IN Driving Instructor cheat sheet

Indiana's basic speed law (IC 9-21-5-1) requires a speed reasonable and prudent for conditions; posted limits are maximums, not safe-speed guarantees, and a driver may be cited for driving below the limit if it impedes traffic.

Statutory maximum speed limits: 30 mph in urban/residential districts, 55 mph on most rural two-lane highways, and 70 mph on rural interstates and freeways; posted signs control where they differ from the default.

Adult seat belt use is a primary enforcement violation in Indiana; children under 8 must be restrained in a child safety seat or booster, and children under 16 are covered by the occupant protection law regardless of seating position.

Indiana uses a point system: convictions add points (for example, speeding 1-15 mph over the limit = 2 points; reckless driving = 6 points); 12 or more points in 12 months triggers a suspension.

A driver must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and extended stop arm on a two-lane road; on a divided highway with a median, opposing traffic need not stop, but traffic behind the bus always must.

Indiana's implied consent law requires a driver arrested for OWI to submit to a chemical test; refusal results in license suspension even if the driver is later acquitted of the OWI charge.

Right-of-way rules: a vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming traffic; a vehicle entering a roadway from a driveway, alley, or private road must yield to all traffic already on the roadway.

Indiana requires headlights from sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility is reduced (rain, fog, snow) to 500 feet or less; headlights must also be used when wipers are in continuous use.

Move Over law: on a multi-lane road, drivers must change lanes away from a stationary emergency, tow, or highway maintenance vehicle with flashing lights; if a lane change is unsafe, slow down and proceed with caution.

The four-second following-distance rule applies at speeds above 40 mph and in poor conditions; the three-second rule applies at lower speeds in ideal conditions. Add one second for rain and two or more for snow or ice.

Total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance. Reaction distance = speed (fps) x reaction time; at 60 mph a vehicle travels 88 feet per second, so a 1.5-second reaction covers about 132 feet before braking begins.

The Smith System's five keys: Aim high in steering, Get the big picture, Keep your eyes moving, Leave yourself an out, Make sure they see you.

Space cushion rule: maintain at least one car length per 10 mph of speed when stopped behind another vehicle, keeping the rear tires of the vehicle ahead visible over the hood.

Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on a film of water; it can begin at speeds as low as 35 mph. Recovery requires easing off the accelerator, avoiding hard braking, and holding the wheel steady.

In a skid, steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding and avoid sudden braking; with ABS, apply firm continuous pressure and steer, without pumping the brake.

Tire blowout response: grip the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, avoid braking hard, and steer to a controlled stop off the roadway; braking hard on the deflating tire causes loss of control.

Distraction and impairment: texting while driving is a primary offense for all drivers in Indiana, and a driver under 21 with a BAC of 0.02% or higher is subject to OWI penalties.

Night driving: overdriving headlights means traveling faster than the distance illuminated by low beams (about 160 feet); high beams reach roughly 350 feet, so speed must allow a stop within that distance.

Indiana driver training schools must be licensed by the BMV; the license covers the school, each instructor, and each training vehicle, and separate approvals are required for each.

Instructor qualification baseline: at least 21 years of age, valid Indiana driver's license held for a minimum period, high school diploma or equivalent, and a clean driving record for the preceding years.

Training vehicles must be equipped with dual control brakes (and typically a passenger-side mirror), carry current registration and insurance, and pass an inspection before use in instruction.

Behind-the-wheel instruction must follow a documented curriculum; Indiana requires a specified number of hours of classroom and behind-the-wheel training for students under 18 seeking a probationary license.

Business records must be retained and made available for BMV inspection: student enrollment agreements, attendance and completion records, instructor certification files, and vehicle maintenance and inspection logs.

Tuition and refund policies must be disclosed in writing before enrollment; schools may not collect fees for instruction not delivered unless the contract specifies a refund schedule.

Advertising must not guarantee passing a driving test or license issuance; claims must be accurate, and use of state seals or names implying official state endorsement is prohibited.

Schools must notify the BMV within a defined period of changes in ownership, location, instructor roster, or vehicle fleet; unlicensed operation is subject to civil penalties and cease-and-desist action.

An instructor license is issued by the BMV after a criminal background check, driving record review, and verification of the education and experience requirements; it is not transferable between individuals.

Instructors must hold a valid Indiana driver's license at all times while teaching and must report any suspension, revocation, or serious moving violation to the school and the BMV.

Prohibited conduct includes instruction while impaired, leaving the passenger seat during a student's behind-the-wheel drive, using a personal phone for non-instructional purposes, and any physical or verbal abuse of a student.

Instructors must maintain a log for each behind-the-wheel session recording date, time, route or skills covered, duration, and student signature; logs support the student's certification of hours.

Student records are confidential: grades, test results, and personal information may be released only to the student, parent or guardian of a minor, or the BMV, and must be safeguarded from unauthorized access.

Instructor certification requires periodic renewal and continuing education; lapsed certification prohibits instruction until reinstatement is granted.

A student's behind-the-wheel hours may not be falsified or backdated; falsification is grounds for license revocation and may constitute fraud.

Incident reporting: any collision, injury, or property damage during instruction must be documented and reported to the school and insurer, and to the BMV when required, within the specified time frame.