RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SAFE DRIVING CHAPTER 4 RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SAFE DRIVING

Speed Control Exceeding the speed limit is a common cause of fatal accidents Speed affects most everything that could happen when driving. Stay at a legal speed, and keep enough distance from surrounding traffic.

NJ SPEED LIMITS 25 mph = SCHOOL ZONES Residential and Business districts 35 mph = SUBURUBAN BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS POSTED WITH REGULATORY SIGNS 50 mph = non posted rural roads 55 mph = certain state highways and Interstates (as posted) 65 mph = certain interstate highways (as posted) Setting Speed Limits

Speed Control Cont. Fines are doubled in 65 mph zones for exceeding speed by 10 mph or more, and most other moving violations Never drive faster than weather, road, or other conditions safely allow Real Research…..

Slow down on: Narrow or winding roads Intersections or railroad crossings On hills At sharp curves Where pedestrians or driving hazards are present On wet or slippery roads

Activity Think of someone you know who is a chronic speeder Write 1 paragraph to them persuading them to drive safer using information you have learned previously in this class.

PASSING If center lines are both solid, no passing is permitted If one center line is broken, passing is only permitted on the side with broken line If both center lines are broken, passing is permitted on both sides

PASS ONLY WHEN SAFE MOST PASSING SHOULD BE MADE ON THE LEFT PASS ON THE RIGHT ONLY WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE LANE GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION or WHEN VEHICLE AHEAD IS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THERE IS ROOM TO PASS NJ LAW PROHIBITS PASSING ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY

DO NOT PASS…… ON HILLS OR CURVES AT STREET CROSSINGS OR INTERSECTIONS AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS ON NARROW BRIDGES OR IN TUNNELS WHEN A SIGN PROHIBITS PASSING WHEN BEHIND A VEHICLE THAT HAS STOPPED TO LET A PEDESTRIAN CROSS

DRIVING TOO SLOWLY / KEEP TO THE RIGHT NJ LAW PROHIBITS BLOCKING TRAFFIC WITH SLOW DRIVING NJ LAW REQUIRES DRIVERS TO KEEP TO RIGHT EXCEPT WHEN PASSING

YIELDING THE RIGHT OF WAY ALWAYS YIELD TO: PEDESTRIANS POLICE CARS FIRE ENGINES AMBULANCES TRAINS BUSSES & POSTAL VEHICLES RE-ENTERING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC

Pedestrians (Yielding vs. Stopping) You must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Failure to stop: $500 fine 25 days in jail 2 points License suspension (up to 6 months) Community service

Pedestrians It is illegal to pass a car that is allowing pedestrians to pass Watch for pedestrians when turning right on red Do not block crosswalks Be alert at all times! 1948 Pedestrian Video

CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS ALWAYS YIELD TO A CAR ALREADY IN AN INTERSECTION (First Come, First Serve) ALWAYS YIELD TO THE DRIVER ON THE RIGHT IF ARRIVING AT A 4-WAY STOP SIGN AT THE SAME TIME (Right of Way) YIELD TO ON-COMING TRAFFIC WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AN INTERSECTION WHERE A SIGN OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL REGULATES TRAFFIC ALWAYS STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT A SINGLE SOLID WHITE LINE GOING ACROSS THE ROAD AT AN INTERSECTION MEANS YOU MUST STOP BEHIND IT.

CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS (CONT.) WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A YIELD SIGN, SLOW DOWN AND YIELD TO ANY TRAFFIC IN THE ROADWAY EVEN IF YOU MUST FULLY STOP!!! WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, YIELD TO ALL PEDESTRIANS It is illegal to drive on private property (parking lot, gas station) to avoid a traffic signal!! 2 point ticket !!!

UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS When 2 or more roads join and there is no traffic signal or regulatory device. Reduce speed and stop if traffic is coming from right or left. Anyone entering from a driveway or private entrance must yield to cars in the road. A vehicle on left should yield to a vehicle on the right! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOQ9FVYf2-8

ENTERING Highways, Parkways, and Turnpikes -Roads that have multiple lanes- Traffic on each side of the median will only move in one direction Motorists enter via an ACCELERATION LANE - a lane used to speed up to the flow of traffic Yield to traffic already on the roadway before leaving the acceleration lane. Avoid coming to a complete stop!

LEAVING Highways, Parkways, and Turnpikes Exit on a DECELERATION LANE – a lane used to reduce speed as you exit If you miss your exit, do not brake or backup; instead go to the next exit Usually on the right side Watch for signs in case exit is on left of roadway and obey posted speed limits.

Acceleration Deceleration Lane Lane

CURVES REMEMBER TO ADJUST SPEED AND STEERING BECAUSE YOUR CAR TENDS TO GO STRAIGHT WHEN ENTERING A CURVE! (laws of motion) Slow down before entering a curve. Hold firmly to the steering wheel. Do not drift into oncoming lane!

TURNING REGULATIONS Right turn on red Unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted, NJ law permits you to turn right on red after coming to a complete stop. Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians when turning Signal at least 100 feet in advance

RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS GET INTO RIGHT HAND LANE SIGNAL A RIGHT TURN RIGHT TURNS GET INTO RIGHT HAND LANE SIGNAL A RIGHT TURN MOVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR LANE SLOW DOWN TO TURN DO NOT MAKE A WIDE TURN DO NOT CROSS LANE MARKINGS LEFT TURNS SIGNAL A LEFT TURN KEEP CLOSE TO CENTER LINE BEFORE TURN YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TURN INTO LEFT-BOUND LANE NEAREST THE CENTER LINE DO NOT CUT CORNER DO NOT CROSS LANE MARKINGS

LEFT TURN FROM TWO-WAY ROAD INTO A 4 LANE HIGHWAY SIGNAL A LEFT TURN KEEP CLOSE TO CENTER LINE BEFORE TURNING YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC TURN INTO NEAREST LEFT BOUND LANE (the lane closest to the midline of road) DO NOT CUT CORNER GET INTO RIGHT LANE WHEN SAFE

Circle Intersections No set rules, so use common sense and caution Look for traffic control signs, such as stop and yield signs that govern who has the right of way Stay in right hand lane when leaving circle Never enter a traffic circle without checking for all signs and other vehicles

STOPPING REGULATIONS When a motorist must stop… At an intersection with a stop sign At an intersection with a red light or flashing red light When a traffic officer tells you to stop When there is a yield sign but you cannot merge safely When a school bus is picking up or letting off children and red lights are flashing When leaving an alley or private entrance At a bridge span that is opening for boats For a blind pedestrian For any pedestrian in a crosswalk

Stopping at Railroad Crossings Must stop 15 feet from railroad crossing when there are flashing lights or signals Some vehicles must ALWAYS stop at railroad crossings, such as school buses, tractor trailers, or Hazmat vehicles

STOPPING FOR SCHOOL BUSES NEVER PASS A SCHOOL BUS WITH ITS FLASHING RED LIGHTS ON You must stop 25 feet away from a bus on a two lane road, or multi lane highway without a physical divider You may pass a school bus with its lights on 1. If the bus is on the opposite side of a raised median or island highway When you pass, travel at 10 mph 2. If the bus is stopped directly in front of a school to let off or pick up students

Stopping for other vehicles For frozen desert truck with flashing red lights – stop, yield to pedestrians, then proceed with caution When flashing blue or red emergency lights are behind you, stop and pull to the right most side of the road to allow them to pass Stay 300 feet behind these vehicles after they pass.

Move Over Law New Jersey’s “Move Over” law requires that all motorists approaching a stationary, authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, highway maintenance or other emergency service vehicle that is displaying a flashing, blinking or alternating red, blue, amber or yellow light must move over one lane to the left, safety permitting.

Move Over Law (Short version) If you see flashing lights (police, ambulance, tow truck) – Move over to a lane as far away as you can. Slow Down below speed limit and be prepared to stop if necessary. FINE: $100-$500 The New Jersey Move Over Law – YouTube MOVE OVER LAW Full - YouTube

Move Over Law Pt. 3 If a lane change is impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, the motorist must reduce the speed of his/her vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed that is lower than the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop, if necessary. Fine = $100-$500.

USING LIGHTS Headlights must be turned on ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise Also during: Rain Snow Ice storms Fog Visibility less than 500 feet pg. 82

Bright and Dim Lights Brights (high beams) = used for open country driving, no traffic in sight. If you see a car approaching, shut them off. Dims (low beam)= city driving and driving on roads when traffic is in sight.

PARKING REGULATIONS Check for traffic when leaving a parking spot Check for bikes, mopeds, pedestrians, and any other objects you could hit. Always park within 6 inches of a curb

Do not park………. On a crosswalk Between a safety zone for pedestrians or within 20 feet of the end of the safety zone Near street construction A spot marked for handicapped On an interstate highway On a sidewalk In a bus stop zone In front of a public driveway Within an intersection Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant * Within 25 feet of a crosswalk * Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing * Within 50 feet of a stop sign *

Do not park……(continued) Within 20 feet of driveway entrance of a fire station, or 75 feet on street opposite fire station entrance On any bridge, tunnel or elevated roadway Next to another vehicle parked at a curb Where parking is prohibited by municipal ordinance

Cell Phones Illegal to use, unless you have a hands free device Primary Offense!! May only be used in certain emergency situations, such as … Fire Traffic Accidents Road Hazards Medical Emergency Hazardous Material Emergency A GDL driver may not use a handheld or hands –free cell phone or any other handheld electronic device This is a Violation of GDL restrictions YouTube - PSA Texting while Driving U.K. Ad [HD] Fine = $200-$800 Texting and Driving Part 2

Littering It is illegal to litter There are fines of up to $1,000 for littering. If the vehicle is moving when you litter, your license could be suspended