New CT Drivers Must Complete Safety Course Before Getting Learner’s Permit: DMV

New drivers in Connecticut must now complete a special course on work zone safety before they can obtain a learner’s permit.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles announced the new requirement on Thursday. The change is effective immediately.

The Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course can be taken online, and it is free.

DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera said the goal of the new requirement is to keep safety “top of mind” for new drivers.

“Introducing this course at the beginning of the license process helps drivers develop an awareness and supports long-term compliance with traffic laws,” Guerrera said.

According to the DMV, work zones can be especially dangerous for workers and motorists, particularly if drivers are inexperienced, distracted or speeding.

The course covers what to expect near work zones, including changing traffic patterns, reduced speed limits, narrow lanes, and the presence of workers.

Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of the state Department of Transportation, said the new course “humanizes the men and women behind the cones and barrels while underscoring what’s at stake when drivers speed, are distracted, or get behind the wheel impaired.”

According to the DOT, there were 10 fatalities in work zones in Connecticut between 2020 and 2022.

Licensed drivers who are convicted of a work zone violation will be required to complete the course too.