Driving resources

General driving tips

• Check your tire pressure at least monthly. You have to use a gauge for this; you can't eyeball it. Overinflated tires have less traction and give you a bouncy ride. Under-inflated tires can cause tire damage and reduce your fuel mileage. To find the proper pressure for your tires, check the doorjamb on the driver's door or your owner's manual. Do not use the pressure listed on the tire — that's the maximum pressure the tire can hold, and they should never be inflated to that.
• While checking your tire pressure, check your fluids: oil, coolant, windshield washer fluid, brake, power steering, and transmission fluids. In almost all cars these days, you check the coolant level in the plastic reservoir, not by opening the radiator cap.
• If you need to add coolant, you should normally add a 50/50 ratio of coolant and water.
• Some warning lights are just that — warnings. You can continue driving home or to the nearest mechanic. But if your oil pressure or temperature lights come on, pull over as soon as you safely can. Both situations can cause serious damage to your car if you keep driving.
• If you need to pull over, get as far from the traffic lanes as you can and turn your emergency flashers on. Only pull over when it is safe to do so — being in an accident from pulling over in an unsafe area will generally cause a lot more damage than whatever made you pull over in the first place.
• If you notice your car starting to overheat, turn on your heater. This might make you and your passengers uncomfortable, but it will cool down the engine.
• If it is raining, turn on your headlights so other drivers can see you.
• If you feel your car hydroplaning, lift off the accelerator; do not apply the brake unless necessary.
• Don't drive through water. Just one foot of moving water can be enough to carry away your car, and water in your engine can cause major damage.
• If you do drive through water, test your brakes when you're on clear road. Wet brakes can greatly affect your stopping distance.

Tips to improve your fuel economy

• Don't accelerate too rapidly.
• Anticipate your stops and, if possible, allow the car to coast some before braking.
• Use your cruise control when you're able — no matter how steady your foot, your cruise is steadier.
• Keep your tires properly inflated.
• If you're going to be idling more than 30 seconds or so, turn off your car. You get 0 mpg when you're not moving.

Winter driving tips

• Slow down. On snow and ice, you have much less traction, which means less control over what your car does and where it goes.
• Increase your following distance.
• Keep a snow brush and ice scraper in your car all winter long. You may want to keep a bag of sand or kitty litter and a small shovel in your car in case you get stuck.
• If you have snow on your car, clear it off completely before you drive — brush the snow off your hood, roof, and trunk too. Snow in these areas can slide down and cover your windows or fly off and cover the windows of the car behind you. Take the time to clear your side mirrors, headlights, and taillights too.
• Keep your windshield washer fluid full. Road salt and slush can splash on your windshield and make it very difficult to see.
• Use a de-icing windshield washer fluid — in really cold weather, cheap washer fluid can freeze to your windshield and make your visibility worse.
• Keep your gas tank close to full. If you get stuck, you're going to need your car running to keep you warm — no gas means no heat.
• If you end up in a snow pile, make sure your tailpipe is clear. You don't want carbon monoxide backing up into the cabin.
• If you have antilock brakes, do not pump them when stopping. The car does this for you automatically.

What to do if you're in an accident

• Make sure you and your passengers are okay.
• Pull out of traffic if you are able.
• Turn on your emergency flashers.
• Call the police to report the accident.
• Get information from the other drivers involved — their names, addresses, phone numbers, license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance information.
• Don't discuss fault, even if you think you were at fault.
• Take pictures of the damage, the cars involved, and any factors that may have contributed to the accident, like road conditions.
• Contact your insurance company when you are reasonably able to do so.

A few of the most important things you can do

• Wear your seatbelt. If you are in an accident, your seatbelt keeps you from flying forward and hitting the steering wheel, the dash, or even being ejected from the vehicle. Even in the backseat, your seatbelt not only protects you, it keeps you from flying into the people in front of you.
• Don't drive drunk or high. If you don't have a designated driver, call a cab. The fare is a lot cheaper than the damage you could do to your car, someone else's, or the lives you might take.
• Minimize distractions. When going 65 mph, you travel the length of a football field every 3 seconds. While you're texting, programming your GPS, scrolling through music, or fixing your makeup, the 3,000 pounds of your car is speeding along practically unattended.
• Follow Ohio's hands-free law. Ohio law prohibits holding or using a phone while driving — it's a primary offense, meaning you can be pulled over for it alone. Drivers 18 and older may use hands-free features like speakerphone or Bluetooth, but manually texting, dialing, or browsing is illegal at any age. If you're under 18, Ohio law prohibits using an electronic device while driving at all, even hands-free.

The Ohio driving test

The State of Ohio road test consists of two parts: a driving test and a maneuverability test. You must pass both parts before you can receive your license.

Before taking the test, you will need to have your temporary permit. If you're under 18, you must have had your temps for at least 6 months; drivers 18 to 20 don't have that waiting period. As of a 2025 change to Ohio law, everyone under 21 now needs to complete driver's education before testing, and all testers must present their Driver Education Certificate at the time of the test. If you're under 18, you'll also need your 50-Hour Affidavit (supervised driving log) when applying for your license.

You must provide your own car for the road test.

Driving test

During your driving test, the examiner will rate your performance in common driving tasks such as:

• Stopping and starting.
• Backing up.
• Making proper turns.
• Driving in the proper lane.
• Maintaining a safe following distance.

In order to pass the test, you must receive a score of at least 75 points.

Maneuverability test

There are two parts to the maneuverability test. For the first part, you will drive forward through a 9' x 20' box and then drive to the left or right (the examiner will tell you which) of a point cone 20' ahead of the box. You must straighten the car so it is parallel to the box and stop when the rear bumper is even with the point cone.

For the second part, you will drive in reverse past the point cone, straighten your car, and drive through the box. Again, your car must be parallel to the course, and you are to stop when your front bumper is even with the two starting cones.

Points are deducted for stopping to check your progress, bumping a cone, misjudging stopping distance, and not being parallel with the course. If you run over or knock down a cone, you fail immediately.

As with the driving test, you must receive a score of at least 75 points to pass.