Washington State Driver Guide PDF

Signal when you slow down – Your brake lights let people know that you are slowing down. Always slow down as early as it is safe to do so. If you are going to stop or slow down at a place where another driver does not expect it, tap your brake pedal three or four times quickly to let those behind yo...

Signal when you slow down – Your brake lights let people know that you are slowing down. Always slow down as early as it is safe to do so. If you are going to stop or slow down at a place where another driver does not expect it, tap your brake pedal three or four times quickly to let those behind you know you are about to slow down. Signal when you slow down: to turn off a roadway which does not have separate turn or exit lanes. to park or turn just before an intersection. Following traffic expects you to continue to the intersection. to avoid something in the road, stopped traffic, or slowing vehicles that a driver behind you cannot see. Adjusting to Road Conditions The faster your vehicle is going, the more distance it will take to turn, slow, or stop. For example, at 60 mph it may take you three times as far to stop as it takes to stop at 30 mph. Driving safely means obeying speed limits and adjusting for road and traffic conditions. There are various road conditions when you must slow down to be safe. For example, you must slow down before a sharp curve, when the roadway is slippery, or when there is standing water on the road. The only contact your vehicle has with the road is through the tires. The quality of the tire’s traction with the road depends on the type and condition of the tires and road surface. Many drivers do not pay enough attention to the condition of their tires or to the condition of the roadway. It is important that your tires are in good condition and has enough air. See the vehicle owner’s manual for correct tire pressure. You do not have as much traction on gravel or dirt roads as you do on concrete or asphalt roads. When driving on gravel or dirt, you must slow down. It will take you much longer to stop and it is much easier to skid when turning. 4-19 Curves – A vehicle can travel much faster in a straight line than it can in a curve. It is easy to go too fast in a curve. If you go too fast, the tires will not be able to grip the road and the vehicle will skid. Always slow down before you enter a curve so you do not have to brake in the curve. Braking in a curve can cause the vehicle to skid. Slippery roads Slow down at the first sign of rain, snow, or sleet. These weather conditions create additional hazards and risks on the roadway. When the road is slippery, the vehicle’s tires do not grip as well as they do on a dry road. On a wet road, you should reduce your speed about 10 mph. On packed snow, you should cut your speed in half. Use snow tires or chains when the road has snow on it and any time it is required on posted signs. On ice, you must slow to a crawl. It is very dangerous to drive on ice. If possible, do not drive when the roads are icy. In Washington, studded tires are legal during winter months. Tires that have retractable studs may be used year-round, but the studs: can only be used between November 1 and March 31. must retract to below the wear bar of the tire when disengaged. Some road surfaces are slippery at certain times or places. Here are some clues to help you spot slippery roads: on cold, wet days, shady spots can be icy. These areas freeze first and dry out last. overpasses and other types of bridges can have icy spots. The pavement on bridges can be icy even when other pavement is not. This is because bridges do not have earth underneath them to help insulate against the cold. when the temperature nears the freezing point, ice can become wet. This makes it more slippery than at temperatures well below freezing. if it starts to rain on a hot day, pavement can be very slippery for the first few minutes. Heat causes the oil in the asphalt to come to the surface. The road is more slippery until the oil washes away. 4-20 Water on the roadway – When it is raining or the road is wet, most tires have good traction up to about 35 mph. However, as you go faster, your tires will start to ride up on the water, like water skis. This is called “hydroplaning.” In a heavy rain, your tires can lose all traction with the road at about 50 mph. Bald or badly worn tires will lose traction at much lower speeds. The best way to keep from hydroplaning is to slow down when the road is wet. If it feels like your tires have lost traction with the surface of the road you should: ease your foot off the gas pedal. keep the steering wheel straight. Only try to turn if it is an emergency. If you must turn, do it slowly or you will cause your vehicle to skid. do not try to stop or turn until your tires are gripping the road again. Adjusting to Traffic Collisions involving two or more vehicles often happen when drivers go faster or slower than other vehicles on the road. Depending on the conditions of the roadway, reduce risk and avoid hazards by creating time and space around your vehicle by controlling your speed, adjusting lane position, and using best possible communication options such as turn signals, headlights, or hand signals, if necessary. ee ace wit traffic If you are going faster than traffic, you will have to keep passing others. The vehicle you are passing may change lanes suddenly, or on a two-lane road, an oncoming vehicle may appear suddenly. Slow down and keep pace with other traffic. Going much slower than other vehicles can be as hazardous as speeding. It tends to make vehicles bunch up behind you and causes the other traffic to pass you. Either drive faster or consider using another road with slower speeds. If you are driving a slow moving vehicle on a two-lane road where it is unsafe to pass, and five or more vehicles are in 4-21 a line behind you, you must pull over and stop when safe to let them pass. ntering into traffic When you merge with traffic, signal, and enter at the same speed that traffic is moving. High-speed roadways generally have ramps to give you time to build up your speed for merging into traffic. Do not drive to the end of the ramp and stop or you will not have enough room to get up to the speed of traffic. Additionally, drivers behind you will not expect you to stop and you may be hit from the rear. If you have to wait for space to enter a roadway, slow down on the ramp so you have some room to speed up before you have to merge. eaving traffic Keep up with the speed of traffic as long as you are on the main road. If the road you are traveling has exit ramps, do not slow down until you move onto the exit ramp. When you turn from a high speed, two-lane roadway, try not to slow down too early if you have traffic following you. Tap your brakes and reduce your speed quickly but safely. ow moving traffic Some vehicles cannot travel very fast or have trouble keeping up with the speed of traffic. If you spot these vehicles early, you have time to change lanes or slow down safely. Slowing suddenly can cause a collision. Watch for large trucks and small underpowered cars on steep grades or entering traffic. They can lose speed on long or steep hills and it takes longer for them to get up to speed when they enter traffic. Farm tractors, animal-drawn vehicles, and roadway maintenance vehicles usually go 25 mph or less. These vehicles should have a slow-moving vehicle decal (an orange triangle) on the back. Trouble spots Wherever people or traffic gathers, room to maneuver is limited. Here are some of the places where you may need to slow down: s o ing centers ar ing ots and downtown areas These are busy areas with vehicles and people stopping, starting, and moving in different directions. rush hours Heavier commute times often have heavy traffic and drivers that always seem to be in a hurry. 4-22 narrow bridges and t nne s other are closer together. Vehicles approaching each toll plazas Vehicles are changing lanes and preparing to stop, then speed up again when leaving the pla a. The number of lanes could change both before and after the pla a. sc oo s aygro nds ar s and residentia streets These areas often have children present. Always be alert for children crossing the street, running, or riding into the street without looking. rai road crossings Always treat railroad crossings with caution trains often can’t be heard as they approach. Never go around activated crossing arms, even if you’ve seen a train pass in one direction, and never try to outrun an oncoming train, they are heavy and can’t stop as quickly as vehicles can. wor ones – Slow down and pay attention to orange warning signs, expect slowdowns or stopped traffic and obey directions from flaggers. Most work one crashes are due to speeding, following too closely or distracted driving. Traffic fines are double in the work ones and recklessly endangering workers, other motorists or property in a work one could lead to a -day license suspension. How Well Can You See? If something is in your path and you need to stop, you need to see it in time to be able to stop. It takes much longer and further to stop than many people think. If you have good tires and brakes and dry pavement: at 5 mph, it can take about feet to react to something you see and bring your vehicle to a stop. That is about the length of a city block. At mph, it can take about 2 feet to react and stop. That is almost half a city block in length. If you cannot see feet ahead, it means you may not be driving safely at 5 mph. If you cannot see 2 feet ahead, you may not be driving safely at mph. By the time you see an object in your path, it may be too late to stop without hitting it. 4-23 Here are some things that limit how well you can see and tips you can follow to be a safer driver. Dar ness It is harder to see at night. You must be closer to an object to see it at night than during the day. You must be able to stop within the distance you can see ahead with your headlights. Your headlights will let you see about feet ahead. You should drive at a speed that allows you to stop within this distance or about 5 mph. Rain fog or snow In a very heavy rain, snowstorm, or thick fog, you may not be able to see much more than 2 feet ahead. When you cannot see any farther than that, you cannot safely drive faster than mph. In a very heavy downpour, you may not be able to see well enough to drive. If this happens, pull off the road in a safe place and wait until it clears. i s and c rves You may not know what is on the other side of a hill or just around a curve, even if you have driven on the road many times. If a vehicle stalls on the road just over a hill or around a curve, you must be able to stop. Whenever you come to a hill or curve, where you cannot see over or around, adjust your speed so you can stop if necessary. Par ed ve ic es Vehicles parked along the side of the road may block your view. People may be ready to get out of a vehicle or walk out from between parked vehicles. Give parked vehicles as much room as you can. ig t distance r e Drive at a speed where you can always safely stop. To tell if you are driving too fast for conditions, use the Four-Second Sight Distance Rule. Pick out a stationary object as far ahead as you can clearly see (such as a sign or a telephone pole). Start counting: one-one-thousand, two-onethousand, three-one-thousand, four-one-thousand. If you reach the object before you finish saying four-one-thousand, you need to slow down. You are going too fast for your sight distance. The Four-Second Sight Distance Rule allows you to cope with a countless number of dangerous moments drivers operate in and out of on a continual basis. You should also use the Four-Second Sight Distance Rule at night to make sure you are not over-driving your headlights. 4-24 eed imits You must comply with speed limits. They are based on the design of the road and the types of vehicles that use them. They take into account things you cannot see, such as side roads and driveways where people may pull out suddenly, and the amount of traffic that uses the road. Remember, posted speed limits are for ideal conditions. If the road is wet or icy, if you cannot see well, or if traffic is heavy, then you must slow down. Even if you are driving under the posted speed limit, you can get a ticket for traveling too fast under these conditions. Keep Right Except to Pass On roadways with multiple lanes going in the same direction, the law requires you to keep right except to pass. Travelling in the far left lane when you’re not passing is dangerous. It frustrates other drivers and may contribute to road rage and aggressive driving behavior. Sharing Space You must always share the road with others. The more distance you keep between yourself and everyone else, the more time you have to react in an emergency. This space is like a safety cushion. The more you have, the safer it can be. This section describes how to make sure you have enough space around you when you drive. 4-25 Space Ahead Rear-end collisions are very common. If you follow too closely and the vehicle in front of you slows or stops suddenly, you may not have enough time to avoid a collision. If you are driving at 30 mph or less, a following time of two to three seconds may be enough to stop safely. However, at higher speeds, the best rule to use is the four-second rule. Maintaining a following time of four seconds improves your line of sight, allows more time to avoid hazards or risks, and gives an idea of path of travel problems that may arise from other vehicles, weather conditions, or unforeseen emergencies or situations. Watch when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes a sign, pole, or any other stationary point. Count the seconds it takes you to reach the same spot: oneone-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, fourone-thousand. You are following too closely if you pass the mark before you finish counting. If so, drop back and then count again at another spot to check the new following distance. Repeat until you are following no closer than four seconds. There are situations where you need more space in front of your vehicle. In the following situations, you may need a longer following distance to be safe: on slippery roads – Because you need more distance to stop your vehicle on slippery roads, you must leave more space in front of you. If the vehicle ahead suddenly stops, you will need the extra distance to stop safely. when the driver behind you wants to pass – Slow down to allow room in front of your vehicle. Slowing will allow the pass to be completed sooner. when following motorcyclists or bicyclists – If the motorcycle or bicycle rider should fall, you need extra distance to avoid the rider. The chances of a fall are greatest on wet or icy roads, gravel roads, or metal surfaces such as bridges, gratings, or streetcar or railroad tracks. 4-26 when following drivers who cannot see you – The drivers of trucks, buses, vans, or vehicles pulling campers or trailers may not be able to see you when you are directly behind them. They could stop suddenly without knowing you are there. Large vehicles also block your view of the road ahead. Falling back allows you more room to see ahead. when you have a heavy load or are pulling a trailer – The extra weight increases your stopping distance. when it is hard for you to see – When it is hard for you to see ahead because of darkness, bad weather, or large vehicles, you need to increase your following distance. when followed closely – When being followed closely, you should try to allow extra room. You will then be able to stop without being hit from behind. when following emergency vehicles – Police vehicles, ambulances, and fire trucks need additional room to operate. Do not follow closer than 5 feet to a fire truck. when approaching railroad crossings – Leave extra room behind vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, including transit buses, school buses, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials. when stopped on a hill or incline – Leave extra space when stopped on a hill or incline. The vehicle ahead may roll back when it starts up. Space Behind To maintain a safe distance behind your vehicle, be aware of the vehicle behind you, if it is following closer than 4 seconds, and whether or not the vehicle is closing in. Additionally, keep a steady speed, and signal in advance of turning. Stopping to pick up or let off passengers –Find a safe place, out of traffic, to stop. Parallel parking – If you want to parallel park and there is traffic behind you, put on your turn signal, pull next to the space, and allow following vehicles to pass before you park. 4-27 Driving slowly – When you have to drive so slowly that you slow down other vehicles, pull to the side of the road when safe to do so and let them pass. There are turnout areas on some two-lane roads you can use. Other two-lane roads sometimes have passing lanes. Being tailgated – If you are being followed too closely and there is a right lane, move over to the right. If there is no right lane, wait until the road ahead is clear then reduce speed slowly. This will encourage the tailgater to drive around you. Never slow down quickly to discourage a tailgater. Doing that increases your risk of a collision from behind. Space to the Side You need space on both sides of your vehicle to have room to turn or change lanes. Be ready to adjust your speed and position, if necessary. Avoid driving next to other vehicles, especially large trucks, on multi-lane roads. Someone may crowd your lane or try to change lanes and pull into you. Move ahead, drop back behind the other vehicle, or change lanes. Always check your blind spot when changing lanes. A vehicle occupying your blind spot creates risk. If road or traffic conditions on one side of your vehicle changes, check the opposite side in case you need to respond quickly to a new hazard or risk. Keep as much space as you can between yourself and oncoming vehicles. On a two-lane road, this means not crowding the centerline. Generally, it is safest to drive in the center of your lane. Make room for vehicles entering a roadway that has two or more lanes. If there is no one next to you, move over a lane. Keep extra space between your vehicle and parked cars. Someone could step out from a parked vehicle, from between vehicles, or a parked vehicle could pull out. Use caution when approaching a stopped tow truck or roadside assistance, emergency, or police vehicle that is using flashing lights or sirens. On highways with at 4-28 least four lanes, two of which are for traffic moving in one direction, change lanes or move away from the stopped vehicle, if it is safe to do so. On highways with less than four lanes, slow down, and pass to the left, if it is safe to do so. To reduce risk, choose a lane with the most open space to the left and right of your vehicle. Give extra space to pedestrians or bicyclists, especially children. They can move into your path quickly and without warning. Do not share a lane with a pedestrian or bicyclist. Wait until it is safe to pass in the adjoining lane. Split the difference between two hazards. For example, steer a middle course between oncoming and parked vehicles. However, if one is more dangerous than the other, leave a little more space on the dangerous side. For example, if the oncoming vehicle is a tractor-trailer, leave a little more room on the side that the truck will pass. When possible, take potential hazards one at a time. For example, if you are overtaking a bicycle and an oncoming vehicle is approaching, slow down and let the vehicle pass first so that you can give extra room to the bicycle rider. 4-29 Space to Merge Anytime you want to merge with other traffic, you need a gap of about four seconds. If you move into the middle of a four-second gap, both you and the vehicle behind you have a two-second following distance. You need a four-second gap whenever you change lanes, enter a roadway, or when your lane merges with another travel lane. Do not try to merge into a small gap. A small gap can quickly become smaller and dangerous due to the lack of space if the driver in front needs to stop or slow down. If you want to move over several lanes, take them one at a time. Like going up or down stairs one-step at a time, it is safest and easiest to merge one lane at a time. When other traffic is trying to merge into your lane, move to another lane to give them space when it is safe. Space to Cross or Enter When you cross traffic, you need a large enough gap to get all the way across the road. When you enter traffic, you need enough space to first turn and then to get up to speed. When you cross traffic, you need room to get all the way across. Stopping halfway across is only safe when there is a median divider large enough for your vehicle. Do not stop in a divider where part of your vehicle is sticking into traffic. If you are turning left, make sure there are no vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians blocking your path. You do not want to be waiting for a path to clear while stuck across a lane that has vehicles coming toward you. Even if you have a green light, do not start across an intersection if there are vehicles blocking your way. If caught in the intersection when the light changes to red, you will block traffic. You can get a ticket for blocking an intersection. Never assume another driver will share space with you or give you space. For example, do not turn just because an approaching vehicle has a turn signal on. The driver may plan to turn after they pass your vehicle or may have 4-30 forgotten to turn the signal off from a prior turn. This is particularly true of motorcycles because their signals often do not cancel by themselves. Wait until the other driver actually starts to turn, then proceed. When you cross railroad tracks, ensure you can cross without stopping on the tracks. Space to Pass Whenever signs or road markings permit you to pass, you will have to judge whether you have enough room to pass safely. Do not count on having enough time to pass several vehicles at once. Be safe. Generally, only pass one vehicle at a time. Oncoming vehicles – At a speed of 55 mph, you need about ten seconds to pass another vehicle. That means you need a ten-second gap in oncoming traffic and sight-distance to pass. You must judge whether you will have enough space to pass safely. When passing another vehicle on a two-lane roadway, you must return to the right side of the roadway when there is enough room between you and the vehicle you have passed. At 55 mph, you and an oncoming vehicle will travel over 800 feet in ten seconds. That means you need over 1600 feet or about one-third of a mile to pass safely. It is hard to judge the speed of oncoming vehicles at this distance. They do not seem to be coming as fast as they really are. A vehicle that is far away generally appears to be standing still. In fact, if you can actually see that it is coming closer, it may be too close for you to pass. If you are in doubt, wait to pass until you are sure that there is enough space. Hills and curves – You have to be able to see at least onethird of a mile or about 15 seconds ahead. Assume there is an oncoming vehicle out of sight if your view is blocked by a curve or a hill in the roadway. Do not start to pass if you are within one-third of a mile of a hill or curve. Intersections – It is dangerous to pass where a vehicle is likely to enter or cross the road. Such places include intersections, railroad crossings, and shopping center 4-31 entrances. While passing, your view of people, vehicles, or trains can be blocked by the vehicle you are passing. Drivers turning right, into the approaching lane, will not expect to find you approaching in their lane. They may not even look your way before turning. Large trucks, buses, and vehicles pulling trailers swing wide and sometimes must cross the centerline to make turns. Do not crowd the intersection or attempt to pass these vehicles, especially on the right side. Lane restrictions – Before you pass, look ahead for road conditions and traffic that may cause other vehicles to move into your lane. You might lose your space for passing because of: – people walking or bicycling on the road or shoulder. – a narrow bridge or other situation that causes reduced lane width. – ice, a pothole, or something on the road. Space to return – Do not pass unless you have enough space to return to the driving lane. Do not count on other drivers to make room for you. Railroad grade crossing – Do not pass if there is a railroad grade crossing ahead. 4-32 When you return to the driving lane, be sure to leave enough room between you and the vehicle you have passed. When you can see both headlights of the vehicle you just passed in your rearview mirror, it is safe to return to the driving lane. Space for Bicyclists The safety of bicyclists on the road is a responsibility shared by both motorists and bicyclists. All bicyclists have the same rights, duties, and responsibilities of a motor vehicle driver. Motorists and riders who do not obey traffic laws can be ticketed. Sharing the road with bicyclists – Every year, over 38,000 bicyclists are killed or injured in the United States. It is essential that motorists understand their responsibility to do their part for safety on the road. A driver who seriously injures or kills a vulnerable road user (pedestrian or bicyclist) may be subject to civil as well as criminal penalties. Drivers must stop for bicyclists crossing in a painted or unpainted crosswalk when the bicyclist is within one lane of their half of the roadway (See diagram under Right-of-Way). Drivers crossing a sidewalk must yield to bicyclists on the sidewalk. Bicyclists riding on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk have the same rights and duties as a pedestrian. Bicycle lanes are marked with solid white lines. Drivers must yield to bicyclists in a bicycle lane. Do not drive in a bicycle lane except when making a turn or when you need to cross the bicycle lane to park near the curb. Never park in a bicycle lane. At intersections, drivers must yield to bicycle riders, the same as you would for any motorist. Allow at least three feet of space between any portion of the vehicle and the bicycle when overtaking or passing a bicyclist. Pass to the left of a pedestrian or bicyclist that is on the right hand shoulder or bicycle lane at a distance that will clearly avoid coming into contact with them. Until you are safely 4-33 clear of the bicyclist, do not return to the right side of the road. Do not drive on the left side of the roadway when you see an approaching pedestrian or bicyclist if the width or condition of the roadway, shoulder, or bicycle lane makes it unsafe. If parked at a curb, look before you open any door in the path of a car, bicyclist, or pedestrian. Drivers must take responsibility for knowing the laws that apply to bicyclists and for operating their vehicles safely. In addition to state law, the following safety tips will help motorists prevent injuries and collisions with bicyclists. Look for bicyclists – Scan intersections before entering or turning and yield to bicyclists when necessary. When changing lanes, making turns, or when backing, motorists need to check carefully for bicyclists out of their normal range of view. Use the “Dutch Reach” (see above under Parking) to position yourself to look back before opening the door. Create a safety buffer with space – Do not attempt to share a lane with the bicyclist. Follow the bicyclist and wait for a safe opportunity to pass. If there is more than one lane for traffic proceeding in the same direction, move the vehicle to the lane to the immediate left, if the lane is available and moving into the lane is reasonably safe. The higher the speed limit the more important this additional space is. When calculating passing space, remember to think about projecting mirrors, loads, and other potential hazards that are part of your overall vehicle space. Create a safety buffer with time – Recognize that a bicyclist may be traveling faster or slower than you estimate or may need to change position in the lane to avoid a hazard you can’t see. By leaving extra space you also create time in which you can react safely and avoid seriously injuring or killing someone. Think before you pass – If you are about to make a right turn, do not pass a bicyclist immediately before the turn; slow down and let the bicyclist clear the intersection before making your turn rather than cutting in front of the rider. Be careful after you have passed a bicyclist. Do not slow down or stop quickly. A 4-34