Right-of-Way Rules: Who Goes First? and the Sharing the Road Flashcards
In a roundabout:
Traffic travels in one direction around a central island, and they do not have bicycle lanes
How to use a roundabout:
1) Slow down as you approach
2) Yield to all traffic
3) Watch for signals
4) Enter heading to the right when there is a big enough gap in traffic to merge safely
5) Travel in the counter-clockwise direction and do not stop or pass
6) Signal when you change lanes or exit
7) If you miss the exit, continue around until you return to your exit
When a pedestrian is crossing a roadway with or without a crosswalk:
Use caution, slow your speed, or stop to allow the pedestrian to finish crossing safely
Things to keep in mind when yielding to pedestrians:
1) Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk and may not be able to see a pedestrian crossing the street
2) Do not drive on a sidewalk, except to cross it to enter or exit a driveway or alley and when crossing, yield to them
3) Do not stop in a crosswalk this may put pedestrians in danger
Allow these pedestrians more time to cross the street.
1) Senior
2) People with disabilities
3) People with young children
A crosswalk marked with
White lines
School crossings may have yellow crosswalk lines
Not all crosswalks are marked
Pedestrians have right-of-way even on:
Marked or unmarked crosswalk
If there is a stop line before the crosswalk
Obey the stop line first
Some crosswalks have flashing lights whether or not the light is flashing:
Look for pedestrians and be prepared to stop
If two vehicles meet on a steep, narrow road and neither vehicle can pass,
The vehicle facing uphill has the right-of-way
The vehicle facing downhill has:
More control when backing up the hill
The vehicle facing downhill should back up until:
The vehicle going uphill can pass
Blind Spot is also called:
No Zone
Large vehicle and truck drivers do have better views and bigger mirrors in front of them but they also have:
bigger blind spot
In a blind spot, your vehicle can disappear from a large vehicle
truck driver’s view
Oversized vehicles and large commercial trucks are
Take longer to stop than passenger vehicles at the same speed
The average passenger vehicle and a large vehicle traveling at the same speed can take:
Average is = 55 mph stop within 400 feet, and Large one is about = 800 feet for the same speed when stopping
Do not move in front of a large vehicle and suddenly slow down or stop because:
The large vehicle will not be able to stop fast enough to avoid crashing into you.
When a vehicle turns:
The rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels
The longer the vehicle, the more significant the difference in the length of the turning path
Large vehicles and truck drivers must swing wide to complete a right turn.
On a divided highway with four or more traffic lanes in one direction:
They may also be driven in the lane just to the left of the far-right lane.
Many collisions involving passenger vehicles and large vehicles happen at intersections:
In many cases, the passenger vehicle driver did not realize how close the large vehicle or truck was or how fast it was traveling
When people are boarding or exiting a bus, streetcar, or trolley without a safety zone:
Stop behind the vehicle’s nearest door or platform and wait for the passenger to reach a safe place, and then proceed
When a bus, streetcar, or trolley is stopped at a safety zone or intersection where traffic is:
Controlled by a law enforcement officer or traffic light, and you may pass at no more than 10 mph
Do not overtake and pass any light-rail vehicle or streetcar on the left side whether it is moving or standing unless:
1) on a one-way street
2) the tracks are so close to the right side that you cannot pass on the right
3) a traffic officer directs you to pass on the left
To safely share the road with light rail vehicles
Never turn in front of an approaching light rail vehicle and be aware of where they operate and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle if shared with them
Check for approaching light rail vehicles before turning across the track:
Complete only if the traffic light indicates you may proceed
To safely share the road with motorcyclists:
Check for vehicles and use the mirror when changing lanes or entering the significant road
Motorcyclists are smaller in size and more challenging to see, so they quickly disappear in
The vehicle’s a blind spot, and never try to pass a motorcycle in the same lane as you
Give a right-of-way to any law enforcement vehicle, fire engine and ambulance, or other emergency vehicle using:
A siren and red lights
Drive to the right edge of the road and stop until:
The emergency has passed, and this does not apply when you are at the intersection
Never stop in an intersection if you are in an intersection and see an emergency vehicle
Continue through the intersection and drive to the right as soon as it is safe and stop
Obey any direction, order, or signal given by a traffic officer, law enforcement officer, or firefighter:
Follow their orders even if they conflict with existing signs, signals, or laws
It is against the law to follow
within 300 feet
Large trucks, bicycles, and some cars can:
lose speed on long or steep hills, and they also take longer to get up to speed when entering traffic
Slow-moving vehicles have:
an orange/red triangle on their back and usually travel 25 mph or less
If a line of five or more vehicles forms behind the slow-moving vehicle:
It must turn off the road at the nearest safe place, and this could be an area designated as a turnout or an area where there is enough space for a safe turnout
NEVs and LSVs reach
a maximum speed of 25 mph, and they are restricted from roads where the speed limit is greater than 35 mph
Legally ride on certain sections of freeways where there is no alternate route, and bicycling is:
not forbidden by a sign
Bicyclist may choose to ride near the:
left curb or edge of a one-way street
Bicyclist must:
1) Obey all traffic signs and signal lights
2) Ride in the same direction as the traffic
3) Signal when changing lanes or turning
4) Ride as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as possible
5) Make left and right turns in the same way drivers do and use the same turn lanes
If you are traveling straight on a bicycle:
Use a through traffic lane or, whenever possible, use a bike lane
When you cannot change lanes to pass a bicyclist:
Allow at least 3 feet between your vehicle and the bicyclist, and slow down if you cannot give 3 feet of space
Drivers must also remember to when seeing bicyclists:
1) Give them enough space so they are not forced into a parked vehicle
2) Only merge toward the curb or into the bike lane when it is safe
3) Merge safely behind the bicyclist when preparing to make a turn
4) Enter a bike lane no more than 200 feet before starting a turn
5) Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a two-lane road
For your own safety and the safety of the passengers and remember to go through the work zone carefully:
1) Slow down
2) Allow extra space between vehicles
3) Merge early
4) Expect sudden slowing or stopping
5) Watch for drivers changing lanes at the last minutes
6) Avoid distractions
Cones, drums, or other barriers will guide you through the work zone:
1) Reduce the speed
2) Prepare to slow down or stop for highway equipment
3) Merge as soon as it is safe without crossing the cones or drums
4) Do not stop or slow down to watch the road work
5) Obey unique signs or instructions from workers (flagger)
Fines for traffic violations in a work zone
Can be $1000 or more
Anyone convicted of assaulting a highway worker faces fines of
Up to $2000 and imprisonment for up to one year
Certain roads are chosen as “Safety Enhanced Double Fine Zones” because of:
This is due to increased collision-related injuries and fatalities, and fines are doubled in these zones
Fines are also
Doubled in highway construction or maintenance zones when workers are present
A diamond-shaped sign on a truck means that the truck’s load
It may be dangerous (gas, explosive, etc.), and vehicle with these signs must stop before crossing the railroad
California’s Basic Speed Law is that you may:
Never drive faster than is safe for the road conditions
There are some specific speed limit laws and conditions where should reduce the speed unless otherwise posted:
The maximum speed limit is 55 mph on the two-lane undivided highway and for vehicles towing trailers
You must drive slower when there is:
Heavy traffic or bad weather
You should not block normal and reasonable traffic flow by:
Driving too slowly may be cited if you do
If you choose to drive slower than other traffic
Do not drive in the fast lane and move to the right when another driver is close behind you and wishes to drive faster
If no lanes are marked, and there are four or more lanes in your direction, you may only:
Drive in the two lanes closest to the right edge of the road
Pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles may experience sudden strong winds when they are passing you or you passing them. You should:
Slow down and pass safely
When driving around the school while children are outside or crossing the street (unless otherwise posted). The speed limit is:
25 mph or some school zones may have speed limits as low as 15 mph
Near school, look for:
1) Bicyclists and pedestrians
2) School safety patrols or crossing guards (Be sure to obey their directions)
3) Stopped school buses and children crossing the street
Some school buses flash yellow lights when preparing to stop to let children off the bus
Yellow flashing lights warn you to slow down and prepare to stop
When the bus flashes red lights (located at the top front and back of the bus)
You must stop from either direction until the children are safely across the street and the lights stop flashing
The law requires you remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing, and if you fail to stop, you may be
Fined up to $1000, and your driving privilege could be suspended for one year
If the school bus is on the other side of a divided or multilane highway (two or more lanes in each direction)
You do not need to stop
An intersection is considered blind if:
1) It has no stop signs at any corner
2) You are within 100 feet of the intersection, and you cannot see the road for at least 100 feet in both directions
If your view is blocked
Move slowly forward until you can see, and the speed for blind intersections is 15 mph
An alley is
Any road no wider than 25 feet that are used to access the rear or side entrance of buildings or properties
The speed limit in an alley is
15 mph
The speed limit near the railroad tracks is
15 mph when within 100 feet of a railroad crossing and you cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in both directions
You may drive faster than 15 mph near railroad tracks if the crossing is
controlled by gates, a warning signal, or a flagman
At railroad or train crossing
1) Look in both directions and listen for trains
2) Expect a train on any track, at any time, traveling in either direction
3) Never stop on the railroad tracks, and if you are on tracks, you are at risk of injury or death
4) When the crossing devices are active, or a person warns you a train is coming (stop between 15 feet and 50 feet from the nearest track)
5) Stop if you see a train coming or you hear the whistle, horn, or bell of an approaching train
6) Do not go under lowering gates or around lowered gates
7) Flashing red warning lights indicate you must stop and wait
The passing speed limit when a bus, streetcar, or trolley is stopped, and it is safe to pass is
No more than 10 mph
Business or Residential Districts
The speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted
If you see a sign with a picture of an animal
Be alert for possible animals on or near the road
If you see animals or livestock near the road
Slow down or stop and proceed when it is safe
