Driving Test Practice

Hawaii: Cheat Sheet

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Licensing basics

  • You must be at least 15½ years old to be eligible for an instruction permit.
  • During these hours an instruction permit holder must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Your driving record

  • People receiving traffic infraction citations may pay, write a statement, or appear in person.

Seat belts and child safety

  • All front and back seat occupants are required by law to use seat belts.
  • The manual says children under age 4 must be in a child restraint.

Signals and vehicle controls

  • The manual says to replace tires that have less than 1/16 inch of tire tread.
  • Signals must be given for at least 100 feet (30.5m) before you change lanes, turn or stop, which is about five car lengths.
  • The manual says the hazard warning signal should never be used when the vehicle is moving.

Age and driving

  • All drivers, including older experienced drivers, should have annual physical examinations.

Right-of-way and turning

  • The manual prohibits driving on the left half when approaching within 100 feet (30.5m) of or passing through an intersection or railroad crossing.
  • Do not pass on approaching a hill or curve where there is not 700 to 1000 feet (213m to 305m) of clear distance ahead.
  • Do not pass when approaching within 100 feet (30m) of or when traversing any intersection or railroad crossing.
  • The manual says to yield to the car on the right when vehicles approach at the same time.
  • When turning left, you must yield to all oncoming traffic that is so close as to be a hazard.
  • The manual says to yield to pedestrians and cars caught in the intersection when the light turns green.
  • The manual says to stop and yield when entering any public street or road from an alley, driveway or farmyard.
  • A roundabout is a one-way circular intersection in which entering traffic must yield the right-of-way to circulating traffic.
  • You drive to the right of the central island and proceed in a counterclockwise direction.
  • You never drive into an intersection or crosswalk unless there is space for your entire vehicle on the opposite side.

Railroad crossings

  • You must stop your vehicle not less than 15 feet (4.6m) from the nearest rail in the listed situations.
  • You must stop when a train approaching within 1,500 feet (460m) gives audible warning of its approach.

Speed and following distance

  • The basic law is that you must not drive at a speed that is greater than is reasonable and prudent.
  • You must not drive so slowly that you hold back other traffic; if you cannot keep up, pull off the roadway and let other traffic pass or change to another route.
  • Reduced speed limits are required at locations marked with a "School Crossing" sign when children are present.
  • If you get to the word two before your vehicle reaches the marker, you have at least a two second interval, and you should never have less.
  • The manual says to reduce speed, use extra caution, and allow at least twice the normal following distance.
  • Partial hydroplaning may start at 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) and increases with speed and the amount of water.
  • At 55 miles per hour in a heavy rain the tires may lose all contact with the pavement.
  • The manual says to reduce your speed so that you can stop within the distance you can see ahead.

Parking rules

  • Parking more than 12 inches (30cm) from the curb is prohibited.
  • Parking is prohibited where less than 10 feet (3m) of the width of the street remains for the free movement of traffic.

Emergency vehicles and work zones

  • You must provide a clear path for the emergency vehicle and stop, without panicking or jamming on the brakes.
  • You should slow down or stop as appropriate and move away so an empty traffic lane separates you from the emergency vehicle, if possible and safe to do so.

Sharing the road

  • The emblem is required on the rear of vehicles designed to operate at speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h) or less.
  • When passing a motorcycle, allow a full lane to the motorcycle and never crowd into the same lane.
  • The law requires drivers in the bus's lane and all adjacent lanes to stop before reaching the school bus.
  • Motorists should maintain at least 3 feet of space between the bicyclist and their vehicle until they have safely passed.

Pavement markings

  • You may cross a single broken yellow line to pass another vehicle when it is safe.
  • Double solid yellow lines mark the center of the roadway where passing is prohibited in both directions.
  • No passing lines are single solid yellow lines used on two-lane roads to indicate zones where passing is prohibited.
  • Single dashed white lane lines may be crossed when you can do so safely.
  • You MUST NOT cross a double solid white line.
  • The center lane marked by two-way left turn channelization markings must NEVER be used for passing.

Pedestrians

  • The manual says you must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
  • Drivers must stop for all blind persons in the roadway regardless of the traffic signal or situation.

Traffic signals

  • When there is no stop line, you must stop before entering any crosswalk.
  • After stopping, you may turn right except when a sign prohibits such movement.
  • After stopping you may turn left on a red light from a one-way street into a one-way street where traffic is moving to the left, except when a sign prohibits it.
  • A yellow light means that the red light is going to be shown immediately thereafter.
  • A green light means go straight ahead or turn except when signs prohibit turns.
  • A red flashing signal has the same meaning as a stop sign.
  • A yellow flashing signal means that you may proceed only with caution.
  • The red “X” means you must not use that lane because the lane is being used by traffic proceeding in the opposite direction.

Sign shapes and colors

  • The color red indicates that an action is prohibited.
  • The color yellow indicates a warning of hazardous or dangerous conditions.
  • The color orange indicates a warning concerning road work.
  • Green, blue and brown are used on guide and information signs, mostly rectangular.
  • A STOP sign is an 8-sided white on red sign.
  • A YIELD sign is a triangular red and white sign.
  • Speed limit signs are rectangular black and white signs.

Road signs

  • You must always bring your vehicle to a complete stop and yield to approaching traffic before proceeding.
  • You need to stop at a YIELD sign only when there is other traffic that has the right-of-way.
  • These signs give advance notice to slow your vehicle to a lower speed limit posted ahead.
  • The new speed limit begins at the next speed limit sign.
  • The pennant points to the beginning of the no-passing zone.
  • PASS WITH CARE signs indicate the end of a no-passing zone.

No-fault insurance

  • The mandatory liability coverage is $20,000 per person for bodily injury.

Alcohol and drugs

  • Black coffee, food or a cold shower might wake you up, but they will not sober you up.
  • Anyone operating a motor vehicle on the public highways in Hawaii is deemed to have consented to a test of the amount of alcohol in the blood.
  • The license is taken away and the driver is given a 30-day temporary driving permit.
  • Drivers under 21 may not operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .02 or more.
  • Refusal may result in revocation for one year, two years or four years, depending on prior alcohol enforcement contacts.
  • A driver is considered impaired at more than .05 percent but less than .08 percent.
  • Under the influence of alcohol means a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more.
  • Storing an opened alcoholic beverage container where the driver or passengers normally sit is prohibited on any public road.

Distracted driving

  • Even with “hands free” equipment, talking on a phone takes your attention away from driving and makes you less likely to notice a dangerous situation.

Emergencies

  • The manual says never to drive through a flooded area where water over one foot deep (30 cm) is moving swiftly, because it will sweep the vehicle off the road.
  • The manual says not to apply the brakes in a blowout because the vehicle may become uncontrollable.

Freeway driving

  • Through traffic should use the left or center lanes and move at or near the posted speed limit.
  • The manual says never to stop on the freeway unless it is absolutely unavoidable.

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