Chapter 4Chapter 4

Safe Driving Rules and Safe Driving Rules and RegulationsRegulations

Speed ControlSpeed Control• Exceeding the speed limit is a Exceeding the speed limit is a

common cause of fatal and other common cause of fatal and other types of accidents. Always obey the types of accidents. Always obey the speed limit. Speed affects almost speed limit. Speed affects almost everything that can happen while everything that can happen while driving. A good rule is to keep up driving. A good rule is to keep up with the flow of traffic at any legal with the flow of traffic at any legal speed. In order to make safe or speed. In order to make safe or emergency stops when necessary, emergency stops when necessary, it is important to keep enough it is important to keep enough distance from surrounding traffic.distance from surrounding traffic.

• New Jersey law sets top speed New Jersey law sets top speed limits for any given road, limits for any given road, street,highway or freeway.street,highway or freeway.

Speed LimitsSpeed Limits

25 MPH – School Zones, business or 25 MPH – School Zones, business or residential districtsresidential districts

35 MPH – Suburban Business and 35 MPH – Suburban Business and Residential AreasResidential Areas

50 MPH- None-posted rural roadways50 MPH- None-posted rural roadways 55 MPH – Certain state Highways (as 55 MPH – Certain state Highways (as

posted) and interstatesposted) and interstates 65 MPH - Certain Highways (as posted)65 MPH - Certain Highways (as posted)

Slow Down Slow Down • • on narrow or winding roadson narrow or winding roads • • at intersections or railroad at intersections or railroad

crossingscrossings • • on hillson hills • • at sharp or blind curvesat sharp or blind curves • • where pedestrians or driving where pedestrians or driving

hazards are presenthazards are present • • on wet or slippery roadson wet or slippery roads (If keeping up with the normal (If keeping up with the normal

flow of traffic is difficult because flow of traffic is difficult because of car problems, pull off the of car problems, pull off the road.)road.)

PassingPassing Most passing should be made Most passing should be made on the left. Pass on the right on the left. Pass on the right only on roads with more than only on roads with more than one lane going in the same one lane going in the same direction if vehicles on the direction if vehicles on the roadway are moving in two or roadway are moving in two or more substantially continuous more substantially continuous lines, or if the driver ahead is lines, or if the driver ahead is making a left turn. New Jersey making a left turn. New Jersey law prohibits passing on the law prohibits passing on the right shoulder of the roadway.right shoulder of the roadway.

Do Not Pass:Do Not Pass: • • on a hill or a curve, or at any on a hill or a curve, or at any

time sight lines are impededtime sight lines are impeded • • at a street crossing or at a street crossing or

intersectionintersection • • at a railroad crossingat a railroad crossing • • on narrow bridges, or in an on narrow bridges, or in an

underpass and tunnelsunderpass and tunnels • • when a sign prohibits passing when a sign prohibits passing

or center lines restrict passingor center lines restrict passing • • when behind a vehicle that has when behind a vehicle that has

stopped to let a pedestrian stopped to let a pedestrian crosscross

Yielding the Right-of-WayYielding the Right-of-Way

Always yield to police cars, Always yield to police cars, fire engines and fire engines and ambulances when they are ambulances when they are giving warning signs, such giving warning signs, such as flashing sirens and as flashing sirens and lights.lights.

State law requires that State law requires that motorists always yield to motorists always yield to pedestrians in a pedestrians in a crosswalk.crosswalk.

Entering Highways, Parkways andEntering Highways, Parkways andTurnpikesTurnpikes

Motorists enter these roadways on acceleration lanes, Motorists enter these roadways on acceleration lanes, or extra lanes used by motorists to speed up to join the flow of traffic .or extra lanes used by motorists to speed up to join the flow of traffic . Motorists must yield to traffic already on the roadway before moving from Motorists must yield to traffic already on the roadway before moving from

an an acceleration laneacceleration lane into the proper lane. into the proper lane.

Keep the following in mind when entering a highway, parkway or Keep the following in mind when entering a highway, parkway or turnpike:turnpike:

• • Speed up to the flow of traffic when leaving the acceleration laneSpeed up to the flow of traffic when leaving the acceleration lane• • Try to avoid coming to a complete stop in the acceleration laneTry to avoid coming to a complete stop in the acceleration lane• • Yield to traffic and enter the right-hand lane when safeYield to traffic and enter the right-hand lane when safe

Leaving highways, parkways Leaving highways, parkways and turnpikesand turnpikes

In most cases the exits on In most cases the exits on highways are on the right. highways are on the right. Watch for turnoff signs. Watch for turnoff signs. When you near the exit When you near the exit there is usually an extra there is usually an extra lane to the right. This is lane to the right. This is called a deceleration (or called a deceleration (or slow down) lane. Keep the slow down) lane. Keep the following points in mind following points in mind when leaving highways. when leaving highways.

                  When you begin to enter When you begin to enter the deceleration lane for an exit, the deceleration lane for an exit, start slowing down.start slowing down.

                  When you near the exit When you near the exit ramp, slow down to the posted ramp, slow down to the posted advisory speed limit.advisory speed limit.

Always be sure you are going Always be sure you are going slow enough to keep control of slow enough to keep control of your car when there are curves your car when there are curves

or circles in the exit.or circles in the exit.

CloverleafsCloverleafs

Right Turn on RedRight Turn on Red New Jersey law permits motorists to New Jersey law permits motorists to

make a right turn at a red light after make a right turn at a red light after coming to a full stop, unless a coming to a full stop, unless a No No Turn On RedTurn On Red sign is posted. sign is posted.

Yield to all oncoming traffic and Yield to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians before turning right at a pedestrians before turning right at a red light. red light.

Look for difficult-to-see vehicles, Look for difficult-to-see vehicles, such as bicycles and mopeds, such as bicycles and mopeds, which may have a green light.which may have a green light.

Always use a proper turn signal at Always use a proper turn signal at least 100 feet before making any least 100 feet before making any turn. Cancel the signal after the turn turn. Cancel the signal after the turn is complete.is complete.

Left TurnsLeft Turns

When two vehicles converge at an When two vehicles converge at an intersection and both have signaled to turn intersection and both have signaled to turn left, extra caution must be applied. When it left, extra caution must be applied. When it is safe, each driver should turn to the left of is safe, each driver should turn to the left of the center of the intersection.the center of the intersection.

left turn from a two-way road into left turn from a two-way road into another two way road, another two way road, approach the turn approach the turn as closely to the center of the road as as closely to the center of the road as possible. Do not cross lane markings. Keep possible. Do not cross lane markings. Keep to the right of the new road.to the right of the new road.

Left TurnsLeft Turns

left turn from a two-way road into a left turn from a two-way road into a four-lane highwayfour-lane highway, approach the turn as , approach the turn as closely to the center line of the road as closely to the center line of the road as possible. Make the turn before reaching the possible. Make the turn before reaching the center of the intersection. Do not cross lane center of the intersection. Do not cross lane markings. Turn into the left lane of the other markings. Turn into the left lane of the other road. This is the passing lane of the four-road. This is the passing lane of the four-lane highway. When traffic permits, move to lane highway. When traffic permits, move to the right lane from the passing lane.the right lane from the passing lane.

Circle IntersectionsCircle Intersections

There are not set There are not set rules for driving rules for driving into, around and out into, around and out of a traffic circle in of a traffic circle in New Jersey.New Jersey.

Common sense and Common sense and caution must prevail caution must prevail at all times.at all times.

Stopping RegulationsStopping Regulations

Signs, signals and Signs, signals and traffic rules indicate traffic rules indicate when a motorist when a motorist should stop.should stop.

When a Motorist Must When a Motorist Must StopStop

at an intersection with a at an intersection with a stop signstop sign

at an intersection with a at an intersection with a red light, flashing or red light, flashing or otherwiseotherwise

when a traffic officer when a traffic officer orders the motorist to orders the motorist to stopstop

when there is a yield sign when there is a yield sign and traffic does not and traffic does not permit a safe mergepermit a safe merge

for a pedestrian in a for a pedestrian in a crosswalk or at an crosswalk or at an intersectionintersection

when a school bus is picking when a school bus is picking up or letting off children up or letting off children and/or red lights are flashingand/or red lights are flashing

when coming from an alley, when coming from an alley, private driveway or buildingprivate driveway or building

at a bridge span which is at a bridge span which is about to open for boat trafficabout to open for boat traffic

for a blind pedestrian using for a blind pedestrian using a white or metallic-colored a white or metallic-colored walking cane, or a trained walking cane, or a trained guide dog, or guide dog guide dog, or guide dog instructor engaged in instructor engaged in instructing a guide doginstructing a guide dog

Stopping at Railroad Stopping at Railroad CrossingsCrossings

Motorists must stop at Motorists must stop at least 15 feet from least 15 feet from railroad crossings when railroad crossings when there are flashing there are flashing lights, bells or flag lights, bells or flag signals. signals.

Lowering gates, or Lowering gates, or gates that have already gates that have already been lowered, indicate been lowered, indicate a train is coming, and a a train is coming, and a motorist must stop. motorist must stop.

Never attempt to cross Never attempt to cross until the gates have until the gates have been raised and lights been raised and lights have stopped flashing.have stopped flashing.

Stopping for School BusesStopping for School Buses State law requires that State law requires that

motorists stop at least motorists stop at least 25 feet away if 25 feet away if traveling on a two-lane traveling on a two-lane road, or on a multi-lane road, or on a multi-lane highway where lanes highway where lanes are only separated by are only separated by lines, or on a privately lines, or on a privately maintained road.maintained road.

Slow down to 10 mph if Slow down to 10 mph if traveling on a dual traveling on a dual highway, if on the highway, if on the opposite side of a opposite side of a safety island or a safety island or a raised median.raised median.

Stopping for a Frozen Dessert Stopping for a Frozen Dessert TruckTruck

When approaching or overtaking a frozen When approaching or overtaking a frozen dessert truck, or ice cream truck, from dessert truck, or ice cream truck, from either direction and it shows flashing red either direction and it shows flashing red lights and/or a stop signal arm, yield the lights and/or a stop signal arm, yield the right of way to any person who is crossing right of way to any person who is crossing the roadway to or from the vehicle. the roadway to or from the vehicle.

Watch out for children and be prepared to Watch out for children and be prepared to stop. stop.

Drive past the vehicle at a speed no faster Drive past the vehicle at a speed no faster than 15 mph.than 15 mph.

Pulling Over and Stopping forPulling Over and Stopping forEmergency VehiclesEmergency Vehicles

New Jersey law requires all New Jersey law requires all motorists to yield to motorists to yield to emergency vehicles emergency vehicles sounding sirens or flashing sounding sirens or flashing red and/or blue emergency red and/or blue emergency lights.lights.

Steer to the extreme right Steer to the extreme right of the roadway and stop. of the roadway and stop.

Wait for the emergency Wait for the emergency vehicle to pass. vehicle to pass.

Afterward, keep at least Afterward, keep at least 300 feet behind an 300 feet behind an emergency vehicle emergency vehicle responding to an responding to an emergency callemergency call..

Using LightsUsing Lights

New Jersey law New Jersey law requires all requires all motorists to turn a motorists to turn a vehicle’s headlights vehicle’s headlights on whenever on whenever windshield wipers windshield wipers are in use.are in use.

Headlights must be Headlights must be turned on whenever turned on whenever visibility is less than visibility is less than 500 feet.500 feet.

Headlights must Headlights must also be used also be used between one-half between one-half hour before sunset hour before sunset and one-half hour and one-half hour after sunrise, during after sunrise, during rain, snow and ice rain, snow and ice storms, and when storms, and when fog or smoke is fog or smoke is present.present.

Head LightsHead Lights

High/Bright beams are High/Bright beams are used for open country used for open country driving where there is driving where there is no traffic in sight.no traffic in sight.

Dim beams are used Dim beams are used for city driving and for city driving and driving in traffic on driving in traffic on roadways.roadways.

Dim beams are for use Dim beams are for use when traveling behind when traveling behind other vehicles or when other vehicles or when another vehicle is another vehicle is approaching.approaching.

Parking RegulationsParking Regulations

Check for traffic Check for traffic when leaving a when leaving a vehicle after vehicle after parking. parking.

Check for bicycles Check for bicycles and mopeds, which and mopeds, which are sometimes are sometimes difficult to see, difficult to see, before opening the before opening the driver-side door and driver-side door and exiting the vehicle.exiting the vehicle.

Do Not ParkDo Not Park

on a crosswalkon a crosswalk between a safety zone for between a safety zone for

pedestrians and the adjacentpedestrians and the adjacent curb, or 20 feet from the end of curb, or 20 feet from the end of

a safety zonea safety zone near properly marked street near properly marked street

constructionconstruction in a space on public or private in a space on public or private

property marked for the property marked for the handicappedhandicapped

within 25 feet of a crosswalk at within 25 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection or side linean intersection or side line

of a street or intersection of a street or intersection highway, except at alleyshighway, except at alleys

within 50 feet of a railroad within 50 feet of a railroad crossingcrossing

within 50 feet of a stop signwithin 50 feet of a stop sign within 20 feet of the driveway within 20 feet of the driveway

entrance to any fire stationentrance to any fire station

Do Not ParkDo Not Park

on an interstate highwayon an interstate highway in a bus stop zonein a bus stop zone in front of a public or in front of a public or

private drivewayprivate driveway within an intersectionwithin an intersection within 10 feet of a fire within 10 feet of a fire

hydranthydrant

75 feet on the street 75 feet on the street opposite a fire station opposite a fire station entranceentrance

on any bridge, elevated on any bridge, elevated roadway or in any tunnelroadway or in any tunnel

next to another vehicle next to another vehicle parked at the curb, known parked at the curb, known as double parkingas double parking

in any area where parking in any area where parking is prohibited by municipal is prohibited by municipal ordinanceordinance