Unit 2: Introducing Right-of-Way
You must also yield to a pedestrian when: *The pedestrian wishes to cross and there is no traffic control signal in place or in operation *The pedestrian is already on or nearing the part of the roadway you wish to use A pedestrian is infinitely more vulnerable to a car than a car is to a pedestrian, so let pedestrians pass even when you believe you have the right-of-way.
Always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, regardless of who's in the right. People have a tendency to jaywalk or dart into the road without looking, especially when they are jogging, in a hurry, or out in bad weather. Stop to protect the safety of anyone crossing the street on foot. You may face significant penalties for failing to yield to a pedestrian. Worse, you may seriously injure or even kill someone.
There are two basic kinds of intersections: *At controlled intersections, traffic flow is managed by posted traffic control devices such as stop signs, yield signs, and traffic lights. These devices identify which drivers at an intersection should yield the right-of-way. *At uncontrolled intersections, there are no traffic control devices and drivers must follow standard right-of-way rules. Uncontrolled intersections are usually found in residential areas and others places with light traffic.
As you approach an intersection, begin to evaluate the situation and make any adjustments that are required to complete your desired maneuvers safely. Look out for: *The presence of traffic control devices guiding traffic *The condition of the road ahead of you *Obstructions to your line-of-sight that may conceal potential hazards *The areas to your left and right—are they open and clear? *Other traffic to your front and rear
Your car should remain parallel to the curb as you near the intersection. Even if it seems like the intersection is clear and there are no posted traffic control devices directing you to stop, you should slow down and be prepared to stop: a car approaching the intersection from another direction may be concealed by a corner or other obstruction. Ease off the accelerator pedal as you prepare to enter the intersection. Yield to anyone who is already in the intersection or who is close enough to be an immediate hazard.
As you approach an intersection, the primary source of potential problems will be the traffic in front of you. Any time anything in front of you indicates that you may need to adjust your speed or position, you should check to the rear of your vehicle for to make sure that you have the space to safely slow down or stop if necessary.
At some intersections, stop signs will control one direction of traffic (e.g. north-south or east-west), while the other direction will be uncontrolled. In such situations, a driver facing a stop sign (or similar traffic control device) must yield until the intersection is clear of the traffic moving in the uncontrolled direction. If you're driving on the road that is not controlled by a device, be careful as you pass through the intersection. A driver moving on the other road may fail to yield the right-of-way to you.
At a stop sign, you must stop in the designated area even if you have been waiting behind another car or other cars stopped at the intersection. It is not enough to bring your car to a stop behind another vehicle. When the vehicle ahead of you starts crossing the intersection, don't follow. You must stop again before you can proceed.
Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all crosswalks whether or not they are marked. Drivers must take all necessary precautions to avoid injuring or endangering a pedestrian crossing or trying to cross the street. Drive especially cautiously when you observe a child or a confused or incapacitated person on the roadway.
At intersections, bring your vehicle to a full stop. If it is necessary to give a warning to a pedestrian, tap your horn. Try to make eye contact with the pedestrian so that he or she is aware of your presence and knows that you have seen him or her.
The Yellow Circular Advance Warning sign warns drivers that railroad tracks are ahead. It reminds the driver to slow down, look and listen for a train, and be prepared to stop if a train is approaching. Pavement markings on paved roads near the Yellow Circular Advance Warning sign also alert drivers that the road crosses railroad tracks ahead.
At railroad crossings, trains always have the right-of-way. A train can cross whenever it wants. You must always yield to a train.
Make Sure Maneuvers Can Be Executed Safely Before you attempt to execute any driving maneuver, you must always check the road to make sure that the maneuver can be completed safely.
Always Back Up Safely You may only back up your vehicle if you can do so safely without interfering with other traffic. When driving on the shoulder of the roadway or on a limited- or controlled-access highway, you may not back up.
Never stop inside a crosswalk. Stopping inside a crosswalk prevents pedestrians from crossing safely and makes crossing especially dangerous for blind pedestrians. It is also a right-of-way violation. In addition, when entering or exiting a parking lot or driveway, you must yield to pedestrians before driving on or over the sidewalk.
Be attentive for other drivers who have stopped to yield to a pedestrian. Stop and do not pass until the pedestrian has cleared the road and the other driver has proceeded.
If you violate right-of-way rules concerning school buses, you may be fined between $500 and $1,250 for a first offense. For a second offense, you may be fined up to $2,000 and receive a 6-month license suspension. You will face more significant charges if you cause serious injury or if you have previously been convicted of causing injury to another.
Drive especially cautiously when crossing railroad tracks. There are more miles of railroad track in Texas than in any other state in the nation. Texas also has more collisions between cars and trains than anywhere else. In 2012, there were a total of 1,970 incidents involving a train and a motor vehicle in the United States, causing 232 deaths and 941 injuries. In Texas, there were 228 such incidents, causing 34 deaths and 123 injuries.
Prima Facie Speed Limits While the Basic Speed Rule states that you always must drive at a reasonable and prudent speed, your speed should never exceed the posted speed limit or the prima facie speed limit. Prima facie speed limits are in effect whenever there is no other speed posted. *15 mph in an alley or on a beach *30 mph in an urban residential district *60 mph on non-numbered roadways outside of an urban area *70 mph on numbered highways and farm-to-market roads These speed limits are in effect at all times of day, replacing the separate day- and night-time limits that formerly were in effect.
Drive on the Right Always drive on the right side of the road unless: *You are passing another vehicle *You need to move left to avoid an obstruction: if you do this, you must yield to any vehicle in the lane you are using to avoid the obstruction, if the vehicle is close enough to present a hazard *You are driving on a multi-lane roadway or a one-way roadway
It can be especially difficult to merge with the flow of traffic when you're trying to enter or exit an expressway or other limited-access highway. This difficulty is because traffic moves much faster on the expressway than it does on other roadways. When entering an expressway, yield to traffic already on it, as slower traffic should yield to faster traffic. You can avoid conflicts by paying attention to traffic on the road and planning ahead.
A traffic circle is a circular intersection where vehicles travel counter-clockwise around a raised center island. Traffic circles are also known as roundabouts. Typically, vehicles entering a traffic circle will see a yield sign, but traffic on the circle itself will not be controlled by signs or traffic signals. Watch for pedestrians and bicyclists as you enter a traffic circle.
No one has an automatic right to proceed and no one can "take" the right-of-way from someone else. A driver only has the right-of-way when it is granted to them by the other driver.
Although specific right-of-way rules apply in particular situations, there is one specific right-of-way principle that you must always follow: You must yield the right-of-way to avoid a collision. Failure to yield is among the top causes of motor vehicle collisions in Texas. If a collision results from your failure to yield the right-of-way, you may be held liable even if the law specifies that the other driver should have yielded.
There will always be some people who act carelessly and recklessly on the road. Even the best drivers can have a bad day and make mistakes. Not even a strict system of traffic laws can ensure that all drivers will act appropriately at all times. Never assume that another driver will yield the right-of-way. If you insist on taking the right-of-way, you gamble with your life, as well as the lives of your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians.
Be prepared for other drivers' mistakes by maintaining a considerate and courteous attitude on the road. Courtesy improves the interaction between drivers and keeps traffic moving. Millions of people are able to use Texas roads every day because drivers generally abide by the rules of the road and maintain a respectful attitude towards each other. When everyone drives appropriately, it's easier for each driver to focus on his or her own driving. This keeps traffic moving in an orderly and efficient manner.
Make sure you are in the appropriate lane position for the maneuver you are planning to complete. You should be in the center of the lane if you plan to proceed straight ahead. You should be closer to the right edge of the lane if you're planning to turn right, and closer to the left edge of the lane if you're planning to turn left.
Before you enter an intersection, estimate how long it will take you to drive across it or complete a turn. From a stopped position, it usually takes about four seconds to cross a street that's 24 to 30 ft wide. You will need at least a five- to six-second gap (about half a block) in both directions in order to cross safely. Search to the left, center, right, and left again before entering the intersection. If there are no changes or potential risks in your line of sight, apply pressure to the accelerator and enter the intersection.
On roads where there are no sidewalks, pedestrians are required to walk on the extreme left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. In this position, they are most likely to be noticed by passing drivers. If you encounter a pedestrian walking on the edge of the road, slow down and exercise caution until you have passed the pedestrian.
Children Always watch carefully for children. Children are unpredictable, small, and difficult to see. Children also may have poor judgment, and might not understand the consequences of their actions. Children also don't have any knowledge of traffic rules and may expect drivers to accommodate them or not even realize that drivers may be using the roadway. If you see a child run into the roadway while driving, it is your responsibility to keep him or her safe.
Some of the most important right-of-way rules concern pedestrians. Dealing with pedestrians requires drivers to be especially cautious because there is no training required to be a pedestrian. Many pedestrians do not drive, and may not understand the characteristics of motor vehicles or the reflexes that a driver must develop. They may not know traffic rules and signals, or they may disregard them.
Drivers have a responsibility to share the road with pedestrians in a safe manner. When a pedestrian is hit in a collision, the potential for injury is much greater. To a pedestrian, your car can be an especially deadly weapon. According to the NHTSA, 4,432 pedestrians were killed in 2011 in a motor vehicle collision. This was 14% of all motor vehicle deaths! Based on these statistics, a pedestrian was killed in a traffic collision at an average rate of once every two hours. In Texas, 421 pedestrians were killed in 2011.
Blind Pedestrians Be alert for pedestrians guided by a guide dog or carrying a white cane. A white cane indicates the person may be blind, partially blind, or disabled. If you do not yield to a blind or handicapped pedestrian, you are guilty of a misdemeanor. When driving near bus stops, intersections, business areas, and schools for the blind, and when turning corners or backing up, make sure you check for the presence of blind pedestrians.
Drivers should help blind pedestrians safely cross the street by following these guidelines: *When your car is stopped at a crosswalk, remember that blind pedestrians use the sound of your car engine as a guide. Drivers of silent (electric and hybrid) vehicles should be especially cautious. *Never give any verbal directions to or honk your horn at blind pedestrians. It is their right to decide when to cross the street: it is your responsibility to give them right-of-way. *When you see a blind person pulling in his or her cane and stepping away from the crosswalk, this usually means you may go. Don't wait too long, but proceed with caution.
Most right-of-way laws apply to intersections. An intersection is the common area at the junction of two roads or highways. Because large numbers of vehicles meet and interact at intersections, they are among the most dangerous areas of the HTS. The common area of an intersection needs to be shared legally and safely. Always remember that right-of-way rules apply to all traffic, including motorcycles and bicycles.
Driving in an intersection can be dangerous because moving into a gap in traffic and crossing a stream of traffic through a gap are two of the most dangerous maneuvers in everyday driving. You will have to be able to judge the speed and the position of other vehicles and scan the road far ahead of you to select the most safest and efficient path of travel.
Drive cautiously in all residential areas. Drive even more cautiously whenever you drive near playgrounds, schools, the side of the road, or any other areas where children may play in the street. Be aware that, in general, the speed limit in a school zone is at least 15 mph lower than normal posted limits. School zone speed limits are never higher than 35 mph.
Elderly Pedestrians Exercise caution when driving around elderly and physically disabled pedestrians. These individuals make decisions more slowly, walk more slowly, and take more time to cross the street. Avoid honking your horn or revving your engine when dealing with these pedestrians. These noises can be distracting and could potentially startle them.
When you see a train coming, its large size and the angle of its approach can fool you into thinking that you have plenty of time to cross the tracks. In fact, the train is closer and moving faster than it appears. Don't let yourself fall for the illusion—it could cost you your life. Never try to race a train to a crossing or drive around lowered gates. Proceed only if you are sure you can cross completely without stopping and if there is enough room for your car on the other side of the tracks.
Even after a train has passed, always watch for trains on the other tracks or another train on the same track. Freight trains do not follow set schedules, so you should always expect a train unless the signals indicate that it is safe to proceed. Be especially cautious at crossings with multiple tracks. A small tab on the crossbuck sign will indicate the number of tracks at the crossing. Before proceeding, make sure that the tracks in both directions are clear of trains.
*If two cars both wish to enter the same intersection and neither of them is directed by a traffic control device such as a stop sign or yield sign, the car that arrived later must yield to the car that arrived first. *If both cars arrived at the intersection at the same time, the car on the left must yield to the car on the right.
Even when you're approaching an uncontrolled intersection and there are no cars on your right, don't forget to look for cars on your left. Your right-of-way is not automatic and cannot be forced even when you are on the right of another car. Always make sure that the driver on the left yields to you before proceeding. Safety is your first priority.
As the emergency vehicle approaches, pay attention to its actions and be sure to avoid taking any action that could impede its progress. Do not stop or park your vehicle in a place that would delay or prevent the vehicle from reaching its destination.
If an emergency vehicle approaches you while you're stopped at an intersection, use your rearview mirror to assess the vehicle's position and speed. *If the emergency vehicle is approaching in your lane, you should check traffic and safely move over to clear its path. *If the emergency vehicle is not in your lane, remain standing until it has passed.
Green Traffic Lights At a green light, you may proceed straight ahead or make a right or left turn unless the turn is prohibited by another signal or sign or it is unsafe to enter.Green Traffic Lights At a green light, you may proceed straight ahead or make a right or left turn unless the turn is prohibited by another signal or sign or it is unsafe to enter.
If you are facing a green arrow signal and preparing to turn in the direction of the arrow, proceed cautiously into the intersection before making the turn. Do not proceed on a green arrow if you are planning to proceed straight ahead.
It is extremely dangerous to stop your car on the railroad tracks. If you are driving a car with a standard transmission, you should not even attempt to shift gears while crossing over railroad tracks. If you try to shift, you may stall your vehicle. Stalling on a railroad track could have deadly consequences.
If your car stalls or stops on railroad tracks and you cannot get it to start, get out! Try to push it off the tracks or get help if there is no train approaching. If a train is coming, run away from the tracks in the direction that the train is coming from—otherwise, you may be hit by debris produced in the collision. Protect yourself and your passengers. By the time the train conductor sees your car, he or she will not have enough time to stop the train.
*If you wish to proceed straight ahead, drive in the left (inside) lane during your approach, and in the right (outside) lane of the traffic circle itself. Enter the road on the other side of the circle in the left lane. *If you wish to turn left, drive in the left lane during your approach. Enter the traffic circle in the left (inside) lane. Drive on the left until you have gone around more than half of the circle. Move to the right, and enter the road heading to the left when it is safe.
In addition to right-of-way rules that apply when two or more road users wish to occupy the same space on the road, there are special right-of-way rules that concern specific kinds of road users. Road users that are protected by special right-of-way rules include: *Pedestrians *Emergency vehicles *School buses
There are certain right-of-way rules you must follow whenever you are changing lanes or merging with other traffic. Like dealing with intersections, merging can be dangerous because it involves multiple drivers wishing to use the same area of the road. The most important thing you should remember about changing lanes is that whenever you want to change lanes you must yield to traffic already in that lane.
In general, when two vehicles wish to occupy the same space on a roadway, the vehicle on the right should yield to the vehicle on the left. In lane change situations, this is because the vehicle moving from the faster lane should have the right-of-way, and because cars moving across the roadway from the left may need to get to an exit on the right side of the roadway. We will discuss procedures for safe lane changes more in later lessons.
If you arrive at a red light and you intend to turn, first yield to all traffic and pedestrians using the intersection. Once the intersection is free of traffic that might interfere with your movement, you may: *Turn right (unless a "No Right on Red" sign is posted) *Turn left if both roads are one-way and it is possible to make a left turn
Inactive Traffic Lights At any traffic signal that is inoperative, each driver must stop before proceeding. The same right-of-way rules that would apply at a stop sign apply when a traffic signal at an intersection is inactive.
You must stop at least 15 ft and no more than 50 ft from the nearest rail whenever: *A lowered crossing gate or flashing signal indicates that a train is coming *You can see a train approaching the crossing or hear an audible signal emitted by a train within 1500 ft of the crossing *You must stop to comply with a legal requirement or posted traffic control device You must remain stopped until it is safe for you to proceed.
Never assume that if there are no signals indicating that a train is coming, it is safe to proceed. While 30% to 35% of crossings in Texas use flashing signals, bells, crossing gates, or even a flagman depending on the circumstances, the majority of crossings only have a crossbuck sign posted.
Obey all traffic control devices posted at the intersection (unless you are given different directions by a police or traffic officer) and yield to any road users already in the intersection. At an uncontrolled intersection, check for traffic and proceed if the intersection can be entered safely and without any interference from traffic that is using a different street or roadway.
Often, two vehicles approaching from different directions will need to use the same intersection. In many cases, both vehicles will not be able to complete their maneuvers safely at the same time. There are two general principles that drivers must follow to make this situation safe for all roadway users. *First in, first out *Yield to the right
Drivers preparing to enter a traffic circle must yield to traffic continuing through the circle and to traffic exiting the circle. If the traffic circle uses more than one lane, drivers on the outside of the circle should yield to drivers on the inside of the circle, unless they are directed otherwise by a sign or traffic signal. If you miss your exit, continue around until you reach it again.
On roundabouts, you should generally drive between 15 mph and 25 mph. Always travel through a roundabout to the right, along a counter-clockwise path. Never stop while driving through a roundabout. If the roundabout uses more than one lane, drivers on the outside of the circle should yield to drivers on the inside of the circle. Do not attempt to pass another vehicle while using a roundabout. Before leaving the roundabout, activate your turn signal. If you miss your exit, continue around until you reach it again.
For the safety of children: *Never hold a child in your lap. In a crash, the child may be crushed between your body and the dashboard. *It is unsafe to leave children unattended in a vehicle. *Parents, legal guardians, or other persons responsible for a child may be criminally charged under existing child endangerment laws. *It is illegal to transport anyone under 16 in the bed of a pickup truck, except during a parade or when travelling from one area of a farm to another.
One of the most important concepts you must understand as a driver is right-of-way. Right-of-way rules generally apply when two or more drivers wish to occupy the same space on the road. Right-of-way rules specify which driver has the privilege to use the roadway immediately, and which driver should yield to allow the other driver to proceed. A safe driving environment requires all road users to respect the right-of-way of others.
Unpaved Roads When an unpaved road intersects with a paved road, a driver on the unpaved road must yield to traffic on the paved road.
Private Roads and Driveways *A driver exiting an alley, building, driveway, private road, or private property must stop prior to the sidewalk or edge of the road to yield to all vehicles and pedestrians that constitute an immediate hazard. *If you are planning to turn into a driveway that is located immediately after the intersection, you should wait until you enter the intersection to start signaling so other traffic doesn't assume you're planning to turn at the intersection.
Yellow Traffic Lights A yellow traffic signal will warn you that the red light is about to be activated. A yellow traffic signal ends the period of movement authorized by the green light. When approaching a yellow traffic signal, you should stop. When the yellow signal is lit, only proceed across the intersection if you have passed the point of no return and are unable to safely bring your car to a stop before reaching the intersection.
Red Traffic Lights At a red light, you must stop. If you are not turning, you remain where you are until the signal changes, allowing you to proceed. When the red light is solid, all traffic waiting may proceed when the light turns green. However, when the red light is flashing, traffic may proceed only one car at a time according to the same rules that apply at a stop sign.
You must yield the right-of-way to any emergency vehicle (police car, fire truck, or ambulance) that has its lights flashing, its siren blaring, or both. The drivers of these vehicles are responding to an emergency. Their ability to get to their destination as quickly as possible could literally mean the difference between life and death. You should do everything you can to cooperate with these drivers.
Remain standing until the vehicle has passed. After the vehicle has passed, maintain a following distance of at least 500 ft from the emergency vehicle.
What if another driver violates the law and ignores your legal right-of-way? Should you teach this driver a lesson? Forget about it. It is not your job to enforce the law or teach others how to drive. Your primary concern should always be reducing the risk of a collision. Even if you are upset about another driver's discourtesy and breach of the law, you should let him or her proceed for the sake of safety. Courtesy and common sense should always govern your actions.
Right-of-way rules prevail on all public roads. However, you must not drive on or through private property in order to avoid compliance with right-of-way rules or a posted, official traffic control device.
The Texas Transportation Code defines right-of-way as: The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian that is approaching from a direction, at a speed, and within a proximity that could cause a collision unless one grants precedence to the other
Right-of-way rules typically apply at intersections, when merging, when dealing with certain other road users, and at railroad crossings. These rules apply any time two cars may want to be in the same place at the same time. However, these rules do not grant right-of-way to a particular driver in a given situation. Instead, right-of-way rules specify which road user must yield the right-of-way to allow others to proceed.
Rules for Using Shoulders on the Right In general, you should not drive on the shoulder of the road. However, you may drive on a paved shoulder to the right of the roadway if you must do so and can do so safely in order to: *Stop, stand, or park *Accelerate to enter the flow of traffic *Decelerate before making a turn *Pass another vehicle that is slowing, stopped, disabled, or preparing to turn left *Allow another vehicle or vehicles to pass *Avoid a collision *Make room for an emergency vehicle, police patrol car, or bicycle *Obey a traffic control device
Rules for Using Shoulders on the Left For the most part, if you need to drive on a shoulder you should use the right shoulder. The left shoulder is not intended to be used by drivers in normal circumstances. However, you may drive on a paved shoulder to the left of the roadway if you must do so and can do so safely in order to: *Slow or stop a disabled vehicle when traffic or other circumstances prohibit you from moving to the right shoulder safely *Avoid a collision *Make room for an emergency vehicle, police patrol car, or bicycle *Obey a traffic control device
Always drive cautiously around school buses. According to the NHTSA, an average of 17 school-age children die each year in collisions involving a school bus or other vehicle used to transport students. Whenever you are driving anywhere that children may be, and any time children or school buses are visible, slow down and pay careful attention to activity on the sidewalk and the road ahead of you.
School buses use overhead lights to communicate with drivers ahead of and following them. *Overhead yellow lights will flash when the school bus is still moving but preparing to stop. *Overhead red lights will flash when the school bus is stopped to let school children on or off the bus. Be aware that outside urban areas, school buses are limited to 50 mph, or 60 mph on numbered highways if they've passed a commercial vehicle inspection.
Obey All Traffic Control Devices Obey all official traffic control devices, including signs, signals, and pavement markings, unless you are directed to do something else by a traffic or police officer or are operating an emergency vehicle.
Signal Your Intentions Always communicate your intention to turn, change lanes, or start from a parked position by activating your turn signal. When making a left or right turn, be sure to signal continuously for at least 100 ft before reaching the intersection or the place where you're planning to make the turn. When your car is parked or disabled, you should not use your turn signals to indicate to other motorists that they should not pass.
Sometimes, two cars will approach the same intersection from opposite directions, but one of them will want to turn left. This would prohibit the other car from continuing through the intersection if they both attempted to proceed at the same time. A driver turning left at an intersection (or into an alley, private road, or driveway) must yield to allow any traffic moving straight ahead to proceed before beginning the turn.
Single- and Two-Lane Roads At certain kinds of intersections, special rules govern who should yield the right-of-way. When a single- or two-lane road intersects with a divided roadway or a roadway with three or more lanes, a driver on the single- or two-lane road must yield to the traffic on the wider roadway.
Keep To the Right When Driving Slowly If you need to drive slower than the rate of traffic, you must drive in the right-hand lane or as close to the right curb as possible unless you are: *Passing another vehicle *Preparing to turn left at an intersection or into a private road or driveway
Stay on the Right of the Center Line When you're driving on a road with two or more lanes of traffic moving in each direction, you should never drive to the left of the center line (into the side of the road with traffic moving in the opposite direction). The only exceptions are situations in which: *A traffic control device designates that you can use a specified lane to the left of the center line, such as a left turn lane *You need to avoid an obstruction and can only do it by moving left after yielding to any vehicle in the lane that presents an immediate hazard *You are turning left into or out of an alley, private road, or driveway
A number of basic traffic laws are listed in the Texas Transportation Code (TRC). These laws must always be obeyed, even when you may believe that it is safe to ignore them. The law is the law. There's no room for you to impose your judgment or interpretations onto behavior on the roads. You must obey the speed limit because it is the law, regardless of whether you believe you are skilled or experienced enough to disregard it.
The Basic Speed Rule The Basic Speed Rule in Texas states that: An operator may not drive at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing. You must drive at a speed that is appropriate for the speed and volume of traffic, the width and surface condition of the highway, weather conditions, and any other actual or potential hazards on the road. You must be able to stop within the clear space ahead of your car.
The Move Over Law requires drivers to exercise particular caution as they pass a stopped emergency vehicle with activated lights. When you are driving on a road with multiple lanes, you must move out of the lane closest to the stopped emergency vehicle. If the road only has one lane, slow down. Drive no faster than 20 mph below the speed limit (or to 5 mph if the speed limit is 25 mph or less).
The Move Over Law initially applied only to emergency vehicles like police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances. However, the protections of this law have been extended to other road users as well. The Move Over Law now applies to tow trucks and TxDOT vehicles with flashing lights stopped on the side of the road. You must also move over for a TxDOT work crew stationed on the roadside to perform maintenance. When approaching any road user protected by this law, you must vacate the lane closest to them if there are multiple lanes travelling in the same direction. If there are not multiple lanes in the same direction, slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit (or 5 mph if the speed limit is 25 mph or less). Violators of the Move Over Law can be fined up to $2,000.
A typical locomotive weighs approximately 400,000 pounds—that's 200 tons. When 100 railcars are added to the locomotive, the train can weigh approximately 6,000 tons. The ratio of the weight of a train to the weight of a car is proportional to the ratio of the weight of a car and the weight of a soda can.
The immense size and weight of trains means that they simply cannot stop quickly. It is a matter of physics: the huge weight, size, and speed of a train dictate how quickly it can stop under ideal conditions. A 100-car freight train travelling at 55 mph will need more than a mile to stop—that's approximately 18 football fields—once the train is set into emergency braking.
Ever since there have been cars on the road, there has been the problem of traffic. Who should have priority on the road? How do we make sure that the rights—and physical health—of everyone on the road are as protected as possible? When two cars seek to proceed in incompatible ways, who has the right-of-way? While cars were not mass-produced in America until the beginning of the 20th century, by 1903 traffic in major cities such as New York had gotten so bad that traffic fatalities had already become daily occurrences, prompting William Phelps Eno to publish a book called The Rules of the Road that defined a traffic code for New York City. Before this time, the only real traffic law was "Keep to the Right."
There are traffic laws governing the speed you must travel at, the maneuvers you may make on the road, and the things you may (and may not) do behind the wheel. There are traffic laws that change depending on the time of day or the time of year. If you haven't thought things through, it may sometimes seem like there are too many traffic laws. After all, you might think, there are many other human activities where thousands of people must work in coordination, but these are rarely as regulated as driving. You might even conclude that ignoring one law occasionally won't be that bad. But you'd be wrong: dead wrong.
The reason you must follow each and every traffic law is simple: a motor vehicle is a deadly weapon. Controlling a motor vehicle is a more complex task than many you will do, and the consequences of a single mistake can be much more severe than the consequences would be in most circumstances. Indeed, one reason that penalties for traffic violations are so severe is to provide drivers with obvious incentives to avoid behaviors that will put other drivers at risk.
When driving, you are always surrounded by other road users. Drivers. Pedestrians. Bicyclists and motorcyclists—they're everywhere! They are present even when out of your direct view, concealed by your car's blind spots, hard to see from your position in the driver's seat, or obscured by other obstacles. Be ready to share the road. Traffic laws exist so that all these road users can share the road in a safe and responsible manner.
Maintain a Safe Following Distance Whenever you're driving behind another vehicle, you should maintain a reasonable, prudent, and clear distance from the car you're following. To determine a safe following distance, you should always account for your speed, the size, speed, number, and location of other vehicles on the road, and current road and weather conditions.
When following another vehicle, you must be able to stop without colliding with or steering into another vehicle, object, or person on or near the roadway. Truckers, drivers towing trailers, and drivers in a motorcade or caravan must leave sufficient space so that other road users have room to pass. The concept of following distance will be discussed at length in future lessons.
When driving behind a school bus that is stopped or preparing to stop, you must also stop. Additionally, you must stop for a school bus that is stopped ahead of you on the opposite side of the road, unless: *The road is divided by a median *The road is a controlled access highway where pedestrians are not allowed to cross Always stop at least 20 ft from the position of the school bus.
When stopped for a school bus, remain standing as long as the lights are flashing, as school children are getting on or off the bus. Often, this will also be indicated by a stop sign displayed near the front of the bus. You may proceed once the bus deactivates the signals and resumes motion, or if the driver signals that you may proceed.
T-Intersections When the road you're driving on ends at the road it intersects with, it is known as a T-intersection. A driver on the road that ends must yield to traffic in or approaching the intersection along the continuing road and proceed only when he or she can enter the intersection without colliding with traffic.
When traffic control devices like signals and stop and yield signs are posted, right-of-way is determined by the device. Most intersections employ some kind of traffic control device. However, remember that no sign or signal allows you to enter or cross an intersection until you are sure there is no risk of collision. If you have any doubt, don't proceed.
Passing is prohibited as you approach a railroad crossing. If another car is stopped at a railroad crossing, the law and common sense both tell you to stop until the car ahead of you proceeds. Buses, school buses, and vehicles carrying hazardous material are required to stop at railroad tracks even when no train is approaching. If you are driving behind one of these vehicles, be prepared to stop.
When you approach a crossing, slow down, open your windows, and listen for a train, as trains must signal 1500 ft before they arrive at a crossing. Scan the area around the tracks and drive especially cautiously if your line of sight is obstructed.
Without right-of-way laws, how would you know if it was safe to proceed when you arrived at an intersection? How would you be able to predict what other drivers were going to do? By making sure that all drivers follow the same set of rules and know to respond to a given situation in the same way, traffic laws ensure that all drivers have a common understanding of how they should act on the road. This is why we are able to drive with confidence that another driver isn't about to do something unexpected.
Whenever two road users wish to occupy the same part of the roadway, Texas law specifies the order they should proceed by identifying which driver should yield the right-of-way. Keep in mind that the law never assigns the right-of-way to a particular road user, but instead indicates which road user is required to yield. The most important thing to remember about right-of-way is that it is safer to yield it than to use it. If another driver is not following the rules, let him or her have the right-of-way, even if it is rightfully yours.
To avoid rear-end collisions as you approach an intersection, you must communicate your intention to either stop or slow down to other drivers around you. When you make the decision to begin slowing down or stopping, either tap your brakes to flash your brake lights, show a hand signal, or use your turn signals to inform the driver behind that you are slowing down.
Whenever you must stop or yield to other traffic, stop completely before you enter the crosswalk. There may be a wide white line painted on the street (a "limit line") rather than the edge of the crosswalk. This line indicates where you must stop. When a crosswalk or limit line is not marked, stop at the corner before the curb line. Check for traffic, and wait until it is safe before you proceed across the intersection.
Four-way Stop Signs At many intersections, traffic moving in all four directions will be controlled by stop signs. The rules for intersections with four-way stop signs are the same as those that apply at uncontrolled intersections: *The car that arrived later must yield to the car that arrived first. *If both cars arrived at the intersection at the same time, the car on the left must yield to the car on the right.
Yield Signs When you approach an intersection that is controlled by a yield sign, drive slowly enough that you will be able to stop if necessary. If any road user is in the intersection or approaching from another road and close enough to endanger you if you enter the intersection, yield the right-of-way until the intersection is clear.
