mississippi-drivers-manual-2022.pdf

All Driver License Tesng STOPS at 4pm STATEWIDE.

This includes Computerized Exams AND Driving Exams.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

DRIVER SERVICE BUREAU

Post Office Box 958

Jackson, Mississippi 39205

www.dps.ms.gov

PRICES AND LAWS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BETWEEN PUBLICATIONS.

The Driver Service Bureau reserves the right to overrule any

informaon obtained from this manual. However, we will

make every eort to keep accurate informaon posted.

Operating a vehicle is an exciting privilege that should be taken seriously. Learning and following the

rules of the road are the best ways to protect yourself and those around you from harm while traveling

the roadways of our great state.

Each year, thousands of motorists are injured or lose their lives. Distracted driving is one of the leading

causes of accidents. Like I tell my girls as I teach them to drive, your focus should be on the road - do

not text and drive. Keep yourself and others safe by learning, understanding, and obeying the traffic

laws outlined in this manual.

Make certain that you and your passengers buckle up your seat belts every time you travel in a motor

vehicle. Seat belts have proven to save lives. Buckle up; it is the law. Also, take special care in school

zones and when sharing the road with bicyclists.

I wish you the best as you prepare to become a licensed, responsible driver. The Mississippi Department

of Public Safety and the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol strive for “Courtesy, Service, and Safety,”

and stand ready to assist you in any way.

TATE REEVES

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

FRM-CRED-001 Version 2.22 P.O Box 958, Jackson, MS 39205-0958 Page 3 of 3

Phone: (601) 987-1224 www.dps.state.ms.us

EXAMINER

WRITTEN

M/C RULE

DATE

TEST

SCORE

DATE

TEST

SCORE

ROAD TEST

EXAMINER

DATE

VEHICLE

TAG NUMBER

D.L. NUMBER

ROAD TEST

SCORE

PROOF OF INSURANCE (Policy

Number & Expiration Date)

GAP SELECTION

1. Rejects Safe Gap

LANE USAGE

1. Unnecessary Lane Change

2. Uses Wrong lane

3. Improper Turn

LEGAL STOP

1. Beyond Stopping Point

2. Short of Stopping Point

OBSERVATION

1. Delayed/No Head Move

POSITION

1. Stops Too Close to vehicle

ahead

1. Stops Too Close to vehicle

ahead

2. Following too Close

3. Wrong Path

SIGNAL

1. Improper Use of Signals

SPEED

1. Too Fast/Too Slow

PARKING

1. Observation-Other Traffic

2. Position-Too Close, Too

Far Out

2. Position-Too Close, Too

Far Out

TURN-ABOUT

1. Traffic Observation,

Signal

1. Traffic Observation, Signal

2. Position

Total Points Deducted No. 1

No. 2

IMMEDIATE FAILURE: Dangerous Act:

_________________________________________

Accident: -

________________________________________________

Violation:

_______________________________________________

IMMEDIATE FAILURE: Dangerous Act:

________________________________________

Accident: -

_______________________________________________

Violation:

_______________________________________________

WHEN YOU ARE READY FOR YOUR DRIVING TEST YOU MUST:

1. Have with you your application and learners permit and Social Security Card.

2. Be accompanied by a licensed driver.

3. Be in a legally licensed motor vehicle.

4. Be sure the motor vehicle you bring for your road test has all the equipment and passes motor vehicle inspection.

5. No road test will be given on wet streets.

6. Proof of Insurance

7. Up to date school attendance form.

FRM-CRED-001 Version 2.22 P.O Box 958, Jackson, MS 39205-0958 Page 3 of 3

Phone: (601) 987-1224 www.dps.state.ms.us

Selective Service

By submitting this application, I am consenting to registration with the Selective Service System, if so required by law when I reach eighteen years

of age. Any male who is at least eighteen (18) years of age but less than twenty-six (26) years of age and who applies for a permit or license or a

renewal of a permit or license shall be registered in compliance with the requirements of Section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act, 50 USCS

Appx 451 et seq., as amended.

The applicant's submission of the application shall serve as an indication that the applicant either has already registered with the Selective Service

System or that he is authorizing the department to forward to the Selective Service System the necessary information for registration. Submission

of the application will serve as his consent to registration with the Selective Service System, if so required. Any male applicant under the age of

eighteen (18) will be registered upon turning age eighteen (18) as required by federal law.

Veteran Indicator

If you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, do you wish to have a Veteran Indicator printed on your driver license? Yes No

Organ/Tissue Donor

Do you wish to be or continue to be registered as an organ & tissue donor? You must be 18 yrs. of age or older. Yes No

Voter Registration

Would you like to apply to register to vote or update your existing voter registration?

Yes

☐

If you choose to register to vote, the office at which the applicant submits a voter registration application will remain confidential and will be used

only for voter registration purposes.

VOTER DECLARATION – READ AND SIGN

I swear/affirm that: I am a U.S. citizen. I will have lived in this state and county for at least 30 days before voting, and if a resident of a municipality, I will have

lived in the municipality for at least 30 days before voting. I have never been convicted of murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under

false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, or bigamy, or I have had my rights restored as required by law. I have not been declared mentally incompetent

by a court. Furthermore, I certify that I am at least eighteen (18) years old (or I will be before the next general election), the information given by me is true

and correct and that I have truly answered all questions on this application for registration, and that I will faithfully support the Constitution of the United

States and of the State of Mississippi, and will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.

PENALTIES PROVIDED BY LAW FOR SUBMISSION OF A FALSE VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION; The penalty for conviction of false registration is

imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5000), or both. Miss. Code Ann § 23-15-17.

☐

If you decline to register to vote, your decision not to register will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes.

IF YOU DO NOT CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME.

Signature:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date:____________________

Refuse

☐

Witness:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date:___________________

Sex Offender Registration

Notice: Persons who are convicted of any registerable sex offense must report to the Sheriff of the county of their residence and also to DPS for

appropriate sex offender registration. Authority: MCA 45-33-27. I acknowledge that I have read and understand the requirement to register as a

Sex Offender as set forth above.

Affirmation/Signature

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR/AFFIRM THAT I AM THE PERSON NAMED AND DESCRIBED HEREIN AND THAT THE STATEMENTS ON THIS APPLICATION

ARE TRUE AND CORRECT:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

USUAL Signature of Applicant

Under 17 Years of Age

THE UNDERSIGNED AGREE TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE PERSON NAMED IN THIS

APPLICATION WHILE HE/SHE IS OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE AND TO BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM SUCH MISCONDUCT OR

NEGLIGENCE.

Under

SIGNATURES OF BOTH PARENTS OR REASON FOR NOT

SIGNING

Divorced Deceased Other

OPERATOR’S LICENSE NO.

ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT

FATHER/Parental Guardian

MOTHER/Parental Guardian

Subscribed and sworn To before me:

__________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

Date Signature Title

COLONEL CHRISTOPHER C. GILLARD

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, DPS

DIRECTOR, MHSP

Obtaining this driver’s manual is your first step towards becoming a licensed driver in Mississippi. We

will do all we can to help you reach your goal. Please study this manual carefully and be prepared when

taking your examinations. Lives are saved each day when the motoring public follow the rules of the

road and drive responsibly.

This is a very exciting time, especially for teenagers, as you prepare for your driver’s license, but it also

comes with a huge amount of responsibility. In this manual, you will find the rules that govern the

operation of motor vehicles on our roadways. We urge you to not only learn the rules, but to obey them.

Driving is a privilege, and it should be taken very seriously. The men and women of the Mississippi

Highway Safety Patrol are committed to keeping the motoring public safe and accountable for their

actions. We are here to assist you on the roadways if you have trouble or need other types of assistance.

DRIVER SERVICE BUREAU

The safe operation of your motor vehicle starts with understanding the information in this manual. When

you venture out unto the road and highways of Mississippi, please remember that public safety takes all

of us.

The Driver Service Bureau was designed to serve the public with high standards and clear policies. Our

mission is to promote driver safety and to provide positive and professional customer service. We are

always seeking new and innovative strategies to improve our customer service and to measure our

effectiveness. Please contact us if we can be of assistance.

Your next step toward becoming a licensed driver lies just beyond these pages. Be diligent in your studies,

and be careful as you practice. We look forward to seeing you soon in one of our many driver license

locations. Good luck on your examinations.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

0123456789

FRM-CRED-001 Version 2.22 P.O Box 958, Jackson, MS 39205-0958 Page 1 of 3

Phone: (601) 987-1224 www.dps.state.ms.us

Application for Mississippi Driver License

To be completed by applicant in black ink

UNDER 17 YEARS OLD MUST SHOW A CERTIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, SCHOOL FORM, TWO (2) PROOFS OF RESIDENCE, AND

THIS APPLICATION. MUST BE SIGNED BY BOTH PARENTS AND NOTARIZED (SEE BOTTOM OF THIS FORM). OUT-OF-STATE LICENSED DRIVERS MUST

PRESENT OUT-OF-STATE LICENSE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD (ISSUED BY SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION), BIRTH CERTIFICATE, AND TWO (2) PROOFS

OF RESIDENCE. ALL NAME CHANGES ON LICENSE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS SUCH AS MARRIAGE LICENSE, ADOPTION PAPERS,

DIVORCE DECREE, OR COURT ORDER; ONLY ORIGINALS ARE ACCEPTABLE.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR SELECTION BELOW

Licenses

Permits

ID’s

Other

Regular DL (Class R)

Class D

Intermediate

Learner’s Permit

Driver’s Ed Learner’s Permit

Motorcycle Permit

State ID card

Disability ID card

Blind ID card

Name or Address Change

Update Address Notification – No card

Personal Information

MS License/ID/Permit Number:

Social Security Number:

Legal Name:

Last:

First:

Middle/Maiden:

Suffix:

Date of Birth:

(Mo/Day/Year)

Gender:

Hair:

Eyes:

Height:

Weight:

Race:

Ethnicity:

Age:

Place of Birth: (City, State, Country)

Residential Address: This address is not to be used for voter registration purposes.

Street 1:

City:

Street 2:

State:

ZIP:

Mailing Address (if different than Residential Address):

Street 1:

City:

Street 2:

State:

ZIP:

Contact Information:

Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

Work Phone:

Fax Number:

Email Address:

Emergency Contact Name:

Relationship:

Phone Number:

Contact Preference. Please indicate how you would like to be contacted. This will become the default method for how we communicate with you.

Email US Mail

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW:

YES NO

1. Have you ever held a driver license or ID card in Mississippi or any other state or country?

What state (or country)? ____________________ When? ____________ ID or DL Number: __________________________________________________________________

2. Has your license or driving privilege ever been suspended, revoked, or cancelled? If YES, what state? __________

When? __________ DL Number: ______________________________ For what reason? _________________________________________________________________________

3. Have you ever been denied a license? If YES, why? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Are you a United States Citizen? (If NO, you must present your valid Immigration documents)

5. Do you have any physical defect(s) which would interfere with your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely?

If YES, explain: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Are you hearing impaired?

If YES, would you like an indicator for your condition on your license/ID?

Do you have diabetes?

If YES, would you like an indicator for your condition on your license/ID?

OTHER

HELPFUL

NUMBERS

Commercial Driver License Help Desk. . . 601-987-1246 or 601-987-1217

Driver Records Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601-987-1231

Firearms Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601-987-1279

Security Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601-987-1395

Window Tint Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601-987-1243

DRIVER LICENSE STATION TELEPHONE NUMBERS

DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 7

Jackson – Headquarters –

601-987-1281, 1282 or 1283

Jackson – Metro –

601-352-6928, 601-352-6936

Troop C – Pearl – 601-420-6342

Vicksburg – 601-638-5441

Boonville (Travel Team) –

662-720-7289

Burnsville (Travel Team) –

662-427-9526

Corinth – 662-286-7704

New Albany – 662-534-8619

Tupelo – 662-844-2408

Haesburg West (Travel Team) –

601-582-4744

Laurel – 601-425-3802

Prenss (Travel Team) –

601-792-5541

Waynesboro (Travel Team) –

601-735-3242

DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 8

Belzoni – Mulplex Building (Travel

Team) – 662-247-0105

Cleveland – Agriculture Center –

662-846-0749

Greenville – 662-332-4734

Greenwood – 662-453-4515,

662-453-5743

Grenada – 662-226-6916

Indianola – Jusce Court Building

(Travel Team) – 662-445-1998

Kosciusko – 662-289-5648

Amory (Travel Team) –

662-256-7149

Columbus – 662-327-1833,

662-329-1508

Houston (Travel Team) –

662-456-1561

Louisville (Travel Team) –

662-773-3843

Okolona (Travel Team) –

662-447-5771

Pisboro (Travel Team) –

662-412-3100

Starkville – 662-323-5314

West Point (Travel Team) –

662-492-0026

Kiln – 228-255-4001

Biloxi – 228-396-7400

Gulfport – 228-539-8418,

228-539-8419

Gauer – 228-818-8340

Picayune – 601-799-1428

Lucedale (Travel Team) –

601-766-0585

DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 9

Batesville – 662-563-6400

Clarksdale – 662-624-2650

Nesbit – 662-429-5584,

662-429-1353

Olive Branch – 662-890-7211,

662-890-7212

Oxford – 662-236-2066

Forest (Travel Team) –

601-469-2101

Meridian – 601-483-9246

Newton – 601-683-2576

Philadelphia – 601-656-6120

Walnut Grove – 601-253-0487

Brookhaven – 601-833-0808

Natchez – 601-442-4879,

601-442-0408

Summit – 601-684-2567

Tylertown (Travel Team) –

601-876-4609

NOTE: TRAVEL TEAM

HOURS & LOCATIONS

VARY. PLEASE CALL AHEAD

FOR INFORMATION.

FEES FOR ORIGINAL & RENEWAL LICENSES

Regular License, Class R — 4 year —

— 8 year —

$24.00

$47.00

Regular License, Class R

(driver under 21 years old)

— 4 year — $24.00

Intermediate License, Class Y $11.00

Learner’s Permit $7.00

Commercial License, Class D — 4 year —

— 8 year —

$29.00

$57.00

Idencaon Card — 4 year —

— 8 year —

$17.00

$33.00

Motorcycle Endorsement — 4 year —

— 8 year —

$5.00

$10.00

DISTRICT

OTHER FEES

Duplicate License $11.00

Late Fee $1.00

FEE PAYMENT — All oces ac-

cept cash, credit cards, and debit

cards. Kiosks accept credit and

debit cards. Credit/debit cards

must be Visa/MasterCard. NO

DRIVER RECORD — To obtain a copy of your motor vehicle record, send $11.00 cered

check, a notarized leer requesng your informaon, and a self-addressed stamped enve-

lope

to: DEPT. of PUBLIC SAFETY, DRIVER RECORDS DIVISION, PO BOX 958, JACKSON, MS

APPENDIX F:

Energy Conservaon

Passenger automobiles consume about 14% of all the energy and about 31% of all the petroleum used in the

United States. If the fuel consumpon of the average car were reduced just 15% through beer planning of car

use, beer driving pracces, and beer maintenance, the naon's consumpon of petroleum would fall by

over 28,000,000 gallons per day. Such savings of daily fuel consumpon would signicantly stretch current

fuel supplies, save money, and lessen polluon.

ENERGY-SAVING SUGGESTIONS:

DRIVE AT MODERATE SPEEDS. As your speed increases so does your car's wind resistance—a big factor

in gasoline mileage. Most automobiles get about 28% more miles per gallon on the highway at 50 mph

than at 70 mph and about 21% more at 55 mph than at 70 mph.

AVOID UNNECESSARY BRAKING, AND ANTICIPATE THE TRAFFIC AHEAD. When the trac light far ahead

turns red, take your foot o the accelerator immediately. The light may turn green again by the me

you reach the intersecon. If not, there's sll a fuel saving. There is then less energy to be dissipated in

braking. Don't tailgate. This necessitates addional braking too.

START SLOWLY. Accelerate gently except when entering high-speed trac lanes or when passing. Hot rod

driving and jerky acceleraon can increase fuel consumpon by 2 miles per gallon in city trac.

DRIVE AT STEADY SPEEDS. Hold a steady foot on the accelerator as long as trac condions permit. On

the highway, "see-sawing" or repeatedly varying the speed by 5 mph can reduce gas mileage by up to

1.3 miles per gallon.

SAVE GAS WHEN CHANGING GEARS. If you drive a car with a manual transmission, run through the low-

er gears gently and quickly for minimum gasoline consumpon. Then build up speed in high gear. If

you drive a car with an automac transmission, apply enough gas pedal pressure to get the car rolling,

then let up slightly on the pedal to ease the automac transmission into high range as quickly as possi-

ble. More gas is consumed in lower gears.

AVOID UNNECESSARY USE OF AIR CONDITIONING. Using the air condioner reduces fuel economy by up

to 2.5 miles per gallon.

AVOID EXCESSIVE IDLING. The average American car consumes a cup of gasoline every six minutes when

idling. When you stop the car, don't idle the engine for more than a minute. If you are waing for

someone, turn o the engine. It takes less gasoline to restart the car than it does to idle it.

BREAK GAS-WASTING HABITS. For instance, don't pump the accelerator or race the engine when your

car isn't in moon. Use the brake pedal rather than the accelerator to hold your car in place on a hill.

CONSOLIDATE YOUR DRIVING. Combine short shopping and commung trips to reduce the miles trav-

eled for each acon. Patronize shops in your immediate area as much as possible to reduce mileage.

JOIN A CAR POOL FOR COMING TO AND FROM WORK. Carpooling saves fuel and money.

SELECT YOUR NEW CAR WISELY. Study the fuel economy gures carefully. Purchase only the opons and

accessories you really need.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR CAR. Proper engine tune, re pressure, and wheel alignment will give you

beer mileage. Radial res and high quality motor oil also boost mileage.

APPENDIX E:

The Natchez Trace

The Natchez Trace Parkway is administered by the Naonal Park Service of the United States Depart-

ment of the Interior. It stretches 450 miles from Natchez, Mississippi, to a point near Nashville, Ten-

nessee. Mississippi's secon is 350 miles long. The Parkway commemorates the Natchez Trace, a

froner road, prominent in the development of the Old Southwest. An elongated park including a

high-quality roadway, the right-of-way averages 100 acres for each mile of roadway. The Parkway

runs from 400 to 700 feet in width, and is widest at historical, scienc, and recreaonal areas. As a

traveler along the Trace, you will nd nearby Nave American sites and sengs relang to the histo-

ry of the original road. Commercial vehicles are excluded from the Parkway, and access is limited.

Crossroads separated by grades, long curves, good sight lines, good slight grades, all combine to pro-

tect the motorist driving along the Trace.

The Parkway is protected and patrolled by Naonal Park Rangers who are ready to assist you in hav-

ing a safe and enjoyable trip. Report all accidents, res, or other emergencies to the nearest Ranger.

Natchez Park numbers are listed in local telephone directories under U.S. Government.

If you cannot locate the number and need assistance, dial “0” for the operator and ask to be connect-

ed to the nearest Natchez Trace Park Ranger. Be sure to give your approximate locaon and to de-

scribe the circumstances.

Federal regulaons govern vehicle trac and public use of Parkway facilies. State trac laws also

apply. The maximum speed for travel on the Parkway is 50 MPH, except where lower speeds are

posted. Radar is used for your protecon.

The Superintendent of the Natchez Trace Parkway is in immediate charge of all facilies. For addi-

onal informaon, you may contact this person at:

P.O. Box 948,

Tupelo, Mississippi 38801

(601) 842-1572.

This is your Parkway. It exists for you and for all generaons to come. Heed all posted signs. Do not

hunt or use rearms on Parkway lands. Exnguish all lighted cigarees, cigars, and matches, and nev-

er throw them or other debris from moving vehicles.

If you have any doubts about any regulaon governing use of the Parkway, do not hesitate to contact

a Park Ranger. Remember that if you violate any laws while on the roadway or while using any of the

Parkway's facilies, you will be tried in federal court.

Keep Mississippi Beauful!

Mississippi is one of the most beauful states in the naon. Show

pride in that beauty. Never toss lier from your vehicle, let trash

blow out of your vehicle, or dump garbage on the roadside. Any per-

son found guilty of liering on Mississippi’s roads, highways, or in-

terstates, or within their right-of-ways, shall be ned not less than

$50 and up to $250 dollars. When any lier is discarded from a mo-

tor vehicle, the operator or owner, or both, shall be deemed in viola-

on of the law. This oense is easily preventable: Keep a trash bag in

your vehicle, and dispose of your trash responsibly.

License Requirements ............................................................................................. 10

Types of Licenses & Permits .................................................................................... 12

Applicaon Requirements ....................................................................................... 15

The Examinaons .................................................................................................... 16

Glossary .................................................................................................................. 18

Required Equipment ............................................................................................... 19

Pavement Markings ................................................................................................ 20

Trac Signs & Signals .............................................................................................. 22

Railroad Crossings ................................................................................................... 32

Rules of the Road & Safe Driving ............................................................................ 34

Sharing the Road with Bicycles ............................................................................... 64

Required Vehicle Documentaon ........................................................................... 66

Proof of Insurance & Safety Responsibility ............................................................. 67

Driving Under the Inuence & Implied Consent ..................................................... 68

License Suspension, Revocaon, & Reinstatement ................................................. 71

Class D Commercial Driver License Informaon ..................................................... 73

APPENDIX A: Quick Reference License/Permit Requirements ................................ 78

APPENDIX B: Sample Test Quesons for Regular Driver License ............................. 79

APPENDIX C: Sample Test Quesons for Class D Commercial License .................... 81

APPENDIX D: Organ Donaon ................................................................................. 82

APPENDIX E: The Natchez Trace .............................................................................. 83

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPENDIX D:

Organ Donaon

The transplantaon of human organs is oen the only therapy for people whose organs have failed.

Organ transplants save thousands of lives each year. In addion, the donaon of ssues such as cor-

neas, skin, and bone can enhance the lives of those with a variety of injuries and impairments.

However, the U.S. faces a serious shortage of organ and ssue donors. According to the U.S. Depart-

ment of Health and Human Services, an average of 22 people die each day waing on a transplant.

Anyone can donate, regardless of age, race or gender. Your medical condion at the me of your

death will determine what organs and ssues can be donated.

If you are not a registered organ donor at your me of death, your legal next-of-kin must give con-

sent for organ donaon. Mississippi's Gi of Life Act (1998) requires that all families be given the op-

on to donate organs and ssue at the me of death. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety

provides informaon about organ donaon at each driver license test site. Please learn all you can

about organ donaon and have a conversaon with your family about your wishes.

The quality of hospital treatment and life-saving eorts will not be lessened if you choose to donate.

Only aer all eorts to save your life have been exhausted and the physician has declared death will

donaon be considered and transplant professionals become involved.

Your family is not responsible for any donaon costs. However, you are responsible for hospital ex-

penses up unl the me of death, even when consent is given for donaon.

Organ and ssue donaon will not aect funeral plans. Organ Recovery takes place in a sterile oper-

ang room under the direcon of skilled surgeons. Families can proceed with any type of funeral or

burial arrangements, including an open casket funeral. Funeral expenses are also the responsibility of

the family or the estate.

All major religions support donaon as a nal, charitable act of giving to others. Organ donaon and

transplant is consistent with the life-preserving tradions of these faiths.

APPENDIX C:

Sample Test Quesons—Class D Commercial License

The examples below show the types of addional informaon included on the Computerized Exam for

the Class D Commercial License. The quesons below DO NOT appear in any order of importance, and

they DO NOT reect the enre test: Study this complete manual to prepare for the exam.

No vehicle unloaded or with load shall exceed a

height of how many feet?

Every motor vehicle which is so constructed or

loaded as to obstruct the driver's view to the

rear shall be equipped with a side mirror located

to give a view of the highway for at least how

many feet?

Any vehicle loaded to within less than six inches

to top of body with sand, dirt, gravel, or rock

shall not be driven or moved upon any highway

unless it is equipped how?

When your vision is limited due to bad weather

condions, what is the maximum speed on all

highways for trucks, truck-trailers and buses?

No semi-trailer operang in a truck/tractor +

semi-trailer combinaon and no trailer drawn by

a motor vehicle shall exceed what length?

No semi-trailer or trailer operang in a truck +

semi-trailer + trailer combinaon and no trailer

operang in a double trailer combinaon drawn

by a motor vehicle shall exceed what length?

How many vehicles in combinaon may be

towed by saddle-mount?

How many motor vehicles may be towed by a

tow-bar?

Trucks must stop at all weigh staons on the

main highways for what reason?

No single vehicle unloaded or loaded shall have

an overall length (including front and rear bump-

ers) of how many feet?

If a vehicle that is over twelve and one-half (12

1/2) feet in height does damage to any overhead

structure or wire that is at least twelve and one-

half (12 1/2) feet high, who is liable for damages?

Permits to move a vehicle or load that is in excess

of the legal size or weight must be obtained from

whom?

If a truck or bus becomes disabled on the road-

way at night, three ares or reectors must be

placed to warn other drivers. One is placed

alongside the vehicle. Where are the other two

placed?

All clearance side-marker lamps on or near the

front of a trailer must be what color?

All reectors mounted on the rear and on the

side nearest the rear must be what color?

Every vehicle transporng explosives must be

equipped with re exnguishers lled and ready

for immediate use. At least how many are re-

quired?

All trucks must have a red or amber stop light

and shall be lighted when?

The load upon any vehicle or combinaon of ve-

hicles shall not extend beyond the front bumper

of such vehicles more than how many feet?

Before backing a large truck, what is the rst step

you should take?

The total outside width of any vehicle or load

shall not exceed how many feet?

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Under the laws of Mississippi, if you operate any motor vehicle (except road and farm equipment)

on streets or highways, you must have a valid Driver License or Learner’s Permit. Driving without

a valid Driver License or Learner's Permit is illegal—even if you are accompanied by a parent or

licensed driver. You and the car’s owner may be arrested.

LICENSE EXEMPTIONS

INELIGIBLE PERSONS

You are exempted from having a Mississippi

driver license if any of the following is true:

 You are operang any vehicle belonging to

a branch of the United States Armed Ser-

vices.

 You are a non-resident over the age of six-

teen (16) and have in your possession a

valid driver license issued to you by the

proper authories in your home state or

home country.

 You are operang any road machine, farm

tractor, or farm equipment temporarily on

a road or highway.

The law prevents you from being issued a license

in Mississippi if any of the following is true:

 You have not reached the age of 16 years

and 6 months, and you have not held an

Intermediate License for at least six

months without certain convicons.

 You are under 18 years old and do not

provide proper documentaon of your

enrollment in school.

 You have not yet passed all parts of the

driver's examinaon.

 Your license has been revoked or sus-

pended.

 You are habitually intoxicated or are ad-

dicted to the use of narcocs.

 You have a physical or mental condion

incompable with safe driving.

 You have been adjudged insane.

OUT-OF-STATE DRIVERS: MOVING TO MISSISSIPPI

If you move to Mississippi, you must obtain a

Mississippi driver license within sixty (60) days.

You must obtain a Mississippi license plate (tag)

within thirty (30) days.

When you apply for a Mississippi driver license

you must surrender all out-of-state licenses. If

your out-of-state license has been lost, you

must obtain an Adavit of Inability to Surrender

form from the Driver License oce. Your signa-

ture must be notarized on this form.

Your driving record in other states will be

checked before a Mississippi license is issued.

If you have a valid driver license from another

state, the Computerized Exam and Driving Exam

may be waived. You must pass a vision screening.

If your out-of-state license has been expired over

30 days, you must take the Computerized Exam.

ALL out-of-state driver licenses/ID card applica-

ons require the following:

 cered state-issued birth cercate

 original social security card or print-out from

the social security oce

 two proofs of residency.

MILITARY PERSONNEL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

Non-resident military personnel and their families are allowed to drive in Mississippi provided they hold

a valid drive license from another state. Similarly, out-of-state college students are allowed to drive in

Mississippi with their out-of-state license.

The same policy applies to auto license plates.

Military personnel and college students can renew or replace their driver license or idencaon card

online. Go to www.dps.state.ms.us, select type of license, and select either “military” or “college” for

instrucons.

What if my license expires while I am out-of-state due to

military service?

If you are out-of-state due to military service at the me

your valid license expires, you may renew the license at

any me within ninety (90) days of being discharged from

military service or upon returning to the state.

You must provide proof by adavit of your military ser-

vice and of your discharge/return. A delinquent fee is not

required. An examinaon is not required, unless the De-

partment of Public Safety has reason to believe the licen-

see is no longer eligible to receive a license.

For any licensed driver

who qualies for a

LICENSE RENEWAL, the

license may be renewed

UP TO 6 MONTHS prior

to the expiraon date.

NON-CITIZEN LICENSES AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS

If you are a non-cizen, you must meet all requirements for a driver license or idencaon card

except for providing a social security number. To obtain a Regular Driver License, you must have a

Permanent Resident/Green Card status with the Immigraon/Homeland Security Department OR

valid immigraon papers indicang your legally permied length of stay in the US.

For ORIGINAL licenses/idencaon cards

you must present:

 original Permanent Resident Card (no pho-

tocopies allowed)

 valid immigraon papers + passport

 I-94 + passport

AND

 birth cercate (translated by a university)

 two proofs of residency

For RENEWALS, you must present:

 original Permanent Resident Card (no photo-

copies allowed)

 valid immigraon papers + passport

 I-94 + passport

AND

 driver license or idencaon card

The regular license or identification card will be valid for 4 years or until

your legal status expiration date (if less than 4 years away). The stand-

ard license fee applies, regardless of how long the license is valid.

What does a ashing yellow trac signal mean?

What are the penales for rst oense DUI?

What are the penales for rst oense Zero Toler-

ance DUI?

What blood alcohol content range falls under Zero

Tolerance for drivers under the age of twenty-one?

If a driver encounters a pedestrian crossing an inter-

secon in an unmarked crosswalk, who has the right

-of-way?

If you approach a school bus that is loading or un-

loading school children, what should you do?

If you are driving slower than other trac on an in-

terstate, which lane should you use?

What is the rst step you should take before back-

ing any vehicle?

What is a trac lane?

If you are involved in an accident, what informaon

should you give the other drivers involved?

What direcon does trac always follow in a round-

about or trac circle?

What does a ashing light or a ringing bell at a rail-

road crossing signify?

As a general rule, what is the safest thing to do if

your vehicle goes into a skid?

When is it acceptable to drive with your lights on

high beam?

What headlight beam should you use when driving

at night in a heavy fog?

What lane markings indicate that passing is per-

mied?

When entering an interstate highway from the ac-

celeraon lane, how fast should you go?

Which vehicle has right-of-way at an intersecon?

When is a right turn permied at a red trac signal?

If your vehicle has become disabled on an interstate,

what is the proper way to signal other motorists

that you need assistance?

Mississippi law requires children at what age to be

secured in a child safety seat?

At what age, height, and weight must a child be se-

cured in a booster seat (belt-posioning booster

seat system) when traveling in a vehicle?

Under the informed consent law, what is the penalty

for refusing to submit to a chemical/breath test?

What does a ashing red light at an intersecon in-

dicate?

Before making a turn at an intersecon you should

give a signal for at least how many feet?

When meeng a car at night with blinding lights,

what is the safest thing to do?

When nearing an intersecon marked with a "yield

right of way" sign, what must you do?

What steps should a driver take to safely pass an-

other vehicle on a two-lane highway?

What is the most dangerous place on a highway?

Why should you be especially careful when driving

near a pedestrian who uses a white cane, or a white

cane with a red p?

What is a driver's responsibility when driving

through an area where children are playing?

What does a double solid white line indicate?

When meeng or following a vehicle at night, how

many feet away should you dim your headlights?

When two vehicles enter or approach an intersec-

on at approximately the same me and there are

no trac signs or signals, who has the right of way?

What is the maximum speed limit for cars and trucks

on two-lane highways in Mississippi?

What are the maximum and minimum speeds on

interstates in Mississippi?

APPENDIX B:

Sample Test Quesons—Regular Driver License

On your driver license examinaon, you will be given a computerized test comprised of twenty mulple-

choice quesons. The following quesons are intended as a guide to help you in preparing for the exami-

naon. These are examples only and do not appear in any order of importance. The quesons below DO

NOT reect the enre test: Study this complete manual to prepare for the exam.

What should you do when a law enforcement

ocer is direcng trac?

What is the best way to inform other drivers of

your intenon to turn or change lanes to pass?

What should you do if you noce a dangerous situ-

aon (such as a stranded car or broken crossing

signal) at a railroad crossing?

What steps should you take to make a le turn at

an intersecon? A right turn?

Where do most accidents occur?

What should you do if you take the wrong exit on

the interstate?

What should you do if your vehicle has a blowout?

What minimum amount of automobile liability in-

surance is required in Mississippi?

When parallel parking downhill, which direcon

should you turn your wheels before seng the

parking brake?

On a two-way, four-lane street, which lane should

you use to make a le turn?

What does a ashing yellow arrow mean?

When are paved roads likely to be their slickest?

If you are traveling in the right lane of an interstate

highway, what adjustments should you make when

other vehicles are entering the highway?

What does "over-driving" your headlights mean?

What strategies should drivers follow when travel-

ing long distances?

When you overtake another vehicle at night, why

should you use your low beams?

What should you do if you are being overtaken by

an emergency vehicle (re truck, police car, ambu-

lance) ashing its emergency lights? What should

you do if the emergency vehicle is parked on the

shoulder with its emergency lights ashing?

Why should you use your turn signals well in ad-

vance of a turn? How far in advance should you

signal?

When exing from the interstate, where should

you begin slowing down?

What should you do before backing out of a diago-

nal parking space?

What should you do if your vehicle becomes

stranded on a railroad track?

Why are rear-end collisions so common on inter-

state highways?

At an intersecon, when must you determine right-

of-way?

When may you drive at the posted speed limits in

Mississippi?

Why shouldn't you drive when you are ill, angry, or

depressed?

What is the legal maximum distance at which you

may park your car parallel to the curb?

TYPES OF LICENSES & PERMITS

Under the laws of Mississippi, if you operate any motor vehicle (except road and farm equipment)

on streets or highways, you must have a valid Driver License or Learner’s Permit. Driving without

a valid Driver License or Learner's Permit is illegal—even if you are accompanied by a parent or

licensed driver. You and the car’s owner may be arrested.

TEMPORARY LEARNER’S PERMIT

REGULAR LEARNER’S PERMIT

The Temporary Learner’s Permit is for high

school students at least fourteen (14) years old

who are currently enrolled in an approved high

school driver educaon course. Your driver ed-

ucaon instructor must furnish proof that you

are presently enrolled in an approved driver

educaon program.

Your temporary permit is restricted in two im-

portant ways:

 It is valid only while you are enrolled in

an approved driver educaon course.

 It allows you to drive only a driver edu-

caon vehicle while accompanied by

your driver educaon instructor.

Upon turning age 15, you may go to a Driver

License Staon and upgrade to a Regular Learn-

er’s Permit.

NOTE: A good driver educaon program can

be very benecial. Stascs show that drivers

who have completed driver educaon courses

are far less likely to be involved in accidents.

Because of' this, many insurance companies set

lower rates for drivers who have parcipated in

approved driver educaon course.

You must be at least een (15) years old to ap-

ply for a Regular Learner’s Permit. You must hold

the Learner’s Permit for one (1) year before you

can upgrade to an Intermediate License. (If you

turn seventeen (17) before you have held the

Learner’s Permit for one year, you are eligible to

apply for a Regular License.)

The Regular Learner’s Permit is valid for two (2)

years. It entles you to drive a motor vehicle

when accompanied by a licensed driver aged 21

years or older who is actually occupying the seat

next to you.

To be eligible for a Regular Learner’s Permit, you

must pass the same Computerized Exam re-

quired for a Regular Driver License. You must

have your Learner’s Permit in your possession to

take the Driving Exam for the Intermediate Li-

cense or for the Regular Driver License (unless

you are 17 or older when you rst apply).

If I pass the Computerized Exam and receive

my Learner’s Permit, do I have to re-take

the Computerized Exam to apply for my

Regular Driver License?

Your Computerized Exam score is valid for

two (2) years. If you pass the Driving Exam

required for a Regular Driver License before

two (2) years have passed, you do not have

to re-take the Computerized Exam. If you

wait longer than two (2) years, however, you

will have to retake the Computerized Exam.

INTERMEDIATE LICENSE REGULAR DRIVER LICENSE (CLASS R)

You must hold the Intermediate License for six

(6) months and reach the age of 16 ½ years be-

fore you can upgrade to a Regular License.

To obtain an Intermediate License, return to

the driver license staon and complete the

Driving Exam. Be sure to bring your original ap-

plicaon, supporng informaon, and Learner

Permit. Aer you pass the Driving Exam, you

may be issued an Intermediate License.

The Intermediate License permits you to drive a

motor vehicle without being accompanied by a

licensed driver during the following mes:

 between 6:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M. on

Sundays through Thursdays

 between 6:00 A.M. and 11:30 P.M. on

Fridays and Saturdays

 any me when traveling to and from

work.

During any other mes, you must be accompa-

nied by a parent, guardian, or licensed driver

over the age of 21.

You are eligible for a Class R Regular Driver Li-

cense if you provide all required documentaon,

pass all required examinaons, and meet the

physical requirements, AND:

 You have reached the age of sixteen (16)

years, six (6) months and have held an Inter-

mediate License for six (6) months.

 You have reached the age of seventeen (17)

years or older, regardless of previous permits

or licenses held.

 You have held an out-of-state driver license

for at least six (6) months.

Addionally, to be eligible for a Regular Driver

License, you must be without certain convicons.

What if I am 17 years old

(or older) when I begin the

applicaon process?

If you are 17 or older, you

may apply directly for a

Regular Driver License. You

may complete both the

Computerized Exam and

the Driving Exam on the

same day.

What if I am 16 years old

when I begin the applicaon

process?

If you rst apply at age 16,

you will be issued a Learn-

er’s Permit. When you turn

17, you will be eligible for a

Regular Driver License. (You

will not need the Intermedi-

ate License).

What if I am 15½ years old

when I receive my Learner’s

Permit? Do I sll have to wait

a year before I quality for an

Intermediate License?

Yes. If you are issued a Learn-

er’s Permit at age 15 ½, you

will be eligible for your Inter-

mediate License at age 16 ½

(and for your Regular License

at age 17).

For any DRIVING EXAM, you must arrive

at the Driver License Tesng Staon with

a LICENSED DRIVER and in vehicle that

can PASS INSPECTION and with PROOF

OF INSURANCE.

APPENDIX A:

Quick Reference—License/Permit Requirements

If you are a 14 year-old applicant and a

driver educaon student, you must:

1. Have your applicaon properly completed

and signed by both parents unless they are

divorced or one is deceased. Have your par-

ents’ signatures notarized.

2. Present original birth cercate, social se-

curity card, school aendance form (valid

for 30 days).

3. Pass vision examinaon.

4. Pass the computer examinaon by 80%.

Note: This permit is only valid when driving with

a Driver Educaon instructor.

If you are a 15 to 16 year-old applicant,

you must:

1. Have your applicaon properly completed

and signed by both parents unless they are

divorced or one is deceased.

2. Have your parents’ signatures notarized.

3. Present original birth cercate, social se-

curity card, school aendance form (valid

for 30 days).

4. Pass vision examinaon.

5. Pass the computer examinaon by 80%.

6. Hold permit for 1 year from issue date.

If you are a 17 year-old applicant, you

must:

1. Have your applicaon properly completed

and signed by applicant.

2. Present original birth cercate, social se-

curity card, and school aendance form

(valid for 30 days).

3. Pass computer examinaon by 80%.

4. Pass the vision examinaon.

Aer requirements are met, a 17 year-old ap-

plicant can complete the driving exam on the

same day as the computerized exam.

If you hold an out-of-state license, you

must meet all of the requirements in your cor-

responding age group; the road and wrien

test may be waived. Your out-of-state license

must be surrendered. If you do not have a hard

-copy license, you must obtain an inability to

surrender adavit, and it must be notarized.

If you hold a regular Mississippi driver

license and you want a Class D commer-

cial license, you must:

1. Take and pass computer examinaon.

2. Pay the required fee.

When you come to take your driving test, you must be accompanied by a licensed

driver who is driving a legally licensed vehicle that can pass inspecon.

A learner’s permit can only be used for driving with a licensed driver.

SAFE DRIVING

FOLLOWING DISTANCE

If you are driving a truck, truck trailer, or other similar vehicle on a roadway outside business or resi-

denal districts, you must not follow within 300 feet of other trucks except when you are aempng

to pass.

EQUIPMENT CHECKS

Check all your equipment, such as res, lights, brakes, and load, during each stop.

FLAMMABLE LOADS

If your vehicle is carrying explosives or ammable liquids, you must stop at all railroad crossings—

even if no signals warn that a train is approaching. Passenger buses and school buses must also stop.

If you drive a truck carrying gasoline, oil, or explosives, be careful to avoid res and explosions. Turn

o the ignion when you put gasoline in the tank or unload the truck. Don't smoke at any me on or

near the truck. In case of an accident, keep people, especially smokers, away. When driving a truck

with such a load, you should keep out of business districts and heavy trac as oen as possible, and

park away from buildings and other vehicles when possible.

BACKING UP

When you are preparing to back up a truck or large vehicle, always get out and carefully check clear-

ance limits. Make sure that you have plenty of room to maneuver. If possible, have someone guide

you when you back up. Never back into an intersecon in order to turn around.

COASTING

Never disengage the clutch while driving your truck on a downgrade. This "coasng" is illegal and

very risky.

PROTECTING YOUR LOAD

Make certain to keep rear doors locked.

COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) CLASS A, B, C

To get a CDL, you must pass both knowledge and skills tests. You may wish to obtain a copy of the

Mississippi Professional Driver's Manual for study. You must have a CDL to operate:

1. A single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds.

2. A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if the gross combinaon weight rang is

more than 26,000 pounds.

3. A vehicle designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver).

4. Any size vehicle which requires hazardous materials placards.

COMMERCIAL LICENSE, CLASS D

MOTORCYCLE ENDORSEMENT

If you wish to operate a motor-driven cycle, you

must obtain a Motorcycle Endorsement to go

along with your Driver License.

To receive the endorsement, you must complete

a computerized test on the operaon of a motor-

cycle and a skills test. You may obtain a Mississip-

pi Motorcycle Operator's Manual from the near-

est driver license staon.

When applying for a motorcycle endorsement,

advise the examiner in order for the proper test

to be administered.

If you hold an out-of-state license which is valid

for the operaon of motorcycles, the computer-

ized and skills tests may be waived.

NOTE: According to law, if you drive a motor-

driven cycle on the roads or highways of Missis-

sippi, you must wear a crash helmet of the type

approved by the American Associaon of Motor

Vehicle Administrators.

A Class D license is required only when you are

operang a vehicle commercially and the vehi-

cle is under 26,000 pounds GVWR. You do not

need a commercial license to drive a pick-up

truck, regardless of what the truck is used for,

unless you are transporng hazardous materi-

als in an amount that requires a placard.

SCHOOL BUS LICENSE

You must be at least 21 years old before you

are eligible for a license to drive a school bus.

RESTRICTIONS

If you require some type of aid or special equip-

ment (such as eyeglasses) in order to pass the

exam(s) for a license or permit, then your li-

cense will be restricted accordingly.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To obtain a license of any type, you must complete an applicaon form furnished by the Department of

Public Safety. Your examiner will not accept the applicaon if it has been soiled, mulated, or folded

where it should not be. The completed applicaon must contain:

 your full name, date of birth, home address, and social security number

 your physical descripon and a brief history of your physical and mental condion

 Informaon about your driving experience and record.

PROOF OF RESIDENCY

PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION

If you are 18 years old or older and are applying

for an original license, you must show TWO

pieces of documentaon to prove you live in

this state. (If you are under 21 years old, you

may use documentaon for your parent’s resi-

dence.)

Each proof of residency must contain a physical

address. No post oce box numbers will be

accepted. Acceptable proofs of residency in-

clude items such as: electric bill, water bill, or

bank statement (no blank checks); lease/rent

agreement or mortgage papers; notarized leer

from employer stang address of applicant and

including employer’s telephone number; Mis-

sissippi driver license of parent/guardian (if ap-

plicant under 21 years of age); etc.

Two proofs of idencaon are required before a

license or permit can be issued:

You must provide your SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. If

you no longer have your social security card, you

must obtain a new one.

AND

You must provide a CERTIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE

issued by your state of birth.

If you currently hold a driver license from another

state, you must also provide the out-of-state li-

cense or a lost license adavit.

SIGNATURES

You must sign your applicaon aer compleng

it. If you make a false statement on the applica-

on, your driving privileges may be suspended.

If you are under 17 years old, your applicaon for

a permit or license must include the signature of

both of your parents (if both are living, and both

have legal custody of you).

If both parents are not living or do not have legal

custody of you, your applicaon must include the

signature of your legal guardian or your employ-

er. If you do not have a custodial parent, legal

guardian, or employer, your applicaon must be

signed by a responsible adult who is willing to as-

sume the obligaons this act imposes on them.

CERTIFICATION OF ATTENDANCE

If you are under 18 years old, you must provide

proof of your enrollment in school. Request a

Cercaon of Aendance form from your

school’s principal, headmaster, or county su-

perintendent of educaon, or their designee.

This form must not be over 30 days old. If you

are home-schooled, obtain a blank Cerca-

on of Aendance from a school or superinten-

dent of educaon. Your parent’s notarized sig-

nature must be on this form. If you are under

18 years old and are married, you may show a

marriage license instead of a School Cerca-

on of Aendance.

Whoever signs your applicaon must have their signature NOTARIZED.

Any person who signs your applicaon may later le a veried wrien

request that your license or permit be cancelled.

EXEMPTIONS TO SIZE REGULATIONS

Farm machinery is exempt from size, weight, and height limitaons when operated during daylight

hours on any state highway within 50 miles of the point of origin. Farm machinery cannot be moved

on interstate highways. Such machinery, or the vehicle towing it, must be equipped with front and

rear reector lights and a blinking light clearly visible from the front and rear.

If you need to move a load that exceeds any size or weight limitaon, you may request a permit to do

so from the:

Mississippi Department of Transportaon

Maintenance Division Permit Secon

P.O. Box 1850

Jackson, MS 39205

WEIGH STATIONS

You will nd weigh staons located on most main highways. You must pull your truck into these sta-

ons so that it can be weighed to determine if it is overloaded. Call 601-359-1148 for addional in-

formaon.

AVOIDING SPILLS

You may not put any vehicle on the road unless it is built or loaded so that none of the load can spill,

shi, leak, or in any way escape onto the roadway. EXCEPTIONS: Dropping sand onto the roadway to

secure tracon is permied. Authorized vehicles spraying water or any other substance to clean the

roadway are exempt from this regulaon.

If you are driving a truck, trailer, or any other open-topped vehicle on a highway or interstate in Mis-

sissippi; are carrying sand, dirt, gravel, rocks, or any similar material; and your load reaches within 6

inches or fewer of the top of the bed, then you must:

 use a tarpaulin, canvas, or other cover to contain the load, AND

 use four 6-inch sideboards, one aached to the front, one to the back, and one to

each side of the body. These sideboards must be lowered when you are loading the

vehicle, and none of the load can extend above the body. Aer loading is completed,

you must raise these sideboards and secure them for the trip.

NOTE: If you use a tarpaulin, canvas, or cover of any kind, you must secure it soundly so that no end,

string, or binding aps as the truck moves down the roadway.

SIZE REGULATIONS

WIDTH

The total outside width of any vehicle, including the load being carried on that vehicle, cannot exceed

8-1/2 feet. The total outside width of a farm tractor shall not exceed 10 feet.

HEIGHT

Under no condions may any vehicle, loaded or unloaded, exceed a total height of 13-l/2 feet. This

height is permied only if no company, corporaon, local government, government agency, or the

State of Mississippi has to raise, alter, reconstruct, or change in any way any underpass, trestle, wire,

pole, or any other structure. If your vehicle exceeds 12-l/2 feet in height, then either you or the vehi-

cle's owner will be held responsible for any damage caused by the excess height.

LENGTH

Single Vehicle--No single vehicle, loaded or unloaded, may have an overall length in excess

of 40 feet, including both front and rear bumpers.

Semi-trailer OR truck and trailer--No semi-trailer operang in a truck/tractor + semi-trailer

combinaon, and no trailer drawn by a motor vehicle, may have an overall length in excess

of 50 feet.

Semi-trailer-trailer OR truck and double trailer--No semi-trailer or trailer operang in a

truck/tractor + semi-trailer + trailer combinaon, and no trailer operang in a double trail-

er combinaon drawn by a motor vehicle, may have an overall length in excess of 30 feet.

EXTENSION OF LOAD

Rear—Under normal condions, the load on the rear of a vehicle transporng forest or

agricultural products in their natural state can project no more than 28 feet beyond the

vehicle's rear axle. However, if these products cannot be shortened without making them

useless for their intended purpose (such as ulity poles), a special permit may be obtained

from the Mississippi Department of Transportaon allowing their transportaon. Vehicles

with such projecng loads may legally operate only during daylight hours, and only with

the load safely secured by at least 2 chains or 2 wire ropes, 1 posioned behind the front

bolster and 1 in front of the back bolster.

Front—The load on any vehicle operated alone, or with the load on the front unit of any

combinaon of vehicles, must not extend more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels of the

vehicle or the front bumper.

WEIGHT

For regulaons governing gross weights of vehicles and loads, contact the nearest oce of The Mis-

sissippi Department of Transportaon.

COMBINATION TOWING

 No semi-trailer or trailer combinaons in excess of 2 units, excluding the towing vehicle, will be

allowed to operate on Mississippi highways.

 No more than 2 vehicles in any combinaon may be towed by saddle mounts, and no more than

1 motor vehicle may be towed by tow-bar.

THE EXAMINATIONS

Before you can be issued an original Mississippi driver license, you must pass three exams: the Vision Ex-

am, the Computerized Exam, and the Driving Exam. Each is described below.

The exams are designed to answer the following quesons:

 Do you know the Mississippi trac laws and the rules of safe driving?

 Can you read, understand, and follow trac signs and signals?

 Are you a safe and skillful driver?

 Do you understand and have the proper atude toward the rights of pedestrians and other drivers?

 Do you understand how to keep your vehicle in safe condion?

 Are you physically and mentally capable of driving safely?

COMPUTERIZED EXAM

VISION EXAM

Your eyes will be checked to make sure you see

well enough to drive safely.

The Computerized Exam is based on the infor-

maon in this manual. It especially focuses on

Mississippi trac laws, safe driving rules, and

driver license requirements. To prepare, study

this manual carefully.

What if I fail the Vision Exam?

If your eye test indicates that you may

need glasses, you must have your

eyes tested by an eye specialist or op-

tometrist. You will be given a vision

form (DE26) to be lled out by your

eye specialist or optometrist.

What if I fail the Computerized Exam?

If you fail the Computerized Exam, you

may re-take it the following business

day. If you do not pass aer three (3)

aempts, you must wait thirty (30) days

to re-take the Computerized Exam.

What if I am not a good reader?

If you are reading impaired, have some-

one teach you the contents of this man-

ual. The Computerized Exam includes a

headset, and the machine will read the

quesons and answers aloud for you.

If you are under the care of a physician

for any reason, a cercate concerning

your physical or mental condion

may be required before you take your

examinaons.

ALL Driver License Tesng STOPS at 4pm STATEWIDE.

This includes Computerized Exams AND Driving Exams.

No Driving Exam will be given when streets are wet or slippery, or if windshield wipers are needed.

DRIVING (ROAD) EXAM

The driving exam tests your ability to operate a motor vehicle. It is designed to measure your safety and

skill as a driver.

What do I need for my Driving Exam?

If you are under 17 years old, you must have

your applicaon, Learner's Permit.

If you are 17 years old or older, you must have

your applicaon, Social Security card, cered

birth cercate, and two proofs of residence.

Bring your Learner’s Permit if you have one.

In addion, you must:

 Be accompanied by a person with a valid driv-

er license.

 Be in a legally licensed motor vehicle with

proof of valid insurance. (We recommend the

vehicle you have been praccing in. You will

use your vehicle for the test.)

 Be sure the vehicle has all necessary equip-

ment to pass an inspecon.

When do I take my Driving Exam?

You may take the Driving Exam aer you have

held a Learner’s Permit for one year. (At this

point, you are eligible to apply for the Inter-

mediate License. The Driving Exam is required

for an Intermediate License.)

If you are 17 years old or older and have not

held an Intermediate License, you may take

the Driving Exam when you apply for a Regular

Driver License.

What will happen during my driving exam?

A trained examiner from the Department of

Public Safety will give you the exam. (Only you

and the examiner may be in the vehicle during

the test. Excepon: If you are hearing impaired

or do not speak English, an interpreter may ac-

company you.)

Before you begin, the examiner will inspect

your lights, horn, brakes, and vehicle registra-

on. If the vehicle does not pass inspecon,

the exam will be postponed unl you return in

a vehicle that meets legal requirements.

The examiner will tell you where to drive and

what driving maneuvers to make. The examin-

er will never aempt to trick or confuse you.

You may be directed to execute right and le

turns; to make a safe, smooth stop; to back

properly; to park and stop on a hill; to parallel

park; and to do a turn-about.

What will the examiner be watching for?

The examiner will pay close aenon to how you

control the vehicle, including:

 your posture

 your use of signals and of driving lanes

 your response to warning signs, stop signs,

and trac signals

 your atude toward pedestrians and other

vehicles/drivers.

The examiner’s observaon will be listed on your

Record of Examinaon, and you will be graded

accordingly. You will fail the exam if you have

too many errors, drive dangerously, violate the

law, have an accident, or disobey instrucons.

Aer the exam, the examiner will explain your

mistakes and inform you whether you passed.

What if I fail the Driving Exam?

If you fail the driving exam, you must wait one (1)

full week before re-taking the exam.

CLASS D—REGULATIONS

Most of the driving rules and regulaons covered so far in this manual are meant for the ordinary

driver. Commercial drivers must be familiar with many addional rules and regulaons, especially

those concerning trucks. If you intend to drive a commercial vehicle, study this secon carefully. As a

driver of a commercial vehicle, your responsibilies are more complex than those of ordinary driver.

EQUIPMENT

 All lights and reectors must be clean and in working order and be visible 500 feet to the rear

of your truck/trailer.

 You must have a mechanical or electrical device for giving turn signals.

 All reectors on the rear and sides near the rear of your truck/trailer must show a red color.

All reectors on the front and sides near the front must show an amber color.

 You MUST have two red reectors on the rear, and you must have a red tail light. You must

also have a stop light, which may be incorporated with the tail light. When you apply the foot

brake, the stop light must show a red or amber color.

 Your clearance and side-marker lamps must, when lighted, display an amber color on or near

the trailer's front, and must, when lighted, display a red color on or near the rear.

 Any vehicle which is designed or loaded so that the driver's rear view is obstructed must have

a side mirror located so that the driver can see at least 200 feet to the rear.

 Your truck's muer must be in good working condion. You may not use a muer cutout,

bypass, or any similar device.

SAFETY & WARNING DEVICES

 If you operate a bus or truck at night, you must carry at least three ares, fuses, electric

ares, or reectors. If your vehicle becomes disabled, place one of these warning devices

approximately 100 feet ahead of your locaon, a second 100 feet to the rear, and a third at

the roadway side of the vehicle.

 In daylight hours, you should use red ags in these same posions.

 If you carry explosives or ammables, such as gas or oil, you must carry at least three elec-

tric ares, lanterns, or large ares for emergencies. Under no circumstances may you use

any type of burning ares or fuses.

 If you carry explosives or ammables, you must also have two or more re exnguishers

which should be in good working condion, completely lled, and posioned so that you

can reach them quickly in an emergency.

COMMERCIAL

LICENSE,

CLASS D

GLOSSARY

business or residenal district—any place where most of the land along the road

for 300 feet or more is used for houses or places of business.

computerized exam—a mulple-choice queson test you must past as one of the

requirements for a Mississippi driver license. It is also known as the “wrien ex-

am,” although the exam is no longer completed on paper.

driving exam—a praccal test you must pass as one of the requirements for a

Mississippi driver license. It is also known as the “road test.”

highway—every way or place of whatever travel, including the streets of munici-

palies.

intersecon—the place where roads come together or cross. The sidewalk cross-

ings /crosswalks are counted as part of the intersecon.

motor vehicle—an automobile, motorcycle, or other kind of vehicle (except on

rails) which is run by an engine or motor in the vehicle itself.

non-resident—anybody who does not live in Mississippi.

operator—anybody who is actually driving a motor vehicle on the highway.

right-of-way—the privilege of the immediate use of the highway.

school bus—every vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency, or privately

owned and operated for compensaon, for the transportaon of children to and

from school.

stop—complete cessaon of movement.

trac—pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, and other

conveyances, either singularly or together, while using any highway for the pur-

pose of travel.

REMEMBER: Safe driving takes common sense, courtesy, and self-control.

Always drive defensively and always treat pedestrians and other drivers with

the same respect you want them to show you.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Your vehicle must be equipped as follows.

BRAKES—Your vehicle must have a foot brake AND a hand brake. The foot brake must be strong

enough to stop the vehicle in 30 feet at a speed of 20 miles per hour. The hand brake must be strong

enough to stop the vehicle in 55 feet at the same speed.

HORN—Your vehicle must have a horn which can be heard 200 feet away. It is against the law to

have any siren or exhaust or spark whistle on a vehicle. Noise-making devices are illegal.

LIGHTS—Your vehicle must have two headlights (one for a motorcycle) and a taillight. The lights must

meet the following standards:

 With your headlights you should be able to see a person 200 feet ahead under good weather

condions at night.

 The tail light on your vehicle must be red and must be visible 500 feet behind you.

In addion to two headlights, your vehicle may have no more than one spotlight and no more than

three auxiliary lights. It is against the law for any of these lights to be either red or blue, and at no

me should you have more than four lights (not including headlights) burning at once.

MUFFLER—The muer on your vehicle must be in good working order and must operate constantly.

Straight, gued, hollywood, glass-packed, or any other types of muer which allow excessive noise

or smoke are illegal.

REAR VIEW MIRROR—Mississippi law does not require you to have a rear view mirror, but it is cer-

tainly a good idea to have one. (If you drive a truck with a body that blocks your view of the road be-

hind, you are required by law to have an outside rear view mirror.)

TIRES—Your res must be properly inated, have good tread, and be free of breaks, cuts, and decay.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

For safe driving under poor weather condions, you must have windshield wipers that work.

SAFETY TIP: Before driving, use a re pressure gauge to check re pressure. Your re pressure

should match the recommended psi (pounds per square inch) located in the vehicle owner's manual

or the driver's side door jamb of the vehicle. If your psi is above the recommended number, let air

out unl it matches. If below, add air unl the amount is correct. Have a re professional help you if

necessary.

Once a month, or before any long road trip, check your res for wear and damage problems. To

check for appropriate re tread, use the penny test:

1. Take a penny and hold Abraham Lincoln's body between your thumb and forenger.

2. Select a point on your re where the tread appears to be lowest and place Lincoln's head into

one of the grooves.

If any part of Lincoln's head is covered by the tread, you're driving with a safe amount of tread. If the

tread gets below that, your car's ability to grip the road in adverse condions is greatly reduced.

REINSTATEMENT OF DRIVING PRIVELEGES

If your driving privileges were suspended or revoked and are now eligible for reinstatement, the fol-

lowing fees and procedures apply.

What payment methods are

accepted?

You must pay by CASHIER's check.

DO NOT SEND CASH, MONEY ORDER

OR A PERSONAL CHECK.

Make the check payable to:

Department of Public Safety

REASON FOR SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION

FEE FOR

REINSTATEMENT

Convicon under Mississippi Implied Consent

Law / DUI or Uniform Controlled Substances Act

$175

Failure to pay Child Support

$25

All other suspensions

$100

NOTE: If your license was deposited in lieu

of bond OR you failed to appear in court,

you must show a corrected court abstract

from the judge before being reinstated.

Where do I send my CASHIER’S check?

For suspension due to DUI or unpaid

ckets, mail check to:

DRIVER RECORDS

PO BOX 958

JACKSON, MS 39205

For suspension due to an accident,

mail check to:

SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY

PO BOX 958

JACKSON, MS 39205

LICENSE SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, & REINSTATEMENT

Your license represents your privilege to drive in Mississippi. Protect this privilege by driving safely

and lawfully. If you disobey the laws of the state, or if you prove yourself unable to drive in accord-

ance with those laws, your license may be taken away by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

SUSPENSION OF LICENSE

The Commissioner of Public Safety is authorized to suspend your license without a preliminary hear-

ing if public records or other sucient evidence indicate that:

 You are convicted of an oense for which mandatory revocaon of license is required.

 You have been involved, as a driver, in any accident resulng in the death or personal

injury of another person or in serious property damage.

 You are a habitually reckless or negligent driver.

 You have been frequently convicted of serious trac violaons.

 You are mentally or physically incompetent to drive.

 You have allowed a fraudulent use of your license.

 You are convicted of DUI or DWI in another state.

 You have commied an oense in another state that would, in Mississippi, have result-

ed in the suspension or revocaon of your license.

 You obtained a Mississippi driver license while your license in another state was under

suspension.

 You have failed to pay child support.

REVOCATION OF LICENSE

The Commissioner of Public Safety must take away your license for a period of one year if your are

convicted of any of the following:

 manslaughter or negligent homicide resulng from a driving accident;

 any felony in which you used a motor vehicle;

 failure to stop and render aid as required under the laws of this state in

event of a motor vehicle;

 perjury or making any false oath or statement to the department concern-

ing your ownership or operaon of a motor vehicle; or

 three reckless driving charges within a 12-month period.

NOTE: If you pay bail and fail to appear for trial, the court can try you in your absence.

PAVEMENT MARKINGS

The pavement on all main highways is marked to help you drive safely. These markings include center

lines, lane lines, and direconal arrows. Their placement depends upon the type of highways and the

parcular trac condions. You must observe and comply with these markings at all mes.

LANE LINES, CENTER LINES, & BARRIER LINES

A broken white line

means travel in the same

direcon is permied on

both sides of the line.

A vehicle may cross the

line to change lanes

when it is safe to do so.

A broken yellow line sep-

arates trac lanes that

move in the opposite

direcons.

Crossing into the oncom-

ing lane is permissible

ONLY for passing and

only when it is safe to

pass.

A single, solid white line

means travel in the same

direcon is permied on

both sides of the line.

Crossing a single white

line is discouraged.

A double, solid white line

means travel in the same

direcon is permied on

both sides of the line.

Crossing a double white

line is PROHIBITED.

A broken yellow line next

to a solid yellow line sepa-

rates trac lanes that

move in opposite direc-

ons.

If the broken line is closest

to your lane, you may pass

with cauon. If the solid

line is closest to your lane,

passing is forbidden next

to the solid line.

A double, solid yellow

line separates travel

lanes moving in oppo-

site direcons.

Passing from either

side of a double yellow

line is PROHIBITED.

DIRECTIONAL ARROWS

Pavement arrows mark the direcons of trac movement. When you approach intersecons marked by

direconal arrows, look for the arrow that marks the lane you want to follow. If you get in the wrong lane,

keep going in that lane unl it is safe to turn o and get back on the correct street or highway.

A straight arrow means

you MUST connue

straight if you travel in

this lane.

An arrow poinng to the

right means you MUST

turn right if you travel in

this lane.

An arrow poinng to the

le means you MUST

turn le if you travel in

this lane.

A two-headed

arrow that points

both straight

AND to the right

means that you

may connue

straight OR turn

to the right if you

travel in this lane.

A two-headed

arrow that points

both straight

AND to the le

means that you

may connue

straight OR turn

to the le if you

travel in this lane.

ONLY ONLY ONLY

CROSSWALKS

Painted crosswalks are placed at intersecons

and at other locaons where there is regular

pedestrian trac.

Approach crosswalks with care. Never stop

your car on any part of a crosswalk.

Pedestrians using crosswalks should check in

both direcons before crossing the street.

However, drivers must always yield to pedes-

trians in crosswalks—even if the crosswalk is

not marked.

The center lane above is painted

to indicate TURN LANE ONLY. A

vehicle may use this lane ONLY

in preparaon to turn le or

right across the opposite lanes.

The turn lane is NEVER used for

passing.

DUI Penales

These penales apply to drivers of any age with .08% Blood Alcohol Content or higher.

OFFENSE/CONVICTION FINE JAIL TERM LICENSE SUSPENSION

DUI—First Oense

(Misdemeanor)

$250 - $1000 Up to 48 hours. 120 days or 120 days interlock restricted

license.

DUI—Second Oense within 5

years

(Misdemeanor)

$600 - $1000 Not less than 10

days.

1 year or 1 year interlock restricted li-

cense.

DUI—Third or Subsequent

Oense within 5 years

(Felony)

$2000 - $5000 Minimum of 1

year up to 5 years,

Mississippi Dept.

of Correcons.

3 years or 3 year interlock restricted li-

cense.

ZERO TOLERANCE DUI Penales

These penales apply to drivers under 21 years of age, who have a Blood Alco-

hol Content of .02% or higher, but LESS than .08%.

(If a driver is under 21 and has a

Blood Alcohol Content of .08% or higher, the oense is classied as a regular DUI—not as

a Zero Tolerance DUI.)

OFFENSE/CONVICTION FINE LICENSE SUSPENSION

Zero Tolerance DUI—First Oense

Not less than $250 120 days or 120 days interlock

restricted license.

Zero Tolerance DUI—Second

Oense within 5 years

Not more than $500 1 year or 1 year interlock re-

stricted license.

Zero Tolerance DUI—Third or Sub-

sequent Oense within 5 years

Not more than $1000 3 years or 3 year interlock re-

stricted license.

NOTE: Addional penales may apply. For example, if you are convicted of a First

Oense DUI (or First Oense Zero Tolerance DUI) AND you refused the breath or

chemical test, a 90 day license suspension is added to the original penalty. Penales

are also more severe if you receive a DUI convicon while your license is suspended for

a previous DUI, if you have an accident and injure someone while you are driving under

PENALTIES MAY BE REDUCED BASED ON COMPLETION OF THE

MISSISSIPPI ALCOHOL EDUCATION SAFETY PROGRAM (MASEP).

IMPLIED CONSENT

When you operate a motor vehicle in the state of Mississippi, you are giving your implied

consent to tesng for the presence of intoxicang substances in your body. This means that

if a law enforcement ocer has good reason to suspect that you are operang your vehicle

under the inuence of an intoxicang substance, the ocer can request you to take a breath

or chemical test.

What if I refuse to take a breath or chemical test?

You have the right to refuse the ocer’s request. If you refuse:

You must surrender your driver license to the ocer immediately.

The ocer will give you an ocial receipt for your license, which will serve as your

temporary license for 45 days.

The ocer will forward your driver license, along with the ocer’s sworn report, to

the Commissioner of Public Safety, who will review your case.

Be aware that your license will automacally be suspended for 90

days for DUI refusal, whether or not you are later found guilty of DUI.

The suspension increases for subsequent refusals with convicons.

How much is too much? (And what happens if I’ve had too much?)

If you submit to the test, you will be considered under the inuence of intoxicang

liquor if:

 you are 21 years old or older, and your blood alcohol content

registers .08% or more, OR,

 you are under the age of 21, and your blood alcohol content

registers .02% or more. (This lower amount reects Mississip-

pi’s “Zero Tolerance” for underage drivers who drink.)

If your blood alcohol content reaches or exceeds your minimum limit, the ocer

will demand your license and will give you a receipt for it. This receipt will serve as

a valid permit to drive for a period of 30 days. Penales for DUI and related convic-

ons appear on the following page.

TRAFFIC SIGNS AND SIGNALS

You must be able to recognize and obey trac signs and signals. The U.S. is currently converng to an

internaonal style, which uses pictures and symbols rather than words. This change will be gradual:

New designs will be accompanied by word messages unl the public is familiar with them.

STANDARD SHAPES AND COLORS

Signs have eight standard shapes and eight standard colors. Each one has a specic meaning.

RED: Stop or prohibion. If

you see red on a trac de-

vice, STOP.

GREEN: Direconal guidance

and permied movement.

BLACK: Regulaon.

WHITE: Regulaon.

ORANGE: Construcon or

maintenance warning.

BROWN: Public recreaon

and scenic guidance.

YELLOW: General warning.

BLUE: Motorist services

guidance.

OCTAGON: Exclusively for STOP signs.

HORIZONTAL RECTANGLE:

Usually for guide signs.

EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE:

Exclusively for YIELD signs.

PENNANT: Warning of

NO PASSING ZONE ahead.

DIAMOND: Exclusively to warn of

exisng or possible hazard on or

adjacent to roadway.

VERTICAL RECTANGLE: Usually used for

regulatory signs (such as speed limits).

PENTAGON: School crossing signs and

warning of school zones ahead.

ROUND: Warning of railroad crossing

ahead.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHTS

A SOLID RED LIGHT means you must

make a complete stop and remain

stopped unl the light turns green.

EXCEPTION: You may turn right while the

light is red. But rst, you must STOP

COMPLETELY, and you must yield to oth-

er trac and pedestrians. You may NOT

turn on red if a sign prohibits you, and

you MUST stop rst: Only yielding before

turning is not enough (and is illegal).

A SOLID YELLOW LIGHT

means the light will soon

turn red. Slow down and

prepare to stop.

If a green light turns yellow

as you are approaching, slow

down and prepare to stop.

A SOLID GREEN LIGHT means you

may go if it is safe to do so. You

must yield to any pedestrians and

to any trac already in the inter-

secon.

EXCEPTION: If you are turning

le, the solid green light means

you must YIELD TO ONCOMING

TRAFFIC.

REMEMBER: ANY TIME you trav-

el through an intersecon, you must YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS. You must also

YIELD TO ANY TRAFFIC ALREADY IN THE INTERSECTION

REMEMBER: For le turns, the yellow ashing arrow and the solid green light mean the

A GREEN ARROW means you

may turn in the direcon of the

arrow if you are in the proper

lane. Oncoming trac will have

a red light when your turn arrow

is green, giving you a

“protected” turn.

A YELLOW FLASHING ARROW

means you may turn in the di-

recon of the arrow if you are

in the proper lane. You must

YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

Oncoming trac will have a

green light when your turn ar-

row is ashing, so you do NOT

have a “protected” turn.

A YELLOW SOLID ARROW

is the same as a SOLID

YELLOW LIGHT. It indi-

cates that the light is

about to change to red.

Slow down and prepare to

stop.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE & IMPLIED CONSENT

Driving under the inuence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in Mississippi. The informaon below de-

scribes the impact of alcohol and drugs on a driver and explains the legal consequences of driving un-

der the inuence, based on Mississippi’s Implied Consent law.

ALCOHOL & THE DRIVER

Driving under the inuence of alcohol is extremely dangerous. Alcohol can aect your personality,

temperament, and judgment. Tests show that even two beers can markedly decrease a person’s re-

exes. If your reacons slow down only a half-second, and you need to hit the brakes while traveling

55 MPH, your vehicle will travel an extra 44 feet before stopping. That addional distance could be

the dierence between life and death. If you drive, do not drink. And if you drink, do not drive. Never

let a drinker get behind the wheel.

MARIJUANA & THE DRIVER

Marijuana, like alcohol, only slows down a person’s reexes, impairs judgment, and makes a person

very dangerous when they drive. Its possession and use is a crime in Mississippi. Driving under the

inuence of marijuana is not only risky, it is against the law.

If you are operang your vehicle and you have one gram to one ounce of marijuana on your per-

son, or a passenger in your vehicle is carrying that amount, or you are keeping that amount some-

where in your vehicle, you are guilty of a misdemeanor. You can receive a sentence of up to 90

days in jail and can be ned up to $1000.00.

UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ACT

According to Mississippi law, your privilege to drive

can be revoked for six (6) months for any convicon

under the Uniform Controlled Substance Act.

PROOF OF INSURANCE & SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY

The Safety Responsibility Act was passed by the Legislature to guarantee that all Mississippi licensed

drivers take nancial responsibility for accidents they may cause. According to Mississippi law,

every motor vehicle operated in this state must have liability insurance.

PROOF OF INSURANCE

The insured pares are responsible for making sure a current, valid insurance card is kept inside each

insured vehicle. If you have an accident or are involved in a trac stop and cannot provide proof of

insurance, you can be cited and ned.

MINIMUM INSURANCE AMOUNTS

At a minimum, the insurance policy must have the following limits:

 at least $25,000.00 for property damage, and

 at least $50,000.00 for bodily injury.

What if I have an accident and cannot provide proof of insurance?

If you involved in an accident that results in death, personal injury, or a minimum of $1000.00 in

property damages, you must, within 60 days, furnish proof of your ability to pay for the damages.

Otherwise, your driving privilege will be jeopardized. To prove your ability to pay, you must:

 Show that you had an adequate insurance policy in eect at the me of the accident; or

 Show that you have either a cercate of deposit or securies valuing $15,000.00; or

 Show that you have a Cercate of Self-Insurance supplemented by an agreement to

pay the same judgments in the same amounts as you would have had to pay under an

owner's insurance policy. (A self-insurer must own a eet of more than 25 vehicles.); or

 Deposit cash, or a negoable security, or a corporate surety bond in an amount judged

sucient by the department to pay all damages; or

 Present a release of liability, or a nal adjudicaon of non-liability for damages, or

show payment of your damages by the other party.

In addion, if you were the driver at fault in an accident that caused injuries or damages to another

person or property, and you did not have liability insurance at the me of the accident, then you

are required to purchase liability insurance and to le proof of insurance (Form SR-22). The proof of

insurance must:

 show that you now have the minimum liability coverage required in Mississippi (at least

$25000.00 for property damage and $50,000.00 for bodily injury; and

 be provided by a liability insurance company licensed in Mississippi; and

 remain in eect for a period of three years from the date of the accident.

Some TRAFFIC SIGNALS direct a trac lane (or two side-by-side lanes) from which you may

travel straight OR turn le. All guidelines for yielding to trac and pedestrians sll apply.

RED LIGHT: You must stop. You

may NOT turn le, and you may

NOT connue straight.

GREEN ARROW: You may turn

le from turn lane.

RED LIGHT: You may NOT con-

nue straight through the inter-

secon. You must stop and wait.

GREEN ARROW: You may turn

le from turn lane.

GREEN LIGHT: You may connue

straight through the intersecon.

YELLOW ARROW: Use cauon.

The signal is transioning from

a green arrow (protected turn)

to an unprotected turn or to a

red light.

GREEN LIGHT: You may travel

straight. You may turn le only

if the way is clear. This is an

unprotected turn, and you

must YIELD to oncoming trac.

YELLOW LIGHT: Use cauon.

The signal is transioning from

green to red. Slow down and

prepare to stop.

A FLASHING RED LIGHT

means you must STOP

completely and proceed

with cauon, following

the rules for yielding right-

of-way at intersecons.

A FLASHING YELLOW

LIGHT means you must

SLOW DOWN and exer-

cise cauon.

LANE DIRECTION CONTROL

Some trac lanes are marked by signals that indicate which lanes are available for use. For example, in

the image below, the far right lane is CLOSED. The far le and middle lanes are OPEN. When signals like

these are in use, you may travel ONLY in a lane marked by a green light. NEVER travel in a lane marked

with a red light.

TRAFFIC OFFICERS

Trac signs and signals help control the movement of trac and prevent accidents. You should always follow them UNLESS an

ocer is direcng trac. If ocers are direcng trac, you MUST follow their direcons. An ocer will usually signal you to

stop by holding up one hand, palm toward you, and then giving a long blast on the whistle. The ocer will usually signal you to

start or to connue by mooning with one hand and giving a series of short blasts on the whistle. At night an ocer may signal

with a ashlight.

PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

These signs mean pedestrians may

leave the curb and cross the

street.

These signs mean pedestrians

may NOT leave the curb.

If the sign is ashing, pedestrians MUST NOT LEAVE THE CURB.

Pedestrians should connue if they started to cross before the sign changed to ashing.

REQUIRED VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION

For residents of Mississippi, your vehicle must have a Mississippi license plate and cercate of tle.

If your windows have aer-market nng, you must also have a window nt inspecon cercate

and decal. You must also have a adequate insurance. Each of these requirements is described below.

LICENSE PLATE

You must purchase your license plate (tag) in the county where you live. Contact your local Tax Col-

lector for informaon about this purchase. For informaon on tags for large trucks, contact the State

Tax Commission in Jackson.

If you move to Mississippi, you must obtain a Mississippi license plate within thirty (30) days.

You are required by law to mount your Mississippi license plate on the rear of your vehicle. Trailer

hitches, tag emblems, or any other decoraon must not obscure any part of any leer or numeral on

your tag. You must also have a tag light which makes the numbers on your license plate visible at 50

feet at night.

CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (CERTIFIED TITLE)

Every vehicle must have a cercate of tle. Title applicaons are furnished by new and used car

dealers for the vehicles they sell. Title applicaons must be supported by a bill of sale and two years’

tag receipts.

If you are bringing a vehicle into Mississippi, you need only present your out-of-state tle to apply

(you must obtain a Mississippi tag within 30 days).

All licensed motor vehicle dealers and all county tax collectors must be qualied, by law, to accept

tle applicaons. Banks, nance companies, and other nancial instuons may also qualify as desig-

nated agents by the Mississippi State Tax Commission.

WINDOW TINT CERTIFICATE & DECAL

If you have a vehicle registered in Mississippi that has an aer-market window nt lm applied, you

must have the windows inspected by an ocial Mississippi Window Tint Inspecon Staon.

The window nt compliance cercate and decal cost is $5.00. The window nt decal must be axed

to the lower le corner of the windshield. The compliance cercate must be kept on the dashboard

or inside the dash compartment.

All windows must have a light transmiance of 28% or greater to be deemed legal.

For more informaon and the locaon of Window Tint Inspecon Staons, visit

www.dps.state.ms.us.

TIPS FOR SAFER CYCLING

Follow the ps below to improve your safety when traveling by bicycle.

 WEAR A HELMET! This is one of the best things to do to reduce risk of serious injury.

Note that depending on local laws, riding without a helmet may be illegal.

 TRAVEL WITH THE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC. Never ride a bicycle facing oncoming trac.

 RIDE PREDICTABLY. Don't weave in and out of trac or back and forth in the road.

 ENTER ROADWAYS CAREFULLY. Yield to oncoming trac just as you would if traveling

by car. Be certain your path is clear before riding out of alleys, driveways, or from behind

parked cars.

 BE VISIBLE. Wear bright clothing. A bright headlight, taillight, and reecve vest or

clothing should be used if riding at night.

 USE A LUGGAGE CARRIER, BASKET, OR SADDLE BAGS (PANNIERS) for carrying items.

 NEVER RIDE TWO PEOPLE on a bicycle built for one.

 NEVER HITCH your bicycle to another vehicle.

 USE COMMON SENSE. Even though you have a right to ride on the road, use common

courtesy. If trac condions make it dicult for motorists to pass you, pull o the road

periodically to let the motorists pass safely. Do not let long lines of cars back up behind

you for extended periods. State law does permit bicyclists to ride side-by-side, but bicy-

clists riding two abreast should not impede the normal and reasonable movement of

trac. When riding on a mul-lane roadway, ride within a single lane.

REGULATORY SIGNS

The STOP sign is the

only sign with eight

sides. It requires you

to come to a COM-

PLETE STOP before

entering an intersec-

on. Aer stopping,

you MUST yield to

any trac close

enough to be a haz-

ard.

The YIELD right-of-

way sign is an

equilateral trian-

gle. It means you

MUST let other

vehicles on the

roadway have the

right-of-way.

The WRONG WAY

sign tells you that

you are traveling in

the opposite direc-

on from the other

cars in your lane.

You are in danger

of causing a head-

on collision. You

must leave the

roadway and turn

around as soon as

possible.

The DO NOT ENTER sign might in-

clude the words “do not enter,” or

it might only include the white bar

across the red circle background.

Either way, it means you may not

enter this lane of travel.

This sign means

no RIGHT turns

are allowed at

this intersecon.

This sign means

YOU MAY NOT

TURN AROUND in

an intersecon, in

the center of a

street, or in a high-

way median.

Usually, if a trac signal is red,

you may turn right AFTER you

stop completely and make sure

the way is clear. However,

signs like these mean RIGHT

TURNS ARE NEVER ALLOWED

while the trac signal is red.

You must wait for the green

light to turn right.

This sign means

no LEFT turns

are allowed at

this intersecon.

This sign means NO TRUCKS

are allowed on this street or

highway.

REGULATORY SIGNS

This sign means that crossing

into another lane to pass a

vehicle is PROHIBITED.

This sign means

KEEP LEFT.

This sign means

KEEP RIGHT.

This sign means

you MUST TURN

LEFT.

This sign means

you MUST TURN

RIGHT.

This sign means you may ONLY

TRAVEL IN THE DIRECTION OF

THE ARROW.

This sign indicates

the MAXIUM SPEED

ALLOWED under

ideal driving condi-

ons.

This sign means you may ONLY

use the center lane TO MAKE

TURNS. The center lane is not

available for normal travel or

passing.

This sign designates HANDICAPPED PARKING

ONLY. Parking is only allowed for vehicles

with an ocial indicator such as a handicap

license tag or temporary hangtag. For infor-

maon on obtaining a handicap tag, contact

your County Tax Collector's Oce.

SHARING THE ROAD WITH BICYCLES

According to Mississippi law, a bicycle is considered a vehicle when

ridden on public roads. Any person riding a bicycle has the same

rights and responsibilies as a driver of a motor vehicle.

RULES FOR DRIVERS

RULES FOR CYCLISTS

Cyclists must:

 Observe all trac laws such as stopping

for stop signs, stop lights, and other road

signs.

 Use arm signals for turning.

 Ride as far to the right in the lane as is

safely possible. Generally, this means

riding two to four feet from the right

edge of the road. However, a bicyclist

may move to the le/farther into the

trac lane when:

 overtaking and passing another vehi-

cle traveling in same direcon as the

bicycle;

 unsafe condions are present on the

right side of the lane, such as broken

or missing pavement, pedestrians, ani-

mals, parked cars, or road hazards

(gravel, tree limbs, broken glass, etc.);

 the cyclist intends to travel straight

through an intersecon and the right

lane is for right turns only; or

 the cyclist intends to turn le.

Drivers must:

 Yield to oncoming bicyclists just as you

would yield to oncoming motorists.

 Leave a safe distance of at least three

(3) feet between the vehicle and bicycle

when passing the bicycle.

 Only pass a bicycle traveling in the same

direcon in a non-passing zone when it

is safe to do so.

 Aer passing a bicyclist proceeding in

the same direcon, make a right turn

only if the turn can be made with rea-

sonable safety. (Do not “cut o” a cy-

clist by turning in front of them.)

NOTE: When passing a bicyclist, use extra

cauon in order to pass safely. Do not try

to share the lane with a bicyclist when

passing. Reduce speed, move into the next

lane and pass in the normal manner, just as

you would pass a motor vehicle. If there is

oncoming trac, slow down behind the

bicyclist and pass when the oncoming

trac has cleared. Leave plenty of room

while passing. The wind eects from a mov-

ing vehicle can cause a bicyclist to lose con-

trol if the vehicle passes too closely.

An experienced bicyclist can ride 20-

25 miles per hour and may be closer

than you think.

ROAD SAFETY WITH LARGE VEHICLES

When traveling on interstates and highways used by large trucks and tractor/trailers, follow the

guidelines below.

BEWARE OF BLIND SPOTS

Large vehicles have limitaons that motorists may not be aware of. The most signicant of these are

blind spots—areas around the oversized vehicle where the driver's ability to see and react to other

vehicles is restricted. To avoid being in the driver's rear blind spot, don't follow the vehicle too close-

ly. Instead, posion your vehicle so that the professional driver can see your vehicle in his side mir-

rors. Remember, if you can't see the side mirrors on the front of the oversized vehicle you are follow-

ing, the driver cannot see you.

FOLLOW SAFELY

When following a large vehicle at night, always dim your headlights. Bright lights from the vehicle be-

hind can blind the driver when they reect o the vehicle's large side mirrors.

If you are stopped behind a large vehicle on an upgrade, leave addional space in case the vehicle

dris backwards slightly when it starts to move. Remember to keep to the le in your lane so the

driver can see that you're stopped behind the vehicle.

Do not follow too closely. An average tractor-trailer weighs approximately 80,000 pounds, and gener-

ally, it takes longer to stop an oversized vehicle. However, at high speeds or on wet roads, large vehi-

cles may have beer tracon and stability, allowing them to stop more quickly than smaller vehicles.

PASS SAFELY

When passing a large vehicle, rst check to your front and rear, and move into the passing lane only if

it is clear and while in a legal passing zone. NOTE:

 On a level highway, it only takes 3 to 5 seconds longer to pass a large vehicle than to

pass a car.

 On an upgrade, it is usually easier to pass a large vehicle, as it oen loses speed.

 While on a downgrade, the large vehicle's momentum will cause it to go faster, so you

may need to increase your speed.

Before returning to the lane of the vehicle you have passed, be sure to move back only when you can

see the front wheels of the truck meeng the pavement in your rearview mirror. Remember to main-

tain your speed once you have completed the passing maneuver.

When a large vehicle passes you, help the driver by keeping to the far side of your lane. Never

speed up when an oversized vehicle is passing you.

When you meet a large vehicle coming from the opposite direcon, keep as far to the right as possi-

ble to avoid a sideswipe crash and reduce the wind turbulence. Remember that wind turbulence

pushes vehicles apart; it does not pull them together.

RIGHT TURNS

Large vehicles require more space to make a turn and need to swing to the le of the lane when pre-

paring to make a right turn. To avoid a crash, don't pass a truck on the right if there is a possibility

that it might be making a right turn.

WARNING SIGNS

TRAFFIC SIGNAL

ahead.

STOP ahead.

RAILROAD COSSING

ahead.

YIELD ahead.

INTERSECTION /

CROSSROADS ahead.

“T” INTERSECTION

ahead.

SIDE ROAD enters

from angle ahead.

SIDE ROAD ahead (on

right).

RIGHT LANE ENDS.

Merge to le.

LEFT LANE ENDS.

Merge to right.

NEW LANE ENTERS

ROADWAY. (No merg-

ing necessary.)

ACCESS LANE/RAMP

MERGES INTO ROAD-

WAY (from right).

TWO-WAY TRAFFIC. DIVIDED HIGHWAY

ahead.

TRAFFIC CIRCLE /

ROUNDABOUT

ahead.

DIVIDED HIGHWAY

ENDS; TWO-WAY

TRAFFIC ahead.

WARNING SIGNS

SHARP TURN (le)

ahead.

CURVE (le) ahead.

Road is SLIPPERY

WHEN WET.

WINDING ROAD ahead.

SCHOOL CROSSING: This sign

warns that children must cross

the street on their way to and

from school. The sign is some-

mes located several blocks from

the school.

SCHOOL ZONE: Fieen miles

per hour when passing a school

during recess or while children

are arriving at or leaving school

during opening/closing hours.

PEDESTRIAN CROSSING.

Remember that pedestrians

have the right-of-way at

intersecons, whether the

crosswalk is marked or not.

If traveling in a lane marked with this sign, you

MUST CONTINUE ONTO THE EXIT.

This sign oen accompanies a STOP sign at an

intersecon. It tells you that although you must

stop for your stop sign, this is NOT a four-way

stop. Other trac lanes have the right of way

and will not stop.

INTERSTATE INTERCHANGES (EXITS & ENTRANCES)

Below, you will nd diagrams showing the correct way to use the four principal types of interstate

interchanges. All ramps and exits are normally marked clearly. But if you are not sure about how to

enter the interstate, pull o of the road and stop and check for correct route. Do not proceed unl

you are sure how to take the ramp you want.

LANE USE, PASSING, AND CHANGING LANES

Use the proper lane at all mes. The right lane is intended for through travel, and the le lane is in-

tended for passing. However, on the interstate, passing on either the right or le is permissible.

Be sure to stay in the right lane if you are traveling more slowly than the other trac. When being

passed, do not speed up. When passing, do not drive alongside any vehicle longer than it takes you to

pass. It is dangerous to drive in another motorist’s “blind spot.”

When traveling in an interstate’s right lane, watch for vehicles entering the right lane from access

ramps/acceleraon lanes. Merge le when safe to do so, so vehicles may enter the right lane safely.

To change lanes, check your rearview and side mirrors and check your blind spot for vehicles beside

and behind you. Then signal your intenons clearly. When you are sure it is safe, move into the lane

you wish to drive in. Follow the same steps when returning to your former lane. Be sure to switch o

your turn signal aer changing lanes.

SPEED LIMITS & FOLLOWING DISTANCE

The speed limit for interstate driving is 70 miles per hour for both day and night. The speed limit is

for ideal road and weather condions, so adjust your speed according to circumstances. Of course,

you can drive at less than the legal limit, but not less than the posted minimum speed limit.

Following too closely is extremely dangerous, especially on the interstate. It is a main reason for colli-

sions on the interstate. If you are driving at 70mph, stay at least seven car lengths from the vehicle

ahead. If you are driving 50mph, stay at least ve car lengths from the vehicle ahead.

ACCIDENTS & BREAKDOWNS

If you are involved in an accident or your car breaks down, move your vehicle o the pavement onto

the extreme right shoulder, or as far to the right as is praccal. At night, leave your lights on and use

your emergency ashers.

If your vehicle breaks down, let others know that you need help by turning on your emergency ash-

ers, raising the hood of your vehicle, and tying a white cloth to your door handle, antenna, or other

prominent place.

If you are stranded on the interstate, never get out of your vehicle into the main stream of trac.

Do not stand beside your vehicle. Never walk along or across the interstate or aempt to hitchhike.

Stay inside your vehicle, lock the doors, and wait for reliable help.

This car is in the center

car’s blind spot. The center

car’s passenger side mirror

will not reect a vehicle in

this area.

This car is in the center

car’s blind spot. The center

car’s driver side mirror will

not reect a vehicle in this

area.

Another blind spot is immediately behind large tractor/trailer rigs. If you can

not see the side mirrors on a large truck, the driver cannot see you!

BLIND SPOTS

GUIDE SIGNS

ROUTE MARKERS

Interstate Route

(Interstate Highway)

United States Route

(US Highway)

State Route

(State Highway)

Auxiliary Markers

DESTINATION, DIRECTION, and DISTANCE MARKERS

This sign indicates a place

where you may leave an

interstate highway.

You would use this lane to

access US Highway 59

North, toward Haesburg.

You would use one of these

lanes to access Interstate 55

North toward Jackson.

These signs indicate travel distance to towns and cies. For example, from the sign

on the right, the city of Haesburg is 3 miles ahead. Jackson is 93 miles ahead.

SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES

This emblem idenes SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES (vehicles

that travel 25 miles per hour or less). Watch carefully for

these vehicles both day and night.

INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DRIVING

ENTERING & EXITING THE INTERSTATE

To enter the interstate, drive along the ramp and obey the posted ramp speed. As you reach the end

of the ramp, increase your speed in the acceleraon lane unl you reach the speed of the interstate

highway trac. (It is dangerous to merge from a speed that is slower or faster than the ow of

trac.)

To merge into a travel lane, yield to any approaching vehicles and never turn suddenly into the main

ow of trac. First, give the proper signal, and then slowly merge into the trac. Switch o your turn

signal aer you merge.

To exit the interstate, be sure you are in the correct lane at least one-quarter mile from your exit.

Most exits are on the right and require you to exit from the right-hand lane. However, some exits are

on the le and require you to exit from the le-hand lane. Watch the signs to be certain of your exit’s

locaon.

Before exing, check for vehicles beside and behind you, signal your intenons, and move into the

deceleraon lane. Do not slow down unl you have safely moved into the deceleraon lane. Then

reduce your speed to the posted limit and turn o your signal.

If you take the wrong exit, connue on o the exit. Never stop, back up, or turn around on an exit

ramp. If you miss your exit, do not stop and back up; connue on to the next exit.

Signal and

merge carefully

into travel lane.

Adjust to trac speed

while in acceleraon lane.

Do not

merge

sharply

into

trac.

Do not

slow

down in

travel

lane.

Signal, move into

deceleraon lane,

and slow down.

Connue o exit ramp

at posted safe speed.

Do not cut

across lanes or

exit sharply.

IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT

If you are involved in an accident:

 Stop at once and help anyone who has been injured. Dial 911 to report injuries

if necessary.

 Report immediately to the proper law enforcement authories if the accident

involves injury, death, or apparent property damage exceeding $500.00.

 Give all other pares involved in the accident your name, address, license plate

number, and insurance informaon. For your own protecon, be sure to get the

same informaon from them.

When the ocer arrives at the accident scene, you must show Proof of Insurance and Insur-

ance Policy number. Addional informaon about Mississippi’s vehicle insurance require-

ment is provided later in this booklet. NOTE: If you do not have proof of insurance, you may

be cited for a violaon even if you are not at fault for the accident.

Remember: Whether or not you are at fault in an accident, you must report it unless there

are no injuries and the property damage amounts to less than $500. If you are injured so bad-

ly that you cannot make an immediate report, any one of your passengers may do so. These

reports are condenal and cannot be used against you in court.

To report an emergency trac situaon on an interstate or

highway in Mississippi, dial *HP (*47) on a cellular phone to

be connected toll free to a Mississippi Highway Patrol dis-

patcher. Be prepared to state your emergency and provide

the locaon (highway and/or mile marker) where assistance

is needed. Only report actual emergencies to *HP.

RAILROAD CROSSINGS

Always be especially alert at railroad crossings. The approaches to public railroad crossings are usually

marked with warning signs and pavement markings. The crossings themselves are marked with one or

more of the following.

Pavement markings warn and direct drivers and

regulate trac. In front of railroad crossings, the

pavement is marked with a large X and two R’s. A

solid yellow line is used to prevent passing in ad-

vance of the crossing, and a white line is painted

on each side of the track.

R R

This round yellow sign, with a black

“cross buck” and two R’s, means a

railroad crossing is ahead. In rural

areas, this sign is normally posted

500 to 900 feet in front of the tracks.

It tells you to look, listen, and slow

down because you may have to stop.

This white “cross buck” sign is posted

at most railroad crossings. If there is

more than one track, the number of

tracks is shown on a sign below the

cross buck.

Flashing light signals are used with

the “cross buck” sign at many railroad

crossings. ALWAYS STOP when the

lights begin to ash. The lights mean

a train is coming. Remain STOPPED

unl the lights stop ashing and you

can proceed with safety.

Gates are used with ashing light

signals at some crossings. ALWAYS

STOP when the lights begin to ash

before the gates lower across your

side of the tracks. Remain STOPPED

unl the gates are raised and the

lights stop ashing.

The following MUST STOP at ALL RAILROAD CROSSINGS—regardless of signage and

even if no lights are ashing: SCHOOL BUS carrying even one child, VEHICLE FOR

HIRE carrying passengers, or a vehicle carrying EXPLOSIVES OR FLAMMABLE LIQ-

UIDS. These vehicles MUST STOP within 50 to 10 feet of the outer rail of any cross-

ing. Aer coming to a complete stop, the driver must check both direcons for any

approaching train before proceeding.

REMEMBER!

ALL drivers must ALWAYS STOP WITHIN 50 to 10 FEET of the outer rail of any railroad crossing when

you see ANY of the following: a lowered crossing gate, a ashing electric signal, a posted STOP sign,

a ag person giving you a signal, or a rapidly approaching train. You MUST stop even if you do not

see a train.

You must remain stopped unl all tracks are clear, any gates are raised, and lights no longer ash.

It is against the law to drive around any lowered gates at a crossing. Use common sense at any

railroad crossing. Watch for vehicles that must stop whether or not a train is coming. Do not shi

gears as you drive across tracks. Always check carefully for a second train following close behind the

rst. STAY ALERT AT ALL TIMES AND NEVER TRY TO “BEAT” A TRAIN. If a trac ocer directs you to

proceed over a railroad crossing, follow the order immediately.

IF A VEHICLE BECOMES STRANDED ON A RAILROAD TRACK,

OR IF YOU NOTICE A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON OR NEAR A

RAILROAD CROSSING, look for the blue Emergency Noca-

on System (ENS) sign, which is at every highway-rail grade

crossing. The sign is located on the black and white cross buck

or on the metal box near the crossing. The toll-free number is

answered by railroad dispatchers, who can aempt to stop all

train trac at the crossing during an emergency. The sign also

includes an idencaon number for your exact locaon. By

following the informaon on the sign, you can report unsafe

condions such as: (1) malfuncons of warning signals, cross-

ing gates and other safety devices at the crossings; (2) disabled

cars, trucks or other vehicles blocking the railroad tracks at the

crossings; (3) the presence of trespassers on the tracks or

along the right of way at the crossing; and (4) any other infor-

maon relang to an unsafe condion at the crossing.

IF YOU’RE STUCK ON THE TRACKS, GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE!

If your vehicle is physically on the train tracks at a grade crossing and the lights begin to ash, you

may only have 20 seconds to escape before the train makes it to your locaon. Twenty seconds

is the minimal amount of me that it takes a train to reach the grade crossing once the warning

lights acvate. If this happens to you, remember the word “GO,” as in GET OUT of your vehicle!

Once outside, run in a 45 degree angle away from the tracks in the direcon that the train is com-

ing, then immediately dial 911.

If you are stuck on the tracks, and there are NO WARNING LIGHTS, or the warning lights HAVE

NOT ACTIVATED YET, GET OUT of your vehicle and immediately dial 911 and the ENS (Emergency

Nocaon System) number located on the blue sign described above. Provide the locaon,

crossing number (if posted) and the road or highway that intersects the tracks. Be sure to specify

that a vehicle is on the tracks!

AVOIDING DISTRACTIONS

Be a safer driver by avoiding the following distracons:

Cellphone Use. Drivers distracted by cellphones cause thousands of accidents each year. If you

must make a phone call while driving, the Mississippi Highway Patrol recommends that you use a

hands-free device and keep your hands on the wheel. Texng on your cellphone while you

drive is against the law in Mississippi.

Headphones and Loud Music. Never wear stereo headphones while you drive, and never play your

car stereo or radio loudly while driving. You may be unable to hear warning signals such as whis-

tles and sirens.

Visual Obstrucons & Other Distracons. Your windshield must be free of any signs or unocial

sckers. (Vehicles registered in this state may not have signs, posters, sckers or glassy material

that causes a mirrored eect on the windows.) Avoid hanging decorave items from your rear-

view mirror. Keep the front seat clear of objects that can fall during sudden movement.

Emoonal Distracons. If you are preoccupied with personal problems, you may become too dis-

tracted to handle your vehicle safely. Domesc quarrels, nancial concerns, or illness can make

you temporarily accident prone. If you have just had an argument or are worried, ill, angry, fright-

ened, or grief-stricken, let someone else drive.

HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS & EMERGENCIES

In the event of hazardous road condions and emergencies, follow the guidelines below.

 In rainy condions, be especially careful. Many drivers pull o the road during a heavy down-

pour, but not everyone realizes that the opening minutes of rain or drizzle are actually the most

dangerous. The rst water to hit the road loosens accumulated dirt and grease. This immediately

forms a mixture which quickly coats the road with a dangerously slick lm. Slow down when rain

begins to fall!

 When there is water on the roadway, reduce your speed. High speeds under such condions

can cause your vehicle to "hydroplane" out of control. Most automobile skids are caused by driv-

ing too fast for the weather and road condions.

 If your vehicle starts to skid, turn the wheel in the direcon of the skid, but only if you can do

so without running o the road or hing something. Remember that braking suddenly will in-

crease the skid. Never use the clutch when you are trying to stop a skid.

 If you develop a at re or have a blowout, do not apply your brakes suddenly. Take your foot

o the accelerator, and then apply the brakes slowly and cauously. If you have plenty of stop-

ping distance, let the vehicle stop by itself.

 If you run o the pavement, use the brakes lightly before returning to the roadway.

 If your car become disabled, pull over to the extreme right shoulder. If you must walk to seek

help, always walk on the le side of the highway, facing oncoming trac. Be EXTREMELY careful

crossing any highway.

SAFE DRIVING BASICS

Drivers cause 85% of all accidents. Remember that the safety and well-being of many other people

will depend upon your calm and responsible behavior as a driver.

Before You Drive

To prepare to drive, you should:

 Make certain you have your driver license with you. You should always have your li-

cense in your possession while operang a motor vehicle.

 Adjust your seat to a comfortable posion so that you can reach the wheel and ped-

als easily and have good vision.

 Fasten your seat belt.

 Adjust the rearview mirror so that you can see the roadway behind. Adjust your out-

side mirrors as well.

While You Drive: Two Hands on the Wheel

While you drive, keep both hands on the steering wheel. The ideal posion for holding the wheel

varies with each driver, but at least one third of the wheel should separate the hands. As a rule, the

le hand should be on the wheel at 9:00, as on the face of the clock, with the right hand at 3:00.

Never drive with your elbow resng in the window.

While You Drive: Pay Aenon

While driving, watch out for the following:

 Children, especially children playing with a ball. They will oen act without thinking.

Slow down and proceed with cauon around schools, playgrounds, residenal areas,

and other areas where children may walk, bicycle, or play.

 Bicyclists. Note that children bicyclists oen do not have training in bicycle safety.

 Any movement at the street-side door of a parked car. The door might open and ob-

struct your lane.

 Signals that another vehicle may be pulling out into the ow of trac.

 Sudden turns and stops by other drivers.

 People who are driving recklessly or illegally. Get out of their way if possible.

While Driving Long Distances

The following strategies are suggested for driving long distances:

 Take a break every 100 miles.

 Do not follow the same vehicle or group of vehicles for long periods. You may become too

relaxed and lose your concentraon.

 To avoid going to sleep at the wheel, do not stare. Keep your eyes moving.

 Keep the interior of your car as cool as possible.

Rules of the Road & Safe Driving

This secon contains informaon about trac rules and regulaons in Mississippi and strat-

egies for being a safe driver. Please study this material carefully.

LEGAL SPEEDS

The speed limits below usually apply; however, speed limits may change for a variety of reasons.

Always monitor the posted speed limit signs, and glance frequently at your speedometer: You

should always know how fast you are traveling. Use common sense when driving. Adjust your

speed based on the situaon and condions. Reduce speed on curves, when approaching intersec-

ons, when on a narrow or twisng road, or when trac is congested. If the weather or visibility is

poor, slow down accordingly. Posted speed limits are intended for the most ideal condions.

SPEED LIMITS FOR PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES

(including 1/2-ton trucks, unloaded)

ROADWAY TYPE MAXIMUM SPEED MINIMUM SPEED

Interstates 70 mph 40 mph

Four-lane Highways (State & U.S.) 65 mph 40 mph

Two-lane Highways (State & U.S.) 55 mph

Natchez Trace Parkway 50 mph

SPEED LIMITS FOR TRUCK & TRUCK-TRAILER COMBINATIONS

(including 1/2-ton trucks, loaded & over 1/2-ton trucks, loaded or unloaded)

ROADWAY TYPE MAXIMUM SPEED

Interstates 70 mph

All Other Highways 55 mph

Inclement Weather/Bad Visibility 45 mph

SPEED LIMITS FOR BUSES (excluding school buses)

ROADWAY TYPE MAXIMUM SPEED MINIMUM SPEED

Interstates 70 mph 40 mph

Four-lane Highways (State & U.S.) 65 mph 40 mph

Two-lane Highways (State & U.S.) 55 mph

Inclement Weather/Bad Visibility 45 mph

The maximum speed for a

SCHOOL BUS is 45 mph.

The maximum speed for any vehicle

in a SCHOOL ZONE is 15 mph.

Speed makes accidents—

and death in accidents—

more likely. If you hit a

stone wall at 40 mph, the

impact is the same as if

you drove o of a four-

story building.

SIGNAL LIGHTS

Use your vehicle’s signal lights (“blinkers”) to alert other drivers each me you intend to turn,

change lanes, pass, or enter or exit a parallel parking space. The best way to nofy other drivers

that you intend to turn or pass is to use your signal lights well in advance.

If the vehicle ahead of you signals for a turn, acvate your signal ONLY IF YOU ALSO INTEND TO

TURN. Do not signal to warn others that the vehicle in front of you is turning.

Do not use your le signal to let a vehicle behind you know it is safe to pass. The driver behind you

is responsible for determining whether it is safe to pass.

ARM SIGNALS

Arm Signals are used by bicyclists, motorists whose signal lights are malfunconing, and drivers of

some anque vehicles and farm equipment. If you are using arm signals, be sure to extend your arm

fully and signal connuously for at least 100 feet before you slow down, turn, stop, or change lanes.

LEFT TURN: Extend your arm and hand straight out. This signal is

also used when changing from the right lane to the le lane, or

when starng from a parallel parking posion.

RIGHT TURN: Extend your arm and hand upward, with your arm

bent at the elbow. This signal is also used when changing from the

le lane to the right lane, or when preparing to enter a parallel

parking space.

SLOW DOWN OR STOP: Extend your arm and hand downward,

with your palm facing the rear.

SAFETY BELTS (SEAT BELTS) & CHILD RESTRAINTS

Mississippi law requires the following:

 Front seat operators, front seat passengers, and children aged 4 years to under 7 years

(regardless of the seat the child occupies) must wear properly fastened safety belt systems

that are manufactured in the vehicle.

 Children under the age of four years must be properly secured in a child passenger restraint

device (child safety seat) that meets applicable safety standards.

 If the child is aged 4 years to under 7 years, and measures less than 4 feet and 9 inches in

height or weighs less than 65 pounds, then the child must be properly secured in a belt-

posioning booster seat system that meets applicable safety standards. If a child is under 7

years old but weighs over 65 pounds, the child can use a regular seatbelt.

 If more than two children who are required to use a booster seat are being transported in a

vehicle at one me, and the vehicle only has two lap-and-shoulder belts in the rear seat, then

only the two children sing in the seats with the lap-and-shoulder belts are required to use a

properly secured booster seat. Other children may be secured with a safety lap belt only.

Violators of the safety belt and/or child restraint law can be ned.

It is recommended that:

 The driver and all passengers in the vehicle be buckled up;

 Children weighing up to 20 pounds be transported in a child safety seat facing backward;

 Children ranging in weight from 20 to 40 pounds be transported in a child safety seat facing

forward;

 Children weighing 40 to 65 pounds use a booster seat designed for motor vehicle use; and

 Children always ride in the backseat.

BUCKLE UP.

IT’S THE LAW.

DRIVING AT NIGHT

At night, visibility is greatly reduced. This makes it necessary to reduce your speed and to exercise

cauon. You can only see as far as your headlights can reach. Therefore, be careful not to “over-

drive” your headlights—that is, do not so fast that you cannot stop within the distance you can see.

If you meet a vehicle at night with bright or blinding headlights, the safest thing to do is to dim your

lights and keep your eyes on the right side of the road. If you meet a vehicle at night with one head-

light missing, drive to the far right of your lane.

The glare of oncoming headlights and o-street adversements may be a serious distracon. Never

aempt to compensate for this diculty by wearing darkened glasses. At night, or on dark days, the

use of such glasses will only reduce your vision further.

USING YOUR HEADLIGHTS

You are required by law to use your low beams when you approach within 500 feet of an oncoming

vehicle or when you are following within 500 feet of another vehicle. You should use your lights be-

tween sunset and sunrise and at any other me when you cannot see clearly ahead for a distance of

500 feet. Do not drive with only your parking lights turned on. If you need lights, use your headlights.

Use the high beam only when driving in the open country without other cars near. Even with the high

beam, speed should be lower than by day.

Always use the lower beam when approaching another car so as not to blind the driver. Always use

the lower beam when driving where there are street lights, when following another car, and in fog

during night or day. Using high beams in fog reduces visibility.

FOLLOWING

Following too closely to another vehicle is dangerous.

When you are following another vehicle, allow at least

one car length between you for every ten miles per

hour of speed. This will help give you room to slow

down or stop if the vehicle in front of you changes

speeds suddenly.

It’s also important to maintain distance so that you can

see around the vehicle ahead of you. When you are fol-

lowing a large truck or bus, allow yourself even more

room.

If you are taking part in a motorcade, such as a funeral

procession, allow enough space between you and the

next car so that other vehicles may safely pull into those

spaces. Be careful not to follow too closely. Measure

your speed against the other vehicles so that everyone

is moving along smoothly.

@ 10 MPH

leave

at least

ONE

car length

@ 20 MPH

leave

at least

TWO

car lengths

@ 30 MPH

leave

at least

THREE

car lengths

@ 40 MPH

leave

at least

FOUR

car lengths

@ 50 MPH

leave

at least

FIVE

car lengths,

Etc.

@ 60 MPH - 326 feet to stop

@ 30 MPH - 116 feet to stop

@ 40 MPH - 176 feet to stop

@ 50 MPH - 245 feet to stop

@ 20 MPH - 68 feet to stop

@ 70 MPH - 415 feet to stop

47 feet 21 feet

70 feet

94 feet

185 feet

46 feet

82 feet

128 feet 117 feet

141 feet

164 feet 251 feet

BRAKING

The chart below shows the shortest total stopping distances under ideal condions. If the weather is bad,

the road is slick, or if you are red or intoxicated, then the distances will be drascally dierent

The yellow segments show the distance required for thinking prior to acvaon of brakes.

The red segments show distance from applicaon of brakes to stop.

The total distance required for stopping is indicated across the top of each entry.

Thinking & reacon distance (percepon)

Applicaon of brakes

Total distance required to stop

The braking distances

shown here assume

ideal condions: good

res, good brakes,

and dry pavement.

PARKING ON A HILL

To park safely on a hill, follow the diagrams below. In a downhill posion, turn your wheels sharply to the

right, whether or not there is a curb. In an uphill posion with no curb, turn your wheels sharply to the

right. In an uphill posion with a curb, turn your wheels sharply to the le.

DOWNHILL

No Curb With Curb

Wheels toward right. Wheels toward right.

UPHILL

No Curb With Curb

Wheels toward right. Wheels toward le.

PARALLEL PARKING

The images on the right show how to

maneuver into a parallel space.

For vehicles parked parallel, res

should be within twelve inches of

the curb.

Use extreme care when exing your

vehicle from the street side. Unload

your vehicle from the curb side.

STEP ONE: Select a space large enough to accommo-

date your car. Use your signal to show you intend to

enter the space. Stop alongside the car in front of the

STEP TWO: Make sure you will not interfere with on-

coming trac. Cut your wheels sharply to the right and

back slowly toward the curb. Stop when your front re

aligns with the back bumper of the car ahead.

STEP THREE: Cut your wheels sharply to the le and

connue backing. Be careful not to bump into the car

behind you.

STEP FOUR: Pull forward into the center of the space,

leaving room in front of and behind your car. Align

your car within twelve inches of the curb.

EXITING A PARKING SPACE

The driver leaving a parking space

does not have the right-of-way. Be

careful not to cause a wreck. Before

you pull out, be certain the way is

clear of any trac, including pedes-

trians. You must YIELD to any oncom-

ing trac.

When leaving a parallel parking po-

sion, look back over your shoulder

to be sure it is safe to pull out, and

give a signal before entering the trav-

el lane.

When leaving a diagonal or straight-

in parking posion, wait unl the

way is clear and look back while

backing up.

Always look back over your shoulder

while backing up. Never rely on your

rearview mirror alone.

TRAFFIC LANES

You are in a trac lane whenever you are driving on any street or highway. These lanes may or may not

be marked, but they exist just the same. A street or highway’s number of lanes corresponds to the num-

ber of cars (or lines of cars) that could travel on it side-by-side.

 One-lane street or highway = room for one car

 Two-lane street or highway = room for two cars

 Three-lane street or highway = room for three cars

 Four-lane street or highway = room for four cars

If lanes travel in opposite direcons, they will be separated

by pavement markings (lines), barricades, or medians. The

image on the top right shows a four-lane highway divided

by double yellow lines. Green arrows indicate the direcon

of travel. (The green arrows are not pavement markings.)

Some travel lanes have adjacent parking lanes. For exam-

ple, the image on the right shows a two-lane street with a

parking lane on one side.

NEVER CROSS a double yellow line (not even to pass a

slow-moving car). You will be driving into oncoming trac.

Always drive in a single lane. Never change lanes unless

the movement can be made safely. On a four-lane high-

way, drive in the right lane except when passing or pre-

paring to turn le.

Which lane should I drive in?

If you drive on a street or

highway with more than one

lane for your direcon, drive

in the extreme RIGHT lane

except to pass or turn le.

(If there is no designated

turn lane, use the lane next

to the center for turning

le.)

On a two-way highway, which pavement markings mean I can

cross the center line to pass another vehicle?

 You may never cross a double yellow line to pass a vehicle.

 If there is a single, broken, yellow line, you may cross that line

for passing (if the oncoming lane is clear and it is safe to pass).

 If you are on a highway divided by BOTH one solid yellow line

AND one broken yellow line, you may cross the lines for

passing ONLY if the broken yellow line is closest to your trav-

el lane (and if the oncoming lane is clear and it is safe to pass).

If the solid yellow line is closest to you, you MAY NOT pass.

Use this

lane for

travel.

Use the center

turn lane when

preparing to

turn le.

Use this

lane for

travel.

Use the center

turn lane when

preparing to

turn le.

TURN

LANE

ONLY

LANE USE:

FOUR LANES OR

Use this

lane for

travel.

Use this lane

for overtaking,

passing, or

when preparing

to turn le.

Use this

lane for

travel.

Use this lane

for overtaking,

passing, or

when preparing

to turn le.

LANE USE:

TWO LANES PLUS

CENTER TURN LANE

Use this

lane for

travel.

Use this lane

for overtaking,

passing, or

when preparing

to turn le.

Use this

lane for

travel.

Use this lane

for overtaking,

passing, or

when preparing

to turn le.

PARKING

In general, when you park your vehicle, put the gears in park (automac transmission) or low (standard

transmission), set the handbrake rmly, and turn o the ignion.

Prohibited Parking

You may not stop and leave your vehicle parked and unaended in any of the following places:

 In front of a public or private driveway;

 Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any re staon, or within 75 feet if it is so

posted;

 Within 10 feet of a re hydrant;

 On a sidewalk;

 On a crosswalk;

 Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersecon;

 Inside an intersecon;

 Within 30 feet of the approach to any trac control device;

 Within 15 feet of the nearest rail of any railroad crossing;

 On any bridge or elevated structure;

 In any highway underpass;

 On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge of the road or the curb;

 Alongside any obstrucon when your parking would add to trac congeson;

 At any place where trac signs prohibit stopping.

Parking on a Highway

Outside of business or residenal districts, you must park o the roadway. If you must park along a high-

way, take measures to keep other cars from running into yours. Be sure to:

 Pull all the way o the roadway.

 If possible, leave at least 20 feet for other vehicles to get by.

 Park so you can be seen from at least 200 feet in both direcons.

 Leave your parking lights or emergency ashers on if it is night.

If you park on a blind curve or in any other potenally dangerous

place, you are breaking the law. You can be arrested, and your vehicle

may be towed. If your vehicle beaks down, you will not be arrested;

however, you should move it as quickly as possible.

FAILURE TO YIELD TO SCHOOL BUS: VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

If you are convicted of violang the law described on the previous page, penales are as follows:

First Oense: Misdemeanor. Fine not less than $350 and not more than $750, or

imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

Second or Subsequent Oense (within 5 years): Misdemeanor. Fine not less than

$750 and not more than $1500, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or

both. In addion, suspension of driver license/driving privileges for 90 days.

Addional penales apply if you are convicted of a violaon

resulng in injury to a child who is boarding or exing a bus.

YIELDING RIGHT-OF-WAY TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES

Any ambulance, re engine, or police car ashing red or blue lights or signaling with a bell or siren

always has the right-of-way on any street in any trac situaon. If at all possible, pull your vehi-

cle over to the extreme right shoulder of the road unl the emergency vehicle has passed. If you are

at an intersecon, proceed through, and then pull over to the extreme right shoulder.

If an emergency vehicle with lights or siren acvated is parked along the side of a four-lane highway,

merge into the lane away from the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so. If merging into an adja-

cent lane is not safe, slow down and prepare to stop if necessary. You MUST yield right-of-way.

Although you are not required to do so by law, common courtesy dictates that you yield the right-of

-way to funeral processions.

YIELDING RIGHT-OF-WAY TO PEDESTRIANS

A person walking across the street within a crosswalk, whether or not the

crosswalk is marked, ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. As a driver, you

must be extremely careful around pedestrians. Always keep your vehicle

under control, so you can yield to those on foot.

Watch for pedestrians

exing parked cars or

walking between

parked cars.

People who are blind or who have visual im-

pairments can be vulnerable pedestrians. They

can somemes be idened by their carrying a

white cane, or a white cane with a red p.

Take every cauon and extend every courtesy

to keep them safe at intersecons and cross-

walks. Come to a complete stop if necessary.

Watch for pedestrians

entering crosswalks as

you prepare to turn.

PASSING OTHER VEHICLES

PASSING ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY:

Passing is allowed in some areas of two-lane highways. Pay close aenon to the center line markings:

SOLID DOUBLE YELLOW LINE

NO PASSING from either direcon.

SOLID YELLOW LINE + BROKEN YELLOW LINE

Vehicle traveling alongside the BROKEN yellow line MAY cross the lines to pass.

Vehicle traveling alongside the SOLID yellow line MAY NOT CROSS the lines to pass.

See the diagrams on the opposite page for examples.

PASSING ON A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE:

It is never legal to move across the center line of a four-lane highway to pass another vehicle. However,

on interstates and four-lane highways, passing is allowed from both the le and right lanes (traveling in

the same direcon/when lanes are divided by a BROKEN WHITE LINE).

PASSING ON THE LEFT:

When you decide to pass another vehicle on the le, be sure that the lane ahead is clear before you

move. Do not tailgate a vehicle that you intend to pass. Drop back far enough so that you can see around

it before you try to change lanes. Watch for safe clearance ahead and behind, and signal your intenons

before you move into the le lane. Check carefully, and then move cauously but quickly into the le

lane. Do not pull back into the right lane unl you are well past the other vehicle. Before moving back in-

to the right lane, make sure that you can see the passed vehicle in your rearview mirror.

PASSING ON THE RIGHT:

You may overtake and pass another vehicle on the right in the following situaons:

 When the vehicle you are passing is making or is about to make a le turn.

 On an interstate with mulple lanes traveling in your direcon.

 On a four-lane highway of adequate width where there are no obstrucons or parked cars.

 On any one-way highway of adequate width.

If you do pass on the right, do so only when condions permit you to do so safely. Under no circumstanc-

es are you allowed to drive o the pavement or on the shoulder to pass.

OTHER SAFE PASSING GUIDELINES:

Do not pass on hills, curves, or within 100 feet of bridges, viaducts, overpasses, railroad crossings, cross-

walks, intersecons, or any place where your view is obstructed in any way. And pass only when the

weather is good, never when it is raining or sleeng.

When being passed on a two or three lane highway, keep to the right and do not increase your speed unl

the other car has completely passed you.

This car may

cross center

lines to

pass. (The

oncoming

lane must

be clear.)

This car may

cross center

lines to

pass. (The

oncoming

lane must

be clear.)

DOUBLE YEL-

LOW LINE

means NO CARS

MAY PASS in

this area (from

either direc-

PASSING ON THE

LEFT:

TWO-LANE

HIGHWAY

This car

MUST NOT

PASS

(because it

is in the

travel lane

closest to

the solid

line.)

This car

MUST NOT

PASS

(because it

is in the

travel lane

closest to

the solid

line.)

YIELDING RIGHT-OF-WAY TO SCHOOL BUSES

Be especially careful when sharing the road with school buses. Each me you encounter a school bus with

its red lights ashing and/or with its stop sign extended, Mississippi law states that YOU MUST:

 COME TO A COMPLETE STOP within 10 feet away from the bus.

 REMAIN STOPPED unl the children have crossed the roadway AND the bus has resumed

moon, its red lights no longer ash, and its stop sign is retracted.

You must stop for the school bus regardless of your direcon of travel.

One excepon to the procedures above is for drivers traveling on a DIVIDED HIGHWAY. If you

are traveling on a highway with FOUR or more lanes, with at least TWO lanes of travel in opposite direc-

ons, then:

 If you are traveling in the SAME direcon as the stopped school bus, you must sll follow

the procedures above. Come to a complete stop, then proceed only AFTER the children

have exited the roadway AND the bus has resumed moon, its red lights no longer ash,

and its stop sign is retracted.

 If you are traveling in the OPPOSITE direcon as the stopped school bus, you may conn-

ue travel on your side of the divided highway without stopping.

If the school bus is stopped in a loading zone that is part of or adjacent to the highway, and where pedes-

trians are not allowed to cross the roadway, you do not have to stop.

SCHOOL BUS

At a four-way stop, right-of-way is deter-

mined by which vehicle arrives rst, and

by where the vehicle is located relave to

the others. The rst vehicle to arrive has

right of way. If mulple vehicles arrive at

the same me, the vehicle on the right

has right-of-way. (Do not slam on your

brakes to “stop rst”; yield to driver on

The vehicle on

the right has

right-of-way.

TWO-WAY

STOP

At a two-way stop, the cross-trac with

no stop signs has the right-of-way. Vehi-

cles arriving at stop signs must wait unl

the way is clear before proceeding. When

the way is clear, the rst vehicle to arrive

at a stop sign has the right-of-way. If two

vehicles arrive at the same me, the vehi-

cle intending to travel through/straight

across has right-of-way; the vehicle in-

tending to turn across the trac lane must

The vehicle

signaling to

turn across

the trac

lane must

yield and

The vehicle intending to

travel straight through

has the right-of-way.

UNMARKED INTERSECTION

If you encounter a highway intersecon

with no trac signs or signals, yield to

approaching trac, then proceed only

when it is safe.

If you approach an intersecon with a stop sign or signal, you MUST bring your vehicle to a COM-

PLETE STOP at the crosswalk. You MUST YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO ANY VEHICLE OR PEDES-

TRIAN IN THE INTERSECTION. You may carefully proceed if your way is completely clear.

DRIVEWAYS &

UNMARKED

ENTRANCES

When entering a street or highway from

a driveway or other entrance point, you

must stop and yield to oncoming trac,

even if no stop sign is present.

ROUNDA-

BOUTS

At a roundabout

or trac circle,

YIELD to oncom-

ing trac already

inside the circle.

Always enter and

exit the circle by

traveling toward

your right.

YIELD TO ON-

COMING CAR

ALREADY IN

CIRCLE.

MERGE CAREFULLY

IF WAY IS CLEAR

FOUR-WAY

STOP

TURNING AROUND

At mes you will have to turn your car in close quarters. To do so safely, follow this procedure:

1. Start from the extreme right side of the road, give the correct signal, and turn the steering wheel

sharply to the le while inching forward.

2. When you have turned the wheels completely to the le, drive slowly forward to within a few inches

of the le curb or edge of the road.

3. Then turn sharply to the right while inching backward. When you have turned the wheels completely

to the right, back slowly to within a few inches of the curb.

4. Turn your wheels to the le and pull forward.

Repeat these steps as needed unl you have completed the turn.

Because this maneuver may be part of your driving test, you need to become familiar with it.

4 1

3 2

TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS

More accidents occur at intersecons than anywhere else. Oen there is a failure of communicaon

among drivers, or someone takes an unnecessary chance when turning. To make a safe turn, follow these

guidelines:

1. Know where you want to turn. If you are not sure, drive slowly and read the street signs

or road markers. Avoid last-minute turns.

2. Signal what you intend to do. Give pedestrians and other drivers advance noce of your

intenons.

3. Get into the correct lane as soon as possible.

4. Look around you in all direcons before you change lanes or turn. Do not assume that

other drivers will see you. Be sure.

5. Slow down well before you reach the crosswalk of the intersecon, and complete the

turn at a consistent speed. Do not push down the brake or clutch while you are turning.

And do not shi gears while entering the intersecon.

6. Stay in your lane throughout the turn. Finish the turn in the proper lane.

The diagrams on the following pages show the correct methods for making safe le and right turns. Study

them carefully.

INTERSECTIONS AND RIGHT-OF-WAY

The most dangerous place on a highway is an intersecon. Follow these guidelines as you approach

and cross intersecons:

 Always approach any cross street or road with extreme cauon.

 If you cannot see the enre intersecon as you approach, slow down and proceed

cauously. Be sure to look in both direcons as you cross.

 If trac is blocked when you approach an intersecon, stop before you reach the

crosswalk and wait for trac to move.

 Slow down as you approach the intersecon (and stop if required). Gradually in-

crease your speed as you clear the intersecon.

 As you cross, drive defensively. Do not assume that pedestrians or other drivers un-

derstand your intenons.

Slow down as

you approach

(not as you

cross or turn).

RIGHT OF WAY

"Right-of-way" is the privilege of immediate

use of the highway. The person who has right-

of-way may move ahead (whether in an auto-

mobile, on a bicycle, or traveling as a pedestri-

an). The person who does not have right-of-

way must yield and wait.

Several important rules determine who has

right-of-way and who shall yield and wait at in-

tersecons or other places where two or more

drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians meet. The rst

rule is to always use your common sense. Your

right-of-way is important but is not worth an

accident.

In any right-of-way situaon, be paent and

use cauon. Determine your right-of-way be-

fore you enter an intersecon. If another driv-

er yields to you, proceed immediately. If not,

slow (or stop) your vehicle and let them pro-

ceed.

In crosswalks, PEDESTRIANS ALWAYS HAVE

RIGHT-OF-WAY, whether the crosswalk is

marked or not. Vehicles already inside an

intersecon also have right-of-way. You

When two drivers approach an

intersecon, and both drivers

want to turn le, each driver

should turn to the le of the

other. Leave from the le lane

and enter into the le lane.

TURNING LEFT OF CENTER

ONLY

ONE-WAY STREETS

A good rule to remember when traveling on a one-

way street is to always turn from the lane nearest the

curb. (However, pavement markings or signage may

permit turning from addional lanes.)

Be careful not to turn

the wrong way onto a

one-way street.

The diagram on the le shows two inter-

secng one-way streets. At this intersec-

on, turning right is permied from one

street, but not from the other. Similarly,

turning le is permied from one street,

but not from the other. These restricons

keep drivers from traveling in the wrong

direcon on a one-way street.

ONLY ONLY

ONLY

STEP 1: Well ahead of turn, check for

trac and move safely into the le lane.

Use your signal to indicate you are chang-

STEP 2: At least

100 feet from the

intersecon, turn

on le signal and

begin slowing

down.

STEP 3: Keep

close to the cen-

ter line and keep

your wheels

straight while

waing to turn.

STEP 4: If there is a trac signal or sign,

obey it. When travel is permied, look

both ways before entering intersecon.

Then enter just to the right of center.

STEP 5: When it

is safe to do so,

return to the

right lane.

DO NOT CUT COR-

DO NOT SWING

INTO RIGHT

HOW

MAKE

LEFT

TUR

STEP 1: If you are not already in

the right lane, move into the right

lane well ahead of the turn. Check

for trac, use your signal, and

move safely.

STEP 2: At least

100 feet from the

intersecon, turn

on right signal and

begin slowing

down.

STEP 3: Keep close

to the right side of

the lane and keep

your wheels

straight while

waing to turn.

STEP 4: If there is a trac signal or sign, obey

it. When travel is permied, look both ways

before entering intersecon. Then enter,

keeping as close as possible to the right.

DO NOT SWING

INTO LEFT LANE.

STEP 5:

Connue

in the

right

lane.

HOW

MAKE

RIGHT

TURN

ONLY

Some roadways allow vehicles in mulple lanes

to turn at the same me. Similarly, some lanes

permit drivers to either connue straight or to

make a turn. The diagrams on this page show

intersecons with side-by-side turn lanes AND

with lanes that permit turning OR connuing

straight. Always follow direconal arrows. If you

choose to turn, be certain to stay in your lane.

MULTIPLE

TURN

LANES

LANE

OPTIONS