MARYLAND DRIVER EDUCATION CURRICULUM PREFACE - Driver Education Classroom and In-Car Curriculum Organization

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Mabel

Maryland Driver Education Curriculum Preface explains the risks of driving and the public-safety context for graduated licensing in the United States. It outlines the required driver education course hours, supervised practice, and night-time practice based on age, and describes how the Motor Vehicle Administration curriculum and related skills log support instructors. It also details program structure, including nine classroom units and six hours of in-car instruction, plus textbook and materials usage guidance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages80

Reading Time3 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

CURRICULUM PREFACE

Graduated Licensing requirements and practice hours

Purpose of the MVA classroom and in-car curriculum

Curriculum development and updates

Program structure overview

Authorized textbooks and student use guidance

CURRICULUM ORGANIZATION

Units 1–9: Classroom instruction rules

Unit page structure and teaching components

Performance objectives and learning activities

MARYLAND DRIVER EDUCATION CURRICULUM PREFACE Driving a motor vehicle is one of the most hazardous and complex tasks that most people will ever perform. In the United States, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 13 and 20. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, over 30.000 people were killed on American roads in 2011. Of those 30,000, 3023 teenagers were between ages 13 and 18. To prepare new drivers for the challenges ofthe road, the Maryland Graduated Licensing System (GLS) Law mandates all new drivers, regardless of age, successfully complete a course in driver education that consists of a minimum of 30 hours of classroom instruction and a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction before receiving their first noncommercial driver’s license. If the new driver is under 25, he/she must also complete a minimum of 60 hours of supervised practice driving. At least 10 of those hours must be at night. Any new driver 25 or older will be required to log 14 hours of practice driving with an authorized supervising driver, with only three hours occurring at night. The Motor Vehicle Administration’s Driver Education Classroom and In-car Curriculum and the Maryland Skills Log and Practice Guide were developed to help instructors and supervising drivers provide quality driver education and practice that satisfy the requirements of the Graduated Licensing System. The original Driver Education Classroom and In-car Curriculum and the Maryland Skills Log and Practice Guide were developed by the Highway Safety Center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The curriculum was updated and redistributed in 2008 by the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA) . Substantial contributions and editorial changes were made by a committee comprised of Motor Vehicle Administration staff as well as members of the Maryland driver education community. From time to time, the Motor Vehicle Administration will adopt changes to the Driver Education Classroom and In-car Curriculum. These changes will be distributed to driver education schools and will be posted to the Administration’s website, [www.mva.maryland.gov Driver](www.mva.maryland.gov Driver) education schools must ensure their instructors are aware of all changes and use the most up-to-date curriculum. 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. The Maryland Driver Education Classroom and In-Car Curriculum guide is divided into nine units of classroom instruction and six hours of in-car instruction. The program was designed to have the new driver start their in-car instruction before completing the classroom work. Authorized textbooks: The Maryland Driver Education and In-Car Curriculum was developed to provide novice drivers with the basic knowledge and skills to safely operate a motor vehicle and was designed to be used with one of four approved textbooks: Drive Right, 10th edition or later, published by Prentice Hall Handbook Plus, 1999 edition or later, published by Propulsion International, Inc. How to Drive, 9th edition or later, published by the American Automobile Association Responsible Driving, 2000 edition or later, published by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill The choice of textbook is left up to each individual driver education school—any of the four textbooks listed above will meet the requirements of a quality driver education program. Each classroom instructor should receive and use a copy of the teacher’s edition of the textbook selected by their driver education school. Students may use the textbook dur

FAQs

What course and practice hours are required under Maryland’s Graduated Licensing System?

The program requires a minimum of 30 hours of classroom instruction and at least six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction before the first noncommercial license. Drivers under 25 must complete a minimum of 60 hours of supervised practice driving, including at least 10 hours at night.

How do the requirements differ for new drivers aged 25 or older?

Drivers 25 or older must log 14 hours of practice driving with an authorized supervising driver, with only three hours occurring at night.

How is the curriculum organized for classroom and in-car instruction?

The guide is divided into nine units of classroom instruction and six hours of in-car instruction. The design expects the new driver to begin in-car instruction before completing the classroom work, and Unit 1 classroom content cannot be missed and made up later.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Mabel