Road scholars, online
When the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles runs short on printed copies of driverís handbooks ó as is now the case ó it may be an inconvenience for some, but the information is still readily available.
Those needing to study for the driverís exam can find the handbook at the DMV website (www.ncdot.org/dmv/). It also may be available through some AAA offices or AARP, which offers courses to help older drivers stay sharp behind the wheel.
The shortage developed earlier this year, affecting DMV offices across the state (including the Rowan County office on South Main Street, which is out of the handbooks). A spokeswoman said that the DMV typically distributes between 250,000 and 400,000 copies of the handbook annually. It expects an updated version of the book to be available around the end of the year.
Although printing the book isnít a major expense ó the last printing of 300,000 copies cost about $125,400 ó the shortage does point toward the need to rely more on the digital edition. Going digital not only reduces printing costs but also would allow for faster updates whenever the department needs to change the rules of the road.