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How well do you really know your rules of the road? We’ve all had to pass our driving tests to get behind the wheel. But when you’re zipping down the road, how much do you actually remember?
Here’s a little primer just in case all those multiple-choice questions slipped your mind:
It’s important to know what the various colors of road signs along side streets and highways mean. For instance, white signs with black or red letters are known as regulatory signs. They usually tell you how fast you can go (speed limit signs) or where you can and can’t park.
Blue signs with white letters denote rest areas, upcoming gas stations, hospitals and lodging, while green signs with white lettering are used to tell motorists what cities or attractions are coming up and how many miles they have to travel to reach them.
Red signs with white lettering are usually important. They denote forbidden actions, such as “Do Not Enter.” Of course, the most famous of these signs is the ubiquitous STOP sign.
Brown signs with white letters denote national forests, ski areas, campgrounds, historic sites, national parks and other significant places, while yellow signs with black lettering are warning signs. They let us know when dangerous curves are approaching or when we’re entering a school zone.
Finally, we’re all far too familiar with the orange sign with black letters: They signify construction and road work. (And, too often, long traffic jams.)
It’s important, too, for drivers to know about the different violations they can get when operating their vehicles. There are two main types of violations: moving and non-moving. Non-moving violations, which are less serious and usually come with smaller fines, include parking illegally or not having a required city sticker.
Moving violations come with heavier fines. These include a wide range of violations, including running a red light, making an illegal turn, tailgating, failing to use turn signals, carpooling without the required number of passengers, driving with broken taillights or headlights, carrying an oversized load and driving through a STOP sign.
Many states operate on the points system. Under such a system, motorists receive points on their driving record for every violation they commit. Motorists who earn too many points might have their license suspended or might lose their driving privileges completely.
In New York State, for example, traveling one to 10 miles over the speed limit earns motorists three points, while driving 11 miles to 20 miles over the limit gets them four. Motorists who are clocked traveling from 21 to 30 miles over the limit earn six points, while those driving at 31 to 40 miles over the limit will have 11 points tacked onto their driving record.
Other violations that will earn you points in New York include: reckless driving, five points; not stopping for a school bus, five points; tailgating, four points; failure to yield right of way, three points, running a STOP sign, three points.
In California, drivers who earn four points in 12 months, six in 24 months or eight in 36 are found to be negligent drivers. They can lose their privilege to drive entirely or have their licenses suspended for a full year.
In Florida, drivers who are under 18 and earn six or more points within 12 months will be unable to drive anywhere except to their jobs for a year.
