traffic control devices and traffic laws idaho public driver education
TRANSCRIPT
Traffic Control Devices and
Traffic Laws
Idaho Public Driver Education Idaho Public Driver Education
Idaho Traffic LawsYou must stop:• Before a stop line or crosswalk.
• If there are no lines, stop before entering the intersection.
• For any red light or sign, flashing or solid.
• For a pedestrian crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
• At a railway crossing when a train is coming or when train signals, gates, or signs indicate an approaching train.
• When entering a street from an alley, building, driveway, or private road.
• At the request of any police officer.
• For emergency or police vehicles sounding a siren or flashing red or blue lights.
• For a school bus that is loading or unloading students or has it’s stop sign out or flashing lights on. You must stop for a school bus on a road with less then four total lanes.
• When involved in a wreck.
Speed Limits
• The Basic Rule: No matter what the posted speed, you must judge the situation and conditions and adjust your speed accordingly.
• The maximum speed on a freeway is 75mph, 65mph on a highway, and 35mph on city streets (unless posted otherwise).
• It is illegal to drive so slowly that you disrupt the normal flow of traffic.
• Observe posted speeds in school and construction zones to protect students and workers (penalties are higher in these areas).
To “yield” means to let another vehicle or pedestrian go first.
You must yield:
• When there is a yield sign.
• When entering a street from an alley, driveway, or garage after stopping.
• At four way stops.
• At an unmarked or uncontrolled intersection.
• When stopped for cross traffic.
• Yield when making a left turn. Always yield to oncoming traffic.
• In school or construction zones.
• For emergency vehicles. Move to the right and stop.
• To faster traffic. The law requires that you stay to the right when possible.
No Parking ZonesOn sidewalks
On the street-side of any other parked vehicle (double parking)
In intersections
Within 50 feet of railroad tracks
On bridges or overpasses
In front of a driveway
Within 15’ of a fire hydrant
Within 20’ of a crosswalk
Within 30’ of a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal
Within 20’ of a fire station driveway
On a freeway
Where prohibited by signs or a red, yellow, or white “no parking” curb.
In a handicapped parking space
Fact About Signaling & Turning
• You must signal when turning at an intersection or into a driveway!
• You must signal when changing lanes.
• You must signal when entering or leaving the freeway.
• You must signal when pulling toward or away from the curb.
• You must signal 100 feet (about 5 seconds) before turning.
• In Idaho, you may turn right on a red light, after stopping.
• In Idaho, you may turn left on a red light, after stopping, and if turning onto a one-way street.
Other Laws You Need to Know!
• Headlights must be lighted from sunset to sunrise or when visibility is poor.
• You must dim your brights 500’ before meeting and 200’ before overtaking another vehicle.
• It is illegal to engage in any vehicle race, exhibit of speed, or speed contest on any public road, street, or highway.
• Windows and windshields must be kept clean and free of stickers, signs, posters, except those required by law.
• When a load extends 4’ or more out the back, a red flag must be attached to the load.
• It is illegal to drive recklessly or inattentively.
• It is illegal to send or read text messages while driving!
TEXTING AND DRIVING• As of July 1, 2012, it is illegal to text while
driving in Idaho.
• “Texting” means, “engaging in the review of, or manual preparation and transmission of, written communication via handheld wireless devices.”
Traffic signs have three purposes:
1. Regulate traffic, movement or parking
2. Warn of potential dangers or road conditions
3. Provide information and guidance
Colors Have Meaning
Red Green
Blue Yellow
Black White
Orange Brown
Fluorescent Optic Yellow
Shapes Have Meaning
Octagon Rectangle
Triangle
Diamond
Pentagon
Pennant
Rectangle
Circle
Crossbuck
Three Types of Signs
Regulatory
Warning
Guide
Where must drivers stop?
Where are they located?
When must drivers yield?
Where are they located?
SPEED LIMIT SIGNS
Speed Limits
Urban Areas
Parks
Rural Interstate
Urban Interstate
School Zones
RR sign or RR painted on the pavement are advanced warning signs.
Crossbucks are yield signs.
The train has the right-of-way!
Railroad Crossing Warnings
Flashing red lights
Bells
Gates
If you hear or see a train
Other Regulatory Signs
ORANGE is for Construction
REMEMBER
Common Sense
Caution
Concentration
Types of Work Zones
Stationary
Work Areas
Moving
Work Areas
Markings Indicating Drivers are Entering a Work Zone
Work Zones Areas
Advance Warning
Transition
Buffer
Work Area
END
Tips for Driving Through Work Zones:
Fines double in a work zone!
Proceed with extreme caution
Drive at the posted speed
Watch out for workers
Stay in your lane
Report unsafe conditions
GUIDE SIGNS
US Route Marker
Intersections
Controlled by signs and signals
NOT Controlled by signs and signals, multi-lanes, or pavement
Single or two-lane road intersecting with multiple-lane road
Turning left
Tee Intersections
Railroad grade crossings
Signals
o Steady lights
o Flashing lights
o Signal/Sign combinationsNO NO
TURN TURN ON ON
REDRED
Dog House Signals
Pavement Markings
Left turn only lane
Stop lines
Cross Walks
ONE Way TWO Way
Two lane ruralMulti-lane
YELLOW LINES• ALWAYS KEEP TO THE RIGHT OF A YELLOW LINE
BROKEN YELLOW LINES
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
• BOTH DIRECTIONS MAY CROSS THIS LINE
• PASSING IS PERMITTED
YELLOW DOTS
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
• LANE GUIDE MARKERS• KEEP TO THE RIGHT OF
THIS LINE
SOLID YELLOW LINE
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
• KEEP TO THE RIGHT OF THIS LINE• DO NOT CROSS EXCEPT WHEN
TURNING LEFT OFF OF THE ROADWAY
DOUBLE SOLID YELLOW LINES
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
• KEEP TO THE RIGHT• BOTH DIRECTIONS OF TRAFFIC MAY
NOT CROSS• BOTH DIRECTIONS CANNOT PASS• LEFT TURNS FROM ROADWAY
PERMITTED
SOLID YELLOW WITH A YELLOW BROKEN LINE
• TRAFFIC WITH THE SOLID LINE CANNOT PASS
• TRAFFIC WITH THE BROKEN LINE MAY PASS
WHITE LINES
SOLID WHITE• DO NOT CROSS• USUALLY A FOG LINE ALONG THE
RIGHT SIDE OF A ROADWAY MARKING THE EDGE OF THE TRAVEL PORTION OF A ROADWAY
• STAY TO THE LEFT OF THE FOG LINE
BROKEN WHITE
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
• ONE WAY STREETS• DRIVERS MAY CROSS THIS
LINE
DOUBLE SOLID LINES
• SEPARATES TRAFFIC GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
• BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC CAN’T CROSS
BARRIER LINE
• TREAT THIS LINE AS IF IT WERE A CONCRETE BARRIER
• DO NOT CROSS• THIS LINE IS TWICE AS WIDE
AS A NORMAL LANE LINE
Shared Turn Lanes
Car Pool Lane
Passing Lane Markings
Open Range Law
The animals have the RIGHT OF WAY!
Basic Vehicle Control
Starting TasksStarting Tasks
Approach the car with keys in your hand.
Perform the “Circle of Safety”.
Enter the vehicle, lock the door, insert the key.
Adjust seat and mirrors.
Right foot on brake pedal, heel on floor.
Left foot on “dead pedal”.
Check alert, warning lights and gauges.
Adjust ventilation and accessories.
Some wheels have pre-set Hand Positions
9 3
7 5Before airbags, we taught, “10 and 2”. With airbags, lower positions are necessary to avoid injury.
1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Lemans
On this car it takes 4-6 complete revolutions to turn the steering wheel from locked to locked
position
2001 Ford Taurus
On this car, it takes only 2 ½ revolutions to turn the steering wheel from locked to locked positions
1999 Lincoln Town Car Limousine
What kind of steering would it take to turn a corner in this
vehicle?
Push-Pull SteeringPush-Pull Steering
11
7
1
5
•Right Turn
•Left Hand Push Up
•Right Turn
•Right Hand Pull Down
Most driving can be done this way.
Hand-Over-Hand SteeringHand-Over-Hand SteeringUsed with speeds below 15mphUsed with speeds below 15mph
11 12
•Left Turn
Left hand pulls down, then reaches up to about 11-12 position – and continues to pull down to left
•Left Turn
Right Hand pushes up to about the 11 position
Continue pulling on top 1/3 of the wheel until desired path of travel is reached
One Hand Steering – Backing StraightOne Hand Steering – Backing Straight
Foot firmly on brake, heel on the
floor.
Shift to Proper Gear. Drive or Reverse
Check TrafficCheck TrafficForward, Rear, and Sides
SignalCommunicate Intentions
Moving From a Stopped Position
Select a safe gap in traffic.
Move into the closest lane:
Target lane position #1
Release brake
Progressive acceleration
Moving From a Stopped Position
Braking Basics
The key is to stabilize the foot by keeping the
heel on the floor.
AcceleratorBrakeDead Pedal
Left foot on Dead Pedal, right foot pivots
1.
2.
3.
Where to Stop
The three legal stop positions:
1. Before the Stop Line, or
2. Before the Crosswalk, or
3. Before the Intersection
Four Braking Techniques
1. Release the Accelerator
Slows the vehicle by transferring weight to the front of the vehicle
2. Controlled BrakingSmooth, steady braking to bring the vehicle to a stop
Good Habits
• Check rear view and side view mirrors
• Apply smooth, steady, squeezing pressure on brake pedal
• Ease off brake few seconds before stopping for a smooth stop – curl toes back
3. Threshold BrakingSlows the vehicle quickly as possible without locking brakes or losing traction
Good Habits
• Release accelerator
• Keep heel on floor, apply steady, maximum brake pressure without lockup
• Release brake pressure few seconds before stopping for a smooth, non-jerky stop
• Check traffic to rear and sides
4. Trail BrakingUsed while turning to maintain balance and steering control
Good Habits
• As you enter the turn, ease off the brake and maintain slight braking pressure until half way through the turn, then accelerate out
• Some instructors teach their students to “coast the corners” at 15mph or less.
Coast the corner at around 15mph or less
Accelerate out of the turn
Use controlled braking prior to reaching the curve
Acceleration Techniques1. Progressive Acceleration:
To gradually gain speed
Move foot off the brake
With heel on floor, place foot over the accelerator pedal
Squeeze accelerator to gradually and progressively pick up speed from 2 mph to desired speed
Good Habits
Acceleration Techniques
2. Thrust Acceleration: For maximum speed increase without losing traction
Good Habits
• With heel on floor, firmly push accelerator to quickly pick up speed without traction loss
Being in control at all times is the only way to be a good driver!
