Safe Driving Rules and Regulations: Speed Limits, Passing, Keeping Right, Yielding, Pedestrians, Intersections and Traffic Circles, Highways, Turning, Stopping Regulations, Railroad Crossings, School Buses, Emergency Vehicles and Move Over, Headlights, Parking, Cell Phones and Littering

Written for aiforu2 as the source for a practice-test bank and the on-device tutor for the New Jersey driver license knowledge test. The facts follow the official manual; the wording is ours.

Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2025), New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), chapter 4 "Safe Driving Rules and Regulations" (pp. 62–86).

Speed control

Speeding is a common factor in fatal crashes; keep up with the flow at any legal speed and leave room for emergency stops. Unless posted otherwise: 25 mph in school zones and business or residential districts; 35 mph in suburban business and residential districts; 50 mph on non-posted rural roads; 55 mph on certain state highways and interstates; 65 mph on certain interstates. Fines double for exceeding a 65 mph limit by 10 mph or more and for most moving violations in a 65 mph zone. Never drive faster than conditions allow; slow on narrow or winding roads, at intersections and railroad crossings, on hills, at sharp or blind curves, near pedestrians and hazards, and on wet roads. A vehicle that cannot keep up should pull off with hazard lights on. Driving too slowly and blocking traffic is illegal in normal conditions. Safe Corridors (2003) doubles fines on state highways with crash rates 50 percent above the state rate and 1,000 or more crashes in three years.

Passing and keeping right

Stay right of the center lines; pass only with no oncoming traffic. Both center lines solid: no passing. One broken: pass only from the side with the broken line. Both broken: either side may pass. Finish before the lines turn solid. Pass on the left; passing on the right is allowed only on roads with more than one lane in your direction, when traffic moves in two or more continuous lines, or when the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room; never on the shoulder. Do not pass on a hill or curve or with a short view, at a street crossing or intersection, at a railroad crossing, on narrow bridges or in underpasses or tunnels, where signs or lines prohibit it, or behind a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. Keep as close as possible to the right edge except when passing, and on multi-lane roads drive in the right lane except to pass or prepare a left turn.

Yielding

Always be ready to yield: to emergency vehicles with sirens or lights; to trains; to buses and postal vehicles re-entering traffic; to motorized wheelchairs and mobility devices in a crosswalk or crossing; and to vehicles already in an intersection.

Pedestrians in a crosswalk

New Jersey has many more pedestrian deaths than the nation; safety is shared. A motorist must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and failing to brings up to $500, up to 25 days in jail, community service, a suspension up to six months and 2 points. Watch for pedestrians when turning on red, obey limits, never block or park in a crosswalk, keep the windshield clean, expect pedestrians near schools, town centers, neighborhoods and parks, never pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian, and stop for anyone still in the crosswalk when the signal changes.

Intersections

Most crashes happen at intersections. A single solid white line means stop behind it for a signal or sign. At a controlled intersection (signals, signs or an officer), yield to the driver on the right when arriving together at a multi-way stop, yield to anyone already stopped there, slow and yield at a yield sign even if you must stop, and turning left yield to oncoming traffic and stop for pedestrians. At a stop sign, stop completely within five feet of the nearest crosswalk or stop line and go only after yielding to close traffic. Driving across private property to avoid a signal or sign is a violation. At an uncontrolled intersection, slow and be ready to stop for traffic from either side; a driver from a private road or driveway yields to everyone on the main road; the vehicle on the left yields to the right; a signal dark from a power failure is treated as a four-way stop. Where buildings, parked cars, bushes, trees or crops block your view, slow or stop to be sure. Traffic circles have no set rules: the historically established flow usually gives the right-of-way to a major highway running through the circle, and entrance signs govern; never enter without checking the signs and the intentions of drivers inside, and when in doubt the vehicle on the left yields to the one approaching from the right.

Highways, parkways and turnpikes

These are high-speed (up to 65 mph) divided roads without direct intersections. Enter by the acceleration lane, obeying any ramp advisory limit, speeding up to the flow, never stopping in the lane, and yielding to traffic already on the road before moving into the right lane. Exit by the deceleration lane, usually on the right: start slowing only in it, obey its advisory limit, watch for left-side exits, take the next exit if you miss yours, and never back up on a ramp. A weave lane is both an entrance and an exit; the driver entering yields to the driver leaving. On highways through cities, use the left or center lane in rush hour to avoid merge conflicts and look for exits early. Near a disabled vehicle, slow and add space, changing lanes if you can; if you break down, pull far onto the shoulder or median, turn on flashers, raise the hood, stay inside belted with doors locked, call for help, ask anyone who stops to phone for assistance and never get into a stranger's car. In construction areas adjust speed and space. Approaching toll booths, slow early, watch for E-ZPass lanes including high-speed ones, and merge carefully afterward. Slow before curves and avoid drifting; on cloverleaf interchanges drive slowly and obey the posted speed.

Turning regulations

Right on red is allowed unless posted otherwise, after a full stop and yielding to all traffic and pedestrians, watching for bicycles and mopeds that may have a green light; signal at least 100 feet ahead and cancel afterward. Right turns: approach as far right as possible near the curb or parked cars and do not swing wide or into another lane. Left turns: when two vehicles both turn left at an intersection, each turns to the left of the center; from a one-way to a one-way, turn from the left lane into the left lane; from a two-way to a two-way, approach next to the center line and finish right of the center line without crossing lane markings; between intersections, solid lines may be crossed with care to enter or leave driveways in business and residential areas; onto a four-lane highway, turn before reaching the center of the intersection into the lane nearest the center line (the passing lane), then move right when traffic allows.

Stopping regulations

Most crashes at signals happen in the first seconds after the change, so proceed with care on green and watch for a stale green light. On yellow after green you must stop before entering unless you are too close to stop safely; if already inside, go through with caution. You must stop at a stop sign; at a red light, steady or flashing; at yellow after green; when an officer orders it; at a yield sign when traffic does not allow a safe merge; for a school bus loading or unloading with red lights flashing; when coming from an alley, driveway or building; at a bridge about to open for boats; for a blind pedestrian with a white or metallic cane, a guide dog or a guide dog instructor; for a pedestrian in a crosswalk or at an intersection; and for a motorized wheelchair or mobility device in a crosswalk or at an intersection.

Railroad crossings: stop at least 15 feet from the crossing when the red lights flash, bells ring, gates descend or are down, or a flagger signals; never cross until the gates rise, the bells stop and the lights stop flashing. Never race a train: at 60 mph or more most trains need more than a mile to stop. School buses, buses and hazardous materials vehicles must always stop at crossings, so be ready to stop behind them. Never stop on the tracks; make sure there is room on the far side; and if the devices activate while you are crossing, keep going.

School buses: stop at least 25 feet away when the red lights flash on a two-lane road, on a multi-lane road separated only by lines, or on a private road; on a dual highway on the other side of a safety island or raised median, slow to 10 mph. Yellow lights come on before the stop and red when stopped, but do not rely on them. Proceed only after the signals go off, watching for children; when a bus is stopped directly in front of a school, you may pass from either direction at no more than 10 mph. Frozen dessert trucks with flashing red lights and a stop arm: yield to anyone crossing, watch for children, stop, then pass at no more than 15 mph (no stop needed across a safety island or raised median).

Emergency vehicles: yield to sirens and red or blue lights by steering to the extreme right, stopping, and waiting; then stay at least 300 feet behind a signaling emergency vehicle. Volunteer fire and rescue members' private cars use blue lights. Never park within 200 feet of a fire vehicle in service or drive over a fire hose unless directed. Move Over law: approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, tow truck, highway maintenance or emergency service vehicle showing red, blue, amber or yellow lights, or a disabled vehicle showing hazards, flares or triangles, change into a lane not adjacent to it if safe and legal; if not, slow to a reasonable speed below the limit and be ready to stop; the fine is $100 to $500, with points possible after three offenses. When stopped by police: pull over safely, be courteous, keep documents accessible, turn down the music, turn on the interior lights at night, roll down the window, keep your hands visible on the wheel, avoid sudden movements and tell the officer before reaching for anything.

Headlights and other lights

Headlights are required from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, when visibility is 500 feet or less, whenever the wipers are in use, and in fog, mist or smoke; parking or auxiliary lights may not substitute. High beams are for open country with no traffic in sight; they blind others for three to five seconds, during which a driver at 50 mph travels the length of a football field, so use low beams when following or meeting traffic, look to the right of the road when blinded, and never flash high beams at oncoming drivers. Parking lights are for brief parking and required for vehicles parked outside business and residential zones; taillights come on with the headlights and brighten with the brakes; interior lights are used briefly or at an officer's request; dashboard lights should be dim; spotlights and hazard flashers are for emergencies only; fog lights may be used with low beams in fog.

Parking regulations

Check for traffic, bicycles and mopeds before opening the door (a door opened into traffic makes you liable), let passengers out curbside, read the signs, and park no more than six inches from the curb. Never stop or park in a crosswalk; between a pedestrian safety zone and the curb or within 20 feet of the zone's end; near marked construction; in a disabled space without authorization; on an interstate; on a sidewalk; in a bus stop; in front of a driveway; in an intersection; within 10 feet of a fire hydrant; within 25 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection; within 50 feet of a railroad crossing; within 50 feet of a stop sign; within 20 feet of a fire station driveway or 75 feet across the street from one; on a bridge, elevated road or in a tunnel; beside another parked vehicle (double parking); or where a local ordinance prohibits it. In an emergency, stop on the right shoulder with flashers on.

Cell phones and littering

Using a hand-held phone or texting device while driving is a primary offense. Hands-free use is legal but strongly discouraged. A hand-held phone may be used only to report a fire, crash, serious hazard, medical or hazardous-materials emergency, with one hand on the wheel and proof such as records if asked. Fines: $200 to $400 first, $400 to $600 second within 10 years, $600 to $800 third and later within 10 years, plus 3 points and a possible 90-day suspension from the third offense. Kulesh's, Kubert's and Bolis' Law (2012) makes illegal phone use recklessness under the vehicular homicide and assault-by-auto laws. GDL holders may use no phone, hand-held or hands-free, and school bus drivers may not use one except in an emergency or when parked safely off the road. Throwing trash from a moving or parked vehicle is illegal, with fines up to $1,000 for dangerous objects and possible loss of the license if the vehicle was moving; loads of trash must be covered.

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