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8. Rules of the Road

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15. Overtaking & Passing

Safe passing requires:

  • good judgment
  • the ability to make correct decisions rapidly
  • good vision including depth perception
  • knowledge of your vehicle's performance capabilities, acceleration, braking, and steering

  • At 55 mph, you will travel over 800 feet in 10 to 12 seconds, so will an oncoming vehicle. You will need over 1600 feet (or about one-third of a mile) to pass safely under these conditions. Since vehicles a distance of more than 1/3 of a mile seem to be heading toward you very slowly or even standing still it is difficult to judge how fast they are coming at you. If you can see the vehicle moving toward you, it is probably not safe to pass.

    Do not pull out to pass until you know you have enough space to return. Before you return to the driving lane, be sure you are not dangerously close to the car you have passed. One way to do this is to look for the car in the rear-view mirror. When you can see both headlights, you have enough room to return to the driving lane. Do not count on having enough time to pass several cars at once. Do not count on other drivers making room for you.

    On a two-lane highway a third lane may be made available for limited distances and for purposes of passing called a "passing lane." The passing lane is separated from the right-side lane by a broken white line. There will often be a double yellow line on the left side of the passing lane which separates you from oncoming traffic. You may not cross this line. A passing lane may be used only for passing, and you must return to the right lane as soon as you have completed passing. There will be signs indicating that a passing lane is ahead.

    You should never drive off the paved or maintained portion of roadway to pass. The right edge of the main-traveled portion of the highway is marked by a solid white line. You may pass on the right as long as you do not leave the paved or main traveled portion of the roadway.

    In general, you should pass a vehicle or bicycle going in your direction on the left and you should not drive closer than three feet to a bicycle when passing. If a lane is narrow, wait until traffic is clear so you can change lanes before passing a bicyclist.

    You should never pass on the left or drive off road to the left when car ahead is signaling a left-hand turn.

    The time saved by passing on two-lane roads is frequently not worth the risk.

    Special regulations may be posted for passing:

  • when there is limited clearance
  • on hills
  • at intersections
  • at railroad crossings
  • at bridges or abutments
  • when approaching a school bus



  • Lesson Summary


      

    Lesson 8 Quiz


    You will now answer 5 questions to test what you learned during this lesson. You must answer all questions correctly to receive completion credit for this lesson. You may answer the questions as many times as necessary to get them right.

    You should review the lesson material if you don't do well on the quiz.

    1. A right-turn-on-red can be made, at a red arrow:


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    2. You must use your turn signal


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    3. Entering an intersection before you can safely cross through it, and blocking it:


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    4. The minimum speed limit in California is:


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    5. In California, changing lanes in the middle of an intersection:


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