Intersections and Turns +6New York · Driving · English

The fundamental right-of-way rule is to yield to traffic already in an intersection. Even if you have a green light, you must wait for vehicles and pedestrians already in the intersection to pass before you proceed. Additionally, you are prohibited from entering an intersection if traffic is backed up on the other side, a situation known as 'blocking the box,' as this can cause gridlock.

• ✓A driver who approaches an intersection must yield the right-of-way to traffic that is already in the intersection.
• ✓You cannot enter an intersection if traffic is backed up on the other side and you cannot get completely through the intersection.

When two vehicles approach an intersection from opposite directions at about the same time, the driver intending to turn left must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle going straight or turning right. While waiting to make the turn, you may enter the intersection but must keep your front wheels straight to avoid being pushed into oncoming traffic if struck from behind.

• ✓A driver who turns left must yield to traffic that moves straight or turns right from the opposite direction.
• ✓When waiting in an intersection to make a left turn, you must keep your wheels straight until you begin the turn.

At intersections without any traffic signs or signals, or where two drivers at right angles stop at STOP signs at the same time, there is a specific rule to prevent a collision. The vehicle on the left must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.

• ✓At intersections not controlled by signs or signals, the driver on the left must yield the right-of-way to the driver on the right.
• ✓If two drivers stop at STOP signs at the same time at a right-angle intersection, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.

Drivers have a legal responsibility to yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. This means you must slow down or stop if necessary. If a pedestrian enters the crosswalk while you are stopped at a red light, you must wait for them to finish crossing even after the light turns green.

• ✓Drivers must yield to pedestrians who legally use marked or unmarked crosswalks.
• ✓If your traffic light turns green but a pedestrian is still in the crosswalk, you must wait for the pedestrian to cross.

When you hear or see an authorized emergency vehicle (police, fire, ambulance) approaching with its lights and/or siren active, you must act immediately. Safely pull over to the right edge of the road and come to a complete stop. If you are in an intersection, you must clear the intersection before pulling over. This rule applies even if the emergency vehicle is in the opposite lane of a two-way road.

• ✓When an emergency vehicle approaches from any direction, you must safely pull over immediately to the right edge of the road and stop.
• ✓If you are in an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches, you must drive out of it before you pull over and stop.

The Move Over Law requires drivers to exercise caution when approaching a stopped emergency or hazard vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated. On all roads, you must reduce your speed. On multi-lane highways, you are also required to move from the lane directly adjacent to the stopped vehicle, provided it is safe to do so.

• ✓On all roads, you must reduce speed when encountering a stopped emergency or hazard vehicle with its lights activated.
• ✓On parkways, interstates, and other multi-lane roads, you must move from the lane adjacent to the emergency or hazard vehicle unless traffic prevents doing so safely.

When your vehicle is entering a main road from a non-roadway such as a driveway, private road, or parking lot, you do not have the right-of-way. You must come to a complete stop and yield to all traffic on the roadway and to any pedestrians crossing your path before you proceed.

• ✓A vehicle that enters a roadway from a driveway, private road, or another place that is not a roadway must stop and yield the right-of-way to traffic.
• ✓When entering a road from a driveway, you must also yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk or crossing the exit.

When approaching a traffic circle or rotary, traffic already circulating within the circle has the right-of-way. You must yield to these vehicles and wait for a safe gap in traffic before entering the circle.

• ✓A driver who approaches a traffic circle or rotary must yield the right-of-way to drivers already in the circle.
• ✓Vehicles entering a roundabout must wait for traffic already circulating to pass before they can proceed.

Safe turning requires planning. New York law requires you to signal your intention to turn at least 100 feet before the turn. For safety, you should reduce your speed, check for vulnerable road users like motorcyclists and pedestrians, and keep your wheels straight while waiting to make a left turn.

• ✓You must signal a turn or lane change with your turn lights or hand signals at least 100 feet ahead.
• ✓For a right turn, you must position your vehicle as far to the right as possible before turning.

Proper lane positioning is legally required for left turns. When turning left from a two-way road into another two-way road, you must approach the turn from the right half of the roadway, staying as close as possible to the center line. When turning from a one-way road into a two-way road, approach in the far left lane.

• ✓To make a left turn from a two-way road into a two-way road, approach the turn from the right half of the roadway closest to the center line.
• ✓To make a left turn from a one-way road into a two-way road, you must approach the turn in the left lane.

A U-turn is a 180-degree turn to proceed in the opposite direction. In New York, U-turns are illegal in several situations for safety reasons. You cannot make a U-turn near a hill or curve where you cannot be seen from 500 feet, in a school zone, in business districts of New York City, or on any limited-access expressway.

• ✓You cannot make a U-turn on a curve or near the top of a hill where other drivers cannot see your vehicle from 500 feet away in either direction.
• ✓U-turns are illegal in a school zone and on a limited-access expressway.

In New York State, any driver involved in a traffic crash has specific legal obligations that must be met at the scene, regardless of how minor the damage appears. The primary responsibility is to stop immediately. Leaving the scene is a serious offense with different levels of severity depending on the outcome of the crash.

• ✓You must stop your vehicle if you are in a crash, regardless of the amount of damage.
• ✓Leaving the scene of a crash involving only property damage is a traffic violation, while leaving the scene of a crash involving personal injury or a fatality is a criminal violation.
• ✓You must exchange your name, address, driver license number, vehicle registration, and insurance information with all other drivers involved.
• ✓If a parked vehicle is damaged or a domestic animal is injured, you must attempt to locate the owner or notify the police.
• ✓If any person is injured or killed, you must notify the police immediately.

Beyond the immediate actions at the scene, New York law requires drivers to file an official report with the DMV under specific circumstances. This is a separate legal duty from reporting the crash to your insurance company. Failure to file this report within the specified timeframe can result in severe penalties.

• ✓You must file a Report of Motor Vehicle Accident (MV-104) with the DMV within 10 days if the crash involves a fatality, personal injury, or over $1,000 in damage to any one person's property.
• ✓Reporting a crash to your insurance company does not fulfill your legal obligation to file a report with the DMV.
• ✓Failure to file a required accident report with the DMV is a misdemeanor and can result in the suspension or revocation of your driver license and/or vehicle registration.

When at a crash scene, a driver's actions should prioritize safety for everyone involved, including themselves, passengers, and other motorists. This includes knowing when to offer assistance and when to stay clear, as well as how to handle specific hazards like injured persons or downed power lines.

• ✓Do not stop at a crash scene unless you are involved or if emergency help has not yet arrived; focus on your driving and follow directions from traffic officers.
• ✓You should not move an injured person unless it is absolutely necessary due to an immediate, life-threatening danger such as a fire.
• ✓If electrical wires are down near or on a vehicle, warn any occupants to remain inside until emergency personnel arrive.

In New York, the law requires driving on the right and typically passing on the left. Passing must always be done safely and only when necessary, without exceeding the speed limit. A critical safety rule is to never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross. You must always signal your intention to change lanes.

• ✓You must not exceed the speed limit when passing another vehicle.
• ✓You must signal your intention to change lanes at least 100 feet before the change.
• ✓You must never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross.

In New York State, you must stop for a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing. This applies whether you are approaching from the front or the rear, and even if you are on the opposite side of a divided highway. You must stop at least 20 feet away from the bus and remain stopped until the bus starts moving or the driver signals you to proceed.

• ✓When a school bus has its red lights flashing, you must stop at least 20 feet away.
• ✓You must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights even if it is on the opposite side of a divided highway.
• ✓You must remain stopped until the bus begins to move or the driver signals that you can proceed.

Before a school bus stops, it will typically flash its yellow warning lights. This is a signal to slow down and prepare to stop. Ignoring the flashing red lights and illegally passing a stopped school bus results in severe penalties, including fines starting at $250 for a first offense and potential driver license revocation for multiple offenses.

• ✓Flashing yellow lights on a school bus indicate that you should slow down and be prepared to stop.
• ✓The minimum fine for a first violation of illegally passing a stopped school bus is $250.
• ✓Three convictions for passing a stopped school bus in three years will result in your driver license being revoked for at least six months.

Passing on the left is illegal and unsafe under several specific conditions in New York. You cannot pass if your lane has a solid yellow center line, if you are approaching a hill or curve on a two-way road where you cannot see ahead, or if an oncoming vehicle is within 200 feet. It is also prohibited within 100 feet of a railroad crossing or an obstructed bridge or tunnel on a two-way road.

• ✓You may not pass on the left when an oncoming vehicle is within 200 feet.
• ✓Passing on the left is prohibited if your lane has a solid yellow center line.
• ✓You may not pass within 100 feet of a railroad crossing, bridge, or tunnel on a two-way road if your view is obstructed.

To pass safely on the left, you must follow a specific procedure. After signaling and checking mirrors, always look over your left shoulder to check your blind spot before moving into the passing lane. After passing, and before moving back to the right lane, you must ensure you can see the entire front bumper of the vehicle you passed in your interior rear-view mirror. Always check your right-side blind spot before returning to the lane.

• ✓Before changing lanes to pass, you must check your mirrors and look over your shoulder to check your blind spot.
• ✓Before returning to the right lane after passing, you must be able to see the front bumper of the passed vehicle in your interior rear-view mirror.

While passing is normally done on the left, New York law permits passing on the right in specific situations. This is allowed when a vehicle ahead is making a left turn, or on a multi-lane one-way or two-way road where passing is not prohibited. You may never pass on the right by driving on the shoulder of the road unless directed by a traffic officer or a sign.

• ✓You can legally pass on the right when a vehicle ahead of you is making a left turn.
• ✓You can pass on the right on a road with two or more lanes in your direction, provided it is safe and not prohibited by signs.
• ✓You cannot drive on the road shoulder to pass on the right.

When passing vulnerable road users, extra care is required. A motorcycle must be given the same full-lane width as any other vehicle; never move into the same lane space beside them. When passing a bicycle, you are required by law to pass on the left at a safe distance, giving the cyclist sufficient space to ride.

• ✓When passing a motorcycle, you must give it the full width of a lane.
• ✓When overtaking a bicyclist from behind, you must pass on the left at a safe distance.

Your actions as a driver are important when you are being passed. If another vehicle passes you on the left, you should decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane to help the other driver. If you find that many vehicles are passing you on the right, it is an indication that you should move into the right lane and allow them to pass on your left.

• ✓If a vehicle is passing you on the left, you should slightly reduce your speed and stay in the center of your lane.
• ✓If multiple vehicles are passing you on the right, you should move into the right lane.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as blind spot warnings and automatic emergency braking, are designed to assist the driver, not replace them. The driver is always fully responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle. This includes staying focused, performing head checks, and using mirrors, even when the vehicle is equipped with these features. It is crucial to understand that these systems have limitations and may not function correctly in adverse conditions like rain, snow, fog, or on hills and curves.

• ✓The driver is responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle at all times and must not rely solely on ADAS safety features.
• ✓Drivers must be aware that safety features may not work properly in certain conditions such as rain, snow, ice, and fog.
• ✓It is the driver's responsibility to read the Vehicle Owner's Manual to learn how their vehicle's safety features operate and their limitations.

During the New York State road test, the use of certain Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is prohibited. Specifically, features that automate primary driving tasks, such as automatic parallel parking and adaptive cruise control, are not allowed. While warning systems like back-up cameras and blind spot monitors are permitted, the license examiner will evaluate your ability to operate the vehicle safely without relying on them. You must still demonstrate fundamental skills like performing head checks and using mirrors effectively.

• ✓You are not allowed to use automatic parallel parking or cruise control (including adaptive cruise control) during your driving test.
• ✓Warning systems like back-up cameras and blind spot monitors are permitted, but the examiner will score based on your ability to drive safely without relying on them.
• ✓The license examiner's scoring is final regarding whether an applicant has demonstrated safe vehicle operation without over-reliance on ADAS.

In New York, the terms 'parking,' 'standing,' and 'stopping' have specific legal definitions that are tested. A 'NO PARKING' sign allows temporary stops for loading/unloading merchandise or passengers. A 'NO STANDING' sign is more restrictive, only allowing temporary stops for passengers. A 'NO STOPPING' sign is the most restrictive, prohibiting any stop unless required by a traffic device, officer, or to avoid a collision.

• ✓A 'NO PARKING' sign allows you to temporarily stop to load or unload merchandise or passengers.
• ✓A 'NO STANDING' sign means you can only make a temporary stop to load or discharge passengers; the driver cannot exit the vehicle.
• ✓A 'NO STOPPING' sign means you can stop only to obey a traffic sign, signal, or officer, or to prevent conflicts with other vehicles.

New York State has many parking regulations that apply everywhere, even if no sign is posted. These rules are designed to keep intersections, crosswalks, and emergency access areas clear. You must memorize the specific distances required for parking near fire hydrants, crosswalks, and traffic control signs.

• ✓You cannot park, stop, or stand within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, unless a licensed driver remains in the vehicle to move it.
• ✓Parking or standing is not allowed within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
• ✓Parking or standing is not allowed within 30 feet of a traffic light, STOP sign, or YIELD sign.
• ✓You cannot park your vehicle within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
• ✓Double parking (parking on the road side of a legally parked vehicle) is always illegal.

Parallel parking is a required skill for the New York road test. For the written exam, you must know the legal requirements for your final parking position and the safety rules for exiting the vehicle. After parking, your vehicle's wheels must be very close to the curb, and you must be cautious not to endanger others when opening your door.

• ✓After completing a parallel park, your wheels must be no more than one foot (30 cm) from the curb.
• ✓You must not open the door on the road side of your vehicle if it will interfere with bicyclists or other traffic.

When leaving a parallel parking space, a driver must follow a specific safety procedure to avoid collisions. This involves a 360-degree check using mirrors and turning your head to look over both shoulders. You must signal your intention and yield to all traffic, including pedestrians and bicyclists, before entering the lane.

• ✓Before leaving a parking space, you must signal and check for traffic by looking over your shoulder and using your mirrors.
• ✓When entering a traffic lane from a parking space, you must yield the right-of-way to all oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Spaces reserved for people with disabilities are strictly regulated. To park in one, you must have a valid permit or vehicle plates for persons with disabilities, and the person who received the permit must be in the vehicle. It is also illegal to park in the striped access aisles next to these spaces, which are needed for wheelchair accessibility.

• ✓You can only park in a reserved space for the disabled if the vehicle has the proper permit or plates and the person with the disability is being transported.
• ✓It is illegal to park, stop, or stand in the diagonally striped access aisles next to reserved parking spaces for the disabled.

To prevent your vehicle from rolling into traffic, you must take specific precautions when parking on a hill. After setting the parking brake and putting the vehicle in the correct gear ('Park' for automatic, 1st for manual), you must turn your wheels in the correct direction.

• ✓After parking on a hill, you must set your parking brake.
• ✓When parked on a hill, you must turn the wheels toward the curb or side of the road to keep the vehicle from rolling into traffic.

In New York, you must obey posted speed limits. However, if no speed limit is posted, a statewide default limit applies. Drivers must also adjust their speed for road conditions, as driving the posted limit can be illegal if conditions like fog or ice make that speed unsafe. Some cities, like New York City, have their own default speed limits.

• ✓If no speed limit is posted, you must not drive more than 55 mph.
• ✓The speed limit in New York City is 25 mph unless another limit is posted.

To prevent rear-end collisions, which account for four out of every ten crashes, drivers must maintain a safe space cushion. The 'two-second rule' is the standard method for judging a safe following distance in good conditions. This distance should be increased in adverse weather or when following large vehicles.

• ✓Use the 'two-second rule' by counting 'one thousand one, one thousand two' after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object to ensure a safe following distance.
• ✓In bad weather or when following large trucks, increase your following distance to at least three or four seconds.

New York State has a 'primary enforcement' law, meaning a police officer can stop you solely for a seat belt violation. The driver is legally responsible for ensuring all passengers under the age of 16 are properly restrained, facing significant fines and license points for each violation.

• ✓The driver can face a fine of $25 to $100 and receive three driver license points for each passenger under the age of 16 who is not properly restrained.
• ✓A child under the age of four must be restrained in a federally approved child safety seat. A child under two must be in a rear-facing seat until they reach the manufacturer's height or weight limit.

Air bags are supplemental safety devices designed to work with seat belts, not replace them. To avoid injury from a deploying air bag, drivers and passengers must follow specific safety rules regarding seating position and the placement of child safety seats.

• ✓A driver should sit with at least 10 inches between the center of their chest and the air bag cover.
• ✓NEVER put an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger air bag.

Work zones are hazardous areas that require increased driver awareness and reduced speed. New York State enforces strict penalties for violations to protect road workers. Orange, diamond-shaped signs indicate a work zone is ahead.

• ✓In New York, fines for speeding in a work zone are doubled, even when workers are not present.
• ✓A flagger in a work zone has the same authority as a traffic sign, and you can receive a ticket for disobeying their directions.

New York State law strictly prohibits drivers from using hand-held mobile telephones or electronic devices while driving. This is a traffic infraction that carries significant penalties, including a substantial fine and five license points, even for a first offense. Hands-free devices are permitted.

• ✓In New York State, it is a traffic infraction to speak into or listen to a hand-held mobile telephone while driving.
• ✓A first offense for using a hand-held cell phone while driving can result in a fine of up to $200 and five points on your driver license.

Defensive driving is a proactive approach to safety that involves anticipating potential hazards and the errors of other road users. Key practices include constantly scanning the road ahead and to the sides, checking mirrors frequently, and being prepared for other drivers to make mistakes. A crucial aspect is to never assume another driver will obey traffic controls.

• ✓Always scan the road ahead, check your mirrors every few seconds, and be aware of conditions to the sides of your vehicle.
• ✓Anticipate errors by other drivers; for example, assume a driver approaching a STOP sign on a side road may not actually stop.

When confronted by an aggressive driver, your priority is to de-escalate the situation and ensure your safety. Avoid any action that could be seen as a challenge. It's important to distinguish between aggressive driving (a traffic violation) and road rage (a criminal offense). If you are being followed, drive to a police station.

• ✓If confronted by an aggressive driver, do not make eye contact, remain calm, and try to move away safely.
• ✓If an aggressive driver is following you, do not stop or get out of your vehicle; drive to the nearest police station for safety.

If a driver is following you too closely (tailgating), you must handle the situation safely to avoid escalating it or causing a crash. The correct response is to create space and let the other driver pass. Abrupt or aggressive actions on your part can be dangerous.

• ✓If you are being tailgated, move to another lane if possible, or reduce your speed and pull off the road to let the driver go by.
• ✓Do not press your brakes suddenly or unnecessarily when being tailgated, as this may startle the driver behind you and could escalate into road rage.

Modern roundabouts improve traffic flow but require drivers to understand specific yielding rules. Traffic moves counterclockwise. Vehicles entering the circle must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to vehicles already circulating inside the roundabout.

• ✓When approaching a roundabout, you must yield to traffic already in the circle; they have the right-of-way.
• ✓When preparing to exit a roundabout, turn on your right turn signal and yield to any pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Driving while fatigued is extremely dangerous as it impairs judgment and slows reaction time, similar to driving under the influence. Recognizing the symptoms of drowsiness, such as yawning or drifting between lanes, is the first step to preventing a crash.

• ✓If you feel drowsy while driving, do not depend on the radio or an open window to stay awake; these 'tricks' are not effective.
• ✓The only safe action for a drowsy driver is to pull off into a safe area away from traffic and take a brief nap.

Alcohol impairs all the critical skills necessary for safe driving. It slows reaction time, reduces clear vision (especially recovery from headlight glare at night), and distorts judgment of speed and distance. It can also create a false sense of confidence, leading drivers to take dangerous risks. These effects begin with the very first drink, well before a person feels or appears intoxicated.

• ✓Alcohol consumption slows your reaction time and impairs your judgment of speed and distances.
• ✓Alcohol reduces your ability to recover from the glare of headlights, making night driving especially dangerous.
• ✓The impairing effects of alcohol begin with the first drink.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is the percentage of alcohol in your blood. In New York, specific BAC levels legally define different offenses. A BAC of 0.08% or higher is evidence of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). A BAC of 0.18% or higher constitutes the more serious offense of Aggravated DWI (Agg-DWI). A BAC of more than 0.05% but less than 0.08% is legal evidence of Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI).

• ✓A BAC of 0.08% or higher is the legal threshold for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) for drivers 21 and over.
• ✓A BAC of 0.18% or higher is considered Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (Agg-DWI).
• ✓A BAC of more than 0.05% is legal evidence that you are driving while your ability is impaired (DWAI).

New York State enforces a strict "Zero Tolerance" law for drivers under the age of 21. It is a violation for a person under 21 to drive with any measurable BAC between 0.02% and 0.07%. A first violation results in a 6-month license suspension. A second violation leads to a license revocation for at least one year or until the driver turns 21, whichever is longer.

• ✓For drivers under 21, it is a violation to drive with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.02% or higher.
• ✓The penalty for a first Zero Tolerance violation is a 6-month driver license suspension.
• ✓The legal age to purchase or possess alcoholic beverages in New York is 21.

Under New York's "Implied Consent" law, when you drive a vehicle in the state, you are considered to have already agreed to take a chemical test (breath, blood, urine, or saliva) if arrested for an alcohol or drug-related violation. Refusing to take the test results in an immediate license suspension at your court arraignment and a later license revocation, regardless of whether you are found guilty of the original charge.

• ✓By driving a car in New York State, you are considered to have given your consent to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs.
• ✓If you refuse to take a chemical test after being arrested, your driver license will be suspended and later revoked.
• ✓A chemical test refusal can be used as evidence against you in court when you are tried on the alcohol or drug-related charge.

Leandra's Law is a specific New York State law that makes it a Class E felony to drive while intoxicated (DWI) or impaired by drugs (DWAI-Drug) with a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle. A conviction for this offense is a serious crime, punishable by up to four years in prison.

• ✓Under Leandra's Law, it is a felony to drive while intoxicated with a child under 16 years old in the vehicle.
• ✓A conviction under Leandra's Law can result in a prison sentence of up to four years.

A conviction for an alcohol or drug-related driving violation in New York results in severe penalties. These always include the suspension or revocation of your driver license, substantial fines, mandatory surcharges, and possible jail time. For example, a first-offense DWI is a misdemeanor that carries a minimum 6-month license revocation. Repeat offenders face even tougher penalties, including longer revocations and potential permanent license denial.

• ✓If you are found guilty of any alcohol or drug-related violation, the court must revoke or suspend your driver license.
• ✓A first-time DWI (0.08% BAC) conviction is a misdemeanor that results in a minimum 6-month license revocation.
• ✓Repeat dangerous driving convictions can lead to a lifetime record review and permanent denial of your driver license.

Your BAC is determined by three key factors: how much alcohol you drink, the amount of time that passes between drinks, and your body weight. Your BAC is not affected by the type of alcoholic beverage you consume, your physical fitness, or how well you can "hold your liquor." The only effective method to reduce your BAC is to allow time for your body to process the alcohol. Coffee, exercise, and cold showers do not make you sober.

• ✓Your BAC depends on how much alcohol you drink, the time between drinks, and your body weight.
• ✓The only way to lower your BAC and become sober is to allow your body time to process the alcohol.
• ✓Coffee, cold showers, and exercise cannot reduce your BAC.

Different types of alcoholic beverages contain the same amount of pure alcohol. A standard 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor all have approximately the same alcohol content. No single type of drink is "safer" to drink than another before driving.

• ✓A 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor contain about the same amount of alcohol.
• ✓The type of beverage does not determine your BAC; the amount of alcohol consumed is what matters.

It is a criminal offense to drive while your ability is impaired by any drug, including marijuana/cannabis, prescription medications, or illegal drugs. These substances can negatively affect your reflexes, judgment, and vision. Combining any drug with alcohol is especially dangerous as it severely reduces your ability to drive and can cause serious health problems, including death.

• ✓It is a criminal offense to drive while impaired by the effect of drugs, including prescription medication and marijuana/cannabis.
• ✓A combination of alcohol and other drugs severely reduces your ability to drive safely.

In New York State, it is a traffic infraction for a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle on a public road to drink an alcoholic beverage or to possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage. This law also makes it a traffic infraction to consume marijuana/cannabis in a vehicle. A first conviction can result in a fine and possible imprisonment.

• ✓It is illegal for a driver or any passenger to have an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a vehicle on a public road.
• ✓It is also illegal for a driver or passenger to consume marijuana/cannabis in a motor vehicle.