New Hampshire: Cheat Sheet

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Road signs

Guide signs are square or rectangular and are green, brown, or blue.
If there is no stop line or crosswalk, the driver must come to a full stop before entering the intersection.
A yellow rectangular sign with a large black arrowhead is the Sharp Curve Ahead warning sign.
A yellow diamond showing a Y symbol warns of a Y-intersection ahead.
Interstate routes are numbered by code, and odd numbers are north/south routes.
A yellow diamond with an upward arrow and a curved line joining it is the Merging Traffic warning sign.
Speed limit signs are black and white and indicate the maximum legal speed allowed in ideal conditions.

Sign shapes and colors

The standard shape for a stop sign is the octagon, which has 8 sides.
The pentagon, with 5 sides, is the standard shape for a school zone and school crossing.
Brown is the standard sign color for tourist and recreation guidance.
Purple is the standard sign color for EZPass.
Red is the standard color for prohibition: stop or do not do something.

Traffic signals

Traffic control devices include signals, signs, pavement markings and directions provided by law enforcement, highway personnel and school crossing guards.
At a flashing yellow light, drivers should be prepared to stop for any traffic flow entering the intersection.
Even on a solid green light, drivers must yield to pedestrians and vehicles in an intersection.
Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal, pedestrians facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the roadway.
The exception for a right turn on a red signal applies only if no sign prohibits a right turn on red.
At a flashing red light drivers must come to a complete stop behind a stop line, crosswalk, or intersection before proceeding, yielding any right-of-way.

Right-of-way and turning

When making a left turn a driver should yield to oncoming traffic.
Before entering the roundabout drivers should pay close attention to the signs indicating exits and lane uses and to the pavement markings, then choose the appropriate lane to exit.
Drivers should not attempt to pass when the view is blocked by a curve or a hill.
A three-point turn should only be used on a two-lane roadway.
Drivers should take turns crossing a narrow or single lane bridge; generally the first driver to the bridge has the right-of-way.
Drivers should allow vehicles that have their headlights on while following a hearse to pass as a group.
Drivers should not attempt to pass before a highway-railroad crossing or bridge.

Alcohol and drugs

The manual says a driver is legally intoxicated at a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher.
The manual says impairment starts with the first drink.
The manual says a BAC level as low as .02% can affect a driver’s ability to drive.
The manual bars drivers under 21 from transporting liquor in any part of a vehicle except when accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or legal age spouse.
The manual says a first offense makes the person guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
The manual says pep pills, “uppers” and diet pills can make a person feel nervous, dizzy, unable to concentrate, and can affect the driver’s vision.

Speed and following distance

The 70 miles per hour limit applies only on the portion of I-93 from mile marker 45 to the Vermont border.
Following a larger vehicle too closely limits how far a driver can see, so a driver behind a large vehicle should adjust speed and road position.
The average perception time for an alert driver is ¾ second to 1 second.
Drivers should add at least two additional seconds to the following distance for driving on unfamiliar roadways at night.
Drivers should increase the following distance at night, in fog or in bad weather.
Hard braking after entry to a curve could cause the vehicle tires to lose traction.
Safe speed is determined by road conditions, visibility (night driving, rain, fog, snow, etc.), heavy traffic, fast moving traffic and the condition of the vehicle.

Licensing basics

A Youth Operator under 18 may not operate a motor vehicle between 1:00 am and 4:00 am.
Applicants who pass are issued a 60-day paper temporary driver's license.
Foreign citizens visiting the United States as a tourist are exempt if they hold a valid license from their home country.
If the out-of-state license has been expired for more than one year, the applicant must pass the vision, knowledge and road tests.

Signals and vehicle controls

If a vehicle coming from the opposite direction has its high beams on, the driver should look toward the right side of the road to avoid being distracted or momentarily blinded.
The manual says drivers' hands should be in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock, or the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions.
The law requires lighted front lamps from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, and whenever rain, snow or fog keeps persons and vehicles from being clearly seen at 1000 feet.
The manual says driving with an unsecured load is both against the law and extremely dangerous.

Pavement markings

Solid white lines mean drivers are prohibited from changing lanes or passing another vehicle.
White arrows are painted on some roadways to help guide drivers into the proper lanes for turning at intersections and through traffic.
After initially stopping, a driver should look both ways and proceed forward making sure it is safe to continue into the intersection.
The edge line is yellow on the left edges of one-way roads.

Highway and toll-road driving

Drivers should allow space for entering vehicles by moving over a lane or adjusting the speed of the vehicle.
On the highway, drivers should signal at least 500 feet before changing lanes or exiting the roadway.

Parking rules

The photo submitted to the local police department must be accompanied with a sworn statement.
After centering the vehicle in the space the driver moves to the front of the parking space, stops and secures the vehicle.
Any vehicle parked along a rural highway must be moved off the paved or main travelled portion of the road.
The driver should stop before touching the bumper of the vehicle to the rear, shift to drive and adjust the vehicle in the parking space.

Railroad crossings

A round warning sign with an X symbol (crossbuck) and black RR letters is placed along the road prior to a highway-railroad grade crossing.
The crossbuck (X) indicates where a railroad crossing is.
If there is more than one track at the crossing, the driver should not cross the tracks until there is a clear view of the tracks in both directions.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians must walk on the left side of the roadway facing oncoming traffic when there is no sidewalk.
Drivers should provide adequate stopping space for pedestrians in crosswalks, and space around the vehicle for bicyclists, children, joggers and pedestrians along the road.
Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks or at intersections even if no crosswalk lines exist at the intersection.

Sharing the road

The manual says to allow at least four seconds following distance when behind a motorcycle.
If a driver tries to get between the truck or bus and the curb, the vehicle can be squeezed and suffer a serious crash, so do not turn until the truck or bus has completed its turn.
Animal drawn vehicles and horseback riders have the same rights to use the road as a motor vehicle and must follow the same rules of the road.
The stopping rule applies at all times unless the roadway is separated by a physical barrier.

Seat belts and child safety

The manual exempts a school bus weighing in excess of 10,000 pounds, or one weighing less than 10,000 pounds not manufactured with safety belts.
The manual says safety restraints are required for anyone under the age of 18 in New Hampshire.

Vision, fatigue and distractions

The manual says that after 21 hours without sleep, performance mimics a BAC of 0.08%.
The manual says to concentrate on driving and be patient and courteous to other users of the road.
The manual advises leaving a few minutes early and planning for traffic congestion and/or poor weather conditions.

Emergencies and crashes

Drivers should not drive through large bodies of standing water on a road. If there is a flooded roadway, they should find another route to travel.
With a stuck accelerator, drivers should shift the vehicle into the neutral gear.
If a driver is uncertain whether the damage is over $1,000, it is recommended to file an Operator Report with the DMV to ensure compliance with the law.

Emergency vehicles and work zones

Drivers should reduce speed in work zones and be prepared to stop suddenly.
Drivers should use extreme caution when driving through a work zone at night whether workers are present or not.
Drivers must never stop inside the roundabout; they should move through, exit, pull over to the right and let the emergency vehicles pass.

Insurance

Failing to stop and report when involved in a crash is one of the convictions that requires proof of insurance (SR-22) for reinstatement.

Losing your license

For a first offense the period is a minimum of 20 days but not more than 40 days.
Under the Youth Operator law, the Director of Motor Vehicles may revoke or suspend, after a hearing, any original license held by a person under 20 years of age.