NH Driving Instructor cheat sheet

New Hampshire issues graduated licenses in three stages: Youth Operator License (age 15½–18), Non-Commercial Driver License (age 18+), and Commercial Driver License (age 18+ intrastate, 21+ interstate).

A Youth Operator License applicant under 18 must hold a valid learner permit for at least 6 months before the road test, complete 40 hours of supervised driving (10 of which must be at night), and have no at-fault collisions or moving violations in the 6 months before application.

Driver education in New Hampshire requires a state-approved course of at least 30 classroom hours plus 10 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and 6 hours of observed (back-seat) driving; the course must be completed before the road test for applicants under 18.

The learner permit knowledge test covers New Hampshire motor vehicle laws, road signs, and safe driving; a passing score is required before any behind-the-wheel instruction, and the permit must be carried at all times while driving.

A parent, legal guardian, or licensed adult 25 or older must certify the 40 hours of supervised driving on the state form; the supervising driver must hold a valid license for the class of vehicle being operated.

A Youth Operator License restricts driving between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. unless driving to or from work, school, or an emergency, and limits passengers to no more than one non-family member under 25 unless a licensed adult 25+ is present.

Instructors must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid New Hampshire driver license for at least 5 years, have no convictions for DWI or certain traffic offenses within the preceding 5 years, and complete state-approved instructor training.

Driver education providers must be licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Safety, maintain student records for at least 3 years, and report course completion to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

New Hampshire's basic speed law requires driving at a speed reasonable and prudent for conditions; statutory maximums are 30 mph in business or residential districts, 55 mph on most rural highways, and 65 mph on designated interstate segments unless posted otherwise.

New Hampshire is a comparative fault state for civil liability but uses a per se DWI threshold of 0.08% BAC for drivers 21+, 0.04% for commercial drivers, and 0.02% for drivers under 21 under the state's zero-tolerance law.

Right-of-way rules: at an uncontrolled intersection the first vehicle to arrive proceeds first; if two arrive simultaneously, the vehicle on the right yields; a vehicle turning left yields to oncoming traffic proceeding straight or turning right.

Passing is prohibited on a solid yellow center line, within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing, and on hills or curves where visibility is limited; a driver being passed must not increase speed.

Following distance should be at least 3 seconds in ideal conditions and increased to 4 or more seconds in rain, snow, ice, darkness, or when following large trucks or motorcycles.

Seat belt use is required for all front-seat occupants and for all occupants under 18; children under 8 years old and under 57 inches tall must use an approved child restraint system.

A driver approaching a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm must stop at least 25 feet away and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing, unless the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway.

New Hampshire law requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise and whenever visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less; wipers on means headlights on.

The instructor is legally responsible for the safety of the student and vehicle during instruction; dual-control vehicles (brake and mirror for the instructor) are required for behind-the-wheel training.

A documented pre-trip vehicle inspection covering tires, brakes, lights, mirrors, seat position, and fluid levels must be completed before each lesson, and the instructor must verify the student's permit is valid.

Instructor-to-student ratio for behind-the-wheel instruction is one student per instructor in the front seat; a maximum of one additional student may observe from the rear seat.

Lesson plans should follow a progressive sequence: parking lot orientation, residential streets, rural roads, urban traffic, highway merging, and night or inclement-weather driving, with each skill mastered before advancing.

Instructors must use a structured evaluation rubric that scores observation, speed control, steering, lane position, signaling, gap selection, and hazard perception, and must provide written feedback after each lesson.

Instructors must immediately intervene (use the passenger brake or steering assist) when the student's action creates an imminent risk; the intervention must be debriefed afterward without shaming the student.

Instructors may not use a cell phone for non-instructional purposes, must remain alert and hands-ready near the controls, and must not allow the student to exceed posted speed limits or drive while impaired or fatigued.

Instructors must report suspected child abuse or neglect, complete continuing education hours required by the state, and maintain confidentiality of student records in accordance with state and federal privacy requirements.

New Hampshire uses a point system: convictions for moving violations add points to the driving record, and accumulating 12 or more points within 12 months results in suspension of driving privileges.

Point values include 6 points for reckless driving, 4 points for following too closely or failing to yield, 3 points for most speeding violations, and 2 points for minor equipment or administrative violations.

Points remain on the record for 3 years, and a driver may reduce points by completing an approved driver improvement course, which can remove up to 3 points once every 3 years.

A DWI first offense carries a license suspension of at least 9 months (up to 2 years), a fine of at least $500, mandatory completion of an Impaired Driver Care Management Program (IDCMP) evaluation, and installation of an ignition interlock device.

A second DWI offense within 10 years results in a minimum 3-year license suspension and mandatory ignition interlock; a third offense is a felony with a minimum 7-year suspension and possible prison time.

Refusing a chemical test triggers an administrative license suspension of 6 months for a first refusal and 2 years for a subsequent refusal, separate from any criminal DWI proceeding.

Aggravated DWI (BAC 0.16% or higher, or DWI with a passenger under 16) carries enhanced penalties including longer suspension, higher fines, and mandatory interlock.

The Impaired Driver Care Management Program requires an evaluation and, when indicated, treatment; completion is a condition for license reinstatement, and instructors must refer students showing signs of substance misuse.

New Hampshire issues graduated licenses in three stages: Youth Operator License (age 15½–18), Non-Commercial Driver License (age 18+), and Commercial Driver License (age 18+ intrastate, 21+ interstate).

A Youth Operator License applicant under 18 must hold a valid learner permit for at least 6 months before the road test, complete 40 hours of supervised driving (10 of which must be at night), and have no at-fault collisions or moving violations in the 6 months before application.

Driver education in New Hampshire requires a state-approved course of at least 30 classroom hours plus 10 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and 6 hours of observed (back-seat) driving; the course must be completed before the road test for applicants under 18.

The learner permit knowledge test covers New Hampshire motor vehicle laws, road signs, and safe driving; a passing score is required before any behind-the-wheel instruction, and the permit must be carried at all times while driving.

A parent, legal guardian, or licensed adult 25 or older must certify the 40 hours of supervised driving on the state form; the supervising driver must hold a valid license for the class of vehicle being operated.

A Youth Operator License restricts driving between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. unless driving to or from work, school, or an emergency, and limits passengers to no more than one non-family member under 25 unless a licensed adult 25+ is present.

Instructors must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid New Hampshire driver license for at least 5 years, have no convictions for DWI or certain traffic offenses within the preceding 5 years, and complete state-approved instructor training.

Driver education providers must be licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Safety, maintain student records for at least 3 years, and report course completion to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

New Hampshire's basic speed law requires driving at a speed reasonable and prudent for conditions; statutory maximums are 30 mph in business or residential districts, 55 mph on most rural highways, and 65 mph on designated interstate segments unless posted otherwise.

New Hampshire is a comparative fault state for civil liability but uses a per se DWI threshold of 0.08% BAC for drivers 21+, 0.04% for commercial drivers, and 0.02% for drivers under 21 under the state's zero-tolerance law.

Right-of-way rules: at an uncontrolled intersection the first vehicle to arrive proceeds first; if two arrive simultaneously, the vehicle on the right yields; a vehicle turning left yields to oncoming traffic proceeding straight or turning right.

Passing is prohibited on a solid yellow center line, within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing, and on hills or curves where visibility is limited; a driver being passed must not increase speed.

Following distance should be at least 3 seconds in ideal conditions and increased to 4 or more seconds in rain, snow, ice, darkness, or when following large trucks or motorcycles.

Seat belt use is required for all front-seat occupants and for all occupants under 18; children under 8 years old and under 57 inches tall must use an approved child restraint system.

A driver approaching a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm must stop at least 25 feet away and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing, unless the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway.

New Hampshire law requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise and whenever visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less; wipers on means headlights on.

The instructor is legally responsible for the safety of the student and vehicle during instruction; dual-control vehicles (brake and mirror for the instructor) are required for behind-the-wheel training.

A documented pre-trip vehicle inspection covering tires, brakes, lights, mirrors, seat position, and fluid levels must be completed before each lesson, and the instructor must verify the student's permit is valid.

Instructor-to-student ratio for behind-the-wheel instruction is one student per instructor in the front seat; a maximum of one additional student may observe from the rear seat.

Lesson plans should follow a progressive sequence: parking lot orientation, residential streets, rural roads, urban traffic, highway merging, and night or inclement-weather driving, with each skill mastered before advancing.

Instructors must use a structured evaluation rubric that scores observation, speed control, steering, lane position, signaling, gap selection, and hazard perception, and must provide written feedback after each lesson.

Instructors must immediately intervene (use the passenger brake or steering assist) when the student's action creates an imminent risk; the intervention must be debriefed afterward without shaming the student.

Instructors may not use a cell phone for non-instructional purposes, must remain alert and hands-ready near the controls, and must not allow the student to exceed posted speed limits or drive while impaired or fatigued.

Instructors must report suspected child abuse or neglect, complete continuing education hours required by the state, and maintain confidentiality of student records in accordance with state and federal privacy requirements.

New Hampshire uses a point system: convictions for moving violations add points to the driving record, and accumulating 12 or more points within 12 months results in suspension of driving privileges.

Point values include 6 points for reckless driving, 4 points for following too closely or failing to yield, 3 points for most speeding violations, and 2 points for minor equipment or administrative violations.

Points remain on the record for 3 years, and a driver may reduce points by completing an approved driver improvement course, which can remove up to 3 points once every 3 years.

A DWI first offense carries a license suspension of at least 9 months (up to 2 years), a fine of at least $500, mandatory completion of an Impaired Driver Care Management Program (IDCMP) evaluation, and installation of an ignition interlock device.

A second DWI offense within 10 years results in a minimum 3-year license suspension and mandatory ignition interlock; a third offense is a felony with a minimum 7-year suspension and possible prison time.

Refusing a chemical test triggers an administrative license suspension of 6 months for a first refusal and 2 years for a subsequent refusal, separate from any criminal DWI proceeding.

Aggravated DWI (BAC 0.16% or higher, or DWI with a passenger under 16) carries enhanced penalties including longer suspension, higher fines, and mandatory interlock.

The Impaired Driver Care Management Program requires an evaluation and, when indicated, treatment; completion is a condition for license reinstatement, and instructors must refer students showing signs of substance misuse.