Before You Start to Drive

How Can You Prepare to Drive?

Do Your Homework

• Learn about Kentucky's licensing process, which has special rules for teens. Designed to gradually develop your driving skills, the program could take a year or more to complete.
• Learn about the financial and legal responsibilities associated with driving, especially crashes.
• Talk to your parents. They have lots of driving experience to share with you.

Be a Smart Passenger

• Always wear your safety belt.
• Observe drivers, roadway conditions and traffic control devices.
• Ask your parents questions about decisions they make behind the wheel.
• Even if the law allows you to ride with teen drivers, avoid riding with your friends until they become safer, more experienced drivers.
• Be a helpful passenger. Don’t distract drivers or encourage them to take risks.

If you’re the passenger of a friend who is texting on a cell phone, speeding, or otherwise behaving recklessly, speak up. Tell your friend to drive safely or ask to be dropped off.

Maintain good grades. Once you get your license, you will need auto insurance. Most insurance companies in Kentucky offer lower rates for students who have a “B” or higher grade average, so your good grades could help your parents control insurance costs.

Keep reading. By visiting this site and looking around, you’ve already taken a first step to get ready to drive, so keep reading!

Additional resources:

• Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) – Learn more about the licensing process.
• DMV Practice Questions – Take this sample test to determine if you’re ready to take the state driving test.
• Parent-Teen Driving Agreement – Signing a formal agreement with your parents helps in multiple ways.
• Driver-ZED – Offered by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Driver-ZED is a computer-based program to help you practice driving on your PC.