MD Driving Instructor flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Learner's permit minimum age

In Maryland a learner's permit may be issued at 15 years and 9 months, and the holder may drive only with a qualified supervising driver seated in the front passenger seat.

Provisional license eligibility

Maryland issues a provisional license at 16 years 6 months to a driver who has held a learner's permit for at least 9 months and completed driver education and 60 practice hours.

Provisional night driving restriction

Provisional license holders under 18 in Maryland may not drive between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless traveling for work, school, or religious activity, or accompanied by a qualified supervisor.

151-day passenger limit

During the first 151 days of a Maryland provisional license, a driver under 18 may carry no passengers other than immediate family members such as parents, siblings, and step-siblings.

Maryland 60-hour certification

Before a Maryland provisional license, a parent or guardian certifies that the novice completed at least 60 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night.

School bus stop requirement

On an undivided Maryland road, traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights; oncoming traffic on a divided highway with a median may proceed.

Maryland Move Over law

Drivers approaching a stopped emergency, tow, or service vehicle displaying warning lights must change lanes away from it if possible, or slow down and proceed with caution.

Three-second following rule

In ideal conditions a driver should stay at least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead, adding a second or more for rain, darkness, or heavy traffic.

ABS braking technique

With antilock brakes, press the pedal firmly and hold continuous pressure while steering; pedal vibration is normal and pumping the brake reduces braking effectiveness.

Skid recovery steps

Release the brake or accelerator, look and steer toward the intended path, and make smooth corrections; abrupt braking or steering makes most skids worse.

Hydroplaning onset speed

Hydroplaning can begin at speeds as low as 35 mph on wet pavement, especially with worn tires; ease off the accelerator until tire contact returns.

Minimum tire tread depth

A 2/32 inch tread depth is the minimum legal standard; worn tires lengthen stopping distance and raise the risk of hydroplaning and blowouts.

Stopping distance factors

Total stopping distance adds perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance; braking distance grows with the square of speed, so doubling speed quadruples it.

Headlights with wipers

Maryland requires headlights whenever windshield wipers are in use because of weather; low beams are used in fog, rain, and snow because high beams reflect back.

GDE matrix levels

The Goals for Driver Education matrix has four levels: vehicle control, mastery of traffic situations, trip goals and context, and life goals and risk-taking style.

Coaching feedback cycle

Observe the performance, ask the student to self-assess, give one or two specific corrections, then have the student immediately repeat the maneuver.

Commentary driving

The student speaks aloud about hazards, signs, and planned actions while driving, which develops scanning and hazard-perception habits before solo driving.

Dual-control intervention rule

The instructor acts immediately on safety-critical errors such as an impending collision; lower-risk errors are discussed after the maneuver is completed.

Guided to independent practice

New skills move from instructor-cued practice to student-directed practice in progressively harder settings before the skill is scored as mastered.

Cognitive load limit

Novices can handle about one or two new cues at a time; more instruction causes them to lose scanning and vehicle control.

Route progression sequence

A typical instructional order is parking lot, quiet residential streets, arterials and intersections, highway merging, then night and bad-weather driving.

Maryland course hour requirement

An MVA-approved Maryland driver education course requires 30 classroom hours, 6 behind-the-wheel hours, and 6 hours of in-car observation.

Certificate of completion

The school issues a completion certificate only after all classroom, behind-the-wheel, and observation hours and the required skills evaluations are documented.

Behind-the-wheel lesson log

Each lesson record lists date, student, instructor, route, skills practiced, duration, and an evaluation, and is signed by the instructor who delivered it.

Training vehicle requirements

Driver education cars need dual brake controls, valid registration and inspection, current liability insurance, and working seat belts for the instructor and all students.

MVA audit exposure

Driver education schools are licensed and audited by the MVA; missing or inconsistent attendance and lesson records can cost the school its approval.

Student record confidentiality

Enrollment, evaluation, and completion records are confidential and released only with written consent or when release is legally required.

Instructor duty of care

The instructor is responsible for the student's driving during the lesson and must supervise continuously, using the dual brake as the final safety control.

Falsifying driving hours

Recording hours or evaluations that were not actually delivered is fraud, leading to certification revocation, school sanctions, and possible civil or criminal liability.

Mandatory abuse reporting

Maryland law requires instructors and school staff to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the designated authority, regardless of school policy.

Professional boundaries

Instructors avoid gifts of value, romantic or business relationships with students, personal errands during lessons, and personal phone use while instructing.

Student fitness to drive

Before each lesson the instructor checks for illness, fatigue, medication effects, or impairment in the student and postpones the lesson when fitness is doubtful.