Administrative and Traffic Laws. Administrative Laws Each state has laws that control its highway...
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Chapter 2 Administrative and Traffic Laws
Administrative and Traffic Laws. Administrative Laws Each state has laws that control its highway transportation system. (National Highway Traffic Safety
Administrative Laws Each state has laws that control its
highway transportation system. (National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration is the national organization) Administrative Laws
Establish the procedures for issuing and removing peoples drivers
licenses, for registering a vehicle, and for securing a title.
Other administrative laws cover the financial responsibilities of
vehicle owners and drivers and establish standards for the minimum
safety equipment and care of the vehicle.
Slide 3
Getting a Drivers License Driving is a privilege, not a right
You must pass a series of tests including: Vision Test Knowledge
Test Road Test
Slide 4
Suspensions States reserve the right to suspend, revoke, and
penalize licensed drivers for listed infractions Suspensions
Temporarily eliminate driving privileges due to a violation.
(duration of suspension varies depending on severity of the
violation.) Licenses are typically suspended for 30-90 days and
always fewer than 365 days.
Slide 5
Revoked License States reserve the right to revoke a license
and strip the powers of operating a motor vehicle. Revoked license
Take license away (duration depends on the severity of the
violation). When the revoked period has passed the driver must
reapply for another license.
Slide 6
Point System Suspensions and revoked license depend on a point
system. Excessive points on your license can lead to surcharges
imposed by the state and your insurance company. Point System A
driver receives points based on a violation which remains on their
record. Each traffic violation costs a number of points and when
accumulated can lead to suspension or revoking. Examples of point
earning infractions are: DUI: Driving Under the Influence
Collisions Moving Violations
Slide 7
Certificate of Title Proves ownership of the car you claim to
own. It lists the following: Name of owner Make and style of
vehicle VIN # (Vehicle Identification Number) Engine Number This
document must be presented when attempting to sell a car and if
buying a car you should always ask to see the title to ensure that
they vehicle does belong to the person who claims ownership.
Therefore, this document should be kept in a very safe place.
Slide 8
Slide 9
Vehicle Registration Your registration reveals who is
responsible for operating the vehicle. When a car is registered you
will receive a registration certificate and license plates. Your
vehicles registration must be reregistered every year or two. Keep
the registration in the vehicle it belongs to and place the correct
registration stickers on the license plates as legally
required
Slide 10
Registration Form
Slide 11
Registration Card
Slide 12
Insurance Auto insurance pays some of the bills when you crash
and is required in New Jersey. Insurance offsets the costs of a
collision by paying a portion of the damages for your car as well
as the other person involved in the crash if you are found liable.
Costs could include death, injury, or property damage.
Slide 13
Insurance Card
Slide 14
Right of Way Rules Right of way rules can help improve traffic
flow, minimize confusion, avoid collisions, identify liability, and
decrease emotional driving. These rules are not state mandated and
are consistent throughout the United States. You can avoid a
collision by knowing who should go first and who should wait. To do
this, you need to know the rules that govern right-of-way.
Right-of-way laws in every state are based on the Uniform Vehicle
Code, which are vehicle laws recommended by a national committee
and used in part by all states.
Slide 15
Right-of-Way The right to proceed first. There are situations
in which you must always yield the right of way: Yield the right of
way to any emergency vehicle, such as an ambulance, that has hits
sirens on and its lights flashing. If you are going in the same
direction as the emergency vehicle, move to the far right of the
road and STOP. If you are traveling the opposite direction, move to
the far right. You do not have to stop in this case but always move
to the right. Yield to people who are blind and carrying a white
cane or guide dog regardless of where they are crossing the street.
Yield the right of way to all pedestrians.
Slide 16
4 way stop rules Who has the right-of-way? Whoever gets to the
intersection first has right-of-way. If you arrived at the same
time, always yield to the vehicle to the right. (that means knowing
when you are on the right of someone else as well) If there is a
vehicle coming from the opposite direction, the person going
straight has the right of way. Always yield to pedestrians. NEVER
ASSUME THE OTHER PEOPLE AT THE INTERSECTION ARE GIVING YOU THE
RIGHT OF WAY. ALWAYS WAIT TO ASSESS THE SITUATION.
Slide 17
Four way stop
Slide 18
Speed Limits Speed limits are assigned to all roadways and
posted to protect ALL drivers. Traffic engineers study road
conditions, traffic patterns, and collision frequency to assess the
appropriate speed limit for each road. Posted speed limits are not
regulations demanding that you drive that speed on that road. Speed
limits express the maximum speed at which you should travel under
the BEST WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS.
Slide 19
Types of Speed Limits Fixed Speed Limit a maximum or minimum
speed that a vehicle may be driven on a particular roadway. Fixed
speed limits DO NOT change. Advisory Speed Limits informs drivers
to interrupt their current driving speed for a limited time. This
is due to roads going up and down hills, over bridges, and around
sharp curves. Day and Night Speed Limits some states have lower
speed limits at night. Night driving is more dangerous due to
visibility.
Slide 20
Fixed speed limit
Slide 21
Advisory speed limit
Slide 22
Slide 23
Basic Speed Laws All states have basic speed laws: Always drive
at a speed that is reasonable and proper for existing conditions.
Your ability to manage visibility, time, and space also determines
what is a safe speed at any given time. Basic speed laws are
determined by various situations: Road condition Weather Traffic
Light
Slide 24
Weather Conditions
Slide 25
Road Conditions
Slide 26
Light
Slide 27
Continued Drivers can be cited for traveling below or above the
posted minimum and maximum speed limits if conditions permit.
55mph+ : more than half of all fatal crashes occur on roads with
posted limits of 55 miles per hour or more. Driving faster than the
posted speed limit is never safe or reasonable. The following facts
reveal critical information about speed. The higher the speed: The
less time the driver has to spot dangerous situations and take
action. The greater the time and distance it takes to change
direction or stop a vehicle. The greater the chance the vehicle
will skid or roll over on a turn. The greater the chances of
collision, personal injuries, and property damage.
Slide 28
Driver-Condition Laws When you get behind the wheel, your
physical, mental, and emotional conditions affect your ability to
drive safely. Driving a motor vehicle while your judgment is
impaired by alcohol, drugs, fatigue, lack of sleep, or emotions
increases your chances of a serious accident. DWI: Driving While
Intoxicated DUI: Driving Under the Influence
Slide 29
Illegal per se law Every state has taken measures to prohibit
and discourage driving under the influence of alcohol and mind
altering drugs. Every state has enacted the Illegal per se law.
Illegal per se law renders it unlawful for a person to operate a
motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above a
certain level: Over 21:.08% (45 states including NJ) Commercial
Driving:.04% (Bus drivers, truck drivers, etc.) Under 21:.02% (37
states),.01% (2 states),.00% also known as Zero Tolerance (11
states including NJ)
Slide 30
Implied Consent Law Every state has enacted this law. When you
receive your license you agree that if you are stopped by the
police you will automatically agree to take a blood alcohol
concentration test if requested. In 32 states, drivers who either
test above the BAC limit established by law or who refuse to take
the BAC test face immediate penalties. Drivers who exceed the BAC
limit or refuse to take a BAC test immediately suffer a license
suspension or revocation for 7 to 180 days for the first offense.
In addition, drivers who refuse to take a BAC may still be charged
with DWI based on observed erratic driving and physical
behavior.
Slide 31
Aggressive Driving High risk behavior that threaten the safety
of others, and its a moving traffic violation. Includes running
stop signs and ignoring traffic signals. Examples: Driving at an
inappropriate speed (15-20 mph above the posted limit) Tailgating
Failing to stay in the right lane except to pass Frequent and
unsafe lane changes (weaving in and out of traffic) Passing on the
shoulder during heavy traffic
Slide 32
Reckless Driving Driving recklessly endangers the lives of
others and is identified when 3 conditions are met: A driver must
consciously and intentionally drive in a dangerous manner. The
driver knows, or should know, that their current driving behavior
places themselves and everyone else on the road at an increased
risk. Conditions (including time and place of occurrence, weather,
traffic volume, and vehicle/driver condition) make the increased
risk obvious and serious.
Slide 33
Inattention and Distractions Is a leading cause of motor
vehicle crashes. Failure to pay attention to driving is a
contributing factor in HALF of all collisions each year. American
Automobile Association (AAA) reports that inattention is the
primary cause of all collisions involving 16-18 year olds. Examples
of distractions include: Eating Drinking Fidgeting with the radio
Talking/Texting on a cell phone Falling asleep Talking to
passengers New Jersey has recently passed legislation banning the
use of cell phones without a hands-free device while operating a
motor vehicle. It is a primary offense and will result in a minimum
$300 fine. Texting has recently been added to this piece of
legislation.