Virginia Driver's Manual Comprehensive Notes

Section 2: Signals, Signs, and Pavement Markings

Traffic Signals

• Red Light: Complete stop at the stop line or before the crosswalk/intersection. Remain stopped unless turns are permitted.

• Right Turn on Red: Permissible after a complete stop unless a "No Turn on Red" sign or red arrow is present.

• Left Turn on Red: Permissible from a one-way street onto another one-way street after a complete stop, unless prohibited.

• Red Arrow: Virginia law prohibits right and left turns on red arrows unless signs specify otherwise (e.g., "Right on Red Arrow After Stop").

• Flashing Red: Treat as a stop sign. At railroad crossings, stop even if no train is visible.

• Yellow Light/Arrow: Caution that the light is changing. Stop if safe; if already in the intersection, proceed cautiously. Do not accelerate to beat the light.

• Green Light/Arrow: Go if the way is clear. Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians when turning without a green arrow.

• Out of Service Signals: Treat the intersection as an all-way stop.

Lane Use Signals

• Red X: Lane is closed; do not drive in it.

• Yellow X / Diagonal Downward Arrow: Move out of the lane as soon as safely possible.

• Green Arrow: Driving in the lane is permitted.

Sign Colors

• Red with White: Stop, yield, do not enter, wrong way.

• Black with White: Regulatory information (e.g., speed limits, do not pass).

• Yellow with Black: Warning of hazards (e.g., curve ahead, slippery when wet).

• Fluorescent Yellow/Green: School zones, pedestrians, and bicyclist activities.

• Green/White: Destination information.

• Blue/White: Motorist services.

• Brown/White: Historical or cultural interests.

• Orange/Black: Construction areas.

• Pink/Black: Incident/emergency areas.

Sign Shapes

• Octagon: Stop.

• Triangle: Yield.

• Vertical Rectangle: Regulatory/Instructional.

• Horizontal Rectangle: Directions/Information.

• Diamond: Warning of special conditions.

• Pentagon: School Zone/Crossing.

Pavement Markings

• Broken Yellow Lines: Passing allowed on the left if the way is clear.

• Double Solid Yellow Lines: No passing. Crossing allowed only for left turns or to pass pedestrians/cyclists when safe.

• Broken White Lines: Separate traffic lanes in the same direction; lane changes allowed with caution.

• Dotted White Lines: Guide lanes through intersections or mark turn lane openings.

• Solid White Lines: Show turn lanes, mark the right edge of pavement, and discourage lane changes in dangerous areas.

• Red Reflectors: Indicate areas that must not be entered (wrong direction).

• Yield Line: A line of triangles across the road showing where to stop/yield.

Special Lanes and Curbs

• High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV): Marked with a diamond symbol. Reserved for buses, carpools, motorcycles, and clean fuel vehicles during specific times.

• Bicycle Lanes: Marked with solid/dashed white lines or green pavement. Drivers must check mirrors and yield to cyclists before turning across these lanes.

• Sharrows: Bicycle symbol with double chevrons; indicates shared use in narrow lanes.

• Bicycle Boxes: Green painted areas at intersections; drivers must stop behind the box, not in it.

• Painted Curbs:

  • White: Passenger pickup/drop-off only.

  • Yellow: Loading/unloading (stay with the car).

  • Red: No stopping, standing, or parking.

Section 3: Safe Driving

Control and Speed

• Hand Position: $8 \text{ o’clock}$ and $4 \text{ o’clock}$ positions. Hold with fingers and thumbs, not palms.

• Speed Limits:

  • School, Business, Residential: $25\,MPH$.

  • Unpaved Roads: $35\,MPH$.

  • All Other Roads: $55\,MPH$.

• Reckless Driving: Charged for driving $20\,MPH$ or more over the limit, or over $85\,MPH$. This is a misdemeanor.

Stopping and Yielding

• Stopping Distance Factors: perception time, reaction distance, and braking distance.

• School Buses: Stop for buses with flashing red lights and extended stop signs from any direction. Exceptions: If separated by a median or barrier on a divided highway.

• Right-of-Way: Vehicles reaching an intersection first go first. If arriving simultaneously, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

Space Cushion and Searching

• Two-, Three-, and Four-Second Rule:

  • Under $35\,MPH$: $2 \text{ seconds}$.

  • $35-45\,MPH$: $3 \text{ seconds}$.

  • $46-70\,MPH$: $4 \text{ seconds}$.

• Searching: Focus eyes $20 \text{ to } 30 \text{ seconds}$ ahead. In cities, this is about one block.

• Blind Spots: Danger areas not visible in mirrors; glance over the shoulder before changing lanes.

Sharing the Road

• Vulnerable Road Users: Includes pedestrians, cyclists, and animals. Motorists must pass cyclists with at least $3 \text{ feet}$ of clearance.

• No-Zones: Large blind spots around trucks, buses, and RVs (side, front, and rear).

  • Rear No-Zone: Can stretch $200 \text{ feet}$ behind the vehicle.

  • Front No-Zone: Cab blind spot can be $20 \text{ feet}$ in front.

Parking

• Distance: Cannot park more than $1 \text{ foot}$ from the curb.

• Hill Parking:

  • Uphill with Curb: Wheels turned left.

  • Uphill without Curb: Wheels turned right.

  • Downhill (either): Wheels turned right.

Dangerous Behaviors

• Distracted Driving: Accounts for $17\%$ of Virginia crashes. Holding a wireless device while driving is illegal.

• Drowsy Driving: Signs include constant yawning, nodding, and missing exits. Avoid driving between $10 \text{ PM}$ and $6 \text{ AM}$.

• DUI (Alcohol/Drugs):

  • Legal limit (21+): $0.08\% \text{ BAC}$.

  • Zero Tolerance (Under 21): $0.02\% \text{ BAC}$.

  • Implied Consent: Operating a vehicle means agreeing to a breath test upon request.

Section 4: Seat Belts and Child Safety

• Seat Belts: Mandatory for the driver and all passengers in both front and rear seats.

• Child Seats:

  • All children under age $8$ must be in a safety or booster seat.

  • Rear-facing recommended from birth to age $2$.

  • Illegal to transport children under $16$ in the bed of a pickup truck.

• Air Bags: Sit at least $10 \text{ inches}$ from the steering wheel. Tilt the wheel downward toward the chest.

Section 5: Penalties

• Suspension: Temporary withdrawal of driving privilege.

• Revocation: Termination of driving privilege; must re-apply and pass all tests after the period ends.

• Driver Improvement Program:

  • Under $18$: First demerit conviction requires a clinic. Second conviction results in $90$-day suspension.

  • Age $18+$: Clinic required for $12 \text{ points}$ in $12 \text{ months}$ or $18 \text{ points}$ in $24 \text{ months}$.

• Administrative License Suspension: First DUI offense results in an automatic $7$-day license suspension regardless of court outcome.

• Vehicle Impoundment: Immediate $30$-day impoundment if caught driving on a suspended license for an alcohol-related offense.

Section 7: Other Information

• Tire Penny Test: Insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. If the head is covered, the tread is safe.

• Insurance Liability Limits:

  • Policies post-Jan $1$, $2022$:

    • $\$30,000$ for injury/death of one person.

    • $\$60,000$ for injury/death of two or more people.

    • $\$20,000$ for property damage.

• Uninsured Motor Vehicle Fee: $\$500$; allows registration for one year but provides no insurance.

• Address Changes: Must notify DMV within $30 \text{ days}$.

Section 8: Sample Knowledge Exam

1. Stop Sign Shape (Octagon): Means Yield right-of-way (Answer check: Manual says stop).

2. Directional Arrow: Traffic flows only in the direction shown.

3. Lane Reduction: Right lane ends soon, merge left.

4. Intersection: Cross-shape warning means intersection ahead.

5. No Turn on Red: Red circle with slash and right arrow.

6. Alcohol Effects: Visions, coordination, judgment.

7. Slippery Roads: Apply brakes gently.

8. Hand Signals: Downward = Stopping.

9. School Bus: Stop until persons clear and bus moves.

10. Crash Procedure: Stop, help, report, exchange info, notify insurance.