The Rules of the Road Flashcards
When you are driving on an interstate, why is it dangerous to follow the same vehicle for a long time?
You may become too relaxed and lose concentration.
When you overtake another vehicle at night, why should you use your low beams?
So as not to blind the other driver
What should you do if you are being overtaken by an emergency vehicle (fire, police, ambulance) flashing its emergency lights?
Pull as far over to right as possible.
What should you do if you are being overtaken by an emergency vehicle while flashing its emergency lights?
Continue quickly, cautiously, and pull over to the right as soon as safely possible.
When making a turn at an intersection what is the first thing you should do?
Know where you want to go before you get to the intersection and look both ways.
What should you do before backing out of a diagonal parking space?
Be sure the way is clear in both directions by looking over your shoulder.
When are paved roads most likely to be their slickest?
Minutes after the beginning of a rainstorm.
What does a flashing yellow traffic signal mean?
Slow down and exercise caution when entering intersection.
What does a flashing red traffic signal mean?
Come to a complete stop and proceed with caution when intersection is clear
What should you do if there is any question about the right-of-way in a particular situation?
Defer to the person on the right, and, if it comes to it, wave another person through—your right-of-way is important but is not worth an accident
When may you drive at posted speed limits in Mississippi?
Under ideal driving/weather conditions.
As a driver, what 7 tasks can you do to help reduce accidents at intersections?
1) Know where you want to turn.
2) Signal what you intend to do.
3) Get into the correct lane as soon as possible.
4) Look around you in all directions before you change lanes or turn.
5) Slow down well before you reach the crosswalk of the intersection
6) Complete the turn at a consistent speed.
7) Finish the turn in the proper lane
As a driver, what are your 3 responsibilities to pedestrians?
1) Stay in control of your vehicle
2) Don’t try to anticipate the actions of a pedestrian
3) Exercise extreme caution and yield to pedestrian right of way
What should you do if you are involved in an accident in which there is personal injury of $1000 or more in property damage?
Immediately call the authorities and provide other driver with your name and address and show them your license and give them your license plate number. When authorities arrive, provide your insurance information.
Why shouldn’t you drive when you are ill, angry, or depressed?
You could be distracted and accident prone
What is the legal maximum distance at which you may park your car parallel to the curb?
12 inches
What should you do when a law enforcement officer is directing traffic?
Follow their instructions, for their instructions override signals and signs
What is the best way to inform other drivers of any maneuver you are about to make on the highway?
Your signals.
When waiting to make a left turn what should you do?
Keep your tires facing straight ahead and yield to oncoming traffic.
Where do most accidents occur?
Intersections
What should you do if you take the wrong exit on the interstate?
Do not stop—continue off exit and turn
What is your first step if your vehicle has a blowout?
Remove foot from accelerator and slowly apply your brake, but do NOT brake suddenly
Before you leave your vehicle parked on a downhill slope, parallel to the curb, what should you do?
Turn your wheel toward the curb and apply the parking brake.
On a two-way, four-lane street, which lane should you use to make a left turn?
Left lane
Why are rear-end collisions so common on interstate highways?
Tailgating
If you are traveling in the right lane of an interstate highway, what adjustments must you make when other vehicles are entering the highway?
Merge into left lane when safely possible to allow them entry onto the interstate.
What action should you take if you encounter a pedestrian crossing the street where there is no marked crosswalk?
Yield to the pedestrian and give them right of way
What is the penalty for the first offense under Mississippi’s DUI laws (HINT: 3 things)?
120 days of license suspension, $250-1000 fine, and up to 48 hours of jail time
If you approach a school bus that is loading or unloading school children, what should you do?
STOP
If you are driving slower than other traffic on the interstate, which lane should you use?
Right
What is the speed limit on the interstate?
70
What percent of accidents do drivers cause?
85%
How should you treat a bicycle on the road?
Like any other vehicle
What is the first step you should take before backing any vehicle?
Look be sure the way is clear
What is a traffic lane?
Any lane on a street, road or highway
If you are involved in an accident, what info should you give the other driver?
Your name and address, license plate number and show them your license; when authorities arrive, provide insurance info
What does a flashing light or ringing bell at a railroad crossing signify?
A train is coming—STOP
As a general rule, what is the safest thing to do if your vehicle goes into a skid?
Turn with the skid
At night, when is it acceptable to drive with your lights on high beam?
When on empty roads with no other vehicles within 500 feet
What light beam should you use when driving at night in heavy fog?
LOW
When is passing permitted (HINT: 4-lane & 2-lane roads)?
1) On four-lane roads, at any time safe
2) On two-lane roads if your side of the road has a dotted yellow line and the way is clear
When entering an interstate highway from the acceleration lane how fast should you go?
Cruising speed
If your vehicle has become disabled on an interstate highway, what is the proper way to signal other motorists that you need assistance?
Raise the hood and place a white cloth or hankie on the antenna
At what age does MS law require children to be secured in a child safety seat?
Up to 4 years old
At what age does MS law require that children be properly fastened in a booster seat?
4 to 7
Infants under 20 pounds should be secured…
In the backseat in a rear-facing car seat
Infants 20-40 pounds should be secured…
In the backseat in a forward-facing car seat
What is the ideal weight range for a child to be in a booster seat?
40-60 lbs
Refusal to submit to a chemical breath test upon the request of a law enforcement officer in this state will result in the suspension of your driver’s license for how many days?
90
When approaching a flash red traffic light at an intersection, you should…
Stop completely and then proceed with caution, being sure to establish who has the right-of-way
At what distance should you signal before making a turn at an intersection?
100 ft
When meeting a car at night with blinding lights, what is the safest thing to do (HINT: 2 things)?
Dim your lights and keep your eyes to the right side of the road.
When meeting a car with only one headlight, what should you do?
Stay as close to the right side of the road as possible
When nearing an intersection marked with a yield right-of-way sign, you are required to…
Slow down and yield right-of-way
An upside-down red and white triangular sign means…
Yield
An octagonal red sign means…
Stop
When overtaking a vehicle on a two-lane highway, the safest thing to do before cutting back in front of the vehicle being passed is…
Be sure you can see the vehicle being passed in your rearview mirror
The most dangerous place on a highway is…
An intersection
What traffic violation is most likely to cause deaths in automobile accidents?
Speeding
When a traffic light shows both a red light and a green arrow in the direction you wish to turn, you…
Turn slowly and watch for pedestrians
A pedestrian using a white or white-tipped, red cane is…
Blind
What is the driver’s responsibility when driving through a congested area where children are playing?
Slow down and use extreme caution
A double solid white line is used to define a traffic lane where travel in the same direction is permitted, but this action is prohibited…
Crossing the lane
When meeting or following a vehicle at night, you should dim your headlights at least how many feet away?
500
When traveling 55 on a highway, how many feet should you put between you and the car in front of you?
300
When 2 vehicles enter or approach an intersection at approximately the same time and there are no traffic signs or signals, who has the right of way?
Person on the right
In driving, what is meant by overdriving your headlights?
Driving faster than your ability to stop within the 500 feet your headlights can illuminate
What is the maximum speed for passenger automobiles (including unloaded 1/2-ton trucks) on a 2-lane highway?
55 mph
What is the maximum speed for passenger automobiles (including unloaded 1/2-ton trucks) on a 4-lane highway?
65 mph
What is the maximum speed for passenger automobiles (including unloaded 1/2-ton trucks) on the interstate?
70 mph
What is the maximum speed for passenger automobiles (including unloaded 1/2-ton trucks) on the Natchez Trace Parkway?
50 mph
When the driver of a vehicle approaches an intersection, the question of right-of-way should be determined…
Before entering the intersection
A right turn is permitted at a red traffic signal only after the driver of the vehicle has…
Come to a complete stop and yielded to oncoming traffic
What is the difference between yellow and white pavement markings?
Yellow markings indicate that traffic lanes are moving in opposite directions while white markings show that traffic is moving in the same direction on both sides of the line
How many accidents are caused by human error?
9 out of 10
If your driving privileges were suspended for a bad check, you must pay a reinstatement fee of…
$10
What is the ideal position for holding the wheel?
Left hand between 9 and 10:30 and right hand between 2 and 4
How many car lengths should separate you from the car in front of you?
At least one car length for every 10 miles per hour of speed
Speed not only makes accidents more likely. It also makes this much more likely…
Death
What is fine for littering on MS highway?
$50 to $250
What is the proper hand signal for a left turn?
Put your arm out of your window extending straight out to your left
What is the proper hand signal for a right turn?
Put your arm out of your window bent up at the elbow
What is the proper hand signal for slowing down or stopping?
Put your arm out of your window bent down at the elbow
When there is water on the roadway, you must reduce your speed to avoid…
Hydroplaning
A two-headed arrow with one head pointing straight ahead and the other pointing to the left means…
You may proceed straight ahead or turn left
You are required to use your low beams when you are within { } of an oncoming vehicle.
500 ft
If your vehicle develops a flat tire or has a blowout, you must…
Apply brakes slowly
You should initiate a turn signal and start slowing down at least { } from the corner of an intersection.
100 ft
Complete the turn at a { } speed.
Consistent
Mississippi law requires that children of { } use a belt-positioning booster seat system.
Four years of age but less than 7
The liability insurance in the state of Mississippi for property damage must be at least…
$25,000
When a solid line is on your side of the center dash stripe, you must…
Never cross
What alcoholic percentage in the body is considered to be within the legal limit for drivers above 21 years of age?
0.07 and below
When following a large vehicle at night, always do this to your lights.
Dim them
You must { } regardless of your direction, whenever a school bus is stopped and children are embarking or disembarking.
Stop
When waiting to make a left turn, always do this with your wheels.
Keep them straight
If you are using arm signals, be sure to signal continuously for { } before you slow down, turn, stop or change lanes.
100 ft
The pennant sign (sideways, yellow, isosceles triangle) on the roadway indicates…
Advance warning of a no-passing zone
The areas around the oversized vehicles where the driver may not be able to see or react to other vehicles are known as…
Blind spots
When is the only time you should pass a vehicle on the right?
When the vehicle you are passing is making or about to make a left turn
When driving on a road with three or more lanes, you must stay { }, except when passing another vehicle.
In the extreme right lane
If you are driving slower than other traffic on an interstate, you must use the { } lane.
Right
A double solid white line marks the edge of a traffic lane where…
Travel in the same direction is permitted on both sides of the lane, but crossing the line is prohibited.
Which of the following are the four principle types of interstate interchanges?
1) Directional
2) Diamond
3) Clover leaf
4) Trumpet
You must always stop within { } at a lowered crossing gate, a flashing electric signal, or a rapidly-approaching train.
10-50 ft of the outer rail
When you decide to leave the interstate, get into…
The right lane a quarter of a mile before your exit
If you are driving at 55 miles per hour, stay at least { } feet from the vehicle ahead.
400
On two-lane roads where traffic moves in opposite directions, you may pass on the left only when…
A broken yellow line is in your lane
When you meet a truck coming from the opposite direction, keep as far as possible to the side to avoid…
A sideswipe accident
If you are overtaking, you must pass on the left at a safe distance and do not { } until the way is clear from the overtaken vehicle.
Return to the lane
A red light with a green arrow means…
You may go cautiously in the direction of the arrow, watching for pedestrians
If you are making a left turn, you must begin…
In the leftmost lane
You must avoid driving next to other vehicles on multi-lane roads because…
Someone may crowd your lane
If your vehicle is hit from the side, your body will be thrown…
Toward the side that is hit
The triangular sign on the back of a slow-moving vehicle means that the vehicle…
Cannot travel faster than 25 mph
If there are no traffic control signals, drivers must slow down or stop for pedestrians…
At all times
If you are overtaking a bicycle and an oncoming vehicle is approaching, you must…
Slow down and let the vehicle pass by you first
When you are turning on a one-way or divided street, always turn from…
The lane nearest the curb
In what 4 scenarios is making a U-turn illegal?
1) At a railroad crossing
2) On the highway
3) At the crest of a hill
4) Along a curve
If you are in an intersection and hear the siren of an emergency vehicle, you should…
Continue through the intersection then pull over to the right and stop
When slowing down or stopping, you must…
Use arm signals or the brake operated lights to alert the driver behind you
If you find yourself in a skid while driving, you must…
Ease your foot off the gas and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go
If your engine dies as you pull around a corner, the best thing you should do is
Steer to the right side of the road and stop
Locked wheel skids are usually caused by…
Braking too hard at high speeds
If you approach an intersection at which the traffic lights are not working, you must first { } before entering the intersection and yield the right-of-way.
Come to a complete stop
To prevent drowsiness in continuous driving on an interstate road, drivers must…
Keep shifting their eyes
Stopping on the pavement or shoulder while driving is permitted only…
In an emergency or when you car will not go any farther
When there is no traffic on both sides of the road, a turnaround can be performed using…
Three-point turn
Always use your { } when using a roundabout.
Right turn signal
What is the legal limit for blood alcohol content for anyone under the age of 21?
Less than 0.02%
