Oregon: Cheat Sheet

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Licensing basics

Prohibitive regulatory signs are red.
The manual lists the stop sign as an octagon.
Warning signs are yellow and alert you to known possible hazards or a change in road conditions ahead.
Guide or information signs are green and give exit information or show the direction of roads or cities.

A stop sign means you must come to a complete stop.
You should reduce speed and yield right of way, and stop if needed the same as for a stop sign.
A red circle with a slash mark means do not make the turn shown.
A High Occupancy Vehicle lane is reserved for vehicles carrying at least two or more persons, as noted on the sign.
A Stop Ahead sign means there is a stop sign ahead, so slow down and prepare to stop.
The school speed zone begins at the SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT 20 sign.
The School Hours Speed Limit sign applies between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a day school is in session.

A dark signal is treated like stop signs in all directions.
A steady red signal means stop and remain stopped until the signal changes.
After a complete stop you may turn right on red when entering a two-way road.
The manual says a flashing red signal is treated the same as a stop sign.
If you cannot stop safely at a steady yellow, you drive carefully through the intersection.
A flashing yellow signal means slow down and proceed with caution.
Left turns on a green signal must first yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

The manual lists 15 miles per hour for alleys.
Any business district is listed with the 20 miles per hour limit.
Within a school speed zone the limit set in law is 20 miles per hour.
Residential districts are listed with the 25 miles per hour limit.
The manual lists 55 miles per hour for all roads and highways not meeting any other definition unless otherwise posted.
The basic rule states you must drive at a speed that is reasonable and cautious for existing conditions.
The manual defines a safe following distance as 2-4 seconds.
For speeds greater than 30 mph, the safe following distance should be 4 seconds or more.

Yellow markings separate traffic moving in opposite directions (center line) and mark the left edge of one-way roads and ramps, two-way left turn lanes and painted medians.
A solid yellow line on your side of the lane indicates you are not allowed to pass.
A double solid yellow line means passing is not allowed for both directions.
If a two-way left turn lane has been provided, you must not make a left turn from any other lane.

A pass must be completed before you enter a no-passing zone.
The manual says to stop before reaching the bus and stay stopped until the driver turns off the flashing red lights.
On a divided highway with an unpaved median or barrier, you must stop only if you are on the same side of the road as the bus.
The manual requires a red flag at the end of any load extending 4 feet or more beyond the rear of the vehicle.

The manual says to use your turn signal at least 100 feet before the turn or lane change.
Headlights must be turned on from sunset to sunrise.
You must dim your lights when an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet.

For a left turn on a two-way road, approach with your vehicle in the lane just to the right of the center line.
Outside city limits, U-turns are prohibited where your vehicle cannot be seen within 1,000 feet.
Even with a green light, do not enter an intersection unless there is room for your vehicle on the other side.
When in doubt at an all-way stop, yield to the driver on your right.
Yield the right of way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching from your right.
A driver on a road that ends at a T intersection with no signs or signals must yield to drivers on the through road.
Traffic moves in one direction, counterclockwise, around the center island.
Before you enter the roundabout, you must yield to traffic inside as well as exiting the roundabout.

You must stop for pedestrians crossing at any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
There is a crosswalk at every intersection, even if painted lines do not mark it.

The manual says to slow down and be prepared to stop at emergency scenes.
You must yield right of way to emergency vehicles approaching from any direction using a light or siren.
The manual says not to stop in an intersection when yielding to an emergency vehicle.
The manual says traffic fines are doubled in all work zones.
The manual says the temporary speed posted in a work zone applies at all times, even if workers are not visible.

With no stop line, you stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail.
Activated flashing red lights are one of the cases when you must stop before the tracks.
The manual says it is against the law and extremely dangerous to drive around or under a gate while down or while being raised or lowered.

You must park parallel to the curb and no more than 12 inches from it.
You cannot stop or park within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
You cannot park within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Safety belt use is mandatory for all drivers and passengers in all available seating positions.
Children must stay in approved child safety seats until they are 8 years old or at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and the adult belt fits correctly.

Driving too fast for road conditions causes skids, which occur when the tires can no longer grip the road.
If a person is killed or unconscious, you must remain at the scene of the collision until police arrive.

It is illegal for drivers under 18 to use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle.
Drivers 18 or older must use a hands-free accessory to use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device.

If your BAC is 0.08% or more, Oregon law presumes you are impaired.
You can still be arrested even if your BAC is lower than 0.08%.
By driving a motor vehicle you have agreed to take a breath, blood, or urine test when asked by a police officer.
If you refuse a test, you may receive a fine, and/or your driving privileges could be suspended.
Oregon has a zero tolerance law: under 21, any amount of blood alcohol fails the test.
A container is considered open if its seal is broken, even if it has been reclosed.
The manual says any open bottles or containers should be in the trunk.

The required minimum is $25,000 per collision for one person.
The required minimum is $50,000 per collision for two or more persons.
The required minimum is $20,000 per collision for damage to the property of others.
A required collision report (Form 735-32) must be filed within 72 hours.

Too many traffic convictions (Driver Improvement Program) is a reason you can lose your driving privilege.