GA Driving Instructor cheat sheet

Georgia driver training schools operate under DDS licensing rules (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 375-5); a school license is issued to the school entity, while each instructor holds a separate instructor license or permit.

A school must obtain DDS approval of its curriculum, facilities, equipment, and records system before enrolling students; material changes to ownership, location, or curriculum require notice or re-approval.

Instructor applicants must meet age, education, driving-record, and background-check standards; a clean motor vehicle report and fingerprint-based criminal history check are typical conditions of licensure.

Instructor licenses are tied to the employing school; an instructor may not teach for an unlicensed school, and a school may not use unlicensed instructors.

Schools must maintain a surety bond or proof of financial responsibility in the amount DDS sets, so students can recover prepaid tuition if the school closes.

DDS conducts periodic inspections and may suspend, revoke, or refuse renewal of a school or instructor license for violations such as falsified records, unlicensed instruction, or unsafe vehicles.

Required signage, posted license, and disclosure of the school's approved course offerings and fees are conditions of operating lawfully; refund policies must be in writing.

Training vehicles must be insured, registered, and equipped with dual controls and a rearview mirror for the instructor; vehicles failing inspection cannot be used for instruction.

Advertising may not misrepresent DDS approval; a school may state it is licensed by DDS but may not imply endorsement by the department.

Georgia's approved novice driver education course combines classroom (typically 30 hours) and behind-the-wheel instruction (typically 6 hours) plus observation; the exact hour requirements follow the DDS-approved curriculum in force.

Lesson plans should state a measurable objective, the method, the materials, the time allocation, and the assessment; objectives are written as observable student behaviors, not topics.

Gagné's nine events (gain attention, state objective, recall prior knowledge, present content, guide learning, elicit performance, give feedback, assess, transfer) provide a sequencing template for each class period.

Bloom's taxonomy orders objectives from remember and understand through apply, analyze, evaluate, and create; behind-the-wheel objectives belong mostly in the apply and analyze levels.

The Zone Control system (search, evaluate, execute) and the Smith System (Aim High, Get the Big Picture, Keep Your Eyes Moving, Leave Yourself an Out, Make Sure They See You) are standard perceptual-search frameworks taught in Georgia classrooms.

The graduated driver licensing phases (learner permit, intermediate, full license) are the organizing spine of the curriculum; each lesson should map to the privileges and restrictions of the student's current phase.

Formative assessment (questioning, exit tickets, driving-observation checklists) informs instruction during the course; summative assessment (written exam, scored driving evaluation) certifies completion.

A written test bank should sample all units with item analysis; distractors should be plausible and parallel in length and grammar to the correct answer.

Risk-reduction topics required in the curriculum include impairment, distraction, fatigue, seat belt use, sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, and large trucks, and railroad crossing safety.

Georgia's Move Over law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency, tow, or highway-construction vehicle with flashing lights to move to a non-adjacent lane or, if that is unsafe or impossible, slow below the posted limit and proceed with caution.

Georgia's Hands-Free Georgia Act prohibits holding or supporting a wireless device with any part of the body while driving and bars writing, sending, or reading text-based messages; limited voice and single-touch activation are permitted.

Georgia's implied consent law means a driver lawfully arrested for DUI is deemed to have consented to chemical testing; refusal can lead to license suspension independent of the criminal case.

For drivers 21 and over, Georgia's per se DUI threshold is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08; the threshold is 0.04 for commercial drivers and 0.02 for drivers under 21.

Georgia's primary seat belt law allows enforcement for non-use alone; occupants in the front seat and all passengers under 18 must be restrained, and children under 8 must use an approved child restraint appropriate to height and weight.

The Georgia point system assesses points for convictions, and accumulation triggers suspension; points also affect insurance and can be reduced by completing an approved defensive driving course.

Right-of-way rules: a driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic; a vehicle entering a roadway from a driveway or private road must yield to traffic already on the roadway; pedestrians in a marked crosswalk have the right of way.

Following distance under ideal conditions is at least three seconds; add one second for each adverse condition (rain, darkness, heavy load, or a following vehicle that is tailgating).

Railroad crossings: stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail when a signal warns, and never stop on tracks; school buses and vehicles carrying hazardous materials must stop at all crossings.

The instructor's seat must allow simultaneous access to the dual brake and, where equipped, the auxiliary mirror; the instructor keeps a hand near the wheel only when intervention is required.

Use a pre-drive briefing (objective, route, key skills), in-drive coaching (brief prompts, one instruction at a time), and a post-drive debrief (self-assessment first, then instructor feedback) as the standard three-part lesson structure.

Intervention hierarchy: verbal prompt, then verbal command, then physical correction or dual-brake use; document every intervention and the reason for it.

Route selection should progress from low-speed, low-traffic lots to residential streets, then arterials, highway merging, and night or bad-weather driving only when the student is ready.

Maintain a student file containing the enrollment agreement, permit or license copy, attendance and drive log, scored evaluations, and completion certificate; retention periods follow DDS rules and school policy.

Completion certificates may be issued only after the student meets attendance, written-exam, and behind-the-wheel hour and performance requirements; never backdate or pre-sign a certificate.

Risk management includes verifying the student's valid permit before each drive, checking insurance and vehicle condition, and having a written emergency plan for collision, breakdown, or medical event.

Two-way communication rules: no personal phone use by the instructor during instruction; student phone use is prohibited except in a genuine emergency, consistent with Georgia's hands-free law.

Confidentiality: student records, including driving performance and personal data, are released only to the student (or parent/guardian if a minor) or as required by law; keep records locked and access limited.

Each student record is keyed to a unique identifier and includes name, date of birth, permit or license number, contact information, and guardian consent for minors.

Attendance records must show date, clock time in and out, instructor name, and hours by category (classroom, behind-the-wheel, observation), signed or initialed by the instructor.

Behind-the-wheel logs record route type, skills practiced, duration, interventions, and the instructor's scored evaluation; entries are made the same day, not reconstructed later.

Written examination results, including item-level scores and the passing standard, are retained with the student's file to support the completion certificate.

Completion certificates (DDS Form DS-1 or the current approved equivalent) are serially controlled; a log tracks certificate number, issue date, and recipient to prevent duplication.

Records for students who do not complete the course must still be retained for the required period and show the reason for non-completion.

Corrections to records are made by strike-through with initials and date, never by erasure or overwriting, so the audit trail remains intact.

Schools must produce records on demand during a DDS inspection; missing or falsified records are grounds for license action against the school and the instructor.

Georgia driver training schools operate under DDS licensing rules (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 375-5); a school license is issued to the school entity, while each instructor holds a separate instructor license or permit.

A school must obtain DDS approval of its curriculum, facilities, equipment, and records system before enrolling students; material changes to ownership, location, or curriculum require notice or re-approval.

Instructor applicants must meet age, education, driving-record, and background-check standards; a clean motor vehicle report and fingerprint-based criminal history check are typical conditions of licensure.

Instructor licenses are tied to the employing school; an instructor may not teach for an unlicensed school, and a school may not use unlicensed instructors.

Schools must maintain a surety bond or proof of financial responsibility in the amount DDS sets, so students can recover prepaid tuition if the school closes.

DDS conducts periodic inspections and may suspend, revoke, or refuse renewal of a school or instructor license for violations such as falsified records, unlicensed instruction, or unsafe vehicles.

Required signage, posted license, and disclosure of the school's approved course offerings and fees are conditions of operating lawfully; refund policies must be in writing.

Training vehicles must be insured, registered, and equipped with dual controls and a rearview mirror for the instructor; vehicles failing inspection cannot be used for instruction.

Advertising may not misrepresent DDS approval; a school may state it is licensed by DDS but may not imply endorsement by the department.

Georgia's approved novice driver education course combines classroom (typically 30 hours) and behind-the-wheel instruction (typically 6 hours) plus observation; the exact hour requirements follow the DDS-approved curriculum in force.

Lesson plans should state a measurable objective, the method, the materials, the time allocation, and the assessment; objectives are written as observable student behaviors, not topics.

Gagné's nine events (gain attention, state objective, recall prior knowledge, present content, guide learning, elicit performance, give feedback, assess, transfer) provide a sequencing template for each class period.

Bloom's taxonomy orders objectives from remember and understand through apply, analyze, evaluate, and create; behind-the-wheel objectives belong mostly in the apply and analyze levels.

The Zone Control system (search, evaluate, execute) and the Smith System (Aim High, Get the Big Picture, Keep Your Eyes Moving, Leave Yourself an Out, Make Sure They See You) are standard perceptual-search frameworks taught in Georgia classrooms.

The graduated driver licensing phases (learner permit, intermediate, full license) are the organizing spine of the curriculum; each lesson should map to the privileges and restrictions of the student's current phase.

Formative assessment (questioning, exit tickets, driving-observation checklists) informs instruction during the course; summative assessment (written exam, scored driving evaluation) certifies completion.

A written test bank should sample all units with item analysis; distractors should be plausible and parallel in length and grammar to the correct answer.

Risk-reduction topics required in the curriculum include impairment, distraction, fatigue, seat belt use, sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, and large trucks, and railroad crossing safety.

Georgia's Move Over law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency, tow, or highway-construction vehicle with flashing lights to move to a non-adjacent lane or, if that is unsafe or impossible, slow below the posted limit and proceed with caution.

Georgia's Hands-Free Georgia Act prohibits holding or supporting a wireless device with any part of the body while driving and bars writing, sending, or reading text-based messages; limited voice and single-touch activation are permitted.

Georgia's implied consent law means a driver lawfully arrested for DUI is deemed to have consented to chemical testing; refusal can lead to license suspension independent of the criminal case.

For drivers 21 and over, Georgia's per se DUI threshold is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08; the threshold is 0.04 for commercial drivers and 0.02 for drivers under 21.

Georgia's primary seat belt law allows enforcement for non-use alone; occupants in the front seat and all passengers under 18 must be restrained, and children under 8 must use an approved child restraint appropriate to height and weight.

The Georgia point system assesses points for convictions, and accumulation triggers suspension; points also affect insurance and can be reduced by completing an approved defensive driving course.

Right-of-way rules: a driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic; a vehicle entering a roadway from a driveway or private road must yield to traffic already on the roadway; pedestrians in a marked crosswalk have the right of way.

Following distance under ideal conditions is at least three seconds; add one second for each adverse condition (rain, darkness, heavy load, or a following vehicle that is tailgating).

Railroad crossings: stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail when a signal warns, and never stop on tracks; school buses and vehicles carrying hazardous materials must stop at all crossings.

The instructor's seat must allow simultaneous access to the dual brake and, where equipped, the auxiliary mirror; the instructor keeps a hand near the wheel only when intervention is required.

Use a pre-drive briefing (objective, route, key skills), in-drive coaching (brief prompts, one instruction at a time), and a post-drive debrief (self-assessment first, then instructor feedback) as the standard three-part lesson structure.

Intervention hierarchy: verbal prompt, then verbal command, then physical correction or dual-brake use; document every intervention and the reason for it.

Route selection should progress from low-speed, low-traffic lots to residential streets, then arterials, highway merging, and night or bad-weather driving only when the student is ready.

Maintain a student file containing the enrollment agreement, permit or license copy, attendance and drive log, scored evaluations, and completion certificate; retention periods follow DDS rules and school policy.

Completion certificates may be issued only after the student meets attendance, written-exam, and behind-the-wheel hour and performance requirements; never backdate or pre-sign a certificate.

Risk management includes verifying the student's valid permit before each drive, checking insurance and vehicle condition, and having a written emergency plan for collision, breakdown, or medical event.

Two-way communication rules: no personal phone use by the instructor during instruction; student phone use is prohibited except in a genuine emergency, consistent with Georgia's hands-free law.

Confidentiality: student records, including driving performance and personal data, are released only to the student (or parent/guardian if a minor) or as required by law; keep records locked and access limited.

Each student record is keyed to a unique identifier and includes name, date of birth, permit or license number, contact information, and guardian consent for minors.

Attendance records must show date, clock time in and out, instructor name, and hours by category (classroom, behind-the-wheel, observation), signed or initialed by the instructor.

Behind-the-wheel logs record route type, skills practiced, duration, interventions, and the instructor's scored evaluation; entries are made the same day, not reconstructed later.

Written examination results, including item-level scores and the passing standard, are retained with the student's file to support the completion certificate.

Completion certificates (DDS Form DS-1 or the current approved equivalent) are serially controlled; a log tracks certificate number, issue date, and recipient to prevent duplication.

Records for students who do not complete the course must still be retained for the required period and show the reason for non-completion.

Corrections to records are made by strike-through with initials and date, never by erasure or overwriting, so the audit trail remains intact.

Schools must produce records on demand during a DDS inspection; missing or falsified records are grounds for license action against the school and the instructor.