Many teens, no matter their grade and age, get excited to start the processes to obtain their license, and to eventually get on the road, unfortunately there are numerous steps for this process.
The very first step to get your license is to turn 16. On your 16th birthday, you are eligible to go to the DMV and take a test to secure your learner’s permit.
Before you take the test there is a vision test. Then, the permit test is a 25-question assessment that tests your knowledge of traffic laws, road signs and safe driving practices.
In order to pass the permit test, you need to get fewer than five questions wrong.
Students at Nonnewaug have many different study methods to pass the permit test.
“I just looked over the driving handbook and took multiple practice tests,” said junior Katelyn Burrier.
For some students, passing the test was a little harder than expected.
“I had to take the permit test twice before I passed it, but it only took me one try to pass the driving test,” said another student who wished to remain anonymous.
There are also many students who have not even started the process.
“My mom is not letting me get my license,” junior Aryanna Lucas said. “I feel like I don’t do very well in high stress situations. There’s been a lot of car crashes lately and it’s scary knowing that that can be you.”
Once you get your permit the next step is to start your driver’s ed lessons.
“I used The Next Street,” Burrier said. “I had to login to Zoom two days a week for online driver’s ed courses. My driver’s ed also included four driving classes with an instructor. It took me three months to finish it because scheduling an in-person driver’s lesson was really hard.”
Forty hours of driving time is also needed.
The second to last thing required to get your license is to hold your permit for 120 days. Finally, the last thing you need to do is pass your road test.
Burrier has strong feelings about the laws that Connecticut has on learner’s permits, which prevent drivers from having most passengers.
“I don’t like that you can’t drive with friends,” Burrier said. “I understand the reason why, though; it’s because they want you to be safe before you get your license.”
Before 1996, 16-year-olds didn’t need to get a permit before they got their license.
“That is unreasonably unfair,” said junior Addison Neilson.
A learner’s permit was not required then; the only requirements were to complete driver’s ed or home training and passing the licensing tests, which could be done within 30 days of turning 16.
