A Message from Director Robinson

Greetings DC! It's hard to believe summer is almost behind us and the start of the 2023-24 school year is just around the corner. As students return to school, please slow down when driving in neighborhood school zones and watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops. I remind all drivers in the District to follow posted speed limits and always use caution around pedestrians and cyclists. Whether it's school, work or home, we want everyone to arrive safely to their destinations, as we all have a responsibility to ensure that happens. In this month's newsletter, we include some important school bus safety information to help protect our children. Did you know that the school bus is one of the safest vehicles on the road? Less than 1% of all traffic fatalities involve children on school transportation vehicles. However, children are more at risk when boarding or leaving a school bus. It’s important for all drivers, as well as parents and students, to understand school bus safety. [Source - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website] Additionally, I hope that DC residents have been enjoying their “New Look, New Security, Same You!” credential. You can find more information about the features on our website. Finally, continue reading to learn more about our four new mobile transactions. As a reminder, please join me for our DC DMV Live Chat, held the first Thursday of each month. I'll be online for a full hour to respond in real-time to any of your DC DMV-related questions. Our next online live chat is scheduled for Thursday, September 7 at 12 p.m. Spread the word! Thank you for reading this edition of our newsletter. Enjoy and stay safe!

School Bus Safety

When you see a school bus slowing down or stopping, it’s not just the bus that you need to have your eyes on – but the surrounding area too. Children wait at least several feet away from a bus and often cross the street when they’re boarding or getting off the bus. This is why you must stop for school buses and don’t attempt to pass.

Understanding School Bus Lights

Learn the school bus laws in your state and always follow them, as well as the flashing lights that school bus drivers use to alert you.

• Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again.

Illegal School Bus Passing

Illegal school bus passing poses a significant threat to children and others on the road. In every state, it is illegal for you to pass a school bus while the stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing.

Kids Ride Free Program

The Kids Ride Free program allows students to ride for free on Metrobus, Metrorail and the DC Circulator while traveling within the District.

To be eligible for participation in this program, each student must be:

• A resident of the District of Columbia
• Ages 5 -21, and
• Enrolled in an elementary or secondary public, charter, private or parochial school located within the District or youth in the care of the District.

For more information, please visit DDOT's website..

Holiday Closure Update

In recognition of Labor Day, all DC DMV locations will be closed on Saturday, September 2 and Monday, September 4. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, September 5.

Many of DC DMV's services will remain available online or via the agency's free mobile app.

DC DMV's Knowledge Test Educational Outreach Program

Attention teens and young adults, ages 16-21! We know you're itching to obtain your driver permit and DC DMV is here to help make sure you know all the rules of the road. Getting your driver permit can be one of the most important and exciting steps in your teen and young adult years.

To obtain your driver permit, you must first successfully pass the DC DMV Knowledge Test.

Coming soon, you’ll be able to get your driver permit with the help of DC DMV's Permit Prep Boot Camp. Students will leave this face-paced, three-day boot camp with the confidence, knowledge and prep materials necessary to pass the DC DMV Knowledge Test.

For more information, please visit DCPermitBootCamp.com.

DC DMV Introduces Four New Mobile App Transactions

With DC DMV’s free mobile app, you have "DC DMV at Your Fingertips." You can #SkipTheTrip and submit an address change request and payment, register your private sale vehicle or convert your provisional license.

Here we grow again! DC DMV is excited to introduce four new mobile app transactions:

• DC DMV Driver Manual
• Mature Driver Certification Request
• Practice Knowledge Test
• Vision Zero Educational Videos

Scan the QR code below or go here and download the DC DMV mobile app today.

Inspection Station to Transition to Fall/Winter Hours

Effective Tuesday, September 5, 2023, the Inspection Station will transition to "fall/winter" operating hours. The Inspection Station operates on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The best times to visit the Inspection Station are Thursdays or Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Volume is particularly heavy on Tuesdays as well as days preceding and following a holiday. The Inspection Station is also busy the first hour of opening and between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.