Michigan Driver's Handbook 2026

What Every Driver Must Know at e y e ust o Table of Contents i Table of Contents Introduction Dear Michigan Motorist .....................................................................................................ix Michigan crash facts ..........................................................................................................x Chapter 1: Your Driver’s License Who is a resident? .............................................................................................................. 1 New Michigan residents .................................................................................................... 1 Licensing requirements...................................................................................................... 1 Michigan licenses, designators and endorsements....................................................... 2 Michigan and REAL ID ....................................................................................................... 2 Moved to Michigan from another state or country....................................................... 3 Under 18 – Graduated Driver Licensing........................................................................... 3 18 and older – never been licensed................................................................................ 5 Providing your Social Security number ............................................................................ 6 Providing proof of legal presence ................................................................................... 6 Providing proof of identity................................................................................................. 6 Providing proof of residency............................................................................................. 6 Physical standards.............................................................................................................. 6 Vision and knowledge tests .............................................................................................. 6 Temporary instruction permit ............................................................................................ 7 The motorcycle TIP ............................................................................................................. 7 Driving skills test................................................................................................................... 8 Restricted license due to a health condition ................................................................. 9 Probationary license program.......................................................................................... 9 What Every Driver Must Know y Table of Contents ii Changing information on your license ............................................................................ 9 Renewing your license..................................................................................................... 10 The decision to stop driving ............................................................................................ 10 Chapter 2: Your Driving Record Your driving record........................................................................................................... 13 Michigan’s point system .................................................................................................. 13 Alcohol and drugs............................................................................................................ 14 Driver reexaminations ...................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 3: Voter Registration and State IDs Voter registration.............................................................................................................. 19 State identification cards ................................................................................................ 20 State ID cards and REAL ID ............................................................................................. 20 Chapter 4: Traffic Laws Distracted driving ............................................................................................................. 23 Cell phone use prohibited for all drivers – including teens ......................................... 24 Buckle up, it’s the law!..................................................................................................... 25 Protecting children and teens........................................................................................ 25 Children left unattended in vehicles ............................................................................. 26 Air bags ............................................................................................................................. 26 Speed limits ....................................................................................................................... 26 Construction zones........................................................................................................... 26 Merging in a construction zone...................................................................................... 27 Maintenance vehicles..................................................................................................... 27 What Every Driver Must Know at e y e ust o Table of Contents iii Emergency vehicles......................................................................................................... 28 School buses ..................................................................................................................... 28 School bus signals ............................................................................................................ 29 Right of way ...................................................................................................................... 29 Right of way when turning .............................................................................................. 29 Right of way at intersections........................................................................................... 30 Be prepared to yield........................................................................................................ 30 Right of way and pedestrians......................................................................................... 31 Right of way and funerals ............................................................................................... 31 Passing on the left ............................................................................................................ 31 Passing on the right .......................................................................................................... 32 When passing is prohibited ............................................................................................. 32 Lane usage ....................................................................................................................... 32 Turning ............................................................................................................................... 33 Right turns.......................................................................................................................... 33 Left turns ............................................................................................................................ 34 Changing lanes ................................................................................................................ 34 Roundabouts .................................................................................................................... 35 Railroad crossings............................................................................................................. 35 Railroad crossing advance warning sign ...................................................................... 35 Passive railroad crossing control systems ...................................................................... 36 Active railroad crossing control systems........................................................................ 36 Trains and vehicles DO NOT MIX: Grade crossing safety tips...................................... 36 If you are stuck on the tracks.......................................................................................... 36 What is an Emergency Notification System sign? ........................................................ 37 Parking............................................................................................................................... 37 What Every Driver Must Know y Table of Contents iv Parking on a hill ................................................................................................................ 37 Parallel parking................................................................................................................. 37 Disability parking .............................................................................................................. 38 Van-accessible disability parking................................................................................... 38 Parking violations.............................................................................................................. 38 Chapter 5: Signs, Pavement Markings and Signals Traffic signs ........................................................................................................................ 41 Route markers................................................................................................................... 42 Traffic sign colors .............................................................................................................. 42 Regulatory signs................................................................................................................ 42 Traffic sign challenge....................................................................................................... 43 Traffic sign challenge answers ........................................................................................ 44 Pavement markings ......................................................................................................... 45 White lines ......................................................................................................................... 45 Broken white lines ............................................................................................................. 45 Solid white lines................................................................................................................. 46 Double solid white lines ................................................................................................... 46 Lines to help separate and protect ............................................................................... 46 Crosswalk lines .................................................................................................................. 46 Stop lines ........................................................................................................................... 46 Directional arrows ............................................................................................................ 47 Bicycle lanes ..................................................................................................................... 47 Sharrows ............................................................................................................................ 47 Yellow lines ........................................................................................................................ 47 Broken yellow lines ........................................................................................................... 47 What Every Driver Must Know at e y e ust o Table of Contents v Solid yellow lines ............................................................................................................... 47 Left turn only center lane ................................................................................................ 48 Michigan Lefts................................................................................................................... 48 Yield lines........................................................................................................................... 49 White triangular symbols ................................................................................................. 49 Dashed white lines ........................................................................................................... 49 Traffic signals ..................................................................................................................... 49 The 5-section-head signal ............................................................................................... 49 Flashing red light............................................................................................................... 50 Flashing yellow light ......................................................................................................... 50 Steady green arrow ......................................................................................................... 50 Flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal head ................................................................... 50 Pedestrian signals ............................................................................................................. 50 Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon .............................................................................................. 51 Chapter 6: Sharing the Road Commercial vehicles....................................................................................................... 53 Passing a commercial vehicle safely............................................................................. 54 Slow-moving vehicles ...................................................................................................... 54 Pedestrians........................................................................................................................ 54 Children ............................................................................................................................. 55 Motorcycles, scooters, mopeds and bicycles.............................................................. 55 Specifically about motorcyclists..................................................................................... 56 Moped or scooter? .......................................................................................................... 56 Bicyclists............................................................................................................................. 57 Autocycles ........................................................................................................................ 57 What Every Driver Must Know y Table of Contents vi Chapter 7: Emergencies and Special Situations Safe driving ....................................................................................................................... 59 Aggressive driving ............................................................................................................ 59 Are you an aggressive driver? Do you: ......................................................................... 60 Take care at intersections ............................................................................................... 60 Intersections ...................................................................................................................... 60 Freeway driving ................................................................................................................ 60 A word about merging.................................................................................................... 61 Leaving a freeway ........................................................................................................... 61 Freeway fatigue ............................................................................................................... 61 Cruise control.................................................................................................................... 62 If an oncoming vehicle is in your lane ........................................................................... 62 Bad weather ..................................................................................................................... 62 Rain and fog ..................................................................................................................... 62 Ice, snow and other slippery conditions........................................................................ 63 If your vehicle begins skidding........................................................................................ 63 Braking ............................................................................................................................... 63 Stopping distances .......................................................................................................... 64 Driving at night ................................................................................................................. 64 Emergency situations....................................................................................................... 64 Crashes.............................................................................................................................. 65 Vehicle – deer crashes .................................................................................................... 65 Your best defense against deer ..................................................................................... 65 If a vehicle – deer crash is unavoidable ....................................................................... 65 Driving requires you to plan ahead to stay safe .......................................................... 66 What Every Driver Must Know at e y e ust o Table of Contents vii Before starting the engine............................................................................................... 66 Do not take risks................................................................................................................ 66 If you are approached or threatened while in your car............................................. 66 If your car becomes disabled......................................................................................... 67 If you are pulled over....................................................................................................... 67 In conclusion..................................................................................................................... 67 Safe Driving Knowledge Test Safe Driving Knowledge Test........................................................................................... 69 Resources Answers to the Safe Driving Knowledge Test ................................................................ 73 Resources .......................................................................................................................... 73 Websites ............................................................................................................................ 73 Printed materials............................................................................................................... 73 Credits................................................................................................................................ 74 Photo and image credits ................................................................................................ 74 Inside back cover Secretary of State online services Social media Accommodations for people with disabilities and non-native speakers What Every Driver Must Know y Table of Contents viii What Every Driver Must Know at e y e ust o Introduction ix Dear Michigan Motorist: Today’s vehicles are loaded with technology that was unheard of even a decade ago. Systems that warn when you are drifting from your lane, assist you in parallel parking, automatically brake in emergency situations and provide 360 degrees of vision around the vehicle via a camera are becoming standard, even on moderately priced vehicles. As remarkable as these leaps in automotive technology are, the truth is that the most important safety feature in any vehicle remains you as the driver. Therefore, it is to your benefit to continue improving and expanding your knowledge of traffic laws and safe driving practices. Driving is a privilege. Once you have been issued a driver’s license, you have the responsibility to continually demonstrate the skill and knowledge to drive safely. Whether you have been behind the wheel for decades or are just starting to venture out, driving is a discipline that requires judgment, knowledge, physical and mental self-awareness, and practice. What Every Driver Must Know is an excellent resource for assisting you on this lifelong journey. Jocelyn Benson Michigan Secretary of State Driving is a privilege and not a right. Drivers must drive responsibly and safely, obey traffic laws, and never drink and drive. Finally, make sure that you and your passengers are properly buckled up – it’s the law! Jocelyn Benson What Every Driver Must Know y Introduction x Resources A resource guide is located in the back of this booklet. It lists resources such as websites, printed materials and a customer service number for more information about the topics in What Every Driver Must Know. 2020 Michigan crash facts Before you read further, consider these facts about driving in Michigan from the Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Facts. • 245,432 traffic crashes were reported, of which 1,010 of those were fatal crashes and 44,417 resulted in personal injuries. • Crashes in which the driver had been drinking alcohol numbered 8,956, and 1,305 of these drivers also were suspected of using drugs. • A total of 2,414 crashes resulted from a driver, pedestrian or bicyclist using a cell phone. • There were 1,400 people injured and 5 people killed as a result of a vehicle-deer crash. Two of the fatalities were motorcyclists. • Licensed drivers ages 15-20 represented 6.7 percent of Michigan’s driving population. This young driver age group accounted for 10.3 percent (41,685) of drivers in all crashes and 7.7 percent (126) of drivers in fatal crashes. • According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the No. 2 cause of unintentional fatal injuries in Michigan for children age 0-14 is motor vehicle crashes. What Every Driver Must Know xi When you apply for a driver’s license or state ID, you have the opportunity to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry means that upon your death, you agree to become an organ, eye and tissue donor to save up to 8 lives, and potentially heal up to 125 others. It’s important to share your decision with your loved ones. Note: This registration is a binding, legal document of your generous gift. This is referred to as First-person Authorization. A few facts about organ donation • Up to 3,000 patients in Michigan are waiting for an organ transplant, and over 100,000 are waiting nationally. • Most major religions support donation. • Don’t rule yourself out for health reasons. Medical experts decide which organs and tissues, if any, are healthy enough to help others. • There is no age limit for organ and tissue donation. • Organ donation is not considered until every effort to save the patient’s life has been exhausted. • There is no cost to the donor or their family. • A majority of Michiganders – 4.6 million – are registered organ donors. • For more facts and information, visit golm.org/faqs Please join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Sign up when you apply in person or online at Michigan.gov/SOS. Introduction What Every Driver Must Know y Introduction xii