Tennessee: Cheat Sheet

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Road signs

A T-intersection sign means you must turn right or left and be prepared to yield.
A SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT sign means you must drive in the far right lane unless you are passing a slower car or making a left turn.
The marker gives the direction, the route and the log mile, here west bound on Interstate 40 at mile marker 205 and 2 tenths.
The reverse turn sign tells you the road turns right and then left.
Entering drivers in the added lane will not expect anyone to move into their path, so interstate traffic should avoid moving right there.
When you are sure no other cars are coming, you need not stop fully at a YIELD sign, but you must slow down and enter with caution.
A lane marked Transit or Buses is for bus use only.
The manual says the Highway 41 sign shows a U.S. highway route that reaches into another state.

Sign shapes and colors

Construction signs are generally diamond or rectangular, orange with black letters or symbols.

Traffic signals

A flashing yellow X means the lane is for turning only.
A steady yellow X means the use or direction of the lane is changing and you should move out as soon as it is safe.
A complete stop is required at a flashing red traffic light, just as at a stop sign.
An officer gives such an instruction only in an emergency when it is the only way to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely, for example letting a funeral procession go through a red light.
Signals promote better traffic movement by telling drivers who has the right of way.
Pedestrians may not cross on red or yellow, or on a red-green combined light, unless they face a WALK signal.

Right-of-way, turning and passing

Once inside a roundabout, you do not stop unless signs, signals or a traffic officer direct you to.
Backing into an intersection from a driveway is illegal.
The manual says to approach a left turn with the left side of the vehicle as close to the center line as possible.
Not cutting back soon enough risks a head-on collision.
The driver lets the bicyclist through the intersection first, and always signals turns.
The driver entering from a driveway, alley, parking lot or roadside yields to all vehicles already on the main road.
The manual says not to block intersections, and to enter only when you are sure you can finish the crossing.

Alcohol and drugs

Each drink within an hour increases BAC, regardless of your weight or the kind of alcoholic beverage.
Alcohol quickly reaches the brain and short-circuits the parts controlling judgment, emotions and confidence.
The restriction can last up to three years for a second offense.
Even a little alcohol makes a collision much more likely.
The penalties for a DUI arrest are the same whether the driver was drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
Judgment and vision are the two abilities most important to driving, and both are affected by small amounts of alcohol.

Speed and space

The manual recommends good treads on the front wheels to improve steering, and says snow tires are helpful.
The manual's example is a two-lane state highway at night in rain or fog, where 65 m.p.h. is too fast for the conditions.
The manual says exceeding the school zone speed limit is by law considered to be reckless driving.
Following too closely causes many multiple-car collisions, and higher interstate speeds call for even greater distances between cars.
Leaving yourself an out means keeping open space ahead and to at least one side so you can escape a conflict.
The gap gives a safety zone if the other vehicle rolls back or stalls, and a way out in an emergency.
After a bright oncoming light passes, the pupil needs time to readjust to dimmer light, and that delay is glare recovery time.

Licensing basics

An IDP must be obtained in the driver's home country.
New residents from other countries are allowed to keep their foreign license after taking the Tennessee tests.
The examiner asks whether you slow down as early as it is safe, rather than catching other drivers by surprise.
The driver license examination consists of a vision screening, a knowledge test, and a road test.

Health and driving

Skipping a meal, taking the wrong amount of insulin or a dosage adjustment can cause such a situation.

Vehicle controls and signals

The manual says to look over your shoulder through the rear window for a safe, clear path.
An arm bent downward with the palm facing back is the bicyclist’s signal for stopping or slowing.
The manual says to extend your hand and arm well out of the window and signal in plenty of time.
The owner’s manual may include a tire pressure chart and other important information.

Pavement markings

Reversible lanes, which carry traffic in opposite directions at different times, are usually marked by double-broken yellow lines.
The solid yellow line bars passing, but you may cross it to turn left into or out of an alley, intersection, private road or driveway.
The broken line on your side means a passing zone, where you may pass when it is safe.
A solid white line marks the right edge of the traffic lane.

Interstate driving

Drivers in any lane except the right lane, which is used for slower traffic, should be prepared to move to another lane to let faster traffic pass.
At a diamond interchange the exit ramp always comes before the interstate passes over or under the crossing road.
Unnecessary lane changes produce virtually no improvement in travel time; at best they slow all traffic and at worst cause crashes.

Parking rules

Parking upon any bridge or within a tunnel is illegal.
Parking on any part of an entrance or exit ramp, paved or unpaved, attended or not, is illegal unless the vehicle is disabled.
The handicap parking symbol is the international symbol of access for persons with a physical disability.
You steer sharply into the space and then straighten the wheels, centering the car in the space.

Railroad crossings

Flashing lights on a crossbuck mean a train is coming, so you must stop.
Railroad crossing signs signal drivers to slow down, look, listen and be ready to stop.

Pedestrians

You must stay stopped until the pedestrian has crossed the whole roadway on which you stopped.
Passing a car stopped for pedestrians is not allowed and is a frequent cause of pedestrian deaths.
The manual says drivers should be especially alert for young, elderly, disabled and intoxicated pedestrians, who are hit most often.

Sharing the road

A bicyclist who is overtaking and passing another vehicle should be allowed full use of the lane.
Trucks take much longer to stop than cars, so a driver must see the truck’s front in the mirror before pulling back in front.
Exhaust smoke, brake or back-up lights and turned wheels show that a vehicle may be about to move into your path.
Staying to the left in your lane lets the truck driver see you.
Aiming high means looking far down the road so you can spot traffic information early and make good decisions.

Seat belts and child safety

A safety belt keeps a person from striking the steering wheel or windshield and from being ejected.
The offense applies to leaving a child younger than 7 years of age in a motor vehicle without proper supervision.
The shoulder belt goes over the shoulder and across the chest, and must not be so loose that it slides off.

Distractions, fatigue and road rage

The manual says the exception does not apply to persons under eighteen, and a violation creates a delinquent act for them.
The manual says it is better to stop and sleep for a few hours than to try to stay awake.
Texting while driving is prohibited for teenage and adult drivers alike.
Inattentive drivers can be as dangerous as aggressive drivers when they drive slowly in the passing lane, ignore trucks’ brake lights or signals, or create an emergency braking situation.

Emergencies and crashes

The manual says most cars can be swept away in 18 to 24 inches of moving water.
The right-hand turn uses the same procedure as the left, with the wheel turned the opposite way at each step.
Scanning the road sides for headlight reflection in deer eyes helps you see them.
The manual advises practicing in various weather conditions, such as dry, rain and snow.

Emergency vehicles and work zones

A flag held straight out across the lane with the free hand raised, palm toward traffic, is the flagger signal to stop traffic.
The manual makes it illegal to take your vehicle within the block where an emergency vehicle has stopped.

Insurance and financial responsibility

A declaration page of the insurance policy is one of the listed forms of evidence of financial responsibility.

Points, suspension and crash reports

A second seatbelt conviction adds 90 days, as does contributing to a crash.