Page 19 - Georgia Department of Driver Services Drivers Manual
P. 19

SECTION      5  : TRAFFIC LAWS

          trolled by a traffic control light. You may   highway divided by a median, cars traveling   “blind spot.” Be certain that no one is pass-
          proceed only after making a complete stop,   on the opposite side from the stopped school   ing   you;
          yielding to all traffic and pedestrians, and   bus are not required to stop, however drivers   •  Activate your left turn signal as you begin
          making the determination that you can safely   should remain attentive for children walking   passing;
          complete the turn;               along or crossing the roadway.
        •  Unless a sign posted at that intersection pro-                    •  Pass on the left and do not return to the right
                                                                              lane until your vehicle is safely clear of the
          hibits doing so, it is permissible to make a  Passing               overtaken vehicle. Wait until you can see the
          “left turn on red” from the left lane of a one-                     car you have just passed in your rear view
          way street onto a one-way street on which                           mirror;
          the traffic moves toward the driver’s left. You   How To Pass On A Two-Lane Road
          may proceed only after making a complete   •  Wait for a passing zone to begin. A passing   •  Activate your right turn signal before return-
                                                                                            e
          stop, yielding to all traffic and stopping for   zone is indicated by striped lines to the right   ing to  the  right lane.    sure to  turn your signal
                                                                                           B
          pedestrians, and making the determination   of the center line of the roadway. If the line   off once you have returned to the right lane.
          that you can safely complete the turn;   nearest your vehicle is solid, you are not in a
        •  When a school bus is preparing to stop to   passing zone. Look ahead along the roadway   Passing is prohibited
                or unload hildren, he driver f he us
                                  o
          load        c     t         t    b  to determine the length of the passing zone   on   two-lane roads:


          will activate flashing yellow lights. When   and  if there is traffic approaching from  the op-    •  In areas marked by a solid yellow line on the


          these flashing yellow lights are activated, all   posite  direction. You must  have  sufficient  time   right of the center line, or a “Do Not Pass”
          drivers approaching the school bus should   and space to execute your passing maneuver   sign, or double yellow lines;
          slow down and be prepared to stop. All   and return your vehicle completely to the
          drivers should pay special attention to chil-  right lane before the passing zone ends, before     •  Within 100 feet of a railroad crossing;
                                                   an ntersection, and before oncom-
          dren who may be walking along or crossing   entering     i             •  Within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel;
          the roadway. Once the flashing lights have   ing traffic is within 200 feet of your vehicle;
          turned red and the stop signs have extended   •  Before leaving your lane to begin passing,     •  When a car approaching from the opposite
          from the side of the bus, it is unlawful for any   check your rear view and side mirrors, and   direction makes passing unsafe or will be
          vehicle to pass the stopped school bus while   turn your head and look back to check your
          it is loading or unloading passengers. On a
         THE “MOVE OVER” LAW
         All  50  States  have  "Move  Over"  laws  to  protect  law  enforcement  officers  and  other  workers  stopped  on  our  nation's  roads.  Georgia’s  “Move  Over”
         Law  helps  ensure  highway  safety  for  motorists,  emergency  personnel,  active  sanitation  workers,  and  utility  service  workers.  when  their  vehicles  are
         stopped  on  the  side  of  the  roadway.
         This  law  was  created  to  reduce  the  number  of  injuries  and  fatalities  to  police  officers,  paramedics,  firefighters,  wrecker  operators,  and  highway
         construction  workers  by  maintaining  an  open  buffer  lane  between  passing  highway  traffic  and  authorized  roadside  emergency  vehicles  displaying
         flashing  yellow,  amber,  white,  red,  or  blue  lights.  It  was  amended  to  include  active  sanitation  workers  and  utility  service  workers  who  are  utilizing
         traffic  cones  and/or  vehicles  displaying  flashing  lights.
                        In  Georgia,  this  law  requires  motorists  to:
                        • Move  over  to  the  next  lane  if  safely  possible.
                        • If  unable  to  move  over,  then  slow  down  below  the  speed  limit  and  be  prepared  to  stop.
         This  law  applies  to  any  emergency,  sanitation,  or  utility  service  vehicle  parked  on  the  shoulder  of  the  roadway.

         Why was the “Move Over” Law Passed?

         • It  saves  lives.  The  “Move  Over”  Law  helps   •   Providing  a  buffer  lane  for  these  vehicles
           maintain  traffic  flow  and  protect  the  safety    when  parked  on  the  roadway  shoulder
           of  motorists,  emergency  personnel,  active    actually  reduces  the  risk  of  another  crash.
           sanitation  workers,  and  utility  service
           workers.                       • When  the  required  clearance  is  given  to
                                            these  types  of  vehicles,  the  margin  of
         • Vehicles  parked  on  the  side  of  the  safety  is  increased,  not  only  for  public
           roadway  are  vulnerable  to  crashes  even  safety,  emergency  personnel,  active
           when  emergency  lights  are  flashing.  sanitation  workers,  and  utility  service
         • More  police  officers  are  killed  by  traffic  workers,  but  for  motorists  and  their
           crashes  than  in  any  other  line-of-duty  passengers  as  well.
           cause  of  death.  More  than  one  fourth  of
           those  killed  are  struck  by  passing  vehicles   It’s the Law!
           while  they  work  outside  their  patrol  cars.
                                          •   Violations  can  result  in  a  fine  of  no  more
         How does the “Move Over”           than  $500  for  the  first  offense.    Safely  change  lanes
         Law make a difference?           • The  “Move  Over”  Law  is  another  reason  when  approaching  any
                                            to  slow  down  on  the  highways  and
         • Thirty  percent  of  all  crashes  occur  as  the  interstates.      emergency,  sanitation,
           result  of  another  crash.                                          or  utility  service  vehicle.






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