Vocabulary #1
1. Yield/ Right of way - Person who gets there first has the right away, from the left or right
side/People on the highway have the right away
2. Scanning the Road - look for obstructions
3. Learner’s permit - Driver is allowed to drive from 5 am to 9pm
4. Space cushion - tailgating - Space between you and another car
5. Implied Consent - the agreement given by a person's action (even just a gesture) or
inaction, or can be inferred from certain circumstances by any reasonable person.
6. MV 262 - Every driver license applicant who is 16 or 17 years old at the time of the road
test, and who has a junior learner permit, must present this certification to the DMV
license examiner at the time of the road test.
7. MV 278 - A certificate issued by a school who has completed sufficient classroom
instruction through a Driver Education Program.
8. MV 285 - Completion certificate, you can drive at 17 years old.
9. Driver identification - license
10. Graduated licensing - help new drivers gain skills under lower-risk conditions.
11. Junior’s license - new drivers who are under the age of 18
12. Distracted driving - Driving distracted like texting, talking, etc.
13. Know your surroundings - Making sure you are aware of the road.
14. Dmv point system - 11 points - gives the New York State DMV a way to identify and take
action against high risk drivers.
15. Multi-tasking - doing multiple things at once.
16. Too many passengers in the car - Three collisions: car hitting something, you hit
something, internal organs keep moving forward until something stops it: Ex: brain hits
your skull.
17. Rubbernecking - when drivers take their eyes off the road to look at a distraction, such
as an accident or arrest.
18. Defensive Driving- Expect other drivers to make mistakes on the road.
19. Dangers of left turns - the driver must divert their attention to multiple hazards, including
other vehicles, traffic lights, blind spots, and more.
20. T-Bone accident - happens when the front end of one vehicle crashes into the side of
another, usually at a 90-degree angle, resulting in the namesake “T” shape.
21. Right turn on Red - a principle of law permitting vehicles at a red traffic light to turn right
after a complete stop when the roadway is clear.
22. Seat Belt safety - a vehicle safety device designed to secure the driver or a passenger of
a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision or a sudden stop.
23. Pedestrian safety - requires that pedestrians have safe places to walk and play, are
properly supervised when they are in the vicinity of traffic, and learn to use caution when
crossing streets.
24. Green light - Green does not mean go, it means look (look both ways).
25. Drivers errors - Tailgating, drunk driving, etc.
26. Dangers of intersections - Be Careful at intersections due to the high amount of cars.
Teen Mistakes Vocabulary
1. Reckless Aggressive driving - Changing lanes frequently or in an unsafe manner.
2. Inexperience mistakes - lack of knowledge and experience.
3. Three collisions - Motor vehicle crash involves three types of collisions: vehicle collision,
human collision, and internal collision.
4. Too many passengers in the car - More people than seatbelts.
5. Teen DWI - occurs when an underage motorist drives a vehicle while still under the
influence of drugs or alcohol.
6. Peer pressure - influence from members of one's peer group.
7. Vaping/juuling and driving - impaired driving causing dizziness and light-headedness
8. Social media/clout - being famous and having influence
9. Talking and driving - any activity that diverts attention from driving.
10. Know your driver- have a voice in the car.
11. Car surfing - involves riding on the outside of a moving vehicle being driven by another
person. It has resulted in numerous deaths, predominantly causing severe head injuries.
12. Donuts - a reckless driving maneuver that involves turning your car in a tight circle while
accelerating.
13. Skitching - hold on to the back of a moving motor vehicle so as to be pulled along while
riding a skateboard, bicycle, etc.
14. Thrill seeking - sensation seeking behind the wheel and it is more often associated with
crashes amongst young males in particular.
15. Inattentive driving - distracted driving but also includes any behavior that takes your eyes
and attention off the task of being an alert driver.
16. No consistent seat belt use - both straps snugly fitted to transfer the impact of the
collision.
17. weed/drugging and driving - driving a vehicle while impaired due to the intoxicating
effects of recent drug use.
18. Sadd - Students against destructive driving.
19. Selfies and driving - A driver, who is taking a selfie, is looking into a camera, and in turn,
not focusing on the road.
20. Street racing - typically an unsanctioned and illegal form of auto racing that occurs on a
public road.
21. Moving violations - a breach of traffic laws which occurs while the driver's vehicle is in
motion.
22. Teen pedestrians - a person on foot or using a conveyance propelled by human power
(skates, skateboard) other than a bicycle.
23. Teen pranks - joyrides - a ride for enjoyment in a vehicle or aircraft.
Distracted Driving Vocabulary
1. Multi-Tasking - deal with more than one task at the same time.
2. Primary Enforcement - A law enforcement officer can issue a traffic ticket just for failure
to wear a seat belt.
3. Pedestrian Accidents - an accident involving a pedestrian and a motor vehicle or bicycle
or perhaps even a horse.
4. Dangers of intersections - Increased traffic congestion, multiple signage, distracted
drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
5.
6.
7.
8.
IPDE - Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute.
Intexticated - distracted while writing or reading a text message on a mobile phone.
Too many teens in your car - More people than seatbelts.
Cognitive distractions - when a driver's attention or concentration is hindered by some
sort of mental distraction.
9. Handheld - designed to be held in the hand.
10. Handsfree - designed to be operated without using the hands.
11. Vehicular manslaughter - the crime of causing the death of a human being due to illegal
driving of an automobile, including gross negligence, drunk driving, reckless driving or
speeding.
12. Social media and driving - driving while doing another activity that takes your attention
away from driving such as use of a cell phone, texting, or eating.
13. Distracted driving PSA’S - Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a
distraction.
14. Rear Ended - to drive into the back of (a vehicle).
15. Highway distracted Driving - talking, listening or dialing a hand-held device; inserting or
retrieving a compact disc; operating a PDA; reading, applying makeup or eating will
increase the driver risk factor of a crash or near crash by two to three times.
16. DMV point system - gives the New York State DMV a way to identify and take action
against high risk drivers.
17. Raised insurance premiums - If your credit score goes down due to increased debt,
decreased income, missed or late payments, too many credit inquiries, or some other
reason, your insurance company may choose to increase your premiums to protect
themselves.
18. Distracted driving ticket - Being engaged doing secondary tasks to driving. Driving while
drowsy.
19. Defensive driving class - A Defensive Driving Course is a New York State Department of
Motor Vehicles authorized course providing knowledge and techniques for the safe
operation of a motor vehicle.
20. Move Over Law - law enforcement officers, firefighters, or ambulances move over one
lane or around.
21. Misdemeanor/Felony - a minor wrongdoing. Felony is a serious crime.
22. Know your surroundings - Be aware of your surroundings.
23. Disabled Vehicle Dangers - a motor vehicle which has been abandoned or rendered
inoperable by mechanical failure or accident.
24. Evasive Maneuvers - a fast and effective maneuver made intentionally to avoid colliding
with a person, another vehicle, or an object.
DWI Vocabulary
1. Implied Consent- the agreement given by a person's action (even just a gesture) or
inaction, or can be inferred from certain circumstances by any reasonable person.
2. DRE- drug recognition evaluator.
3. New York State DWI Laws- DWI laws are strictly enforced in New York State. Penalties
include loss of driving privileges, fines and possible jail time. Any amount of alcohol will
affect your judgment and coordination and will reduce your ability to safely operate a
vehicle.
4. Teen Drinking- It is illegal for adults to drive with a BAC of . 08% or higher.
5. impaired/smacked- operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/ totally
out of it (no cognition).
6. Fraternity hazing- any action taken or situation created, whether on or off campus, to
produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.
7. Reaction time/Henry Rugg’s - how long it takes to respond to a situation by moving your
foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal.
8. Field sobriety test - groups of three tests used by police to determine if a driver is
impaired.
9. Felony dui - A driver who commits a DWI within ten years of a previous DWI or DWI
related conviction or convictions.
10. Know your driver - monitor your driving behavior, from braking to speeding and other
important actions.
11. Plea bargain - a negotiated alternative to taking a case to jury trial.
12. License suspension - your license or driving privilege will be taken away for a period of
time.
13. Open container law - it is against the law to drink from or have an open container of
alcohol in a public place.
14. Miranda rights - You have the right to remain silent; Anything you say can and will be
used against you in a court of law; You have a right to an attorney; If you cannot afford
an attorney one will be appointed for you.
15. PSA’s - public service announcement.
16. Sobriety checkpoints - allow police officers to briefly stop vehicles at specific, highly
visible locations to check drivers for impairment.
17. Alcohol dangers -getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol with a blood
alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or above.
18. Height/Weight/Gender - Females have less body fat and weight/male have more.
19. Burn off rate - how quickly your body can break down alcohol and remove it from your
blood, also known as metabolizing.
20. Vehicle impound - vehicles to be seized from driving while impaired (DWI) offenders and
stored in an impound lot for a period of time; this is referred to as vehicle impoundment.
21. Hit and Run DWI - A person who drives while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and
leaves the scene of an accident.
22. DWI manslaughter - a driver who was driving illegally, aware of the risks to others on the
road but disregarding them, thus causing the death of another person.
23. Social Host Law - a statute or case law that imposes liability on social hosts as a result
of their serving alcohol to adults or minors.
24. Ignition interlock device - provide a breath sample before the engine will start.
25. Leandra’s law - no one can operate a vehicle while under the influence with a child 15
years of age or younger in the vehicle.
26. DWI Booking - Takes the criminal suspect's personal information.
27. Famous DWI’s
a. New York state DWI Laws
i.
.02-any driver under 21
ii.
.04 - all commercial vehicle drivers
iii.
.08 - any driver 21 or over
Drugging and Driving Vocabulary
1. DUI-License Suspension - you are no longer able to drive legally during the period of
suspension.
2. Drug recognition Expert/Dre - The DRE takes the subject's blood pressure, temperature,
and pulse
3. Probable Cause - reasonable grounds (for making a search, pressing a charge, etc.).
4. Legalization of Marijuana - Legalization of cannabis is the process of removing all legal
prohibitions against it.
5. OTC Drugs - Over the counter drugs.
6. Opioids and Driving - a compound resembling opium in addictive properties or
physiological effects.
7. Drug Traffic Stops/Illicit Drugs (illegal)- rug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the
cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug
prohibition laws.
8. Implied Consent Refusal- the agreement given by a person's action (even just a gesture)
or inaction, or can be inferred from certain circumstances by any reasonable person.
9. Wrong Way Drivers - Drivers driving the wrong way.
10. Drugs/Traffic Stops-law enforcement must establish that there is probable cause, (well
grounded facts), to believe that there are illegal narcotics or contraband in the vehicle.
11. Costs of a DUI- Bail bond fees could vary from $100 to $2,500.
12. Teen Dui- Operating a motor vehicle after having consumed alcohol; Under 21 years of
age.
13. Amphetamines - stimulants that speed up the body's system.
14. Social Host Law- the criminal and civil responsibility of a person who furnishes drugs to
a guest.
15. DUI sobriety Test- balance tests, coordination tests, mental agility tests, and eye tests.
16. DUI Manslaughter/Sentencing- the actions of a reckless or negligent individual that
ultimately result in the loss of another person's life.
17. Lean - mixing syrup and soda.
18. Sports Injuries - people who have sports injuries are given too many opioids and get
addicted to them.
19. Weed Dui- If a person using marijuana for medical purposes is pulled over for driving
erratically and either test positive for THC or fails a field sobriety test, they can be
charged with a DWAI/Drugs charge.
20. Weed Breathalyzer - Breathalyzer-like devices that measure the main psychoactive
chemical in cannabis. 5 ng/ml limit for Marijuana
21. K-9 Drug Dogs - take k9 over to the car and if the dog smells drugs, it is probable cause
to search.
22. Higher Insurance Premiums - the more risks they pose to the insurer, the higher their
premiums will be.
23. Social Embarrassment - people talk about you and make fun of you.
24. Weed Dispensaries - weed is legal now in New York State; weed distributors.
Aggressive Driving/Road Rage Vocabulary
1. Tailgating - the act of driving too closely behind the vehicle in front.
2. Rubbernecking- when drivers take their eyes off the road to look at a distraction, such as
an accident or arrest.
3. Flashing your High Beams - Headlight flashing is the act of either briefly switching on the
headlights of a car, or of momentarily switching between a headlight's high beams and
low beams, in an effort to communicate with another driver or drivers.
4. Illegal passing - Horn beeping.
5. Seat belt usage - Always wear a seatbelt.
6. No turn signal - not signaling while you make a turn.
7. Brake check - when a motorist intentionally slams on their brakes to startle, irritate, or
intimidate the driver behind them.
8. gestures/flipping drivers off - movements/ sticking up fingers off to other drivers.
9. Traffic - Relax in traffic; think about pleasant thoughts
10. Highway driving - 70/80 mph on the road that can lead to a dangerous accident
11. Road rage pedestrians. - People angry at drivers
12. Road rage shootings - Shootings caused as a result of rage
13. Life problems - Do not get into a car if you had issues that day
14. Getting out of car/eye contact - You can get a violation for leaving your vehicle on the
road/ making eye contact with another driver.
15. Competition on the road - Do not try to race other people on the road
16. Traffic police - Unmarked police cars to look for people driving aggressively
17. Collateral damage - speed kills - injury inflicted on something other than an intended
target.
18. Wrong way accidents - Driver drives the wrong way
19. Distracted driving - driver is not paying attention and is distracted by other things like his
phone, people, etc.
20. Vehicular homicide - A crime in which the defendant's unlawful or negligent operation of
a motor vehicle results in the death of another person.
21. Assault - weapon/car.
22. License suspension - your license gets suspended from violations.
23. pride/ego - Ego is a person's sense of self-importance, which can be also interpreted as
unhealthy pride.
24. Criminal record/felony - Crimes due to breaking laws.
25. Tesla rage - Hate against Tesla owners.
Pedestrians/ Drowsy Driving Vocabulary
1. Right of way- A driver who approaches an intersection must yield the right-of-way to
traffic that is in the intersection
2. Covering the brake - a technique taught in driver education programs where the driver
removes their right foot from the accelerator pedal and holds it over the brake pedal in
readiness to slow down or stop quickly
3. Hit and run - denoting or relating to a swift attack followed by immediate withdrawal.
4. Crosswalks - a marked part of a road where pedestrians have the right of way to cross.
5. Controlled crosswalk - you have to follow rules of road
6. Yield signs - drivers must slow down and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and
vehicles that are approaching from another direction.
7. School bus/zones/violations - it illegal for drivers to pass a school bus while the school
bus is stopped
8. Law enforcement/pedestrians - police or any person on foot
9. Uncontrolled intersections -a road intersection where no traffic lights, road markings or
signs are used to indicate the right-of-way.
10. Know your surroundings- Understanding the current environment and being able to
accurately anticipate future problems to enable effective actions.
11. Red light runners - If a vehicle enters an intersection any time after the signal light has
turned red, the driver has committed a violation.
12. Distracted driving - Driving distracted like texting, talking, etc.
13. Too many passengers - more passengers than seatbelts.
14. Aggressive driving/pedestrians - driving aggressively which can cause danger to other
drivers and pedestrians.
15. Scan road/ check blind spots - checking down the road as well as looking all around your
vehicle using your mirrors.
16. Jay walking - the act of crossing a street in an illegal, careless, or unsafe manner.
17. Distracted walking - when someone travels somewhere on foot without paying attention
to their surroundings.
18. Right turn on red - a principle of law permitting vehicles at a red traffic light to turn right
after a complete stop when the roadway is clear.
19. Being visible - being in line of sight.
20. Drinking and drugging and walking - describes people intoxicated by alcohol walking in
public spaces.
21. Points on your license - a way to identify and take action against high risk drivers. Up to
11 points which is the highest and worst.
22. Backup cameras/pedestrian - camera that keeps an eye on the rear-end of the car/pay
attention to pedestrians.
23. Pedestrians crash safety - an accident involving a pedestrian and a motor vehicle or
bicycle.
24. Signs of drowsy driving - Yawning or blinking frequently, Missing your exit, Hitting a
rumble strip on the side of the road.
25. Microsleep - drowsiness, trouble focusing, heavy eyelids, blank staring, and yawning.
26. Vehicular manslaughter - the crime of causing the death of a human being due to illegal
driving of an automobile.
27. Driving impaired - operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
Trucks/Trains Vocabulary
1. Cargo weight -size - Includes all weight added to the base curb weight, including
passengers, cargo and optional equipment
2. Haze mat - a truck (such as flammable or poisonous material) that would be a danger to
life or to the environment if released without precautions.
3. Commercial driver’s license - driver's license required to operate large, heavy, or
placarded hazardous material vehicles in the United States
4. No zones -blind spots- NY area immediately surrounding your vehicle that cannot
directly be observed by you, the driver, within your normal field of vision.
5. Height restrictions/overpasses- 14 to 16 feet of clearance
6. Truck spills - when a truck releases cargo, liquids or goods onto the roadway
7. Rear ended by truck - when the front of a big truck collides with the rear of a car or other
vehicle ahead of it.
8. trucks/running lights - automotive lighting devices on the front of motor vehicles that
automatically switch on when the engine is running.
9. Driving around trucks -bad weather - any weather event that increases your risk of
having a traffic accident.
10. Drowsy truck drivers - the dangerous combination of driving when sleepy.
11. Distracted truck drivers - the diversion of attention from activities critical for safe driving
to a competing activity.
12. dwi/dui truck drivers - driving under the influence/driving while intoxicated
13. trains/trucks accidents - accidents involving a car and a train/truck.
14. physics/an object in motion - objects in motion stays in motion until acted upon by a
force. Cars will not stop until they are hit by another force.
15. stimulants/amphetamines - stimulant drugs that speed up messages between your brain
and your body.
16. Road rage/brake checks - Angry drivers on the road/when a motorist intentionally slams
on their brakes to startle, irritate, or intimidate the driver behind them.
17. Aggressive truck drivers - truck drivers who drive unsafely on the road.
18. Pass on left- pass on right
19. Crossbuck - Crossbuck signs indicate there is a railroad crossing
20. Stopping on train tracks
21. Beating the train - do not try to beat the train
22. Emergency break mode - a mechanism used to keep the vehicle securely motionless
when parked.
23. Trains derailment - Train falls off the railroad.
24. trains/PSA’s/ physics - Trains will not stop until acted upon by another force.
Motorcycles and Bicycles Vocabulary
1. Keeping a safe distance - 3 to 4 feet between a biker or motorcyclist
2. See all riders - scanning road and looking at all of your blindspots
3. Check all blind spots - be aware when driving and check all spots that cannot be seen by
mirrors.
4. Space cushion - a buffer around your vehicle that you maintain to allow room to
maneuver, if necessary.
5. Expect the unexpected - anything can happen on the road.
6. Bike Rideout’s swerve cars - Swerving traffic and pulling wheelies.
7. Lane splitting - riding a motorcycle between lanes or rows of slow or stopped traffic that
is moving in the same direction.
8. Right hook/ left hook - motorist makes a right turn directly in front of you, cutting you off.
9. Lane sharing - the use of a single lane by multiple types of transportation
10. Bike lanes - lanes on the road specifically for bikes
11. Dooring - Dooring is a traffic collision in which a cyclist rides into a car door.
12. Rider visibility - lights or reflectors on your wheels.
13. Yield to all riders - yield to all bikers and motorcycles.
14. Eye contact - eye contact at stop signs.
15. Distracted driving - driving with distractions that can kill people
16. Know hand signals - cyclists have hand signals that tell you which lane they are
changing to.
17. Traffic signs - indicate bicycle lanes.
18. Aggressive drivers/ road rage - people angry or driving with bad intentions
19. Driving errors - driving mistakes made by a driver like not signaling, texting while driving,
etc.
20. Harley’s/ sport bikes - harley drivers usually drive slowly, sport bikes usually drive faster
21. Left turn dangers - drivers making left-hand turns in intersections must yield the
right-of-way to oncoming traffic.
22. Motorcyclists vulnerability - vulnerable because no protection.
23. Claiming the lane - you ride roughly in the middle of the lane.
24. Illegal off-road motorcycles/ATV - ATV is not allowed on the road legally.
Car Insurance vocabulary
1. Car accident checklist
a. Call 991, get a police report, insurance company, argues who's at fault,
2. At Fault
a. a car accident caused by a driver's negligence
3. Deductible
a. what you pay “out of pocket” on a claim before your insurance covers the rest
4. Insurance Claim
a. a request for financial compensation that a driver files with an insurance
company after their vehicle is damaged or they are injured in a car accident.
5. GAP insurance
a. Guaranteed Asset Protection insurance.
i.
help certain drivers cover the “gap” between the financed amount owed
on their car and their car's actual cash value (ACV), in the event of a
covered incident where their car is declared a total loss.
6. Car insurance frauds/scams
a. when someone lies about an event to receive an insurance payout (or an
increased payout) or a better rate
7. Title
a. Person who is the owner of the car
8. Lien on your car - repo man
a. The lender holds the car's title and is considered the vehicle's legal owner until
the loan is paid in full.
9. Salvage title
a. Car cannot be sold to someone
10. Totaled
a. when the cost to repair the car exceeds the value of the car.
11. Uninsured motorist
a. Drivers who do not have any insurance
i.
If someone hits your car without insurance you can sue your insurance
company
12. Underinsured motorist
a. 15% of drivers on LI do not have car insurance
i.
Not cured enough
13. Personal injury protection/PIPa. is designed to pay promptly, regardless of who is at fault or whether there was
any negligence, for economic losses (meaning medical/health expenses, lost
earnings, and certain other reasonable
14. Full coverage
a. More coverage, more money you get charged a month
15. Non-renewala. when your insurance company discontinues your policy at the end of the
coverage period.
16. Multi car discounta. More than 2 or 3 cars you can get a discount
17. Defensive driving discounta. Class that gives you certain perks like 10% insurance discount, 4-point reduction,
100% frustration-free
18. Moving violations
a. Violations like speeding on the road
19. DMV point system
a. gives the New York State DMV a way to identify and take action against high risk
drivers.
20. Assigned risk
a. provide auto insurance for drivers who don't qualify for a standard policy
21. Insurance premium
22. Repair estimate
a. Body shop and gets you an estimate it tells you the worth of a car
23. Dash cam
a. Camera that goes on the dashboard
24. Mv 285 insurance discount
a. young drivers a possible reduction in automobile insurance cost
25. Car depreciation
a. the difference between how much your car was worth when you bought it and
what it's worth when you sell it.
26. Odometer rollback
a. occurs when someone tampers with a vehicle's odometer to make it appear that
the car has fewer miles than it actually has.
27. Lemon law
a.
covers drivers whose vehicles suffer a nonconformity or defect within the first 24
months or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first, that can't be repaired after
repeated attempts (normally 3-4) by the manufacturer's authorized dealership.
28. Carfax
a. complete report of all publicly available information about a vehicle.
29. Upside down loan
a. you owe more on your car than it's actually worth.
30. Full glass coverage
a. Coverage over your windshields and glass
i.
Don’t pay money out of your pocket
31. Speeding tickets - aggressive driving
a. Tickets given to drivers who speed or drive recklessly
32. Elderly drivers
a. Old people who drive
Driving Laws and Alert Vocabulary
1. Amber Alert - child abduction emergency alert
2. Nikki’s law - want signage on the road for people to not drive distracted
3. Good samaritan law - allows people to call 911 without fear of arrest if they are having a
drug or alcohol overdose that requires emergency medical care or if they witness
someone overdosing.
4. Social host law- a statute or case law that imposes liability on social hosts as a result of
their serving alcohol to adults or minors.
5. Move over law - is a law which requires motorists to move over and change lanes for
emergency vehicles, police, etc.
6. Leandra’s law - First time offenders driving while intoxicated (. 08 Blood Alcohol Content
[BAC] or more) or impaired by drugs, with a 15 year old or younger child passenger can
be charged with a class E felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison
7. Blocking the box laws - prohibits drivers from entering an intersection when there is not
enough room beyond the far crosswalk to proceed without blocking the intersection.
8. Hands free law - All drivers must use hands-free devices when talking on cell phones.
9. School zones/school bus laws - laws dictating what a motorist must do in the vicinity of
a bus stop being used by a school bus or other bus, coach or minibus providing school
transport.
10. Bicycle laws - Ride in the street, not on the sidewalks (unless the rider is age 12 or
younger and the bicycle's wheels are less than 26 inches in diameter).
11. Work zone laws - an incident where a motor vehicle has entered a portion of the
roadway that is closed due to construction or maintenance activity.
12. Emergency vehicle laws - Driving a car and someone is behind you so you have to get
out of the way
13. Lacey’s law - aw limiting how many passengers that teen drivers can have and
increasing the number of hours of behind-the-wheel experience required
14. Moving violations - A moving violation occurs when the vehicle is in motion. Examples
include speeding or running a red light.
15. Parking tickets - Illegally park
16. Red light camera laws - Vehicles crossing the stop line or entering the intersection after
the light turns red are detected automatically.
17. Jughandles - a type of ramp or slip road that changes the way traffic turns left at an
at-grade intersection
18. DMI laws/ zero tolerance law - illegal to drink, illegal to drive.
19. Dmv point system - gives the New York State DMV a way to identify and take action
against high risk drivers.
20. Silver alert - activated when an elderly, or developmentally or cognitively-impaired
person has gone missing and is determined to be at-risk.
21. New york seat belt laws - everyone in the car has to have a seat belt on
22. New york window tint laws - 70% light shining in your car
23. License plate laws - Need 2 license plates in the United states.
24. Road debris - hazard on the road that causes crashes from falling debris.
25. Hov lanes-laws - for High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV). HOV lanes require either a
minimum of two people per vehicle (HOV – 2), or three people per vehicle (HOV – 3), the
number of which is specified by signs placed on express lanes on highways or bridges.
26. Toll booth laws - E-ZPass - an automated toll collection system that allows individuals
and businesses to pay tolls electronically
27. Merging laws - drivers in both lanes of traffic are responsible for merging safety.
Bad Weather Driving Vocabulary
1. Snow Driving/White out conditions - severe storm condition with blowing snow, wind
drifts, and high winds with reduced visibility
2. Treacherous conditions - dangerous weather conditions that make it unsafe to drive.
3. Driving in Rain/Hydroplaning - when the tires on your vehicle lose their grip on a road
surface and instead travel on a film of water sitting on top of the road
4. Black ice - a transparent coating of ice, found especially on a road or other paved
surface.
5. Oversteering - what occurs when a car turns (steers) by more than the amount
commanded by the driver
6. Understeering - when the front wheels start to plow straight even if you turn the steering,
7. Road flares -produce their light through the combustion of a pyrotechnic composition.
8. Stopping distance - space cushion
9. Antifreeze - a liquid that is added to water to stop it from freezing
10. Snow scraper - a tool that is used to scrape off snow and ice from the windshields of the
car.
11. Exhaust pipe safety - the pipe at the back of a vehicle or on a machine through which
waste gas escapes from the engine.
12. Correcting a skid/turn into a skid - take your feet off the pedals. Stop braking and stop
accelerating. Then, quickly turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go.
13. Windshield wiper fluid- a liquid used to clean the glass of your windshield.
14. Jump start - to start (an engine or vehicle) by temporary connection to an external
power source.
15. Winter pile ups - Multiple vehicle crashes in the winter due to snow and unsafe weather
conditions.
16. Driving in fog - Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination.
17. Jessica’s law - a law that requires the clearing of ice and snow off the top of a vehicle
prior to driving it.
18. waze/GPS - U.S.-owned utility that provides users with positioning, navigation, and
timing (PNT) services.
19. AAA - American Automobile Association - Any unsafe driving behavior, performed
deliberately and with ill intention or disregard for safety
20. ABS brakes - Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) help you steer in emergencies by
restoring traction to your tire.
21. Tire care/rotating tires - taking care of your tires/periodically changing the position of
each of the tires on your vehicle.
22. Tire blowouts - a bursting tire accompanied by a rapid loss of air pressure.
23. Tire pressure monitor - pounds per square inch of your tire pressure
24. Road debris/tailgating - any hazard that is foreign to the roadway/driving too closely to
the back of someone's car.
Police Issues Vocabulary
1. Sobriety Checkpoints - allow police officers to briefly stop vehicles at specific,
highly visible locations to check drivers for impairment.
2. Felony Car Stop - occurs when police stop a vehicle which they have strong
reason to believe contains a driver or passenger suspected of having committed
a serious crime.
3. Probable Cause - reasonable grounds.
4. PBA Card - The Policy Benevolent association card that is given to friends and
families of police officers, who use them to request clemency during encounters
with cops they don’t know.
5. Fake IDS - Fraud or fake identification.
6. Police impound - place for holding vehicles until they are given back to the
owner
7. Obstruction of Justice - Lying to the police and/or government officials during an
investigation, interfering with an arrest, etc.
8. Citation - It is a written record of something you did wrong while operating your
vehicle or while it is parked.
9. Moving Violation - any traffic offense committed while your vehicle is in motion.
10. Move Over Law - As soon as you see lights, vests or reflectors, check traffic
around you, slow down and move over if safe to do so.
11. Lidar Radar - light detection and ranging.
12. Speed Trap - a stretch of road policed by often concealed officers or devices to
catch speeders.
13. Implied Consent - a driver of a vehicle on a public road must consent to a
chemical test to determine the alcoholic content of the driver's blood.
14. . Pull to the Right - Pull over to the right edge of the road, or as near to the right
as possible, when you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching from any
direction.
15. Driver Identification - the driver number assigned to You by Us for the purposes
of identification without disclosing Your Details.
16. Reverse Pacing - when an officer establishes a set distance between her vehicle
and the suspected speeder and that distance between the two vehicles does not
change over a period of time.
17. Miranda Rights - You have the right to remain silent; Anything you say can and
will be used against you in a court of law; You have a right to an attorney; If you
cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for you.
18. 1 K’9s - a dog specifically trained to assist members of law enforcement.
19. DRE - a police officer trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the
influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol.
Buses and Limos Vocabulary
1. Wide Turns - As you can see, you are required to turn “as closely as practicable” into the
lane nearest to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway.
2. Vehicle Recognition - a technology by which a vehicle is able to recognize the traffic
signs put on the road
3. Emergency Exits - an exit that is used to provide a safe means of escape from a
structure or area in the event of an emergency, such as a fire.
4. No Seat Belt Use - Seatbelt is improperly worn or not at all.
5. Operator Distracted - The driver of the car is not paying attention.
6. Railroad Crossings - a place where a road crosses railroad tracks.
7. Flashing Lights - a signal that the flashing driver is yielding the right of way
8. Vehicle Neglect - when a driver of a motor vehicle did not operate that vehicle in a
reasonably safe manner and caused injury to another.
9. Inspections - a procedure mandated by national or subnational governments in many
countries, in which a vehicle is inspected to ensure that it conforms to regulations
governing safety, emissions, or both.
10. Negligent Operation - when drivers fail to use reasonable care while operating a vehicle
11. Impaired Driver -operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
12. Driver Fatigue/ Drowsy Driving - result when you do not get enough sleep or do not get
quality sleep.
13. Blind Spots - any area immediately surrounding your vehicle that cannot directly be
observed by you, the driver, within your normal field of vision.
14. Aggressive Driving - a combination of moving traffic offenses to endanger other persons
or property.
15. Road/Weather Conditions - Change your speed that's safe for the road and weather
conditions.
16. Bus Cameras / Violations - Cameras on the school bus/A car must follow all of the rules
regarding an encounter with a bus.
17. Causes of Limo Accidents- speeding, drunk driving, not paying attention, bad driving
18. Inspection Lapses - If the inspection sticker on your vehicle has expired in the past 60
days, you can receive a fine of $50.
19. NTSB - National Transportation Safety Board.
Road Test Vocabulary
1. MV 262- Every driver license applicant who is 16 or 17 years old at the time of the road
test, and who has a junior learner permit, must present this certification to the DMV
license examiner at the time of the road test. The certification must be signed by a
parent or guardian.
2. MV 285 - Completed by high schools, colleges and BOCES to record information about
MV-285 certificates issued to students who complete a driver education program.
3. MV 278 - A certificate issued by a school who has completed sufficient classroom
instruction through a Driver Education Program.
4. Documents Needed for Road Test- learner permit, MV-278 or MV-285, MV-262
5. Rolling Stops - An automobile driving maneuver in which a driver slows down, but does
not stop, at a stop sign.
6. Check Gears - Check which mode you are in (park, reverse, neutral, drive).
7. Head Checks - looking over your shoulder to check the road.
8. Car Control - the components in automobiles and other powered road vehicles, such as
trucks and buses, used for driving and parking.
9. Covering the Brake - the driver removes their right foot from the accelerator pedal and
holds it over the brake pedal in readiness to slow down or stop quickly.
10. Yield and know Right Away - be prepared to let other drivers crossing your road take the
right-of-way.
11. Check and Yield for Pedestrians - stay alert and stop for all pedestrians on the road.
12. Back up Camera - a special type of camera attached to the rear of your vehicle
13. Lane Changes - a vehicle changes its own lane to enter another.
14. Three Point Turn - a way of turning a vehicle around in a small space by going forward,
turning to one side, then backing up, turning in order to face the other direction, then
going forward again.
15. Parallel Park - a technique of parking parallel to the road, in line with other parked
vehicles and facing in the same direction as traffic on that side of the road
16. Excessive Maneuvers - Do more than the amount you are supposed to perform when
driving.
17. Hand over Hand Steering - Both hands work on moving the wheel, with one hand
crossing over the other to continue the turn.
18. Inspectors Attitude - the viewpoint of the inspector about the vehicle.
19. Temporary Class D License - the standard driver's license in New York is a Class D
driver's license is the most common.
20. Juniors License - new drivers who are under the age of 18.
21. Insurance Responsibility - describes types of coverages to help protect you or your
business if someone files a lawsuit or reports a claim against your car.
22. Insurance Discounts - Insurance discounts for drivers who drive fewer miles per year.
Elderly Drivers/Road Debris
1. Arthritis - inflammation or swelling of one or more joints.
2. Dementia - the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes
with doing everyday activities.
3. Doctors Advice - the provision of a formal professional opinion regarding what a specific
individual should or should not do to restore or preserve health.
4.
Read Medicine Labels - tells you how to correctly take the medicine your healthcare
provider has recommended for your treatment plan.
5. Hearing/Sight Loss - the loss of vision and hearing due to old age.
6. Disoriented -occurs when you are confused about the time, where you are or even who
you are.
7. Silver Alert - activated when an elderly, or developmentally or cognitively-impaired
person has gone missing and is determined to be at-risk.
8. Road Hazards - anything harmful or dangerous on the road.
9. Unsecured Loads - load has not been fastened in or attached to the vehicle with tarps,
rope, straps, netting, or chains, so as to prevent any part of the load or covering used
from becoming loose, detached, or leaving the vehicle while the vehicle is moving.
10. Interstate Highways- a network of freeways and highways that cross over state lines.
11. Intra -State Highways- intrastate freeways and highways do not cross state lines and
begin and end within the same state.
12. Liability in Road debris Accidents- negligent driver is responsible for the item that fell off
of the car or truck and the resulting damage or personal injury.
13. Dangers of Commercial Vehicles- be careful of the blindspots of commercial vehicles
14. Collision Insurance- a type of auto insurance that can cover you in the event of a crash
or accident with another vehicle or object if your car needs to be repaired.
15. Uninsured Motorist Insurance - covers your injuries, your passengers' injuries, and
damage to your vehicle if you're hit by a driver who doesn't have enough or has no auto
insurance coverage.
16. Police Report- created by a law enforcement officer who responds to the scene of a car
accident, and it includes crash-related details, statements from those involved in the
accident (and from witnesses), and other key information.
17. Under Inflated/Over Inflated Tires- tires that have too much air/tires that have too little
air.