About this Course

About

The goal of the Department of Motor Vehicles Five Hour Pre-licensing MV-278 Course is to prevent motor vehicle crashes, save lives, and reduce the severity of injuries suffered in crashes. Enforcement of the Vehicle and Traffic Law in conjunction with public information and education continue to be the cornerstone of New York's Highway Safety Program.
The Department of Motor Vehicles uses the Five Hour Pre-licensing MV-278 Course curriculum as one means to address these goals, and is committed to educating new drivers by providing them with information to help them drive safely. for many students, the Five Hour Pre-licensing MV-278 Course provides their only opportunity to be personally instructed by a professional about the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, the basic rules of the road, safe driving principles, defensive driving techniques, and information about the effects of alcohol, drugs and drowsiness on driving.

Participation

By actively participating in, and completing this Five Hour Pre-licensing MV-278 Course students will learn safe driving skills and have the potential to improve their driving behavior by learning to share the road courteously and safely. This may reduce the higher incidence of traffic violations and crashes incurred by new drivers, thus decreasing the risks for all users of the state's roadways.

Objectives

The objectives of the Five Hour Pre-licensing MV-278 Course are to:

Define and recognize driving as a mental, physical and social task that involves the interaction of the operator, the environment and the vehicles.
Recognize the importance of protecting motor vehicle occupants from possible injury by using all occupant protection devices.
Teach the Rules Of The Road, emphasizing those that promote safe driving
Identify factors such as fatigue, alcohol, and other drugs that can impair a driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
Recognize dangerous drivers and driving situations and learn how to react safely
Understand the influence a driver's state of mind can have on their behavior and how this affects their actions while driving

Completion

When you successfully complete the course, you will be given a Pre-licensing Course Certificate (MV-278). If you complete a high school or college driver education course, you will receive a Driver Education Certificate (MV-285), and you do not need a Pre-licensing Course Certificate. You must have one of these certificates to schedule your road test. You must bring the original certificate to your road test to turn in to the license examiner.

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