Massachusetts Driving Rules & Regulations

Vocabulary flashcards covering Massachusetts driving laws, safety rules, and penalties discussed in the lecture notes.

Permit Curfew (Under 18)

May not drive between 12 AM and 5 AM unless accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian.

JOL Passenger Restriction

During the first 6 months, no passengers under 18 (except immediate family) unless a licensed driver ≥21 with 1 year experience sits in the front passenger seat.

JOL Curfew

Junior Operator License holders cannot drive 12:30 AM – 5 AM unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

30-Day Address Rule

New Massachusetts residents have 30 days to notify the RMV of their new address.

Speeding Ticket Formula

Difference between your speed and the speed limit, then append a 5 (e.g., 73 mph – 60 mph → $135).

City Following Distance

Maintain 2–3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead.

Highway Following Distance

Maintain 4–6 seconds behind the vehicle ahead.

Drinking & Driving Fatalities

About 40 % of all highway deaths involve alcohol.

Right Turn on Red

Allowed after a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians/traffic, unless a “No Turn on Red” sign is posted.

Steady Red Arrow

Stop for traffic turning in the arrow’s direction; other directions may proceed if safe and legal.

Left on Red (One-Way)

Permitted when turning left from a one-way street onto another one-way street after stopping.

Passing on Broken Yellow

You may pass if you can see at least 400 ft ahead.

No Passing on Solid Yellow

Passing is prohibited when a solid yellow line is on your side of the road.

Child Booster Seat Law

Children over age 8 or taller than 57 inches may ride without a booster seat.

Minimum Tire Tread

Legal and safe tread depth in Massachusetts is 2⁄32 inch.

Intersection Parking Limit

Do not park within 20 ft of an intersection.

Fire Hydrant Parking Limit

Do not park within 10 ft of a fire hydrant or fire lane.

Registration Renewal

Motor vehicles must be registered every 2 years in Massachusetts.

Inspection Sticker

Costs $35 (as of 2014) and is valid for 1 year.

Fundamental Speed Law

Always drive at a speed reasonable and proper for current road, weather, and traffic conditions.

School Bus Railroad Rule

All school buses must stop at railroad crossings, activated or not.

Mandatory Yield Situations

Yield to emergency vehicles, blind pedestrians with white/metallic cane, pedestrians in crosswalks, and funeral processions.

Seat-Belt Fine (16+)

Driver or passengers age 16+ not wearing seat belts can be fined $25.

Aggressive/Reckless Driving—Subsequent (3 yrs)

1-year suspension, $500 reinstatement fee, full exam, and SCARR course.

Motorcycle Lane Rule

No more than two motorcycles may ride side-by-side in a single lane.

Moped Definition

Maximum speed 30 mph and engine ≤50 cc.

Following Emergency Vehicles

Keep at least 300 ft behind an emergency vehicle responding to an alarm.

Fire Scene Parking

Illegal to park within 800 ft of a fire.

Reaction Distance at 20 mph

Approximately 15–22 ft before braking begins.

Stopping Distance at 60 mph

Requires about 292 ft to come to a full stop.

Headlight Timing Rule

Use headlights from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise and whenever wipers are on.

High-Beam Dim Distance

Dim high beams within 500 ft of oncoming traffic or 200 ft behind a vehicle you are following.

Mass Pike Minimum Speed

40 mph.

Wet Roads—First Rain Minutes

Roads are slickest during the first 10–15 minutes of rainfall.

Wet-Road Speed Reduction

Reduce speed by about one-third to lessen hydroplaning risk.

Headphones While Driving

Wearing headphones while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited.

Legal BAC (21+)

0.08 or lower.

Legal BAC (Under 21)

0.02 or lower.

Standard Drink Effect

Contains ½ oz alcohol and raises BAC by roughly 0.02.

Alcohol Metabolism Rate

The body processes about one standard drink per hour.

Under-21 Alcohol Purchase Penalty

180-day license suspension for buying or attempting to buy alcohol.

Crash Report (5 Days)

Must file with local police, the RMV, and your insurance company within five days of a crash.

Good Driver Merit Removal

With ≤3 infractions in 5 years, one merit point is removed for every 3 years of clean driving.

License Suspension—Debts

Failure to pay child support or state income tax can result in license suspension.

Convictions For Violating The Passenger or Night Driving Restriction

60 days (first offense), 180 days (second offense), 1 year (subsequent offenses)

Convictions for Speeding

90 days (first offense), 1 year (subsequent offenses)

Convictions for Drag Racing

1 year (first offense), 3 years (subsequent offenses)

Convictions for the Use of a Mobile Electronic Device

60 days (first offense), 180 days (second offense), 1 year (subsequent offenses)