This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

State Passes on DMV Final Exam

Legislators recently eliminated a second written test for 16- and 17-year-olds seeking the right to drive on their own.

Once is enough.

The 30,000 teenagers seeking their driver’s licenses no longer have to submit to a second written test called the “DMV Final Exam.”

Until July 5, all 16- and 17-year-olds seeking automobile emancipation — that is, the right to drive themselves around — had to take two written tests. But the General Assembly voted to allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to eliminate that second 25-question test.

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We dropped the second test because former Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s task force on teen safety showed it didn’t make teens better drivers. DMV never thought it necessary either,” said Bill Seymour of the DMV.

New drivers had to take the aptly titled “DMV Teen Final Exam” after finishing home or driving school training and after passing the DMV road skills test. Now teens only need take one 25-question test when they start the license training process.  

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dropping the second test wasn’t a budget issue, according to DMV.

“It really wasn’t a cost associated with the second test. It was all done by computer,” Seymour said.

The history of the second test goes back to August 2008. That’s when the Nutmeg State toughened its laws to combat crashes, injuries and deaths among 16 and 17-year-old drivers. One way it thought it could make teens safer on the road was replacing a 10-question test with a 25-question test. In 2009 the legislature added a second test.

That second test proved to be more of a time waster than lifesaver. The DMV said there’s really only one way to determine whether a teen knows the basic safety skills necessary to operate a motor vehicle.

“The real test was how well they did on road skills test. It’s the practical part of the test,” Seymour said.

Before taking the road-skills test, teens must log 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training. They also have to attend an eight-hour safe driving class that includes two hours of instruction with one or both parents.

In addition, Connecticut has lengthened the time for passenger restrictions and increased the curfew time.

For the first six months after getting licensed teens may only drive with a parent or legal guardian, one of whom has a valid driver license, a driving instructor, or a person who is at least 20 years old and has had a drivers license for at least four years with no suspensions. Immediate family members are allowed as passengers for the second six months.

Teens may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. until they turn 18 unless it’s for employment, school, religious activities, or for a medical reason.

Violating any of these laws could mean losing a license for 30-days.

Connecticut also has a zero-tolerance for teens driving under the influence and violations can bring license suspensions, fines and jail time.

Teens who failed the second test before July 5 aren’t off the hook. They must re-take the test to get a license.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?