Georgia driver's manual, 2003

2003 GEORGIA DRIVERS MANUAL

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Contents
Section I
CHAPTER 1 Driver's License and Renewals ................................................................... 5
CHAPTER 2 The Driver Examination: What You Must Know ....................................... 16
CHAPTER 3 Signs, Signals and Markings ..................................................................... 19
CHAPTER 4 Traffic Laws ............................................................................................... 34
CHAPTER 5 Safety Rules .............................................................................................. 48
CHAPTER 6 After You Get Your License ...................................................................... 65
CHAPTER 7 Motorcycles ............................................................................................... 71
Section II
CHAPTER 1 Class A (Non Commercial): The Tractor Trailer Driver's License .......................................................... 79
CHAPTER 2 Class B (Non Commercial): The Truck Driver's License ....................................................................... 85
CHAPTER 3 Supplementary Information for All Classes ............................................... 87 Bicycle Safety ........................................................................................... 92
VISIT THE DMVS WEB SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND FORMS
www.dmvs.ga.gov
PRINT DATE: JANUARY, 2003

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STATE OF GEORGIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
ATLANTA 30334-0900
My Fellow Georgians,
As Governor of Georgia, I encourage you to study carefully the rules, laws and safety tips offered to you in the Georgia Driver's Manual. The manual not only will help you pass the driver's examination, but also can help you to be a safer driver on our roads.
I would like to draw your attention to the portions of the manual concerning seat belts, speed and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The majority of all fatal traffic crashes in this state involve speed, an impaired driver or lack of seatbelt or child restraint use. I urge you to read these sections carefully and then apply that knowledge as you drive.
Seat belts save lives. It has been proven that wearing a seat belt reduces the severity of injuries in a car crash, saves lives and keeps people from slamming into one another inside the vehicle. Georgia has made tremendous strides in increasing the seat belt usage rate through high visibility enforcement of the occupant protection laws.
Together we can all help to make our roads and highways a safer place to travel. Together we can set the example for the remainder of the country.
Sincerely,
Sonny Perdue

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2206 East View Parkway Conyers, Georgia 30013

Dear Georgia Drivers:
The Georgia Driver's Manual has been prepared by the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety. I believe that you will find the information in this manual very helpful whether you are a current or future Georgia driver. The information is designed to prepare new drivers for their first license as well as to provide the more experienced driver with new and important information enabling them to be a better driver.
I would like to deliver a special message to all those young adults about to get their first license. Please read carefully the chapter on traffic laws. Due to the rise in teenage injuries and deaths, many of these laws are specific to young drivers. These added restrictions are designed to ensure a safer environment for you to learn to drive.
To the more experienced drivers, I encourage you to read and review the chapter on safety rules. With more and more vehicles on the roads of Georgia it is imperative that we constantly practice all of these best practices in safe and courteous driving.
The DMVS is committed to constantly improving the level of customer service we provide for all of your motor vehicle services. We ask that you commit yourself to buckling your seatbelts, obeying the rules of the road, and being a very safe driver.
Sincerely,

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Tim Burgess Commissioner

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Department of Motor Vehicle Safety
Board Members
Kelly Gay, Chairperson Hipolito M. Goico, Vice Chairman
Allan Vigil, Secretary Hugh Hardison Patrick McGahan John Mobley
Katherine Sherrington Thomas H. Smith
Roderick R. Wallace

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LICENSE CLASSIFICATIONS
Class A -- Combination vehicles over 26,001 pounds, with a trailer in excess of 10,000 pounds. Vehicles included in Classes B and C.
Class B -- Single vehicles over 26,001pounds. May tow a trailer 10,000 pounds or less. Class C -- All motor vehicles not included in Classes A, B or M. May tow a
trailer 10,000 pounds or less. All recreational vehicles. Class D -- Provisional License - All vehicles not included in classes A, B, or M.
May tow trailer 10,000 pounds or less. May not operate:
A. Between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 am B. During six-month period immediately following issuance of
such license, any class D license holder shall not drive when any other passenger in the vehicle is not a member of the driver's immediate family. During the second six month period any Class D license holder shall not drive when more than three passengers in the vehicle are less than 21 years of age. (Members of the driver's immediate family do not count) Class M -- Motorcycles and motor driven cycles. Class P -- Learner's permits
A Class C license is a prerequisite for all classes except Classes D and M. Classes C and B may tow a trailing unit 10,000 lbs. or less. Class CP must be accompanied by a licensed adult driver, 21 years or older, who is occupying a seat beside the driver. Class MP (Instructional permit) holders are restricted as follows: 1. Daylight hours only; 2. No passengers; 3. No limited access roads; and 4. Safety equipment as provided by law. Classes A and B instructional permit holders must also hold a Class C license.

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License Restrictions:

A

no restriction

B

corrective lens

C

mechanical aids

D

business only

E

automatic transmission

F

right side mirror

G

daylight only

H

employer's vehicle only

I

left outside mirror

J

prosthetic aid

K

Georgia only

L

without air brakes

M

no expressways

N

power brakes

O

power steering

P

Interlock

Q

no passengers

R

motorcycles 500 cc & under

S

to/from school

T

to/from medical

U

all motorcycles except X

V

class B or C passenger vehicles

W

class C passenger vehicles

X

motorcycle three wheel

Y

farm waiver required

Z

visually impaired parent

1

bioptic lens

2

personal vehicles only

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to and from employment/medical care/school/

court ordered driver improvement/driver

education/drug/alcohol program,scheduled meet

ings of organizations for persons who have alcohol/

drug addiction/abuse problemsor ignition interlock

station. Interlock Device required.

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SECTION I Chapter I - Driver's License
This handbook has two main purposes: (1) To help you qualify for a Georgia driver's license and (2) To help you become a safer driver. The information contained in this handbook is not intended to be an official legal reference to the Georgia traffic laws. It is intended only to explain, in everyday language, those laws and driving practices and procedures which you will need most often. DON'T THROW THIS HANDBOOK AWAY AFTER YOU PASS YOUR DRIVING TESTS. Please return it to the examining station when you get your license, pass it on to another applicant, or keep it in your vehicle for easy reference.
A Georgia driver's license is required for:
1. Any resident who wishes to legally drive upon Georgia highways. 2. Any new resident who has lived in Georgia for more than 30 days.
A Georgia driver's license is not required for:
1. A nonresident who is at least sixteen years of age and who is in immediate possession of a valid driving permit issued in the home state or country of that person's residence.
2. Any employee of the United States Government, including military and reserves, while operating a motor vehicle owned or leased to the United States Government. This is a valid exception unless an employee is required by the United States Government, or that person's Federal Agency, to have a Georgia driver's license.
3. A nonresident on active duty in the Armed Forces who has a valid license from their home state. This is also true for a spouse and any dependent children.
4. A nonresident, full time student at a college or university in Georgia, and such person's spouse and children, if they have a valid license from their home state. (Must show proof that out-of-state tuition has been paid to college or university).
5. Any person on active duty in the Armed Forces holding a valid license issued in a foreign country by the Armed Forces of the United States. This exception is limited to a period of 45 days from the date of return to the U.S.A.
6. A new resident may drive in Georgia for the first 30 days on their valid license issued in another state or country.
7. Any inmate or resident patient of a state, county, or municipally-owned institution, who operates a motor vehicle while under the supervision and in the presence of an authorized person, upon the institution's property.
8. Any person operating a farm tractor or farm equipment that is temporarily on a highway for the purpose of conducting farm business.
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9. A nonresident of the State of Georgia or a non-immigrant of the United States, who is at least 16 years of age and who is in immediate possession of a valid driving permit issued in the home state or country of that person's residence.
10. Any migrant farmworker who works in this state less than 90 days in any calendar year and who possesses a valid driver's license issued by another state.
11. Any resident who is at least 15 years of age or over while taking instruction from a licensed driving instructor or a certified high school driver education instructor.
HOW A RESIDENT OBTAINS A GEORGIA DRIVER'S LICENSE
1. If a new resident who is at least 18 years of age surrenders to the examiner a valid driver's license from another state of the United States or District of Columbia, a Georgia license will be issued upon successful completion of an eye test. Holders of foreign licenses or licenses issued by United States Territories and Possessions will be required to successfully complete the eye test, road rules test, road signs test, and an actual driving test. (See page11, paragraph 4, for a list of other documentation required for any first time application for a Georgia license.)
2. If a new resident presents an expired out-of-state license or if the out-of-state license has been lost or misplaced, a Georgia license will be issued upon successful completion of an eye test, road rules test, road signs test, and an actual driving test.
Additionally, prior to testing, the new resident must present identification and proof o f residency listed on page 11 of this manual and a valid clearance letter or certified motor vehicle report from the former jurisdiction. The letter of clearance must be dated within 30 days of the application date.
3. If a new resident who is under 18 years of age surrenders a valid out-of-state license, a Georgia license will be issued upon successful completion of an eye test, road rules test, road signs test, and an actual driving test. Any applicant for the initial issuance of a Class C license who is not the holder of the equivalent thereof by any state of the United States or The District of Columbia must present:
Proof of completion of an approved driver education course in a licensed private or public driver training school with accumulative total of at least 20 hours supervised driving experience with 6 hours at night; or have completed a cumulative total of at least 40 hours of supervised driving experience including at least 6 hours of night driving. These must be verified in writing, signed before a person authorized to administer oaths, by a parent or guardian of the applicant, or by the applicant if he/she is eighteen years of age or older.

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