Drivers Ed

broken yellow line

you may pass over the line to pass other vehicles, or to make left turns into other streets, driveways, and alleys, if it can be done safely.

solid yellow line dividing traffic

You may cross over this solid yellow line to: – make a left turn at an intersection – enter or exit a road or a driveway – make a U-turn

solid yellow line as a boundary

You shouldn’t drive to the left of this line. Sets of solid yellow lines are frequently used to divide oncoming lanes of traffic before an upcoming hazard such as a road obstruction caused by the pillar of an over-crossing.

solid/broken yellow line

If the line closest to your lane is broken, you may cross over it to pass vehicles ahead, if it is safe to do so. If the line closest to your lane is solid, you may not cross over it except to turn left into a driveway or alley.

double yellow on 2-lane

DON’T: – cross over them to pass another vehicle – drive to the left of these lines You may cross over a double solid yellow line to: – make a left turn at an intersection – enter or exit a road or a driveway – make a U-turn

double yellow on 4-lane

Drive on the first lane (the most right lane). Use the left lane for passing only. If double yellow lines are used to separate carpool lanes from normal lanes, don’t cross these lines until they are broken or there is a designated enter/exit spot. Never cross double yellow lines used to block off walls or dividers. Only make a U-turn or left turn on a street divided with these lines at an opening provided for turns.

yellow center-left turn lanes

May be used to start and complete left-hand turns and start U-turns from either direction of traffic, but can’t be used for passing. You must use the center left-turn lane to make a left turn or U-turn if one exists on the street on which you’re driving. You may only drive in this lane for a distance up to 200 feet, which is about the length of five or six vehicles. Unless traffic is clear in both directions, you may not make your left turn directly from the side street or driveway without first stopping in the center left- turn lane.

broken white lines

You may cross over the line to enter the lane next to you. If the lane you’re driving in has a thicker broken white line, that means the lane is to be used for exiting the roadway or merging into other lanes, or it means the lane is ending. The broken line will soon become a single solid white line or a set of double solid white lines that can’t be crossed.

solid white lines

A single or double solid white line dividing traffic lanes going in the same direction can’t be crossed for any reason. A single solid white line is generally used to indicate the right- most boundary of the drivable roadway on highways. Sets of solid white lines are often used to divide the lanes before an upcoming hazard such as a road obstruction caused by the pillar of an over-crossing, or the median between a freeway off-ramp and normal traffic lanes and shouldn’t be crossed. Thicker solid white lines are used to separate parts of left- and right-turn lanes close to the intersection. If you pass the part of the turn lane that has a broken white line or no line, you may not turn over the solid line to enter the turn lane.

lines with arrows

These lines are intended to guide your choice of lane.

white curb

You may stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail.

green curb

You may park for a limited time. The time is usually shown on a sign next to the green zone, or painted on the curb.

yellow curb

You may stop here only long enough to load or unload things or people—for a period of time designated by local laws. Drivers of noncommercial vehicles are usually required to stay with their vehicle.

red curb

No stopping, standing, or parking. (A bus may stop at a red zone marked for buses.)

blue curb

This indicates parking for the disabled only. You must have a placard (window sign) or your license plates must be specially marked to park here.

flashing red light

Has the same meaning as a stop sign. You must stop completely behind the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection and yield the right of way to vehicles and pedestrians in the intersection before you proceed. Flashing red lights that aren’t traffic signals are sometimes used to warn drivers of an upcoming stop sign or of a railroad crossing.

flashing yellow light

A flashing yellow light is a warning to slow down and be especially alert. You don’t necessarily have to stop, but you should check traffic both ways at the intersection before proceeding through. Flashing yellow lights that aren’t traffic signals are sometimes used to warn drivers of an upcoming signal light, pedestrian crossing, school zone, or construction zone.

non-functioning traffic lights

If all traffic signal lights at an intersection aren’t working because of an electrical power failure, you must stop at the intersection behind the limit line or crosswalk or at the corner. A blacked-out traffic signal should be treated the same as a stop sign. You should only proceed when you know that all other turning and approaching vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians will also be stopping.

red-light cameras

Red-light cameras may legally be placed at limit lines, intersections, or other places where you’re required to stop (including railroad crossings).

lane-control signals

To help freeway traffic flow, some on-ramps and freeway interchanges are regulated by lane controls that only allow a certain number of cars to enter the freeway at varying time intervals.

designated lanes

written on signs or street.

obstructions

Upcoming road obstructions may be marked by crosshatch white or yellow lines painted on the pavement which define an area over which vehicular traffic shouldn’t travel.

stoplines

Thick solid white lines that cross the roadway are used to mark the stop line at intersections and the clearance line at railroad crossings. You must stop behind these lines when you stop at an intersection or railroad crossing.

crosswalks

When you must stop at an intersection, always stop behind the crosswalk. Sometimes crosswalks don’t include white painted lines. These are called unmarked crosswalks. Crosswalks are often preceded by white words painted on the road indicating "SLOW PED XING."

railroad crossings

Often marked with solid white lines across the roadway. You must stop behind these lines when you stop at a railroad crossing. These stop lines are often preceded by white painted letters on the pavement such as "RXR." You must never stop in the vehicle clearance area marked by solid white lines and a white "X" symbol.

school warnings

Broad yellow lines crossing the road are sometimes used to indicate a school crossing. Yellow markings on the pavement that say "SCHOOL XING" will usually also be painted near school crossings. You should carefully scan for children who are about to cross or crossing the road when you see these markings.

bike lanes

A bicycle lane is marked with a solid white line along either side of the street, placed at least 4 feet from the curb. This line is usually a broken line near the corners of intersections. The words "BIKE LANE" or a picture of a bicycle are usually painted in white on the pavement at various locations in this lane. Bicyclists are required to use bicycle lanes when on a roadway. However, they may exit these lanes to pass, make turns, or avoid a collision.

diamond lanes

Diamonds painted in a lane indicate that the lane is for use by buses and carpools only. In order to use a carpool lane, you must have a minimum of two or three people in your vehicle (depending on what is indicated on the accompanying signs), including the driver.

school buses

You may come upon a school bus that is stopped with flashing yellow lights. This is a warning for you to prepare to stop because children are preparing to get off the bus. When you come upon a school bus stopped on either side of the road with flashing red lights, you must stop. The flashing red lights are located at the top front and top back of the bus. School children will be crowding the road to or from the school bus. Remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing.

green traffic signs

Green is used as the background color for guide signs, mileposts, and street- name signs, and as a message color on permissive-regulation and parking signs.

yellow traffic signs

Yellow is used as the background color for warning signs (except construction and maintenance signs), and some school signs.

orange traffic signs

Orange is used as the background color for warning, construction, and maintenance signs.

blue traffic signs

Blue is used as the background color for traveler-services information signs, civil-defense evacuation route markers, and some street-name signs.

brown traffic signs

Brown is used as the background color for guide and information signs related to points of recreational or cultural interest and on some street-name signs.

fluorescent traffic signs

Fluorescent yellow-green is also used as the background for pedestrian, bicycle, and school-crossing warning signs.

speed limit

max ~65 mph high speed increase stopping distance your speed should depend upon the following: -The number and speed of other cars on the road. -Whether the road surface is smooth, rough, graveled, wet, dry, wide, or narrow. -Bicyclists or pedestrians walking on the edge of the road. -The amount of rain, fog, snow, ice, wind, or dust.

speed= 15 mph

– When going over any intersection of highway that is not protected by a stop sign, yield sign, or official traffic signal, and during the last 100 feet of approaching the intersection or railroad when you don’t have a clear view. – In any alley.

speed= 25 mph

– schools – houses – businesses – senior centers

speed= 35 mph

– On any highway, other than a state highway. – In any moderately dense residential district.

designated vehicle speeds

The following vehicles on a highway can’t go in excess of 55 miles per hour: – Motor truck or truck tractor having three or more axles or any motor truck or truck tractor drawing any other vehicle. – Passenger vehicle or bus drawing any other vehicle. – School bus transporting any school pupil. – Labor vehicle when transporting passengers. – Vehicle transporting explosives. – Trailer bus.

right of way

generally left yields to right, unless otherwise indicated by a light or sign

emergency vehicles

pull over to the right-hand side or curb of street or highway until emergency vehicle is passed.

left hand signal

right hand signal

stop hand signal

overtaking

If you’re attempting to overtake another vehicle or a bicycle proceeding in the same direction, you must pass to the left at a safe distance without interfering with the safe operation of the overtaken vehicle or bicycle.

You may not drive to the left side of the roadway when:

– Approaching or on a curve or hill in which your view is obstructed. – The view is obstructed upon approaching within 100 feet of any bridge, viaduct, or tunnel. – Approaching within 100 feet of or traversing any railroad grade crossing. – Approaching within 100 feet of or traversing any intersection.

You may only overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle when:

– The vehicle overtaken is making, or about to make, a left turn. – On a highway in a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement wide enough for two or more lines of moving vehicles in the direction of travel. – On any highway outside of a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement wide enough and clearly marked for two or more lines of moving traffic in the direction of travel. – On a one-way street. – On a highway divided into two roadways where traffic is restricted to one direction upon each of such roadways.

where to never leave your car

-in an intersection -on a crosswalk -Between a safety zone and the adjacent right-hand curb or within the area between the zone and the curb -Within 15 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station -In front of a public or private driveway -On any portion of a sidewalk -On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked, or standing at the curb or edge of a highway -In a tube or tunnel -on a bridge

curb parking

must be within 18 inches of the curb.