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Getting your driver’s license is an exciting and important milestone in a young person’s life. It grants you the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, it helps you gain personal repsonsibility, and it can make getting to and from places so much easier. However, before hitting the open road, there are several steps you need to take in order to obtain your license in Kansas.
The first step is obtaining a learner’s permit. To do this, you must be at least 14 years old and pass a written test that assesses your knowledge of traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. This test can sometimes be challenging, so it’s important to study and prepare beforehand, and really pay attention in your driver’s education class. Our driver’s ed instructors here at Yost Driving School are really thorough, so as long as you are attentive and ask any questions you may have, you should have no problem with that written test. Once you pass the test, you will receive a temporary permit, otherwise referred to as a DE-99, from your driver’s ed instructor. You can take this DE-99 to the DMV to get your learner’s permit, which allows you to start practicing driving under the supervision of a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old.
Once you have your learner’s permit, it’s time to log some practice hours behind the wheel. In Kansas, new drivers under the age of 17 must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with 10 of those hours being conducted at night. These practice hours are crucial for gaining experience and confidence on the road. During this stage, it’s essential to focus on developing good driving habits and learning how to anticipate potential hazards. Good places to practice driving is a big parking lot, a cemetery, or around your neighborhood.
During this year of holding your learner’s permit, you will do a driving assessment with your driver’s education instructor. Yoo have to do 6-hours of behind the wheel instruction in order to get the Certificate of Completion. The driving instructor you get will make sure to instruct you on all of the necessary requirements for the assessment, as well as ease any anxiety you may have about being behind the wheel.
After completing the full driver’s ed course and the required practice hours, it’s time to take the next step towards getting your license: the restricted license phase. To apply for a restricted license, you must be at least 15 years old and have held your learner’s permit for at least one year without any traffic violations or convictions.. Additionally, you must provide proof of completion of the required practice hours, and provide the Certificate of Completion you received after you completed the full driver’s education course.
During this phase, you will have some restrictions on your driving privileges. For instance, you will only be allowed to drive by yourself to your place of work, to school, to church and home. You will only be able to drive between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., unless accompanied by a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old. You will also not be permitted to have more than one non-sibling passenger under the age of 18 in your vehicle, unless accompanied by a licensed adult. These restrictions are put in place to ensure your safety and gradually ease you into the responsibilities of being a fully licensed driver.
Finally, when you turn 17 years old, you can apply for an unrestricted license. This means that you will no longer have any time or passenger restrictions on your driving. However, it’s important to remember that with great freedom comes great responsibility. It is crucial to continue practicing safe driving habits and obeying all traffic laws to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road.
Obtaining your driver’s license in Kansas may require patience and dedication, but it is a worthwhile journey. Remember to study hard for your written test, pay attention in you driver’s ed class, log enough practice hours behind the wheel, and maintain a clean driving record throughout each phase. With determination and with safe and responsible driving, you will soon be cruising down the streets of Kansas with the wind in your hair and the open road ahead of you.