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Drowsy Driving and Maggie's Law
fatigue Driving while fatigued is extremely dangerous and can be as hazardous as drunk driving. New Jersey's "Maggie’s Law," enacted in 2003, makes it illegal to knowingly operate a vehicle while impaired by lack of sleep. This law establishes driving while fatigued as recklessness under the vehicular homicide statute.
Key Rules
- ✓Maggie’s Law makes it illegal to knowingly drive a vehicle while impaired by lack of sleep.
- ✓To avoid 'highway hypnosis' on long trips, rest every two hours and avoid looking at any one thing for more than a few seconds.
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Safe Following Distance Rules
lane rules Maintaining a safe following distance is critical to prevent rear-end collisions. The manual provides two key methods: the 'one car length' rule and the 'three-seconds-plus' rule. The three-second rule is considered more practical as it works at any speed and should be increased in poor weather.
Key Rules
- ✓The 'one car length' rule suggests keeping one car length (about 20 feet) of distance for each 10 mph of speed.
- ✓The 'three-seconds-plus rule' is a method to ensure a safe following distance; this should be increased to four or more seconds during bad weather.
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Following Distances in Poor Conditions
weather driving Standard following distances are for ideal conditions only. When driving on wet, gravel, snow, or ice-covered roads, you must significantly increase your following distance to account for longer stopping times. The manual provides specific minimums in car lengths for these situations.
Key Rules
- ✓On wet pavement, the minimum following distance is double the ideal distance (e.g., 6 car lengths at 30 mph).
- ✓On packed snow, the minimum following distance is triple the ideal distance (e.g., 9 car lengths at 30 mph).
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Wet Roads and Hydroplaning
weather driving Driving on wet roads presents a significant danger of hydroplaning, where tires lose contact with the road and ride on a film of water. This can begin at speeds as low as 35 mph. At 55 mph, tires may lose all contact with the road surface, making braking and steering impossible.
Key Rules
- ✓Hydroplaning can start at speeds of about 35 mph.
- ✓To avoid hydroplaning, slow down when heavy rain or standing water is present and ensure tires are not bald or badly worn.
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Winter Driving and Snow/Ice Removal
weather driving Winter driving requires special precautions. Under New Jersey law, a motorist is required to remove all snow and ice from their entire vehicle before driving. A motorist is legally responsible for any injury or property damage caused by ice flying from their vehicle.
Key Rules
- ✓A motorist is responsible for any ice that flies from their vehicle and causes death, injury, or property damage.
- ✓In New Jersey, studded snow tires are legally permitted for use between November 15 and April 1.
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Night Driving and Headlight Use
night driving Driving at night is more dangerous because visibility is limited. You should drive slowly enough to be able to stop within the distance you can see ahead with your headlights. A specific New Jersey law mandates headlight use in certain weather conditions.
Key Rules
- ✓State law requires headlights to be on when windshield wipers are in use.
- ✓At night, drive within the range of your vehicle's headlights, ensuring you can stop within the distance you see ahead.
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Construction and Work Zone Safety
work zones Work zones present unexpected dangers. To enhance safety, New Jersey has specific penalties for violations in these areas. Motorists must pay close attention to signs, flaggers, and posted speed limits, as workers and unexpected stops may be present.
Key Rules
- ✓In New Jersey, traffic fines are doubled for motor vehicle violations committed in roadway construction zones.
- ✓When driving through a work zone, do not tailgate, as unexpected stops or slowing may occur.
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Standard Crash-Prevention Formula
emergency The New Jersey Driver Manual outlines a standard crash-prevention formula to reduce the chances of a collision. This three-part formula emphasizes being constantly aware, anticipating potential hazards, and knowing how to react in time to avoid a crash. It is a core principle of defensive driving.
Key Rules
- ✓Be alert: Never assume another motorist will not make a driving mistake.
- ✓Be prepared: Know what to do in any situation where you have to act fast and always expect the unexpected.
- ✓Act in time: Try not to panic and know what to do if something happens suddenly.
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Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
emergency Aggressive driving is defined as a series of unlawful driving actions, such as speeding, tailgating, or making erratic lane changes. Extreme cases can escalate to road rage, where motorists lose their temper. New Jersey has a dedicated campaign to stop aggressive driving, and motorists can report incidents.
Key Rules
- ✓Aggressive driving includes actions like disregarding traffic signals, failing to yield, and following too closely.
- ✓To report an aggressive motorist in New Jersey, call (888) SAF-ROAD or #77 from a cell phone.
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Rules for Passing and Being Passed
lane rules When passing another vehicle, a motorist must ensure it is safe and legal. When another vehicle is passing you, New Jersey law requires you to be courteous and careful. You must stay in your lane and slow down to make the pass easier and safer for the other driver.
Key Rules
- ✓When another vehicle is passing you, you must slow down to make the pass easier for the other motorist.
- ✓After passing a vehicle, return to the right lane only when the vehicle you passed is visible in your rearview mirror.
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New Jersey Vehicle Idling Law
environment To reduce air pollution, New Jersey law restricts vehicle idling. A motorist is prohibited from allowing their vehicle to idle for more than three consecutive minutes. There are exceptions, such as being stopped in traffic or for emergency vehicles.
Key Rules
- ✓Motorists are prohibited from allowing their motor vehicle to idle for more than three consecutive minutes.
- ✓Exceptions to the 3-minute idling rule include vehicles stopped in traffic, vehicles being repaired, and buses while picking up or discharging passengers.
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Driving with Reduced Visibility
weather driving When visibility is reduced by conditions like fog, frost, or sun glare, drivers must adjust their driving. In fog, use low beams. On snow-covered roads, a following distance of six seconds or more is recommended. If visibility is severely reduced, pull over to a safe area and use emergency flashers.
Key Rules
- ✓When driving in fog, headlights should be kept on low beam.
- ✓On snow-covered roads, a good rule is to maintain a following distance of six seconds or more.
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City Driving and Pedestrian Safety
pedestrians City driving requires extra vigilance due to heavy traffic and pedestrians. A motorist should look at least 12 seconds ahead, which is about one block at 25 mph. It is critical to remember that pedestrians have the right-of-way in all crosswalks.
Key Rules
- ✓In city driving, a motorist should look at least 12 seconds ahead.
- ✓Motorists must always stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether the crosswalk is marked or unmarked.