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Ohio driver handbook guide

Ohio driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 14 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s Ohio course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 55 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
14
Source PDF pages
55
Companion lessons
55
Licensing agency
BMV

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. About This Manual Source p. 2
  2. Section 1: How to Get Your Driver License Source p. 4
  3. Section 2: Before You Drive Source p. 7
  4. Section 3: Be Alert Source p. 10
  5. Section 4: Rules of the Road Source p. 12
  6. Section 5: Learning to Drive Source p. 18
  7. Section 6: State Laws and Penalties Source p. 27
  8. Section 7: Special Driving Situations Source p. 31
  9. Section 8: Safe Driving Tips Source p. 33
  10. Section 9: Sharing the Road Source p. 37
  11. Section 10: Emergency Situations Source p. 42
  12. Section 11: Taking the Driving Test Source p. 45
  13. Section 12: Purchase Your Driver License Source p. 48
  14. Section 13: What Else Should I Know? Source p. 53

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 2

About This Manual

This chapter’s sections include:

  • • Schedule a driving test
  • License Agency
  • Bmv Online Services
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 4

Section 1: How to Get Your Driver License

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Vision Screening And Knowledge Testing
  • Vision Screening
  • Knowledge Testing
  • Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (Tipic) – Orc 4507.05
  • TIPIC Restrictions
  • Driver Education Requirements (Under Age 21)
  • Driver Education Requirements (Temporary Resident Age 21 And Older)
  • Motorcycle Ohio
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 7

Section 2: Before You Drive

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Inspecting Your Vehicle
  • Vehicle Equipment Regulations – ORC 4513 and OAC 4501:2-1
  • Tire Safety
  • Know When to Use Your Lights
  • Driver Position: Seat And Mirror Adjustments
  • SECTION 2: Before You Drive
  • Safety Restraints
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 10

Section 3: Be Alert

This chapter’s sections include:

  • SECTION 2: Before You Drive
  • Vision
  • Fatigue
  • Aggressive Driving
  • Distracted Driving
  • SECTION 3: Be Alert
  • Alcohol, Drugs, And Driving
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 12

Section 4: Rules of the Road

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Speed Limits - Orc 4511.21
  • Alleys within a municipal corporation
  • Right-Of-Way
  • Traffic Signals – Orc 4511.13
  • Red
  • Yellow
  • Green
  • Traffic Light
  • SECTION 4: Rules of the Road
  • Traffic Signs
  • Lane Pavement Markings
  • Yellow Solid Line
  • Two-Way Left Turn Only Lane
  • Crosswalks
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 18

Section 5: Learning to Drive

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Starting The Engine
  • Moving The Vehicle
  • Stopping The Vehicle
  • Steering
  • Backing Up
  • Intersections And Turning
  • Turns
  • Turn Signal
  • Right Turns
  • Left Turns
  • Multiple Lane Turning
  • Turning on a Red Traffic Signal
  • Tips
  • Roundabouts Or Traffic Circles
  • Lane Travel
  • Changing Lanes
  • Entering A Multi-Lane Highway
  • Exiting A Roadway
  • Passing
  • Multi-Lane, Two-way Roadway
  • Solid Double Yellow Lines on Two-lane, Two-Way Roadway
  • Passing Zone on Two-Lane, Two-way Roadway
  • Center Two-Way Left Turn Lane
  • Railroad Crossings
  • Stopping For A School Bus – Orc 4511.75
  • Parking
  • No-Parking Zones / Handicapped Spaces
  • Stopping, Parking, or Standing Prohibited - ORC 4511.68
  • Parking on A Hill or Grade
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 27

Section 6: State Laws and Penalties

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Insurance — Financial Responsibility
  • Alcohol, Drugs, And Driving
  • Effects of Alcohol and Drugs
  • Alcohol and the Law
  • Impairing Drugs and Driving
  • Penalties
  • SECTION 6: State Laws and Penalties
  • Riding On The Outside Of A Vehicle - Orc 4511.51
  • Child Passenger Restraints/Safety Laws - Orc 4511.81
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 31

Section 7: Special Driving Situations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Police And Traffic Stops
  • When To Use Headlights – Oac 4501-15-01
  • Night Driving
  • SECTION 7: Special Driving Situations
  • Driving In Fog
  • Winter Driving
  • Work Zones
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 33

Section 8: Safe Driving Tips

This chapter’s sections include:

  • SECTION 7: Special Driving Situations
  • Visual Search
  • Look Ahead
  • Look To The Sides
  • Look To The Rear
  • Speed Management — Adjusting To Roadway Conditions
  • Space Management
  • Stopping Distance = Space Cushion
  • Space to the Front
  • Space to the Side
  • Space Behind
  • Letting Others Know You Are There
  • Signaling Your Movements
  • Children
  • Pets
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 37

Section 9: Sharing the Road

This chapter’s sections include:

  • SECTION 8: Safe Driving Tips
  • Pedestrians
  • Motorcyclists
  • SECTION 9: Sharing the Road
  • Bicyclists - Orc 4511.52
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Turning The “No Zone”
  • Emergency Vehicles (Police, Fire, Medical Vehicles)
  • Move Over Laws
  • Slow Moving Vehicles – Orc 4511.31
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 42

Section 10: Emergency Situations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Avoiding Crashes
  • Braking
  • Steering
  • Accelerating
  • Skids
  • Inoperable Traffic Signals
  • Uneven Surface Drop-Offs
  • Vehicle Malfunctions
  • Brake Failure
  • Stuck Accelerator
  • Tire Blowout
  • Power Failure
  • Vehicle Breakdown
  • Stay Calm and Remain at the Scene
  • Check for Injuries and Request Assistance
  • Crash Details and Contact Information
  • Report the Crash
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 45

Section 11: Taking the Driving Test

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Maneuverability And On-Road Skills Testing
  • Maneuverability Skills Test
  • SECTION 11: Taking the Driving Test
  • On-Road Skills Test
  • Test Failure
  • Abbreviated Adult Driver Training Course - Oac 4501-8
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 48

Section 12: Purchase Your Driver License

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Purchasing Your Driver License
  • Co-signer Responsibility
  • Driver License: Compliant vs. Standard
  • Standard Card
  • Proof of Identity – Acceptable Documents List
  • Renewing Your Driver License
  • Class D Operator’s License
  • Commercial Driver License (CDL)
  • Motorcycle, Motor Scooter, or Moped License or Endorsement
  • SECTION 12: Purchase Your Driver License
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 14 · source p. 53

Section 13: What Else Should I Know?

This chapter’s sections include:

  • New Ohio Residents - Welcome To Ohio!
  • Save Our Sight Fund
  • Organ Donor Registry And The Second Chance Trust Fund
  • Voter Registration
  • Id R Kids
  • Next Of Kin – Emergency Contact Information
  • BMV Online Services
  • Living Will Designation
  • Armed Forces Designation
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The Ohio course groups the source material into 12 units. Each lesson includes handbook page references, examples, and a checkpoint in the study app.

Unit 1 · 7 lessons

Getting Your License

  1. Vision screening & the knowledge test
  2. Your TIPIC: documents & restrictions
  3. Driver education requirements
  4. The driving test: maneuverability & on-road
  5. Failing the driving test & the adult course
  6. Buying your license & co-signer rules
  7. Compliant vs. Standard cards & proof of identity

Unit 2 · 4 lessons

Before You Drive

  1. Required vehicle equipment
  2. Seat and mirror adjustments
  3. Safety belts & air bags
  4. Tire safety & using your lights

Unit 3 · 4 lessons

Be Alert

  1. Vision, fatigue, aggression & distraction
  2. Phone law for drivers 18 and older
  3. How alcohol and drugs affect driving
  4. Phone penalties & the under-18 total ban

Unit 4 · 6 lessons

Rules of the Road

  1. Speed limits & the assured clear distance
  2. Right-of-way
  3. Traffic signals
  4. Regulatory, prohibitory & warning signs
  5. Guide, route & work zone signs
  6. Lane markings, left-turn lanes & crosswalks

Unit 5 · 5 lessons

Basic Vehicle Control & Intersections

  1. Starting, moving & stopping
  2. Steering & backing up
  3. Intersections, turns & turning on red
  4. Roundabouts, lane position & changing lanes
  5. Entering & exiting highways

Unit 6 · 4 lessons

Passing, Railroads, School Buses & Parking

  1. Passing safely
  2. Railroad crossings
  3. Stopping for school buses
  4. Parking rules

Unit 7 · 5 lessons

Insurance, OVI & Penalties

  1. Insurance & financial responsibility
  2. BAC limits & chemical tests
  3. ALS suspensions, OVUAC & repeat OVI
  4. Points, suspensions & driving under suspension
  5. Child restraints & riding outside a vehicle

Unit 8 · 3 lessons

Special Driving Situations

  1. Police and traffic stops
  2. Headlights & night driving
  3. Fog, winter driving & work zones

Unit 9 · 4 lessons

Safe Driving Tips

  1. Visual search & adjusting speed
  2. Stopping distance & the space cushion
  3. Communicating: lights, horn & signals
  4. Preventing hot-vehicle injuries

Unit 10 · 5 lessons

Sharing the Road

  1. Pedestrians
  2. Sharing the road with motorcyclists
  3. Sharing the road with bicyclists
  4. Trucks, buses & the No-Zone
  5. Emergency vehicles, Move Over & slow vehicles

Unit 11 · 3 lessons

Emergencies & Crashes

  1. Avoiding a crash
  2. Vehicle malfunctions
  3. What to do after a crash

Unit 12 · 5 lessons

License Classes, Renewal & Residency

  1. License classes: Class D and CDLs
  2. Mopeds, scooters & motorcycles
  3. Probationary license: the first 12 months
  4. After the first 12 months & renewing
  5. New Ohio residents & license options