Driver Guide

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1.  On a 2-lane road where the vehicles travel in either direction.
2.  On a 2-lane road that is a one-way street.
No driver of a school bus shall take on or discharge passengers at any 
location upon a highway consisting of four or more lanes of traffic, whether 
or not divided by a median or barrier, in such a manner as to require the 
passengers to cross more than two lanes of traffic.  The following are situa-
tions when you do not have to stop:  
1.   When you are traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a high-
way divided by a median where the vehicles traveling one direction are on 
a totally separate road from the vehicles traveling the opposite direction;
2.   When you are traveling the opposite direction of a school bus on a high-
way containing four or more lanes of traffic; or 
3.   When a school bus is stopped in a loading zone (at a school) where stu-
dents are not permitted to cross the roadway. 
After stopping for a school bus that is unloading school children, watch 
for school children walking along the side of the road. You must remain 
stopped until the bus moves or the bus driver signals for you to proceed. 
Proceed with caution.
HAND AND VEHICLE SIGNALS
Before you stop, turn or change lanes, let the other drivers know what you 
are going to do by signaling.  You can signal with your hand and arm or 
with your vehicle’s turn signals and brake lights.  You should signal at least 
100 feet before you turn so the other drivers can be ready.  Check your 
vehicle’s turn signals often to ensure they are working properly.
The pictures below show the correct hand signals to use when turning or 
stopping.
TURNS
As a good driver, you should get into the proper turn lane and signal at 
least 100 feet before you turn.  Before you make any turn, you should look 
both ways for oncoming traffic or pedestrians.

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If there are no signs or lane markings to control turning, you should turn 
from the lane that is closest to the direction you want to go, and turn into 
the lane closest to the one you came from.  This way, you will cross the 
fewest lanes of traffic. When making turns, go from one lane to the other as 
smoothly as possible without crossing lane lines or interfering with traffic. 
Once you have completed your turn, you can change to another lane if you 
need to. 
U-TURNS
You should only make a U-turn when it is safe.  U-turns should not be 
made on any curve or near the crest of a hill when your vehicle may not be 
seen by other drivers.  Some towns and cities do not allow U-turns.  Never 
make a U-turn at a location that is marked with a No U-Turn sign or at an 
intersection controlled by a traffic signal or police officer.
RIGHT TURNS
On right turns, avoid swinging wide to 
the left before turning. If you swing wide, 
the driver behind you may think you are 
changing lanes or going to turn left, and 
may try to pass you on the right.  If you 
swing wide as you complete the turn, 
drivers who are in the far lane will not 
expect to see you there and you could 
cause a crash. 
LEFT TURNS
When making a left turn, avoid cutting the 
corner so sharply that you run into someone 
approaching from the left.  However, you 
must leave room for oncoming vehicles to 
turn left in front of you. 
ONE-WAY STREET ONTO
A TWO-WAY STREET
Begin the turn in the left lane. Enter the 
two-way road to the right of its yellow 
dividing line. If the two-way road is a four-
lane road, you may enter it in the right lane 
if that lane is free of traffic.
TWO-WAY STREET ONTO
A ONE-WAY STREET
Begin the turn with your left wheel as close 
as possible to the yellow dividing line.  If the 
one-way road has two lanes, turn into its left 
lane or right lane, whichever is free of traffic.
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TWO-WAY STREET ONTO
A TWO-WAY STREET
Begin the turn with your left wheels 
as close as possible to the yellow 
dividing line.  Enter the road to the 
right of its center line.  If the road 
onto which you are turning is a 
four-lane road, you may enter it in 
the right lane if the right lane is 
free of traffic.
MULTIPLE LEFT-TURN
LANES
Some streets may have more 
than one lane marked for left 
turns.  If you are turning from 
the left side, left-turn lane, enter 
the left lane on the right of the 
yellow dividing line.  If you 
are turning from the right side, 
left-turn lane, enter the right 
lane.
TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANES
Some streets have a center lane marked as a two-way left-turn lane.  Only 
enter this lane when preparing to slow down or stop before making a left 
turn from the main roadway.  Do not use this lane as travel lane (a vehicle 
may not travel in this lane for more than 500 feet), and do not use this lane 
when entering the roadway from a side street.

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ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTIONS
General Information
Roundabouts are a traffic control device 
that may be used as an alternative to 
signalized and all-way stop intersections. 
Statistically roundabouts are safer than 
traditional intersections because they 
reduce fatal and injury crashes by reduc-
tion of speeds and removing left-turns in 
front of opposing traffic.  A roundabout 
uses a circular island in the center to 
control the flow of traffic through the 
intersection. Roundabouts feature yield 
traffic signs at all entering roadway legs. 
Yield control creates efficient traffic flow 
and often less delay at the intersection. 
They reduce pollution and fuel use due 
to fewer stops and hard accelerations. At 
a roundabout, drivers who approach the 
intersection make a slight right turn to go 
counterclockwise around a circular center 
island. The driver may then either exit the 
roundabout onto a different roadway, or 
continue on the same roadway. When approaching a roundabout, always 
yield to traffic in the circle, bicyclists, and pedestrians in the crosswalks. 
Approaching the roundabout:
  • Slow down before entering the roundabout.
  • For multi-lane roundabouts, observe roadside signs and pavement  
    markings to direct you into the correct lane.
  • Look to your left as you drive towards the entrance, yield to traffic  
    already in the roundabout, bicyclists, and pedestrians in the crosswalk
  • Enter when there is a gap in traffic and merge with the other flow of  
   vehicles. 
  • NEVER make a left turn to enter a roundabout.
Traveling through a roundabout:
  • Always stay to the right of the center island.
  • Vehicles within the roundabout have the right of way.
  • DO NOT stop within a roundabout unless it is the only way to avoid a  
   crash.
  • DO NOT change lanes within a roundabout. 
  • Give special consideration to trucks, trailers and other large vehicles.  
    They may need to utilize more than one lane within a roundabout. 
  • DO NOT attempt to pass any vehicles especially large trucks.
  • If you miss your exit, continue through the roundabout until you reach  
    your appropriate exit. 
  • When exiting, watch for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the street.
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