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Alaska: Cheat Sheet

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Licensing basics

  • The accompanying licensed driver must be at least 21 years of age.
  • A 16- or 17-year-old must have a valid instruction permit for 6 months before the DMV can issue a provisional Class D license.
  • The applicant’s parent, legal guardian, or employer must certify at least 40 hours of driving experience.
  • A provisional license holder may not operate a motor vehicle between 1:00 am and 5:00 am unless accompanied as described.
  • To qualify you must have, in each eye or with both eyes together, at least 20/40 vision.

Insurance and crash reports

  • The minimum is $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury or death.

Emergencies

  • Step 1 for every crash is to stop at once.
  • Within a municipality you immediately contact the local police department by dialing 911.
  • You report the crash to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 10 days.

Driving record and points

  • Accumulating 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months requires mandatory suspension or revocation.
  • Reckless driving is assigned 10 points on the schedule.

Alcohol and drugs

  • The threshold is .04 or higher if operating a commercial motor vehicle.
  • Driving in Alaska means you are consenting to a chemical test of your breath, which the manual calls implied consent.
  • The manual says the DMV will revoke your license, privilege to drive, or privilege to obtain a license.
  • The manual says a breath or blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more means you are presumed to be driving under the influence.
  • The first-offense administrative revocation is 90 days.
  • The misdemeanor penalty chart lists a 3 day jail sentence for a 1st conviction.
  • The manual says black coffee, fresh air, food, or a cold shower won’t sober you up; only time will help.

Seat belts and child safety

  • The manual says the driver is responsible for all passengers under the age of 16 years.
  • The law requires such a child to be properly secured in a rear-facing child safety seat that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards.
  • The law requires a booster seat secured by a seat belt system or another approved child passenger restraint system for a child of that age, height and weight.

Distracted driving

  • The "X the Text" tip says never to text and drive, surf the web or read email, and that it is dangerous and against the law in Alaska.
  • The manual states that it is illegal to drive with a visual screen device operating.

Speed and following distance

  • AS 28.35.140 requires drivers on a two-lane roadway outside an urban area to safely pull over when there are five or more vehicles immediately behind.
  • The manual says the easiest way to calculate a safe following distance is the four-second interval method.
  • The manual says to increase the four seconds to six or more when towing a trailer or when the road is wet or slippery.
  • The manual says the impact is 4 times greater at 40 mph than at 20 mph, even though many believe it would only double.
  • The speed laws set the maximum in a business district at 20 mph.
  • The speed laws set the maximum in a residential district at 25 mph.
  • The speed laws set the maximum on any other roadway at 55 mph.

Emergency vehicles and work zones

  • The manual says to give emergency vehicles on the shoulder additional safety by moving over, as it is the law.
  • The manual says to yield "whether a siren is in operation or not."
  • The manual says that on a four-lane road drivers must pull to the lane opposite the emergency vehicle or tow truck if it is safe to do so.

Signals and vehicle controls

  • The signal must be given continuously during the last 100 feet before turning.
  • The lighting law requires headlights from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.

Right-of-way and turning

  • The left turn steps say to yield to all oncoming vehicles and to pedestrians.
  • The driver of the vehicle on the left must yield to the driver of the vehicle on the right.
  • In a roundabout vehicles travel counterclockwise around a center island.
  • Approaching traffic must yield to traffic already in the circle.
  • You must stop and yield when entering a street or road from an alley, driveway, or building.
  • Right turns on red are permitted only after a full stop, when safe, and not restricted by a “No turn on red” sign.
  • The manual says to stop and yield to traffic approaching the intersection on your right.

Sharing the road

  • The manual says that when being passed it is unlawful to increase your speed.
  • Passing is not allowed when approaching within 100 feet of, or traversing, an intersection or railroad crossing.
  • Drivers approaching from the rear may not pass a school bus with flashing red lights and must stop completely before reaching it.
  • The manual says drivers on a highway with separated roadways of two or more lanes in each direction need not stop for a bus headed the opposite way.
  • The manual says to brake firmly but not swerve, because swerving can cause a vehicle-vehicle collision or hitting a pedestrian or fixed object.
  • The No-Zone is the blind spots around the front, back, and sides of trucks and buses, where crashes are more likely.

Pavement markings

  • You may not pass if the solid yellow line is in your lane.
  • Yellow markings separate traffic flow going in opposite directions.
  • White markings separate traffic going in the same direction.
  • Stop lines indicate the farthest point into the intersection an automobile may extend to allow a clear view of approaching traffic.

Sign shapes and colors

  • The manual lists the stop sign as white on red.
  • The manual lists warning signs as black on yellow.
  • Five-sided signs warn of school areas and school crosswalks.

Road signs

  • You make a complete stop before entering the intersection or at the stop line, and you stop behind the crosswalk.
  • The manual lists yielding right-of-way as part of obeying a stop sign.
  • A stop is required at a yield sign when necessary to avoid a pedestrian or traffic on the protected street.
  • The sign faces traffic entering a roadway or ramp in the wrong direction, and you must not proceed beyond it.
  • The page pairs the speed limit sign with the meaning "Do not exceed posted speed."
  • The manual says a red circle with a diagonal slash indicates prohibited movement.
  • The page pairs this sign with "Slow to 20 for school children."
  • The page pairs this sign with "Prepare to stop for flagger ahead."

Pedestrians

  • The manual tells pedestrians to walk on the left side of the highway facing oncoming traffic.
  • The motorist should always yield to the pedestrian.
  • Do not pass to the right or left of an automobile stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross.

Traffic signals

  • The manual says to stop behind the crosswalk, the stop line, or, if none, before entering the intersection.
  • The manual says a yellow ball means a red light is about to appear.
  • A red arrow means do not make the indicated movement; stop behind the crosswalk or stop line.
  • A flashing red ball is treated as a stop: stop, look in all directions, and go only when safe.
  • A flashing yellow ball means reduce speed and use caution, yielding to pedestrians and vehicles in the intersection.
  • You must follow the directions of a police officer, fireperson, or authorized flag person regardless of signs or signals.

Railroad crossings

  • The manual says the railroad crossbuck and warning sign means be prepared to stop for trains.
  • The manual says to stay in place until the gates are raised, and it is against the law to go around crossing gates.
  • The manual says that once outside you should run away from both the tracks and the vehicle.

Freeway driving

  • The manual says to use the acceleration lane to get up to cruising speed before attempting to merge into the traffic stream.
  • The manual says if you miss an exit you should not back up but go to the next exit.

Parking rules

  • The manual says that on a downhill you turn the front wheels toward the curb.
  • The manual lists 15 feet as the closest you may park to a fire hydrant.
  • The manual lists 20 feet as the closest you may park to a crosswalk or intersection.

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