Developing
good driving habits and being a "role model"
when you drive is particularly important for young drivers
and parents of young drivers.
Nearly half of all new drivers aged
15 to 19 are convicted of a traffic violation in their
first year of driving. 50% of these convictions
are for speeding violations.
Encouraging young drivers to speed
or speeding while they are in the car is to motivate
them to develop dangerous driving habits of their own.
Purpose
of the Law
Imagine California without traffic laws. Road speeds
would accelerate dangerously as unskilled and reckless
drivers set their own rules, dodging and weaving through
traffic like a personal pinball game. Unmarked and uncontrolled
intersections would become killing fields.
Traffic laws are not designed to trap you or to delay
you. They are designed to keep traffic flowing in an
orderly manner, so everyone can get to their destination
on time. Traffic laws are also designed to keep you
safe.
Right-of-Way
and Intersections
The most important thing to remember
about the right-of-way is that it should be given,
but never taken. If another driver is not following
the rules, let them have the right-of-way, even if it
is rightfully yours. If you insist on taking
the right-of-way, you are gambling with your life, as
well as that of your passengers, other drivers, and
pedestrians.
Drivers are required to yield to
other drivers in order to avoid accidents. At any intersection
where there is a stop sign, you may proceed only after
yielding the right of way to any other vehicle at the
crossroad that does not have a stop sign. At intersections
where there are no stop signs, yield signs, or traffic
signals, the driver of the vehicle on the right has
the right of way whenever vehicles approach the intersection
from different roadways at the same time.
"The first one to stop should
be the first one to go." Although this may
seem obvious, proceed only when it is safe to do so.
If proceeding into the intersection seems likely to
cause an accident, then you should always yield and
allow others to go. If the driver on your left
illegally fails to yield, you are still required to
yield in the interest of safety.
Don’t be dead right
-- be ready to yield to avoid an accident regardless
of the law. Safety should always be your first
concern.
There are three things you need
to remember:
Do
not delay traffic behind you - take your turn when
it comes.
If
another driver tries to take your turn, let him/her
proceed; it might prevent an accident.
Courtesy
and common sense should always govern your actions.
If
you would like to see the animation again, right
click on the animation and choose "Rewind"
from the menu list.
Using
Common Sense to Avoid Accidents
Following are examples of situations
where allowing common sense and courtesy to govern your
actions could prevent a collision:
When
turning left from an intersection, alley or driveway,
first yield the right-of-way to all traffic coming
from the opposite direction, proceeding only when
a safe interval occurs.
When
you approach a yield sign, slow down to a speed
that is slow enough for you to evaluate the conditions
for merging. If it is necessary to stop in
order to be safe, follow the procedure outlined
above for intersections.
When
you approach a merge sign, adjust your speed and
position to avoid a collision with another vehicle.
After
getting the green light at intersections, do not
proceed until all cross traffic has cleared the
intersection safely.
If
you are about to enter or cross a highway from an
alley, private road, or highway, you must yield
the right-of-way to all other vehicles on the street
or highway you are about to enter.
Signaling
Distance Before You Turn
When you approach an intersection in an urban or suburban
area and are planning to turn, indicate the turn using
your turn signal for the last 100 feet before you reach
the intersection. Slow down to approximately 5 mph,
and make the turn only when it is safe to do so.
Stopping
Limits
If
you would like to see the animation again, right
click on the animation and choose "Rewind"
from the menu list.
If you approach an intersection controlled by a stop
sign, you must make a full stop before you enter the
crosswalk. If there is a wide white line painted on
the street, a "limit line," that, rather than
the edge of the crosswalk, indicates where you must
stop.
When a crosswalk or limit line is not marked, stop
at the corner. Check for traffic and wait until it is
safe before you proceed across the intersection.
At intersections controlled by traffic lights, stop
behind the limit line whenever the light is red and
only proceed across the intersection when the light
is green and the intersection is clear.
If
you would like to see the animation again, right
click on the animation and choose "Rewind"
from the menu list.
Right Turns
Start your right turn in the lane nearest to the right
hand curb and end the turn in the lane nearest to the
right hand curb. Never swing wide into another lane
of traffic. You may start a right turn from a lane other
than the far right lane only where pavement or overhead
signs show that using that lane for a right turn is
permitted.
Do not change lanes while you are turning. If
you start your turn in the middle lane (where it is
permitted), do not end it in a different lane.
Right
on Red
If
you would like to see the animation again, right
click on the animation and choose "Rewind"
from the menu list.
Unless marked otherwise, it is legal in California
to turn right at a red light. Before you do so, you
must come to a complete stop behind the limit line or
crosswalk. Once you are certain that you can do so safely,
you may turn right, being careful not to interfere with
pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicles who are crossing
the intersection with their green light.
In many cases, "No Right on Red" signs are
small and hard to see. Make sure you come to a complete
stop, check for signs, and be certain it is safe before
you turn.
It is also legal, unless marked otherwise, to turn
left from a one-way street on to another one-way street,
with the same restrictions that apply to a right on
red.
Automated Red
Light Enforcement
Local jurisdictions are now
permitted to use red light cameras whenever they like,
so long as the use of a camera at that intersection
is clearly posted. For the first 30 days after installing
a red light camera, the police are required to issue
written warnings to violators, rather than citations.
Simultaneous
Turns
When you turn, it is very important that you stay in
your own lane and do not "drift" to either
side. Make sure you end the turn in the same lane
you started.
Whether you are making a left turn at the same time
as someone coming in the opposite direction or are turning
simultaneously with someone going in your direction,
your turning pattern is difficult for others to predict
and your drifting could easily cause an accident.
Stopping
for Emergency Vehicles
If
you would like to see the animation again, right
click on the animation and choose "Rewind"
from the menu list.
Emergency
vehicles, including police cars, ambulances, fire engines,
and any other emergency vehicle using sirens and/or
lights, always have the right of way. Upon identifying
such a vehicle, you must pull over to the right shoulder
and STOP as quickly as it is safe to do so without blocking
any intersection. You must then remain stopped
until the emergency vehicle has safely passed.
It is against the law to follow within 300 feet of
any emergency vehicle that is answering an emergency
call. You may be arrested if you drive for sightseeing
purposes to the scene of a fire, accident, or other
disaster. You could interfere with the essential services
of police, fire fighters, ambulance crews, or other
rescue or emergency personnel. You must also be
careful not to drive over unprotected fire hoses.
Always comply with any order from police, fire fighters,
traffic officers, or other officials at the scene of
an emergency. You must obey any traffic direction, order,
or signal given by any of these officials, even if it
conflicts with existing signs, signals, or laws.
