Pennsylvania: Cheat Sheet

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Road signs

At a STOP sign you must stop completely, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, and clear the intersection before you go again; slowing down without a full stop is illegal.
At a YIELD sign, you stop only when it is necessary; otherwise proceed when you can do so safely without interfering with normal traffic flow.
The DO NOT ENTER sign is put at the beginning of one-way streets and ramps to tell you not to drive onto that street or ramp in the direction you are heading.
In a lane controlled by a turn arrow and the word "ONLY," you must make the turn shown, even if you are in that lane in error.
A SPEED LIMIT sign indicates the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions for the stretch of highway where it is posted.
The WINDING ROAD (SERIES OF CURVES) sign indicates there are three or more curves in a row on the road ahead.
Do not enter a low clearance area if your vehicle is taller than the height listed on the sign.
A downward-pointing arrow on a SCHOOL sign means you are at the school zone crosswalk; slow down, watch for children crossing, and stop if necessary.
A Right Hazard marker (for an object on the right side of the road) tells you to keep to the left.

Sign shapes and colors

The STOP sign is the only octagon-shaped (8-sided) sign you see on the highway.
YIELD signs are triangular (3-sided) in shape.
Warning signs are usually diamond shaped with black symbols or words on a yellow background.
The NO PASSING ZONE sign is the only pennant-shaped warning sign; it marks the beginning of a no-passing zone.
The SCHOOL sign is the only pentagon-shaped sign used on the roadway.
Work Zone signs are normally diamond shaped like warning signs, but they are orange with black lettering instead of yellow with black lettering.

Traffic signals

You may turn right on red unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted, but you must first stop and yield to pedestrians and other traffic.
A steady yellow light warns that red is coming; slow down and prepare to stop, unless you are within the intersection or cannot stop safely.
A steady red arrow means you must stop and may not turn in the direction the arrow points; wait for a green arrow or a flashing yellow arrow. The same turns-on-red allowed at a steady red light are allowed at a steady red arrow.
A flashing red light has the same meaning as a STOP sign: come to a complete stop, look both ways, and proceed only when the intersection is clear.
A flashing yellow light means caution: slow down, look, and proceed with care.
A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn in that direction with caution, but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians because the turn is not protected.
A non-functioning traffic signal should be treated as though it were a four-way STOP sign.
A steady red X over a lane means you are not allowed to use that traffic lane.

Pavement markings

Yellow lines divide traffic traveling in opposite directions and are used to mark the center of two-lane roads and the left edge of divided highways, one-way streets and ramps.
Solid white lines divide lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction and are also used to mark the right edge of the road.
A double, solid yellow centerline shows the center of a two-way road; even if it is not marked with a NO PASSING sign, passing by traffic in either direction is not allowed.
You may pass if the broken line is on your side of the road and safe conditions exist, but you may not pass when a solid yellow line is on your side.
YIELD or white triangles painted across the lane indicate you must yield to approaching traffic.
ONLY with a left or right arrow indicates the lane is reserved for turns only.

Right of way & turning

If two vehicles reach a four-way stop at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles going straight ahead.
Drivers entering a circular intersection must yield the right-of-way to drivers already in the circle.
A vehicle entering a public highway from an alley, private road or driveway must wait until the main road is clear.
You may not pass if you are within 100 feet of or are crossing any intersection or railroad grade crossing.
Traffic in a roundabout moves counterclockwise, so that all turns into and out of the circle are right turns.
If you are turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street, you may turn left on red after stopping, if traffic is clear and there is no NO TURN ON RED sign.

Alcohol & drugs

A driver 21 or older is considered driving under the influence if their BAC is .08 or higher.
A driver under 21 is considered to be driving under the influence if their BAC is .02 or greater.
You should consider one (1) drink to be 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of regular beer, or 5 oz. of wine.
Only time will 'sober you up' — you cannot reduce your blood alcohol concentration by drinking coffee, other caffeinated beverages, or taking a cold shower.
The Implied Consent Law says you have agreed to take a chemical test of breath or blood just by being licensed to drive in Pennsylvania.
Refusing one or more chemical tests after a DUI arrest results in an automatic one-year suspension.

Speed & following distance

A 4-second following distance will allow you to steer or brake to avoid a hazard safely on the highway, if the pavement is dry.
The manual states the maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania is 70 mph.
In school zones, the speed limit is 15 mph when the school zone sign's lights are flashing or during the posted time period.
You can hydroplane at speeds as low as 35 mph, when water is only 1/10 of an inch deep.
Reduce your speed by 5 to 10 mph on wet roads and increase your following distance to 5 to 6 seconds.
On packed snow, decrease your speed by half; on ice, slow to a crawl.

Emergencies and special situations

With ABS, maintain firm and continuous pressure on the brake pedal; the vehicle will not skid, and you should not pump the brake pedal.
Stay off of your brake after a blowout - braking will cause you to skid and lose control of your vehicle.
Six inches of water - about the length of a dollar bill - can cause some cars to lose control or stall.
The most important things to remember after a drop-off are: do not steer sharply, and do not brake suddenly.

Sharing the road

You must stop at least 10 feet away from a school bus stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
When passing, a driver must allow at least four feet between the vehicle and a bicycle to pass safely.
The No-Zone represents the danger areas around trucks and buses where crashes are more likely to occur, largely because you cannot be seen by the driver.

Pedestrian rights

Drivers must always yield to any blind pedestrian carrying a white cane or being led by a guide dog.
The manual instructs drivers to yield to pedestrians crossing at intersections or in crosswalks.

Railroad crossings

You are required to stop when there is any signal of an approaching train: flashing red lights, a lowered gate, a flagger signaling, or the train's audible signal.
Never stop on a railroad track; if traffic is backed up, make sure you stop your vehicle in a location entirely clear of the tracks.

Emergency vehicles & work zones

You must pull over to the curb or side of the road and stop when you hear a siren or see an emergency vehicle's flashing lights approaching from any direction.
The Move Over law requires motorists to move into a lane that is not adjacent to an emergency response area and/or a disabled vehicle.
By law, you must turn on your vehicle's headlights, not just the daytime running lights, when driving through an active work zone.

Freeway driving

The manual is clear: if you miss your exit, take the next one. Backing up, stopping, or crossing the median are described as illegal and hazardous.
The manual notes that the entering driver is required to yield the right-of-way to traffic already on the highway, even though other drivers may courteously make room.
The manual stresses that to maintain control on curves, you must slow down before you enter the curve, not after.

Parking rules

The manual lists 15 feet of a fire hydrant as a place you may never stop, stand, or park.
You may not stop, stand, or park within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.

Seat belts & child safety

Pennsylvania law requires all drivers and front seat passengers in cars, light trucks, and motor homes to wear seat belts.
Children under age 4 must be buckled into a federally-approved child safety seat secured to the vehicle by the seat belt or LATCH system, no matter where they ride.
Children ages 4 and older but under 8 must be buckled into a federally-approved booster seat secured by the seat belt system and used with lap and shoulder belts.

Distracted driving

Violating the anti-texting law is a primary, summary offense with convictions carrying a $50 fine.
A distraction is anything that causes you to take your attention away from driving, your eyes off the road, or your hands off the wheel.

Signals & vehicle controls

State law requires headlight use when you cannot see pedestrians or vehicles on the highway for a distance of 1,000 feet ahead.
You must always use your turn signals at least 100 feet before turning, if you are driving less than 35 mph.

Licensing basics

Drivers under 18 must complete at least 65 hours of behind-the-wheel skill-building, including no less than 10 hours of nighttime driving and 5 hours of bad-weather driving, before the Road Test.
Junior license holders may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse who is 18 or older is with them.
The Knowledge Test consists of 18 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer 15 correctly to pass.

Driving record & points

PennDOT begins corrective action when a driving record reaches six (6) or more points.
Three points are removed from a driving record for every 12 consecutive months without a suspension, revocation, or qualifying violation.

Financial responsibility & insurance

Pennsylvania law requires you to maintain automobile liability insurance on your registered vehicle at all times.