(949) 250-7001

Making Orange County and Los Angeles County a better place - one safe driver at a time!

Newport Beach New Year’s Car Crash

According to the Daily Pilot, around 5:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, 31-year-old Oscar Hugo Vargas was driving in Newport Beach when he lost control of his Honda Civic and crashed into the Mariner’s Mile office located in the 2700 block of West Coast Highway, virtually destroying two offices: that of wedding photography business Jennifer Brennan Photography and private investment management firm Dewane Investment Strategies.

Vargas had passengers in the car but thankfully, no one reported injuries. Vargas was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. If in fact he was driving drunk, we could speculate that by 5:30 a.m. he thought he was sober enough to drive. Or, maybe he thought no one would be on the road at that time so he would be safe. Or, perhaps he partied all night long and just made a really bad judgment call.

In any event, the point is clear: even if no one is on the road, even if you don’t strike another vehicle, even if none of your passengers are hurt, even if you don’t get pulled over by the police…even if! – you can still do a lot of damage. Now, as a result of Vargas’ poor judgment, people’s livelihoods are put on hold. Now a landlord has to go through the process of reporting a claim to his insurance company and having his storefront rebuilt, which could take months.

Now Mr. Vargas may have a criminal record and a hefty amount of fines.

When you drive drunk, others can be affected.

Let’s say Vargas wasn’t drinking. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, he stayed up all night with his friends and was stone cold sober, but super tired. Driving with any impairment whatsoever can be devastating to yourself and others. Those include:

  • Alcohol
  • Marijuana
  • Prescription medication
  • Over-the-counter medicines that warn of drowsiness
  • Fatigue

 What are your New Year’s Resolutions?

Now that you have read this, think about your driving habits.

  • Do you text while driving?
  • Do you talk on the phone while driving?
  • Do you often break the speed limit?
  • Have you gotten into any car accidents in the past year, or received any tickets?
  • Do you drive with children or teenagers in the car? If so, do you model safe, cautious driving for them?

We invite you to add some safety resolutions into your New Year’s goals. If you’ve read our blog, or if you watch/read the news, you know that accidents happen – preventable accidents – and that life is short and precious. Why risk your safety and the safety of others (or even risk your future) by taking too many risks behind the wheel?

Join us in our commitment to reverse the sad statistics about teenage driving. If you’re a parent, model good behavior for your kids and vow to keep them safe this year. If you’re a teenager, vow to model good behavior for your friends and keep yourself safe – you have your whole life ahead of you.

We wish you all a safe and prosperous 2015!

– The team at Safety 1st Driving School

Related Post

Click to view procedure
View our packages

Copyright 2022 Safety 1st Driving School – All Rights Reserved – License #E4515 – Policies – Privacy Policy – G.B.

Powered by Website Muscle

Step 1. Complete our online driver’s education course

Register for our online driver education course. After you complete the required chapters and tests, we will then send you the DMV Certificate of Completion (DL387) that you can take to the DMV when you are ready to take the written test for your learner’s permit.

Our online driver ed course is available to all California residents. You can take our course at your own pace, in your own home in your own time.

Step 2. Study for the DMV written test

You will need to study for the DMV written permit test by reading through the DMV California Driver Handbook. It will benefit you if you take your time and study the handbook so you are comfortable with the information that will be on the test.

Take your time, you don’t want to have to go back to retake the test.

Step 3. Make an appointment at the DMV to take the written exam

It is important that you call ahead of time and schedule an appointment at the local DMV so you can go in and take the written test.

The lines at the DMV are usually very long so you don’t want to waste your time waiting in line. Make sure that you are well prepared for your appointment.

Most DMV’s are open Mondays through Fridays until 5 pm; Some are also open on Saturdays for a few hours so call ahead of time and see which date and times are best for you.

Step 4. Bring necessary documents to the DMV office

  • Complete the application form DL 44, remember the DMV always requires An original to be submitted. Copies will not be accepted in any form, so make sure you have exactly what you need. You can get this form from your local DMV.
  • Have your parents or guardians sign the application form DL 44.
  • Give your right thumbprint.
  • Have your picture taken.
  • Provide your social security #
  • Verify your birth date and legal residence
  • Submit the proper form(s) for Driver Education and/or Driver Training (see below for details)
  • Pay the $28.00 application fee (This fee entitles you to three exams of any type within the 12-month period and pays for both the instruction permit and the driver license. If all requirements are not met within the 12-month period, the application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.)
  • Pass a vision exam, if you need glasses, wear them.
  • Pass a written test, there are 46 questions on the test.
  • You need a passing score of at least 39 correct answers.
  • You have three chances to pass the test. If you fail, you must wait 7 days before taking it again.

 

Driver Education and Driver Training Form Requirements:

If you are 15  years of age, you will need to bring with you:

  • Form DL 356 or OL 237 (Completion of Driver Education) with form DL 391 (Driver Training Enrollment ) if your school has a contract with a driving school.

OR

  • Form DL 356 or forms OL 237 and OL 238 (Completion of both Driver Education and Driver Training)

OR

  • Submit form DL 391 or OL 239 (Simultaneous Enrollment in Driver Education and Driver Training)

 

If you are over 15 but under 18 years of age, you will need to submit:

  • Form DL 356 or OL 237 (Completion of Driver Education)

OR

  • Form DL 391 or OL 239 (Simultaneous Enrollment in Driver Education and Driver Training)

 

If you are over 17  but under 18 years of age, you may get your permit without the driver education and driver training certificates however, you will not be able to take the driving test until you turn 18.

Once you pass your written test, you will be issued a provisional permit. You can be issued a permit at age 15, but you cannot take the driving test or be issued a driver’s license until you are 16 years of age.

A parent, guardian, spouse, or adult 25 years of age or older, who has a valid California driver’s license, must be with you when you drive. They must sit in a position that allows them to take control of the vehicle, if necessary. It is illegal for you to drive alone at any time.

Before being eligible to take the driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old
  • Have had your permit for a minimum of six months
  • Have completed driver education
  • Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver’s license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.

 

If driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than California, DMV will accept either a Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools form DL 33 completed by the out-of-state school or a letter on the out-of-state school’s stationery signed by a school official stating that the courses are equivalent to California’s requirements. Instructional permits issued by another state are not acceptable

Step 5. Complete behind the wheel training

When you pass the written exam:

  • You are required to take your first 2 hours of behind the wheel training with a professional driving instructor.
  •  You may start behind the wheel training with your parent/guardian or other licensed drivers who are 25 years of age or older.
  •  You must further complete four (4) more hours of driving school instruction.
  • Complete fifty (50) additional hours of behind the wheel training with a parent/guardian or any other adult who is 25 years old or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify that you’ve had the 50 hours of practice. It is required that 10 of the 50 hours of training is done in the evening.

Step 6. Take the driving test at the DMV

To be eligible to take your driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old
  • Have had your permit for a minimum of six months
  • Have completed a driver education course
  • Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult who is 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.
  • You will also need to show registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle you will be taking your drive test in.
  •  If you fail your drive test, you must wait two weeks before you can take the test again. You have three chances to pass.
    • Driving (behind-the-wheel) retest fee is $6.00.
    • Motorcycle driving (behind-the-wheel) retest fee $6.00.

 

After you pass your drive test you will be issued an interim license valid for 60 days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Double-check your address before you leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect.

If you have not received your license after 60 days, call (916) 657-7790 and they can check on the status for you. Have your interim license with you to provide information when requested.

Step 7. Receive provisional license upon passing the driving test

After you pass the Driving Test, you will be issued a provisional license. Your license will have the following restrictions for the next year: During the first 12 months, you are licensed to drive you must be accompanied by a driver 25 years of age or older if you drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. or if you have passengers under the age of 20 in the car at any time.

Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you become 18, the provisional part of your license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license, which will expire on your 5th birthday after the date you applied.