Frequently Asked Questions

Q. – Can a 15-year-old begin driver education?

A. – No. Students must be 16 years old to begin any of the classroom or driving sessions. However, a student may sign up at the DMV for a permit test prior to turning 16 years old.

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Q. – Who needs a learner’s permit and how do I get one?

A. – All NEW drivers must obtain a learner’s permit as a preliminary step to get a license. You can get a permit at most DMVs and you will need to make a appointment prior showing up. Appointments can be made through the DMV website.

To obtain a permit you must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Pay the permit fee
• Pass vision test and written test on laws

When you apply for the learner’s permit you must bring with you all of the documentation currently required for licensing. In addition to the required fee:

  • Have a certified birth certificate and one other form of identification. See the DMV law manual for acceptable forms of ID. (School ID is NOT one.)
  • Show proof of residency. This can be some mail received by applicant at their home address. (P.O. Box addresses will not be accepted).
  • Parental consent is required. If someone other than a parent accompanies the student, a notarized parental consent form is required. A notarized parental consent form is always required when getting a permit through the driving school.
  • Bring a photograph of yourself. This is for identification purposes, so you cannot be wearing a hat or sunglasses in the photograph. You do not get this photo back.
  • Have your social security number. (If you are using your signed Social Security card as one form of identification, the card cannot be laminated.)

You will take a 25 question test and you must get at least 20 answers correct to pass the test. The DMV Driver Manual is available on the DMV website as well as several practice tests. You are more than welcome to start a driver education prior to taking the permit test but it is not required.

 

Q. – How long must a student hold a permit before getting license?

A. – A student must complete the full program of driver’s education (30 classroom hours and 8 hours on-road) and hold a learner’s permit for at least 120 days.
– OR –
You must complete the 8-hour program on safe driving practices and had a learner’s permit for at least 180 days.

 

Q. – Do I need to preregister before beginning classes?

A. – No. Full Program students may begin by showing up to ANY of the required classroom sessions (remember classes do NOT need to be completed in consecutive order). Eight Hour Program students my begin by attending any class during which we offer chapters 2, 4, 15 or the Parent Class.

 

Q. – How does RIDGEFIELD DRIVING SCHOOL arrange the classroom hours?

A. – RIDGEFIELD DRIVING SCHOOL operates via a rolling, structured schedule. This means that we teach specific chapters on specific days and time slots. However, students may complete the classes in any order they would like. So long as a student completes all the requirements of the program, it does not matter what order in which they are completed.

Students are welcome to attend all hours* on any given week, or none, depending on what their schedule can accommodate. Missed classes never interrupt their progression through the program, nor do missed classes result in repetition of material.

* State law limits the number of classroom hours a student can attend on any one day. On a day when public schools are in session, a student can do no more than 2 hours of driver’s education classroom, and on a day when schools are not in session, the limit is 4 hours.

 

Q. – Does the Full Program take 4 months to complete?     

A. – The Full Program allows a student to get their license after holding a permit for 4 months, but does not necessarily take 4 months to complete.

 

Q. – Do I need to complete the required chapters in consecutive order?

A. – No. The chapters may be completed in any order…just so long as they are all done prior to receiving a certificate of completion.

 

Q. – How are road training sessions scheduled?

A. – On-road training can be scheduled afther a student begins the classroom sessions. Students are welcome to text Mark (203-768-7288) to set up specific dates and times.

All students are taught on our vehicles (four door, automatic transmission sedans).   Ridgefield students are typically picked up and dropped off at their home or school. Students living outside of Ridgefield may also be picked up at their home, depending on how far away they live. Road lessons are individual; meaning students do not share the car with other students. The lesson is one student and one instructor.

The eight hours of road training are spread over five training sessions. The first four sessions last for 1 ½ hours and the final lesson is 2 hours.

  • Lesson 1 – BASIC DRIVING includes basic car control though all of the windy back roads of Ridgefield, Redding and Wilton.
  • Lesson 2 – INTERSECTIONS includes negotiation of lights, stop signs and unc0ntrolled intersections.
  • Lesson 3 – PARKING includes pull-in, parallel and reverse parking, as well as k-turns/3-point turns.
  • Lesson 4 – HIGHWAY DRIVING includes on ramps, exit ramps and lane changing on local highways
  • Lesson 5 – EVALUATION assesses the readiness of new driver in all aspects of the previous four lessons.

The instructor will issue a detailed summary of the lesson so that parents can see what skills were covered, how the student performed, and how practice at home should proceed.

 

Q. – Do we offer driving lessons on the weekends?

A. – Yes. We often have instructors working on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

Q. – Do I have to know how to drive when I start road training?

A. – Students start road training with us at varying levels of experience. Some have never sat behind the wheel before, others have practiced for months with their parents. We will adjust our instruction accordingly. The more physical comfort level the student has with the car, the more they will get out of the road instruction. Our instruction is going to emphasize decision-making skills.

 

Q. – Who is required to attend the two-hour parent training class?

A. – At least one parent of any student looking to get a license is required to attend the Parent Class. This class typically takes place most Saturdays at 9am. No preregistration is necessary.