1) Preparing to Drive Your Vehicle
The drawbar or towing connection must:
1) Be strong enough to pull all towed weight; 2) Not be more than 15 feet long unless you are towing poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects that cannot be easily taken apart; and 3) Have a white flag at least 12 inches square attached to it if it is chain, rope, or cable.
What is the Required Equipment for your Vehicle?
1) Brakes 2) Low Beam Headlights 3) High Beam Headlights 4) Taillights 5) Brake lights 6) License Plate Light 7) Directional Signals 8) Horn 9) Mirrors 10) Windshield Wiper 11) Windshields 12) Side & Rear Windows 13) Tires
Equipment requirements for Pole trailer weighing more than 3,000 pounds:
1) EACH SIDE: one side marker lamp and one clearance lamp. 2) REAR: two reflectors, one at each side.
Equipment requirements for Trailer or semitrailer weighing more than 3,000 pounds:
1) FRONT: two clearance lamps, one at each side 2) EACH SIDE: two side marker lamps, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear. Two reflectors, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear. 3) REAR: two clearance lamps, one at each side, and two reflectors, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear. 4) Brakes that can be operated by the driver in the towing vehicle. They must be designed and connected so that they will automatically stop the trailer if it breaks away from the towing vehicle
Equipment requirements for Trailer, semitrailer or pole trailer weighing 3,000 pounds or less:
1) REAR: two reflectors, one at each side. 2) A brake light if the trailer or load blocks/hides the brake lights on the towing vehicle.
What equipment is NOT Permitted for your Vehicle?
1) Red lights visible from front or blue lights. For emergency/law enforcement vehicles only. 2) More than two spotlights, cowl or fender lights, fog lights, or other extra lights. 3) A siren, bell, or whistle. A very loud muffler (heard from more than 50 feet) or one that emits smoke. 4) Signs, posters, or stickers on the windshield or windows (except if required by law). 5) A "television-type receiver" that the driver can see. 6) Headsets/headphones worn by driver while operating a vehicle
Requirements from sunset to sunrise, and during any rain, smoke, or fog include:
1) Two red lamps on the back of the load that can be seen from at least 500 feet to the rear 2) Two red reflectors on the rear that can be seen from 100 to 600 feet when directly in front of low beam headlights, and located to show the load's full width; and/or 3) One red lamp on each side of the load, visible from at least 500 feet to show maximum overhang of load.
Before you start your engine what 6 things do you do?
1) be sure vehicle is in park or neutral. 2) adjust the seat so you can reach all controls. 3) adjust all rear-view mirrors so that you can use them without having to lean forward or backward. 4) move anything that blocks your view of mirrors or roadway. 5) lock all car doors. 6) put your seat belt on and make sure all passengers do the same
Passenger vehicles must not be driven on any highway with what?
A load extending beyond the fenders on the left side of the vehicle or extending more than 6 inches beyond the line of the fenders on the right side
Projecting Load
A load that extends beyond the sides of a vehicle and more than four feet or more beyond its rear must be clearly marked.
Directional Signals
Amber; or white (front) or red (rear). Visible from 500 feet.
Mirrors
At least one rear-view mirror with view 200 feet to the rear.
Why is it important to know if your vehicle has ABS?
Because it will affect the way you should stop in an emergency situation.
Owners of automobiles and pickup trucks are required to have what?
Both front and rear bumpers mounted within certain height levels.
Good Condition for Lights:
Check lights often, replace burned-out bulbs and keep lenses clean
Good Condition for Brakes:
Check to see that the pedal stays well above the floor when you step on it. If the car pulls to one side when you use the brakes or if you hear any scraping or squealing noises, your brakes may need to be repaired.
Also, these vehicles must only be operated during what hours?
Daylight hours unless equipped with the proper lights/reflectors required for night driving
Removing steady pressure from the brake pedal or pumping the brakes will do what?
Disengage or "turn off" the ABS.
The load must not be able to what?
Drop, shift, leak, or otherwise escape
You must use a close-fitting cover when what?
Hauling loads which could fall or blow onto the roadway (e.g., dirt, sand, gravel).
Horn
Heard from a distance of 200 feet.
Good Condition for Rear window:
If the rear window is covered by or treated with any material that makes it nontransparent, the vehicle must be equipped with side mirrors on both sides that allow the driver a view to the rear of at least 200 feet.
Windshield Wiper
In good working order to clear the driver's view.
Tampering will damage your vehicle and can cause what?
Increased air pollution, lower gas mileage, less vehicle efficiency, breathing difficulties
Good Condition for Tires:
Inspect often for proper inflation/tire pressure, even tread wear, and damage.
Why should you Read your vehicle owner's manual?
It is an excellent resource for information specific to your vehicle, such as: what types of fluids your car requires, what dashboard warning lights mean, what your car services intervals are, and more
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) You can determine if the vehicle has ABS by looking for a lighted ABS symbol on the dashboard right after starting the engine, checking the owner's manual, or asking the dealer.
It prevents skidding and allows drivers to steer during an emergency braking situation.
Good Condition for Windows and Windshields:
Keep the glass clean inside and out.
Every truck carrying logs or pulpwood must use what?
Lock chains to securely fasten the load.
During the day, red flags at least 18 inches square must what?
Mark the extremities of the load.
Side & Rear Windows
May not be composed of, covered by, or treated with any material which has a highly reflective or mirrored appearance and reflects more than 25% of the light (side windows) or more than 35% of the light (rear window).
Windshields
Must be safety glass and may not be covered or treated with any material that makes the windshield reflective or non-transparent. Must be free of any stickers not required by law.
You must not drive or move any loaded vehicle on the highway if the load is what?
Not secure
If the trailer or motor vehicle is transporting logs, pulpwood, poles, or posts that extend more than four feet beyond the rear of the load,nyou must have what?
One amber strobe-type lamp equipped so that the lamp is visible from the rear and both sides of the projecting load.
The lamp must be what?
Operational and seen any time of day or night.
Drivers with ABS need to do what?
Press down hard on the brake pedal, hold it, and steer out of danger.
Drivers with conventional brakes must do what?
Pump the brakes in order to stop in an emergency situation where traction is lost and the vehicle slides.
In an emergency situation, the ABS automatically does what?
Pumps the brakes at a faster rate than the driver could.
Tires
Should have a minimum tread of at least 3/32 of an inch or greater, and no worn spots showing the ply.
Low Beam Headlights
Show objects 150 feet ahead. Visible from 1,000 feet.
High Beam Headlights
Show objects 450 feet ahead. Visible from 1,000 feet.
Height limitations are governed by what?
The net shipping weight of the vehicle, not the modified or altered weight.
Farm vehicles designed for operation at speeds less than 25 MPH must display what?
This sign is on the rear when using public highways (not limited access/interstates).
Brakes
Two braking systems. Each must be able to stop the car alone. The parking or emergency brake should be strong enough to hold the car on any hill.
Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer must have what?
Two or more stop lamps (one stop lamp is permitted on vehicles built before January 1, 1972)
Brake lights
Two red brake lights. Visible from 300 feet in the daytime.
Taillights
Two red taillights. Visible from 1,000 feet.
ABS can help improve what?
Vehicle stability, steering ability, and stopping capability.
License Plate Light
White light that makes the license plate visible from 50 feet.
It is illegal to tamper with, remove, or cause not to work any pollution control device on what?
Your vehicle.
Cars < 2500 lbs.
front) 22 in rear) 22 in.
Trucks < 2000 lbs.
front) 24 in rear) 26 in.
Cars 2500-3499 lbs.
front) 24 in. rear) 26 in.
Cars ≥ 3500 lbs.
front) 27 in rear) 29 in.
Trucks 2000-3000 lbs.
front) 27 in rear) 29 in.
Trucks 3000-5000 lbs.
front) 28 in rear) 30 in.
