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Connecticut driver handbook guide

Connecticut driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 24 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s Connecticut course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 53 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
24
Source PDF pages
60
Companion lessons
53
Licensing agency
DMV

A way through the handbook

Start with the application and licensing material that applies to your age and license type. Then work through the driving rules, signs, and safe-driving chapters. A rule is easier to remember when you can explain what it asks you to do in a real road situation.

For a quick refresher, use the chapter list below. For a deeper study session, follow a companion lesson and its checkpoint questions. The page numbers refer to this course’s source edition and may differ from the newest agency edition.

Chapter list

  1. Introduction Source p. 1
  2. Chapter 1: Obtaining a Connecticut Driver's License Source p. 6
  3. Restrictions for 16- and 17-Year-Old Drivers Source p. 10
  4. Limited Licenses and Disabled Driver Services Source p. 11
  5. Chapter 2: Before You Get Behind the Wheel Source p. 13
  6. Connecticut Seat Belt, Cell Phone and Insurance Laws Source p. 14
  7. Chapter 3: Driving Behaviors Source p. 16
  8. Work Zones Source p. 17
  9. Sharing the Road with Others Source p. 18
  10. Sharing the Road with Trucks Source p. 21
  11. Maintaining a Space Cushion Source p. 22
  12. Changing Lanes, Passing, Turning and Backing Source p. 25
  13. Hazardous Conditions and Aggressive Driving Source p. 27
  14. Driver Distractions and Fatigue Source p. 29
  15. Teen-Parent Driver Agreement Source p. 32
  16. Drinking and Driving Source p. 35
  17. Suspensions, Police Stops and Operator Retraining Source p. 36
  18. Chapter 4: Road Safety Source p. 38
  19. Lights, Horn and Turn Signals Source p. 40
  20. Vehicle Emergencies and Traffic Crashes Source p. 41
  21. Chapter 5: Know the Road Source p. 45
  22. Traffic Signals Source p. 47
  23. Traffic Signs Source p. 48
  24. Study Question Answers Source p. 56

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 1

Introduction

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Commissioner Antonio “Tony” Guerrera
  • Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 6

Chapter 1: Obtaining a Connecticut Driver's License

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Obtaining a Learner’s Permit
  • Managing Your Teen’s Driving Experience
  • First Time Drivers (All Ages) For Details. The Knowledge Test
  • The Vision Test
  • Learner’s Permit – Qualified Trainer Requirement
  • Learner’s Permit Passenger Restrictions for 16- and 17-Year-Olds
  • 16- and 17-Year-Old Applicants
  • Parent Training Requirements
  • Commercial Driving School or Secondary School Training
  • Home Training Program
  • Applicants 18 Years of Age or Older
  • Things you should remember during your test The Road Test
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 10

Restrictions for 16- and 17-Year-Old Drivers

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Pay for Your License
  • Passenger Restrictions
  • Hour Restrictions (Curfew)
  • Other Restrictions
  • Becoming an Organ and Tissue Donor
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 11

Limited Licenses and Disabled Driver Services

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Registering to Vote
  • Limited Licenses Program
  • Disabled Driver Training Services
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 13

Chapter 2: Before You Get Behind the Wheel

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Exterior Equipment
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 14

Connecticut Seat Belt, Cell Phone and Insurance Laws

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Know Your Vehicle Inside and Out
  • Green Driving
  • Interior Equipment
  • Connecticut Seat Belt Laws
  • Child Safety Requirements
  • Restraint Requirement
  • Misconceptions still exist
  • Connecticut Cell Phone Laws
  • Connecticut Insurance Laws
  • Study Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 16

Chapter 3: Driving Behaviors

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Starting
  • Accelerating
  • Steering
  • • Hand-over-Hand
  • • Push/Pull
  • Scanning
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 17

Work Zones

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Good Driving Practices
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 18

Sharing the Road with Others

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Vulnerable Users
  • Emergency Vehicles
  • “Move Over Law”
  • Pedestrians
  • Bicyclists
  • Motorcycles
  • Slow Moving Vehicles
  • Ice Cream Trucks
  • Horses
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 21

Sharing the Road with Trucks

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Trucks, Tractor-Trailers and RV’s
  • No-Zone
  • Truck Drivers Are Human
  • Pass Trucks Safely
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 22

Maintaining a Space Cushion

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Keep a Safe Following Distance Behind Trucks
  • Trucks Make Wide Right Turns
  • Trucks Need Space While Backing Up
  • Other Hints
  • Space to Enter
  • Space to Merge
  • Keep Pace with Traffic
  • Space to Leave
  • Space to Cross
  • Space Ahead
  • Space Behind
  • Space to the Side
  • Blind Spots
  • Trouble Spots
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 25

Changing Lanes, Passing, Turning and Backing

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Changing Lanes
  • Passing
  • Turning
  • Backing
  • Visibility
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 27

Hazardous Conditions and Aggressive Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Hazardous Conditions
  • Tire Conditions
  • Curves
  • Stop Light Not Working
  • Slippery Roads
  • Water on the Roadway
  • Aggressive Driving
  • Reasons for Aggressive Driving
  • How to Avoid Conflict on the Road
  • Behaviors That Can Cause Trouble
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 14 · source p. 29

Driver Distractions and Fatigue

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Driver Distractions
  • Fatigue
  • Health
  • Emotions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 15 · source p. 32

Teen-Parent Driver Agreement

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Tips for Supervising Adults
  • Teen-Parent Driver Obligations
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 16 · source p. 35

Drinking and Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Supervising Adult Date ct.gov/teendriving/contest
  • Alcohol and You
  • Drugs and Driving
  • Alcohol and the Law
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 17 · source p. 36

Suspensions, Police Stops and Operator Retraining

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Other Suspensions for 16- and 17-Year-Old Drivers
  • Youthful Offender Status
  • Stopping for Police Vehicles
  • Operator Retraining Program for Repeat Offenders
  • Study Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 18 · source p. 38

Chapter 4: Road Safety

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Speed Limits
  • Stopping
  • How Well Can You See?
  • Right-of-Way
  • Rules of the Road
  • Roundabouts
  • U-Turns
  • Parking
  • No-Parking Zones
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 19 · source p. 40

Lights, Horn and Turn Signals

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Lights
  • Horn
  • Turn Signals
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 20 · source p. 41

Vehicle Emergencies and Traffic Crashes

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Signal When You Slow Down
  • Vehicle Emergencies
  • Equipment Failure
  • Avoiding Collisions
  • Turning Quickly
  • Speeding Up
  • Dealing with Skids
  • Traffic Crashes
  • Study Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 21 · source p. 45

Chapter 5: Know the Road

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Pavement Markings
  • Reading the Road
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 22 · source p. 47

Traffic Signals

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 23 · source p. 48

Traffic Signs

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Triangle: Yield
  • Diamond: Warning
  • Octagon: Stop
  • Colors
  • Regulatory Signs
  • Stop Sign
  • Signal Ahead
  • Reduction in Lanes
  • Pedestrian Crossing
  • Two-Way Road Way
  • School Zone
  • Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB)
  • Slippery when Wet
  • Stop Ahead
  • No Passing
  • Merge
  • Advisory Speed Plaque
  • Route Number Signs
  • Exit
  • Railroad Crossbuck, Flashing Lights and Gate
  • Message Boards
  • Study Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 24 · source p. 56

Study Question Answers

This chapter’s sections include:

  • 2. Which statement is false?
  • Buy the Sound Plate
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The Connecticut course groups the source material into 9 units. Each lesson includes handbook page references, examples, and a checkpoint in the study app.

Unit 1 · 4 lessons

Getting Your Connecticut License

Permit, training, road test and limited licenses

  1. Your learner's permit, knowledge and vision tests
  2. Driver training for 16- and 17-year-olds
  3. Adult applicants, the road test and your license
  4. Medical review, limited licenses and disabled drivers

Unit 2 · 6 lessons

Teen Driver Rules & Restrictions

Passengers, curfew, suspensions and retraining

  1. Permit holders: trainers and passengers
  2. New license: passenger limits for the first year
  3. Curfew and other teen restrictions
  4. Teen suspensions and youthful offenders
  5. Operator Retraining and being stopped by police
  6. Parents, teens and the Teen-Parent Agreement

Unit 3 · 5 lessons

Vehicle Equipment & Key Laws

Vehicle checks, belts, child seats, phones, insurance

  1. Checking your vehicle inside and out
  2. Connecticut seat belt law and belt myths
  3. Child restraints and young passengers
  4. Connecticut cell phone law
  5. Insurance and registration law

Unit 4 · 7 lessons

Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion

Scanning, intersections, following distance, passing

  1. Starting, steering and scanning
  2. Intersections and railroad crossings
  3. Following distance and the space cushion
  4. Space behind, beside, blind spots and trouble spots
  5. Changing lanes and passing
  6. Turning and backing safely
  7. Seeing and being seen

Unit 5 · 6 lessons

Sharing the Road

Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, trucks, work zones

  1. Pedestrians and crosswalks
  2. Bicyclists and vulnerable users
  3. Sharing the road with motorcycles
  4. Trucks, buses, RVs and No-Zones
  5. Slow vehicles, ice cream trucks, horses and the Move Over Law
  6. Driving through work zones

Unit 6 · 6 lessons

Impairment, Distraction & Aggressive Driving

Alcohol, drugs, fatigue, distraction, road rage

  1. Alcohol, BAC and Connecticut's DUI penalties
  2. Drugs, health and emotions
  3. Fatigue and drowsy driving
  4. Distracted driving
  5. Aggressive driving and road rage
  6. Everyday habits that trigger road rage

Unit 7 · 5 lessons

Right-of-Way, Speed & Parking

Speed, yielding, roundabouts, school buses, parking

  1. Speed limits and stopping distance
  2. Right-of-way rules
  3. Emergency vehicles, school buses and trains
  4. Roundabouts and U-turns
  5. Parking and no-parking zones

Unit 8 · 6 lessons

Signals, Emergencies & Crashes

Lights, signals, road conditions, emergencies, crashes

  1. Headlights and horn
  2. Turn signals, brake signals and hand signals
  3. Slippery roads, curves and hydroplaning
  4. Breakdowns and equipment failures
  5. Avoiding collisions and handling skids
  6. What to do at a crash

Unit 9 · 8 lessons

Signs, Signals & Pavement Markings

Lines, lanes, signals, signs and railroad crossings

  1. Pavement lines: white, yellow, solid and dashed
  2. Special lanes and other pavement markings
  3. Traffic signals, arrows and HAWK crossings
  4. Sign shapes and colors
  5. Regulatory signs
  6. Warning signs
  7. Guide, service and work area signs
  8. Railroad crossings