Virginia: Cheat Sheet

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Road signs

A Left Turn Yield on Green sign tells left-turning drivers on a green light to yield to traffic coming from the other direction.
A Bicycle Crossing or Bike Path sign warns that bicycles regularly cross or ride beside traffic, so you drive with caution.
In Virginia a U-turn counts as two left turns, so a No Left Turn sign also bans U-turns.
The Advisory Speed sign shows the maximum safe speed for a highway exit.
Past a Do Not Enter or Wrong Way sign you are going the wrong direction, so you slow down, pull over and carefully turn around.
Wet roads need more room, so you increase the distance to the car ahead.

Sharing the road

You stop when you approach from any direction on a highway, private road or school driveway.
The manual says to slow down when you approach bicyclists and be prepared to stop suddenly.
State law requires passing with at least three feet of clearance when the way is clear.
The manual says golf carts are not classified as low speed vehicles.
Aggressive drivers pass on the right, including on the shoulder and unpaved parts of the road.

Alcohol and drugs

The manual says drivers age 21 or older are legally DUI at a BAC of .08 percent or higher.
The extra fine for a DUI with a juvenile passenger is at least $500 and up to $1,000.
Misrepresenting your age with a fake ID brings a mandatory suspension of at least six months and no more than one year.
A 12-ounce beer has the same alcohol as a shot of liquor or a five-ounce glass of wine.
You should plan ahead for a sober ride home, using alternative transportation or a sober driver.
The court penalty includes a one-year suspension from the date of conviction.
Although possession is legal over age 21, driving under the influence of marijuana is still illegal.

Sign shapes and colors

The brown sign advises of historical or cultural interests that might exist in the area.
The pentagon marks school zones and warns of school crossings.

Traffic signals

You must come to a complete stop, look both ways and yield to pedestrians and other traffic before turning on red.
When signals are out and show no lights, you must stop and handle the intersection as an all-way stop.
Flashing yellow lights mark places that have higher-than-normal hazardous conditions.
A flashing yellow arrow lets you turn if the way is clear, but you must yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.
You must let a pedestrian who is in the intersection finish crossing before you turn.
Lane use signals tell you which lanes may be used at which times of day.

Right-of-way, turning and passing

Other drivers cannot tell exactly where you will turn, so some may pull out in front of you.
Street and direction signs posted before the roundabout help you know which exit to take.
You must yield to all military convoys and never cut through or join one.
Check left, right, and then left again, since cars from the left will be closer to you.
When arriving together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
You must still stop at the sign yourself, even if the car ahead went on.
You should signal at least three or four seconds, 100 feet, before the turn.

Speed and space

For 25 MPH the average stopping distance on dry, level pavement is 85 feet.
In the city, looking 20 to 30 seconds ahead equals approximately one block.
A reckless driving violation that causes a death while the license is suspended or revoked may be a felony.
On packed snow you brake gently.
At 46 to 70 MPH the following distance is 4 seconds.
The default maximum for all other roads is 55 MPH.
The manual says to increase the space cushion by doubling your normal following distance.
Virginia law lets an officer charge reckless driving for driving 20 or more MPH above the limit.

Licensing basics

The manual states that exam questions come from the information in the manual.
A daylight-only license requires 20/70 or better vision in one or both eyes.
Virginia treats selling a document that claims to be a driver’s license as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The decals show when the registration expires.

Vehicle controls and equipment

The manual says using your turn signal is required by law and lets nearby drivers know your intended movement.
Using the wipers because of bad weather means your headlights must be on too.
The side mirrors should be set so you can barely see the sides of your own vehicle.

Pavement markings

A yield line may be used with a yield sign to show where you must yield or stop, if necessary.
Yellow center lines separate two-way traffic that flows in opposite directions.
The manual says a yield line is often seen at the entrance of a roundabout.
Red reflectors are positioned so that only drivers going the wrong way see them.

Highway driving

HOV lanes are marked on highways by a diamond shape in the center of the lane.
Drivers moving slower than surrounding traffic should stay in the right lane.
Entering drivers must yield to the traffic already on the highway.

Parking rules

Other traffic may be close, so look for cars, bicyclists and pedestrians before you open the door.
A red curb generally means you may not stop, stand or park there.
Parking beside another parked vehicle, called double parking, is not allowed.
With a curb, a vehicle parked downhill has its front wheels turned right.

Railroad crossings

Cross only if you can get all the way across and clear the tracks without stopping.
The manual says to stop when the lights begin to flash, before the gate comes down.

Pedestrians

Failing to stop for a lawfully crossing pedestrian and causing serious bodily damage or death can result in a Class 1 misdemeanor.
You must yield to pedestrians or bicyclists in a marked crosswalk and at an unmarked intersection.
You must always stop for pedestrians who are attempting to cross at a crosswalk.

Seat belts and child safety

Pregnant women are much safer when the belt is worn as low on the pelvis as possible.
Virginia requires every child under age 8 to be in a child safety seat or booster seat.
The shoulder belt goes over your shoulder and across your chest, never behind your back or under your arm.

Distracted and drowsy driving

Trouble remembering the last few miles is one of the listed signs of drowsy driving.
Controls and devices should be set as soon as you get in the car, before you start driving.
Alcohol and heavy foods make drowsy driving more likely, so the manual says to avoid them.
The only exceptions are a driver emergency or a vehicle that is lawfully parked or stopped.

Hazardous conditions and crashes

You should get each other driver’s name, address and driver’s license number.
The manual advises reducing speed and using extra caution on curved roads, and staying alert at all times.
You must always stop at the scene of a crash you are involved in.

Emergency vehicles and work zones

The manual says to always obey any directions posted on message boards.
You must never follow an emergency vehicle closer than 500 feet when its lights are flashing.

Insurance and financial responsibility

Premiums may reflect the records of everyone of driving age in the household, so a newly licensed driver can affect a policy.
The registration application includes a signed statement that the vehicle has liability insurance coverage, unless the uninsured motor vehicle fee is paid.

Penalties and demerit points

To get a suspended license reinstated you must pay the required fees and also show proof of legal presence.
For a driver aged 18 or 19, one such conviction means a driver improvement clinic.