A Message from DC DMV Director Gabriel Robinson
It's officially fall in Washington, DC! As the days become shorter, it's important that drivers around the District take extra caution on the roads, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic.
October is Pedestrian Safety Month. Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. Every day, millions of Americans walk to school, work, shops and bus stops but crashes involving pedestrians are most likely to occur in urban areas with high vehicle traffic, like DC. In this edition, we include safe travel tips and ways to adopt the basics of pedestrian safety. Doing so enables all of us to make the District a safer place to live and work.
Teen Driver Safety Week is observed from October 18-24. Do you have a teen or know one who is eager to get behind the wheel? Take a moment to talk to them about the consequences of distracted driving and ensure that wherever they go, they're driving safely! For more information about DC DMV's knowledge testing for new drivers, visit our website here.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we want to remind you that the DC DMV newsletter is also available in Spanish! If you'd like to subscribe, you can do so here. Juntos, estamos salvando vidas cada dia - together, we're saving lives every day!
Please also note that all DC DMV locations will be closed in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Saturday, October 10 and Monday, October 12, 2026.
As always, your feedback is important to us. Please write us a letter or join me for the DC DMV Live Chat, held the first Thursday of each month. Our next online live chat is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, at 12 p.m. For a full hour, I will respond in real-time to any of your DMV-related questions.
To stay up to date on all things DC DMV year-round, follow us across our social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Thank you for reading this edition of our newsletter. Drive safe, DC!
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Pedestrian Safety Month: Safe Walking Environments are a Shared Responsibility
Whether it's walking across the District to work or walking down the street to your car, everyone will be a pedestrian at one point or another. When drivers practice safe driving, safer walking environments are created for you, your loved ones, and your community, making the basics of pedestrian safety paramount for all.
As a pedestrian:
- Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk; if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
- Cross streets at crosswalks if available. Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street, making eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you.
- Stay alert – avoid cell phone use and wearing earbuds.
 When driving, you can help keep pedestrians safe:
- Obey all traffic laws, especially posted speed limits in school zones which is 15 mph in the District.
- Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, making eye contact to indicate that you see them. Never pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks as a pedestrian could be crossing the street.
- Stay alert – avoid distracted driving.
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Remember, pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. Drive safe, DC!
Teen Driver Safety Week: October 18-24, 2026
If you have teenagers in your household who are starting their driving journey, talk with them about the importance of staying safe while traveling from one destination to another. Keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times ensures road safety for everyone. This includes pulling over to safely use your mobile device while on the go!
Distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, not wearing a seat belt, and drowsy vehicle operation can all contribute to unsafe driving conditions, so it's important that teens and new drivers are aware of these hazards. Everyone is responsible when they are behind the wheel.
The National Highway Transit and Safety Agency (NHTSA) has found that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. Let's all work together and do what we can to keep our next generation safe as we all get where we need to go safely! Visit NHTSA's website and DMV's website for helpful resources.
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 Child Passenger Safety Week Wraps up with Car Seat Safety Event Success
This Child Passenger Safety Week, DC DMV partnered with the DC Highway Safety Office (DC HSO), DC Department of Transportation (DDOT), and Safe Kids Worldwide to hold another successful Car Seat Safety Check event at the DMV Inspection Station. During the September 26th event, multiple safety inspections and installations were performed and some brand new car seats were also distributed!
 The Child Safety Seat Program is designed with child safety in mind and exists to share pertinent information with parents and caregivers. The DC DMV Inspection Station offers car seat inspections and installations year-round. Visit 1001 Half Street SW during normal operating hours to ensure your little ones are safe while on the road.
Want to learn more about child passenger safety? Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website for helpful tips about keeping your child safe while driving throughout the year.
 DC DMV Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture observed from September 15 to October 15. Hispanic and Latino communities have a rich, vibrant history in Washington, DC, which can be felt through incredible impacts to our neighborhoods, businesses, arts, and government.
The DC DMV is honored to celebrate the incredible impacts and achievements Hispanic Americans have made and remains grateful for our Hispanic and Latino team members who contribute to the DC DMV mission and vision each and every day.
Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month is limited to October, the DC DMV offers Breast Cancer Awareness specialty license plates year-round.
Residents interested in purchasing a Breast Cancer Awareness specialty tag can do so at DC DMV Service Centers and will pay a one-time application fee of $25 and a yearly display fee of $20. Both fees are donated to the Community Health Financing Fund to support breast cancer prevention and treatment measures.
For more information on DC DMV's Breast Cancer Awareness tags and other specialty vehicle tags, please visit our website here.
Drive Sober this October
Going out to celebrate Halloweekend? Make sure you plan ahead, arrange for a SoberRide® or take the Metro! Washington Regional Alcohol Program's (WRAP) SoberRide® provides a free Lyft ride home up to $15 with redemption of a code in the app's 'payment' tab under the 'add Lyft pass' option.
The code will only be valid in the Washington DC coverage area either Friday, October 30, 2026 or Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 10pm to 4am and will be live on SoberRide.com at 9pm on Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October 31st. Limited quantities will be available, and terms and conditions apply. Users are financially responsible for anything over $15.
 DMV Holiday Closure: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
On Saturday, October 10 and Monday, October 12, all DC DMV locations will be closed in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, October 13.
The Self-Service Vehicle Emissions Inspection Kiosks will remain open and many of DC DMV’s services will still be accessible online or via the DC DMV Mobile App.
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