There are four kinds of signs:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Warning (yellow)
Guidance (green or brown)
Information (blue or brown)
Regulation (white or black)
You should also know the shapes of the signs:
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Octagon: stop sign only
Horizontal rectangle: guide
Vertical rectangle: regulatory
Triangle: yield sign only
Pennant: no passing zone
Diamond: warning, caution
Pentagon: school sign only
Round: railroad only
Red: stop or prohibition
Green: direction, guidance, movement
Blue: services
Yellow: warning
White with black lettering: regulation
Orange: construction zone
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Brown: public information
You may make a left turn at a red light only from a one-way street into another
one-way street and only after you come to a complete stop and yield to any traffic
and pedestrians.
At a flashing red light, stop and yield to other vehicles and
pedestrians prior to starting up again.
At a flashing yellow light, slow down and be prepared to stop if
needed.
At a green arrow with a red light showing, you should proceed in
the direction of the arrow and yield to all pedestrians.
Pedestrian Safety Tips
Pedestrians should follow these important safety tips:
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Use crosswalks when available.
Watch when entering a roadway you want to cross.
Obey laws when walking or jogging on a roadway.
Wear colors that stand out at night.
Carry a flashlight.
When on a roadway, walk facing traffic.
In addition, bicyclists must follow these safety rules:
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Ride to the far right side of the lane on a two-way street.
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On a one-way street with two or more lanes, a bicyclist may ride in the left
lane.
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Bicyclists riding side-by-side may not impede the flow of traffic.
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Bicyclists should ride one-at-a-time, unless the bicycle is designed for
more than one passenger.
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Bicyclists should not carry any items which prevent them from keeping at
least one hand on the handlebars.
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Bicyclists may ride on the shoulders.
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Bicyclists may signal a right hand turn using either the left arm pointing up
or the right arm pointed horizontally.
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Every bicycle should be equipped with a brake.
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Bicycles used at night should be equipped with a white light in the front
visible at a distance of at least 500 feet, and a red reflector in the rear
visible from distance of 50 to 300 feet.
Bicyclists should also follow these safety tips:
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Wear an approved bicycle helmet.
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When riding on sidewalks, reduce speed and exercise caution.
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Do not weave in and out of parked cars.
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Move off the street to stop, park, or make repairs to your bicycle.
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Select your route according to your own bicycling skill and experience.
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Though not required, bicycles should be equipped with a mirror.
A solid white line will separate a marked traffic lane from an improved
shoulder. You may operate your vehicle on an improved shoulder to the
right of the main traveled portion of the roadway in the following situations:
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To stop or stand (at night, use your parking lights).
To accelerate prior to entering the main traveled lane of traffic.
To overtake and pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped on the
main traveled portion of the highway and is disabled or preparing to make
a left turn.
To allow other vehicles to pass that are traveling at a greater speed.
When permitted or required by an official traffic control device.
At any time to avoid a collision.
You may operate on an improved shoulder to the left of the main traveled
portion of the roadway in the following situations:
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To slow or stop when the vehicle is disabled.
When permitted or required by an official traffic control device.
To avoid a collision.
The following laws apply in the state of Texas:
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Children younger than 5 years old and less than 36” tall must be secured
in a child safety seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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Each person should use one seat belt.
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No more than 3 people should ride in the front seat (with a bench-style
seat).
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Everyone in the front seat must use some type of restraint.
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All persons in the passenger area of a vehicle who are at least 5 years of
age but younger than 17 years of age must use a seat belt.
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The driver of the vehicle is responsible for all passengers under the age of
17 who are not wearing a safety belt, provided the child is occupying a
seat that is equipped with a safety belt.
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All passengers above 15 years of age in the front seat of the vehicle are
held in violation themselves if they fail to wear a seat belt.
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You are exempt from the seat belt law if you have a written statement from
a licensed physician stating medical reasons for not wearing a seat belt, or
if you are on a route delivering newspapers.
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A seat belt extension must be purchased if the seat belt is too short.
Seat belts are not required for passengers riding in the cargo area of
vehicles with open beds. However, no one under the age of 18 may ride in
the bed of a pick-up or flatbed truck unless:
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The vehicle is being operated or towed in a parade or in an emergency.
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The vehicle is transporting farm workers from one field to another field on
a farm-to-market road, ranch-to-market road, or county road outside a
municipality.
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The vehicle is being operated on a beach.
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It is the only vehicle owned or operated by the members of a household.
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Persons riding in the cargo area of a vehicle must be considered a part of
the vehicle’s gross weight. Persons sitting in a rear open bed must sit on
the floor and in no other location.
Always follow these safe driving procedures at railroad
crossings:
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Obey railway warning signs. These may be in the form of a round
yellow sign with black markings; a white cross-buck with black
letters; or a railroad crossing gate with flashing lights.
Stop, look, and listen.
Obey signs, which are round and black and white.
Never stop on the tracks.
Remember, trains always have the right-of-way.
Listen carefully for audible signals or whistles (sometimes these are
not very loud). Turn down your radio, and open a window.
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Stop no closer than 15 feet from the track, and no further
than 50 feet from the track.
If you are parking parallel to the tracks, park no closer than 50 feet
away.
Call 1-800-772-7677 or notify the local police if you encounter
a railroad grade crossing signal problem.
The Safety Responsibility Act
was enacted to ensure that all drivers are financially responsible for the death,
injury, or property damage they may cause while operating a motor vehicle. All
owners and/or operators of motor vehicles in Texas must have at least the
minimum amount of liability insurance:
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$20,000 against the injury or death of one person
$40,000 against the injury or death of two persons
$15,000 against property damage
In order to comply with the Safety Responsibility Act, a driver must purchase
liability insurance or be self-insured under the provisions under the
Act. Evidence of financial responsibility must be presented to the proper
authorities at the time a person applies for a driver’s license, registers a motor
vehicle, or obtains a motor vehicle inspection certificate.
Every owner and/or operator of a motor vehicle in Texas, as a condition of
driving, is required to furnish upon request evidence of financial responsibility to
a law enforcement officer or to another person involved in an accident. You may
satisfy this requirement by presenting a liability policy with at least the minimum
amounts of coverage listed above, or with a standard proof of liability insurance
form (SR-22) promulgated by the Texas Department of Insurance and issued by
a liability insurer that includes:
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The name of the insurer
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The insurance policy number
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The policy period
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The name and address of each insured driver
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The policy limits or a statement that the coverage of the policy complies
with at least the minimum amounts of liability insurance required by law
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The make and model of each covered vehicle
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An insurance binder that indicates that the owner and/or operator is in
compliance with the act
Other acceptable forms of proof of financial responsibility include a copy of a
certificate issued by the Department of Public Safety showing that the vehicle is
self-insured, a copy of a certificate issued by the county judge showing that the
owner of the vehicle has on deposit with the county judge the sum of $55,000, or
a bond that is on file with the state treasurer.
If you fail to show proof of financial responsibility, you may receive a citation, and
upon conviction you are subject to a fine of between $175 and $375. Second
and subsequent violations may result in a maximum $375 fine and possible
driver’s license and vehicle registration suspensions. In addition, a police officer
may prevent a driver from further driving if no proof of insurance is shown.
Fictitious Inspection Certificates
The owner of a motor vehicle on which a fictitious inspection certificate (or one
issued for another vehicle) is displayed commits an offense if the vehicle is
operated or parked on a public highway. This offense is punishable by a fine of
between $100 and $200, unless the fictitious certificate is a vehicle emissions
inspection certificate, in which case it is a Class B misdemeanor.
A police officer may impound a vehicle displaying a fictitious vehicle emissions
certificate that is operated or parked upon a public roadway.
The third week of April is National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness
Week. Just as the pink ribbon symbolizes breast cancer awareness and the red
ribbon AIDS awareness, the green ribbon has come to represent sharing the gift
of life through organ and tissue donation. Everyone is encouraged to plan ahead
and discuss with their families their choice to “PASS IT ON" and be an organ
donor. The decision to donate is often hard for families to make, and knowing
donor intentions to "PASS IT ON" will ensure that those wishes are followed.
When driving at night
do not overdrive your headlights. Use your high beam headlights on
roads when there are no other cars approaching you.
You must dim your headlights within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle,
and within 300 feet when you approach another vehicle from the
rear. When driving in cities or towns, use your low beam headlights.
When driving in sunny weather
keep your sun visor tilted toward the windshield. Remember, when driving
with the sun to your back, drivers of oncoming vehicles have the sun in
their eyes.
It is always a good idea to turn on your headlights early
This allows other vehicles to see you more easily.
A good rule is to stay at least two (2) seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you at
speeds less than 35 mph; stay at least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead of
you at speeds up to 45 mph; and stay at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle
ahead of you at speeds up to 70 mph.
Speed Control on Slippery Surfaces
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Keep below dry road speed when surfaces are slippery. Speed limits
are based on dry-road conditions. It takes four times as long to stop on a
wet road as it does on a dry road.
Keep a steady speed, below the speed you would normally drive on a dry
road, per the basic speed law. If driving in rain, drop your speed 5-10
miles per hour. Drive half the speed you would normally when driving in
snow, and if driving on ice, proceed at just a few miles per hour.
Reduce speed on curves and in shady areas if surfaces are wet, as
your traction will be lessened. If the corner is sharper or longer than you
thought, you may find yourself sliding or skidding into oncoming traffic, or
where black ice (a combination of water and the oil on the road freezing
over) may not have been melted by the sun.
Maintain a longer space cushion: 20 to 30 seconds when driving in
snow and ice. Until you have slithered helplessly, even at slow speeds for
yards at a time, you may not believe you need this much cushion room,
but you do.
Total stopping distance is measured from the point you first see
a problem to the point where your vehicle stops.
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Perception time is the amount of time it takes to identify a situation.
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Reaction time is how long it takes a driver to act after identifying a hazard
(the average time is 3/4 second, but that can be longer if the person is
tired, ill, or impaired).
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Reaction distance is how far a vehicle travels during the driver's reaction
time.
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Stopping distance equals the driver's perception and reaction distance
plus the vehicle’s braking distance.
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As your vehicle moves in the direction of a curve, your
body wants to go straight. This force increases with speed
and the degree of the curve.
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This is called centrifugal force. Centrifugal force tends to push a vehicle
out of a curve or turn it into a straight path. In order to maintain control on
curves, you must use your vehicle's controls to overcome the effects of
inertia. Gravity and friction must be strong enough to overcome
centrifugal force and keep the car on the curving or turning path.
The more energy of motion a car develops—that is, the faster it is
moving—the stronger its inertia. Therefore, the higher your car's speed,
the more it resists being turned from a straight path. In addition to vehicle
speed, there are other factors that affect the control you have over your
car on a curve. One is the sharpness of the curve. The sharper the curve,
the more difficult it is to overcome the car's inertia. Sharp curves require
lower speeds.
The slope of the road also affects how a car handles on a curve and how
difficult it is to overcome centrifugal force. On a banked curve, the road is
built up on the outside edge and slopes down toward the inside of the
curve. The downward slope reduces the car's tendency to slide toward
the outside of a curve.
On a crowned road, the middle is built up higher than the sides. The road
slopes down from the middle to each side. A car is more likely to pull
toward the outside of a crowned road. The inside of a crowned curve,
however, is almost the same as a banked curve.
A flat road has no slope at all, not even on curves. Therefore, the shape
of such a road is of no help in resisting centrifugal force. You should
reduce your speed significantly before entering a curve on a completely
flat road.
There may be an advisory speed sign posted to let you know what speed
is considered safe for taking the curve. You should always obey these
speed limits.
Vehicle weight also affects your ability to control a car on a curve. Added
cargo can increase a vehicle's energy of motion or change its center of
gravity. A heavily loaded car is harder to control on curves. Therefore,
reduce your speed on curves even more than usual when your car is
heavily loaded.
Simple reaction abilities only require the normal
reactions that drivers employ every day.
Complex reaction abilities require that drivers react to a
multitude of situations in a matter of seconds.
Your reaction abilities depend upon the physical capabilities
for quick movement of:
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Your feet—for accelerating or braking. It is best to have on footwear.
Your hands—for turning the steering wheel or signaling.
Your neck and head—for a quick head check of your blind spot.
Your reaction abilities also depend upon your mental
capabilities.
The greater your mental capabilities as a driver, the better you will
be able to:
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Identify problems.
Predict what might happen.
Decide on a safe action to take.
Execute the plan by taking some kind of controlled action.
Before beginning a trip, you should have your car checked and
put in good running order.
This should include at least the following tasks:
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Check your tires, air pressure, and brakes
Check your lights and signals
Check you windshield wipers and washer fluid
Check your mirrors
Check your oil, water, and fuel levels
Check your trunk for a spare tire, jack, tools, and emergency equipment
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IPDE
(Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute) is a very useful strategy for
driving.
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IPDE is a way of gathering, interpreting, and acting on traffic
information. It involves identifying possible hazards and predicting how
they may affect you and other highway users. Then, using this information,
you must decide what action to take to avoid a collision. Finally, you
execute, or carry out your decision