Virginia Driver Improvement Program : Defensive Driving & Traffic Schools

The following was taken from the DMV's Brochure:Stopping/Yielding
A Different Kind of Crash Course.:Failure to drive to the right and stop for police/fire
Nationwide a vehicle crash occurs every five seconds.emergency vehicle (3 years)
Roughly, more than 147,737 vehicle crashes occurredFailure to stop for pedestrian with white cane (3
on Virginia's highways last year. The odds are oneyears)
out of four that you will be involved in a crash duringFailure to stop and yield right-of-way (3 years)
your lifetime.Failure to yield right-of-way (3 years)
To reduce these odds, the Virginia Department ofFailure to yield when turning left (3 years)
Motor Vehicles has created a different kind of crashFailure to yield to funeral procession (3 years)
course. Our Driver Improvement Program rewardsKeeping to the Right
safe drivers and warns potentially unsafe drivers inFailure to drive on right half of highway or street (3
advance. It helps educate drivers who haveyears)
developed risky driving practices and it takesFailure to keep to the right when crossing an
dangerous drivers off the road. Here's how it works.intersection (3 years)
What does the point system say about you?Driving to the left of rotary traffic island (3 years)
DMV uses a point system to rate drivers. YouFollowing/Signaling
receive demerit points for unsafe driving and safeFollowing too closely (3 years)
driving points for good driving.Failure to signal before moving from curb (3 years)
Demerit Points are assigned when you commit aImproper signal (3 years)
traffic violation. Different violations carry differentRailroad Crossings
point assignments, depending on the seriousness ofFailure to obey railroad crossing signal (3 years)
the offense. For example, you will receive threeFailure to stop at railroad grade crossing (3 years)
demerit points if you make an improper U-turn.Failure to keep to the right at a railroad crossing (3
However, you will receive six demerit points if youyears)
speed 20 miles per hour or more above the postedFailure to stop passenger-carrying vehicle at railroad
speed limit. Demerit points remain valid two yearsgrade crossing (3 years)
from the date you commit an offense.Railroad crossing/stopping (3 years)
Safe Driving Points are assigned for each full calendarImproper operation of crawler-type tractor over
year that you hold a valid Virginia driver?s license andrailroad crossing (3 years)
drive without any violations or suspensions. In someRailroad Crossings (Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers)
cases, you may also earn safe driving points byFailure to slow down/stop at a railroad crossing (*)
completing a driver improvement clinic. You canFailure to have sufficient space to drive through a
accumulate a total of five safe driving points and yourailroad crossing (*)
may use these safe driving points to offset demeritFailure to obey traffic control device or enforcement
points.official at a railroad crossing (*)
Demerit Points Can Add UpFailure to have sufficient undercarriage clearance at a
Each time you commit a traffic offense, DMV addsrailroad crossing (*)
additional demerit points to your record. This can addOther Violations
up to big trouble for some drive.Failure to stop at the scene of a crash, unattended
Six Point Violationsproperty, damage in excess of $500 (11 years)
Reckless Driving/SpeedingFailure to stop at the scene of a crash, property
Reckless driving - speeding in excess of 80 mph (11damage (3 years)
years)Emergency vehicle violation - property damage (5
Reckless driving - speeding 20 mph or more aboveyears)
the posted speed limit (11 years)Emergency vehicle violation - injury (5 years)
Reckless driving - racing (11 years)Aggressive driving (5 years)
Reckless driving - passing or overtaking anFailure to obey traffic signal (3 years)
emergency vehicle (11 years)Failure to obey lane directional signal (3 years)
Reckless driving - passing a school bus (11 years)Failure to obey highway lane markings (3 years)
Reckless driving - passing on the crest of a hill (11Improper backing, stopping or turning (3 years)
years)Driving the wrong way on one-way highway or
Reckless driving - passing at a railroad crossing (11street (3 years)
years)Impeding/disrupting funeral procession (3 years)
Reckless driving - passing two vehicles abreast (11Disregarding police officer's signal to stop (3 years)
years)Disregarding crossing guard/officer's signal (3 years)
Reckless driving - driving two vehicles abreast (11Three Point Violations
years)Speeding
Reckless driving - driving too fast for conditions (11Speeding 1-9 mph above the posted speed limit (5
years)years)
Reckless driving - failing to give a proper signal (11Impeding traffic, slow speed (5 years)
years)Passing/Driving
Reckless driving - faulty brakes/improper control (11Improper passing (3 years)
years)Improper passing on the right (3 years)
Reckless driving - on parking lots, etc. (11 years)Improper driving (3 years)
Reckless driving - with an obstructed view (11 years)Improper stopping on highway (3 years)
Reckless driving - generally (11 years)Changing course after signaling (3 years)
Speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speedCoasting with gears in neutral (3 years)
limit (5 years)Failure to give way in favor of overtaking vehicle (3
Driving Under the Influenceyears)
Driving while intoxicated (11 years)Failure to give way when abreast of another car (3
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (11years)
years)Driving through safety zone (3 years)
Driving under the influence of drugs (11 years)Driving over fire hose (3 years)
Driving after illegally consuming alcohol (persons underUnauthorized use of crossover on controlled highway
age 21) (3 years)(3 years)
Driving while intoxicated - maiming (11 years)Driving/riding on sidewalk (3 years)
Involuntary manslaughter/alcohol (11 years)Turning/Backing
Refusing blood/breath test (11 years)Improper turn (3 years)
Driving while your license is revoked for driving whileImproper U-turn (3 years)
intoxicated (11 years)Violation of right turn on red (3 years)
Driving while your license is revoked for driving whileViolation of left turn on red (3 years)
intoxicated - maiming (11 years)Signs/Signals
Driving while your license is revoked for driving whileFailure to obey highway sign (3 years)
intoxicated - involuntary manslaughter (11 years)Evading traffic control device (3 years)
ManslaughterLights
Manslaughter (11 years)Driving without lights/excessive lights (3 years)
Involuntary manslaughter (11 years)Failure to dim headlights (3 years)
Involuntary manslaughter/aggravated (11 years)Parking without proper lights displayed (3 years)
Habitual OffendersInadequate hazard lights (3 years)
Driving after being declared a habitual offender (11Licenses/Permits
years)No Virginia driver's license (3 years)
Authorizing person suspended for habitual offenderNo Virginia license plate (3 years)
and/or driving while intoxicated to drive (3 years)Failure to obtain a driver's license (3 years)
Licenses/PermitsNo driver's license - vehicle/motorcycle (3 years)
Driving on suspended license (11 years)Failure to have license revalidated (3 years)
Driving while your license is suspended or revoked (11Learner's permit violation (3 years)
years)Permitting unlicensed person to drive (3 years)
Driving while your license is suspended or revoked forDriving in violation of restricted license (restrictions
non-payment of court fines and costs (11 years)related to physical limitation, such as mechanicalcontrol
Driving under suspension or revocation before givingdevice) (3 years)
proof of financial responsibility (11 years)Commercial Motor Vehicles
Commercial Motor VehiclesDriving commercial motor vehicle with alcohol in blood
Driving commercial motor vehicle while disqualified (*)(*)
Driving commercial motor vehicle with blood alcoholDriving commercial motor vehicle without license (3
.04 or more (*)years)
Driving commercial motor vehicle with blood alcoholDriving commercial motor vehicle with more than 1
.08 or more (*)driver's license (3 years)
Driving commercial motor vehicle under influence ofDriving commercial motor vehicle without
drugs (*)endorsement(s) (3 years)
Driving commercial motor vehicle under influence ofCommercial driver's license/instruction permit violation
drugs/alcohol (*)(3 years)
Refusing blood/breath test while operatingDriving commercial motor vehicle in left lane of
commercial motor vehicle (*)interstate (3 years)
Violating out of service order (11 years)Driving in excess of 13 hours in a 24-hour period (3
Other Violationsyears)
Failure to stop at the scene of a crash - injury (11Driving public passenger-carrying vehicle under age (3
years)years)
Failure to stop at the scene of a crash - death (11Driving bus transporting school children without a
years)safety belt (3 years)
Failure to stop at the scene of a crash - propertyDriving school bus without license (3 years)
damage of $1000 or more (11 years)Driving school bus under age (3 years)
Emergency vehicle violation - death (11 years)Other Violations
Vehicular assault or willful stopping, impeding orFailure to stop at the scene of a crash, unattended
damaging vehicle (11 years)property (3 years)
Blocking access to service facility (11 years)Failure to leave the scene of a crash at the direction
Attempting to elude policefelony offense (11of officer (3 years)
years)misdemeanor offense (3 years)Failure to report a crash, unattended property, less
Passing stopped school bus (non-reckless) (3 years)than $250 damage (3 years)
Operating unsafe vehicle (3 years)Following/parking within 500 feet of fire apparatus (3
Four Point Violationsyears)
Reckless Driving/SpeedingEmergency vehicle violation (3 years)
Reckless driving - failure to stop before entering aDrinking while driving (3 years)
highway (11 years)Improper driving/riding motorcycle (3 years)
Speeding (5 years)Driving with TV screen visible to driver (3 years)
Speeding 10-14 mph above the posted speed limit (5Driving while using earphones (3 years)
years)Passenger restriction violation (3 years)
Speeding 15-19 mph above the posted speed limit (5Drive in violation of curfew (3 years)
years)Please drive to arrive alive! Slow down. Give yourself
Speeding 10-19 mph above the posted speed limit (5extra time to arrive at your destination...Leave a little
years)earlier.
PassingCompensate for traffic, road work, construction,
Passing when unsafe (3 years)accidents and other unforseen circumstances!
Passing to the left of approaching vehicle (3 years)