Colorado Driver Handbook Flashcards

Getting a Driver License

  • Must be 16 or older with a valid driver license to operate a motor vehicle on public streets and highways.
  • New residents must obtain a Colorado driver license within 30 days of establishing residency, unless exempt (e.g., active duty military).
  • Notify the DMV within 30 days of any address or name change.
  • After passing a written test, you are eligible for an instruction permit.
  • When driving with an instruction permit, you must have a person who is 21 years or older who has a valid Colorado license in the front passenger seat.

Minor Drivers

  • If you are under 18, your application must be accompanied by an Affidavit of Liability (DR2460) signed and verified by your parent, stepparent, grandparent with power of attorney, legal guardian, spouse older than 18, or any other responsible adult willing to accept legal liability.
  • Minors must hold an instruction permit for 12 months before applying for a driver license and complete 50 hours of driving experience (10 at night).
  • Passenger restrictions apply to drivers younger than 18, varying based on how long they've had their license.
  • Curfew: Driving between midnight and 5 a.m. is not allowed for the first year as a licensed driver, with certain exceptions (e.g., driving to/from school or work).

How You Can Lose Your License

  • Driver license can be suspended, revoked, or canceled for reasons such as:
    • Accumulating minimum point for suspension.
    • DUI/DWAI conviction.
    • Refusing alcohol or drug testing.
    • Failing to report a crash or leaving the scene.
    • Providing false information on the driver license application.
    • Failing to provide valid evidence of insurance when requested by a law enforcement officer.

Seat Belt Laws

  • Colorado law mandates seat belt use for:
    • The driver
    • Front seat passengers
    • Children under 16
  • If a parent is not in the motor vehicle, it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that each child is properly fastened into an appropriate child restraint system.

Driving Under the Influence

  • Driving while impaired by alcohol, other drugs, or drug combinations is illegal.
  • DWAI (Driving While Ability is Impaired) means the driver is impaired to the slightest degree.
  • DUI (Driving Under the Influence) means the driver is substantially incapable of safe driving.
  • A driver may also be convicted of DUI per se if the driver’s BAC is greater than 0.08%.
  • Licenses may be revoked if the driver refuses a toxicological test, set forth in Colorado Statute, or based on a BAC over .08 or over .02 if the driver is under 21, or over .04 for a CDL driver.
  • It is unlawful for someone to either possess an open container of alcohol or possess an open container of marijuana while in the passenger area of a motor vehicle that is on a public road.

Before You Drive

  • Being a safe driver depends on being able to see clearly, not being overly tired, not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, being generally healthy, and being mentally and emotionally fit to drive.
  • Check vehicle components regularly (brakes, lights, windshield wipers, tires, steering, etc.).
  • Adjust mirrors and head rests before driving.

Basic Driving

  • Starting the engine: Right foot should be on the brake before starting the vehicle.
  • Moving the vehicle: Signal, and if safe, press the accelerator gently.
  • Stopping the vehicle: Check mirrors, move foot to brake pedal and press with steady pressure.
  • Hand position: You have better vehicle control when you place both hands on the outside of the steering wheel, on opposite sides, at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions or the 4 and 8 o’clock positions.
  • Backing up: Check behind the vehicle, shift to reverse, look over your shoulder, and accelerate gently.

Traffic Controls

  • Traffic controls include traffic signals, traffic signs, and pavement markings.
  • Traffic controls can also be provided by law enforcement, highway personnel, or school crossing guards.

Right-of-Way

  • The law states who must yield the right-of-way, but it does not give anyone the right-of-way, even if your traffic signal is green.
  • Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks.
  • You must yield the right-of-way to all emergency vehicles using a siren, air horn and/ or flashing red, blue, white or yellow lights.
  • School bus: At least 20 feet stopping distance is required when red lights are flashing.

Speed

  • Speed limit signs show the maximum speed allowed in ideal conditions.
  • Colorado speed limits (unless otherwise posted):
    • 20 mph on narrow, winding mountain highways and blind curves
    • 25 mph in any business district
    • 30 mph in any residence district
    • 40 mph on open mountain highways
    • 45 mph for vehicles in the business of hauling trash
    • 55 mph on urban interstate and highways
    • 65-75 mph on designated rural interstate and highways

Turning

  • Signal continuously for 100 feet before turning or changing lanes in urban areas and 200 feet before turning or changing lanes on four lane highways.
  • When turning right you should turn from the right most part of your lane and as close to the curb as possible. When turning left you should be in the left side of your lane.

Parking

  • Leave the vehicle in park if it has an automatic transmission. If it’s a standard transmission, leave the vehicle in low gear when headed uphill and in reverse gear when headed downhill.
  • There are several locations where you can not to park a vehicle.
  • Where parallel parking is permitted, your vehicle must be within 12 inches of the curb or as close as possible to the outside edge of the shoulder, so traffic will not be blocked or slowed.
  • Turn the front wheels toward the curb when parking downhill.
  • Turn the front wheels away from the curb when parking uphill.

Freeway Driving

  • When entering a freeway from an on-ramp, try to increase your speed to match freeway traffic.
  • The passing lane (the leftmost lane) is reserved for passing vehicles in non-passing lanes, left turns and conditions where the traffic volume does not allow merging into non-passing lanes.
  • When exiting the freeway, use the deceleration lane, which is designed to allow you to slow down before reaching the exit ramp.

Changing Lanes

  • Activate your turn signal, check mirrors and blind spots, and proceed when safe.

Passing

  • Typically, you should pass on the left.
  • If passing a bicyclist, you must have a minimum of three feet of space between the outermost part of your vehicle, including any projections such as mirrors or trailers, and the bicyclist.

Night Driving

  • Use your high beam lights when driving in rural areas and on open highways away from urban and metropolitan areas.
  • If you are driving with your high beam lights on or your low beam lights with fog lights on, you must dim them before coming within 500 feet of any oncoming vehicle so the oncoming driver is not blinded by the glare.
  • When following another vehicle, you must use your low beam lights, with your fog lights off, if you are within 200 feet of the vehicle ahead of you.

Weather

  • Slow your speed and increase following distance in adverse conditions (rain, fog, ice, etc.).
  • If it feels like your tires have lost traction, or contact with the surface of the road:
    • Take your foot off the gas pedal to allow the vehicle to slow down.
    • Slowly begin steering in the direction you are hydroplaning until you have control(although this seems contradictory, this actually helps your tires to realign with your vehicle so they are both going the same direction)
    • Steering needs to be slow. Don’t jerk the wheel or you could flip your car due to overcorrecting.
    • Do not try to stop or turn until your tires are gripping the road again.

Snow and Ice

  • If you lose traction take your foot off both the brake and the accelerator pedal and thenturn the front wheels in the direction you want the car to go.

Mountain Driving

  • Shift to lower gears to control speeds when driving down steep hills or mountains.
  • Vehicles going uphill have the right-of-way over vehicles going downhill.

Rural Driving

  • Drivers are advised to pay special attention to curves, hills, guide signs and the presence of animals or farm vehicles when driving in rural areas.

Construction Zones

  • Obey signs and flagger instructions in construction zones.
  • Fines are doubled in work zones.

Safe Driving Tips

  • Ensure all people in the vehicle fasten their seat belts to help keep everyone safe in the event of a crash.
  • Drivers younger than age 18 are not allowed to use a cell phone while driving; even hands free usage is prohibited.
  • Remember to stay aware of the vehicle in front of you andto maintain an adequate distance between your vehicleand theirs.
  • Three-second rule: Under normal conditions, use the three-second rule to gauge how much space you should leave between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

Sharing the Road

  • Share the road safely with bicycles, motorcycles, buses and trucks.
  • Use caution when driving near school buses, especially in neighborhoods and school zones, as these areas are likely to have students getting on and off as well as crossing roads.

Railroad Crossing

  • When approaching a railroad crossing, be cautious because a train can arrive at any time, day or night.
  • Never stop on the tracks.

Light Rail

  • Never turn in front of an approaching LRV.
  • Watch for people getting on and off a stopped LRV.

Bicyclists

  • Treat people on bikes as drivers of vehicles who have a right to the road, and who are also more vulnerable.
  • Bicyclists may ride side-by-side if they are not impeding the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
    -People on bikes have the right-of-way in a bike lane, and bike lanes continue through intersections, regardless of whether or not paint extends through the intersection.
  • When passing bicyclists, including those in a bike lane, motorists are required to give a minimum of three feet from the outermost part of their vehicle or any attachments.

Motorcyclists

  • Motorcyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers.
    -Motorcyclists are entitled to the same full lane width as other vehicles.

Pedestrians

  • Pedestrians are the most vulnerable users of our roadways.
    -Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks, even if the lines are not marked or painted. Drivers must yield or come to a complete stopto let pedestrians pass safely.

Careless/Reckless Driving

  • Aggressive driving is any behind-the-wheel behavior that places others and/or property in danger through willful action without regard to safety.
    -Reckless driving is operating avehicle in such a way that puts either people or propertyin danger, whether intentional or not.

Emergencies

  • To avoid a collision, drivers have three options: Slow down or stop, Turn, Speed up.