Steven D. Litvintchouk, M.S.

Chief Educational Researcher, Driving-Tests.org

Leads editorial accuracy for the car, CDL, and motorcycle question banks across the U.S. practice-test programs.

[email protected]
Steven Litvintchouk oversees the editorial quality of Driving-Tests.org’s practice-question banks for cars, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles nationwide.

He has edited and corrected most of our existing items, authored new content for FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT), and keeps materials current as laws and handbooks evolve.

Previously, Steven spent 24 years in computer engineering and technical documentation, publishing peer-reviewed work and leading large-scale defense and aerospace software projects.

He holds an M.S. from MIT (1978) and a B.S. from Columbia University (1975). Today he also researches and annually updates national reports on U.S. driving statistics.

Areas of responsibility and expertise

  • Editorial lead for car, CDL, and motorcycle practice tests (question wording, hints, explanations, illustrations).
  • ELDT: development of new question sets for FMCSA Entry‑Level Driver Training.
  • Annual research and updates for U.S. driving‑statistics reports.
  • Visual accuracy: upgrade of CDL graphics to modern 3D modeled imagery; supported transition from 3ds Max → Blender.

Methodology

How Steven reviews our content

Scope of review

For each affected state/topic, Steven reviews item wording, explanations, terminology, correct/incorrect options, pass mark notes, age/eligibility requirements, and any sign/marking depictions.

Sources of truth
  • State Driver Handbook (latest edition)
  • MUTCD (signs/markings)
  • Relevant state code and Code of Federal Regulations (FMCSR for CDL)
  • Official DMV bulletins/updates

Change detection

Continuous monitoring of official sources using automated alerts and internal checks; when an official change is confirmed and reflected in authoritative materials, impacted items are queued for review.

Review steps

Content diff
Source check
Clarity/readability pass (ESL friendly, plain English)
Visual audit (signs/graphics)
Editor sign off

Versioning and timestamps

Each page shows Last reviewed (editor verification date) and Last updated (actual content change). If no edits were needed after the latest source verification, we indicate that directly on the page.

User feedback loop

Reported issues are triaged; if sources conflict, we defer to current state handbooks and controlling statutes.

Source notes (what Steven relies on)
  • State DMV/RMV handbooks (by edition)
  • MUTCD (FHWA) for signs and roadway standards
  • State statutes and the CFR for CDL/ELDT topics
  • DMV notices and public guidance pages

Recent highlights

Edited and corrected the majority of our current practice question database; authored numerous ELDT items.

Led the upgrade of CDL imagery to consistent 3D assets; supported toolchain migration to Blender.

Initiated online multimedia courses for commercial‑driver training (general knowledge, hazmat, passenger, school bus).

Professional background

(prior work)

  • 24 years in computer engineering and documentation (requirements/design specs, technical reports, peer‑reviewed papers).
  • Instrumental in defining the software‑engineering approach for the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Experimental Version architecture.
  • A lead engineer on the Air Force CCPDS‑R program for the NORAD command facility (US$200M; delivered on time and on budget).
  • Copyeditor of ~1M words across diverse genres (from dissertations to peer‑reviewed papers and fiction).

Professional memberships and affiliations

  • Member, ACES: The Society for Editing.
  • Lifetime Member, Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society).
  • Twice served on the Program Committee for OOPSLA (Object‑Oriented Programming Systems, Languages and Applications).

Selected publications

  • (co auth.) “Tuple Space Communication as a Distributed Hypermedia Model.” CHI ’91 Workshop. April 1991.
  • “Object‑Oriented Discrete Event Simulation in MODSIM II.” MTR‑10898, The MITRE Corporation, 1990.
  • (co auth. with A. Matsumoto) “Design of Ada Systems Yielding Reusable Components: An Algebraic Approach.” Software Reusability, 1989; IEEE TSE, Sept 1985.
  • (co auth. with V. Pratt) “A Proof Checker for Dynamic Logic.” IJCAI 5, Aug 1977.

Commendations

  • Letter of commendation from Colonel Richard Paul (Deputy Commander, SDI) for work on the SDI Experimental Version.
  • Top-rated on Elance and Upwork.
  • Twice served on the Program Committee for OOPSLA (Object‑Oriented Programming Systems, Languages and Applications).

Education

  • M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1978); B.S., Columbia University (1975).

Media and accuracy inquiries

For media quotes or to report a potential accuracy issue, email [email protected]. We review official updates promptly and revise impacted items as needed.

Contact Steven