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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The law requires drivers to take specific precautionary actions on a highway when passing a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck when the emergency lights are activated, marked Department of Transportation Vehicles displaying flashing amber warning lights. Drivers are directed to proceed with caution and to make a lane change into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle or tow truck if practical and not prohibited by law. If the driver cannot make a safe lane change, they should slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing conditions.

A person driving a vehicle on a freeway approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying emergency lights, tow truck that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, or marked Department of Transportation vehicle that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, shall approach with due caution. Before passing in a lane immediately adjacent to these vehicles make a lane change into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, or Department of Transportation vehicle, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, if practicable and not prohibited by law. If the lane change would be unsafe or impracticable, driver must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.

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.