Traffic Laws: Police Stops, Phones, Seat Belts, Speed Limits, Right-of-Way, Passing, Turning, School Buses, Railroad Crossings and Parking

Written for aiforu2 as the source for a practice-test bank and the on-device tutor for the Illinois driver's license written exam. The facts follow the official manual; the wording is ours.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road, Illinois Secretary of State, 2025 edition, chapter 4 "Traffic Laws" (pp. 21–39).

Obey police officers, firefighters, highway authority officials and uniformed adult school crossing guards directing traffic.

When stopped by law enforcement

Slow down, signal and pull onto the right shoulder, or the next safe place if there is none; never brake hard or stop in the lane, on a bridge, a curve, beside a guardrail, wall or median, or too close to the solid white line. Stay in the car with both hands on the wheel until the officer says otherwise; the officer may approach either side; do not get out unless asked, since that reads as aggression. Have a valid license, registration and insurance; if documents are in the glove box, under the seat, or insurance is on your phone, tell the officer first and follow directions before reaching. If you cannot tell whether an unmarked car is police, drive slowly below the limit to a well-lit populated spot or the nearest police station, or call 911, with the hazard lights on to show your intent; at night you may turn on the interior light. Officers often withhold the reason for the stop until they have your documents. If ticketed or arrested: do not argue, sign the ticket (it is only an acknowledgment of receipt, not an admission), cooperate (refusing a breath, urine, blood or performance test when suspected of drunk driving costs your driving privileges), take disputes to traffic court, and never resist arrest. Officers must give their name and badge number on request; complaints go to internal affairs or a civilian board; all stops are documented with the driver's name and address.

Distracted driving

Handheld phones, texting and other electronic communication are illegal while driving; hands-free or Bluetooth is allowed only at 19 and older. Headsets are banned except a single-sided earpiece for a phone, hearing aids, and intercom helmets on motorcycles and mopeds. Holding a phone on speaker is not hands-free; watching or streaming video, video conferencing and social media on a phone are violations. A non-hands-free phone may be used only to report an emergency, while parked on the shoulder, or while stopped in obstructed traffic with the vehicle in neutral or park. A crash caused by distracted driving can bring criminal penalties and jail.

Seat belts, air bags and child restraints

Every driver and passenger age 8 and older, front and back, must wear a belt even with air bags; under 8 must use an appropriate child restraint; the driver is responsible for every passenger and must fasten the belt of a passenger whose disability prevents it. Wear the lap belt across the hip bones, never the stomach, and the shoulder strap snug across the body near the neck or face, never behind the back or under the arm. Air bags supplement belts: keep 10 to 12 inches between you and the bag, especially if short, elderly or pregnant; passengers sit as far back as possible; children 12 and younger ride in back; a child under 8 who must ride in front goes in a proper seat pushed all the way back, and a rear-facing seat never goes in front of an active air bag (some trucks can switch the passenger bag off). The Child Passenger Protection Act requires an appropriate restraint under 8, boosters only with a lap-and-shoulder belt (a child over 40 pounds may use a lap belt alone in a back seat without shoulder belts), and since January 1, 2019, rear-facing until age 2 unless the child is over 40 pounds or 40 inches.

Speed limits

Speeding is a leading cause of crashes and deaths; drive the maximum only in safe conditions, and never so slowly that you interfere with traffic where a minimum is not posted. Unless posted otherwise: interstates and tollways 70 mph; four-lane highways 65; other highways and rural areas 55; cities and towns 30; alleys 15; school zones 20 on school days between 6:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. when children are present and signs are posted. Slow down approaching and crossing intersections, around curves, nearing hilltops and on narrow winding roads.

Construction zones, emergency vehicles, school zones and funerals

In a work zone, slow down, stop phone use (a hands-free or single-sided headset is allowed), yield to authorized vehicles and workers, move to a lane away from workers when possible, and proceed with caution; the posted work zone limit applies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether or not workers are present, may drop further when they are, and the reduced speed holds until you are past all workers and vehicles. Approaching a stationary emergency or maintenance vehicle showing blue, red, amber, white or green flashing lights, or an emergency scene with such lights, yield, move a lane away when possible and slow to a reasonable speed until past; photography and phone use within 500 feet of an emergency scene are prohibited except in certain circumstances. When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, pull immediately to the right and let it pass, stopping fully if needed, and if stopped at a two-way intersection stay stopped until it has cleared. Never drive over a fire hose without the fire commander's permission. In a marked school zone on school days 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with children present, stop phone use, slow to 20 mph, and stop and yield to anyone in the crosswalk. Yield to every vehicle in a funeral procession, which runs with headlights and hazard lights on; do not drive between its vehicles unless police direct, do not join it to gain the right-of-way or pass it except in a provided passing lane, and a vehicle that interferes recklessly can be impounded.

Right-of-way

Yield: when turning right on red after a complete stop; after a complete stop at a stop sign or flashing red (stop before the crosswalk without a stop line, or where all approaching traffic can be seen); when turning left on red from a one-way street onto a one-way street moving left, after a stop; at a four-way stop, where the first to stop goes first and, on a tie, the vehicle on the left yields to the right; when entering an intersection on a flashing yellow arrow; at an uncontrolled intersection where two vehicles arrive together (left yields to right); when turning left into oncoming traffic (if you entered on green you may finish the turn after it turns red); at a MERGE sign, adjusting speed to fit in; at a YIELD sign; even after the light turns green while vehicles remain in the intersection; when emerging from an alley, building, private road or driveway after a complete stop; on the terminating road of a T intersection without controls; and to emergency vehicles using lights and sirens. Never enter an intersection or crosswalk without room to get through, and never drive onto a railroad crossing you cannot clear.

Pedestrians: come to a complete stop when a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk and, on school days, when children are near a school zone crosswalk. Yield to a pedestrian in an unmarked crosswalk on your side of the road with no signals, when turning at any intersection, when turning on red, after stopping at a stop sign or flashing red, when a pedestrian entered the crosswalk before the light changed or is walking with a green light or WALK signal, when a pedestrian enters or leaves the street from an alley, building, private road or driveway, when a pedestrian enters an intersection on a flashing yellow arrow, and always to a person with a physical, hearing or visual disability.

Passing

On a two-lane highway the left lane must be clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic far enough to pass; do not return until the entire passed vehicle is visible in your rearview mirror, and return before coming within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle. The driver being passed may not speed up. Flashing turn signals as a "do pass" courtesy is illegal. Never leave the pavement to pass on either side. Keep at least 3 feet from a pedestrian walking on the road or shoulder and at least 3 feet from a bicyclist anywhere, including a shoulder or bike lane. You may pass on the right (never on the shoulder) when there is room on a two-lane road and the vehicle ahead is turning left, on a one-way street or a road with two or more clear lanes each way, or at an intersection widened for it. On a two-lane two-way road, passing is not allowed: where a solid yellow line, DO NOT PASS or NO PASSING ZONE sign marks it; on a hill or curve without a view of oncoming traffic; within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing; where the view is blocked within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel; when a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk or intersection for a pedestrian; in any construction zone (all are no-passing zones); in any school zone in an unincorporated area or any posted school zone in an incorporated one; and when a school bus is stopped for passengers.

Lane usage

Drive on the right half except when passing on a two-lane, interstate or freeway; when a blockage forces you left after yielding to oncoming traffic; on a road with three marked lanes; on a one-way street with two or more lanes; when signs direct you to a left lane on a multilane two-way highway; when crossing the center line to turn left into or from an alley, private road or driveway; when approaching a stationary emergency or disabled vehicle; or when construction sits in or near the right lane or shoulder. On an interstate or full-access freeway you may not drive in the left lane except to pass, unless no vehicle is directly behind you, congestion makes the right lane impractical, weather requires it, the right lane is obstructed, or you are yielding to emergency or construction vehicles. Slow vehicles keep right except to pass or turn left; weaving to beat traffic is unlawful; one-way streets bind everyone but emergency vehicles on lights or sirens; never drive across an unpaved median strip or barrier, though you may turn left across a paved dividing space unless a sign forbids; enter and leave controlled-access roads only at posted ramps; never back up on any part of a controlled-access road, and elsewhere only when safe; open a traffic-side door only when safe and only long enough to load or unload, ideally with the Dutch Reach (the right hand, which turns you toward traffic); and street sideshows (blocking a road for stunts, speed contests or exhibitions) are illegal.

Signaling, turning and roundabouts

Give a continuous turn signal at least 100 feet before turning in a business or residential area and at least 200 feet elsewhere, by lights or with the left arm: straight up for a right turn, straight out for a left turn, down to slow or stop. Both signals flashing together mark a disabled or parked vehicle. Right turn: signal from the proper lane, obey controls, yield to pedestrians, emergency vehicles and traffic in the intersection, check traffic from the left, hug the curb, turn into the right-hand lane, remember trucks need more room, and watch bike lanes. Left turn: signal from the proper lane, yield, check all traffic, keep the wheels straight until you start the turn, and finish in the lane closest to your intended direction. Changing lanes: turn your head to check behind and beside, signal, then move. U-turns: never on curves or hills unless you can see 500 feet in all directions; cities may ban them. A two-way left turn lane is for left turns at intersections or into and out of mid-block drives.

A roundabout carries counterclockwise traffic around a central island, possibly in several lanes; vehicles entering or exiting yield to all traffic including pedestrians and bicycles. Slow down, read the signs and markings for prohibited movements, enter by turning right when safe, stay in your lane, and signal right to exit; read the direction signs before entering to pick your exit, and never change lanes or exit without checking for vehicles continuing around, since they hide in blind spots.

School buses

You need not stop for a school bus on a four-lane road when it is stopped on the opposite side. Otherwise you must stop before meeting or passing a school bus loading or unloading, on any two-lane road in the country or in town, on any road, highway or private road, and in any parking lot on school property. The bus warns at least 100 feet ahead (200 feet in rural areas) with flashing front and rear lights, and extends its stop arm after stopping. Stay stopped until the arm retracts and the lights go off, or the driver waves you on. A conviction for passing a stopped school bus with lights and arm out suspends your license, carries a mandatory $300 fine and community service, and an owner who was not driving must name the driver or lose the registration for three months.

Railroad crossings

Yield to any train or railroad equipment. Stop within 15 to 50 feet when a stop sign is posted, the signal flashes, the gate is down, a flagger signals, or a train is approaching or warning; go only when the gate is fully up, the lights are off or the flagger waves, after checking every track for another train. At a crossing with no devices or only a crossbuck, slow, look both ways and listen, then cross with caution. Never enter a crossing without room on the far side to clear it. Vehicles for hire, school buses and hazmat vehicles must stop at almost all crossings; expect it when following them. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, everyone gets out at once, calls 911, and moves away at a 45-degree angle toward the direction the train comes from, clear of flying debris; call the railroad's Emergency Notification System number on the blue sign at the crossing. Expect a train on any track at any time, look for a second train after one passes, shift a manual down before the tracks and do not change gears on them, never race a train.

Alleys, driveways, parking and other laws

In urban areas, stop completely when leaving an alley, building, private road or driveway before the sidewalk (or where you can see the street), yield to pedestrians and vehicles, and signal your turn.

Hills: put the car in park and set the brake; downhill with a curb, wheels toward the curb; uphill with a curb, wheels away from the curb; no curb, wheels toward the side of the road you are parked on (that is, to the right). Starting from a hill, release the brake, signal, check traffic and go when safe. Parallel parking: right wheels within 12 inches of the curb on a two-way street; on a one-way street within 12 inches of either curb; always facing the direction of traffic. Disabled spaces: only with the plates or placard, with the authorized holder present and getting in or out; the striped area beside the space is part of it and may not be used even by placard holders. Electric vehicle charging spaces are for electric vehicles only.

Stopping, standing or parking is prohibited: on the roadway side of a parked vehicle (double parking); on a sidewalk, crosswalk or in an intersection; between a safety zone and the curb; in a bike lane; beside or opposite an excavation or obstruction if you would block traffic; on a bridge, overpass, railroad track or in a highway tunnel; on a controlled-access road; between the roadways of a divided highway; on a paved road outside business or residential districts when you could stop off the road (in an emergency, only with a 200-foot clear view each way, flashers on and room to pass); and where signs prohibit it. Standing or parking is prohibited in front of a driveway, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a fire station driveway or an intersection crosswalk, and within 30 feet of a STOP sign, YIELD sign or traffic signal. Parking is prohibited within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a crossing, and on a highway between sunset and sunrise without parking lights (unless in an urban district), with headlights dimmed.

Other laws: you may not drop objects from an overpass at a moving vehicle; drive on a sidewalk except at a driveway; overload the vehicle so the view is blocked (no more people than seat belts); ride in a house trailer being moved; or run a sound system audible 75 feet or more from the vehicle.

Practise this with Illinois Driver License questions

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