Drivers Education Exhaustive Study Guide

Interstate Highway Navigation and Maneuvers

• Missing an Exit: If you miss your exit while traveling on an interstate, you must continue to the next exit and re-enter the interstate where desired.
• Entering the Interstate: When entering an interstate, travelers should go the speed of the traffic already on the interstate. Drivers should take advantage of the entering lane to adjust their speed for proper merging.
• Yielding to Entering Traffic: If another car is entering the interstate where you are driving, you should merge to the left lane if possible.
• Lane Usage on a Four-Lane Interstate:
  • Right Lane: Used for slow traffic and for cars that are exiting.
  • Left Lane: Used for fast traffic and for cars that are not exiting.
• Passing on a Four-Lane Interstate: A driver can pass from both the right and left lanes.
• Minimum Speed Limit: The minimum speed for interstates is $40\,\text{mph}$.
• Car Breakdowns: If a vehicle breaks down on the interstate, the driver should raise the hood, tie a white flag around the antenna, and stay inside the car.
• Following Distance Hazards: Following the same car for a long period on an interstate is discouraged because the driver may become too relaxed and lose concentration.

Intersection Rules and Right-of-Way

• Definition of Yield: To give the right-of-way up to any approaching traffic.
• Defining Right-of-Way: Right-of-way should be determined before entering an intersection.
• Uncontrolled Intersections: If two drivers come to an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, the driver on the right has the right-of-way.
• Intersections with Obstructions: If a driver reaches an intersection with a green light but a car on the opposite side has the thru lane blocked, the driver should wait behind the stop line until the intersection is clear for passage.
• Intersection Hazards: An intersection is considered the most dangerous place on the roadway, and it is where most accidents occur.
• Turning at Red Lights: If a police officer waves you through an intersection on a red light, you should stop at the light first and then follow the officer's instructions.
• Approaching Left Turns: When two drivers approach each other at an intersection and both want to make a left turn, each should turn to the left of the other.
• Yielding to Pedestrians: Even at a green light, if a pedestrian is in the road, the driver must stop because the pedestrian has the right-of-way. Drivers should always be careful, use caution, and give pedestrians the right-of-way.
• Blind Pedestrians: A person with a white tip on a red cane is blind. Drivers should take every precaution and extend every courtesy to blind persons attempting to cross the street.
• Pedestrian Crossings:
  • At a "WALK" sign, a person can leave the curb to cross.
  • A flashing "DON'T WALK" sign means do not leave the curb, but those already in the street should complete their crossing.
  • A solid "DON'T WALK" sign means do not leave the curb at all.
  • A person within a crosswalk always has the right-of-way.

Traffic Control Signals, Markings, and Signs

• Pavement Markings:
  • White Lines: Indicate traffic traveling in the same direction.
  • Yellow Lines: Indicate traffic traveling in opposite directions.
  • Double Yellow Lines: Indicate that passing is prohibited from either direction.
  • Yellow Line in Lane: A good rule for passing is that no passing is allowed when a yellow line is in your lane.
• Traffic Lights:
  • Yellow Light: Slow down; the light is changing from green to red.
  • Flashing Red Light: Come to a complete stop and proceed only when it is clear.
  • Flashing Yellow Light: Slow down and be extra alert.
• Road Signs:
  • "Do Not Enter": Marks a one-way roadway with traffic coming against you.
  • Yellow, Five-Sided Sign: Indicates a school zone or school crossing.
  • Orange Signs: Typically used for road construction.
  • Railroad Sign: Located between $500$ and $900\,\text{ft}$ away from the railroad track.

Speed Limits and Road Hazards

• Standard Speed Limits:
  • Two-Lane Highway: $55\,\text{mph}$.
  • Interstate: $70\,\text{mph}$.
  • School Zone: $15\,\text{mph}$.
  • Bus: $45\,\text{mph}$.
• Ideal Conditions: Maximum speeds are meant for only ideal conditions.
• Weather Hazards:
  • Slickest Roads: Roads are at their slickest during the first few minutes of rain.
  • Hydroplaning: When water is on the road and a car travels too fast, it can lose control and hydroplane.
  • Foggy Conditions: Drivers should use low beam (dim) lights in heavy fog.
  • Skids: Skids happen in bad weather and are common due to weather conditions and speed. To correct a skid, stay off the brakes and turn in the direction of the skid.
• Night Driving: "Overdriving your headlights" refers to driving too fast and not properly seeing the vehicle in front of you. Headlights in good condition allow a driver to see the next vehicle from $200\,\text{ft}$ away.
• Blowouts: In case of a tire blowout, stay off the brakes and let the car coast to a stop.

Licensing, Legal Requirements, and Penalties

• Permit and License Durations:
  • A learner's permit must be held for $6\,\text{months}$ before obtaining a license.
  • A learner's permit is valid for $1\,\text{year}$.
  • A driver's license is valid for $4\,\text{years}$ until it expires.
• New Residents: New residents must register their vehicles in Mississippi within $60\,\text{days}$ of establishing residency. Those over $18\,\text{years}$ with an out-of-state license can drive for $60\,\text{days}$ before needing a MS license.
• Penalties:
  • Breath Test Refusal: Results in an additional $90\,\text{day}$ license suspension.
  • Littering Fine: The maximum fine for littering MS highways is $\$250.00$.
  • DWI (1st Offense): Maximum fine is $\$250$.
  • Reinstatement Fee: If driving privileges are suspended for a bad check, the reinstatement fee is $\$10.00$.
• DUI (Driving Under the Influence):
  • For those under $21$, zero tolerance guidelines apply for a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) between $0.02\% - 0.08\%$.
  • For those over $21$, a BAC of at least $0.08\%$ is considered under the influence.
• Authority: The commissioner of public safety is the official who can take a license away.
• Insurance: Form SR-22 must be filed as a certificate of insurance to show adequate liability coverage.

Emergency Situations and Procedures

• Emergency Vehicles:
  • If overtaken by an emergency vehicle, pull over to the extreme right side of the road if possible.
  • If at a red light with an emergency vehicle behind, wait for the light to change, pull through the intersection, and pull over when safe.
• Reporting: Dial "47" or "HP" on a cell phone for the Highway Patrol.
• Accident Information Exchange: In an emergency or accident, give the other driver your name, address, and license number.
• Statistics: Drivers cause $85\%$ of all accidents. Excessive speed is the cause of most deaths in accidents.

Driving Safety, Following Distances, and Passing

• Signaling: A driver should signal at least $100\,\text{ft}$ before a turn. If using arm signals, signal continuously for at least $100\,\text{ft}$.
• Following Distance Rule: Allow $1\,\text{car length}$ of following distance for every $10\,\text{mph}$ of speed.
• Dimming Headlights:
  • Dim lights when within $500\,\text{ft}$ of another driver.
  • If an oncoming vehicle has bright lights, dim your own and look to the right side of the road.
  • If an oncoming driver keeps bright lights on, flash your own bright lights a couple of times to notify them.
  • When following behind another car, use low beam (dim) lights.
• Passing Rules:
  • When passing, do not move back into the right lane until you can see the passed vehicle in your mirror.
  • Do not pass on hills, curves, or within $100\,\text{ft}$ of bridges, overpasses, railroad crossings, crosswalks, or intersections.
  • Passing on the right is allowed when the car in front is making a left-hand turn or on a four-lane highway.
• Being Passed: If another vehicle is passing you, slow down and stay to the right.

Specialized Road User and Parking Safety

• School Buses: Drivers must stop for a school bus anytime it is loading children on all types of roadways, or anytime the bus is stopped (including on 4-lane highways).
• Bicycles: Treat bicyclists exactly as if they were driving a car.
• Large Trucks:
  • If you cannot see a truck's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
  • Never pull in front of a truck and brake suddenly because trucks require much more stopping distance than cars.
• Parking Rules:
  • Parallel Parking: Car should be within $12\,\text{inches}$ of the curb.
  • Downhill Parking: Turn wheels toward the curb.
  • Uphill Parking: Turn wheels away from the curb.
  • Prohibited Areas: Parking is prohibited on bridges. You may not park within $20\,\text{ft}$ of a crosswalk at an intersection.
• Railroad Crossings: Drivers must stop between $10\,\text{ft}$ and $50\,\text{ft}$ from a railroad crossing. Always stop when lights begin to flash.
• Pedestrians Walking: If walking by the road, walk on the side facing traffic (left side). If pulling over, use the right side.

Vehicle Equipment, Maintenance, and Operation

• Wheel Positioning: While waiting to make a left turn, keep the front wheels straight.
• Turning Precision: When leaving a one-way or divided street, always turn from the lane nearest the curb.
• Left Turns on Multi-lane Highways: Make the turn from the lane to the right of the center line.
• Backing Up: The best way to see behind the vehicle is to turn and look over your shoulder out the rear of the vehicle.
• Horn: A car horn must be audible from a distance of $200\,\text{ft}$.
• Inspection Stickers: Cost $\$5$ and are valid for $1\,\text{year}$.
• Tail Lights: Vehicles must have $2$ red tail lights.
• Hand Positioning on Steering Wheel:
  • Left hand: between $9:30$ and $10:30$.
  • Right hand: between $2:00$ and $4:00$.
• Cell Phone Usage: Keep hands on the wheel and use a hands-free speaker.
• Child Safety Seat Requirements:
  • $0-20\,\text{pounds}$: Car seat facing backwards.
  • $20-40\,\text{pounds}$: Car seat facing forward.
  • $40-60\,\text{pounds}$: Booster seat.
  • Over $60\,\text{pounds}$: Regular seat belt.
  • Age Range: Any child from birth to $4\,years$ must be in a car seat.
• Seat Belt Law: People in the front seat must wear seat belts; those in the back are strongly encouraged to do so.