Overview
This document summarizes key rules and best practices for safe, legal driving, including correct responses to common roadway scenarios, signage, and emergency situations.
Safe Following and Stopping Distances
- Maintain at least a three-second following distance behind other vehicles.
- Come to a complete stop at the stop line at stop signs.
- When parking uphill with a curb, turn wheels away from the curb.
Visibility and Headlights
- Use low beam headlights in fog or heavy rain to reduce glare and increase visibility.
- Do not use high beams in foggy conditions.
- If an oncoming vehicle’s high beams are on, briefly flash your own to alert the driver.
Driving Maneuvers and Lane Usage
- Pass on the right only when the vehicle ahead is turning left and it is safe.
- Use the left lane on multi-lane highways primarily for passing.
- When changing lanes, signal and check mirrors and blind spots.
Intersections and Traffic Signals
- Yield to traffic in roundabouts or when making left turns.
- A flashing yellow light means proceed with caution; a flashing red means stop and yield the right of way.
- At steady yellow lights, slow down and prepare to stop if safe.
School Buses and Pedestrian Safety
- Stop for school buses with flashing red lights and wait until the lights stop before proceeding.
- Yield and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, especially for those with white canes or guide dogs.
Special Driving Situations
- Do not move injured persons after an accident unless necessary due to imminent danger.
- If you miss a highway exit, continue to the next exit to reroute safely.
- In minor collisions without injuries, move vehicles out of traffic and exchange information.
Legal and Safety Requirements
- Using handheld cell phones or wearing headphones in both ears while driving is illegal in many states.
- Yield the right of way to emergency vehicles with active lights and sirens.
- School zone speed limits apply when children are present or as posted.
Hazardous Conditions and Emergencies
- In a tire blowout, maintain control and gradually slow down.
- If hydroplaning, ease off the gas and steer in the direction you want to go.
- When entering a freeway, accelerate to match traffic speed and merge safely.
Parking and Road Markings
- Parallel park within 12 inches of the curb.
- Do not pass over a solid yellow line on your side of the road.
- A broken white line allows lane changes if safe; a yellow pennant-shaped sign marks a no-passing zone.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- None stated; all answers provided are definitive for the scenarios described.