Drivers Ed
Behind the Wheel (BTW) Sign Up Information:
To create an account please refer to the step by step directions through the link below.
Prior to registering, students must have successfully completed the Classroom portion of the Driver’s Education course and have completed a minimum of 15 of the required 50 hours of driving practice at home with a parent or guardian.
You may drive only one time per day. DO NOT sign up for multiple drives on the same day.
Available slots will open for enrollment 5 days prior to each session beginning.
Failure to complete a selected session will result in loss of driving privileges for 30 days.
Directions for Behind The Wheel Sign Up
Plainfield South's driver education department offers students a comprehensive, fully integrated program that covers a one semester period of time. The phases consist of classroom, and the on-the-road phase, these phases meet requirements established by the State of Illinois.
Before a student can enroll in driver education at Plainfield South, he/she must be a sophomore, at least 15 years of age by the first day of class, and must have received a passing grade in at least (8) courses during the previous two (2) semesters. Further explanation of this law (House Bill 418) can be obtained from the student’s counselor.
Students must pass the classroom phase of driver education, and CPR and first aid to meet Plainfield South's graduation requirement (.5 credit hrs.), and he/she must pass both the classroom and the driving phases to qualify for an Illinois license prior to age 18. Plainfield South also participates in the Cooperative Driver Testing Program with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office which allows Plainfield’s specially certified instructors to administer the State Road Test if the student receives an A or B in both Classroom and Laboratory phases of the program.
Classroom Phase
The classroom phase of Driver Education at Plainfield South is the corner stone of the program. This phase runs concurrently throughout the semester with behind the wheel. It is designed to give students basic information on a variety of topics related to the safe operation of a motor vehicle and more importantly how to react with people on the road.
Driving is more than just maneuvering a car through traffic. A driver has to learn to interact with other users on the road and make intelligent decisions. This process takes training over an extended period of time under the supervision of both instructors and parents.
Units of Instruction
Unit I Highway Transportation System and Rules of the Road
Unit II The IPDE Process (Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute)
Unit III Natural Laws and Vehicle Performance
Unit IV Intersections and Decision Making
Unit V Insurance
Unit VI Motorcycles and Unique Environments
Unit VII Alcohol and Other Drugs
Unit VIII Preventive Maintenance
CPR And First Aid
The purpose of this course is to train lay persons, to respond to emergency situations as well as make you aware of the importance of practicing healthy lifestyles as a way of preventing injury and sudden illness. The course content and activities will prepare you to recognize emergencies, make first aid decisions, and provide care with little or no first aid supplies or equipment.
This course teaches the skills you will need to manage emergency situations until Emergency Medical Services personnel arrive.
Local Curfew Laws
Village/City | Age | Hours | Fine |
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Plainfield | Under 16 | 10:00 pm-6:00 am Sunday - Saturday | up to $75 |
| 16-18 | 11:00 pm-6:00 am Sunday-Thursday |
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Bolingbrook | Under 16 | 10:00 pm-6:00 am Sunday-Saturday |
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| 16-18 | 11:00 pm-6:00 am Sunday-Thursday |
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Crest Hill | Under 16 | 9:30 pm-6:00 am Sunday - Saturday |
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| 16-18 | 11:00 pm-6:00 am Sunday-Thursday |
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Romeoville | Under 17 | 10:30 pm-6:00 am Sunday-Thursday |
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Shorewood | Under 16 | 10:00 pm-6:00 am Sunday - Saturday |
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| 16-18 | 11:30 pm-6:00 am Sunday-Thursday |
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Joliet | 16-17 | 11:00 pm - 7 days |
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| Under 16 | 10:00 pm - 7 days |
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On-Road Phase
The On-Road Phase (Behind the Wheel) is designed to teach psychomotor and decision making skills in traffic. It is in this phase we bring together what has been taught in the classroom. It is also at this point in the student’s program that the parents or driving coaches are expected to assist with as much practice (homework) as possible. Without this practice at home, the development of a competent roadway user is incomplete.
The successful driving career of each student depends heavily on quality practice time at home during this semester and long after. We highly encourage parents to spend as much time with your child as possible. Studies have found students that become safe efficient drivers learn to drive over an extended period of time.
Parents need to be vigilant even after the completion of driver education, by restricting when their child drives and how many passengers are allowed in the car. This is becoming such an issue in Illinois and across the country that Graduated Licensing began here in 1998 and legislation is being introduced in many other states each year.
Areas Covered During The On- Road Phase:
1) Maneuvers (4 days)
a) up and down hill parking
b) turnabouts
c) backing around corners
d) 2 and 3 point turns
e) perpendicular, angle and parallel parking
2) City Traffic (2 days)
3) Highway Traffic (2 days)
4) Interstate Traffic (2 days)
5) Review Students Greatest Needs (2 days)
Where can students drive on an Illinois Permit?
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
Will allow a non-resident to operate a vehicle for up to 90 days provided he or she is at least 16 years of age and has a valid license or permit and that the driver with the permit be accompanied and supervised by a license driver who is at least 21 years of age and has been licensed for at least one year. | |
Will “NOT” accept any out of state learner’s permit. | |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
If you are a visitor in California, between 16 and 18 years old, you may drive here with your home state license or instruction permit for only 10 days after you arrive in California. After 10 days you must have either a Nonresident Minor’s Certificate or a California license. | |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
Connecticut will recognize out-of-state permits provided the restrictions of Connecticut and the issuing state is met. The permit must be in the possession of the applicant when taking on-road instruction, the person providing the on-road training must be twenty years of age or older, have been licensed in the class of the vehicle being operated for the four year period preceding the instruction, and not had their license suspended during that four years. In addition, operation upon limited access highways is prohibited for the first sixty days from date of issuance of the learner’s permit. | |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
A learner’s permit issued by a jurisdiction other than the District of Columbia is “NOT” valid in the District of Columbia. | |
Any person with an out-of-state learner’s license must comply with Florida’s laws while driving in Florida. A learner’s license requires that a licensed driver 21 years or older ride in the front passenger seat. In addition, they can only drive during daylight hours during the first three months and until 10 p.m. thereafter. | |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
Will “NOT” accept any out of state learner’s permit. | |
| A learner’s permit from another state is valid in Idaho under the following conditions: The driver is at least 15 years of age, and the driver abides by the restrictions on the learner’s permit usually meaning that a licensed adult is in the seat beside the driver and daylight driving only until age 16. |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
A holder of an out of state learner’s permit may legally operate a vehicle in Indiana as long as they follow the guidelines of the state in which that permit was issued. The seat beside the holder must be occupied by a guardian or relative of the holder who holds a valid operator’s, chauffeur’s or public passenger chauffeur’s license. | |
Iowa will honor an out-of-state Instruction Permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
State law in Kentucky allows the holder of a valid instruction permit issued by their home state/jurisdiction to operate a motor vehicle. The driver must be at least 16 years of age and abide by the following restrictions: 1) licensed operator over the age of 21 must be in the front seat beside the driver; 2) no operation between the hours of 12 Midnight and 6:00 A.M. Also, the operator would be required to adhere to any other restrictions placed on the operation of the motor vehicle by the issuing state. | |
An out-of-state learner’s permit is valid in Louisiana for driving purposes. Louisiana requires that anyone with a learner’s permit must be accompanied by a licensed adult driver at least 21. | |
A person with a valid learner’s permit issued by his/her home state can legally drive in Maine provided that person is at least 16 years of age and adheres to all restrictions applied to the learner’s permit issued by that person’s state or province. | |
Maryland permits an individual to use a learner’s instructional permit provided that the permit holder is at least the same age as that required of a resident for the vehicle being driven in this State ( 15 years + 9 months ), and that the individual is accompanied by and under the immediate supervision of an individual who is a least 21 years of age, has been licensed for at least three years to drive vehicles of the class being driven and unless the vehicle is a motorcycle, is seated beside the holder of the learner’s instructional permit. | |
A person who is sixteen years of age or over and has complied fully with the laws of such state is granted similar privileges of operation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts requires that the holder of a Learner’s Permit may operate a motor vehicle upon any way when accompanied by an operator duly licensed by his state of residence, who is 21 years of age or over, who has had at least one year of driving experience and who is occupying a seat beside the driver. A Permit holder who is under the age of 18 may not operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 12:00 AM (midnight) and 5:00 AM unless accompanied by his parent or legal guardian, who is a licensed operator with at least one year of driving experience and whose license or right to operate is not revoked or suspended. | |
A person 16 years of age or older holding a valid learner’s permit may drive in Michigan providing they follow restrictions mandated by their State. The person must, however, be accompanied by another licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age and is seated beside the holder of the learner’s permit. | |
A nonresident who is 15 years of age or older, and who has a valid instruction permit from their home state, may drive in Minnesota, provided that all restrictions on the permit are obeyed. | |
A student with a valid learner’s permit from his home state may drive legally in our state. | |
Missouri laws do not allow an individual to operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of this state unless the driver is at least 15 years and 182 days old, has passed the written test, possesses a valid Restricted Temporary Instruction Permit, and operates a vehicle with a parent, grandparent or guardian. A disabled parent, grandparent or guardian may designate a maximum of two persons to accompany the driver in the vehicle for the purpose of giving instruction in driving. The designated person must be at least 21 years of age, must occupy the seat beside the driver and must be a licensed operator for the type of motor vehicle being operated. | |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state as long as they are accompanied by a valid license driver. | |
The State of Nebraska will honor the same driving privileges that are recognized in your state. Provided the license/learner’s permit is issued by competent authority, and is valid in your state, the validity of that license/learner’s permit would be honored in the State of Nebraska. | |
A non-resident who has a valid license or permit in his possession, issued by his home state, may drive a motor vehicle in Nevada of the same type or class he may operate in his home state. The driver must be in compliance with any restrictions noted on the license or permit. | |
Will “NOT” accept any out of state learner’s permits. | |
A student with a valid learner’s permit from another state may legally drive in New Jersey provided the vehicle he is operating is properly titled, registered and insured in the home state. Further, the permit holder will be subject to the laws of his home state. | |
New Mexico will honor learner permits issued by other jurisdictions. For those 15 years old and older, a learner’s permit allows you to drive on New Mexico streets and highways in a vehicle of the class for which the permit is issued. A driver, licensed in a similar class or higher, must occupy the seat beside you in the vehicle. This requirement applies to all vehicles except motorcycles. | |
New York will recognize another state’s learner’s permit subject to the restrictions printed on it and the New York State restrictions for junior driver licenses under 18. A person with a valid out-of-state license for the vehicle being driven may accompany a junior driver. You may not drive in New York state if you are under 16, even if you are licensed in another state. An out of state learner’s permit is “NOT” valid in New York City. In all areas of the state except New York City, Nassau or Suffolk counties, a non-resident licensee under 18 years of age may operate a vehicle from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. when accompanied by a licensed driver over 18 years of age. He may operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. only when accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian. | |
Any nonresident driving in North Carolina who is at least 16 years old and is abiding by the restrictions on their learner’s permit or license as required by the issuing State is authorized to drive in this State. | |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state provided the person driving is at least 16 years of age. | |
Nonresidents, permitted to drive upon the highways of their own states, may operate any motor vehicle upon any highway in this state without examination or license upon condition that such nonresidents may be required at any time or place to prove lawful possession, or their right to operate such motor vehicle, and to establish proper identity. Nonresidents must adhere to the restrictions outlined for the temporary permit. | |
Oklahoma law indicates that a person sixteen years of age or older who is properly licensed in his home state or country will be allowed to operate a vehicle in this state as long as he is in compliance with all restrictions of his license. | |
Instruction Permits will be honored in Oregon if, the driver is at least 15 years of age, has the permit in their possession, and is accompanied by a license driver at least 21 years of age in the front seat of their vehicle. | |
A non-resident who is in possession of a valid learner’s permit from their home state may “NOT” operate a Motor Vehicle while traveling through Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania law recognizes valid driver licenses issued in the person’s home state, but does not authorize the use of a learner’s permit issued in another state. | |
Will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restriction mandated by the issuing state provided that issuing state accepts their state permit. (Reciprocity) | |
South Carolina does “NOT” recognize an out-of-state beginner’s permit inasmuch as the requirements to obtain a beginner’s permit vary from state to state. | |
The provisions of granting nonresident driver license exemptions to any nonresident are operative only to the same extent that the laws of the state of the nonresident grant exemptions to the residents of this state. South Dakota will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state provided the issuing state accepts their state permit. (Reciprocity). | |
If a person wishes to operate a motor vehicle while in the State of Tennessee they may do so with an out-of-state learner’s permit as long as they comply with any restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
A nonresident who is at least sixteen (16) years of age may drive in Texas with a Learner’s Permit from another state provided the person complies with all provisions of our statute. The instruction permit is a driving permit that will enable a beginning driver to drive with someone in the front seat that is 18 years of age or older and holds a valid license. | |
Non-resident operators are required to be at least 16 years of age and have in their immediate possession valid license certificates (this includes learner permits) issued to them in their home states or countries. These individuals may operate class D or M vehicles. Class D vehicles are 26,000 lbs. or less GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating); class M vehicles are motorcycles. | |
Will “NOT” accept any out of state learner’s permit. | |
Virginia will accept any valid learner’s permit subject to restrictions mandated by the issuing state as long as a person is at least 15 years of age and that person is accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age or if the licensed driver is a sibling, 18 years of age. | |
A nonresident who is at least fifteen (15) years of age may drive in Washington as long as he is in possession of a valid instruction permit issued by their home state. In addition, a license driver with at least five (5) years driving experience must be seated beside them. | |
The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles will honor any driver’s license or learner’s permit for operation in our state. The learner’s permit or driver’s license must be valid and must adhere to all restrictions mandated by the issuing state. | |
In order to drive in Wisconsin with a Learner’s Permit issued by other states, the person must be at least 16 years of age and have a valid permit from their home state that is not restricted to operation in home state only. In addition, they are required to operate under the same restrictions as a Wisconsin instruction permit holder. The restrictions are as follows: (a) during daylight hours with a licensed person who has at least two years licensed driving experience occupying the seat next to the operator. (b) during nighttime when accompanied by a licensed person age 25 or more with at least two years licensed driving experience. (c) one additional licensed person is allowed in the back seat if such person is age 25 or more and has two years licensed driving experience. | |
If a person with a learner’s permit from another state operates in Wyoming t |
Resources
Staff | Department | |
|---|---|---|
Brian Beck | Department Chair | |
Tim Boe |
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Brad Millar |
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Mike Sadler |
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Jen Sherrie |
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Dave Wiers |
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