:

 Any person in the Armed Forces of the

United States who has an operator’s

license from the United States, and who

is operating an official vehicle in the

course of service to our country.

 Members of the military on active duty

and their dependents who hold a valid

license from another state.

 Nonresidents working in Kentucky who

hold a valid license from another state.

 Operators of road machinery, farm

tractors, or other farm implements being

used for the purpose for which they are

designed.

The following are not eligible for a license:

 Anyone under 16 years of age.

 Anyone whose license is currently

suspended or revoked.

 Any person judged by a court to be

mentally incompetent.

 Anyone who has a physical or mental

impairment which makes it unsafe to

drive.

 Any person who is unable to understand

highway warnings or directions in the

English language.

Moped License – Class E

A moped is defined as either a motorized

bicycle whose frame design may include one

or more horizontal crossbars supporting a

fuel tank so long as it also has pedals, or a

motorized bicycle with a step-through type

frame which may or may not have pedals,

rated no more than two (2) brake

horsepower, a cylinder capacity not

exceeding fifty (50) cubic centimeters, an

automatic transmission not requiring

clutching or shifting by the operator after the

drive system is engaged, and capable of a

maximum speed of not more than thirty (30)

miles per hour.

If you are not sure about the vehicle, contact

your local County Clerk's office or a KYTC

Regional Office to determine the

classification of your vehicle and if the

vehicle needs to be licensed.

To be able to legally operate a moped in

Kentucky, you must be at least 16 years old

and already be holding a learner’s permit,

driver’s license, motorcycle permit, or

motorcycle license. If you currently do not

hold any of the above, you can apply for a

Class E license at any Driver Licensing

Regional Office.

Applicants are required to pass the general

knowledge and vision tests to be issued a

moped license. However, a skills test and

permit are not required.

3 Section One: The Driver’s License

Mopeds are more complicated to ride and

operate than bicycles, but simpler than

motorcycles. Familiarity with controls can be

learned by operating the vehicle in a parking

lot or other off-street area.

Since mopeds are not easily seen in the

traffic flow, it is vital that you surround

yourself with as large a “space cushion” as

possible. Riding with the headlight on and

bike flags will help others see you.

Moped operators are not required to wear

helmets or eye-protection devices, but they

are strongly recommended.

Mopeds CANNOT be operated on limited-

access highways where the minimum speed

is more than thirty (30) miles per hour.

Additional information can be found on the

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet website

drive.ky.gov.

Motorcycle Permit or License – Class M

A motorcycle is defined as any motor-driven

vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of

the operator and designed to travel on not

more than three wheels in contact with the

ground but excluding mopeds, tractors, and

vehicles on which the operator and

passengers ride in an enclosed cab.

Motor bikes, minibikes, motor scooters and

any other small vehicles may not be

operated upon the street or highway without

first meeting the requirements for a regular

motor vehicle, such as registration plate; and

the operator must have a license to operate

the vehicle.

The only place a driver may legally ride or

operate this type of vehicle without an

operator’s license and other safety

equipment is on private property.

Motorcycle permits and licenses are issued

at any Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Driver Licensing Regional Office. A person

who possesses a valid intermediate motor

vehicle operator’s license or a person who is

at least eighteen (18) years of age may

apply for an instruction permit to operate a

motorcycle. If the person is under the age of

eighteen (18), the instruction permit

application shall be signed by the applicant’s

parent or legal guardian who is willing to

assume responsibility. This is true even if the

parent or legal guardian has already signed

the Driver License Application allowing the

minor to drive a moped or motor vehicle. All

traffic laws and regulations apply equally to

passenger car and motorcycle operators.

To obtain a motorcycle license in Kentucky,

you must first apply for a motorcycle

instruction permit by providing the required

information for an application such as proof

of residency, full name, date of birth, and

social security number. The next steps in the

licensing process begins with a vision

screening test, and a general knowledge

permit test. After holding the permit for the

required time, the applicant may take the

road skills test administered by the Kentucky

State Police. Upon successful completion of

the road skills test and payment of the

applicable licensing fee, the instruction

permit can be upgraded to a full license.

Another way to obtain a motorcycle license

is to present a certificate of completion from

a motorcycle rider education course that is

approved by Kentucky’s motorcycle rider

safety education program, RideSmartKY,

and payment of the applicable licensing fee.

RideSmartKY

RideSmartKY is a motorcycle rider safety

education program administered through the

Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. In

addition to creating safer riders, it offers an

alternative way to obtain a motorcycle

license. RideSmartKY offers motorcycle rider

training courses designed to develop and

instill knowledge, attitudes, habits, and skills

necessary for proper operation of a

motorcycle. Rider training courses are open

to anyone interested in applying for a

license, and a motorcycle license or permit is

not required to sign up for the training.

Section One: The Driver’s License 4

Applicants for a motorcycle license will be

exempted from the licensing written and

skills tests if they present satisfactory

evidence of successful completion of an

approved rider training course. Completion

of a Kentucky Office of Highway Safety

approved rider training course will also allow

a person whose motorcycle instruction

permit has expired to apply for a motorcycle

operator’s license or endorsement by

presenting proof of successful completion.

For additional information on the entire

program, please visit the program website,

Ride.KY.gov, or call (502) 564-1568.

Licensing Requirements

To be eligible to apply for a Kentucky

Operator’s License, Motorcycle License, or

Moped License, you must have reached

your sixteenth birthday, and your driving

privilege must not have been withdrawn in

this state or any other state.

The process for obtaining a license varies

based on the applicant’s age and the type of

license desired. However, all applicants will

begin the process by completing an

application at a Kentucky Transportation

Cabinet Regional Driver Licensing Office.

After the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

has prepared the application, the Kentucky

State Police will administer all required tests.

First, Kentucky State Police will administer a

vision-screening test to determine if you

meet minimum visual requirements and a

written knowledge test of the information

contained in the corresponding manual

(Driver, Motorcycle, or CDL). An applicant

for a moped license, who has no other type

of license, must take only the vision-

screening test and driver written test to

secure a license. For all other license

classes, the next step is to secure an

instruction permit.

After passing the required vision and

knowledge tests, you will return to the

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Regional

Office where they will issue an instruction

permit. The instruction permit is valid for a

period determined by the type of license for

which you are applying. After you receive

your instruction permit, you will be required

to hold that permit for a designated time

before you are eligible to take the road test.

Your age at the time of application and the

type of license applied for will determine the

length of that waiting period. Use the permit

phase of licensing to practice skills and safe

driving practices covered in this manual.

After holding your instruction permit for the

designated waiting period, the Kentucky

State Police will then administer the skills

test, commonly referred to as the road test.

Upon successful completion of the road test,

you will return to the Driver Licensing

Regional Office where they will issue you a

license. Permit holders ages 16 and 17 are

subject to the additional requirements of the

Graduated Driver License Program. A step-

by-step guide for applying for a license,

including Graduated Driver License Program

requirements are listed below.

Applicants Under Age 18

(Graduated Driver License Program)

INFORMATION FOR TEEN DRIVERS AND

PARENTS / GUARDIANS

 It is up to the Parents/Legal Guardians to

decide when their teen is ready to drive.

 Drivers under the age of 18 cannot apply

for a permit or license without the

signature of a parent or legal guardian

accepting responsibility.

 The parent/legal guardian is jointly liable

with the applicant for any damages by

signing the application form. The

parent/legal guardian must complete the

form at the testing location so that an

official can witness the signature and

verify guardianship. (A birth certificate or

guardianship papers signed by a judge

must be provided.)

5 Section One: The Driver’s License

 A parent/legal guardian has the right to

withdraw their responsibility at any time.

The Parent/Legal Guardian Withdrawal of

responsibility form must be completed

and submitted to a Transportation

Cabinet Regional Office. Once this is

received and entered, the minor’s permit

or license will be canceled until another

application is signed.

 Drivers under 18 must go through three

phases of licensing: a Learner’s Permit,

an Intermediate License, and then a Full

Unrestricted License.

 Parents/Legal Guardians play a

significant role in their teen’s licensing

process. Parents become role models,

teachers, monitors, and supervisors

when their teen is learning to drive.

Additional information on the Graduated

Driver Licensing Program along with helpful

information for teens and parents can be

found at drive.ky.gov.

STEP 1: PERMIT PHASE

Drivers must be at least 16 years of age to

take the vision and written knowledge tests

and apply for a permit.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO BRING

WHEN APPLYING FOR A PERMIT

1. Original Birth Certificate (or certified

copy)

2. Social Security Card (bring card as proof)

3. 1 proof of residency (2 – for a REAL ID)

4. School Compliance Verification Form

issued by their school. (No Pass/No

Drive Law)

5. Applicants under 18, need a parent or

legal guardian* to sign the application,

taking financial responsibility for the

applicant.

*A legal guardian must have a certified copy

of the Court Ordered Guardianship

documents. The documents must be signed

by a judge and entered into the court record.

PHOTOCOPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

FOR ANY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Here is a List of Valid Proof Documents

If you pass the written and vision tests:

 A distinctive “under 21” permit will be

issued to all applicants.

 Permit holders ages 16 – 20 must hold

the driving permit for a minimum of 180

days.

 To be eligible for an intermediate license,

a driver must complete a Practice Driving

Log with a minimum of 60 hours of

practice driving. 10 hours must be

completed at night. For the Practice

Driving Log, click

here.

Permit Driving

 Permit holders may only drive when

accompanied (in the front passenger

seat) by a licensed driver 21 years of age

or older and shall have the instruction

permit in possession at all times when

operating a motor vehicle.

 Passenger restriction – limited to 1 (one)

unrelated person under 20 years of age.

 Permit holders under the age of 18 may

not drive between the hours of midnight

and 6:00 a.m. unless the person can

demonstrate good cause for driving.

 The driver will not receive credit toward

the 180-day permit period while

suspended for not complying with the No

Pass/No Drive Law (KRS 159.051). For

additional information regarding this law,

click here.

Click here for scheduling information.

Section One: The Driver’s License 6

 Driving under the influence of alcohol or

drugs is prohibited. All drivers under 21

are subject to “Zero Alcohol Tolerance”

(Defined as .02 Blood Alcohol

Concentration)

 Violations of the permit restrictions,

moving violations under KRS 189 (Traffic

Regulations), and violations under KRS

189A (Driving Under the Influence) are

not allowed for permit holders under the

age of 18. If a violation(s) of these laws

occurs, it will add an additional minimum

of one hundred eighty (180) days from

the date of the violation before the driver

may apply for an intermediate license.

 A driver under the age of 18 who

accumulates more than six points may

have their driving privilege suspended.

STEP 2: INTERMEDIATE LICENSE PHASE

After holding the permit for 180 days, the

driver may schedule an appointment with the

Kentucky State Police Driver Testing Branch

to apply for their intermediate license. The

intermediate license is obtained by passing

the skills/road test.

Requirements for the Road Test

 Vehicles used for testing must be

properly registered, and proof of liability

insurance is required. One of the

following will be required as proof:

■

A proof-of-insurance card furnished

by the insurance company.

■

A current insurance policy for that

vehicle.

■

A binder from an insurance agent, in

writing, stating that insurance is in

force.

■

NOTE: Rental cars must have the

driver’s name listed on the rental

contract as an operator.

 The Practice Driving Log, signed and

certified by the parent/legal guardian, that

lists 60 hours of practice driving, 10 of

those hours being at night.

 The Graduated Driver License Skills Test

Eligibility Letter – Ensure the letter is

within seven days of the print date.

 When a permit holder is operating a

motor vehicle, they are required to be

accompanied by a person with a valid

operator’s license who is at least 21

years of age occupying the front

passenger seat beside the operator at all

times. Therefore, it is unlawful for

applicants to drive themselves to their

road test appointment without meeting

this requirement. Violations of this or

other traffic laws at the test site will cause

the test to be rescheduled.

 If you fail the road skills test, you must

wait at least one week from the date of

the failure before attempting the test

again. Applicants are encouraged to

practice during this time.

If you pass the skills/road test:

 After successfully completing the road

test, the Kentucky State Police examiner

will place an “Intermediate License”

sticker on the driver’s permit.

 After holding the intermediate license for

180 days and completing the required

driver education course (see Driver

Education Training), the driver will be

eligible for a full unrestricted license.

Intermediate License Driving

 The driver shall have the intermediate

license in possession at all times when

operating a motor vehicle.

 The driver is not permitted to drive

between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless

the driver can demonstrate a good cause

for driving, such as emergencies, school,

or work-related activities.

7 Section One: The Driver’s License

 Passenger restriction if the driver is

under 18 – limited to 1 (one) unrelated

person under 20 years of age.

 Driving under the influence of alcohol or

drugs is prohibited. All drivers under 21

years of age are subject to “Zero Alcohol

Tolerance” (Defined as .02 Blood Alcohol

Concentration).

 Violations of the intermediate license

restrictions, moving violations under KRS

189 (Traffic Regulations), and violations

under KRS 189A (Driving Under the

Influence) are not permitted. If a

violation(s) of these laws occurs, it will

add an additional minimum of one

hundred eighty (180) days from the date

of the violation before the driver may

apply for a full unrestricted license.

 A driver under the age of 18 who

accumulates more than six points may

have their driving privilege suspended.

STEP 3: FULL UNRESTRICTED LICENSE

PHASE

After completing the graduated licensing

education course and holding the

intermediate license for the full 180-day

period, you may schedule an appointment at

any Driver Licensing Regional Office to have

your full unrestricted license issued. The

office will issue a temporary license printed

on paper to use until the license card is

delivered by U.S. mail.

One valid proof of residency (two for REAL

ID) is required if the address listed on your

intermediate license is not up to date.

DRIVER EDUCATION TRAINING AND

FULL LICENSURE

Kentucky has Graduated Licensing laws to

improve traffic safety and reduce traffic

accidents, injuries, and fatalities by

controlling a young driver's exposure and

progressively moving the driver into more

complex driving experiences before full

licensure. Drivers whose permits were

issued under 18 shall, before the person’s

eighteenth birthday, enroll in an approved

driver training program, and must complete

the program before moving to the full,

unrestricted licensing phase.

Acceptable methods of training:

 The classroom version is offered free of

charge to KY drivers. Enroll for

Classroom Version

 The online version costs $11.00. Enroll

for Online Version

 Driver Education Course at a high

school.

 Private Driver Training course at a

Division of Driver License approved

driver training school (see below). Must

include four (4) hours of classroom

training.

Approved Driver Training Schools:

 ABC Driving School

3002 Taylorsville Road

Louisville, KY 40205

(502) 451-2222

 Green Light Driving School

13501 Aiken Road

Louisville, KY 40245

(502) 254-1414

 Kentucky Driving School

4809 Poplar Level Road

Louisville, KY 40213

(502) 456-5266

 Preferred Driving School

8172 Mall Road, Suite 234

Florence, KY 41042

(859) 525-4005

 Sure-Drive, Inc.

3033 Dixie Highway

Building A, Suite 207

Edgewood, KY 41017

(859) 331-0007

Section One: The Driver’s License 8

It is the responsibility of the young driver and

the parents/legal guardians to ensure that

the driver enrolls in and completes one of

the programs listed above.

If the driver completed a class offered by

Alive at 25 or through the online provider

RightLane, they do not need to submit their

completion to the Division of Driver

Licensing. Completions will take two full

business days for processing before the

driver can be issued a full unrestricted

license.

All other completions can be mailed to the

address below. Please ensure that the

driver's license/permit number, name, and

date of birth are on the completed form or

transcript. It is the driver's responsibility to

supply the Division of Driver Licensing with

the completed information.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Division of Driver Licensing Driver Education

Attn: Driver Education

200 Mero Street

Frankfort, KY 40622

(502) 564-1257

Applicants Age 18 – 20

STEP 1: PERMIT PHASE

Drivers must schedule an appointment with

the Kentucky State Police (KSP) to take the

written and vision test to apply for a permit.

To schedule a written and vision test

appointment with KSP, click here. Bring the

required documents listed below with you to

your KSP written and vision test

appointment.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO BRING

WHEN APPLYING FOR A PERMIT

1. One (1) proof of identity document –

original Birth Certificate or certified copy.

2. One (1) proof of Social Security

number – Bring Social Security Card as

proof.

3. One (1) proof of applicant’s Kentucky

residency dated less than one year.

Two (2) are required for a REAL ID.

4. If your current legal name, date of birth,

or gender is different than what is

displayed on your identity or lawful status

document, you must show legal proof of

the changes. Your name must be

updated on your Social Security card

before applying for a driver’s license.

PHOTOCOPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

FOR ANY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Here is a List of Valid Proof Documents

Once you pass the written and vision tests,

get in line with the Transportation Cabinet

Regional Office to apply for your permit

credential. You will be issued a temporary

permit printed on paper to use until the

credential arrives in the mail. This permit is

valid for three years and may be renewed. If

the permit is not renewed within one year

of the expiration date, the written and

vision tests must be repeated.

You must hold the permit for 180 days

before you are eligible to take the road test.

The permit phase should be used by the

permit holder to practice the safe driving

skills and best practices covered later in this

manual. Remember, all permit holders must

be accompanied by a person with a valid

operator license who is 21 years of age or

older and always occupying the passenger

seat beside them while driving.

STEP 2: FULL-UNRESTRICTED LICENSE

After holding the permit for 180 days, you

may schedule an appointment with the

Kentucky State Police to take the road skills

test to apply for your full-unrestricted license.

To schedule a road skills test appointment

with KSP click here.

Click here for scheduling information.

9 Section One: The Driver’s License

Requirements for the Road Test

Vehicles used for testing must be

appropriately registered, and proof of liability

insurance is required. One of the following is

required as proof of liability insurance:

 A proof-of-insurance card from the

insurance company

 A current insurance policy for that vehicle

 A binder from an insurance agent, in

writing, stating that insurance is in force

When a permit holder is operating a motor

vehicle, they are required to be

accompanied by a person with a valid

operator’s license who is at least 21 years of

age occupying the front passenger seat at all

times. Therefore, it is unlawful for applicants

to drive themselves to their road test

appointment without meeting this

requirement. Violations of this or other traffic

laws at the test site will cause the test to be

rescheduled.

If you fail the road skills test, you must wait

at least one week from the date of the failure

before attempting the test again. Applicants

are encouraged to practice during this time.

After passing the road skills test, you will get

in line at the Transportation Cabinet

Regional Office to apply for your license

credential. You will be issued a temporary

permit printed on paper to use until the

credential arrives in the mail. *If your current

address differs from what is listed on your

permit, make sure to bring a valid proof of

residency with you (Two (2) forms of proof

will be required if applying for a REAL ID).

Applicants Age 21 and Over

STEP 1: PERMIT PHASE

Drivers must schedule an appointment with

the Kentucky State Police to take the

written and vision test to apply for a permit.

To schedule your test appointment, click

here.

Bring the following documents with you to

your vision and written test appointment:

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO BRING

WHEN APPLYING FOR A PERMIT

1. One (1) proof of identity document –

original Birth Certificate or certified copy

2. One (1) proof of Social Security

number – Bring Social Security Card

3. One (1) proof of applicant’s Kentucky

residency dated less than one year.

Two (2) are required for a REAL ID.

4. If your current legal name, date of birth,

or gender is different than what is

displayed on your identity or lawful status

document, you must show legal proof of

the changes. Your name must be

updated on your Social Security card

before applying for a driver’s license.

PHOTOCOPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

FOR ANY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Here is a List of Valid Proof Documents

After passing the written and vision tests, get

in line at the Transportation Cabinet

Regional Office to apply for your permit

credential. You will be issued a temporary

permit printed on paper to use until the

credential arrives in the mail. This permit is

valid for three years and may be renewed. If

the permit is not renewed within one year

of the expiration date, the written and

vision tests must be repeated.

You must hold the permit for 30 days before

you are eligible to take the road test.

Practice is encouraged during this 30-day

period. Remember, all permit holders must

be accompanied by a person with a valid

operator license who is 21 years of age or

older and always occupying the passenger

seat beside them while driving.

Click here for scheduling information.

Section One: The Driver’s License 10

STEP 2: FULL-UNRESTRICTED LICENSE

After holding the permit for 30 days, you may

schedule an appointment to take the road

skills test to apply for your full-unrestricted

license. To schedule a road test appointment

with Kentucky State Police, click here.

Requirements for the Road Test

Vehicles used for testing must be properly

registered and proof of liability insurance is

required. One of the following will be

required as proof of liability insurance:

 A proof-of-insurance card furnished by

the insurance company.

 A current insurance policy for that

vehicle.

 A binder from an insurance agent, in

writing, stating that insurance is in force.

When a permit holder is operating a motor

vehicle, they are required to be

accompanied by a person with a valid

operator’s license who is at least 21 years of

age occupying the front passenger seat at all

times. Therefore, it is unlawful for applicants

to drive themselves to their road test

appointment without meeting this

requirement. Violations of this or other traffic

laws at the test site will cause the test to be

rescheduled.

If you fail the road skills test, you must wait

at least one week from the date of the failure

before attempting the test again. Applicants

are encouraged to practice during this time.

After passing the road skills test, you will get

in line at the Transportation Cabinet

Regional office to apply for your license

credential. You will be issued a temporary

permit printed on paper to use until the

credential arrives in the mail. If your current

address differs from what is listed on your

permit, make sure to bring a valid proof of

residency with you (Two (2) forms of proof

will be required if applying for a REAL ID).

Testing Requirements / Preparation

Vision Screening

A vision screening is required for all first-time

applicants. A minimum visual acuity of 20/40

(corrected or uncorrected) is required before

the applicant will be allowed to move on to

the written test. If corrective lenses are

needed to achieve this standard, the

applicant’s driving privileges will be restricted

to mandate the use of corrective lenses.

If the applicant does not meet the minimum

visual acuity standards, they will be referred

to a vision specialist for further examination.

After the referral has been completed,

applicants whose visual acuity is 20/60 or

better shall be eligible to test for an

instruction permit or operator’s license.

If corrective lenses were prescribed by the

vision specialist, the person’s driving

privileges shall be restricted to mandate the

use of the corrective lenses.

Applicants whose visual acuity is less than

what is described above may qualify to

participate in the Kentucky Bioptic Driving

Program, which is administered by the

Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Applicants can receive special training from

this certified driver training program, allowing

them to drive with a bioptic telescopic device

restriction. Visit the Kentucky Bioptic Driving

Program website for additional information

about the program. Contact the program by

phone at 1-800-346-2115.

Written Test

The written test is based on the type of

license for which the applicant has applied.

The test will contain questions regarding

driving rules, regulations, procedures, and

highway signs. Applicants should study the

manual specific to the type of license they

desire (Operator, Motorcycle, or CDL). For

the operator test, you will find all information

for the test in this manual.

11 Section One: The Driver’s License

Review of the manual in its entirety is

recommended. Applicants must make a

minimum score of 80% to pass this test.

Tests can be given orally for applicants who

cannot read the English language. However,

the signs portion of the test must be

answered by applicants from their own

knowledge and understanding. All testing

offices are equipped with tablet devices that

will present the test audibly in English and

several foreign languages. A special

appointment is not needed to utilize this

feature. However, a special appointment will

be needed for the test to be orally

administered or if an interpreter is needed.

The written test is available in the following

languages:

Albanian Kinyarwanda

Arabic* Korean

Bosnian Laotian

Burmese* Pashto

Cambodian Polish

Chinese* Romanian

Croatian Russian

Dari Somali*

Farsi Spanish*

French* Swahili

German Thai

Hindi Turkish

Japanese* Vietnamese

*These languages are available on the

testing software and may be taken

electronically upon request. Additionally,

these languages are available in audio form.

Road (Skills) Test

The Examiner will first inspect the vehicle,

which includes examining the vehicle

registration and insurance documents.

Rental vehicles are allowed only if the

applicant’s name appears on the rental

contract as an operator of the vehicle.

An Examiner will accompany you on the

road test and will occupy the passenger side

of the front seat. Therefore, the passenger

compartment, seat, and floor area must be

clean or the vehicle may be rejected.

Both driver and Examiner must wear seat

belts, if the vehicle was factory equipped

with seat belts. The seat belts must be clean

and in working order.

Applicants will be required to drive in traffic,

encountering normal situations. The

Examiner will not play tricks during the road

test, and you will not be required to do

anything unlawful or illegal.

Interpreters are not permitted in the vehicle

during the road test. However, an interpreter

may be present both before and after the

test to assist as needed.

Preparing for the Vehicle Inspection

For the vehicle inspection, the examiner will

first review the vehicle registration and

insurance documents. The applicant will

then be required to demonstrate a

knowledge of how to operate the following:

Headlights

Turn Signals

Dimmer Switch

Emergency Brake

Horn

Emergency Flashers

Windshield Wipers

Brake Lights

The vehicle will also be physically inspected

to insure it can be safely and lawfully

operated. Therefore, a review of the

following equipment items is recommended:

Brakes. A motor vehicle shall be equipped

with brakes adequate to control the

movement of, and to stop and hold, the

vehicle. There shall be separate means of

applying the brakes, each of which shall be

effective to apply the brakes to at least two

wheels. If the separate means are in any

way connected, they shall be so constructed

that failure of any one part of the operating

mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle

without brakes on at least two wheels.

Section One: The Driver’s License 12

Lights. Your vehicle must have two

headlights and two taillights. Headlights on

high beam must be strong enough to light

the road sufficiently to reveal a person 350

feet ahead, and 100 feet ahead on low

beam. They must not shine a glaring light

into the eyes of an oncoming driver.

The rear light, or taillight, must be red and

must be lighted and placed so it can be seen

500 feet behind your vehicle.

All motor vehicles must have brake lights.

Motor vehicles are required to be equipped

with a mechanical signal device that would

indicate an intention to stop or suddenly

decrease speed by illuminating at least two

red lights on the rear of the vehicle.

License Plate. The vehicle must be properly

registered with the license plate properly

displayed and unobstructed. The registration

plate shall be kept legible at all times and

must be illuminated at night.

Windshield. The vision of the driver should

be unobstructed. It is unlawful to operate a

motor vehicle with any sign, sun screening

material, product or covering on the

windshield. Only certificates or papers

required by law and sun screening material

along a strip at the top of the windshield are

acceptable.

A windshield wiper is also required on the

driver’s side of the windshield. The

windshield on every motor vehicle shall be

equipped with a device for cleaning rain,

snow, or other moisture from the windshield.

Horn. Every motor vehicle, and bicycle,

when in use on a highway, must be

equipped with a horn or other device

capable of making an abrupt sound

sufficiently loud enough to be heard under

ordinary traffic conditions.

Muffler. A muffler must be on the exhaust to

reduce noise and annoying smoke, while

protecting the occupants from poisonous

fumes.

Mirrors. Mirrors must be located and

adjusted so the driver can see to the rear of

the vehicle. A vehicle must be equipped

with one mirror mounted on the left side of

the vehicle, and one mirror mounted either

inside the vehicle approximately in the

center or on the right side of the vehicle.

Steering. Steering must not be defective

and in good condition.

Turn Signals. Mechanical turn signals are

required equipment on your vehicle and

must be in working order.

Safety Belts and Shoulder Belts. A person

shall not operate a motor vehicle

manufactured after 1981 on the public

roadways unless the driver and all

passengers are wearing a properly adjusted

and fastened seat belt.

Unlawful and Impermissible Equipment

The examiner will inspect your vehicle to

make sure it can be safely and lawfully

operated on Kentucky roadways. Missing or

inoperable equipment that would render the

vehicle unlawful or unsafe may cause your

test to be canceled or rescheduled.

Unlawful or impermissible equipment on

your vehicle, such as excessive window tint,

flashing lights other than the turn signals, or

any item that obstructs vision through the

windshield could also cause the examiner to

reject the vehicle for use during a road test.

Road Test Scoring

When a permit holder is operating a motor

vehicle, they shall be accompanied by a

person with a valid operator’s license who is

at least 21 years of age occupying the front

passenger seat at all times. Therefore, it is

unlawful for applicants to drive themselves to

their road test appointment without meeting

this requirement. Violations of this or other

traffic laws at the test site will cause the test

to be rescheduled.

13 Section One: The Driver’s License

 The test will consist of stops, backing,

turning the car around, stopping and

starting on a hill, parallel parking,

intersection approaches, clutch use (if

applicable), speed, turns, lane use, right-

of-way use, and overall vehicle control.

 Any collision, traffic violation, or

dangerous act may result in automatic

failure, and the test will not be completed.

 Failure to follow the Examiner’s

instructions two times during the test will

result in being disqualified.

 The applicant will be given a score sheet

at the completion of the test, indicating

whether he or she passed or failed.

There will not be a numerical score on

the score sheet.

Should you not pass the road test, you

must wait at least one week before taking

the test again. Practice during this time is

encouraged.

Test Scheduling

The Kentucky State Police offers testing

services at mulitple offices regionally located

across the state. All testing is conducted by

appointment only. To schedule an

appointment for either the written test or the

road test, please visit our website

http://kentuckystatepolice.org/driver-testing/

and use our online scheduling tool.

PLEASE NOTE: Appointments are released

Monday – Friday at 8 a.m. and many

locations will fill up quickly, so it is important

to check the website early in the day to

secure the desired appointment. When all

available appointments have been

scheduled, a “No Availability” message will

appear for the location. If you see this

message, simply check back the next

morning at 8 a.m. for the release of new

appointments.

Additionally, the schedule is maintained

three weeks out. Therefore, if you desire a

particular testing date, a sixteenth birthday

for example, you should check the website

three weeks in advance of the desired date.

Remember, check the website early to

secure your appointment.

Applicants who require interpretive services

or special assistance of any kind should

contact the testing site directly prior to

making an appointment. Find contact

information for each testing location at

http://kentuckystatepolice.org/driver-testing/.

Out-of-State License or Driving on

an Existing License

Transferring From Another State

Persons moving into Kentucky must obtain a

Kentucky Driver's License within 30 days of

establishing residence. Kentucky Driver's

Licenses and Identification Cards are issued

at any Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Driver Licensing Regional office.

If your out-of-state license is valid or has

been expired for less than one (1) year when

you transfer to Kentucky, you will not be

required to test. However, if the license has

been expired for more than one (1) year at

the time of transfer, you will be required to

obtain a full, certified Driver History Record

(DHR) or clearance letter from the previous

state and will be required to take both the

written and eye exams before being issued a

Kentucky operator's permit or license. If

testing is required, click here to schedule an

appointment with the Kentucky State Police.

If you have lost your out-of-state license but

the license has not been expired for more

than one (1) year, you need to obtain a DHR

or Clearance letter from the previous state.

Documents required to transfer out-of-state

license:

Section One: The Driver’s License 14

The applicant will be required to provide one

(1) form of proof of the applicant's Kentucky

residency. (Two (2) forms of proof will be

required if the applicant is applying for a

REAL ID). Additionally, the applicant will

need to present valid proof documents for

the following:

 Legal presence in the United States such

as a birth certificate or U.S. passport;

and

 Social Security card (must bring your

social security card as proof)

 Valid out-of-state license

 If applicable, proof of any name change,

gender change, or any additional

documents.

Out-of-state Permit Holders

You must be at least 16 years of age to

transfer a driving permit or license to

Kentucky.

Out-of-State permit holders transferring to

Kentucky must transfer their permit and be

issued a Kentucky permit before applying

for a Kentucky Driver's License. If the out-

of-state test scores are not submitted, then

the permit/license holder will be required to

take the Kentucky road test.

If under age 18, you must present a School

Compliance Verification Form signed by the

out-of-state school (reference: No Pass/No

Drive Law). This form can be obtained from

the student's school district of residence.

College Students

A college student may drive on their valid

out-of-state license and is not required to

transfer that license to Kentucky if:

They are a citizen of the United States;

They are enrolled as a full-time or part-time

student at a university, college, or technical

college located in Kentucky; and they must

have a student identification card from the

university, college, or technical college

located in Kentucky in their immediate

possession when driving in Kentucky.

Non-US-Citizen Applicants

All non-U.S. citizens and permanent

residents may apply for a Kentucky driver's

permit/license/ID card at any Driver

Licensing Regional Office. If any testing is

required, an appointment will need to be

scheduled first with the Kentucky State

Police by visiting the website here.

All non-U.S. citizens may drive in the U.S. on

their valid foreign license and International

Permit for up to one year from the date of

admission into the U.S. provided their home

country is part of the Foreign License

Reciprocity.

Drivers must obtain a Kentucky license

within 30 days of establishing residency in

Kentucky.

 Permanent residents are eligible to apply

for a REAL ID. For more information on a

REAL ID, click here.

 Non-U.S. citizens are not eligible to apply

for a REAL ID.

Permanent Residents

A permanent resident who holds an

International Driver Permit from a Foreign

License Reciprocity Country will be required

to successfully pass the written knowledge

drivers test and vision test.

A permanent resident who holds an

International Driver Permit but is not from a

from a Foreign License Reciprocity Country

will be required to successfully pass the

written knowledge drivers test, vision test

and road test. The applicant must start the

driver licensing process with a driver’s

permit.

15 Section One: The Driver’s License

A permanent resident who holds an

International Driver Permit but holds a valid

license from another United States state is

not required to test in order to transfer a

valid out of state license to a Kentucky driver

license.

A permanent resident who holds an

International Driver Permit, and the license

has expired within one year and holds a

valid license from another United States

state is not required to test in order to

transfer a valid out of state license to a

Kentucky driver license.

A permanent resident who does not hold an

International Driver Permit will be required to

successfully pass the written knowledge

drivers test, vision test and road test. The

applicant must start the driver licensing

process with a driver’s permit.

All testing is scheduled through the Kentucky

State Police. Click here to schedule an

appointment and bring all required

documentation with you to your appointment.

Non-Permanent Residents

A non-permanent resident who holds an

International Driver Permit from a Foreign

License Reciprocity Country will be

required to successfully pass the written

knowledge drivers test, vision test and road

test.

A non-permanent resident who holds an

International Driver Permit but is not from a

Foreign License Reciprocity Country will be

required to successfully pass the written

knowledge drivers test, vision test and road

test. The applicant must start the driver

licensing process with a driver’s permit.

A non-permanent resident who holds an

International Driver Permit but holds a valid

license from another United States state is

not required to test in order to transfer a

valid out of state license to Kentucky.

A non-permanent resident who holds an

International Driver Permit, and the license

has expired within one year and holds a

valid license from another United States

state is not required to test to transfer a valid

out of state license to a Kentucky driver

license.

A non-permanent resident who does not

hold an International Driver Permit will be

required to successfully pass the written

knowledge drivers test, vision test and road

test. The applicant must start the driver

licensing process with a driver’s permit.

All testing is scheduled through the Kentucky

State Police. Click here to schedule an

appointment and bring all required

documentation with you to your appointment.

Residents Serving in the Military

Kentucky residents currently serving in the

United States military who are stationed or

assigned to a base or other location outside

the boundaries of the Commonwealth may

renew a Class D operator’s license by mail.

If a Kentucky resident has been serving in

the United States military and has allowed

their operator’s license to expire, they shall,

within 90 days of returning to the

Commonwealth, be permitted to renew their

license without having to take a written test

or road test.

A Kentucky resident serving in the United

States military who does not renew their

expired license within 90 days of returning to

the Commonwealth shall be required to

comply with all procedures of renewing a

license that has expired.

For additional information on military

licenses, please visit drive.ky.gov.

Section One: The Driver’s License 16

Driver License Renewal / Updates

Renewals and Duplicate Licenses

 If the driver is under age 21, the license

expires 90 days after the driver’s 21

birthday.

 Age 21 and older, the license expires 31

days after the driver’s birthday and may

be renewed up to six months before the

expiration date.

 No testing is required for a person with

credentials expired less than 5 years.

Any driver whose credential is expired

more than 5 years must start over as a

new driver.

 A Kentucky operator’s license is valid for

four (4) years or eight (8) years. Eight-

year credentials are only available for

new standard licenses and REAL IDs.

 When drivers physically lose their

operator’s license, permit, or

identification card, they will need to

request a replacement credential by mail

or by visiting any Transportation Cabinet

Driver Licensing Regional Office.

For further information on renewing a license

or replacing a lost or stolen license, please

visit drive.ky.gov.

Change of Address or Name

If you change your address or name for any

reason, you must obtain a duplicate license

within 10 days. You may be cited by a

police officer for not changing your address

or name.

 Drivers may apply for a duplicate with the

updated address listed by mail or in

person at any Transportation Cabinet

Driver Licensing Regional Office.

 To change your name on your license,

one (1) proof of the name change is

required. (Birth Certificate, Name

Change Court Order, Marriage License,

Divorce Decree, or other legal

documents).

 A Social Security card is not acceptable

as proof of name change. However, you

must provide proof of a new Social

Security card with your new name to

prove you have updated your name with

the Social Security Administration.

For further information on changing an

address or name on your license, please

visit drive.ky.gov.

Loss of Driving Privileges

Suspension or Revocation of License

Your driver’s license may be suspended or

revoked for any of the following reasons:

 Perjury or false affidavit of information to

the Transportation Cabinet;

 Operating a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or

moped without a license;

 Operating a motor vehicle in violation of

restrictions imposed by the

Transportation Cabinet;

 Failure to maintain liability insurance;

 Failure to enroll in or complete State

Traffic School upon sentence by the

Court;

 Failure to satisfy a citation or court

summons;

 Failing to pay child support;

 Fraudulent use of a driver’s license to

purchase or attempt to purchase

alcoholic beverages;

 Reckless driving – three (3) convictions

within twelve (12) months;

17 Section One: The Driver’s License

 Driving under the influence of alcohol or

other substances (DUI);

 Refusing to take a chemical test when

lawfully asked to do so by a law

enforcement officer;

 Fleeing or evading police;

 Leaving the scene of a crash, failure to

stop and disclose identity or render aid;

 Theft of gasoline;

 Theft of a motor vehicle or any part

thereof;

 Felony involving use of a motor vehicle;

and

 Manslaughter resulting from the

operation of a motor vehicle.

Cancellation of Your Driving Privilege

If you are under 18 years of age, the parent

or legal guardian who signed your driver

license application can withdraw

responsibility, resulting in the cancellation of

your license. If the parent or legal guardian

withdraws responsibility, you will have to

wait until you are 18 years of age to obtain a

permit and license. The Parent/Legal

Guardian Withdrawal of responsibility form

must be completed and submitted to a

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Regional

Office. Once this is received and entered,

the minor’s permit or license will be canceled

until another application is signed or the

applicant reaches 18 years of age.

Voluntarily Surrender Your Driver

License

A driver may choose to voluntarily surrender

a Kentucky driver’s license by completing

the appropriate Transportation Cabinet form

at any KYTC Driver Licensing Regional

Office. To surrender a driver license, submit

the completed form and your driver’s license

to the clerk at the regional office.

Unsatisfied Judgement

Any person failing to satisfy a judgment

rendered against him for damages resulting

from the operation of a motor vehicle, within

60 days from the date of said judgment shall

have his driving privilege suspended by the

Transportation Cabinet. The suspension will

remain in effect indefinitely or until the

judgment has been satisfied. Upon

satisfaction, a court-attested copy of the

satisfaction is to be sent to the

Transportation Cabinet, and the necessary

reinstatement procedures must be followed.

The Kentucky Point System

The purpose of the point system is to identify

and assist drivers who need improvement

before it becomes necessary to suspend

their driving privilege. It serves to protect the

safe and sensible drivers and to correct

those who are reckless and irresponsible.

Under the point system, a driver starts with

no points but accumulates points for various

offenses. Upon the accumulation of 12

points (7 points if under age eighteen) within

a two-year period, a driver’s privilege to

operate a motor vehicle may be suspended.

Individuals are given an opportunity to meet

with a hearing officer prior to any possible

suspension.

Points assessed under this system expire

two (2) years from the date of conviction.

However, the conviction entry remains part

of the driver’s record for a period of five (5)

years from the conviction date.

Upon the accumulation of twelve (12) or

more points against a driver age eighteen

(18) or older or 7 points against a driver

under age 18, the Transportation Cabinet

conducts a hearing concerning the driver’s

privileges to operate a motor vehicle. Failure

to appear for the hearing results in a driving

suspension for a period of six (6) months for

the first such accumulation of twelve (12)

points, one (1) year for the second such

Section One: The Driver’s License 18

accumulation of twelve (12) points, and two

(2) years for any subsequent accumulation

of twelve (12) points within the two (2) year

period.

After a hearing, the department may require

the driver to be placed on “probation” in lieu

of suspension and attend a driver

improvement clinic (State Traffic School)

approved by the Transportation Cabinet.

Once a driver has been placed on

“probation” by the department, he/she shall

not be considered for probation again until a

lapse of two (2) years from the ending date

of any previous probation period granted,

whether served or not.

Additional information regarding the point

system can be found on the Transportation

Cabinet website at drive.ky.gov.

Kentucky State Traffic School Program

Kentucky State Traffic School is available

online, in-person, and in a virtual classroom.

The primary purpose of State Traffic School

is to promote safe and responsible driving.

The goal of State Traffic School is to provide

an educational program that renews a

driver’s outlook regarding traffic safety and

to instill a positive attitude toward highway

and traffic safety by encouraging an

understanding and recognition of personal

driving behaviors, which result in a reduced

number of deaths and injuries related to

vehicular crashes and moving hazardous

violations.

Eligibility:

 A driver cannot be under suspension at the

time of the citation.

 A driver cannot attend State Traffic School

for a conviction carrying mandatory license

suspension. A driver can only attend with

minor traffic violations.

 A driver can only complete State Traffic

School once every twelve (12) months.

 Non-licensed and Out-of-State drivers

are not eligible to attend State Traffic

School.

 All State Traffic School referrals must

come from the Kentucky District or

Federal court where the violation

occurred.

Process:

 The District Court where the citation was

received must refer a driver to Kentucky

State Traffic School. The District Court

will send the referral to the Division of

Driver Licensing.

 The Division of Driver Licensing will mail

a letter to the driver’s address printed on

their license at the time of referral. Follow

the instructions listed in the letter

carefully to enroll in the class.

 Once referred to Kentucky State Traffic

School, it becomes a court order. If the

driver does not comply with the court

order to attend traffic school, it will

suspend the driver’s driving privileges.

For more information on State Traffic School

and class options, please visit drive.ky.gov.

Driver Substance Abuse Education Program

Every offender convicted of DUI must be

assessed in a program licensed and certified

by the Cabinet for Human Resources (CHR).

After the assessment, every individual must

attend a CHR approved alcohol education or

treatment program. Satisfactory completion

is required before reinstatement of driving

privileges may occur. The individual must

pay all mandatory alcohol assessment,

education, or treatment fees to the program.

With payment of the required fee for license

reinstatement, a notice of completion from

an approved DUI program, and after

expiration of the period of license

suspension, an individual convicted of DUI is

eligible to get his license reissued.

19 Section Two: General Information

Section Two

General Information

Motor Vehicle Registration

Kentucky law requires that before the owner

of a motor vehicle may operate or permit its

operation upon a highway, the owner must

apply for registration with the county clerk in

the owner’s county of residence.

Additionally, a person who purchases a

motor vehicle, or brings a motor vehicle into

Kentucky from another state must make

application for registration within fifteen (15)

days.

Once registered, the owner shall again

which the certificate of registration expires.

There is no grace period for renewing your

vehicle registration. At least forty-five (45)

days prior to the expiration of registration,

the owner shall be notified by mail of the

date of expiration. Note that non-receipt of

this notice does not constitute a defense to

failing to register the vehicle on or before the

expiration date. There is no grace period for

renewing your registration.

All registration requirements must be met for

any vehicle to be operated upon Kentucky

highways, and to be used for the driver

license road test. For additional information

regarding the registration process and

related fees, please visit drive.ky.gov.

Insurance Law

An owner may not operate a vehicle in

Kentucky until insurance has been obtained.

Also, if your vehicle has a current, active

registration, you must maintain insurance on

that vehicle. Failure to maintain insurance is

a criminal offense, and any owner who fails

to maintain insurance on his vehicle shall

have his vehicle registration revoked. In

addition, the vehicle owner and driver are

subject to a fine of $500.00 to $1,000.00, up

to 90 days in jail, or both.

All motor vehicle owners in Kentucky must

carry minimum liability coverage. This

means liability coverage of $25,000.00 for all

claims for bodily injury damages sustained

by any one person and not less than

$50,000.00 for all bodily injury damages

sustained by all persons as a result of an

accident, as well as $25,000.00 for all

property damage as a result of any one

accident. Alternatively, a policy with a single

limit of $60,000.00 is acceptable.

Furthermore, the policy must provide basic

reparations benefits unless the insured

vehicle is a motorcycle.

All motor vehicle owners and operators must

maintain in the vehicle written proof of

minimum liability coverage. Written proof, in

the form of an insurance card, can be a

paper insurance card or a portable electronic

device to download the insurance card.

Attending College Inside or Outside of

Kentucky

Students can use their home-state

registration and insurance to drive in

Kentucky if they keep a current student

identification card from a Kentucky college,

university, or technical college.

If you (or your child) are attending a school

outside the state of Kentucky, you should

check with that state to verify that state’s

registration and insurance requirements.

Active-Duty Military

Active-duty military personnel can use out-

of-state insurance to title and register any

vehicle in their name here in Kentucky.

When registering a vehicle, if it is recorded

as a standard personal policy at the County

Clerk’s office rather than a military personnel

This

Section

Covers

•

Motor Vehicle Registration

•

Insurance Law

•

Medical Review Board

•

Motor Vehicles and the Environment

•

Organ Donation

Section Two: General Information 20

policy it will cause the vehicle to be flagged

as possibly uninsured. If you are currently

on active military duty and receive an

uninsured notice letter, show proof of your

active military service (pay stub, ID) to the

County Clerk’s office to resolve the issue.

For additional information regarding

Kentucky Insurance law, please visit

drive.ky.gov.

Medical Review Board

Upon request, the Kentucky State Police will

provide reasonable accommodations

necessary to afford an individual with a

disability an equal opportunity to participate

in all testing phases. Additionally, the

Kentucky State Police enlists the assistance

and advice of the Medical Review Board,

which identifies drivers with physical or

mental impairments that hamper their ability

to operate a motor vehicle safely.

The Medical Review Board consists of

ophthalmologists, neurologists, psychiatrists,

and rehabilitation specialists. Board

members provide medical advice to the

Division of Driver Licensing on license

applicants and licensees reported to the

Board.

Seizures, Blackout, Loss of Conscience

or Altered Awareness, and Driving

A license applicant or licensee must be free

of seizures, blackout, loss of conscience, or

an altered state of awareness for 90 days to

obtain or maintain driving privileges. To

report a driver that has experienced a

seizure, blackout, loss of conscience, or an

altered state of awareness, submit an

affidavit to the Medical Review Board.

Vision Requirements for Driving

In Kentucky, visual requirements for driving

require an individual to have visual acuity of

at least 20/60 or better in at least one eye.

The driver’s horizontal field of vision must be

at least 35 degrees to both the left and the

right, and their vertical field of vision must be

at least 25 degrees above and below

fixation.

The Medical Review Board reviews

applicants who do not meet the minimum

requirements. Some applicants whose visual

acuity does not meet the minimum

requirements, may qualify to participate in a

certified driver training program, allowing

them to drive with a bioptic telescopic device

restriction.

The Kentucky Bioptic Driving Program is a

certified driver training program that can

provide the specialized training necessary to

allow applicants to drive with a bioptic

telescopic device restriction. The minimum

vision requirements for the program are:

 Distance visual acuity of 20/200 or better

with corrective lenses in the applicant’s

better eye.

 Distance visual acuity of 20/60 or better

using a bioptic telescopic device.

 A visual field of 120 degrees horizontally

and 80 degrees vertically in the better

eye.

 No ocular diagnosis or prognosis that

indicates the likelihood of significant

deterioration of visual acuity or visual

fields to a level below the minimum

standards above.

This program is administered by the

Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Individuals interested in receiving this

training can visit the Kentucky Bioptic Driving

Program website for additional information,

or contact the program by phone at 1-800-

346-2115.

Reporting a Driver

Drivers may be reported to the Medical

Review Board for the following reasons:

21 Section Two: General Information

 If the driver has indicated that they have

experienced a blackout, a loss of

consciousness, or suffered a seizure.

 If the driver has been reported by a

physician, Commonwealth Attorney,

County Attorney, County Clerk, Circuit

Clerk, Sheriff, or judge as incapable of

driving safely due to a physical or mental

condition.

 If the driver’s official record, indicates the

possibility of physical/mental impairment.

 If the driver has been named in an

affidavit to the Medical Review Board by

at least two citizens as incapable of

properly operating a motor vehicle due to

a physical or mental impairment.

Drivers may be reported to the Medical

Review Board by submitting the Medical

Review Board Affidavit.

Once a case for the driver is created,

appropriate medical forms will be sent to the

driver to have completed by their physician.

After the Medical Review Board has

received this information, the individual will

be notified of the Board’s decision by mail.

The Kentucky State Police does not

discriminate on the basis of race, color,

national origin, sex, religion, age or disability.

Motor Vehicles and the

Environment

Motor vehicles are major contributors to

ground level ozone. Ozone pollution

contributes to health problems such as

chronic lung and heart disease, allergies,

and asthma. Younger children, older adults,

and people who work or play outside are at

the highest risk for health issues related to

ground-level ozone. Although today’s new

vehicles emit fewer pollutants than older

vehicles, their emission levels will increase

unless they are carefully maintained. As a

vehicle ages, its performance and fuel

economy diminishes. Vehicle emissions

testing programs in major population centers

of the state identify vehicles with increased

emission levels, alerting the owner to

needed maintenance. As vehicles are

repaired, vehicle emissions are reduced, and

the vehicle owner will usually see

improvements in performance and fuel

economy.

Plan your driving. Allow enough driving time

to reach your destination safely. Avoid rush

hours and congested areas when possible.

Avoid quick starts and stops. Drive smoothly

and at moderate speeds. Pace your driving

to the traffic and traffic signal timing so you

can keep braking and acceleration at a

minimum. Drive less and consider other

means of travel, driving only when

necessary. Combine as many trips as you

can. Your vehicle is the safest and most

economical when it is parked. Consider

carpooling, taking a bus, using a bicycle, or

walking.

For more information about air pollution,

vehicle emission programs, and alternative

transportation options visit these websites:

Kentucky Division for Air Quality

Jefferson County Air Pollution control District

Organ Donation

If you or a family member needed a kidney

or other vital organs to live would you be

able to get a lifesaving organ? In Kentucky

licensed drivers can sign up as an organ

donor when their initial driver’s license is

issued or when the license is renewed.

Information regarding organ donation

registration can be found on the Donate Life

Kentucky website at https://donatelifeky.org/.

Section Three: Be in Shape to Drive 22

Section Three

Be in Shape to Drive

Driving is one of the riskiest tasks that you

will do during your lifetime. Your ability to

drive safely depends on good health and

making correct decisions.

Vision

Good vision is important for safe driving. If

you cannot see clearly, you will have trouble

identifying traffic and roadway conditions,

spotting potential trouble, and responding to

problems in a timely manner.

Because seeing well is so important to safe

driving, you should have your eyes checked

regularly by an eye doctor. If you are

required to wear corrective lenses, always

wear them when driving. Also, avoid using

dark or tinted corrective lenses at night.

You need to see “out of the corner” of your

eyes. This lets you spot vehicles creeping up

on either side of you while you are looking

straight ahead.

You must be able to judge distances in

addition to seeing clearly. Good distance

judgment is important in knowing your

location on the roadway in relation to other

vehicles and objects, spotting trouble on the

roadway, and engaging in defensive driving

if you need to.

Many people who can see clearly in the

daytime have problems seeing at night.

Some people cannot make things out in a

dim light. Others may have trouble with the

glare of oncoming vehicle headlights.

Hearing

Hearing is more important to driving than

many people realize. Your hearing can warn

you of danger, the sound of a horn or siren,

screeching tires, etc. Sometimes you can

hear vehicles that you cannot see.

Hearing problems, like bad eyesight, can

occur slowly that you do not notice the

hearing loss. Drivers who know they are

deaf or have hearing problems can adjust by

relying more on their visual abilities.

Someone with an undiagnosed hearing

problem is taking a chance each time they

drive. A person may never know about a

hearing problem unless the driver has a

hearing test periodically.

Fatigue

Fatigue is physical or mental tiredness that

can be caused by physical or mental strain,

repetitive tasks, illness, or lack of sleep.

Fatigue can affect your vision and increase

the time to make decisions. Avoid driving if

you are tired or fatigued. You do not want to

fall asleep when you are driving.

Before a Trip, Do the Following:

 Get adequate sleep – most people need

7 to 9 hours to maintain proper alertness

during the day.

 Plan to stop about every 100 miles or 2

hours during long trips.

 Arrange for a travel companion, someone

to watch your driving.

 Check the labels of your medications and

be aware if they cause drowsiness.

 Do not use alcohol and other drugs when

driving.

Ways to Avoid Fatigue:

 If you start feeling tired, stop driving, and

pull off at the next exit or rest area to take

a 15-to-20-minute nap or find a place to

sleep for the night.

This

Section

Covers

•

Vision

•

Hearing

•

Fatigue

•

Driver

Distractions

•

Emotions, Aggressive

Driving and Road Rage

•

Aging Divers

•

Alcohol, Other Drugs,

and Driving

23 Section Three: Be in Shape to Drive

 Try consuming caffeine before taking a

short nap to get the benefits of both.

 Try not to drive late at night.

 The best way to avoid fatigue is to get

plenty of rest.

Driver Distractions

The National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) describes distracted

driving as “a specific type of driver

inattention that occurs when drivers divert

attention from the driving task to focus on

some other activity.” Many people will

associate distracted driving with using a cell

phone to complete a number of activities

including calling and texting. However, be

aware that distracted driving also includes

many other activities such as eating,

grooming, adjusting vehicle controls, or even

having a conversation with a passenger.

Drivers can be uniquely affected by these

distractions or combination of distractions,

and NHTSA places distractions into one or

more of the following categories:

 Visual Distraction – Tasks that require

the driver to look away from the roadway

to visually obtain information;

 Manual Distraction – Tasks that require

the driver to take one or both hands off

the steering wheel to manipulate a

control, device, or other non-driving-

related item;

 Cognitive distraction – Tasks that are

defined as the mental workload

associated with a task that involves

thinking about something other than the

driving task.

The American Association of Motor Vehicle

Administrators (AAMVA) adds, “Although

cellphone use is not the only reason for

driver distraction, it poses a significant risk to

roadway safety. Texting is especially

concerning because it combines visual,

manual, and cognitive functions.

Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s

eyes from the road for an average of 4.6

seconds; at 55 mph, this is the equivalent of

driving the length of an entire football field

[or 100 yards].”

This data helps to illustrate the danger in

texting while driving. According to another

study, engaging in visual-manual subtasks

(such as reaching for a phone, dialing and

texting) associated with the use of hand-held

phones and other portable devices

increased the risk of getting into a crash by

three times.

Simply put, a distraction is anything that

takes your attention away from driving.

Distracted driving can cause crashes,

resulting in injury, death, or property

damage. Taking your eyes off the road or

hands off the steering wheel presents

obvious driving risks. Mental activities that

take your mind away from driving are just as

dangerous. When driving:

 Do not talk or text on

a cell phone.

 Avoid arguments

and stressful or

emotional

conversations with

passengers.

 Avoid eating while driving.

 Be sure children are properly and safely

buckled up.

 Properly secure pets in a pet carrier or

portable kennel.

Pay attention to the driving task. You are

responsible for operating your vehicle safely.

Emotions, Aggressive Driving and

Road Rage

Emotions can increase your risk by

interfering with your ability to think, creating

a lack of attention, and interrupting your

ability to process information. You may not

Section Three: Be in Shape to Drive 24

be able to drive well if you are overly

worried, excited, afraid, angry, or depressed.

There are ways of dealing with your

emotions:

 If you are angry or worried, give yourself

time to cool off. If necessary, take a short

walk or nap, but stay off the road until the

symptoms have passed.

 Give yourself extra time for your driving

trip. Leave a few minutes early allowing

extra time for delays or other unexpected

problems.

 Learn not to become upset when other

drivers make a mistake or take

advantage of you in certain driving

situations. Getting mad can only cause

you to make similar mistakes.

 If you are angry or upset with another

person or driver, DO NOT vent your

feelings through use of your vehicle. Be

calm and careful in the operation of your

vehicle.

 Have someone else drive. Do not drive

until you have control of your emotions.

Aggressive driving and road rage are not the

same thing. Aggressive driving occurs when

an individual intentionally commits an action

that endangers other persons or property.

Aggressive driving includes tailgating,

changing lanes abruptly and speeding.

These potentially dangerous behaviors are

primarily traffic offenses that could lead to

criminal behavior.

Road rage is uncontrolled anger that results

in violence or threatened violence on the

roadway. Road rage is a criminal behavior

and is prohibited.

Some behaviors typically associated with

aggressive driving include speeding,

following too closely, unsafe lane changes,

improperly signaling, and failing to obey

traffic control devices (stop signs, yield

signs, traffic signals, and so on).

To prevent the occurrence of road rage,

drive safely and be courteous to other

motorists. Do not tailgate, cut off other

motorists in traffic, or engage in other

aggressive driving habits. If you should

become involved in a road-rage incident, do

not retaliate, or engage in an argument with

the enraged driver. Doing so will only worsen

the problem. For your safety you should

safely pull off the roadway in a well-lit, public

area and call for police assistance.

Aging Drivers

We all want to keep our ability to drive and

go wherever and whenever we want to drive.

However, we should be aware of the

warning signs that our driving may not be as

safe as it once was. Please find warning

signs listed below. If more than one of these

signs has happened to you or to someone

you care about you may wish to have a

driving evaluation if:



A friend or family member has expressed

concern about your driving;



You sometimes get lost while driving on

routes that were once familiar;



You have been pulled over by a law

enforcement officer and warned about

poor driving behavior, regardless of

whether you were given a ticket or

citation;



You have had several moving violations,

near misses, or actual collisions in the

past one to three years;



Your doctor or other health caregivers

have advised you to restrict or stop

driving.

To schedule a driving evaluation or to obtain

additional information please contact the

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of

Driver Licensing, Medical Review Board at

502-564-1257 or visit the Transportation

Cabinet website drive.ky.gov.

25 Section Three: Be in Shape to Drive

Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving

Alcohol and other impairing drugs are

involved in approximately 40% of all traffic

crashes in which someone is killed each

year. Nationally, thousands of people die

each year in alcohol related collisions. If you

drink alcohol or use other impairing drugs

and drive, even a little, your chances of

being in a crash are much greater than if you

did not drink any alcohol or use other drugs.

If You Are Under 21

If you are under the age of 21, it is illegal to

purchase, possess, and drink alcoholic

beverages. Alcohol and other impairing

drugs affect a person’s ability to perceive

their surroundings, react to emergencies,

and skillfully operate a motor vehicle. For

new drivers learning complex skills, the

effects of alcohol and other impairing drugs

is greater. All states have “zero tolerance”

laws (no alcohol in the circulatory system) or

similar laws for drivers under the age of 21.

Effects of Alcohol and Other Impairing

Drugs

Alcohol and other impairing drugs reduce

your:

 Judgment: Judgment is a brain-centered

activity that stores all your experiences

and knowledge so it can be used quickly

when you face a new problem.

 Vision: Blurs your vision, slows your

ability to focus, causes double vision, and

reduces the ability to judge distance,

speed, and the movement of other

vehicles. Vision is impacted at 0.02 blood

alcohol content (BAC) for all drivers. The

most important sense you use in driving

is vision.

 Color distinction: Reduces your ability

to distinguish colors.

 Reaction time: Slows your ability to

process information and respond to the

driving task.

The best advice is not to drive a vehicle of

any kind if you have consumed alcohol or

drugs. Impairment starts with the first drink.

Even one drink of alcohol can affect a

person’s ability to drive. With one or more

drinks in the bloodstream, a person is visibly

impaired and could be arrested for driving

under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Never let a friend or relative drink and drive.

Other Impairing Drugs and Driving

Besides alcohol, many other drugs can

affect your ability to drive safely. These

drugs can have effects like those of alcohol

or even worse. This is true of many

prescription drugs and even many of the

drugs you can buy over the counter without

a prescription.

Never drink alcohol while you are taking

other drugs. These drugs could multiply the

effects of alcohol or have additional effects

of their own. You cannot drink alcohol or use

other impairing drugs and operate a vehicle

safely.

Over-the-Counter Drugs

Over-the-counter drugs taken for

headaches, colds, hay fever, or other

allergies or those to calm nerves can make

you drowsy and affect your driving. Pep pills,

“uppers,” and diet pills can make you feel

nervous, dizzy, and unable to concentrate,

and they can affect your vision. Check the

label on the product before you take an over-

the-counter drug for warnings about its

effect. If you are not sure if it is safe to take

the drug and drive, ask your doctor or

pharmacist about any side effects.

Prescription Drugs

Some prescription drugs can impact your

driving and can affect your reflexes,

judgment, vision, and alertness in ways like

alcohol. Prescription drugs, such as

antidepressants, pain reducers, sleep aids,

Section Three: Be in Shape to Drive 26

and sedatives, have an impact on driving

safely. Check the label on the prescription

and packaging before you take a drug for

warnings about its effect. If you are not sure

if it is safe to take the drug and drive, ask

your doctor or pharmacist about any side

effects.

Illegal Drugs

Illegal drugs can impact your driving and can

affect your reflexes, judgment, vision, and

alertness in ways like alcohol. If you are

found guilty of a drug violation while driving

and it is your first conviction within a ten (10)

year period, you will be fined not less than

$200 nor more than $500 plus court costs,

imprisoned in the county jail for not less than

forty-eight (48) hours nor more than thirty

(30) days, and your license suspended for

30 to 120 days. For second and subsequent

convictions within a ten (10) year period, the

penalties are much worse.

Alcohol and the Law

In Kentucky, a person shall not

operate or be in physical control

of a motor vehicle while having

an alcohol concentration of 0.08

or above, or while under the

influence of alcohol, a controlled

substance, or other substance which impairs

driving ability. In other words, you are in

violation of the DUI law if you operate a

vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.08

or above. However, you could still be in

violation of the law with an alcohol

concentration under 0.08 if there is evidence

of impaired driving while under the influence

of alcohol or other substances. If you are

under the age of twenty-one (21), you are in

violation of the law with an alcohol

concentration of 0.02 or more.

If you are stopped by a law enforcement

officer and suspected of operating a motor

vehicle under the influence of alcohol or

other substance, the officer may request

you to submit to a test of your blood,

breath, urine, or any combination of these

tests. These tests are used for the purpose

of determining alcohol concentration or the

presence of a substance which may impair

a person’s driving ability, and based on

Kentucky’s implied consent law, a driver is

required to take any test lawfully requested

by a law enforcement officer. Kentucky

implied consent law is based on the

principle that when you operate a vehicle,

you have implicitly consented to a lawfully

requested test of your blood, breath, urine,

or any combination of these tests. Although

implied consent laws vary by state, the law

applies to the state where you are arrested,

not the state where you got your license.

If a police officer requests that you submit to

a test of your breath, blood, or urine, or any

combination of these tests and you refuse to

submit to any requested test, your refusal

may result in the suspension of your driver’s

license by the court and if you are convicted

of violating KRS 189A.010 (DUI), will result

in your license being suspended by the

Transportation Cabinet.

If you refuse to submit to the breath, blood,

or urine tests, this refusal may be used

against you in court as evidence of your

violation of KRS 189A.010 (DUI). In addition,

if you are subsequently convicted of KRS

189A.010, for a second or greater offense

within a ten (10) year period, your refusal of

a breath or urine test will be considered an

aggravating circumstance and you will be

subject to a mandatory minimum jail

sentence which is twice as long as the

mandatory minimum jail sentence imposed if

you submit to the tests.

If you take the test or tests, the results of any

test taken may be used against you in court

as evidence of violating KRS 189A.010

(DUI). If you take the test or tests, you have

the right to have a test or tests of your blood

performed by a person of your choosing

described in KRS 189A.103 (a physician,

registered nurse, phlebotomist, medical

technician, or medical technologist not

otherwise prohibited by law) within a

27 Section Three: Be in Shape to Drive

reasonable time of your arrest and at your

expense.

Although your license will be suspended,

you may be eligible immediately for an

ignition interlock license allowing you to drive

during the period of suspension and, if you

are convicted of violating KRS 189A.010

(DUI), you will receive a credit toward any

other ignition interlock requirement arising

from this arrest.

During the period immediately preceding the

administration of any test, you will be

afforded an opportunity of at least ten (10)

minutes but not more than fifteen (15)

minutes to attempt to contact and

communicate with an attorney.

Kentucky law states in KRS 189A.010 if you

are found guilty of an alcohol violation and it

is your first conviction within a ten (10) year

period, you will be fined not less than $200

nor more than $500 plus court costs,

imprisoned in the county jail for not less than

forty-eight (48) hours nor more than thirty

(30) days, and your license suspended for

four (4) to six (6) months. For a person

under the age of eighteen (18), the license

suspension may be longer. For second and

subsequent convictions within a ten (10)

year period, the penalties are much worse.

Aggravating Circumstances

Mandatory jail time is required when certain

aggravating circumstances exist:



Operating a motor vehicle in excess of 30

mph above the posted speed limit;



Operating a motor vehicle in the wrong

direction on a limited access highway



Operating a motor vehicle that causes a

collision resulting in death or serious

physical injury;



Operating a motor vehicle while the

alcohol concertation in the operator’s

blood or breath is .15 BAC or higher

within two (2) hours of cessation of

operation of a motor vehicle;



Refusing to take a blood, breath, or urine

test requested by a police officer;



Operating a motor vehicle while

transporting a passenger under the age

of twelve (12) years of age.

Repeat Offenders

Drivers convicted of Driving Under the

Influence will forfeit their license plates to the

Courts during the period in which the driver’s

license is suspended, unless the person has

been issued an ignition interlock license or a

hardship license. The Court may order an

ignition interlock device to be installed on the

violator’s vehicle. The ignition interlock

device prevents a driver from operating that

vehicle if the driver’s breath-alcohol

concentration exceeds .02.

Section Four: Before You Drive 28

Section Four

Before You Drive

Inspecting Your Vehicle

When it comes to road safety, you can’t

control other drivers or road conditions, but

one thing you can control is proper

maintenance of your vehicle and tires.

Crashes due to tire maintenance are

preventable, and simple steps can save

lives. Driving on underinflated or overinflated

tires or tires with low tread can lead to safety

issues on the road.

Check Tire Pressure with a Pressure

Gauge Monthly

 Buy a tire pressure gauge if

you don’t have one already.

 Open your car door; on the

inside jamb, you should see

a sticker. Write down or take a picture of

the number that says “PSI” (the

measurement for tire pressure).

 Remove the cap from the valve stem and

use the pressure gauge to check the tire

pressure (make sure you check when

they are cold).

 Compare the number on the gauge with

the number you wrote down. If the

number is too high, let air out of your

tires. If the number is too low, inflate your

tires until the numbers match.

Check Tread Depth with a Penny

 Hold a penny with Abraham Lincoln’s

body between your thumb and forefinger.



 Place Lincoln’s head first into

the deepest- looking groove.

 Can you see all of his head?

If yes, your tires are too

worn—don’t drive on them, and

make sure to get them replaced.

Adjusting Seat and Mirrors

You should be

seated upright

with your back

against the seat

and feet on the

floor. Improper

seating positions,

such as slouching, can result in reduced

effectiveness of the vehicle’s restraint

system. Adjust your seat and mirrors before

you start to drive so you can see clearly and

have full control of the vehicle’s foot pedals

and steering wheel with appropriate space

for airbag deployment.

 Your foot should be able to pivot

smoothly from brake to accelerator while

your heel is kept on the floor.

 The top of the steering wheel should be

no higher than the top of your shoulders

and below chin level.

 There should be 10 inches between your

chest and the steering wheel. Do not

move the seat so far forward that you

cannot easily steer and do not recline the

seat.

 Head restraints are designed to prevent

whiplash. Head restrains should be

adjusted so the head restraint contacts

the back of your head and not below the

level of your ears.

This

Section

Covers

•

Inspecting Your Vehicle

•

Adjusting Seat and Mirrors

•

Using Safety Belts

•

Air Bags

•

Child Passenger Safety Laws

•

Secure Your Load

•

ADAS Safety Features

29 Section Four: Before You Drive

Adjusting Your Mirrors

The inside mirror is the primary mirror for

view to the rear. Adjust your rearview mirror

so that it frames the rear window. You

should be able to see traffic flow to the rear

of the vehicle with the rearview mirror. A

day/night mirror should be set for the time of

day you are driving.

Adjust outside mirrors to reduce blind spots

and to provide maximum visibility to the side

and rear on both sides of the vehicle. You

are encouraged to use the following method

for adjusting your outside mirrors:

 To set the left side mirror, the driver must

rest his or her head against the closed

window and set the mirror to barely show

the rear edge of the vehicle.

 To set the right side mirror, the driver

should lean to the right so his or her head

is directly below the rearview mirror or

above the center console. The mirror

should be adjusted the same way as the

left side, so that the edge of the right side

of your vehicle can barely be seen.

 The driver will not see the left and right

sides of the vehicle when glancing in the

outside mirrors; however, this adjustment

adds 12 to 16 degrees of additional

viewing area to each side of the vehicle.

Having Clean Windows and Mirrors

It is important that you be able to see clearly

through the windows, windshield, and

mirrors.



Keep the windshield clean because

bright sun or headlights on a dirty

windshield decreases vision.



Keep your windshield washer fluid

container full. During winter, this will also

help to prevent freezing.



Smoking while driving causes a film to

build up on the glass inside your vehicle.

Clean the inside of your windows

frequently, especially if you smoke.



Remove snow, ice, and frost from all

windows before you start to drive.



Do not hang anything from your rearview

mirror. Do not clutter up the windshield or

rear window with decals. They are

unlawful and block your vision.



Excessive window tinting is not allowed.

Using Safety Belts

Kentucky law states a

person shall not operate a

motor vehicle manufactured

after 1981 on the public

roadways of this state

unless the driver and all

passengers are wearing a properly adjusted

and fastened seat belt, unless the passenger

is a child who is secured in a child restraint

system of type meeting federal motor vehicle

safety standards.

Always fasten your safety belt and make

sure all your passengers are using safety

belts or child restraints. Studies have shown

that if you are in a crash while using safety

belts, your chances of injury or death are

greatly reduced. Safety belts keep you from

being thrown from the vehicle during a crash

or roll over and help you keep control. Your

Section Four: Before You Drive 30

chances of surviving a crash are five times

greater if you stay inside the protection of

your vehicle. Safety belts will hold you in the

seated position during sudden stops and

turns while preventing you from impacting

the steering wheel or dashboard during a

collision. Your body moves toward the

steering wheel or dashboard during a frontal

collision. If you are not belted in properly and

you are traveling at 55 miles per hour when

a collision occurs, your body will impact the

steering wheel at the same speed. The

odds of you surviving this type of crash

without a proper safety belt is small.

In Kentucky, it is illegal to drive or to be a

passenger without wearing safety belts.

Seat Belt Law is primary in Kentucky and

drivers can be stopped by law enforcement

officers if observed driving while not wearing

seat belts.

It is important to wear the safety belt

correctly.

 A shoulder harness is worn across the

shoulder and chest with minimal, if any,

slack. The shoulder harness should not

be worn under the arm or behind the

back. Wearing the shoulder harness the

wrong way could cause serious internal

injuries in a crash.

 The lap belt should be adjusted so that it

is snug and lies low across your hips

after fastening. Otherwise, in a crash,

you could slide out of the belt, resulting in

injury or death.

Safety belts should be worn even if the

vehicle is equipped with air bags.

Air Bags

Air bags are supplemental restraints typically

designed to deploy in moderate to severe

crashes, and they may even deploy in a

minor crash. Air bags are designed to inflate

if the sensors detect a severe crash and are

designed to work best in combination with

safety belts. Safety belts help to properly

position your body to maximize the air bag’s

benefits and help restrain you during the

initial and any after crashes. In a crash, air

bags and safety belts reduce the chance that

your head and upper body will strike some

part of the vehicle’s interior. It is extremely

important that safety belts are always worn,

even in air bag-equipped vehicles.

The entire air bag deployment process takes

about 1/20

of a second – faster than the

blink of an eye. The speed of deployment for

side-impact air bags is even faster. In the

event your airbag deploys, it is common for a

powder-like substance to fill the vehicle

compartment. This substance is only a

drying agent for the airbag but could be

mistaken for smoke. Here are some things to

remember to avoid serious injury related to

air bag deployment:

 Move the seat back. The driver’s seat

should be as far back from the steering

wheel as possible while still being able to

operate the vehicle safely.

 The passenger seat should be set as far

back as possible from the dashboard.

Passengers should also avoid placing

arms, legs, or any personal items on the

dashboard.

 Drivers should place their hands on the

outside of the steering wheel – never

across the steering wheel where the

airbag deploys.

 Children 12 years of age and under

should ride in the back seat in a safety

belt or child restraint system.

31 Section Four: Before You Drive

 Never place a rear-facing child safety

seat in front of an active passenger air

bag. Turn off the airbag if your vehicle is

equipped with the factory installed

disabling switch.

Read your vehicle owner’s manual for

specific information about the air bags in

your vehicle.

Child Passenger Safety Laws

If using a child safety seat, make sure it is

installed properly in your vehicle and used

correctly. Check to be sure that all children

age 12 and younger are properly restrained

in the back seat and that a rear - facing child

safety seat is never placed in front of an

active passenger air bag.

Kentucky law requires that any driver of a

motor vehicle, when transporting a child of

forty (40) inches in height or less in a motor

vehicle operated on the roadways, streets,

and highways of this state, shall have the

child properly secured in a child restraint

system of a type meeting federal motor

vehicle safety standards. Any person who

violates the provisions of Kentucky’s Child

Restraint Law shall be fined fifty dollars

($50) and shall pay an additional fee of ten

dollars ($10) which shall be deposited in the

Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund.

Any driver of a motor vehicle, when

transporting a child under the age of eight

(8) years who is between forty (40) inches

and fifty-seven (57) inches in height in a

motor vehicle operated on the roadways,

streets, and highways of this state, shall

have the child properly secured in a child

booster seat. A child of any age who is

greater than fifty-seven (57) inches in height

shall not be required to be secured in a child

booster seat.

The Safety Seat will not provide the

maximum protection if not properly installed.

The Safety Seat should ideally be placed in

the middle of the rear seat and anchored to

prevent any movement in the event of a

collision. Assistance with the installation of

your Child Safety Seat may be found at a

Child Safety Seat Inspection Site at your

local Kentucky State Police Post.

A "child restraint system" means any device

manufactured to transport children in a

motor vehicle which conforms to all

applicable federal motor vehicle safety

standards.

A "child booster seat" means a child

passenger restraint system that meets the

standards set forth in 49 C.F.R. Part 571 that

is designed to elevate a child to properly sit

in a federally approved lap-and-shoulder belt

system.

Unattended Children

Each year children are injured or tragically

die as a result of being left unattended in a

vehicle. When you leave a child in the

vehicle alone, you risk the child moving the

vehicle and causing a collision. When you

leave a small child in the vehicle for an

extended time during hot weather, you risk

the life of that child.

In Kentucky, it is illegal to leave a child under

the age of eight (8) years in a motor vehicle

under circumstances which manifest an

extreme indifference to human life, and

which create a grave risk of death to the

child, thereby causing the death. There are

several laws in Kentucky that makes it illegal

to endanger the life or health of a child.

Secure Your Load

Driving with an unsecured load is both

against the law and extremely dangerous.

Drivers who fail to properly secure their load

may face a costly fine and jail time if they

cause a crash. A load must be securely

fastened and is only considered secure

when nothing can slide, shift, fall, or sift onto

the roadway or become airborne.

Section Four: Before You Drive 32

To secure your load in your vehicle or trailer:

 Tie it down with rope, netting, or straps.

 Tie large objects directly to your vehicle

or trailer.

 Consider covering the entire load with a

sturdy tarp or netting.

 Do not overload your vehicle or trailer.

 Always double check your load to make

sure it is secure.

 Do not forget that animals should also be

properly secured.

Before you drive, ask yourself these

questions:

 Is there any chance of debris or cargo

falling or blowing out of my vehicle?

 Is my load secured at the back, sides,

and top?

 What would happen to my load if I had to

brake suddenly, I hit a bump, or another

vehicle hit me?

 Would I feel safe if I were driving behind

my vehicle?

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

(ADAS) Safety Features

Many newer vehicles on the road today have

driver assistance safety features designed to

save lives and prevent injuries, if used

properly. Some of the driver assist safety

features sense and monitor conditions;

identify present and potential dangers; and

may help you avoid a potential crash. These

safety features may provide alerts, such as

sounds or vibration or may take control of

the vehicle, such as adjusting the braking or

steering. Safety features include, but are not

limited to blind spot warning, back up

camera, forward collision warning, automatic

emergency braking, lane keeping

assistance, and active parking assist.

When taking your

driving test, you will

not be allowed to

use certain safety

features, such as

parking assist and

cruise control.

Safety features are

meant to assist you

with driving tasks,

not to drive the vehicle. Remain engaged

and always focused on the driving task. It is

your responsibility to be aware of everything

around you by performing head checks and

using mirrors and cameras to observe traffic

and other roadway users. You are

responsible for the safe operation of your

vehicle at all times. Do not rely on safety

features alone. Follow these important tips

when driving vehicles with safety features:

 It is your responsibility to always stay

focused when driving.

 Read your Vehicle Owner’s Manual to

learn how your vehicle’s safety features

operate.

 Know the limitations of your vehicle’s

safety features.

 Be aware that safety features may not

work properly in certain conditions such

as rain, snow, ice, fog, hills, and curves.

 Always keep vehicle sensors clean and

damage free.

 Always keep software technology up to

date and follow your vehicle

manufacturer’s recommendations.

ADAS safety features provide many benefits

and have great potential to assist drivers in

reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities

when used properly. Click the links below for

additional information:

https://mycardoeswhat.org/

Traffic Safety Education Foundation

https://www.nhtsa.gov/

33 Section Five: Basic Driving

Section Five

Basic Driving

Starting the Engine

Check the vehicle

owner’s manual for

how to start the

vehicle. To start

the engine, place

your right foot on

the brake pedal

and check the gear

selector lever for park. Place the key in the

ignition and turn the ignition switch to the on

position. Check indicator lights and gauges

(fuel level, ABS, air bags, and so on).

Moving the Vehicle

Move gear selector lever to “D” (drive) while

keeping your foot on the brake pedal. Check

forward for a safe path and check for traffic

to the sides and behind. Signal and if safe;

move your foot to the accelerator and press

gently. Accelerate gradually and smoothly

with the top of your foot on the pedal and the

heel of your foot on the floor.

Stopping the Vehicle

Check your mirrors for traffic to the rear of

your vehicle. Move your foot from the

accelerator to the brake pedal. Press with

steady pressure until your vehicle comes to

a stop.

Steering

The steering wheel is always turned in the

direction you want the vehicle to move,

whether moving forward or in reverse.

Hand Position

Placing your hands at the 2 and 10 o’clock

positions is no longer recommended

because it can be dangerous in a vehicle

equipped with air bags. Instead, both hands

should be placed on the outside of the

steering wheel on opposite sides, at the 3

and 9 o’clock positions, to maintain control of

the vehicle. Your grip on the steering wheel

should be firm but gentle. Use your fingers

instead of the palms of your hands and keep

your thumbs up along the face of the

steering wheel. Never turn the wheel while

gripping it from the inside of the steering

wheel.

Backing Up

To safely back up

your vehicle, you

should:

 Check behind

your vehicle

before you get

in. Children and

small objects

cannot be seen

from the driver’s

seat.

 Place your foot

on the brake and shift to reverse. Grasp

the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock

position with your left hand. Place your

right arm on the back of the seat and look

directly through the rear window. Use

your mirrors for backing up but keep in

mind that these mirrors do not show the

area immediately behind your vehicle.

 Accelerate gently and smoothly, keeping

your speed slow. Your vehicle is much

harder to steer while you are backing up.

Steer slightly in the direction the rear of

the vehicle should move. If backing up

while turning, make quick checks to the

front and sides. Continue looking to the

rear until coming to a complete stop.

This

Section

Covers

•

Starting the Engine

•

Moving the Vehicle

•

Stopping the Vehicle

•

Steering

•

Backing Up

Section Six: Rules of the Road 34

Section Six

Rules of the Road

Yielding Right of Way

Yielding right-of-way rules provide drivers

with guidance for situations when other

drivers or pedestrians are present. These

rules determine which driver should yield the

right of way and the sequence for entering

and driving through an intersection or other

driving scenarios.

Although yielding right-of-way rules provide

a guide to determine who should yield the

right of way, no one should assume he or

she automatically has the right of way. The

situation and circumstances at the

intersection must always be considered.

You should yield the right of way to:

 The driver who is

at or arrives

before you at the

intersection;

 Drivers in the

opposing traffic

lane when you are

making a left turn.

This includes vehicles turning right;

 The driver on your

right at a four-way

intersection

controlled by stop

signs if both of you

arrive at the

intersection at the

same time;

 Drivers on a public highway if you are

entering the highway from a driveway or

a private road;

 Drivers on a minor road must yield to

drivers on a main road.

 Drivers already on a limited access or

interstate highway if you are on the

entrance or acceleration ramp; and

 Pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers

who are still in the intersection.

Traffic Control Devices

Traffic control devices include traffic signals,

signs, pavement markings, and directions

provided by law enforcement, highway

personnel, and school crossing guards.

Upon approaching an intersection where a

police officer is directing traffic, do what the

officer instructs you to do regardless of

traffic-control devices or signs. An

intersection is any place where two roads

meet. At an intersection there may be traffic

signals, signs, or right-of-way rules to control

traffic.

Traffic Signals

Traffic signals are lights

that tell you when or

where you should stop

and go. Traffic lights are

usually at intersections

and are red, yellow, and

green from top to

bottom, when on the same signal. There are

some intersections and other locations

where there are single green, yellow, or red

lights. In some metropolitan areas, traffic

lights are horizontal, instead of vertical, and

the red light is on the left, the yellow light is

in the middle, and the green light is on the

right.

This

Section

Covers

•

Yielding Right of Way

•

Traffic Control Devices

•

Traffic Signs

•

Pavement Markings

•

Other Lane Controls

35 Section Six: Rules of the Road

GREEN Traffic Light – If the roadway

is clear, after yielding the right of way

to other vehicles and pedestrians

lawfully within the intersection, you

may go straight or turn left or turn

right, unless such turns are prohibited.

Left turns on a green light must yield

to through traffic coming from the

opposite direction.

YELLOW Traffic Light – A yellow light

means the traffic signal is about to

turn red. Stop if you can do so safely.

A vehicle may clear an intersection

on a red light, if the vehicle entered

the intersection while the signal was

yellow; but it is against the law to

enter an intersection after the light

turns red.

RED Traffic Light – A red light means

“stop” behind a crosswalk or stop line

until the green light appears. You may

turn right after stopping if there is no

approaching traffic unless a sign is

posted prohibiting such right turns.

Even though the light is red, a turn is

permitted from a one-way street into

the nearest lane of another one-way

street running in the direction of that

turn.

 Right turns on red – If not prohibited by

signs, and you are in the proper lane, you

must first stop, and then turn right when

the roadway is clear of vehicle or

pedestrian traffic.

 Left turns on red – Left turns on red are

permitted only when turning from a one-

way street onto a one-way street. You

must first stop then turn left when the

roadway is clear of vehicle or pedestrian

traffic.

Flashing Lights

A flashing yellow light means you must slow

down and watch for others. It is found at

intersections, construction areas, and on

some vehicles, like tow trucks.

A flashing red light means you must come to

a full stop and proceed only when it is clear.

Two flashing red lights mark a railroad

crossing. Stop and proceed only after the

red lights stop flashing and you determine no

train is approaching. The familiar cross-buck

sign near the tracts is a regulatory sign that

means the same as a yield sign.

Lighted Arrows

Some intersections have lighted arrows in

addition to the regular lights. A green arrow

means you may go in the direction of the

arrow, if you are in the proper lane.

A flashing yellow arrow means proceed with

caution in the direction of the arrow.

A green arrow pointed upward means you

may go “straight ahead”.

A red arrow means no turning in the

direction of the arrow, until it turns green.

When there is more than one traffic light,

obey the one that is over your lane.

Traffic Signs

Traffic signs tell you about traffic rules,

hazards, roadway location, roadway

directions, and the location of roadway

services. The shape, color, symbols, and

words of these signs give clues to the type of

information they provide.

Warning Signs – These signs tell a driver of

possible danger that might be ahead, and

alert the driver to slow down and be

prepared to stop if necessary. Warning

signs may also alert the driver to a hazard or

special situation on the roadway that is

ahead. These signs are usually yellow with

black lettering or symbols and are diamond

shaped. Some warning signs may be

fluorescent yellow, such as school zones,

school crossing, and pedestrian crossing.

Some common warning signs are shown

below.

Section Six: Rules of the Road 36

Railroad Crossing Warning Signs – Many

railroad crossings have signs or signals to

caution you about highway-railroad grade

crossings. Some common railroad crossing

warning signs and signals are shown below.

 A round yellow warning sign

with an “X” symbol and black

“RR” letters is placed along

the road before a highway-

railroad grade crossing. The

sign cautions you to slow down, look and

listen for a train or railroad vehicle, and

be prepared to stop if a train is

approaching.

 A white, X-shaped sign with

“Railroad Crossing” printed on

it is located at the highway-

railroad grade crossing. When

a train or railroad vehicle is approaching

the intersection, you must stop behind

the stop line or before the intersection

until the intersection is clear.

 At highway-railroad grade

crossings with more than one

train track, the number of

tracks will be posted. These

signs warn you that there is more than

one track and there may be more than

one train crossing. Not all highway-

railroad grade crossings with more than

one train track will have these signs, so it

is important to check for more than one

track, train, or railroad vehicle at each

highway-railroad grade crossing. Not all

railroad grade crossings have lights.

When you need to cross railroad tracks, look

both ways and cross the tracks quickly,

without stopping. If a train is crossing the

highway, you must wait to cross a highway-

railroad grade crossing until the train is well

down the track or railroad devices, such as

lights and gates, indicate it is safe to cross. If

you are approaching railroad tracks and you

need to stop for traffic or a signal, stop at the

stop line before the railroad tracks.

37 Section Six: Rules of the Road

If you do get boxed in or stalled on a railroad

crossing, abandon your car immediately and

run away from the railroad track in the

direction the train is coming, in order to avoid

being hit by flying debris. Once you are at a

safe distance, call the 800 number posted on

or near the crossbuck, or call 911, to alert

the dispatcher of your stalled vehicle. Do not

attempt to restart your vehicle until a

dispatcher indicates it is safe and no trains

are approaching.

The stopping distance for an average freight

train at 55 miles per hour may be a mile or

more. Trains cannot stop quickly; cars can. If

you are stopped at a railroad crossing where

there is more than one track, do not start up

as soon as the train passes. Wait until you

have a clear view in both directions before

you start across. A second train could be

approaching from the other direction. Never

attempt to cross a railroad crossing until

there is ample space to get completely

across and off the tracks. Stopping on a

railroad crossing is very dangerous.

Expect a train when approaching any

railroad track. Crossing a railroad track after

the warning lights are flashing or the

crossing gates are down is against the law,

and you could be cited.

Work Zone Signs – These are generally

diamond or rectangular shaped and orange

with black letters or symbols. These

construction, maintenance, or emergency

operation signs alert you to work zones

ahead and warn you that people are working

on or near the roadway.

These warnings include workers ahead,

reduced speed, detours, slow-moving

construction equipment, and poor or

suddenly changing road surfaces.

In work zones, traffic may

be controlled by a person

with a sign or flag to tell

you which direction to

travel or to slow down or

stop. You must follow

their instructions.

Barriers, such as drums, cones, and tubes

(panels), are used to keep traffic out of

hazardous work zones. Along with signs and

road markings, they guide you safely

through the work zone. Barriers may be

used to keep drivers from entering closed

roads or other areas where it is dangerous to

drive. Temporary traffic signals may be used

in work zones. You may see a warning sign

showing a symbol of a traffic signal. Stop at

the white line, if present.

Cone

Section Six: Rules of the Road 38

Give construction workers a “brake.” Reduce

your speed in work zones and be prepared

to stop suddenly. Do not tailgate in work

zones. Fines for speeding in a work zone are

doubled.

Regulatory Signs – These signs are square

or rectangular or have a special shape and

are white with black, red, or green letters or

symbols. These signs tell you about specific

laws that you must obey, such as rules for

traffic direction, lane use, turning, speed,

parking, and other special situations. Some

regulatory signs have a red circle with a red

slash over a symbol, which prohibits certain

actions.

Common types of regulatory signs are:

Speed Limit Signs – These black

and white signs indicate the

maximum legal speed allowed in

ideal conditions.

Stop Sign – A stop sign has eight

sides and is red with white letters.

You must stop behind the stop line

or crosswalk if one is present. Yield

the right of way to crossing

vehicles and pedestrians in all

directions.

Yield Sign – A yield sign is a red

and white downward-pointing

triangle with red letters. It means

you must slow down and allow

traffic that has the right of way to

cross before entering.

Shared Center Lane Left Turn

Only – This sign tells you where a

lane is reserved for the use of left

turning vehicles from either

direction and is not to be used for

through traffic or passing other

vehicles.

One-Way Street – These signs

tell you that traffic flows only in

the direction of the arrow. Do not

turn in the opposite direction of

the arrow.

Wrong Way – This sign tells that

you are going in the wrong

direction. It is often found at exit

ramps and at the beginning of

one-way streets.

Do Not Enter – This sign tells you

that you cannot enter a street or

roadway. It is often found at exit

ramps and at the beginning of

one-way streets.

Guide Signs – These signs are square and

rectangular and are green, brown, or blue.

They give information on intersecting roads,

help direct you to cities and towns, and show

points of interest along the highway. Guide

signs can also help you find hospitals,

service stations, restaurants, and hotels.

Road Closed

39 Section Six: Rules of the Road

Route Number Signs – The shape and

color of route number signs indicate the type

of roadway: interstate, U.S., state, city,

county, or local road. When planning a trip,

use a road map to determine the route.

During the trip, follow the route signs to

prevent you from getting lost in an unfamiliar

area.

Pavement Markings

Pavement markings are lines, arrows,

words, or symbols painted on the roadway to

give you directions or warnings. They are

used to divide lanes, tell you when you may

pass other vehicles or change lanes, tell you

which lanes to use for turns, define

pedestrian walkways, and show where you

must stop for signs or traffic signals.

Yellow Lane Markings

White Lane Markings

Crosswalks and Stop Lines

Crosswalks define the area where

pedestrians may cross the roadway. When

required to stop because of a sign or signal,

you must stop behind the stop line,

crosswalk, or stop sign or signal. You must

yield to pedestrians entering or in a

crosswalk. Not all crosswalks are marked.

Be alert for pedestrians when crossing

intersections. If crosswalks are not apparent,

then you must stop before entering the

intersection. If there is a stop line before the

crosswalk, the stop line must be obeyed first.

The following are some of the most common

types of crosswalk markings:

Other Lane Controls

Shared Center Left Turn Lane &

Reversible Lanes

State Route

US Route

Interstate

Route

Reversible Lanes

Two-direction

roadway—passing

permitted

Section Six: Rules of the Road 40

STANDARD COLORS

RED

Stop or forbidden.

GREEN

Indicates movement permitted, directional guidance.

YELLOW

General warning.

REGULATORY SIGNS

41 Section Six: Rules of the Road

STANDARD SHAPES

Horizontal

Rectangle

Equilateral

Triangle

Vertical

Rectangle

Diamond

Pentagon

Round

Generally

guide signs.

Used only

for yield

signs.

Generally

regulating

signs.

Existing or

possible

hazards on

roadway.

School

signs.

Railroad

and

advance

warning.

WARNING SIGNS

Section Seven: General Driving 42

Section Seven

General Driving

Turning and Turnabouts

When turning, you should:

 Search all corners for traffic controls,

pedestrians, other vehicles, and so on

and signal your intentions.

 Enter and maintain proper position in the

lane that is closest to the direction you

want to go.

 Look through the turn to the farthest point

possible along the intended path.

 Accelerate smoothly to an appropriate

speed, make sure your turn signal is

cancelled, and check traffic to the rear.

 If you plan to turn at an intersection,

signal 100 feet before the turn.

 If the driver in front of you is signaling for

a turn, do not signal unless you are also

going to turn.

Right Turns

 Avoid swinging wide to the left before

making the turn.

 Always turn right from the right-most

portion of your lane.

Left Turns

 When making a left turn, yield to

oncoming traffic.

 Always turn left from the left-most portion

of your lane.

Multiple Lanes Turning

 Identify and enter the lane from which

you will turn.

 Stay in that lane until the turn is

completed.

This

Section

Covers

•

Turning and Turnabouts

•

Intersections

•

Roundabouts and Traffic Circles

•

Rules for School Buses

•

Parking

•

Use of Lanes

•

Entering a Multi-lane Highway

•

Exiting a Roadway

•

Passing

43 Section Seven: General Driving

Turnabouts

A turnabout is a type of turn in which a

street, alley, or driveway is used to legally

reverse the direction you are traveling when

it is not practical or possible to drive around

a block. When you need to turnaround and

go the other direction, a turnabout is a safe

and legal way to do it.

Make sure your car can be seen for 500 feet

in either direction. Signal your intention to

turn right; stop and check traffic to the sides

and rear of the vehicle. Move back until the

rear bumper of the vehicle reaches the near

edge of the driveway. While backing slowly,

steer rapidly all the way to the right. As the

vehicle centers in the driveway (Figure 1),

straighten the wheels and stop. If backing

onto a two-lane road, do not center the

vehicle in the roadway. Instead, position the

vehicle to the right of the center line (Figure

2), or stay on your side of the roadway if

there is no center line. Shift to drive and

check in both directions; if clear, signal and

turn left into the proper lane and accelerate

as appropriate.

Applicants should master this maneuver

in preparation for the skills test.

Intersections

At all intersections, reduce your speed and

search for:

 Traffic control devices;

 Oncoming and cross traffic;

 Pedestrians and bicyclists;

 The roadway condition;

 Areas of limited visibility;

Do not rely on others to obey traffic control

signals or signs. They may not yield the right

of way. Be prepared to avoid a crash.

Before moving after stopping at an

intersection, take the extra time to check for

crossing traffic and bicyclists. Look left and

then right and left again before entering the

intersection. At a traffic signal when the light

turns green, avoid immediately moving into

the intersection. Take the time to make sure

your path of travel is clear and there is no

crossing traffic. You need a large enough

gap to get your vehicle across the roadway.

You need enough space to turn into the

appropriate lane and get up to speed.

At an intersection, look both ways, even if

other traffic has a red light or a stop sign.

Someone may disobey traffic control

devices. Make sure you have a good view. If

your view of a cross street is blocked by a

building or a row of parked vehicles, edge

forward slowly until you can clearly see. If

traffic in one lane is blocking your view of

another lane, wait until it clears. If you try to

look by placing the front of your vehicle into

the other lane you may get hit.

Never assume another driver will share

space or give your vehicle any additional

space. Do not turn into a lane just because

an approaching vehicle has a turn signal

active. The driver with an active turn signal

may plan to turn after they go past your

vehicle or may have forgotten to turn the

signal off from a prior turn.

Figure 1 Driveway

Figure 2 Two-Lane Road

Section Seven: General Driving 44

Roundabouts and Traffic Circles

A roundabout or traffic circle is a circular

intersection with design features that

promote safe and efficient traffic flow.

Vehicles travel counterclockwise around a

raised center island, with entering traffic

yielding the right of way to circulating traffic.

When using roundabouts or traffic circles:

 Slow down to enter the

roundabout or traffic circle. A

sign, like the one shown,

warns of a roundabout or

traffic circle.

 Yield to the traffic in the

roundabout/circle.

 Enter a roundabout or traffic circle in a

counterclockwise direction.

 Proceed to the appropriate exit, signal

intent, and exit.

Rules for School Buses

Where there are school buses, there are

usually children. Children are likely to do

something unexpected, so be prepared.

When you come to a school or church bus

that is stopped on any roadway to load or

unload passengers you must stop. By law

you must remain stopped until all people are

clear of the roadway and the bus is in

motion.

A stop is not required when approaching a

stopped bus from the opposite direction

upon a highway of four or more lanes.

However, a stop is required when following a

bus that is stopped on a two lane road or

you are going in the opposite direction of the

bus on a highway that has less than four

lanes, as they are generally not divided.

Do not attempt to pass any school or church

bus when the bus is stopped upon a

highway to receive or discharge passengers,

with the stop arm and signal lights are

activated. The operator of a vehicle

approaching a school or church bus from

any direction must bring the vehicle to a

complete stop, and cannot proceed until the

bus has completed receiving or discharging

passengers and the bus is in motion. This

requirement applies to all vehicles

approaching a school or church bus.

Parking

You are responsible for making sure that

your vehicle is not a hazard when it is

parked.

 Always park in a designated area.

 When parking along the roadway, park

your vehicle as far away from the flow of

traffic as possible. If there is a curb, park

as close to it as possible.

No-Parking Zones – There are

many areas where you cannot

park. Check for signs or

painted curbs that may prohibit

or limit parking. Some parking

restrictions are indicated by colored curb

markings.

Perpendicular and Angle Parking

Entering a Perpendicular or Angle Parking

Space:

 Identify the space in which you will park

and check traffic.

 Signal your intentions.

45 Section Seven: General Driving

 Move forward slowly, turning the steering

wheel left or right as appropriate, until the

vehicle reaches the middle of the space.

 Center the vehicle in the space.

 Move to the front of the parking space,

stop, and secure the vehicle.

Exiting a Perpendicular or Angle Parking

Space:

 Check for traffic in all directions.

 Continue to check traffic and move

straight back until your front bumper

clears the vehicle parked beside you.

 Then turn the steering wheel sharply in

the direction that the rear of your vehicle

should move.

 When the vehicle clears the parking area

space, stop and shift to drive.

 Accelerate smoothly, steering as needed

to straighten the wheels.

Parallel Parking

ENTERING A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE

 Identify the space where you will park,

check traffic, and signal.

 When traffic is clear, shift to reverse and

look to the rear in the direction the

vehicle will be moving.

 Back slowly while turning the steering

wheel rapidly in the appropriate direction.

Continue backing up until your front

bumper is in line with the rear bumper of

the vehicle you are parking behind.

 Back up slowly while turning the steering

wheel rapidly to center the vehicle into

the space.

 Stop before touching the bumper of the

vehicle to the rear. Shift to drive and

adjust the vehicle in the parking space.

 Make sure your vehicle cannot move. Set

your parking brake and shift to “park” (or

reverse in a manual shift car).

 It is safest to get out of your vehicle on

the curb side. If you must use the street

side, check traffic before getting out.

 The law requires you to turn off the

engine and remove the key when you

leave a vehicle. Always lock your vehicle

when leaving it, even if you are only

going to be away for a short period of

time.

EXITING A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE

 Check traffic in all directions, place your

foot on the brake, shift to reverse, and

back as much as possible to the vehicle

parked behind you.

 Check for traffic and signal. Shift to drive

and move forward slowly, steering into

the lane.

 Make sure that the front bumper of the

vehicle will clear the vehicle ahead; if not,

reverse and correct steering.

 Move forward into the appropriate lane of

traffic when the door post of the vehicle

clears the rear bumper of the vehicle

parked ahead of you.

Applicants should master this maneuver

in preparation for the skills test.

Section Seven: General Driving 46

Parking on a Hill

If you are parked on a hill, turn your wheels

so that your vehicle will touch the curb if the

vehicle begins moving. If there is no curb,

turn the wheels so the vehicle will go off the

road should it roll.

Turn off the engine and remove the key

when you leave a vehicle. Always lock your

vehicle when leaving it, even if you are only

going to be away for a short period of time.

Handicapped Parking

Unauthorized parking in designated

handicapped parking areas is unlawful and

is punishable by a fine. Persons requiring or

needing handicapped parking privileges

should apply to the County Clerk’s Office for

special decals or plates. Handicapped

Parking is only for vehicles displaying an

official permit and transporting a disabled

person.

Use of Lanes

Smooth driving allows you to keep more

distance between yourself and other drivers

and helps improve fuel economy. If there are

three or more lanes in one direction, the

middle lane or lanes are for through traffic.

The left lane is for drivers who want to pass

or turn left. The right lane is used by drivers

who want to go slower or who are entering

or turning right. If a road has only two lanes

in one direction, the right lane generally has

the smoothest traffic flow, with the left lane

being reserved for the passing of other

vehicles. Remaining in the left lane on a

limited access highway is illegal.

Lanes for Turning

While turning into another street, turn into

the lane nearest to you. If you are turning left

from a street with two or more lanes, turn

from the lane nearest the center lane. If you

are turning right, turn from the lane nearest

the curb. If you need to change to another

lane, do so only after you have finished your

turn and when the traffic is clear.

If you miss your turn, go on to the next

intersection and work your way back to

where you want to go.

If you have already started through an

intersection when the light changes, keep

going. If you have started to make a turn,

follow through. Last-second changes can

cause collisions.

Changing Lanes

When changing lanes:

 Check your mirrors.

 Check your “blind spots,” or areas around

your vehicle that cannot be seen by other

vehicles, by turning your head and

looking over your shoulder in the

direction you plan to move.

47 Section Seven: General Driving

 Identify a gap in traffic, signal, and look

again in the direction of the lane change.

Adjust speed and steer into lane.

Entering a Multi-lane Highway

Use the acceleration lane to reach the speed

of other vehicles before pulling onto the

roadway. Identify a gap in traffic and merge

with the traffic flow. Cancel your turn signal.

The existing traffic has the right of way, so

make sure it is clear before you merge.

Exiting a Roadway

It is important to know where you are exiting

the roadway.

 Get in the lane closest to your exiting

point early to avoid a quick lane change.

 Maintain your vehicle speed as long as

you are on the main roadway.

 Signal your intention, move to the

deceleration lane, and slow to your

existing speed.

 Check the posted speed for the

deceleration lane.

Passing

In general, you should pass on the left. On

multi-lane roads, the left-most lane is

intended to be used for passing slower

vehicles. Passing on the right can be

dangerous since other drivers do not expect

it. Vehicles on the right side are also more

difficult to see. The operator of a vehicle may

overtake and pass another vehicle upon the

right only when it is safe to do so.

Such movement shall not be made by

driving off the roadway unless the vehicle

being passed comes to a complete stop and

such movement may be made safely.

Many roads have lane markings that tell you

when passing is legal or illegal. You may not

pass when there is a solid line on your side

of the broken line of the road. You may pass

if there is a solid yellow line on the left side

of the broken yellow line.

Pass only if there are no

oncoming vehicles. Signs are

also used to tell you when

passing is legal or illegal.

Kentucky law requires that a pass be

completed before reaching the beginning of

a “no passing zone”, and that a pass be

completed before coming within two hundred

(200) feet of an oncoming vehicle. If you are

still in the left lane when you reach the “no

passing zone”, you are violating the law.

When passing another vehicle, pass the

vehicle as quickly and safely as possible.

The longer your vehicle stays alongside the

other vehicle, the longer you are in danger of

the other vehicle moving toward your lane.

To pass:

 Check for oncoming traffic.

 Check your mirrors and over your

shoulder for following or passing

vehicles.

 Signal your intentions when it is safe to

pass.

 Steer smoothly into the passing lane,

Maintain or adjust speed as necessary.

 Continue to pass until the complete front

of the passed vehicle is visible in your

rearview mirror.

 Signal your intention to return to the lane.

No Passing Anytime

Section Seven: General Driving 48

 Steer smoothly into the lane, maintaining

or adjusting speed as appropriate.

 Consider whether or not you have

enough space to pass whenever you

approach a hill or curve, an intersection,

or any roadway obstruction.

 Any time your view is blocked by a

curve or a hill, you should assume there

is an oncoming vehicle just out of sight.

Treat a curve or a hill as an oncoming

vehicle. Do not start to pass when

approaching a hill or a curve.

 It is dangerous to pass where someone

may enter or cross the road. Such

places include crossroads and

congested areas, business and

shopping areas, school zones, parks,

playgrounds, and pedestrian crossings.

While you are passing, your view of

people and traffic may be blocked by

the vehicle you are passing. Also, other

drivers turning onto the roadway into the

left lane may not expect to find you in

the left lane.

 Before you pass, look ahead for road or

other conditions that may cause other

traffic to move into your lane. Make sure

someone is not going to pull in front of

you from a private drive or intersection.

 Never pull out to pass unless you know

you have enough space to return to

your lane. Do not depend on having

enough time to pass several vehicles at

once or rely on

other drivers to

make room for

you.

 Before you

return to the

driving lane, be

sure to leave enough room between you

and the vehicle you have passed. One

way to do this is to look for the vehicle

in the outside rearview mirror. When

you see the vehicle, you have enough

room to return to the driving lane.

Overtaking a bicycle or electric low-speed

scooter proceeding in the same direction:

 If there is more than one (1) lane for

traffic traveling in the same direction,

move the vehicle to the immediate left, if

the lane is available and moving in the

lane is reasonably safe; or

 If there is only one (1) lane for traffic

traveling in the same direction, pass to

the left keeping at least three (3) feet

between your vehicle and the bicycle or

electric low-speed scooter. Maintain that

distance until safely past the bicycle or

electric low-speed scooter.

 Use reasonable caution in passing if

space on the roadway is not available to

have a minimum distance of three (3)

feet between your vehicle and the bicycle

or electric low-speed scooter.

 You may drive to the left of the center

line, including when there is a no-passing

zone, to pass a person operating a

bicycle or electric low-speed scooter only

if the roadway to the left of the center is

clear for a sufficient distance to permit

passing the person safely and avoid

interference with oncoming traffic.

When being passed:

 Stay in your lane.

 Kentucky law requires the operator of a

vehicle about to be overtaken and

passed shall give way to the right in favor

of the overtaking vehicle.

 Road users are required to work together

in order to obtain clearance and avoid

accidents in passing situations.

49 Section Eight: Safe Driving Tips

Section Eight

Safe Driving Tips

Driving requires skills you can only gain

through practice and experience. The

following section offers some driving tips that

you can practice helping you become a safer

and more skillful driver.

Visual Search

You must know what is happening around

your vehicle. You must look ahead, to the

sides, and behind the vehicle. You should

develop a searching pattern that you can

use every time you are driving.

Searching helps you to see situations that

could cause a problem and gives you time to

change speed or roadway position. Avoid

staring. Keep your eyes moving and

searching for possible problems.

Look ahead.

Looking well down

your planned path of

travel will help you

see the road, other

road users, and traffic

conditions and gives

you time to adjust and plan your driving

movements. This additional time will allow

you to make better decisions and possibly

avoid being forced to use emergency

braking and steering. Ideally, you should try

to look at what is occurring 20 to 30 seconds

in front of your car.

How far you look down the road depends on

where you are driving. In cities and urban

areas, you may not be able to see as far as

when you are driving on a highway. Avoid

getting into situations that could limit how far

you can see such as following too close to a

larger vehicle. Adjust your speed and road

position so you can see.

Look to the sides. You should search to the

sides to make sure other roadway users will

not cross your travel path.

Look to the rear. You need to be aware of

traffic behind your vehicle. Use your mirrors

to check this traffic. It is very important to

check traffic behind you when changing

lanes, slowing down or stopping, and

entering an intersection.

Speed Management

Driving safely means adjusting your vehicle

speed for roadway and traffic conditions,

providing an adequate following interval, and

obeying the appropriate speed limits. Make it

a habit to glance at the speedometer about

once a minute to ensure you are driving at a

safe and legal speed.

Kentucky Speed Limits

When the speed limit is not posted, these

are the speed limits on Kentucky roads.

65 MPH – Sixty-five miles per hour is the

speed limit on interstate highways and

parkways.

55 MPH – Fifty-five miles per hour is the

speed limit on all other state highways.

35 MPH – Thirty-five miles per hour is the

speed limit in a business/residential district.

15 MPH – The speed limit in an off-street

parking facility offered for public use,

whether publicly or privately owned, shall be

fifteen miles per hour.

70 MPH – The secretary of transportation

may increase the speed limit of specific

highways to seventy miles per hour.

This

Section

Covers

•

Visual

•

Speed Management

•

Stopping Distance

•

Space Management

•

Backing

•

Communicating

Section Eight: Safe Driving Tips 50

Visibility

Speed must be adjusted according to how

well you can see the roadway. A few things

that may inhibit you from seeing well are:



Darkness – You must be closer to an

object to see it at night than during the

day. Never drive so fast that you cannot

stop within the distance you can see with

your headlights,



Rain, fog, or snow – In a heavy rain,

snowstorm, or a thick fog, you may not

be able to see more than 100 feet ahead.

When you cannot see any farther than

that, you cannot safely drive faster than

25 miles per hour. You should also use

low beam headlights.



Intersections – Trees, bushes, parked

cars, signs, and buildings at intersections

can block you view of vehicles coming

from the side. Approach these areas with

caution and slowly enough to be able to

stop if a vehicle pulls out suddenly.



Hills and curves – When you come to a

hill or curve, adjust your speed so you

can stop if a stalled car or slow-moving

vehicle is in your lane.

Adjusting To Roadway Conditions

Curves - Always

reduce speed before

entering the curve to

a safe speed (a

speed that allows you

to apply slight and

constant acceleration

through the curve).

Reduce speed more when traction is poor,

when following other vehicles, and when you

cannot see the end of the curve. Hard

braking after entry to a curve could cause

the vehicle tires to lose traction.

Slippery roads – Reduce speed at the first

sign of rain, snow, sleet, or ice. When the

roadway is slippery, your tires do not grip as

well. It will take longer to stop, and it will be

harder to turn without skidding.

If you are driving at an excessive speed or

going downhill, slippery conditions can

cause the vehicle to skid or to hydroplane.

Do not try to stop rapidly or turn quickly until

your speed has slowed and your tires have

regained traction with the roadway. Pump

your brakes gently, unless your vehicle is

equipped with anti-lock brakes, in which

case you should apply steady pressure to

the brakes. Always reduce your speed if the

road is wet or covered with snow or ice.

Hydroplaning – Hydroplaning occurs when

the steering tires start to ride up on any

pooled water, similar to the action of water

skis. The tires are not contacting the actual

roadway surface. The best way to avoid

traction loss from hydroplaning is to slow

down in the rain or

when the road is wet

with pooled water or

water puddles. It is

also helpful to drive

with properly-inflated

tires with good tire

tread.

Flooded roadways – Do not

drive through large bodies of

standing water on a road. If

you see a flooded roadway,

find another route to get to

your destination.

Stopping Distance

Total stopping distance is the distance your

vehicle travels, in ideal conditions, from the

time you realize you must stop until your

vehicle stops. Several things may affect your

stopping distance:

Speed – The faster you are traveling, the

more time and distance is needed to stop.

Your perception time – This is the time and

distance it takes you to recognize you must

stop. The average perception time for an

alert driver is ¾ second to 1 second.

51 Section Eight: Safe Driving Tips

Your reaction time – This is the time and

distance it takes for you to react and move

your foot from the gas pedal and begin

applying the brakes. The average driver has

a reaction time of ¾ second to 1 second.

Braking distance – This is the time and

distance it takes for your brakes to slow and

stop your vehicle. At 50 mph on dry

pavement with good brakes, it can take

about 158 feet.

Space Management

Providing Adequate Following Distance

You will share the road with a variety of

other roadway users. You will need time and

space to adjust and react to these other road

users. The more space you allow between

your vehicle and other roadway users, the

more time you have to react. This space is

usually referred to as a space cushion.

Always try to maintain a safe space cushion

around your vehicle.

Space in Front

Rear-end crashes are more common than

any other kind. Many drivers follow too

closely, and when the vehicle ahead stops,

they cannot react in time. Following the

vehicle in front of you closely limits your

vision of the road and does not allow you

enough time to react to avoid a crash. You

should always try to keep a minimum

following distance of 4 seconds between

your car and the vehicle in front. It is against

the law to follow another vehicle more

closely than is reasonable and prudent.

To determine your following distance:

 Watch when the rear of the vehicle

ahead passes a sign, pole or any other

stationary point.

 Count the seconds it takes you to reach

the same sign, pole, or stationary point

(“one thousand one, one thousand two,

one thousand three, one thousand four”).

 You are following too closely if you pass

the stationary point before counting to

one thousand four.

 Reduce speed and then count again at

another stationary point to check the new

following interval. Repeat until you are

following no closer than “four seconds.”

 After practicing, guess how many

seconds away you are from an object

and count the seconds it takes to reach

the object to see how accurate you are.

Second

Minimum

Following

Distance

There are certain situations when you would

need more space in front of your vehicle.

Increase your following distance:

 On slippery roads

 When following large vehicles such as

trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, and

vehicles pulling a trailer

 At night, in fog, or in bad weather

 When following vehicles required to stop

at railroad crossings, such as transit

buses, school buses, or vehicles carrying

hazardous materials

 Following motorcycles. Motorcyclists can

turn and change lanes much quicker than

other vehicles. Allow extra space to

react to motorcycles.

 When a driver behind you wants to pass,

ease up on the accelerator to assist. You

may have to slow down to allow enough

space in front for the driver to move in

front of you.

Section Eight: Safe Driving Tips 52

Space to the Side

A space cushion on the sides of your vehicle

allows you to move right or left. Try to keep

your vehicle where it can be seen. You

cannot always be sure other drivers will see

you, but you can avoid putting your vehicle

where they cannot see it.

 Try to avoid driving on either side slightly

to the rear of another vehicle. You may

be in their blind spot, and it reduces the

space you may need to avoid a crash.

Either speed up or drop back, but do not

remain in another driver’s blind spot.

 Avoid crowding the center line marking.

Try to keep as much space as possible

between you and oncoming traffic.

 Make space for vehicles entering a

multiple-lane or limited access roadway

by moving over a lane or adjusting your

speed.

 Give extra space to pedestrians,

especially children and bicyclists.

 When a passing vehicle is a tractor

trailer, leave a little more space between

you and that vehicle by moving to the

outside portion of your lane. Keep away

from the tractor trailer as it passes.

 Keep a space between yourself and

parked vehicles. Someone may step out

of a vehicle or from between the parked

vehicles, or a vehicle may start to pull out

suddenly.

 Especially use caution when traveling

interstate highways because there may

be parked vehicles on the shoulder of the

highway. When approaching these

vehicles, move to the left lane safely

before passing them and then back to the

right lane after passing.

Space Behind Affects Your Following

Distance

It is not always easy to maintain a safe

following distance behind your vehicle.

However, you can help keep the driver,

behind you, at a safe distance by keeping a

steady speed, signaling in advance, and

keeping more space to the front of your

vehicle before reducing speed or turning. If

someone is following too closely or coming

up behind you too fast, you will have more

time to react accordingly.

Allowing a Space Cushion for Defensive

Driving

If another driver makes a mistake, do what

you can to help the driver out. You may need

to speed up, slow down, change lanes, or

even stop. Do whatever the situation

demands if a collision is avoided.

Backing

Backing requires extra caution because it is

difficult to see behind your vehicle. Here are

some additional backing safety tips:

 Whenever possible, avoid backing into

traffic; or, if possible, use a person

outside the car to help you back.

 If you have passed your exit on an

interstate or freeway, never back up or

try to turn around. Proceed to the next

exit and work your way back to where

you want to go.

Communicating

It is important to let other roadway users

know where you are and what you plan to

do.

Letting Others Know You Are There

It is your responsibility to make sure your

vehicle is visible to other roadway users.

53 Section Eight: Safe Driving Tips

Use headlights – Headlights must be

illuminated during the period from one-half

(1/2) hour after sunset to one-half (1/2) hour

before sunrise. Turning on your headlights

helps other roadway users to see you.

Especially:

 On rainy, snowy, or foggy days.

 When it begins to get dark. When driving

away from a rising or setting sun.

 Turn your headlights on whenever you

have trouble seeing other vehicles. If

you have trouble seeing them, chances

are they are having trouble seeing you.

Using your horn – Your vehicle’s horn, if

used properly, can be used to get the

attention of other road users. A light tap on

the horn should be all that is needed under

normal circumstances. You may want to give

your horn a light tap when:

 Pedestrians or bicyclists appear to be

moving into your lane of travel

 Passing a driver who starts to turn into

your lane

 A driver is not paying attention or may

have trouble seeing you

Not using your horn – You should only

use your horn when you need to

communicate with other road users. Using

your horn inappropriately could scare or

anger another road user. You should not

use your horn when near blind pedestrians.

Signaling Your Movements

You must use the appropriate turn signal

before changing direction or slowing the

vehicle to inform and warn other roadway

users.

Signal before changing direction – An

appropriate signal gives other roadway users

time to react to your vehicle movements.

You should use a turn signal when changing

lanes or passing another vehicle, turning left

or right, or when merging into traffic.

Also use your turn signal before:

 Making a turnabout (turnaround)

 Entering or leaving a freeway or

interstate

 Pulling away from the curb

 Pulling over to the side of the road.

 Signal every time you change direction,

even when you do not see anyone else

around. The vehicle you do not see is the

most dangerous. Check your blind spots

by looking over your shoulder.

Remember, you do not have the right-of-

way just by turning on your turn signals,

and make sure you cancel your signals to

avoid confusing other drivers.

Your vehicle must have mechanical signals.

Hand signals cannot be used.

Signal when reducing speeds – Brake

lights let other roadway users know that the

vehicle in front is slowing down. Signal

before reducing speed when:

 Turning off a roadway that does not have

separate turning or exiting lanes

 Parking or turning before an intersection

Section Nine: Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes 54

Section Nine

Emergency Situations

and Avoiding Crashes

Emergencies and Avoiding Crashes

All drivers eventually will find themselves in

an emergency situation. As careful as you

are, there are situations that could cause a

problem for you. If you are prepared, you

may be able to prevent any serious

outcomes. All drivers have the responsibility

to prevent crashes. You have three options

to avoid the crash or to reduce its impact.

These options are braking, steering, or

accelerating.

Braking

The first reaction for most drivers to avoid a

crash is to stop the vehicle. Most new

vehicles are equipped with ABS (anti-lock

braking system). The ABS will allow you to

stop your vehicle without skidding and keep

steering control. Be sure to read the vehicle

owner’s manual on how to use the ABS. the

ABS system will allow you to stop without

skidding. The general guidelines for you

using ABS are:

 Press on the brake pedal as hard as you

can and keep applying pressure.

 ABS will work only if you keep the

pressure on the brake pedal. You may

feel the pedal vibrate and you may hear a

clicking noise. This is normal.

 You can still steer your vehicle.

If your vehicle is not equipped with ABS,

refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for

proper braking procedure.

Steering

You may be able to avoid a crash by quickly

steering around a problem. This is

sometimes referred to as “swerving.” To

quickly steer around a problem:

 Make sure you have a good grip with

both hands on the steering wheel.

 Steer in the direction you want to go but

try to avoid other traffic.

 When you have cleared the problem,

steer in the opposite direction to

straighten out your vehicle, gain control,

and start slowing.

 Both hands should remain on the

steering wheel at all times except to use

one hand for some other driving task.

 Utilizing braking and steering is a good

way to avoid obstacles in the roadway,

like animals. If an animal runs in front of

your vehicle, you should brake and steer

to miss the animal.

Accelerating

It may be necessary to accelerate to avoid a

crash. It may happen when another vehicle

is about to hit you from behind or the side.

Dealing with Skids

Skids are caused when you are traveling too

fast for conditions, when you stop too

suddenly, or when the tires can no longer

grip the roadway. When you begin to skid,

you have little control of your vehicle.

You must develop the skill to regain control

of your vehicle when a loss of traction occurs

and the vehicle begins to skid. Drivers

without these skills respond to a skid by

panicking, stomping on the brake, and then

overcorrecting the steering. These actions

will only make a skid worse and often result

in a vehicle collision, which could be fatal.

If your vehicle begins to skid, here is how to

regain control of your vehicle:

This

Section

Covers

•

Emergencies and Avoiding Crashes

•

Collisions

•

Vehicle Malfunctions

55 Section Nine: Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes

 Release the brake or accelerator and

look where you want to go. If you are

skidding in a straight line and your

vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes,

apply consistent pressure to the brake in

order to slow the vehicle.

 If you do not have anti-lock, do not

brake hard. This will only lock your

wheels and make the skid worse.

Instead, slow the vehicle by

pumping the brakes gently.

 If you begin to skid sideways, you need

to turn the wheel in the direction the back

of the vehicle is skidding. This will allow

the front of the vehicle to line up with the

back.

 As soon as the vehicle begins to

straighten out, turn the steering wheel

back to prevent the vehicle from skidding

the opposite direction.

 Continue to correct your steering, left and

right, until you recover completely from

the skid. The most important vehicle

control to use during a skid is the

steering wheel.

Uneven Surface Drop-Offs

Uneven surface drop-offs can cause serious

crashes if you react improperly. Avoid panic

steering in which you try to return to the

pavement as soon as your wheels leave the

pavement. If your vehicle leaves the paved

road, slow down gradually, when safe to do

so, and turn quickly back onto the pavement.

Collisions

If you are involved in a collision:

 Stop your vehicle at or near the collision

scene.

 Remain with the vehicle until the law

enforcement officer arrives and has

questioned everyone involved.

 In accordance with Kentucky law, when

involved in a non-injury accident move

the damaged vehicles to the shoulder of

the roadway. KRS 189.580 (1)(b) .

 Get the names and addresses of all

people involved in the collision and any

witnesses.

Record the following information regarding

any other operator(s):

 Name, address, and driver license

number.

 License plate number, VIN, make, model,

and year of all vehicles.

 Insurance company name and telephone

number for each vehicle.

 Record any damage to the vehicle(s) by

making a list of damages and taking

photographs.

 Record exactly what happened

immediately before and after the

collision.

If the collision involves a parked vehicle, try

to locate the owner. If you cannot, leave a

note where it can be seen and include in the

note your name, your address, your driver

license number, your license plate number,

along with the date and time of the collision.

Any person who is involved in an automobile

collision resulting in any property damage

exceeding $500 in which an investigation is

not conducted by a law enforcement officer,

shall file a written report of the accident with

the Kentucky State Police within ten (10)

days of the collision.

Section Nine: Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes 56

You can electronically complete, print, and

submit a Commonwealth of Kentucky

Civilian Traffic Collision report at

https://kspportal.ky.gov/CivilianCollisionRepo

rting/. Send paper copies to:

Kentucky State Police

1266 Louisville Road

Frankfort, KY 40601

Do not complete a civilian collision report if

the collision was investigated by a law

enforcement officer.

First Aid to Collision Victims

By prompt and proper action, you may be

able to assist in saving a life or in easing the

pain and suffering of persons who have

been injured in automobile collisions or other

mishaps. If possible, call emergency medical

personnel and notify law enforcement. You

should clearly and correctly state the place

of the accident so that emergency personnel

and law enforcement can locate you easily.

Only in life-threatening emergencies should

you attempt to remove an individual from a

collision. If possible, wait for an Emergency

Medical Technician or ambulance rather

than attempting to remove an individual from

a collision. Keep the victim warm by covering

them with a blanket or coat if necessary.

Remember, Kentucky law requires the

operator of any vehicle involved in a collision

to immediately stop and ascertain the extent

of any injury or damage and render

reasonable assistance. Reasonable

assistance may include carrying, or making

of arrangements for the carrying, of the

injured person to receive medical treatment

if it is apparent that such treatment is

necessary, or if transportation is requested

by the injured person.

Vehicle Malfunctions

There is always a chance of a vehicle

problem while driving. You should follow the

recommended maintenance schedule listed

in the vehicle owner’s manual. Following

these preventive measures greatly reduces

the chance that your vehicle will have a

problem.

Brake Failure

It is important to check your warning lights to

be sure your vehicle works correctly. A brake

warning light will tell you your brakes are not

working properly. Do not drive if you see this

warning light, however, if your brakes stop

working while driving:

 Use the parking brake. Pull on the

parking brake handle in the center

console or push the parking brake foot

pedal slowly so you will not lock the rear

wheels and cause a skid. Be ready to

release the brake if the vehicle does start

to skid.

 If that does not work, turn off the engine

and look for a safe place to slow to a

stop. Make sure the vehicle is off the

roadway. Do not continue to drive the

vehicle without working brakes.

Tire Blowout

Tire blowout is a rapid deflation of air from

the tire. If a front tire blows out, the vehicle

will pull sharply in the direction of the

blowout. If a rear tire blows out, the vehicle

will wobble, shake, and pull some in the

direction of the blowout. If a tire blows out or

suddenly goes flat:

 Grip the steering wheel firmly and keep

the vehicle going straight.

 Slow down gradually. Take your foot off

the accelerator pedal.

 Do not brake. Allow the vehicle to slow by

itself or brake gently if necessary.

57 Section Nine: Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes

 Do not stop on the road if at all possible. Pull

off the road in a safe place and turn on

emergency flashers.

 Have the tire changed and replaced.

Power Failure

If the engine shuts off while you are driving:

 Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel.

Be aware that the steering wheel may be

difficult to turn, but you can turn it.

 Look for an escape path. Do not

brake hard; instead, brake with

steady pressure on the pedal,

slow down, and then pull off the

roadway.

 Stop and try to restart the engine;

if unsuccessful, raise the hood and

turn on the emergency flashers.

Call for help.

Stuck Accelerator

If your vehicle is accelerating out of control:

 Turn off the engine.

 Shift to neutral and search for an escape

path.

 Steer smoothly, brake gently, and pull off

the roadway.

 Have the pedal repaired at a service

center before driving again.

Vehicle Breakdown & Emergency Signals

When your vehicle breaks down on the

highway, make sure other roadway users

can see your disabled vehicle. Crashes often

occur because a driver does not see a

disabled vehicle until it is too late to stop. If

you have mechanical trouble and must stop,

follow these guidelines:



Pull completely off the road, to the right

side of the road if possible. If you cannot

get completely off the roadway, try to

stop where your vehicle can be seen

from a distance. Do not stop just over a

hill or just around a curve.



Turn on your emergency flashers to show

your vehicle is disabled. Lift the hood to

show other drivers you need assistance.



Try to warn other roadway users that

your vehicle is there. Place emergency

flares about 200 to 300 feet behind the

vehicle, giving other drivers some time to

change lanes if necessary.



If available, use your cell phone or other

device to notify authorities that your

vehicle or another vehicle has broken

down. Many roadways have signs

indicating the telephone number to call in

an emergency.

Section Ten: Sharing the Road 58

Section Ten

Sharing the Road

Everybody has a right to the roadway.

Remember to be courteous and

communicate your presence and intentions

to avoid crashes.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians are difficult to see

and it is difficult to determine

their intentions. As a driver:

 You should always be prepared to yield

to pedestrians even if they are not in a

crosswalk.

 You must yield when a pedestrian is in a

crosswalk, even if it is unmarked,

including mid-block crosswalks marked

by warning signs and pavement

markings.

 You must yield the right of way to all

pedestrians in the intersection even if the

traffic light is green.

 When making a right or left turn on red,

you must be prepared to yield the right of

way to pedestrians.

 When driving next to parked or stopped

vehicles, pedestrians can walk out

between these vehicles. Slow down and

do not pass until you are sure there are

no pedestrians crossing in front of it.

 Check for pedestrians in your path before

backing, especially in parking lots or

places where there are many

pedestrians.

 Be careful in playground and residential

areas where children could run out from

between parked vehicles. It

is a good idea to drive

slower than the speed limit

in these areas and be

prepared to stop quickly.

 In a school zone when lights are flashing

or children are present, you must obey a

slower speed limit. At a school crossing

where there is traffic patrol,

stop and yield if you are

signaled to do so.

 Every pedestrian crossing a

roadway at a point other than

within a marked crosswalk or

within an unmarked crosswalk

at an intersection shall yield the

right-of-way to all vehicles.

Blind Pedestrian Right-of-Way

Kentucky law requires operators of a vehicle

to yield the right-of-way to a blind pedestrian

carrying a clearly visible white cane or

accompanied by an assistance dog. Failure

to yield the right-of-way to a blind pedestrian

is a violation that could result in a fine up to

two hundred fifty dollars ($250). When

approaching a crosswalk, drivers should be

observant for pedestrians. Drivers should

pay particular attention to any pedestrians

using a white cane or guide dog. Below are

some suggestions for helping pedestrians

who are blind.

 At a stop light or sign, do not stop your

vehicle more than five (5) feet from the

crosswalk, unless there is an advanced

stop bar (line). A blind pedestrian uses

the sound of your vehicle as a guide, so

drive up to the crosswalk to allow the

person to hear you.

 Drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles

must be extra alert to blind pedestrians,

as they may be unaware of your

presence due to the silent nature of these

vehicles.

This

Section

Covers

•

Pedestrians

•

Bicyclists

•

Motorcyclists

•

Commercial Vehicles

•

Emergency Vehicles

•

Police and Traffic Stops

•

Move-Over Laws

•

Slow Moving Vehicles

•

ATVs

59 Section Ten: Sharing the Road

 Do not give the blind pedestrian verbal

directions. The blind pedestrian listens to

all traffic sounds before deciding to cross

the street.

 Do not wait too long for the blind

pedestrian to cross the street.

 If the person takes a step back and pulls

in the cane that is a definite sign you

should go.

 Do not stop in the middle of a crosswalk.

This forces the blind pedestrian to go

around your car and into traffic outside of

the crosswalk.

 Do not honk your horn at a blind person.

The blind person has no idea who you

are honking at and may be startled by the

noise.

Bicyclists

Bicycles are considered vehicles when on

roadways. Bicyclists are required and

expected to follow the same rules of the road

as motorized vehicles. As a motorist, you

should know that a bicyclist has the same

rights, privileges, and responsibilities as you.

Respect for each other will aid in the smooth

flow of traffic.

Bicyclists may not be easily seen in traffic.

You must be alert for bicyclists and be extra

careful when approaching them. Just as

motorists have different levels of skill,

bicyclists also have varying levels of skills. A

skillful bicyclist rides predictably and holds a

steady line. An unskillful bicyclist may

swerve unpredictably, ignore traffic signs

and signals, and ride without a light at night.

If you see, an unskillful bicyclist, be ready for

any sudden movements.

As a driver, you must:

 Yield to bicyclists in

intersections as you

would for

pedestrians and

other vehicles.

 Yield right of way when a bicycle path or

bike lane intersects a road. Do not stop,

park, or drive on a designated bicycle

path or lane unless you are entering or

leaving an alley or driveway, performing

official duties, directed by a police officer,

or an emergency situation exists.

 Allow as much space as possible and

slow down when approaching or passing

a bicyclist. You should slow down and let

the cyclist clear the intersection before

making your turn.

 Avoid slowing down or stopping quickly.

A motor vehicle’s brakes are more

powerful than a bicycle’s and you could

cause a crash.

 Avoid sounding your horn close to

bicyclists unless there is a chance of a

crash. Sounding your horn to alert your

presence may startle bicyclists and

cause them to steer into your path and

crash.

 Watch carefully for bicyclists entering

your lane. Be especially careful if you see

children riding bikes on the sidewalk.

They may come onto the road.

 Avoid turning sharply in front of a bicyclist

and do not force a bicyclist off the road.

 Although bicyclists are required to ride in

the direction of traffic, you should look for

them riding anywhere on the roadway.

 Be particularly careful around bicyclists

when the roadway is wet or covered with

sand or gravel. These conditions affect

bicycles much more than vehicles.

 A signal is required for a vehicle (bicycle)

that is not a motor vehicle and may be

given by either hand signals, signal

lamps, or mechanical signal devices. The

signal shall be given intermittently for the

last fifty (50) feet traveled by the vehicle

before the turn.

Section Ten: Sharing the Road 60

 Cooperate with bicyclists. They are

required to use hand signals when

turning and stopping. However, keep in

mind that bicyclists may be unable to

signal if road or traffic conditions require

them to keep both hands on the handle

bars. Look for other clues of a bicyclist’s

intent, such as turning his or her head or

looking over his or her shoulder before

changing lane position.

 When parked on the street, check to the

sides and rear for bicyclists before you

open your vehicle door.

 You should check for bicyclists in your

path before backing. Be especially

cautious near schools or residential

areas where bicyclists may be present.

 When passing a bicyclist, slow down and

allow as much space as possible, and

consider the bicyclist’s speed when you

pass. At least three feet of space is

recommended when passing bicyclists

and the passing vehicles should move

back into the right lane only when well

clear of the bicyclist.

 Some counties have local ordinances.

These control the operation and parking

of bicycles within city limits. As a driver, it

is important for you to know what they

are and to obey them at all times.

Rules for Bicyclists

 Never ride on interstates and parkways.

 Use hand signals to communicate your

actions to other vehicles.

 Obey the instructions of official traffic

control signals and signs. Stop at stop

signs and for stop lights just like a motor

vehicle.

 Operate a bicycle within posted speed

limits or at a rate reasonable for existing

conditions.

 Ride a bicycle on the right side of the

road with traffic.

 Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and on

sidewalks. Give an audible warning (bell

or horn) before passing pedestrians.

 When riding at night, operate the bicycle

with a white light visible from the front

and a red reflector or light visible from the

rear.

 All slower-moving vehicles, including

bicycles, shall drive as closely as

practical to the right-hand boundary of

the highway. Extreme caution should be

used when moving out into the center of

the road to avoid road debris, to pass

another vehicle, or to make a left turn.

 DO NOT RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK.

 Never park a bicycle on a sidewalk in

such a way as to interfere with pedestrian

traffic.

 Ride on a bike path adjacent to the

roadway, if one is provided.

Right Turn or Right Turn

61 Section Ten: Sharing the Road

 Carry no more persons than the number

for which the bicycle is designed and

equipped.

 Never ride more than two abreast so as

to interfere with the normal movement of

traffic.

Electric Low-Speed Scooter

An electric low-speed scooter is defined as a

device that weighs less than one hundred

(100) pounds and is equipped with wheels,

handlebars, and a brake adequate enough

to stop and park the device. It is designed to

be stood or sat upon and propelled by an

electric motor, human power, or both.

Regardless of the type of propulsion, an

electric low-speed scooter is designed to

operate at a maximum speed of twenty (20)

miles per hour on a paved level surface.

 A person sixteen (16) years of age or

older, may operate an electric low-speed

scooter on a highway, bicycle lane, or

bicycle path.

 Electric low-speed scooters shall be

subject to traffic regulation in the same

way that bicycles are required to obey

traffic laws, and motorists shall use

caution around them in the same way as

well.

 An electric low-speed scooter shall be

equipped with at least one (1) headlamp,

and at least one (1) rear red light. These

lights shall be illuminated from one-half

(1/2) hour after sunset to one-half (1/2)

hour before sunrise or at other times

when there is low visibility.

 An electric low-speed scooter may be

parked on a sidewalk if it does not

impede the reasonable movement of

pedestrian or other traffic.

 Compliance with all local government

ordinances is required.

Motorcyclists

Motorcyclists have the same rights and

responsibilities as other drivers. However, it

may be more difficult to see them. There are

special situations and conditions we need to

be aware of so we can safely share the road

with motorcycles:

 Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width. Do

not share the lane. The motorcycle needs

space for the motorcyclist to react to

other traffic.

 Motorcycles are

small and therefore

more difficult to see.

Be aware that

motorcycles can be

part of the traffic

mix. Always check

your mirrors and blind spots for them.

 Before turning left, be alert for

motorcycles by looking carefully to the

front and sides of your vehicle.

 Do not assume

a motorcycle is

turning when

you see its turn

signal flashing.

Motorcycle turn

signals may not

self-cancel, and

the motorcyclist

may have forgotten to turn them off. Wait

to be sure the rider is going to turn before

you proceed.

 When following a

motorcyclist, allow for

a minimum 4-second

following distance or