Chapter 4 – Traffic Laws

Rules of the Road

I. Passenger Safety Laws

A. Safety Belt Law – Seat belts must be worn by all drivers and front seat passengers 8 years of age and older.

1. Responsibility of the driver to see that all front seat passengers 8-16 obey the law.

2. Drivers under age 18 are required to limit passengers to 1 in the front seat and the number of seat belts in the back seat. They must all be wearing their seat belts.

B. Proper Adjustment of Seat Belt

1. Lap belt – should be worn across the hips, not across the stomach.

2. Shoulder Strap – across the chest not under the arm or behind the back

C. Child Passenger Protection Act

Requires the use of a safety restraint system for ages 16 and under.

1. Children under the age of 8 must be properly secured in an approved restraint system, a booster seat, or if over 40lbs a seat belt.

2. Any person transporting a child under 16 is responsible for a child’s safety.

3. Avoid putting a car seat in the front seat if your vehicle has a passenger side air bag.

*Pictures at bottom of page 14 in workbook

II. Speed Laws

The maximum speed limits apply only during good weather, visibility, road and traffic conditions.

A. Rural (country) interstates (I57) 65 MPH

B. City Interstates (expressways) 55 MPHC. Rural Roads 55 MPHD. City and Town Roads 30 MPHE. School Zones 20 MPH

A. 7am-4pm fine = $150F. Alleys 15 MPH

III. Right of Way Laws

Tells all drivers who goes first in different situations.

A. A driver must yield:

1. When there is a sign telling you to

A. StopB. YieldC. Merge

2. 4-way stop intersection

A. First car to stop is the first to go

B. If two drivers arrive at the same time, yield to the driver on the right

3. Unmarked intersection

A. Driver on the left must yield to the driver on right

4. To oncoming traffic when making a left-hand turn

A. If your enter an intersection when the light is green, you may finish your turn even though the light turns red.

Right of Way Laws Cont’d

5. When pulling out of an alley, building, private road, or driveway.

a. You must stop before the crosswalk

6. After the light turns greena. Yield to other vehicles still in the intersection

7. At a “T” Intersectiona. Yield to cross traffic when on terminating road

Right of Way Laws cont’d8. To police and emergency vehiclesa. When using sirens or flashing lights – pull to the right edge of the roadway

9. To any authorized vehicles engaged in construction or maintenance of a highway.a. When using yellow oscillating lights

10. When a funeral procession enters an intersection with its lights ona. Lead vehicle must obey all signs and signals

*the right-of-way is something that is given, not taken in order to avoid an accident.

IV. Pedestrian Right of Way

A. Drivers must yield to people:1. At a stop sign or a red light2. In a marked or unmarked crosswalk3. When making a turn at any intersection4. Who enter the intersection before the traffic

light changed5. When entering or leaving a street from any

alley, building, private road, or driveway6. Working on highway construction/maintenance7. With physical disabilities (deaf/blind)8. Operating motorized wheel chairs

Right of Way Quiz #3

Hand out Quiz Answer Sheet as students come into class

Open Quiz#3 Right of Way ppt.

Have students exchange quizzes and grade each others

V. Passing

You should not cut back into the right hand lane until you can see the headlights of the vehicle you passed in your rearview mirror.

A. NO Passing Zones

1. In an area marked with a solid yellow line or a no passing zone sign.

2. On a hill

3. Around a curve

4. Within 100’ of an intersection, bridge, RR xing, tunnel or viaduct

5. In any school zone

6. When a school bus has stopped for students.

B. You may not pass on the right but not on the shoulder

1. When the car ahead is turning left & you have room

2. On a multi-lane street

3. At an intersection widened for this purpose

VI. Signaling

A. Business/Residential Area100’

B. All Other Areas:200’

VII. Special Stops

A. Alleys and Driveways: You must come to a complete stop before the marked or unmarked crosswalk.

B. Railroad crossings: If the signal is flashing you must stop within 50’ to 15’ of the nearest rail. Fine $500, 50 hrs community service.

C. School Bus Stop: You must stop when a school bus is stopped on a two-lane highway and its red warning lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended.

1. Fine: 1st offense – 90 day suspension plus $150 fine2nd Offense within 5 years – 1 year suspension plus

$500 fine.

VII. Parking

A. Hill Parking1. Uphill with curb: Wheels away from curb (left)2. Downhill with curb: Wheels toward curb (right)3. Uphill/downhill without a curb: Turn the front

wheels toward the side of the road (right)

B. Parallel Parking

On streets with two-way traffic, park so that the right side wheels are parallel to and within 12” to the curb.

1. Vehicles must be parked in the direction in which traffic is moving

C. Accessible Parking

Vehicles that display license plates or tags for people with disabilities may park in spaces reserved by a handicap sign.

*the person with the disability must be present

D. Parking is Illegal

1. On the roadway side of a parked vehicle double parking

2. In a crosswalk or sidewalk

3. In front of a driveway

4. Within 30’ of a stop sign

5. Within 15’ of a fire hydrant

6. On a bridge, overpass, or railroad track

IX. Additional Laws

A. Do NOT:A. Open doors on the side of a vehicle which traffic is

moving unless it can be done safely. B. wear a headset while driving, single sided earpiece is

okC. Operate a sound system heard 75’ or more from

vehicleD. Place a television set that can be seen by driverE. Ride in a house trailerF. Drive onto a R.R. xing, enter an intersection unless

there is enough space to allow passage of other vehicles, pedestrians or trains.

Picture on pg. 20 What has car 3 done wrong? What has car 1 don’t right?

X. Cell Phone Laws

A. TEXTING is illegal while operating a motor vehicle.

B. Using a Cell phone is illegal in the following places.

1. In a construction zone

2. In a school zone3. In the city of

Chicago

AT&T Texting and driving 10min

British ad 5 min

Homework

Read Chapter 4 Rules of the Road

Complete chapter 4 study questions on p. 33-34

Write out the questions and the answer!