The Transition Guide 2010 Edition The Duke mbaa

DRIVER’S LICENSE

• 
  “Getting a North Carolina Driver’s License/State ID” handout from International House provides useful information http://ihouse.studentaffairs.duke.edu/resources/handouts/transportation.html
  

You can drive in NC with your home country driver’s license for about two months. For the requirements to get your NC driver’s license, refer to the NC DMV website:

http://www.dmv.org/nc-north-carolina/drivers-license.php

http://www.ncdot.org/DMV/driver_services/drivershandbook/

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  Written Test and Traffic Sign Test: these need to be taken before the driving test. You need to study the Driver's Handbook to pass these tests. You can download the handbook from the DMV website or buy it from the DMV. Most students find this online study guide very helpful:
  

If you failed a written test or traffic sign test, you can take it again on the next day. But if you failed a driving test, you need to wait for some time (about a week, the DMV staff will advise you) to take it again.

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  Restricted License: if you can pass a driving test, but have not yet purchased your own car, you can apply for a restricted license. The DMV requires your passport, I-20 and a proof of residency (eg. a lease agreement or utility bill). The DMV does NOT require auto insurance, however a restricted license can ONLY be used with rental cars. When you rent a car, you MUST purchase liability auto insurance from the rental car agency. After getting your own car and purchasing auto insurance, you can change your restricted license to a full North Carolina Driver’s License at the DMV.
  

• 
  Learner’s Permit: if you cannot pass a driving test and you haven’t purchased your own car, you can apply for a learner’s permit. You can obtain your learner’s permit by passing the written test and traffic sign test. The DMV requires a passport, I-20 and a proof of residency (lease agreement, utility bill). It does NOT require auto insurance. With your permit, you can drive on local roads, but you may only drive on the highway with a licensed driver over the age of 18. After purchasing your own car, auto insurance and passing the driving test, you can upgrade your permit to a full North Carolina Driver’s License at the DMV.
  

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  Full North Carolina Driver’s License: if you can pass a driving test, have already purchased a car and have auto insurance, you can apply for your full driver’s license. If you take the written test, traffic sign test and driving test at the same visit to the DMV, you can get your driver’s license in about 2 hours. The key difference here is auto insurance. You can ONLY apply for a full Driver’s License with auto insurance, however, in order to buy auto insurance, you must own a car. For most international students, buying a car may take some time. If you are in this situation, you may want to consider a Restricted License or Learner’s Permit; they are useful when you don’t have your own car but need to drive.
  

DRIVING IN DURHAM

Before driving anywhere, make sure to have the correct directions. A GPS unit for your car can be very useful. Garmin and TomTom are popular brands. In addition, Google Maps (http://maps.google.com), Yahoo Maps (http://maps.yahoo.com/dd), and Mapquest (www.mapquest.com ) are helpful tools that you can use to find directions around town.
What is AAA? American Automobile Association membership gives you access to road assistance, towing, etc. for a low yearly fee. For rates and benefits check its website at http://www.aaacarolinas.com/
What is an Inspection? According to North Carolina law, all cars must be mechanically inspected every year. You can have an inspection performed by mechanics and dealers providing car maintenance service. The inspection fee is standard ($30 in 2007). You must present your car Registration (a small white card mailed to you by DMV after you register your car) when you have your car inspected. It is important that you do not drive a car without a valid inspection. The inspection sticker is typically located on the front windshield, driver's side, and states the month and date of the last inspection.
While driving around a smaller city like Durham is relatively easy, it can be a little tricky at times.

(1) The following are all different streets and often very confusing for newcomers.

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  Chapel Drive (on campus)
  
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  Chapel Hill Street (turns into Duke University Road)
  
• 
  Chapel Hill Road
  
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  Chapel Hill Boulevard (commonly called "The Boulevard")
  
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  Old Chapel Hill Boulevard
  

(2) The following are also three different streets and often confusing for newcomers.

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  Duke University Road
  
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  University Drive
  
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  Duke Street
  

(3) Duke University Road turns into Chapel Hill Street at Kent Street (with no warning).

(4) The freeway that runs through the center of Durham and connects to I-40 is often called

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  The Expressway or East-West Expressway
  
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  The Durham Freeway
  
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  147 or S.R. 147 (S.R. means "State Road.")
  

(5) "NC 751" is often referred to by the following different names.

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  751
  
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  Cameron Boulevard
  

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  University Drive
  
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  Academy Street (After the Washington (WA) Duke Golf Course, NC 751 splits and becomes Academy for a short while before it comes to a "T" intersection to continue as University Drive.)
  

(6) "Regular" 15-501 is sometimes referred to as "The Bypass."

(7) There are two different roads named Erwin: Erwin Road and Old Erwin Road.

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  Erwin Road passes in front of the University Medical Center and eventually becomes Ninth Street.
  
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  Old Erwin Road (sometimes called "The Erwin Road Extension) is connected to "751/Cameron" and can get you to the town of Chapel Hill. (This is referred to as "the back way to Chapel Hill.") It connects with 15/501 just before Franklin Street. The road sign just says “Erwin Road”.
  

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