Driver Guide

Funeral Processions ..................................................... 62
Graduated Driver License Law (GDL) .......................... 19-21
Hand Signals ................................................................ 43-44
Highway Driving ........................................................... 51-55
Highway Hypnosis ........................................................ 55
How to Lose Your License ........................................... 18
Inspection (Vehicle Safety)........................................... 92-94
Instruction Permit ......................................................... 7, 19-21
Insurance (Types of) .................................................... 88
Intermediate License .................................................... 8, 19-20
“J88” Notation For Deaf or Hard of
 
Hearing Applicants .............................................. 16
Licenses (Types of) ...................................................... 8-9
License Checklist  ........................................................ 21
License Plates
 Lost ..................................................................... 87
 
Personalized and Specialty ................................ 87
Littering ......................................................................... 63
Mandatory Insurance .................................................... 88-91
Medical Referral ........................................................... 13
Missouri Residential Address ....................................... 10-11
Mopeds ......................................................................... see Sharing the Road
Motorcycles .................................................................. see Sharing the Road
Motorcycle Instruction Permit ....................................... 7-8
Motorcycle License (Class M) ...................................... 9
Name Changes ............................................................ 11
Nondriver License/Identification Card (ND) .................. 9
Notice of Sale ............................................................... 87
Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Information .................. 15-16
Parking ......................................................................... 48-50
Pavement Markings & Meanings  ................................ 26-28
Pedestrians................................................................... 58-59
Permanent Disability Indicator...................................... 17
Permits (Types of) ........................................................ 7-8
Point System ................................................................ 82-83
Proof of Insurance ........................................................ 80, 88-89
Required Documentation .............................................. 10-11
Required Documentation Exemption for
  Senior Citizens .......................................................... 10
Requirements to Obtain License/Permit ...................... 9-11
Road Rage ................................................................... 62-63
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Road Sign Test............................................................. 23
Roundabout Intersections ............................................ 46-47
Rules of the Road ........................................................ 41-47
Safe Driving Tips .......................................................... 64-71
Safety Inspection/Equipment Needed .......................... 92-94
Sample Test Questions ................................................ 101-107
School Bus Information ................................................ 42-43
Seat Belts ..................................................................... 64-65
Selective Service Registration...................................... 18
Selling a Vehicle ........................................................... 87
Sharing the Road ......................................................... 56-63
Special Driving Conditions ........................................... see Safe Driving Tips
Stopping Distances ...................................................... 67
Suspended/Revoked, Driving While ............................. 83
Tabs (Lost, Destroyed, or Stolen)  ............................... 87
Tailgating ...................................................................... 66, 100
Tire Pressure ................................................................ 71
Traffic Crashes 
 
What To Do......................................................... 90
 
Reporting A Crash .............................................. 90-91
Traffic Officers .............................................................. 28
Traffic Signals ............................................................... 28-30
Traffic Signs ................................................................. 30-40
 Colors .................................................................. 30
 Shapes ................................................................ 31
 Types .................................................................. 30-40
U-Turns ......................................................................... 44
Vehicle Emergencies .................................................... 74-76
Vehicle Registration ..................................................... 85-86
Vehicle Titling ............................................................... 84-85
Verification of Identity ................................................... 9-11
Verification of Name and Age ...................................... 22
Verification of Social Security Number ......................... 11
Veteran Designation ..................................................... 17
Vision Test .................................................................... 22-23
 
Failing The Vision Test ....................................... 23
Voter Registration ......................................................... 18
Website......................................................................... 6
What to Do If You Are Stopped.................................... 71
Written Test .................................................................. 22
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AIR BAGS — Supplemental restraint systems that are standard equipment 
in many newer vehicles, to protect vehicle occupants during collisions.  
Designed to be used with seat belts.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) — Allows the driver to stop without 
brake lockup.  Standard equipment in many newer vehicles.  Designed to 
be used by applying steady pressure on the brake pedal.
BICYCLE — Any vehicle having two tandem wheels, propelled solely 
by human power, upon which any person may ride (except scooters and 
similar devices).
BLIND SPOT — The areas at the left and right corner of the car that the 
driver can not see in the rearview mirrors.
BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT (BAC) — The percent (%) of alcohol in a 
person’s blood.  In Missouri it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle when the 
BAC is 0.08% or more for a person who is age 21 or over; and 0.020% or 
more for a person who is under age 21.
BYPASS — A road used for going around or passing an area.
CONTROLLED INTERSECTION — An intersection where traffic is 
regulated by traffic signs or signal lights.
DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS — Upper beam headlights that go on 
automatically when the vehicle is running.  This is a feature of many newer 
vehicles.
DECELERATION LANE — An extra driving lane on the side of a high-
speed highway to permit vehicles to slow down before exiting.
DEFENSIVE DRIVING — Being careful to prevent traffic crashes, in spite 
of incorrect actions of others or bad driving conditions.
DRIVER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM — A required course of study for 
certain drivers who have shown cause that their driving skills are not 
acceptable.  The course must meet or exceed the standards of the National 
Safety Council’s eight-hour “Defensive Driving Course”.
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI) — Driving when your senses 
and judgment are impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
ENDORSEMENT — A code used on a driver license or permit, to show 
that you are also qualified to operate other types of vehicles (such as a 
motorcycle).  Two examples of commercial driver license endorsements are 
P (passenger vehicle) and H (hazardous materials).
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY — A driver’s (or car owner’s) ability to pay 
for damage caused by a crash when he or she is at fault.  It is usually in 
the form of liability insurance.
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GLOSSARY

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FREEWAY — A high-speed divided highway without intersections.
GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSE — A step-by-step licensing process for 
all new driver license applicants under the age of 21.
HIGHWAY — Any publicly-maintained roadway that is open to the use of 
the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
HYDROPLANING — A driving condition where the tires lose traction on a 
wet road, and float on a layer of water or slush.
IMPAIRMENT — Physical and/or mental condition that can reduce the 
ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
IMPLIED CONSENT — Under this law, a driver (by driving), automatically 
agrees to take a test to measure blood alcohol content when stopped 
(under 21 years old), under arrest (age 21 and over), and suspected of 
driving under the influence.
INTERCHANGE — The junction of two or more highways where turnoffs 
allow you to join or cross traffic.
INTERSTATE SYSTEM — A national network of over 41,000 miles of 
limited access highways set by Congress.
INTOXICATION — The state of a person who has consumed too much alcohol.
MANDATORY SENTENCES — These are penalties set by law for certain 
driving offenses and, if convicted, the penalties must be carried out.
MEDIAN — A strip of land separating traffic going in opposite directions.
MERGING TRAFFIC — Traffic from two separate lanes combining into one.
NO ZONE — Blind spots or danger areas, particularly around large trucks, 
where crashes may occur.
PEDESTRIAN — Any person on foot.
PRIVILEGE — A benefit.  A driver license is a privilege, and not a basic 
right granted by law.
REACTION DISTANCE — The distance a car travels before the driver can 
take corrective action to a perceived danger.
REINSTATEMENT — The return of driving privilege after it has been 
suspended/revoked/denied, and all reinstatement requirements are met by 
the driver.
RESTRICTION — A special need that must be met in order to drive legally.  
Restrictions are marked on the driver license.  For example, if you must wear 
corrective lenses to pass the vision test, then you must also wear them while 
driving.  Your license will have an “A” restriction (for corrective lenses).
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RIGHT OF WAY — The privilege of the immediate use of the highway.  
Pedestrians always have the right of way.  At uncontrolled intersections, 
the vehicle to the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle approaching 
from the right.
SATOP — Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program.
SHOULDER — The portion of the highway for emergency use, but not 
intended for travel.
TAILGATING — Following another vehicle too closely.
VIOLATION — A failure to obey driving rules and regulations.
CONTACT INFORMATION
DRIVER LICENSE QUESTIONS 
Phone Number
General Information ...............................................................573-751-1887
Information 24 / 7 .................................................................. 573-526-2407
MOTOR VEHICLE QUESTIONS
General Information ...............................................................573-526-3669
STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
Troop A, Lee’s Summit .............................................................816-622-0800
Troop B, Macon ........................................................................660-385-2132
Troop C, Weldon Spring ...........................................................636-300-2800
Troop D, Springfield .................................................................417-895-6868
Troop E, Poplar Bluff ................................................................573-840-9500
Troop F, Jefferson City .............................................................573-751-1000
Troop G, Willow Springs ..........................................................417-469-3121
Troop H, St. Joseph .................................................................816-387-2345
Troop I, Rolla ............................................................................573-368-2345
HIGHWAY PATROL STATEWIDE TOLL FREE EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE NUMBER .......................................................1-800-525-5555
or cellular *55 

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Safety is on Your Shoulders
Since 1931, 31 Missouri State Highway Patrol Troopers have been killed 
in the line of duty.  Eight of those officers were killed after being struck by 
a vehicle, whose driver was either impaired or not paying attention.  The 
number one contributing circumstance to traffic crashes in Missouri is 
driver inattention.  Please slow down and move over away from stationary 
emergency vehicles along the side of the road with their emergency 
equipment activated.  IT’S THE LAW.  
The law (Section 304.022, RSMo.) requires motorists to yield the right-of-
way and immediately drive to a position parallel 
to, and as far as possible to the right of, the 
traveled portion of the highway and thereupon 
stop and remain in such position until such 
emergency vehicle has passed, except when 
otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer.
A revision to the law, which became effective 
August 28, 2012, requires motorists upon 
approaching a stationary emergency vehicle 
displaying lighted red or red and blue lights, or vehicles owned by the 
Commission and operated by Department of Transportation employees 
displaying amber or amber and white lights: 
(1)  
Proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way, if possible, with due 
regard to safety and traffic conditions, by making a lane change into a 
lane not adjacent to that of the stationary vehicle, if on a roadway having 
at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same 
direction as the approaching vehicle; or 
(2)  
Proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle, 
maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be 
unsafe or impossible.
Violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.

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