A Message from DC DMV Director Gabriel Robinson

Greetings DC! As the days become shorter with less daylight, 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 for all of us. Every day, millions of Americans walk to school, work, shops and bus stops. We are most vulnerable to crashes involving pedestrians 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.

This month, DC DMV launched the Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) Program. Aimed at combatting aggravated reckless driving, the ISA Program is another way we are addressing road and pedestrian fatalities by targeting drivers who use excessive speed.

Teen Driver Safety Week is observed from October 19-25. 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 November 11, 2025 for Veteran's Day next month.

And finally, your feedback is always important to us. Please write us a letter or join me for the monthly DC DMV Live Chat, held the first Thursday of each month.

Our next online live chat is scheduled for Thursday, November 6 at 12 p.m. For a full hour, I will respond in real-time to any of your DMV related questions.

Thank you for reading this edition of our newsletter. Enjoy and stay safe!

Pedestrian Safety Month: Safe Walking Environments are a Shared Responsibility

There are many different preferences when it comes to transportation, but at one time or another everyone is a pedestrian.

When drivers maintain safe speeds and practice other safe driving behaviors, safer walking environments are created for you, your loved ones and others in your community. It's important that we know and follow the basics of pedestrian safety.

As a pedestrian:

Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk; if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
Cross streets at crosswalks. If no crosswalk is available and your view is blocked, move to a place where you can see oncoming traffic.
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. The school zone speed limit in the District is 15 mph.
Stop for to 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 19-25

If you have teenage children or know of any who are starting their driving journey, here's a helpful reminder to share with them: Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times to ensure road safety for everyone!

Distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, not wearing a seat belt, and drowsy driving can all contribute to unsafe driving conditions, so it's important that teens and new drivers are aware of these hazards.

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.

DMV's Intelligent Speed Assistance Program to Combat Aggravated Reckless Driving

DC DMV is proud to announce the launch of the Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) Program, a groundbreaking safety initiative aimed at reducing aggravated reckless driving and improving roadway safety across the District.

The ISA Program leverages advanced in-vehicle technology to help drivers stay within posted speed limits. Using a combination of GPS data, digital speed maps, and camera-based speed sign recognition, the system alerts drivers and intervenes when they attempt to exceed the legal speed limit. Enrollment in the program ensures vehicles are equipped with this critical safety feature.

This initiative builds on the success of the mandatory Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Program, launched in December 2022 to combat impaired driving. Like the IID Program, the ISA Program targets high-risk behaviors and promotes safer streets for all. To learn more about the program, visit the DMV website here.

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), Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Children's National Hospital, Safe Kids Worldwide and State Farm's Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program to hold another successful Car Seat Safety Check event at the DMV Inspection Station. During the September 27th event, we conducted 45 inspections and installations, served 42 families and distributed 32 brand new car seats!

The Child Safety Seat Program provides qualifying District residents with an infant or toddler a free booster seat and helpful information about properly installing and buckling children into their safety seats. The program is designed with child safety in mind and exists to share pertinent information to parents and caregivers. The DC DMV Inspection Station also offers car seat inspections and installations year-round. Visit us at 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.

Commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Specialty Vehicle Tags

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that DC DMV offers Breast Cancer Awareness specialty license plates to District residents 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 Halloween or the holiday season? Make sure you plan ahead, and arrange for a SoberRide^® or take the Metro!

Washington Regional Alcohol Program's (WRAP) SoberRide^® provides a free Lyft ride home up to $15. Users are financially responsible for anything over $15. The code will be live on their website at 3pm on Friday, October 31, 2025 and will be valid from 4pm until 4am on November 1, 2025.

Holiday Closure Update: Veterans Day, November 11

In recognition of the Veterans Day Holiday, all DC DMV locations will be closed on Tuesday, November 11. Regular business hours will resume on Wednesday, November 12.

Many of DC DMV's services will remain available online or via the agency's free mobile app.