Maryland Driver Education Curriculum - Eight Danger Zones - Student Workbook

Sep 29, 2026

Maryland Driver Education Curriculum student workbook content outlines orientation and core driving units, then emphasizes eight “Danger Zones” where teen drivers face heightened risk. Coaching guidance covers supervised practice, diversified road exposure, hazard scanning, passenger and nighttime restrictions, seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving prevention, speed and spacing habits, and impaired-driving deterrence. It also provides coach and student expectations, including a Rookie Driver-Coach Agreement and student responsibilities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages96

Reading Time4 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

UNIT ONE: Orientation to Driver Education

UNIT TWO: Signs, Signals, and Pavement Markings

UNIT THREE: Getting Started

UNIT FOUR: Breaking Away

UNIT FIVE: Driving in Neighborhoods

UNIT SIX: Urban, Suburban, and Rural Roads

UNIT SEVEN: Driving on Expressways

UNIT EIGHT: Crashes and Malfunctions

UNIT NINE: Making Good Decisions

Eight Danger Zones

Danger Zone #1: Driver Inexperience

Danger Zone #2: Driving With Teen Passengers

Danger Zone #3: Nighttime Driving

Danger Zone #4: Not Using Seat Belts

Danger Zone #5: Driver Inexperience

Danger Zone #6: Drowsy Driving

Danger Zone #7: Reckless Driving

Danger Zone #8: Impaired Driving

Expectations & Responsibilities for Coaches

Expectations & Responsibilities for New Drivers

Rookie Driver-Coach Agreement

Student Workbook Maryland Driver Education Curriculum Table Of Contents UNIT ONE: Orientation to Driver Education .................................... 1.1 UNIT TWO: Signs, Signals, and Pavement Markings ...................... 2.1 UNIT THREE: Getting Started ............................................................. 3.1 UNIT FOUR: Breaking Away .............................................................. 4.1 UNIT FIVE: Driving in Neighborhoods ............................................. 5.1 UNIT SIX: Urban, Suburban, and Rural Roads ..............................6.1 UNIT SEVEN: Driving on Expressways.................................................7.1 UNIT EIGHT: Crashes and Malfunctions .............................................8.1 UNIT NINE: Making Good Decisions ................................................9.1 Disclaimer: The information in the Driver Education Classroom and In-car Curriculum is, of necessity, generic in nature and is for general instructional purposes only. Student drivers and their supervising drivers should refer to their vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific information on their automobile and state motor vehicle law for specific information regarding traffic law and regulation and to obtain the most current information. Revised June, 2017 Eight Danger Zones | Danger Zone \#1: Driver Inexperience | | --- | | What Coaches Can Do | | Provide at least 60 hours of supervised driving practice over at least nine months. | | Practice on a variety of roads, at different times of day, and in varied weather and traffic conditions. | | Stress the importance of continually scanning for potential hazards including other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. | | Danger Zone \#2: Driving With Teen Passengers | | --- | | What Coaches Can Do | | Follow Maryland’s Graduated Licensing System for passenger restrictions, which forbids provisional license holders under the age of 18 from carrying passengers under the age of 18, except for family members. Violations may result in a suspension of driving privileges. | | Follow this rule for at least the first five months that your teen is driving. | | Danger Zone \#3: Nighttime Driving | | --- | | What Coaches Can Do | | Maryland’s Graduated Licensing System restricts provisional license holders under the age of 18 from driving between 12 Midnight and 5 AM unless for school, sports, job or volunteer work. | | Practice nighttime driving with your teen when you think they are ready. | | Danger Zone \#4: Not Using Seat Belts | | --- | | What Coaches Can Do | | Require your teen to wear a seat belt on every trip. This simple step can reduce your teen’s risk of dying or being badly injured in a crash by about half. | Student Workbook For Maryland Driver Education Curriculum 1.1 Eight Danger Zones | Danger Zone \#5: Driver Inexperience | | --- | | What Coaches Can Do | | Don’t allow activities that may take your teen’s attention away from driving, such as talking on a cell phone, texting, eating, or playing with the radio. | | Learn more about distracted [driving. Visit www.distraction.gov](driving. Visit www.distraction.gov). | | Danger Zone \#6: Drowsy Driving | | --- | | What Coaches Can Do | | Know your teen’s schedule so you can be sure he or she is well rested before getting behind the wheel. | | Danger Zone \#7: Reckless Driving | | --- | | What Coaches Can Do | | Make sure your teen knows to follow the speed limit and adjust their speed to match road conditions. | | Remind your teen to maintain enough space behind the vehicle ahead to avoid a crash in case of a sudden stop. | | Danger Zone \#8: Impaired Driving | | --- | | What Coaches Can Do | | Be a good role model: never drink and drive. | | Reinforce this message with a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. | | Learn more about impaired driving. | | Get the statistics on teen drinking and driving. | 1.2 Student Workbook For Maryland Driver Education Curriculum Expec

FAQs

How many hours of supervised driving practice should a new teen complete?

Coaches are instructed to provide at least 60 hours of supervised driving practice over at least nine months, with practice across varied roads, times of day, and weather/traffic conditions.

What restrictions apply to teen passengers and nighttime driving in Maryland’s Graduated Licensing System?

Passenger restrictions limit provisional license holders under 18 from carrying passengers under 18 except family members, and violations may suspend privileges. Nighttime restrictions prohibit driving between 12 Midnight and 5 AM unless for school, sports, job, or volunteer work.

What behaviors are coaches advised to prevent for teen drivers related to safety belt use, distraction, and drowsiness?

Teens must wear seat belts on every trip. Coaches should prevent distractions such as cell phone use, texting, eating, and radio manipulation while driving, and they should ensure the teen is well rested before getting behind the wheel.

Sep 29, 2026

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