Frequently Asked Questions
What is Segment 1 of Graduated
Licensing?
When can my student start Driver's
Education (Segment 1)?
What are the requirements for starting
Segment 1?
What does Segment 1 consist of?
What happens if my student misses a
day of class?
When
will my student begin behind-the-wheel instruction?
Can I practice driving with my teen
during Segment 1?
After completing Segment 1 will you
give my student their permit (Level 1 License)?
How do I pay for Segment 1 at All
About Driving of Waterford Inc.?
My student just completed Segment 1.
What do I do now?
What is Segment 2 of Graduated
Licensing?
When can my student start Segment 2?
What if I took Segment 1 at a
different driving school?
How do I pay for Segment 2 at All
About Driving of Waterford Inc.?
Graduated Licensing
What is graduated licensing?
Why do we need graduated licensing?
How many levels of licensing are there?
What does my teen need to obtain a
Level 1 license?
What does my teen need to obtain a
Level 2 license?
What does my teen need to obtain a
Level 3 license?
Are there restrictions when driving
with a Level 1 license?
Are there restrictions when driving
with a Level 2 license?
Are there restrictions when driving
with a Level 3 license?
Are there penalties for violating
these restrictions?
Does the graduated license replace
What can I legally do to prepare my student for driver’s education?
What should I look for during the 6 months of driving with my teen?
What is Segment 1 of Graduated Licensing?
Segment 1 is the first class that
starts a teen driving. It consists of 24 hours of classroom
instruction and 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction in a driver
education vehicle with a licensed instructor. The focus of Segment 1
is to instill confidence in the young driver, and to teach them the
rules of the road. It is required for all teens (under 18) to
complete a Segment 1 course prior to receiving a Level 1 License.
When can my student start Driver's Education (Segment 1)?
Students may start Segment 1 of
Driver's Education at 14 years and 8 months of age. They will be
eligible for their Level 1 license (permit) after they have
completed segment 1 and are 14 years and 9 months of age.
What are the requirements for starting Segment 1?
In order to enroll in a Segment 1
class a student must be 14 years, 8 months old. The student should
have corrected vision of 20/40 or better and no physical conditions
that would prevent safe driving.
What does Segment 1 consist of?
Segment 1 consists of 24 hours of
classroom instruction, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and 4
hours of behind-the-wheel observations. Students are required to
pass a written test (with at least 70% a test score) provided by the
Michigan Department of State
What happens if my student misses a day of class?
In order for a student to receive
their completion certificate they must attend 24 hours of class time
and finish their driving lessons. If your student misses a day of
class they may attend a different class time or they may attend one
of our next classes to make up the missed time. If neither of these
options work in your schedule talk to your student’s instructor for
additional make-up days.
When
will my student begin behind-the-wheel instruction?
Our instructors begin
behind-the-wheel instruction
on the first week of class.
Scheduling will begin on the second day of class. Your student will
sign up for instruction depending on their availability so it is
important that they be aware of their schedule. Lessons do not take
place during classroom time. On occasion, driving lessons will
continue for a one week after classroom sessions are completed.
Can I practice driving with my teen during Segment 1?
After a students second
behind-the-wheel lesson we may issue a Parent Permit that allows a
teen driver to operate a motor vehicle only when accompanied by
either a licensed parent or licensed legal guardian. Issuance
of the Parent Permit is at the Instructor’s discretion.
After completing Segment 1 will you give my student their permit
(Level 1 License)?
Your student will be issued a
Segment 1 completion certificate upon successful completion of our
class which allows them to apply for a Level 1 License at the
Secretary of State's office. You will need to accompany your
student to Secretary of State for them to receive this permit.
How do I pay for Segment 1 at All About Driving of Waterford Inc.?
For
Segment 1 classes ($285), we accept cash, personal check, money
orders and Visa / Master card. Payment must be made in full the
first day of class.
What is Segment 2 of Graduated Licensing?
Segment 2 is a 6 hour class that is
taken prior to taking the road test. Segment 2 focuses on defensive
driving, hazard awareness, risk management and preparation for the
Road Skills Test.
When can my student start Segment 2?
We suggest taking Segment 2 a few
weeks before a student’s 16th birthday or Road Skills Test, but
Segment 2 can be taken anytime after students have a minimum of 90
days (out of the required 180 days) on their level 1 license.
Students must also have completed a minimum of 30 hours (out of the
required 50 hours) driving with their parents or responsible adult.
At least two of those 30 hours must be driven at night (at least 10
hours of the 50 total hours are required to be at night).
What if I took Segment 1 at a different driving school?
You may take Segment 2 at any
driving school of your choice no matter where you took Segment 1.
What is graduated licensing?
Graduated licensing is a step-by-step process for issuing driver licenses to teens. It is designed to help teen drivers gain the knowledge and skills they need to drive a motor vehicle safely. This is accomplished by gradually increasing driving privileges as the driver gains experience behind the wheel. The goal is to reduce crashes, serious injuries, and traffic-related fatalities involving new, young drivers.
Why
do we need graduated licensing?
How many levels of licensing are there?
There are three licensing levels
under the graduated license law.
What does my teen need to obtain a Level 1 license?
Be
at least 14 years, 9 months of age
Complete
Segment 1
Pass a vision
test and meet physical and mental health standards set by the
Department of State
Obtain
written approval from a parent or legal guardian
What does my teen need to obtain a Level 2 license?
Be at least
16 years of age
Have
possessed a Level 1 License for not less than six months
Complete
Segment 2
Have no
convictions/civil infractions, license suspensions or crashes during
the 90-day period immediately prior to applying for a Level 2
License
Complete a
minimum of 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice driving, including
10 hours of nighttime driving, that is certified by a parent or
legal guardian
Pass a road
test conducted by an independent road testing agency approved by the
Secretary of State
What does my teen need to obtain a Level 3 license?
Be at least
17 years of age
Hold a Level
2 License for not less than six months
Complete 12
consecutive months of driving without a moving violation, an
at-fault crash (even if no citation is issued), a license suspension
or a violation of the graduated license restrictions.
The graduated
licensing program ends for all teens when they reach 18.
Are there restrictions when driving with a Level 1 license?
Are there restrictions when driving with a Level 2 license?
Does the graduated license replace
Michigan
No. In fact, graduated licensing complements the probationary program to create a stronger program. In addition to the requirements established by the graduated driver license program, drivers are also subject to the probationary license requirements. Probation begins whenever a new driver receives an original license. Probation lasts for three years and until the driver has been violation and crash-free for the last 10 months of the probation period.
What can I legally do to prepare my student for
driver’s education?
Show them the
placement of the turn signals, windshield wipers and other accessory
controls.
Explain the
different gears and what they are for.
Have them sit behind the steering
wheel (when parked) and
practice moving their foot from the gas to the brake. Make sure that
their heel stays on the floor and that only the toes move from pedal
to pedal. Make them notice
how firm the brake pedal is in relation to the gas, and how the gas
pedal goes all the way to the floor.
When you are
driving them as a passenger, have them sit in the passenger seat and
point out what you are looking for in certain situations, such as
cross-traffic (and left turn traffic) when making a right turn on
red.
Above all,
make yourself a good example. Follow the law and demonstrate good
driving to them. Some of the most dangerous situations we face as
driving instructors are when our students think an illegal maneuver
is safe and legal just because they see their parents doing it
(turning on red without stopping, for example).
Be
aware of your own driving habits; take a moment to assess your own
driving behavior. Do you:
Make sure
everyone in the vehicle wears a safety belt? It is the law.
Know
your car, especially the controls and safety devices?
Always drive
defensively?
Control
emotions during all driving experiences?
Obey all
traffic laws?
What should I look for during the 6 months of driving with my teen?
Make sure your teen
understands that as a driver, it is his or her responsibility to
make sure everyone is safely buckled up.
Until your teen
gains more experience limit the amount of driving done in an
unfamiliar vehicle, with teen passengers, in bad weather or at rush
hour.
Speeding
is the most common violation made by teen drivers. Make sure your
teen understands the importance of always obeying the speed limit
and driving at a speed that is correct for the driving conditions
(which may be lower then the posted speed limit).
It’s
important for young drivers to learn to search in front of and
behind the vehicle—to look for other vehicles, pedestrians, and
bicyclists. Teach your teen to be on the alert.
And you need to be
continually scanning ahead for dangers, too.
Nighttime driving
poses a risk to teens; one-third of teen fatal traffic crashes occur
at night. Make sure your teen knows how to safely drive in spite of
the reduced visibility and glare from oncoming and following
traffic. If
needed, extend the amount of supervised nighttime driving your teen
does until you feel he or she is ready to drive at night alone.
Make sure your teen
understands how to correctly operate the braking system of the
vehicle he or she is driving. Vehicles equipped with anti-lock
braking systems (ABS) require different emergency braking procedures
than those without ABS.
Today’s roads are
full of stressful situations. Help your teen learn to control
emotions that lead to aggressive driving and “road rage” at all
times.
