New Jersey Driver Manual 2026

NEW JERSEY STANDARD LICENSE & NON-DRIVER ID REQUIREMENTS Applicant must submit at least one document from the following. Applicant must submit one document from the following. (Note: All documents must display residential address and have applicant’s name) 6 POINTS + PROOF OF IDENTITY/PROOF OF DATE OF BIRTH PROOF OF NJ RESIDENCY PRIMARY •• US or US territory birth certificate or certified copy filed with a state office of vital statistics or equivalent agency in the individual’s state of birth •• US Department of State birth certificate (Form FS-545 or DS-1350) •• US Department of State Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) •• US adoption papers •• US passport or passport card •• Foreign government issued passport from applicant’s country of citizenship •• NJ digitized driver license (including probationary license) •• NJ digitized non-driver ID card •• US military photo identification card (Common Access Card) •• Original birth certificate from any country •• Photo driver license from any state, US territory or the District of Columbia Photo driver license issued by country other than the US, must be presented with another government issued document Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550, N-570 or N-578) Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560, N-561 or N-645) Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) ID card issued by a consulate or national government Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571) US Re-entry Permit (Form I-327) I-94 stamped “Refugee,” “Parolee,” “Asylee,” or “Notice of Action” (Form I-797 approved petition) by USCIS I-94 with attached photo stamped “Processed for I-551…” by USCIS Photo Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766) (must be presented with a valid SS card or proof of ITIN) •• NJ driver license/non-driver identification card, or a Motor Vehicle Commission issued driver license renewal form •• Property tax bill, statement, or receipt or any letter or correspondence received from the IRS or state tax office within the past year •• Original unexpired lease or rental agreement with name of applicant as lessee or renter •• Checking or savings account statement from a bank or credit union issued within the last 60 days •• If under 18, statement from parent or guard- ian certifying address of applicant •• Utility or credit card bill issued in the past 90 days •• A deed or title to real property •• First class mail from any government agency in the past six months •• High school or college report card or tran- script within the past two years Page 10 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Documents not written in English must be accompanied by a certified translation in English. Applicant must submit at least one document from the following No primary or secondary documents can be expired more than three years. + SSN PROOF OF SSN OR ITIN* SECONDARY •• Social Security Card (no copies) •• W-2 Form issued within the past year •• Pay stub (must include full name and full SSN) issued within the past year •• SSA-1099 Form issued within the past year •• Non-SSA-1099 Form issued within the past year •• Official document from the IRS or the New Jersey Division of Taxation display- ing applicant’s name and ITIN. •• NJ income tax refund displaying ITIN •• NJ digitized driver license (including probationary license) •• NJ digitized non-driver ID card •• Photo driver license from any state, US territory or the District of Columbia •• Legal name change court order signed by a judge or court clerk •• Civil marriage or civil union license or certificate or divorce decree •• Document issued by US DHS •• US Uniformed Services photo ID card •• US Civilian Retiree photo ID card •• Veteran’s Administration universal access photo ID card •• Official school or college photo ID card with transcript or school records (with applicant’s DOB) from any country •• NJ Firearm Purchaser card •• Driving privilege card with photo issued by any state, municipality, US territory or the District of Columbia •• State professional license •• NJ Public Assistance card with photo •• SS card with SSA verification •• High school diploma or GED, college diploma or trade school degree from any country •• Bank statement/record on bank letterhead (can’t be used in conjunction with ATM card) •• ATM card with preprinted name and appli- cant’s signature (can’t be used in conjunction with bank statement) •• Health insurance card or prescription card •• Employee identification card accompanied by a printed pay stub from applicant’s em- ployment in the US •• Property tax statement, bill or receipt issued by a NJ municipality •• For NJ high school students: a waiver certifi- cate for the written portion of the driver test •• US govern- ment em- ployee driver license •• US govern- ment employ- ee photo ID card •• US military dis- charge papers (DD214) •• FAA pilot license •• Certified adoption records from any country – other than the United States •• NJ DOC ID card (No more than two 1-point documents allowed): Legal proof of name change is a certified marriage or civil union certificate, divorce decree, or court order linking the new name with the previous name. A divorce decree may be used as authority to resume using a previous name only if it contains the married name and previous name and states a return to use of the previous name. A marriage or civil union certificate may only be used as proof of change to a last name. *Individuals ineligible for an SSN and who do not have an ITIN may submit a signed affidavit form available on the initial license page of the MVC website WWW.NJMVC.GOV. The affidavit must be notarized, or signed in front of an MVC agency employee. False statements are punishable by law. Note: Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants must provide proof of US citizenship or lawful permanent resident status in the US. Revised 6/25/22 IF verification fails you must submit one of the following to include full name and full SSN: ITIN Applicant must submit one document from the following. Applicant must submit social security number on application for verification with SSA. THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 11 •• Certified copies of NJ records are available from the municipality that originally issued them and from the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry: www.nj.gov/health/vital or (609) 292-4087 PROOFS OF RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 2 STEP I CONTINUE 2 1 6 + + = •• For a replacement SSN card visit: www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount START HERE NEXT POINTS COMBINED FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY (REQUIRED) PRIMARY SELECT ONE AND ONLY ONE DOCUMENT FROM PRIMARY. STEP III 6 NEXT PROOF OF FULL SSN 1 STEP II • Social Security Card • W-2 Form issued within the past year • Pay Stub with name and full SSN • 1099 Form issued within the past year Documents from steps I and II may also be used as secondary documents if listed as an option. Applicant must submit Social Security number on application for verification with SSA. IF verification fails you must submit one of the following to include full name and SSN: • Valid NJ driver license/non-driver identification card, or a Motor Vehicle Commission issued driver license renewal form (displaying residential address) • Utility or credit card bill issued in the past 90 days • Checking or savings account state- ment from a bank or credit union issued within the past 60 days • • Original, unexpired lease or rental agreement • Tax bill, statement or receipt, and/ or any letter or correspondence received from the IRS or tax office within the past year • First class mail from any govern- ment agency in the past six months • If under 18, statement from parent or guardian certifying address of applicant Unexpired US passport or passport card US or US Territory birth certificate certified copy filed with a state office of vital statistics or equivalent agency in the individual’s state of birth US Department of State birth certificate (Form FS-545 or DS-1350) US Department of State Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550, N-578, or N-570) Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561) Current Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by USCIS (with expiration date) Unexpired foreign passport with valid visa and I-94 (stamp or form version) Current photo employment authorization card (USCIS Form I-688B or I-766) Current Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by INS (without expiration date) Page 12 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM ALL IDENTITY DOCUMENTS MUST BE ORIGINAL OR CERTIFIED COPIES IN ENGLISH AND HAVE THE REQUIRED STATE AND/OR MUNICIPAL SEALS. POINTS COMBINED FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY (REQUIRED) SECONDARY CANNOT USE MORE THAN TWO 1-POINT DOCUMENTS. STEP III Unexpired standard photo driver license from NJ or any state, or US Territory, and the District of Columbia Unexpired standard non-driver identifica- tion card from NJ only Social Security card Bank/credit union statement or record (within the past 60 days) ATM/debit card with preprinted name and applicant’s signature (ATM/debit card and bank statement cannot be submitted together) Current health insurance card or prescrip- tion card displaying applicant’s name Current employee identification card with pay stub State professional license NJ public assistance card with photo (also known as an NJ Social Services identification card) High school diploma, GED or college degree Property tax statement, bill or receipt issued by an NJ municipality For NJ high school students: a waiver certificate for the written portion of the driver’s test Veterans Administration universal access photo identification card Unexpired federal government employee driver license Unexpired federal government employee photo identification card US military discharge papers (FormDD-214) FAA pilot license US school photo identification card with transcript or school records US college photo identification card with transcript Legal name change court order signed by a judge or court clerk Civil marriage or civil union certificate or divorce decree US adoption papers Current US military photo identification card Current US military dependent card US military photo retiree card NJ firearm purchaser card Unexpired REAL ID driver license, non-dri- ver identification card, or probationary license from any state, US territory and the District of Columbia 6 Note: Financial information can be blacked out. Legal proof of name change is a certified marriage or civil union certificate, divorce decree, or court order linking the new name with the previous name. A divorce decree may be used as authority to resume using a previous name only if it contains the married name and previous name and states a return to use of the previous name. •• If the applicant’s birth certificate is from Jersey City/Hudson County, you must check: www.state. nj.us/health/vital/order-vital/jersey-city-hudson-county-records/ Revised 6/25/22 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 13 Graduated Driver License (GDL) In 2001, New Jersey sought to enhance driver preparation and safety by implementing a multi-stage driver licensing system. Known as the Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program, the system gradually introduces driving privileges to first-time drivers, extends their practice driving time and requires a minimum age of 18 in order to receive an unrestricted, basic driver license. GDL restrictions placed upon first-time drivers must be strictly adhered to. Failure to do so may result in a fine of $100 or suspension of a motorist’s driving privilege. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-10 and 39:3-13 through 39:3-13.8) Page 14 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM THE EARLY BIRD ROAD GDL: OPTION A STEP 1 Get a Special Learner Permit •• Must be at least 16 years old •• Must have signed parent or guardian consent •• Must be enrolled in approved behind-the- wheel driver training course through the NJ Department of Education or commercial driving school •• An approved instructor must purchase the permit •• Must pass the MVC’s knowledge and vision tests •• Must pay required fee The MVC will validate Special Learner Permits ONLY after training course completion. STEP 2 Practice with an Adult Supervising Driver •• Must observe special learner permit driving restrictions •• Must practice at least six months •• Must have red GDL decals attached to vehicle when driving STEP 3 Get a Probationary License •• Must have completed six months of super- vised driving without any suspensions or postponements •• Must pass the MVC’s road test •• Must be at least 17 years old STEP 4 With a Probationary Driver License •• Must practice unsupervised driving for at least one year •• Must observe probationary driver license restrictions •• Must have red GDL decals attached to vehicle when driving STEP 5 Get the Basic Driver License •• Must be at least 18 years old •• Must have completed one year of unsupervised driving with probationary driver license restrictions •• Must pay required fee Note: Permit may not be used for practice driving until validated at an MVC Driver Testing Center. THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 15 THE YOUNG ADULT ROAD GDL: OPTION B STEP 1 Get an Examination Permit •• Must pass the MVC’s knowledge and vision tests •• Must be at least 17 years old •• Must pay required fee •• Must obtain parent or guardian consent if you are under 18 years of age STEP 2 Practice Supervised Driving •• Must practice with an adult supervising driver •• Must practice at least six months •• Must observe examination-permit driving restrictions •• Must have red GDL decals attached to vehicle when driving STEP 3 Get a Probationary License •• Must have completed six months of super- vised driving without any suspensions or postponements •• Must pass the MVC’s road test STEP 4 Practice Unsupervised Driving •• Must practice unsupervised driving for at least one year •• Must follow probationary driver license restrictions •• Must have red GDL decals attached to vehicle when driving STEP 5 Get the Basic Driver License •• Must be at least 18 years old •• Must have completed one year of unsupervised driving •• Must pay required fee Page 16 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM THE ADULT ROAD GDL: OPTION C STEP 1 Get an Examination Permit •• Must be at least 21 years old •• Must pass MVC’s knowledge and vision tests •• Must pay required fee •• Must obtain parent or guardian consent if you are under 18 years of age STEP 2 Practice Supervised Driving •• Must practice with an adult supervising driver •• Must practice at least three months STEP 3 Get a Probationary License •• Must have completed three months of supervised driving without any suspensions or postponements •• Must pass the MVC’s road test STEP 4 Practice Unsupervised Driving •• Must practice unsupervised driving for at least one year STEP 5 Get the Basic Driver License •• Must have completed one year of unsupervised driving •• Must pay required fee THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 17 SPECIAL LEARNER PERMIT RESTRICTIONS No driving between 11:01 pm and 5:00 am No using hand-held or hands-free cell phones or any other electronic devices. Permit holder must be accompanied in the front seat by an adult super- vising driver who is at least 21 years of age and who possesses a valid New Jersey driver license and has a minimum of three years’ driving experience Passengers are limited to any parent, guardian or dependent of the special permit holder and one additional passenger. Permit holder and all passengers must wear seat belts. Must display decals on license plates. EXAMINATION PERMIT RESTRICTIONS No driving between 11:01 pm and 5:00 am1 No using hand-held or hands-free cell phones or any other electronic devices. Permit holder must be accompanied in the front seat by an adult supervising driver who is at least 21 years of age and who possesses a valid New Jersey driver license and has a minimum of three years’ driving experience. Passengers are limited to dependents of the permit holder and one addition- al passenger, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian.1 Permit holder and all passengers must wear seat belts. Must display decals on license plates.1 PROBATIONARY DRIVER LICENSE RESTRICTIONS No driving between 11:01 pm and 5:00 am1 No using hand-held or hands-free cell phones or any other electronic devices. 1 If the Examination Permit or Probationary License holder is 21 years of age or older, hour, passenger and decal restrictions do not apply. Passengers are limited to dependents of the probationary license holder and one additional person, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian.1 Probationary license holder and all passengers must wear seat belts. Must display decals on license plates.1 Page 18 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM GDL DECAL All GDL drivers under age 21, who possess a permit or probationary license, are required to display two visible, red reflective decals, distributed through the MVC, on any vehicle that they operate. One decal is to be displayed on the top left corner of the rear license plate and the other on the top left corner of the front license plate. The two removable decals are provided at the time a permit is issued for a fee of $4. Additional decals are available for $4 per pair at any MVC Licensing Center. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-13 and 39:3-13.4f) GDL DRIVER EXEMPTIONS Exemptions to the hours of rule for permit and probationary drivers under age 21: Proof of a need to drive during the prohibited hours for employment and/or religion. For an exemption, the motorist must carry a legible certifi- cation to indicate this need from his/her employer or religious official on the official letterhead of the business, organization or religious institution, with the signature of the certifying official and his/ her name, title, address, and phone number. (N.J.A.C. 13:21-8.18) Note: If the student driver commits a traffic offense, responsibility will be with both the student and instructor or adult supervising driver. All motorists who possess a probationary driver license, whose probationary licensing period is not extended by the MVC beyond the standard 12 months, must visit an MVC Licensing Center to upgrade to a basic driver license after the end of those 12 months. Motorists who fail to do so will remain subject to the probationary driver license restrictions and could be cited by law enforcement for violating the restrictions. Special Learner Permits for New Jersey Residents Any New Jersey resident who is at least 16 years old and is not in suspension status may enroll in a behind-the-wheel driver training course to obtain a special learner permit at any MVC Licensing Center. The applicant must have the signed consent of his/her parent/guardian, must be enrolled in a behind-the-wheel driver training course approved by the NJ Department of Education or conducted by a commercial driving school, and must pass the MVC’s knowledge test and vision screening. An approved course is six full hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in a dual-controlled vehicle. These hours are exclusive of time spent at the MVC for permit purchasing or testing. The instructor must purchase the permit, which is valid for two years. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-13.1) THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 19

After an applicant fills out the form with his/her personal information and provides 6 Points of ID Verification, proof of residential address, and proof of Social Security number, the instructor can purchase a permit at any MVC Licensing Center. Upon completion of the approved driver training course and before practice driving, the permit holder must have the permit validated at any MVC Licensing Center with a Driver Testing Center. Examination Permits for New Jersey Residents Any New Jersey resident who is at least 17 years old and is not in suspension status can obtain a driver examination permit at any MVC Licensing Center. The examination permit is different from a student learner permit because the applicant does not have to be a student and an instructor is not neces- sary. The MVC will validate the permit for practice driving after the applicant passes the required knowledge test and vision screening. Results are valid for two years (see Chapter 2). Note: Most agencies conduct knowledge testing and vision screening. To find out which MVC Licensing Centers offer driver testing services, check online at www.njmvc.gov or call (609) 292-6500. Note: A driver examination permit is required even if the motorist possesses a valid license from another state. See Examination Permits for out-of-state drivers. Page 20 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Examination Permits for Out-of-State Drivers All out-of-state drivers are required to purchase an examination permit within 60 days of becoming a permanent New Jersey resident or when his/ her out-of-state license expires, whichever comes first. Out-of-state drivers who are under 18 years of age and move to New Jersey are subject to this state’s GDL Program. If they wish to apply for a New Jersey license, they should follow the steps outlined for special and examination permit holders. Permits may be purchased at any MVC Licensing Center. Applicants are required to pass a vision screening test. Knowledge and road tests are waived if you have a valid, non-probationary driver license, or a certified driver abstract, issued by any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories. Out-of-state driver licenses must be surrendered when the MVC issues a New Jersey driver license. Examination Permits for Out-of-Country Drivers A motorist with a valid license from another country may drive with that license for up to a year; the motorist may also be eligible for a New Jersey driver license. (N.J.A.C. 13:21-8.2 and 13:21-8.2A) See International Driving Permit section, next page. THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 21 International Driving Permit (IDP) See Examination Permits for out-of-country drivers section, above. Visitors with a foreign driver license who travel to the United States should carry an IDP or attach an acceptable English translation to their national driver license. The IDP is translated into the official languages of the United Nations (including English) and is useful in traffic emergencies. Non-citizens must obtain the IDP in their native country before traveling to the United States. New Jersey motorists who travel to foreign countries may obtain an IDP application through their local AAA club or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). Visit www.aaa.com/vacation/idpc.html for more information. Note: A motorist must carry a valid driver license. Although it is an official document, the IDP cannot replace a driver license, but it can be used in conjunction with the license to provide an additional source of motorist identification and span foreign language barriers. Non-Driver ID An individual, 14 years of age or older, who does not possess a valid driver license, may apply for a non-driver identification card. To obtain a Standard or REAL ID identification card, the individual must show proof of age, residential address, and provide 6 Points of ID Verification as provided in the Standard or REAL ID document guides. The non-driver ID must be surren- dered if the individual applies for and receives a New Jersey driver license. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-29.2 to 39:3-29.10) Organ Donation You have the power to give others the most precious gift: life. At age 14, you may apply for a non-driver identification card and you will be asked if you want to be included in New Jersey’s Donate Life Registry. When you turn 18 and apply for an unrestricted driver license, or renew your license, you will be asked if you want to be included in New Jersey’s Donate Life Registry. By answering “yes,” you will be agreeing to donate your organs, tissue and eyes upon your death to someone who needs a transplant. When you say “yes” at an MVC Licensing Center, the words "organ donor" will appear on your license. Registering as an organ and tissue donor has nothing to do with living donation or whole-body donation. Page 22 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM An individual’s decision to be an organ donor can make a difference in lives throughout New Jersey and across the nation. Right now, tens of thousands of people are awaiting organ transplants, while thousands more need tissue and corneal transplants. The shortage of donors is so severe that every day, 21 people die waiting for organs that could save their lives. You can give the gift of life simply by making your wishes known about organ and tissue donation. Saying “yes” to organ and tissue donation is an important decision for everyone, especially the more than 5,000 New Jersey residents whose lives depend on transplants. Anyone 14 years and older can register as a donor. There are no costs to the family for donations, and donations will not affect funeral arrangements. Organs are shared according to a national list: age, gender, race, ethnicity or wealth do not affect who receives donated organs. Registering as an organ and tissue donor is a selfless act. You should share your decision with your family, so they will carry out your wishes at the time of death. Organ and tissue donation saves lives, gives hope to those waiting and creates a legacy. For more information about organ and tissue donation, or to register online, please visit www.donatelifenj.org. Next-of-Kin Registry (Sara’s Law) The Next-of-Kin Registry is a New Jersey statewide web-based system that allows individuals at least 14 years of age to voluntarily submit and maintain emergency contact information through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. This non-public information will only be used by law enforcement officers to locate designated emergency contacts if a person is involved in a motor vehicle crash that renders him or her unable to commu- nicate. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-134.2 to 39:4-134.3) Any individual who legally possesses a New Jersey-issued driver license, probationary license, learner’s permit, non-driver identification card or any other MVC-issued permit or license authorizing an individual to operate a motor vehicle or vessel (i.e., boat) may utilize the registry. Additionally, individuals as young as 14 years old may utilize the Next-of-Kin Registry to submit emergency contacts if they apply for a non-driver ID card. To register online or download a form to submit by mail, visit the MVC web site at www. state.nj.us/mvc/drivertopics/nextofkin.htm. THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 23 Motor Voter The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) requires that motor vehicle offices provide voter registration opportunities to anyone applying for a new or renewed driver license or ID card or changing his or her address. The process of registering to vote can be conveniently started at any MVC Licensing Center. Applicants who wish to register are provided a signature pad to sign, while their personal information (name, date-of-birth, address, etc.) is sent electronically to the State Board of Elections for review. When customers report a change of address, they are offered the option to have the MVC send the change of address information to the applicable board of elections for voter registration purposes. After the State Board of Elections approves the information received, it notifies the respective County Board of Elections that the applicants’ eligibility requirements have been met, and the applicants are registered to vote. For more information on voter registration, visit www.nj.gov/state/elections/voting-information.html. Hearing-Impaired Designation A special driver license for deaf or hearing-impaired motorists (41 dB loss or more) is provided by the MVC. To obtain this license, which is designat- ed with a numerical code, a motorist must complete an application which is available at any MVC Licensing Center. Verification by a physician or audiologist is required. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-11a) Commercial Driver License (CDL) There are three Commercial Driver License (CDL) classifications: A, B, and C. However, no one can apply for these licenses until he/she is in possession of a valid basic Class D New Jersey driver license or he/she possesses a valid out-of-state CDL. Class A: License is necessary for the operation of: •• A tractor trailer, or any truck, or truck and trailer with a gross combina- tion weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is more than 10,000 pounds. The Class A license also allows the driver to operate all vehicles in the Class B, C, and D categories, provided the driver has qualified for all the proper endorsements. Page 24 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Class B: License is necessary for the operation of: •• Any vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more. •• A vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more towing a trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. •• A bus, including school buses, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver. A Class B license allows the driver to operate all vehicles in the Class C and D categories, provided the driver has qualified for all the proper endorsements. Class C: License is necessary for the operation of: •• Any vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds, used and placard- ed to transport hazardous material. •• Any bus, including school buses, designated to carry 16 passengers or more, including the driver, and with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds and all school vehicles designed for 15 passengers or fewer, including the driver. •• Any bus or other vehicle designed to transport 8 to 15 passengers, including the driver, which is used for hire. COMMERCIAL DRIVER EXEMPTIONS Taxi drivers, ride-sharing van drivers, funeral procession drivers, operators of rescue, first-aid squad or firefighter apparatus, farmers hauling their own products and equipment within 150 miles of their farms, non-civilian operators of military equipment and operators of construction equipment not designed for operation on public roads are exempt and need not apply for a CDL. Operators of recreational vehicles are also exempt, provided the vehicle is being operated only for personal use. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-10k, 39:3-10.11) THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 25 Commercial Driver License Endorsements Most commercial drivers will need to obtain at least one special endorse- ment. An example of an endorsement on a CDL is “H,” for hazardous materials, which means that the motorist may legally transport hazard- ous materials. CODE VEHICLE ENDORSEMENT SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS T Double and Triple Trailers Needed by oper- ators of vehicle pulling two or three trailers Requires a knowledge test. Class A licenses required to operate this type of vehicle P Passenger Needed by operators of buses or similar vehicles used to transport passengers Requires a road test. Other special requirements are necessary (see CDL Manual). Must be 21 years of age and have 3 years' driving experience S School Bus Needed by all school bus drivers Requires a knowledge and road test. Motorists who hold an “S” endorsement will also have to test for a “P” endorsement. Both are required to operate a school bus. N Tanker Vehicle Needed by opera- tors of vehicles used to transport liquids or gas in bulk Requires a knowledge test. H Hazardous Materials Needed by operators of vehicles used to transport hazardous materials Requires a knowledge test. Must be trained and retested every two years. See the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for requirements (www.fmcsa.dot.gov). Must be 21 years of age. Page 26 THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE RESTRICTIONS Numbered restrictions, such as corrective lenses, are noted on all commer- cial licenses. An example of a special restriction on a commercial license is “L” for air brakes. This means the motorist may not operate a vehicle equipped with air brakes, if designated on the license. COMMERCIAL DRIVER MANUAL For more information on commercial motor vehicle licensing, refer to the MVC’s Commercial Driver Manual. All CDL tests are based on information contained in the manual. To get a copy, visit any MVC Licensing Center or MVC Regional Service Center or view/request it online at www.njmvc.gov. Manuals may also be obtained by calling (609) 292-6500. THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER LICENSE SYSTEM Page 27 2New Jersey Driver Testing Page 28 NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING Page 29 Section Contents 30 Requirements for a Basic Driver License 32 Safety Pledge to Nikhil 33 Voter Registration 34 Road Test 36 Reasons for Rejection

Requirements for a Basic Driver License 6-POINT ID VERIFICATION All applicants for a New Jersey driver license must have all required docu- ments to satisfy the 6-Point ID Verification. VISION TEST A vision screening is required for all motorists. The MVC may refer applicants with impaired vision to a physician. Periodically, the MVC may require a vision recheck of a New Jersey motorist. KNOWLEDGE TEST The knowledge test consists of 50 questions: plus, a survey question about organ donation. The MVC offers the knowledge test in English, American Sign Language (ASL), and these foreign languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Hindi, Albanian, and Spanish. If the applicant cannot read in any language, headphones are supplied to administer an oral test. If the knowledge test is not available in your native language you may use a state-approved interpreter, however, you must first attempt to complete the knowledge test in an offered language. If you fail to pass the test and feel you need an interpreter, please inform the MVC personnel at the testing location and they will make arrangements to secure an interpreter in your native language and pay the appropriate fees. Once an interpreter is secured you will be contacted by an MVC employee with the interpreter appointment date and time. You must inform the MVC of the need for an interpreter at least two weeks in advance of the date you intend to take the written knowledge test. MVC-approved interpreters are also provided for Deaf or Hard of Hearing applicants. The MVC will pay the interpreter’s fees directly associated with the knowledge test after submission of a properly completed payment voucher form. Page 30 NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING INTERPRETERS An approved foreign language interpreter is: An individual listed on the NJ Administrative Office of the Courts (Language Services Section) Registry of Interpreters and Agencies. An approved deaf or hard of hearing interpreter is: •• An interpreter certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and listed with the New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. •• An interpreter who has been evaluated by the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and is on the approved list of professional interpreters, www.nj.gov/mvc/license/knowledgetest.htm. TEST REQUIREMENTS SCREENING TESTS MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Eyesight Basic License Applicants: 20/50 vision with or without corrective lenses. For sight in one eye only, that eye must meet the 20/50 rule and the applicant must have docu- mentation signed by a licensed physician. CDL License Applicants: 20/40 vision with or without corrective lenses in both eyes. Must be able to distinguish among red, green and amber lights. Written 80 percent, or 40 of the 50 questions, must have correct answers. Health Inform examiner of health problems; a medical review may be necessary. Federal law and New Jersey regulations require commercial drivers to submit a CDL Holder Self-Certification form and a valid medical examiner’s certificate, if applicable, to the MVC. Medical examiner certificates must be completed by a federally certified medical examiner. NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING Page 31 OUT-OF-STATE AND OUT-OF-COUNTRY APPLICANTS Applicants may transfer a valid out-of-state license to New Jersey. Knowledge and road tests may be waived for applicants at least 18 years of age, who submit a valid, non-provisional driver license issued by any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories of Samoa and Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 6-Point ID requirements must also be submitted. These applicants will be issued a four-year basic New Jersey license and will be required to surrender the out-of-state license. Out-of-state applicants between 17 and 18 years of age who possess a valid out-of-state license will be given a probationary license for a period of one year and must comply with New Jersey’s GDL requirements and restrictions. All out-of-country applicants must pass the knowledge test and a vision screening and may be required to pass a road test. Test results are valid for two years. Safety Pledge to Nikhil In August of 2015, “Nikhil’s Law,” which amends N.J.S.A. 39:3-41, was signed into law. Enacted March 1, 2016, Nikhil’s Law reinforces the dangers of failing to comply with New Jersey’s motor vehicle traffic laws. THE PLEDGE To ensure the safety of others on the road, passengers in my car, and myself as a driver, I pledge to obey traffic rules when driving and to be extra cautious and supremely attentive. Specifically, I will: STOP COMPLETELY. I will come to a complete halt at any STOP sign and will never go through a red light. STAY ALERT. I will strive to keep my hands on the wheel and my mind on the road. TALK SAFE. I will use a hands-free cell phone system while driving and will not text or use a handset unless I pull over. PLAN AHEAD. I will give myself an extra 5 minutes to get to any destination. STOP FOR NIKHIL SAFETY PLEDGE. Go to www.state.nj.us/mvc/license/nikhil.htm to take the Pledge. Page 32 NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING Voter Registration If you are eligible to vote in New Jersey, the process of registering to vote can be conveniently started at any MVC Licensing Center, while applying for or renewing a driver license or non-driver identification (ID) card. The MVC will report the information to the New Jersey Division of Elections. Voter registration deadline is 21 days before an election. If you will not be conducting a driver license or non-driver ID card transaction and wish to register to vote or change your address with the Division of Elections, please visit the New Jersey Division of Elections at www.njelec- tions.org or call 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837) to have an application mailed to you. UPDATE YOUR VOTING ADDRESS You may change your address online through the MVC website. After you change your address with the MVC, you will be asked whether you would like your address change to update your voter record. Be sure to click “Yes” when answering this question, and the MVC will send a notice to the Division of Elections, notifying them of your change. An address change confirmation page will also be provided to you at the end of the transaction. Please visit www.njelections.org for more voter information. Your County Commissioner of Registration will notify you if your appli- cation is accepted. If it is not accepted, you will be notified on how to complete and/or correct the application. Address changes reported online or via mail with the MVC are forwarded to the New Jersey Division of Elections. If you do not receive confirmation of the change, please contact your local Commissioner of Registration. A listing of Commissioners can be found at NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Register to Vote! Note: You are required by law to provide the Motor Vehicle Commission with your current NJ residential address. Address changes MUST be conducted online. If you would like a copy of your driver license or ID with the new residential address, you can order a replacement license after you have processed your address change. NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING Page 33 Road Test After an applicant passes the knowledge test and vision screening and, if applicable, an approved behind-the-wheel course, the MVC will validate his/her permit so that he/she can practice driving. GDL permit holders under 21 years of age must have a minimum of six months supervised practice driving prior to a road test appointment. GDL permit holders, 21 years old and over, must have a minimum of three months supervised practice driving prior to a road test appointment. To make an appoint- ment for an initial road test or a retest, visit any MVC Licensing Center or schedule online at www.njmvc.gov. Appointments may not be made by phone. ROAD TEST CHECKLIST No practice driving is permitted on the test course or in the parallel parking area. Every road test applicant must bring all the items on this checklist to the road test site to take the test. Only ORIGINAL documents will be accepted. •• 6 points of ID. •• Validated permit (permit must be legible and cannot be laminated). •• Valid inspection sticker on vehicle or official “No Inspection Sticker Required” card, valid registration card and valid insurance ID card or electronic version for vehicle used for the test (unless covered by BPU or federal DOT regulations). •• 2 red GDL decals, properly mounted (if Graduated Driver License (GDL) requirements are applicable). •• A vehicle utilized for the road test must have unobstructed access to the foot brake or to the parking brake mounted to the right of the driver in a position accessible to the examiner. •• Autocycles cannot be used for the test. Page 34 NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING •• Self-parking vehicles cannot be used for the test. •• All signals, brake lights, and windshield wipers on the vehicle must be in working order for the test. •• No rental cars are permitted unless the test applicant’s name is listed as a driver on the rental agreement. •• Applicant must be accompanied by a licensed driver. (The accompanying driver must hold a valid license to operate the type of vehicle for which the applicant has a permit, except for a moped.) Note: Vehicles registered out of state must comply with the laws of the motorist’s home state about insurance identification. ACCOMPANYING DRIVER REQUIREMENTS An applicant may drive a properly registered vehicle to the road test area. However, a licensed driver must always remain in the vehicle with the applicant. A vehicle may not be moved, even in the road test line, without a licensed driver in the vehicle. If the accompanying motorist is licensed in a state other than New Jersey, or has less than three years of driving experi- ence, he/she must drive the vehicle to the road test area. The MVC does not supply vehicles for road tests. Only MVC examiners are allowed in the vehicle when the test is administered. ELEMENTS OF THE ROAD TEST During the road test, an MVC examiner will ride with the applicant when he/ she drives in an off-road test area or on a public road course. The purpose of the road test is to make sure that the applicant understands the rules of the road and can drive safely. (See chart on next page.) If the applicant’s vehicle has a standard transmission, the examiner will ask the applicant to demonstrate his/her ability to correctly shift gears. NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING Page 35 During the basic road test, the examiner will test the applicant on the following items: TEST IT PAGE Driving in reverse 54, 55 Following other vehicles 94, 95, 96 Nearing corners, intersections 65, 66, 67, 68 Parking (parallel) 57, 58, 59 Sitting properly (seat belt use) 40, 41 Starting a vehicle 48, 49, 50 Steering properly 51, 52 Stopping at signs 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 Stopping smoothly 52, 53 Turning 55, 56, 72, 73, 74 Turning around 55, 56, 57 Using the horn 46 Yielding right-of-way 65, 66 If an applicant passes the road test, the examiner will issue an authorization for licensing. The permit, authorization, and 6 Points of ID Verification must be taken to an MVC Licensing Center to obtain a New Jersey driver license. The MVC will license a successful applicant for a Class D basic driver license or Class D license for a probationary driver if the applicant has never been licensed to drive a motor vehicle in this or any other state. The MVC will monitor his/her driving habits for one year. Reasons for Rejection Most applicants believe that their driving performance is the only criterion the examiner uses to grade their road test. However, the vehicle may be the cause for denial or failure of the road test. Some license applicants may not have the opportunity to take an initial road test because an examiner considers the vehicle unsuitable or unsafe for the test. Page 36 NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING Here are some of the more common reasons the MVC rejects road test vehicles: •• Improper, expired or no inspection sticker •• Lack of examiner access to foot brake or parking brake •• Any defect or condition that affects the safe operation of the test vehicle, such as but not limited to: •• Poor brakes (pedal must not fade or go to the floorboard) •• Dashboard brake warning light on •• Parking brake, brake lights, or signal lights not working •• Unsafe tires (smooth, cut, badly worn) •• Vehicle interior is not in reasonably clean condition •• Vehicle failed inspection, and motorist does not bring the Vehicle Inspection Report issued by the inspection station to the road test area •• Fast engine idle (cannot judge speed control) •• Missing seat belts (seat belts are required on all vehicles manufactured after July 1, 1966) •• Tinting on driver and/or front door windows •• Missing rear-view mirrors – interior and/or driver door •• Broken or cracked window glass •• Passenger and/or driver’s door or window does not operate from the inside •• Additional items for motorcycles and moped tests only: •• Lack of equipment required by state regulations •• No helmet •• Unapproved goggles or face shield •• No bell or horn that can be heard 100 feet away See Motorcycle Manual (Chapter 10) for more specific information. NEW JERSEY DRIVER TESTING Page 37 3Driver Responsibility Page 38 Page 39 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Section Contents 40 Buckle up – New Jersey’s Seat Belt Law 41 Car Seats 42 Child Passenger Safety Law 43 Air Bags 45 Car Condition 47 Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 48 Starting a Parked Car 51 Steering 52 Stopping Distances 53 Proper Braking 54 Driving Signals 54 Driving in Reverse 55 Turning 57 Parking

Safe driving is the responsibility of all individuals who operate a vehicle on New Jersey roads. The rules of the road must always be obeyed, and laws must be strictly followed. A motorist must ensure the safety of all passen- gers who are riding in his/her vehicle and be mindful of the other motorists who share the road each day. Buckle up – New Jersey’s Seat Belt Law Under state law, the driver, and all passengers of a passenger vehicle (e.g., car, van, pickup truck, and SUV) must wear a seatbelt. The failure of a driver, front- seat passenger, and children under age 18 to wear a seatbelt is a primary offense. The driver is responsible for all passengers under age 18. Front-seat passengers 18 years of age and over are responsible for themselves. A police officer can stop a motorist solely for a violation of the seat belt law. Under a secondary law, all unbuckled back seat occupants 18 years of age and older may be issued a summons if the vehicle is stopped for another reason. Motorists with GDL permits or probationary licenses must use seat belts. Additionally, they must require all passengers seated anywhere in the vehicle to use seat belts. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2f, 39:3-13, 39:3-13.2a, 39:3-13.4) The exemptions are any passenger vehicle manufactured before July 1, 1966, a passenger vehicle that is not required to be equipped with seat belt systems under federal law, or a physical or medical reason, verified in writing by a licensed physician, which makes the motorist or passenger unable to wear a seat belt. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2g) The driver of a passenger vehicle including cars, vans, pickup trucks, and utility vehicles shall secure any passenger using a wheelchair in a properly adjusted and fastened wheelchair and occupant securement device. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.21) Seat belts can save a life and improve a motorist’s chances of surviving a crash by 60 percent. A motorist’s chances of surviving a crash are three to four times better if he/ she is wearing both a seat belt and a shoulder strap. Fastening a seat belt takes only three seconds and reduces the chances of death or injury. Seat belts help in many ways, for example: •• They keep motorists and passengers from being thrown from the vehicle in a crash. If a motorist/passenger is held in place, any injury may be less severe. Page 40 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY •• They slow a body down with the vehicle. If a vehicle hits something, the vehicle stops, but the person keeps going at the same speed that the vehicle was moving. Hitting the dashboard or windshield at 30 mph is like falling from the top of a three-story building. •• They keep a motorist/passenger from sliding on the seat during sudden stops and turns. Belts and straps also keep a motorist in position so he/ she can control the vehicle. TIPS FOR SEAT BELT SAFETY •• Buckle up with both lap and shoulder belts on every trip. (Air bags are supplemental protection for drivers.) •• Wear the lap belt under the abdomen and low across the hips. The shoulder portion should come over the collar bone, away from the neck, and cross over the breastbone. The shoulder belt in most new vehicles can be adjusted on the side pillar to improve fit. •• Know how to adjust the seat belts and how to release them if motorists/ passengers have to quickly get out of the vehicle. •• Buckle up if riding in the backseat; use center seat belts if those seats are used. Seat belts help prevent riders from falling forward. •• Never put more than one person in one belt. Car Seats Traffic crashes are a leading killer of children. When riding in a vehicle, children should be held in place by a restraint system that meets all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Refer to the paragraph on Child Restraint Law. All child restraint systems built since January 1, 1981, must be designed to pass tough safety tests. These seats carry a label that gives the date of manufacture and reads, “This child restraint system conforms to all applica- ble Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.” There are many types and styles of car seats. While some seats are designed to be used facing forward, once a child has reached the appropriate weight, an infant seat must never be faced forward. To do so would be extremely dangerous. Always check the label on a car seat to find out the size and weight of the child the seat is designed to protect. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 41 Using the car seat every time a child rides in the vehicle – and using it correctly each time – is especially important for the safety of the child. Always read the instructions that come with the seat and follow them very carefully. Correct use of the car seat is the best protection a motorist can offer a child. For more information on child car seats, contact the Division of Highway Traffic Safety at (800) 422-3750 or visit www.njsaferoads.com. Child Passenger Safety Law The New Jersey child passenger safety law, N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2a (a) to 39:3- 76.2a (d), states: •• Children under age eight who are less than 57 inches (4 feet, 9 inches) tall must ride in either: a) A federally approved forward facing child passenger restraint system that is equipped with a five-point harness in a rear seat of the motor vehicle. Once they outgrow the top height or weight recommendations made by the child passenger restraint system manufacturer, children must ride in a federally approved booster seat (in a rear seat of the motor vehicle), OR b)A federally approved booster seat (in a rear seat of the motor vehicle). •• Children under age four who weigh less than 40 pounds must ride: a) In a federally approved rear-facing child passenger restraint system that is equipped with a five-point harness in a rear seat of the motor vehicle. Once they outgrow the top height or weight recommenda- tions posted by the manufacturer of the child passenger restraint system, children must ride in a federally approved forward-facing child passenger restraint system that is equipped with a five-point harness in a rear seat of the motor vehicle, OR b)In a federally approved forward-facing child passenger restraint system that is equipped with a five-point harness in a rear seat of the motor vehicle. •• Children under age two and those who weigh less than 30 pounds must ride in a federally approved rear-facing child passenger restraint system that is equipped with a five-point harness. Page 42 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY All children under age eight must be seated in a rear seat. If there are no rear seats in the motor vehicle in which the children under age eight are riding, the children must be secured in a federally approved child passen- ger restraint system or booster seat in a front seat of the motor vehicle. However, children cannot be secured in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system in a front seat of any motor vehicle that is equipped with a passenger-side airbag that is not disabled or turned off. Failure to comply with this law can subject a person to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $75, plus fees and court costs. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2d) Note: A person operating an autocycle shall not permit a child to be a passenger in the autocycle if the child would be required to be secured in a child passenger restraint system, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2a. Air Bags Air bags are standard equipment in almost all new vehicles and are designed to supplement seat belts in frontal crashes. Federal safety standards require that manufacturers equip all new passenger cars and light trucks with air bags. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, statistics show that from 1987 to 2015, frontal air bags saved 44,869 lives. Air bags inflate at speeds of up to 200 mph to protect adults in a front-end crash. An average-sized adult who is correctly belted is not likely to encoun- ter the air bag until it is fully inflated. When air bags are combined with lap/shoulder seat belts, they have saved many adult lives and prevented many injuries in motor vehicle crashes. However, air bags could seriously injure or kill children who are sitting in the front seat. In 1995, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) allowed cutoff switches in pickup trucks, sports cars, and autos with no backseat. In January 1998, it allowed repair shops and dealers to install the switches in vehicles after the appropriate application was made for people in these or the following categories: •• Driver and passenger-side air bags: For individuals with medical conditions when the risks of a deploying air bag exceed the risks of impacting the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 43 •• Driver-side air bags only: For individuals who cannot properly operate the vehicle and keep at least 10 inches between the center of the steering wheel and the center of the breastbone. •• Passenger-side air bags only: For individuals who must place infants in the front seat because the vehicle has no rear seat (e.g., a pickup truck) or the rear seat is too small to hold the child’s rear-facing seat, or the motorist must monitor the child’s medical condition; for individuals who must place children, 1 to 12 years old, in the front seat because the vehicle has no rear seat, or because the individual must transport more children than can be seated in the rear seat, or because the motorist must monitor the child’s medical condition. For more about an air bag on-off switch or for an application to request one, call NHTSA’s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393. Information is also available online at www.nhtsa.gov. Children of any age are safest when they are belted properly in the back seat of a vehicle, especially when the vehicle is equipped with a passenger-side air bag. Other safety points: •• Always put an infant in a rear-facing infant child safety seat in the back seat of a vehicle with air bags. •• Always be sure that children 12 years old and younger ride in the backseat of the vehicle. •• Always make sure everyone is buckled up. A motorist can tell if his/her vehicle has an air bag by the words “air bag” or the letters “SRS” (supplemental restraint system) or “SIR” (supple- mental inflatable restraint) on the steering wheel and dashboard panel. Manufacturers also may mark the sun visors or the sides of the open-door frame with warning labels or enter a warning in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Page 44 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Car Condition It is the responsibility of all vehicle owners to ensure that their vehicles are in proper working condition. Always check your vehicle before driving and prevent problems with regular maintenance and care. BACKUP LIGHTS When driving in reverse, backup lights should be on. These must be checked to make sure they are in working order. Note: It is against New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 39:3-52) to have any backup lights on while a vehicle is moving forward. BRAKES A motorist should be able to brake smoothly and quickly. If the vehicle pulls to one side when it stops or a motorist feels a taut pedal or hears an unusual squealing or grinding, the brakes must be checked. With conventional disc and drum brakes, a motorist should pump them gently after driving through water to test them and dry them out. If the brakes are hit hard, they could lock up. A motorist should be able to stop within 25 feet at 20 mph. This can be tried in an empty parking lot. Chalk marks can be made on the surface to see if the vehicle can stop within that distance. If a vehicle has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), the brakes can be tested by applying steady pressure to the brake pedal. A motorist should never pump an ABS or jerk the steering wheel when braking. On very soft surfaces, such as loose gravel or unpacked snow, an ABS system may lengthen stopping distance. In wet or slippery conditions, a motorist should still drive carefully, always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions. BRAKE LIGHTS If a vehicle’s brake lights are not working, someone may crash into the vehicle from the back. A motorist should have someone help to check the brake lights. Replace broken light covers; they may cause glare that affects the motorist in back. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 45 HEADLIGHTS Bright and dim lights must work and be properly aligned. A motorist can check them against a garage wall or on parked vehicles. Lights should be kept clean. If other motorists flash their lights while another motorist’s lights are on low beam, it could be that the lights are out of line. HORN A horn should not be overused, but a motorist should check it often to make sure it works. Use the horn to signal when passing, when coming out of a blind alley, curve, or driveway, or to warn another motorist of a potentially dangerous situation. STEERING On straight level roads, a vehicle should hold a straight course. The front end should not vibrate (shimmy). The steering should respond to a motorist’s turns without too much play in the steering wheel. TAILLIGHTS Always keep tail and side lights in working order. They signal other motorists in the dark and prevent crashes. TIRES If a motorist feels or hears any unusual thumping while driving, he/she should check the tires. Bumps, cuts or bad tread can cause blowouts. Tire pressure should be checked often, especially when tires are cold. A motorist should check the owner’s manual or the door jamb of the driver’s door to determine proper tire pressure or should ask for advice at a service station. Properly inflated tires save money in fuel consumption. A vehicle should not be driven with tires that have less than 1/16 inch of tread (about the edge of a penny). To hold on to the road properly, tires must match (do not mix radials with other tire types) and must have enough tread. TURN SIGNALS A motorist should be able to hear the clicking and see the lighted arrows of turn signals flash on the dashboard. If the turn signals do not work, they must be fixed as soon as possible. A motorist should use hand signals until the turn signals are repaired. Page 46 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY WINDSHIELD Cracks or chips in a windshield could cause the windshield to break, causing a dangerous condition. Broken windshields should be repaired, or, if appropriate, replaced. A windshield should always be clean, inside and out. Windshield wipers should always work. A motorist can use non-freezing spray to stop windshield icing. New Jersey law prohibits add-on tinting on windshields and front side windows. (N.J.S.A 39:3-74) SNOW AND ICE State law (N.J.S.A. 39:4-77.1) requires a motorist to remove snow or ice from a vehicle before driving it. If snow or ice dislodges from a moving vehicle, it could strike another vehicle or pedestrian, causing injury or property damage. A motorist is required to make all reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice or snow from the exposed surfaces of his or her motor vehicle prior to driving it, including the hood, trunk, roof, and windshield. Any person who violates this law is subject to fines of $25 to $75, regardless of whether any snow or ice is dislodged from the vehicle. If dislodged snow or ice causes injury or property damage, fines up to $1,500 may be assessed. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning The Rosa-Bonilla Family Act (N.J.S.A. 39:3-10, N.J.S.A. 39:3-41, N.J.S.A. 39:3- 12.6) requires the Motor Vehicle Commission to educate motorists about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning from motor vehicles and techniques for the safe operation and proper maintenance of a motor vehicle. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that is present in a vehicle’s exhaust. Modern vehicles are equipped with pollution controls that greatly reduce the amount of CO that is emitted from the tailpipe. However, certain conditions can cause dangerous levels of CO to accumulate in or around a vehicle, with potentially fatal results. These conditions can include: •• Operating a vehicle with an exhaust leak or poorly tuned engine. •• Operating a vehicle with the trunk or rear tailgate open. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 47 •• Operating a vehicle with holes in the body of the vehicle. •• Idling a vehicle in a garage or confined space, even with the outside garage door open. •• Operating a vehicle with a tailpipe that is blocked by debris, including snow, leaves or water. Some of the most common symptoms of CO poisoning are listed below. It is important to understand that CO can kill even before any of these symptoms are noticed: •• Headache •• Dizziness •• Loss of consciousness •• Nausea/vomiting •• Chest pain •• Confusion If you suspect that someone is suffering from CO poisoning, it is important to immediately remove that person from the source of the CO and call 911 for immediate medical attention. If you are in a vehicle, turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so and try to get the victim to breathe fresh air while you wait for help. Starting a Parked Car Before getting into a vehicle, look both behind it and in front of it. There are blind spots once a motorist is behind the wheel. Children may be there. There also may be bottles, cans, bicycles, or other things that cannot be seen from the driver’s seat. STARTING CHECKLIST •• All windows should be clean, and nothing should block a motorist’s vision. Page 48 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY AREA OF FORWARD VISION AREA OF REAR VIEW MIRROR VISION BLIND AREA BLIND AREA RIGHT SIDE MIRROR LEFT SIDE MIRROR Blind spots while driving •• The seat must be adjusted so a motorist can reach all pedals and controls easily. (For most motorists, the seat may be adjusted so he/she is sitting an arm’s length from the steering wheel). •• Inside and outside rearview mirrors should be adjusted. •• Seat belts and shoulder harnesses should be fastened so that they are firm and comfortable. •• The vehicle should be in park or neutral gear and the parking brake should be set. •• Doors should be locked. A motorist should keep good posture while driving. The seat should be adjusted so that the motorist can reach the foot pedals easily. The motorist should be comfortable behind the wheel. He/she should not have to strain to reach the gearshift levels, turn signals or dashboard controls. A motorist is properly positioned when he/she can see clearly and can glance to the rear. If a motorist wears glasses, he/she should adjust them. More than 95 percent of the information a motorist needs is visual. To fight glare at night, colored lenses should be avoided as they distort color. Anti-reflective coatings should be used on lenses. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 49

This will help eliminate internal reflections in eyeglasses and may help night driving. A motorist should have an eye checkup every two years. As a motorist ages, visual clarity declines and peripheral vision becomes less distinct. For example, a 60-year-old perceives light about a third as well as a 20-year-old. Inside and outside mirrors should be adjusted to reduce blind spots. These are areas where a motorist cannot see behind his/her vehicle (on both sides) through the mirror. A motorist can check this by turning his/her head. The outside mirror should be adjusted so that the motorist can see the tip of the driver-side front door handle in the lower right of the mirror. This will allow the motorist to see part of the lanes of traffic to the left and rear the vehicle. After starting the engine, a motorist should make sure his/her path is clear by turning and looking back. A motorist should not depend on rearview mirrors. A motorist must also be sure to check for pedestrians and less conspicuous vehicles, such as bicycles and mopeds. A motorist should give the proper signal and drive with caution. When on the road, a motorist can check the vehicle’s mirrors by letting a vehicle pass on the left. As the passing vehicle disappears from the inside rear view mirror, a motorist should be able to see its front bumper in the outside rear view mirror. IDLING YOUR VEHICLE New Jersey law requires all motorists to restrict vehicle idling to three minutes or less. (N.J.A.C. 7:27-15.8) Idling more than three minutes is unnecessary and harmful to your vehicle and your health. Vehicle and property owners face fines of $250 to $1,000 for each violation of this law. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-70.2) There are some specific situations in which a vehicle may idle for an extend- ed time, such as when stuck in traffic, or at drive-thru establishments. See www.StopTheSoot.org for a complete listing of exemptions. So do not forget: Idling stinks and it’s against the law – turn the key and be idle free! Page 50 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Steering HAND POSITION A motorist’s grip on the steering wheel is important. The steering wheel can be thought of as the face of a clock. For normal driving, a motorist should grip the steering wheel by the outside rim at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions, keeping his/her thumbs along the face of the wheel. Gripping the steering wheel as described diminishes the risk of hand, wrist, or arm injury if the air bag is deployed. A motorist should never turn the wheel while gripping it from the inside of the rim, hand facing inward. The steering wheel should be held firmly but not too tight, as steady as possible as the vehicle’s speed increases. Both hands should always be kept on the wheel, except when shifting gears or giving hand signals. The motorist should keep the vehicle in the center of the lane that it is traveling. On a two-lane road with traffic coming toward the vehicle, the motorist should keep to the right. Once a motorist feels how the vehicle reacts to steering, he/she will be ready to practice turning, parking and other movements. It takes practice to get the feel of steering. If the vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS), the motorist should never violently jerk the steering wheel while brak- ing. (See previous section, “Brakes” and following section, “Proper Braking.”) HAND-OVER-HAND STEERING Hand-over-hand steering permits a motorist to make steering adjustments ranging from very minor up to a half turn of the wheel, while keeping both hands on the wheel. If turning through a slight curve, both hands will typically retain their original grip on the wheel, making only slight finger or wrist adjustments as necessary to maintain the path of travel. However, when moving through a turn, the hands may move as much as 165 degrees. The motorist initiates the turn by pushing the wheel up from 3 9 10 11 12 1 2 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 51 the 9 or 3 o’clock position toward 12 o’clock, and the opposite hand crosses over and down to the 9 or 3 o’clock position, as appropriate to provide input or to stabilize steering. The original hand then returns to the original start position of 9 or 3 o’clock. The process is reversed to return to a straight path, or the wheel can be allowed to slip through the fingers (controlled slipping) to straighten when coming out of a turn, while both hands are always on the wheel to adjust as necessary. Hand-over-hand steering is particularly well suited for precision maneuvers, steering through curves, intersection entry and exit, and skid recovery. Stopping Distances There is no simple way to tell exactly how long it will take a vehicle to stop at a certain speed. Stopping distance depends on: •• Motorist reaction time •• Weather and visibility conditions •• Vehicle weight •• Brake conditions •• Condition and type of tires •• Roadway conditions •• Speed One point is sure: The faster a vehicle is going, the longer it will take it to stop. When a motorist must stop quickly, speed can be the difference between life and death. Page 52 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY SPEED REACTION DISTANCE BRAKING DISTANCE TOTAL 10 mph 11 ft 8 ft 19 ft 20 mph 22 ft 31 ft 53 ft 30 mph 33 ft 69 ft 102 ft 40 mph 44 ft 123 ft 167 ft 50 mph 55 ft 192 ft 247 ft 60 mph 66 ft 277 ft 343 ft 70 mph 77 ft 376 ft 453 ft A vehicle travels 88 feet per second at 60 mph. Most motorists under most traffic conditions have a typical reaction time of ¾ second. Deceleration is approximately 14 feet per second. See chapter 4 for more information on stopping and chapter 5 for information about following distances and stopping at night. Proper Braking The use of brakes may seem simple, but it is not. A motorist should know the type of braking system that his/her vehicle uses. It could be a conventional drum and disc brake system or an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Whether the vehicle is front, or rear-wheel drive does not determine proper braking. Many new motorists make the common mistake of slamming on the brake pedal, even if there is no emergency. The vehicle will jerk to a stop quickly and wear out brakes and tires. Steady, gentle pressure should be applied to the brake to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop. With an ABS, a motorist should not pump the brakes or violently jerk the wheel. An ABS-equipped vehicle may lose control at only 35 mph if a motorist violently jerks the steering wheel and brakes, even on dry pavement. New motorists should practice hard braking and steering in an empty parking lot or similar open space until they are accustomed to the ABS. A motorist should always use his/her right foot for both the brake and the gas pedal. If the vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission, the left foot should be used for the clutch. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 53 Driving Signals A motorist should always give a proper signal when turning, changing lanes, stopping, or slowing down. A motorist should always use the vehicle’s turn signals. A motorist should put on the turn signal at least 100 feet before turning and be sure to cancel the signal after making a turn. Not doing so could mislead other motorists. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-126) New Jersey law requires a motorist to know the correct hand signals for stopping and turning, which are standard in all states. To give a hand signal, a motorist should put his/her arm well out of the vehicle so that it is visible to other motorists. •• Stop or slowing down: hand and arm downward, palm facing to the rear. •• Right turn: hand and arm upward. •• Left turn: hand and arm straight out. Another signal is the horn, which is a warning signal. It calls attention to what the motorist is doing. Motorists may sound the horn when passing another vehicle when not in a business or residential zone. Under normal conditions, the horn should be able to be heard for at least 200 feet. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-69) Only emergency vehicles may use sirens, whistles, or bells. Bicyclists, skateboarders, and inline skaters also use the hand signals noted above. In addition, instead of extending the left hand and arm upward to indicate a right turn, bicyclists, skateboarders, and inline skaters may extend the right hand and arm straight out to indicate a right turn. Driving in Reverse Before driving in reverse, a motorist must be sure that the path is clear. This can be done by using the mirrors and turning to check. He/she must be incredibly careful because the view to the rear is limited. In reverse, turning the wheel to the right will direct the vehicle to the right. Steering to the left will direct the vehicle to the left. If a motorist does not turn the wheel while in reverse, the vehicle will move straight backward. Page 54 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY To drive in reverse, a motorist’s head and body should be turned to the right until he/she can see clearly through the back window of the vehicle without the use of mirrors. The motorist’s right hand and arm should be placed over the back of the front passenger seat; the left hand should grasp the top of the steering wheel. This is the position a motorist should be in to reverse in a straight line, with corrections made as needed. A vehicle should be driven slowly in reverse – typically, walking speed (2 to 4 mph). The motorist should not turn forward until the vehicle is totally stopped. If a motorist must turn the wheel while reversing other than in a straight line (e.g., parallel parking), two hands must be on the wheel to steer, while a motorist’s head and body is turned to look out the rear window. Palming the wheel with one hand while turning in reverse is dangerous and can result in failing the road test. A motorist should always remember that the front of the vehicle will swing in the opposite direction of a turn. A vehicle should be driven slowly in reverse. A motorist must be able to drive in reverse to pass the road portion of the driving test. He/she will be asked to back the vehicle about 100 feet in a straight line, slowly and smoothly. Note : As of August 31, 2016, backup cameras and parking sensors that have been installed on a motor vehicle are permitted to be used during the road test. However, driving in reverse principles apply first and foremost. Turning To make safe turns, a motorist should decide well in advance, where he/she wants to turn. Last-minute turns can be unsafe. State law requires a motorist to move to the proper lane and signal at least 100 feet before making any turn. The faster the traffic is moving, the sooner a motorist should plan his/ her turn. If a turn is missed, a motorist should never back up. It is better to take the next turn than to risk a crash. Before turning, a motorist should always: DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 55 •• Use the mirrors to look behind and to both sides for other vehicles (or people) to see if it is safe to turn. •• Check for less visible vehicles, such as motorcycles, bicycles, and mopeds. •• Signal first (use turn signals or hand signals) and then move into the proper lane. •• Slow down before reaching an intersection. •• Keep a steady speed and follow pavement markings. •• Always stay in the same lane until the turn is finished. •• Make sure the turn signal is turned off after the turn is completed. THE 3-POINT TURN (K-TURN) When turning a vehicle around, a motorist should start from the right edge of the road. Choose a safe spot with good visibility in both directions. If there is no other traffic, the motorist should signal left and move forward slowly while turning the steering wheel to the left. The vehicle should be stopped several inches from the left curb or street edge. The motorist should then back up slowly while turning the steering wheel to the right, stopping several inches from the right curb or street edge. The motorist should next move the vehicle forward while turning the steering wheel to the left. Finally, the motorist should straighten the vehicle’s wheels as it faces in the direction, he/she wants to go. This is a complete 3-Point (or K) Turn. A new motorist will be required to make this turn during the MVC’s road test. 3 2 1 Page 56 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Parking When parking, a motorist should always set the brake and put the vehicle in park or, with a manual transmission, in reverse or low gear. There are several important steps for a motorist to follow when parking his/her vehicle on a street with a curb: •• When parking a vehicle facing downhill: The hand brake should be set, and the vehicle’s wheels should be turned toward the curb. The vehicle should be in park or, with a manual transmis- sion, in reverse. •• When parking a vehicle facing uphill: The hand brake should be set, and the vehicle’s wheels should be turned away from the curb. The vehicle should be in park or, with a manual transmission, in low. ANGLE PARKING Angle parking is often used in parking lots of shopping centers and some- times at curbs. A motorist should follow these rules when entering an angle parking space to his/her right: •• Watch for traffic both ahead and behind. •• Signal and begin to slow down. •• Make sure the rear of the vehicle will clear the parked vehicles. •• Steer sharply into the parking space, and then straighten the wheels centering the vehicle in the parking space. •• Shift to park, or reverse if standard transmission, and apply the parking brake. A motorist should follow these rules before backing out of an angle parking space: •• Walk around to make sure nothing is in the vehicle’s way. •• Slowly move the vehicle in reverse and be sure that the lane is clear of traffic. •• Tap the horn to warn nearby pedestrians. •• When able to see past the tops of the vehicles parked next to the vehicle, stop, and look again. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 57 •• Look back and to each side for other motorists. •• Remember that the front of the vehicle will swing opposite of the direc- tion of the turn. •• Back up slowly while turning until the vehicle’s left front wheel passes the rear bumper of the vehicle parked on the left. •• Straighten the wheels as the vehicle comes back into the lane of traffic. PARALLEL PARKING Parallel parking is the most common type of parking on city streets. A motorist must be able to parallel park a vehicle to pass the MVC’s road test. This takes the most practice for a new motorist. A motorist should practice often, in an empty parking lot at first. Flags or markers 25 feet apart may be used to show where the other vehicles would be. If a motorist hits the flags or markers, he/she is not ready for parking between real vehicles and should keep practicing. The slower and smoother a motorist backs into a parking space, the easier it is to park. To properly parallel park, a motorist should: •• Find a parking space that is large enough to fit the vehicle. •• Signal for a stop and signal to the right to alert motorists that the vehicle will back up to the right. •• Pull up alongside (parallel) about two to four feet from the vehicle in front. •• Turn and check to see that the way is clear behind the vehicle before backing up. •• Turn his/her body to look out the rear window of the vehicle. Begin backing up slowly for about two feet and turn the steering wheel all the way to the right. •• When the front of the vehicle has cleared the rear bumper of the vehicle in front, stop and check the angle. •• Make sure the right back wheel has not hit the curb. •• Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left while beginning to back up slowly. •• Make sure the vehicle can clear its back bumper. •• When the vehicle is in line, stop. Be sure not to hit the vehicle in back. •• Turn the vehicle’s wheels straight, and drive to the center of the parking space. The vehicle’s tires should be no more than six inches from the curb. Page 58 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY 6” DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY Page 59

4Safe Driving Rules and Regulations Page 60 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 61 Section Contents 62 Speed Control 64 Passing 65 Keeping to the Right 65 Yielding the Right-of-Way 66 Pedestrians in a Crosswalk 67 Intersections 68 Entering Highways, Parkways, and Turnpikes 69 Leaving Highways, Parkways, and Turnpikes 70 Special Highway, Parkway, and Turnpike Conditions 72 Curves 72 Interchanges 72 Turning Regulations 74 Stopping Regulations 82 Using Headlights 83 Parking Regulations 84 Cellular Telephones 86 Littering Page 62 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Motorists pay double fines for exceeding the 65 mph limit by 10 miles per hour or more. Double fines also apply to most other moving violations committed in a 65 mph zone. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-98.6) Speed Control Exceeding the speed limit is a common contributing factor of fatal and other types of crashes. A motorist must always obey the speed limit. Speed affects almost everything that can happen when driving. A good rule is to keep up with the flow of traffic at any legal speed. To make safe emergency stops when necessary, it is important to keep enough distance from surrounding traffic. New Jersey law sets top speed limits for any given road, street, highway, or freeway. 25 mph School zones, business, or residential districts 35 mph Suburban business and residential districts 50 mph Non-posted rural roadways 55 mph Certain state highways (as posted) and interstates 65 mph Certain interstate highways (as posted) NEW JERSEY LIMITS (UNLESS OTHERWISE POSTED) (N.J.S.A. 39:4-98) Never drive faster than weather, road, or other conditions safely allow, regardless of the posted speed limit. A motorist should judge his/her speed control by existing conditions. A motorist should slow down enough to be able to see clearly and stop quickly in traffic. Failure to do so can result in a moving violation. Always slow down: •• On narrow or winding roads. •• At intersections or railroad crossings. •• On hills. •• At sharp or blind curves. •• Where there are pedestrians or driving hazards. •• When the road is wet or slippery. If vehicle problems prevent a motorist from keeping up with the normal flow of traffic, he/she should pull off the road and activate hazard lights. DRIVING TOO SLOWLY A motorist should always try to keep up with the normal flow of traffic, while not exceeding the posted speed limit. Some crashes are caused by driving too slowly and backing up traffic. When road surfaces and traffic are normal, New Jersey law prohibits blocking traffic through slow driving. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-56) SAFE CORRIDORS (N.J.S.A. 39:4-203.5) To improve highway safety, New Jersey initiated the Safe Corridors Program, which was signed into law in July 2003. The Safe Corridors law doubles fines on various state highways for a variety of driving offenses, including speeding and aggressive driving. Highways are designated as safe corridors based on statistics showing crash rates 50 percent over the state rate and 1,000 or more crashes reported over a three-year period. The Commissioner of Transportation has the authority to designate safe corridors as necessary, as well as to remove those that show improved safety levels. A current list of Safe Corridor highways is available on the New Jersey Department of Transportation website at www.nj.gov/transportation. SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 63 Passing A motorist must know the proper lane for normal driving and how to change lanes safely. The rules for passing depend on the type of road. Stay to the right of the roadway’s center lines. Passing is only safe when there is no oncoming traffic. Watch for the following lane markings: (N.J.S.A. 39:4-86) •• Both center lines are solid: No passing allowed. •• One center line is broken: Passing is allowed only on the side with the broken line. •• Both center lines are broken: Passing is allowed on both sides. Note: All passing must be completed before the center lines are solid again. PASS ONLY WHEN SAFE PASS When line is broken DO NOT PASS When line is solid NO PASSING With double solid lines Page 64 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Most passing should be on the left. Passing on the right is allowed only on roads with more than one lane going in the same direction, if vehicles on the roadway are moving in two or more substantially continuous lines or when the motorist ahead is making a left turn and there is room to pass. Never pass on the right shoulder of the road. This is against the law. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-85) A motorist should not pass: •• On a hill or curve or at any time he/she cannot see far enough ahead. •• At a street crossing or intersection. •• At a railroad crossing. •• On narrow bridges or in underpasses or tunnels. •• When a sign prohibits passing or center lines restrict passing. •• When behind a vehicle that has stopped to let a pedestrian cross. Keeping to the Right New Jersey law requires motorists to keep to the right, except when passing. Motorists must drive on the right half of the roadway unless driving on a one-way street. Motorists must drive a vehicle as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-82) On a multi-lane roadway, motorists must drive in the lane nearest to the right- hand edge or curb of the roadway when the lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-88) Yielding the Right-of-Way Although laws govern the right-of-way, a motorist should always be prepared to yield. These basic rules always apply: •• Emergency vehicles When police cars, fire engines, and ambulances are giving warning signs (sirens, flashing lights). •• Trains When a train is approaching a railroad crossing. •• Buses When re-entering the flow of traffic. SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 65 •• Postal vehicles When the vehicle re-enters the flow of traffic. •• Motorized or mobility-assistance devices When in a crosswalk or seeking to cross a road. •• Other vehicles That are already in the intersection. Pedestrians in a Crosswalk New Jersey has experienced many pedestrian injury crashes and fatalities, as compared to the nation as a whole. The most important pedestrian safety message for New Jersey residents is: Pedestrian safety is a shared responsi- bility. There is no single cause of crashes involving pedestrians. Pedestrians and motorists must all do their part to keep pedestrians safe. A motorist must: •• Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Failure to stop carries a fine of up to $500, up to 25 days in jail, community service, a driving privilege suspen- sion of up to 6 months, and 2 points. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-36) •• Watch for pedestrians when turning on red. •• Obey speed limits. •• Be sure not to block or park in crosswalks. •• Keep the vehicle’s windshield clean for maximum visibility. •• Always be alert for pedestrians. •• Be aware of areas where pedestrians are most likely to appear (near schools, town centers, residential neighborhoods, parks). •• Never pass another vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian. •• Stop for all pedestrians in a crosswalk even if they began crossing with a proper signal and they are still in the crosswalk when the signal changes. •• Remember that pedestrians are the most vulnerable roadway users. Motorists will be held responsible for maintaining pedestrian safety. Page 66 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Intersections An intersection is where two or more roads cross or merge at angles. As most crashes occur at intersections, a motorist should be aware of the four types of intersections and know how to safely navigate through them. A single solid white line across a road at an intersection means that a motorist must stop behind the line for a traffic signal or sign. CONTROLLED An intersection is controlled if there are traffic signals or signs in any direc- tion or controlled by a police officer. A motorist must obey the signals and signs. At a controlled intersection, a motorist must yield for certain condi- tions. At a multi-way stop or stop intersection, a motorist must yield to the motorist on the right if both motorists get there at the same time. A motorist should also yield to another motorist already stopped at the intersection. At an intersection controlled by a yield sign, a motorist must slow down and yield to traffic on the intersecting roadway, even if he/she must stop. When making a left turn at an intersection, a motorist must yield to oncoming traffic and stop for pedestrians within the crosswalk. A motorist is prohibited from entering or crossing an intersecting street marked with a stop sign unless he or she first brings the vehicle to a complete stop at a point within five feet of the nearest crosswalk or stop line marked upon the pavement at the near side of the intersection street. The motorist may only proceed after yielding the right-of-way to all traffic on the intersection street, which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. Note: Driving on private property to avoid a traffic signal or sign is a motor vehicle violation. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-66.2) UNCONTROLLED An intersection is uncontrolled when two or more roads join and there is no traffic signal or regulatory device. A motorist must be careful when approaching these types of intersections. Most of the time there will be a warning sign prior to reaching the intersection. As a motorist nears a crossroad that is not controlled, he/she must reduce speed and be ready to stop if any traffic is coming from the right or left. A motorist coming from a private road or driveway must yield to all traffic on the main road. As a rule, the vehicle on the left should yield to the vehicle on the right. When a traffic signal is not illuminated because of a power failure or other malfunction; the traffic signal is observed as a 4-way stop signal. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-81) SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 67 BLIND LINE OF SIGHT Buildings, parked vehicles, or bushes may obstruct a motorist’s line of sight. On rural roadways, trees or crops may obstruct a motorist’s line of sight. A motorist should always slow down or stop completely to make sure there is no cross traffic before proceeding. TRAFFIC CIRCLE There are no set rules for driving into, around and out of a traffic circle in New Jersey. Common sense and caution must always prevail. In most cases, the circle’s historically established traffic flow pattern dictates who has the right-of-way. If a major highway flows into and through the circle, it usually dominates the traffic flow pattern and commands the right-of-way. Traffic control signs, such as stop or yield signs, at the entrances to the circle also govern which motorist has the right-of-way. Never enter a traffic circle without checking all signs and determining the intentions of the motorists already moving within the circle. Whenever a motorist is in doubt concerning who has the right-of-way in a circle, he/ she should exercise extreme caution and remember the basic rule governing any uncontrolled intersection: The vehicle to the left yields the right-of-way to the vehicle approaching from the right. Entering Highways, Parkways, and Turnpikes Highways, parkways, and turnpikes are high-speed (up to 65 mph) divided roadways and generally have multiple lanes. Traffic on each side of the divide will travel in only one direction. There are no direct intersections. Motorists enter these roadways by way of acceleration lanes, which are extra lanes at highway entrances used by motorists to speed up to join the flow of traffic. A motorist must yield to traffic already traveling on the main road before moving into the proper lane. Page 68 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Use turn signal Speed up to the flow of traffic Keep the following points in mind when entering a highway, parkway, or turnpike: •• Obey posted advisory speed limits (if any) at the entrance ramp. •• Speed up to the flow of traffic when leaving the acceleration lane. •• Avoid coming to a complete stop in the acceleration lane. •• Yield to traffic and enter the right-hand lane when safe. Leaving Highways, Parkways, and Turnpikes In most cases, exit ramps or deceleration lanes, which are extra lanes at a highway exit, are located on the right-hand side of the roadway. A motorist should always watch for signs that direct where to exit the roadway. If a motorist misses an exit ramp on a highway, parkway, or turnpike, he/she should go to the next exit. Keep the following points in mind when leaving a highway, parkway, or turnpike: •• Start slowing down when entering a deceleration lane. •• Obey the posted advisory speed limit of the deceleration lane. SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 69

Use turn signal Slow to speed limit of exit lane Avoid stopping in the entry and exit lanes •• When the exit is located on the left of a roadway, look for signs that will direct traffic to the proper lane for exiting. •• If you miss an exit, go on to the next one. •• Never back up on an exit ramp or deceleration lane. Special Highway, Parkway, and Turnpike Conditions WEAVE LANE A weave lane is both an entrance and an exit for an expressway. Traffic may come onto and leave the expressway at the same location. This traffic weave causes conflicts, both for motorists using a weave lane and those on the expressway and entrance ramp (in terms of speed and space adjustments). The motorist entering from the entrance ramp must yield the right-of-way to the motorist leaving the expressway. Page 70 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS HIGHWAYS THROUGH CITIES The volume of traffic may increase dramatically. Speeds may slow to a crawl. The motorist should drive in the left or center lane to avoid merge conflicts during rush hour. A motorist should search for exits early and adjust position for exit. DISABLED VEHICLES When seeing a disabled vehicle ahead, a motorist should reduce speed and increase the space between his/her vehicle and the disabled vehicle. This may involve changing lanes. Be alert for pedestrians, tow trucks, and/or police vehicles. (See New Jersey’s “Move Over” law later in this chapter.) If a motorist’s vehicle becomes disabled, he/she must: •• Pull off as far as possible onto the shoulder or median. •• Turn on emergency flashers. •• Raise the hood to signal for assistance. •• Stay in the vehicle, keep your seatbelt on and lock the doors. •• If available, use a cell phone to call for help. •• Ask anyone who stops to go to a phone and call for assistance. •• Do not get into a stranger’s vehicle. CONSTRUCTION AREAS A motorist should always stay alert for construction-area warning signs. When coming across these areas, a motorist should adjust speed and adjust position to maintain space around his/her vehicle. TOLL BOOTHS A motorist should stay alert for toll booth signs and begin reducing speed early, as traffic may be backed up at the booth. Green lights or signals high- light open booths. A motorist should be aware of EZ Pass booths and lanes, including high speed EZ Pass lanes. When exiting toll booths, a motorist should search traffic to both sides for merging potential, accelerate smoothly and adjust speed. SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 71 Curves It is important for a motorist to adjust steering and speed when approaching a curve in the road. The best way to enter a curve is to slow down before entering and avoid drifting into another lane. A motorist should always watch for vehicles that may drift into his/her lane as well. Check for Curve Ahead warning signs and recommended speeds. Interchanges Divided roadways are built for express traffic. To ease traffic flow, there are usually no traffic lights or direct intersections. To enter or exit such an expressway, a cloverleaf turn is often necessary. A motorist should watch for entrance and exit signs and drive slowly in the circle, obeying the posted speed limit. Turning Regulations RIGHT TURN ON RED Unless a No Turn on Red sign is posted, New Jersey law authorizes a right turn on a red light after a motorist comes to a full stop and checks for traffic. A motorist must yield to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians before turning right at a red light. Difficult-to-see vehicles, such as bicycles and mopeds, may have a green light, so it is important for a motorist to be aware of their presence. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-115) Always use a proper turn signal at least 100 feet before making any turn and cancel the signal after completing the turn. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-126) RIGHT TURNS (N.J.S.A. 39:4-123) To make a safe right turn, a motorist should approach the intersection as far to the right as possible, keeping near to the curb or parked vehicles. The motorist should not swing outward or into another lane while making the right turn. He/she should drive up to the turn as far to the right as possible, keeping close to the right curb or parked vehicles at the curb. Proper vehicle positioning prior to a right turn reduces the chance of another vehicle being in the space on the right as the motorist makes the turn. He/she should not swing into the wrong lane while making the turn. Page 72 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Use turn signal SLOW DOWN Use turn signal DO NOT CROSS DIVIDING LINE LEFT TURNS (N.J.S.A. 39:4-123) Left turns, two vehicles: When two vehicles meet at an intersection and both have signaled to turn left, extra caution must be applied. When safe, each motorist should turn to the left of the center of the intersection. Left turn from a one-way road on to a one-way road: Approaching the turn in the left lane, the motorist should turn into the left lane of the road he/she is entering. Left turn from a two-way road onto a two-way road: Approach the turn as close as possible to the line nearest to the center of the road. When turning, the vehicle should not cross lane markings. The motorist should keep to the right of the center line of the road that the vehicle is entering. Left turns, between intersections: Between intersections, solid lines show when not to pass. However, these lines may be crossed with care when entering or leaving driveways in business or residential areas. Left turn from a two-way road onto a four-lane highway: Approach the turn as close to the center line to the right side of the road as possible. Make the turn before reaching the center of the intersection. It is important not to cross lane markings. The motorist should turn into the lane nearest the center line of the right side of the other road. This is the passing lane of the four-lane highway. When traffic permits, the motorist should move to the right, out of the passing lane. SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 73 Use turn signal Yield to oncoming traffic Use turn signal Don’t cut corners Stopping Regulations Signs, signals, and traffic rules indicate when a motorist must stop. A motorist must be careful when traveling through an intersection and exer- cise caution when proceeding from a red light after the light turns green. There may be other vehicles coming through or still in the intersection. Most crashes at traffic signals happen in the first few seconds after the light has changed. When a yellow light follows a green light, a motorist must stop before entering the intersection, unless yellow appears when the vehicle is too close to stop safely. If the light changes while a driver is already in the intersection, he/ she should go through with caution. Be alert for a stale green light; this is a light that has been green for some time. Page 74 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Use turn signal Yield to oncoming traffic Use turn signal Don’t turn wide Be prepared for it to change to yellow and then to red. Slow down and stop accordingly. A motorist must stop: •• At an intersection with a stop sign. •• At an intersection with a red light either flashing or illuminated. •• At an intersection with a yellow light after a green light, unless too close to stop safely. •• When a traffic officer orders the vehicle to stop. SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 75 •• When there is a yield sign and traffic does not permit a safe merge. •• When a school bus is picking up or letting off children and/or the red lights are flashing. •• When coming from an alley, private driveway, or building. •• At a bridge span that is about to open for boat traffic. •• For a blind pedestrian using a white or metallic walking cane, or a trained guide dog, or a guide dog instructor engaged in instructing a guide dog. •• For a pedestrian in a crosswalk or at an intersection. •• For a motorized wheelchair or mobility-assistance device in a crosswalk or at an intersection. Single white lines show motorists where to stop at stop signs or traffic signals. STOP AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS To ensure public safety, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and railroads mark public highway rail-grade crossings, also known as railroad crossings with one or more warning devices. Warning devices include advance-warning signs, pavement markings in front of a railroad crossing’s flashing red lights (usually on railroad crossing signs), gates or gates with flashing red lights, ringing bells, and flag signals. A motorist must stop at least 15 feet from a railroad crossing when there are flashing red lights, ringing bells, descending or lowered gates, or flag signals. Flashing red lights, ringing bells, descending gates or gates that have already been lowered indicate that a train is coming, and a motorist must stop. A motorist should never cross until the gates have been raised, the bells have stopped ringing and the red lights have stopped flashing. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-127.1) Never race a train. A motorist can underestimate the speed and distance of trains. Most trains need more than a mile to stop if traveling at 60 mph or more. Special Circumstances: Some vehicles, such as school buses, buses, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials must always stop at railroad crossings. When driving behind one of these vehicles, a motorist must be prepared to stop, even if the signals do not indicate a train is coming. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-128) A motorist should never stop his/her vehicle on railroad tracks. When crossings railroad tracks, a motorist should make sure there is room on the other side to get completely across. If warning devices activate while a motorist is crossing railroad tracks, he/she should immediately proceed to the other side. Page 76 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS STOP FOR SCHOOL BUSES (N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.1) A motorist must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights. State law requires a motorist to stop at least 25 feet away if he/she is traveling on a two-lane road or on a multi-lane highway where lanes are only separated by lines, or on a privately maintained road. When traveling on a dual-lane highway, a motorist should slow to 10 mph if on the other side of a safety island or raised median. School buses are equipped with yellow (or amber) and red flashing lights. The yellow (or amber) lights go on before the bus stops and the red lights go on when the bus has stopped. However, a motorist should not depend on these lights, if driving behind a school bus. They could be malfunctioning. When a school bus stops, all motorists traveling behind or approaching the bus must stop their vehicles at least 25 feet away. A motorist should only proceed after the bus signals have been turned off and even then, he/she must watch for children or persons who have developmental disabilities. If a school bus has stopped directly in front of a school to pick up or let off children or persons with developmental disabilities, a motorist may pass from either direction at a speed of no more than 10 mph. 25 Feet 25 Feet Cars must stop 25 feet from school buses SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 77 STOP FOR FROZEN DESSERT TRUCKS (N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.4) When approaching or overtaking an ice cream or frozen dessert truck from either direction, and the truck is flashing red lights and posting a stop signal arm, a motorist must: •• Yield the right-of-way to any person who is crossing the roadway to or from the truck. •• Watch out for children and be prepared to stop. •• Stop, and then drive past the truck at a speed of no more than 15 mph. •• A motorist needs not stop on a dual highway if he/she is on the other side of a safety island or raised median. PULL OVER AND STOP FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES New Jersey law requires all motorists to yield to emergency vehicles when emergency vehicles sound sirens and/or flashing red and/or blue emergency lights. A motorist should steer to the extreme right of the roadway, stop, and wait for the emergency vehicle to pass. Afterward, the motorist should keep at least 300 feet behind a signaling emergency vehicle. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-92) Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances or other emergency vehicles have sirens and red lights. Private vehicles operated by volunteer fire and rescue squad members (with emergency vehicle identification) responding to an emer- gency call use blue lights. A motorist should never park within 200 feet of a fire department vehicle in service or drive over a fire hose unless directed to do so by a fire, emergency rescue or police official. MOVE OVER LAW New Jersey’s “Move Over” law requires all motorists approaching a stationary, authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, highway maintenance, other emer- gency service vehicle that is displaying a flashing, blinking or alternating red, blue, amber or yellow light, or a configuration of lights containing one of these colors, or a disabled vehicle that is flashing hazard warning signal lights or utilizing road flares or reflective triangles, to change lanes, safety and traffic conditions permitting, into a lane not adjacent to the stationary emergency or disabled vehicle. If a lane change is impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, the motorist must reduce the speed of his/her vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed that is lower than the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop, if necessary. Motorists who violate this law face a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-92.2) Additionally, motorists convicted of three or more offenses may be subject to motor vehicle penalty points. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.5) Page 78 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 79

Page 80 MESSAGE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL For many people, being pulled over by a Police Officer while driving a vehicle can be a stressful event. In order to make the traffic stop as safe and pleasant as possible for all involved, here are some important tips: •• Pull over in a safe place as soon as possible. •• Be courteous, mutual respect between the officer and the driver is expected and encouraged. •• Have your license, insurance card and registration in a place you can easily access. •• Turn down your music. •• If you are stopped at night, turn on your dome and/or interior lights. This will increase the visibility inside your vehicle so the Officer will be less concerned about what he or she cannot see. •• Roll down your window. •• Keep your hands visible, preferably on the steering wheel. •• Do not make sudden movements, particularly if the move- ments involve reaching into areas not visible to the Officer. If you must reach for something, wait for the Officer to come to your vehicle and tell the Officer what you are planning to do before you do it. •• Stay calm and communicate with the Officer. SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 81 Using Headlights Proper use of headlights is critical to safe driving. Headlights must be used between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise. Headlights must also be used when visibility is 500 feet or less, when using windshield wipers (during rain, snow, and ice) or when encountering fog, mist, smoke, or other factors that reduce visibility. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-46) Being able to see clearly while driving is especially important. A vehicle’s lights should always be in good working order and clean. Headlights help other motorists see approaching vehicles. Parking or auxiliary lights cannot legally be used in place of headlights when headlights are required. BRIGHT AND DIM Headlights have two sets of beams: bright (high) and dim (low), which are controlled by a switch or button on or near the dashboard. The bright beam is for open country driving when there is no traffic in sight. The bright beam helps a motorist see farther ahead and peripherally or at a wider angle. At night, a motorist’s pupils are dilated, allowing more light to aid in the ability to see. Bright beams can momentarily blind other motorists by constricting the pupils and should not be used if other vehicles are approaching or when driving behind another vehicle. It can take three to five seconds for a motorist to recover from the glare of approaching high-beam headlights. At a speed of 50 mph, a motorist will have traveled the length of a football field while being unable to see. If a vehicle is approaching with high beams, a motorist should look to the right of the road until the vehicle passes. Never flash high beams at an approaching motorist. The dim beams are used for city driving and driving in traffic on roadways. Dim beams are focused down on the road. Dim beams are used when traveling behind other vehicles or when another vehicle is approaching. OTHER TYPES OF LIGHTS Parking lights Parking lights are to be used for a short period of time, such as when a vehicle is left in a permitted zone, to show other motorists where a vehicle is parked. Parking lights are required on vehicles parked in areas other than business or residential zones. Page 82 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Taillights Taillights turn on at the same time as a vehicle’s headlights and parking lights. They become brighter when a motorist applies the brakes to show that he/she is slowing or stopping. During the day, without headlights, the taillights also turn on as a motorist applies the brakes. Brake lights Brake lights become brighter when a motorist applies the brakes, showing that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Interim (overhead) lights Found inside the vehicle, these types of lights should be used only briefly (when necessary) when driving or to comply with a police officer’s request to illuminate the motorist’s compartment of the vehicle when stopped. Dashboard lights If dashboard lights are too bright, they may create a glare for the motorist and impede vision. The lights should be kept dim but still light enough for a motorist to read the dials. Spotlights Spotlights should be used only in emergencies. This also applies to emergen- cy flashers (hazard lights). Spotlights may not be used for driving purposes. Fog lights These auxiliary driving lights may be used with low-beam headlights to provide general lighting ahead of a motor vehicle, specifically during foggy weather conditions. (N.J.A.C. 13:20-32.25) Parking Regulations A motorist should always check for traffic when leaving a vehicle after parking. He/she should also check for bicycles or mopeds, which are some- times difficult to see, before opening the driver-side door and exiting the vehicle. A motorist opening a door into traffic may be liable for any crash with a moving vehicle. It is safer for passengers to exit a parked vehicle from the curbside. A motorist should read parking signs before parking on a city street to be aware of restrictions or time limits. It is illegal for a vehicle to be parked more than six inches from the curb. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-135) Never park where a vehicle will block traffic. DO NOT PARK (N.J.S.A. 39:4-138) Unless directed to do so by a police officer or to avoid a crash, a motorist should never stop or park at any of the following places: SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 83 •• In a crosswalk. •• Between a safety zone for pedestrians and the adjacent curb or within 20 feet of the end of the safety zone. •• Near properly marked street construction. •• In a space on public or private property marked for vehicle parking for persons with a disability (unless legally authorized). •• On an interstate highway. •• In a sidewalk. •• In a bus stop zone. •• In front of a public or private driveway. •• Within an intersection. •• Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant. •• Within 25 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection or sideline of a street or intersection highway, except at alleys. •• Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing. •• Within 50 feet of a stop sign. •• Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and within 75 feet on the street opposite a fire station entrance. •• On any bridge or elevated roadway or in any tunnel. •• Next to another vehicle parked at the curb (double parking). •• In an area where parking is prohibited by municipal ordinance. In case of mechanical trouble or other emergency, a motorist should stop on the right highway shoulder and turn on emergency flashers. Cellular Telephones State law prohibits the use of handheld electronic devices (such as cellular telephone) while driving a motor vehicle on any public road or highway. Using a handheld cellular telephone or texting device is a primary offense. Law enforcement may stop and cite a motorist specifically for these actions. Motorists are permitted to use a hands-free cellular telephone if it does not interfere with any federally required safety equipment or with the safe operation of the vehicle. Although the use of a hands-free cellular telephone is legal, it is strongly discouraged. Page 84 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS A handheld cellular telephone may be used only in certain emergency situations, which include: •• Fire •• Traffic crash •• Serious road hazard •• Medical emergency •• Hazardous material emergency Motorists in the above-mentioned circumstances must keep one hand on the steering wheel while using a handheld telephone. To prove legal use of a handheld telephone while operating a motor vehicle, a motorist may be asked to produce testimony or written statements from appropriate authorities, or telephone records. The fine for breaking this law is $200-$400 for a first offense, $400-$600 for a second offense within 10 years of the first offense, $600-$800 for a third offense within 10 years of the second offense and for all subsequent offenses. A person convicted of a third or subsequent violation shall also be assessed three motor vehicle penalty points. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.3) There may be a 90-day license suspension as well. “Kulesh’s, Kuberts’ and Bolis’ Law,” enacted in 2012, establishes illegal use of a cellular telephone while driving as recklessness under the vehicular homicide (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5) and assault by auto (N.J.S.A. 2C-12-1) statutes. The intent and effect of this law is to make it easier for prosecutors to obtain convictions for vehicular homicide or assault by auto against a person who illegally uses a cell phone while driving and, as result, kills or injures someone. A graduated driver license (GDL) holder may not use a handheld or hands- free cellular telephone, or any other handheld electronic device, when behind the wheel. Doing so is a violation of GDL restrictions. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-13, 39:3-13.2a, 39:3-13.4) A school bus driver may not use a handheld or hands-free cellular telephone while operating a school bus, except in an emergency or when the school bus is parked in a safe area off a highway. (N.J.S.A. 39:3B-25) SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 85 Littering Throwing trash, debris or rubbish from a moving or parked vehicle is illegal. Litter is a safety hazard and an eyesore. Fines of up to $1,000 may be imposed on motorists found throwing “dangerous objects” from a vehicle onto a roadway. If the vehicle is moving when litter is thrown, the motorist may lose his/her license. All trash, debris or rubbish carried in a vehicle must be covered to keep it from littering the roadway. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-63, 39:4-64) Page 86 SAFE DRIVING RULES AND REGULATIONS Page 87 5Defensive Driving Page 88 DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 89 Section Contents 90 Prevent a Crash 90 Aggressive Driving/Road Rage 92 Distractions 92 Tired Driver/Highway Hypnosis 93 Communicating and Driving 94 Keep a Safe Distance/Do Not Tailgate 95 Following Distances 96 Changing Lanes and Passing 97 Passed by Another Vehicle 97 Road Conditions 99 Reduced Visibility 100 Night Driving 101 Driving Situations 104 Reacting to Driving Problems 107 Vehicle Failure 108 Crashes (Accidents) 110 What to Do in Case of a Crash

Page 90 DEFENSIVE DRIVING Prevent a Crash Most crashes are caused by motorist error. A motorist can reduce the chanc- es of a crash by knowing and using the standard crash-prevention formula: Be alert: Never think the other motorist will not make a driving mistake. Be prepared: Learn what to do in any situation when you have to act fast, and always expect the unexpected. Act in time: Try not to panic. Know what to do if something happens suddenly. Aggressive Driving/Road Rage Emotions can greatly affect a motorist’s ability to drive. If a motorist is angry or excited, he/she should take time to cool off. Aggressive driving is a progression of unlawful driving actions including, but not limited to, unex- pectedly altering the speed of a vehicle, making improper or erratic traffic lane changes, disregarding traffic control devices, failing to yield the right of way and following another vehicle too closely. •• Unexpectedly altering the speed of a vehicle is counterproductive to the goal of safely operating a motor vehicle. The speed limit should always be obeyed, as failure to do so can result in crashes, injuries, and even fatalities. Though some people may assume that it is safer to go slower than the other vehicles, it is actually important to keep up with the flow of traffic, as doing so helps create a safe environment for all those on the road. •• Making improper and/or erratic traffic lane changes can result in crashes, and so, when attempting to change lanes, it is imperative that the rear-and side view mirrors are utilized, the turn signals are properly and responsibly used, and that ample warning time is provided to other drivers in advance of any lane change. Additionally, the vehicle should be kept in the center of the lane at all times, as veering to either side can disrupt the safe flow of traffic, cause drivers to swerve, and ultimately result in crashes. •• Disregarding traffic control devices can result in crashes, and therefore, they should always be obeyed. It is important for a driver to pay attention to traffic control devices and proceed with proper protocol for a given circumstance. For example, remember to stop at red lights. A right turn on red is permissible provided there is no sign stating otherwise, howev- er, one must first come to a full stop and yield to traffic and pedestrians. An inadequate stop or failure to yield could result in injury or fatality to the driver or pedestrians! •• Failing to yield the right of way is a common, but potentially fatal, mistake. Drivers should always yield the right of way, including but not limited to, encountering oncoming traffic. Keep an eye out for yield signs, school buses flashing red lights, and other situations in which a driver must yield to promote roadway safety. •• Following another vehicle too closely increases the chances of a crash if, for any reason, that vehicle comes to a sudden or otherwise unanticipated stop, or if driving conditions are less than ideal, be it due to external factors such as rain, snow or fog, or internal determinants like inadequate brakes. It is important to keep a safe distance between vehicles to allow sufficient reaction time and safe stopping distance. Do not tailgate! It is a good practice to use the “three-second-plus rule,” (see following pages) to help judge enough following distances. Be sure to check that the vehicle’s brakes are always in optimal operat- ing condition. Aggressive drivers fail to consider how their actions behind the wheel may affect other motorists on the road. When behind the wheel, a motorist should always remain calm and follow the rules of the road. Extreme cases of aggressive driving may lead to road rage. Road rage occurs when motorists lose their tempers or become frus- trated because of a traffic disturbance. These aggressive motorists may run stop signs and red lights, speed, tailgate, weave through traffic, pass illegally on the right, make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand or facial gestures, scream, honk horns or flash high beams. In extreme cases, aggressive motorists may cause a crash. New Jersey is waging a campaign against road rage. The state has specifical- ly trained enforcement patrols to help stop aggressive motorists. To report an aggressive motorist call (888) SAF-ROAD or, if using a cell phone, call #77. Note: While there are emergency exceptions to the handheld cell phone law, it is always safest to pull over to the side of the road before making a call. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 91 Distractions Operating any motor vehicle requires the motorist’s full attention. In many cases, crashes are caused by a distracted motorist. Inattentive motorists often tailgate, go too fast or drift out of their lanes. They ignore traffic signs and signals, road markings, potential traffic hazards, road conditions, and other vehicles. Some causes of inattentive driving are: •• Lighting a cigarette. •• Trying to fasten a safety belt while driving. •• Reaching across the seat to close a door or look in the glove compartment. •• Reaching for coins in pockets while driving up to a toll booth. •• Trying to adjust a wristwatch. •• Watching children or pets in the vehicle. •• Trying to remove a coat. •• Reading maps and newspapers. •• Eating while driving. •• Adjusting a mirror while driving. •• Using a cell phone or any other electronic device. •• Adjusting the radio or CD player. •• Applying makeup. •• Shaving. •• Using a laptop computer or fax machine. A motorist should never do any of these things while driving. His/her full attention must be on the road at all times. Tired Driver/Highway Hypnosis A tired driver is a dangerous driver. A tired driver cannot drive well, and his/her reaction time is reduced. The motorist may also get upset more easily or even fall asleep behind the wheel. A tired driver can be as dangerous as a drunk driver. Maggie’s Law, enacted in June 2003, makes it illegal to knowingly drive a vehicle while impaired by lack of sleep. This law establishes driving while fatigued as recklessness under the vehicular homicide statute. (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5) Page 92 DEFENSIVE DRIVING When a motorist has been behind the wheel for a long time, he/she may experience “highway hypnosis.” The trance-like state may be avoided by not looking at any one thing for more than a few seconds. It is also recommend- ed that a motorist rest every two hours and/or share the driving with another licensed motorist. DROWSY DRIVING – WHO IS MOST AT RISK? Motorists who are: •• Sleep-deprived. •• Driving long distances without rest breaks. •• Driving through the night or at other times when they are normally asleep. •• Taking medicine that increases sleepiness, or drinking alcohol. •• Driving alone. •• Driving on long, rural, boring roads. •• Young people. •• Shift workers. •• Commercial drivers. Communicating and Driving Communicate with other motorists by all available means and signals. A motorist should always stay in the lane that shows where he/she intends to turn. Turn signals (including hand signals, when appropriate) allow a motorist to tell other motorists what he/she is going to do. Another good method is catching other motorists’ eyes. It may be necessary to tap the horn to warn other motorists. At night, a quick flip of the headlights from low to high and back to low might be helpful. A motorist should always be patient in town or city traffic and try not to make quick turns or lane changes. Do not let rush hour traffic become irritat- ing. Be alert and drive defensively. Always use good judgment in stopping, starting, and turning. Knowing all traffic rules, signs, and signals is helpful. If a motorist must pull off the road, he/she should always turn on the vehicle’s emergency flashers (hazard lights). DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 93 Keep a Safe Distance/Do Not Tailgate A motorist should always keep a safe distance from other vehicles on the road so that he/she has plenty of time to react to emergencies. Tailgating refers to following too closely behind a vehicle directly in front. This is a common cause of crashes. Tailgating can cause a series of rear-end crashes when many vehicles are too close together. There should be plenty of space between a motorist’s vehicle and others on all sides. A motorist should stay in the middle of the lane and make sure there is enough room ahead to stop or pass safely. ONE CAR LENGTH Although there is no perfect rule for following distance, the rule of thumb most often used is to keep one car length back (about 20 feet) for each 10 miles per hour of speed. At high speeds or in bad weather, following distanc- es should be increased. Keep safe distance do not tailgate One car length of distance per 10 MPH, example above is 50 MPH Too close Page 94 DEFENSIVE DRIVING THREE SECONDS-PLUS RULE Since many people have trouble judging distances, the three-seconds-plus rule to determine safe distance may be easier to use. It is useful at any speed. •• Choose some fixed object ahead of the vehicle in front. The object may be a sign or a tree. Make sure the object does not distract attention from driving. •• As the vehicle in front passes the object, begin counting seconds (one thousand-one, one thousand-two, one-thousand-three). •• If it takes at least three seconds before your vehicle passes the object, a motorist should have enough distance for a sudden stop. •• Practicing safe space management/following distance increases the ability to stop a vehicle safely and smoothly in the event the vehicle in front stops. •• Stopping distance = Perception Distance + Reaction Distance + Braking Distance. •• By keeping a foot near the brake, a motorist can reduce reaction distance. •• Time and distance relationships are designed for the best driving conditions. •• It should be noted that heavier vehicles may take longer to stop. Try the three seconds-plus rule while driving. It can help a motorist develop good judgment for proper following distances. During bad weather, the time interval should be increased to four or more seconds. Following Distances While keeping the proper following distance in traffic, a motorist should always know the condition of his/her vehicle’s brakes. Test them often. Make sure of the distance it may take to stop. This is very important on wet roads and where there is snow and ice. A motorist should always increase following distance when road conditions are poor. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 95 MINIMUM SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE (IN CAR LENGTHS) Road Condition 20 mph 30 mph 40 mph 50 mph Ideal 2 car lengths 3 4 5 Wet pavement 4 car lengths 6 8 10 Gravel 4 car lengths 6 8 10 Packed snow 6 car lengths 9 12 Ice 12 car lengths 18 Changing Lanes and Passing Using the proper lane is an important part of defensive driving. Do not strad- dle a lane. Be alert to traffic behind. When a lane change must be made, look in the rearview mirror. Glance behind to check blind spots. Always signal lane changes. Before passing a vehicle or changing lanes, keep the following points in mind: •• Only pass or change lanes when necessary. •• Only pass or change lanes if the change can be completed without speeding. •• Keep a safe following distance; do not tailgate. •• Check traffic ahead and behind. •• Only pass when signs and pavement markings permit. •• Signal every lane change. •• Signal your return to the right lane. •• Return to the right lane when well ahead of the vehicle that was passed. (A good indication that it is safe to return to the right lane is when the vehicle that was passed is visible in the rearview mirror.) •• Cancel the turn signal. Page 96 DEFENSIVE DRIVING Passed by Another Vehicle When a motorist is passed by another vehicle, he/she must be careful. Stay in the proper lane and slow down to make the pass easier for the other motorist. Return to normal speed after the passing vehicle is well ahead. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-87) Road Conditions WET ROADS Drive more slowly on wet roads. Stopping and turning should be completed with great care. The three-seconds-plus rule should be increased to four or more seconds. Quick turns or changes in speed may cause a vehicle to skid. HYDROPLANING Wet road surfaces can cause tires to hydroplane, or ride up on a film of water, starting at about 35 mph, which could cause a motorist to lose control of his/her vehicle. Chances of hydroplaning increase as speeds increase. After 55 mph, tires may totally leave the road surface. If tires totally leave the road surface, braking is virtually impossible, and turning is not possible. A gust of wind, a change in road level or a slight turn can create a skid if a vehicle is hydroplaning. To avoid hydroplaning, do not drive on bald or badly worn tires, and slow down when heavy rain, standing water, or slush is present. In a heavy rainstorm, try to drive on the highest point of the road. For example, use the center lane on a multiple lane highway, when available. 35 MPH or less 35 MPH or more DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 97 SNOW AND ICE Winter driving has special dangers, including longer hours of darkness, fog, rain, snow, sleet and ice. Each of these increases the possibility of a crash. A safe motorist is prepared for these types of situations. Before driving in cold weather, start the engine and let it warm up according to manufacturer directions. All snow and ice must be removed from the entire vehicle. New Jersey law states that a motorist is responsible for any ice that flies from his/her vehicle and causes death, injury, or property damage. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-77.1) Always make sure the vehicle has the proper type of windshield washing fluid. In snow and ice conditions, motorists should take precautions and get a feel for the road. Gently applying the brakes while driving slowly will allow a motorist to find out how slippery the road is. This will also allow the motorist to judge how fast the vehicle can go and still stop safely. A vehicle will skid if a motorist: •• Accelerates too quickly. •• Turns too fast. •• Brakes improperly. Page 98 DEFENSIVE DRIVING Motorists who have vehicles with anti-lock brakes (ABS) should keep a foot on the brake pedal and not pump the brakes. Conventional disc and drum brakes require firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. Hitting the brakes too hard may cause the wheels to lock. If the brakes do lock, release the brake pedal, and immediately reapply with slightly less pressure. This process should be repeated with less and less pressure on the brake pedal until the vehicle is under control. Snow tires help driving during the winter months by providing better traction for more controlled starting, steering, and stopping. Snow tires do not provide good traction on ice. Tire chains are the best traction on ice and in hard-packed or deep snow. In New Jersey, motorists may use studded snow tires between November 15 and April 1. To start on snow and ice, keep the engine speed low. If the wheels spin, a lower gear should be used. When stuck, rock the vehicle back and forth by shifting between forward and reverse to escape. Motorists are prohibited from allowing their motor vehicle to idle for more than three consecutive minutes. Among the exceptions for this prohibition include motor vehicles stopped in traffic, motor vehicles being repaired, motor vehicles waiting to be inspected, emergency vehicles in emergency situations, and buses while discharging or picking up passengers. (N.J.A.C. 7:27-15.8, 7:27-14.3) Reduced Visibility Poor roadway or weather conditions require motorists to increase following distance because rough, wet, or snow-covered roads may require more response time. A good rule on snow-covered roads is to maintain a follow- ing distance of six seconds or more. Frost or ice: Always scrape and wipe a vehicle’s windows before starting. Turn on the defroster. If the defroster does not work while driving in freezing rain or snow, safely stop the vehicle. Close the windows and let the heater warm up the windows. Fog: Always slow down when driving in fog. Headlights should be kept on low beam and fog lights should be turned on if the vehicle has them. Pavement markings and other vehicle lights can serve as a motorist’s guide. Sun glare: Sun visors should always be adjusted to shield a motorist’s eyes without cutting off his/her view of the road. Hold the steering wheel firmly and slow down. Watch for lane markings. In all cases, if visibility is greatly reduced, a motorist should stop alongside the road or on the shoulder, out of the way of traffic, and turn on emergency flashers. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 99

Night Driving Nearly 90 percent of driving decisions are based upon what a motorist sees while driving. At night, a motorist’s vision is reduced. To drive safely at night, slow down and drive within the range of the vehicle’s headlights. A motorist should always be sure the vehicle can stop within the distance that he/she sees ahead. A motorist should always consider the following factors when driving at night: •• Speed. •• Reaction distance (distance traveled before hitting the brake). •• Braking distance (distance needed to completely stop vehicle). DRIVING AND STOPPING AT NIGHT This table shows the distance the average motorist will need to stop while driving at a designated speed using low beams at night. Numbers are based on a motorist’s nighttime reaction time of 1.5 seconds. A vehicle travels 88 feet per second at 60 mph. Deceleration is 14 feet per second. Speed Reaction Distance Braking Distance Stopping Distance 20 mph 44 ft 31 ft 75 ft 30 mph 66 ft 69 ft 135 ft 40 mph 88 ft 123 ft 211 ft 50 mph 110 ft 192 ft 302 ft 60 mph 132 ft 277 ft 409 ft 70 mph 154 ft 376 ft 530 ft Page 100 DEFENSIVE DRIVING Other safety rules for night driving are: •• Drive with headlights on at dusk, night, dawn, on dark days, and whenever weather conditions reduce visibility to less than 500 feet. State law requires the headlights to be on when windshield wipers are in use. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-46) •• Drive more slowly than during the daylight. •• Watch for road signs, slow-moving or unlit vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and animals. •• Allow for more safety margins than you would during daylight. Driving Situations A motorist will come across several different driving situations that have their own unique safety concerns or requirements. A motorist must know how to safely navigate his/her vehicle in each of these situations. CITY DRIVING When traveling in a city, heavier traffic and more pedestrians require motorists to be very alert. In city traffic, a motorist should try to coop- erate with other motorists. Drive more slowly and watch for the move- ments of others. Motorists must be more careful about pedestrians and less-visible vehicles, such as bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, motorized wheelchairs, and mobility-assistance vehicles. Pedestrians and individ- uals in wheelchairs or mobility-assistance vehicles always have the right of way in a crosswalk. Motorists must always stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether the crosswalk is marked or unmarked. A motorist should look at least 12 seconds ahead. This means that he/she should be able to see an object far enough ahead so that it takes at least 12 seconds to get to it. While driving at 25 mph on a clear road in a city, a motor- ist should be able to see about a block ahead. When traffic is heavy, extra time to react is necessary, which means driving more slowly. By reducing speed, a motorist gains time. On city streets, a motorist will pass through intersections very often. Many new motorists fail to see intersections. A motorist should always consider the following safety tips: •• If at the middle of a block, check intersections ahead for traffic controls. •• When approaching or nearing an intersection, reduce speed. Glance left and then right. Keep your foot on the brake. •• When at a crosswalk, a vehicle should be at its lowest speed. A motorist must decide whether to stop or go across. Take quick glances around. If clear, proceed to cross. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 101 Watch for uncontrolled intersections where there are no lights or signs. Do not think that a roadway is protected because it is wide, smooth, or busy. If there are no traffic signals, there is no traffic control. Avoiding crashes is up to the motorist. Look. Listen. Think. HIGHWAY DRIVING Traffic crashes and deaths can happen on highways when the weather is good and the roads are dry. Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for road conditions are one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. Major highways are usually in good condition. They often have four or more lanes. Wide-open spaces often give a motorist the feeling that he/she can relax his/her attention. It is important to stay alert on highways. Some highways may not have traffic signals or signals at crossroads. This means a motorist must drive defensively and stay within the speed limit. Always be ready to react to the unexpected. HILLS, BRIDGES AND OTHER ROAD HAZARDS A motorist should always be on the lookout for signs that warn of road hazards. These include hills, dips, narrow bridges, bumps, and railroad tracks. Drive slowly in these areas. If a vehicle is moving too fast, the motorist may not be able to slow down in time. Speeding and applying the brakes firmly can cause a skid or a spin. Motorists should be cautious when traveling in farm country or in open land where livestock or deer may cross the road. If a motorist encounters an animal, he/she should slow down until the animal has passed. Animals make unexpected moves, so a motorist must be alert. Page 102 DEFENSIVE DRIVING CONSTRUCTION ZONES/WORK ZONES (N.J.S.A. 39:4-203.5) Most motorists encounter construction on roadways. In New Jersey, traffic fines are doubled for motor vehicle violations committed in roadway construction zones. These work zones are identified by an advance warning sign or flashing lights on a vehicle up to one-half mile before the work area. Flaggers may control traffic and protect project personnel in the work area. Sometimes it is necessary to redirect traffic from its normal path around the work zone. Motorists may encounter a detour onto another roadway to bypass the work area or a diversion onto a temporary roadway, such as a median crossover or a lane shift. If traffic is permitted through or adjacent to the work area, it will be guided with temporary traffic control devices. At the end of the work area, there will be an End Road Work sign or the last temporary traffic control device, so motorists can resume normal driving. For illustrations of signs and barricades used in construction zones, see the Driver Safety Section at the end of this manual. It is extremely important for motorists to remain alert when traveling through a work zone. Annually, there are nearly 800 fatal and over 37,000 serious injury crashes in work zones nationwide. In addition, congestion and delays may mount, causing the frustration level of motorists to rise. Motorists should keep the following basics in mind: •• Stay alert: Dedicate full attention to the roadway. •• Pay close attention: Signs and work zone flaggers save lives. •• Turn on headlights: Workers and other motorists must be able to see the vehicle. •• Do not tailgate: Unexpected stops or slowing may occur. •• Do not speed: Note the posted speed limits in and around the work zone. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 103 •• Minimize distractions: Avoid changing radio stations or talking on hands-free devices when traveling through a work zone. •• Expect the unexpected: Keep an eye out for workers and their equipment. •• Be patient: Remember that work zone crew members are working to improve the ride for all motorists. Reacting to Driving Problems A motorist should always be prepared for any problems that he/she may encounter while driving. Certain situations require the motorist to react immediately to avoid a crash. IGNITION SYSTEM Today’s vehicles are equipped with ignition systems that, when used properly, will prevent the theft of an automobile and vehicle roll away. An ignition system permits key removal only when the vehicle’s transmission is in the Park position. Motorists in an emergency on the highway may attempt to turn off the vehicle while it is still in motion, believing they will bring the vehicle to a stop. The basic rule the motorist must follow when operating a vehicle with a steering wheel ignition system is to never turn the ignition to the lock position while the vehicle is in motion. The steering will lock as the vehicle turns, and the motorist will lose control of the vehicle. SKIDS Sudden turns, lane changes or hard braking can throw a vehicle into a skid. This often happens on wet or icy roads. A motorist should handle a skid in both front-wheel and rear-wheel drive vehicles in the same way. If the rear end of the vehicle starts to slide, a motorist should take his/her foot off the gas pedal. A vehicle may spin if the steering wheel is quickly turned away from the direction of the skid. To avoid a spin, the motorist should turn in the direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding, without over steering. When skidding, a motorist should look in the direction that he/she wants to go. A motorist will be able to feel when the vehicle is back under control and should then straighten the wheels. During a side skid, avoid using the brakes. Page 104 DEFENSIVE DRIVING EMERGENCY STOPS If an emergency highway stop is necessary, a motorist should always keep several basic points in mind. On a highway with paved shoulders, signal and turn onto the shoulder at or near traffic speed, then begin to slow down. Where the shoulder is unpaved, signal a turn and slow down to a safe speed before turning off. Once the vehicle is pulled to the shoulder, turn on the parking lights or emergency warning lights. Never block taillights at night by standing or working behind the vehicle. Day or night put a flare or other warning sign just behind the vehicle. Put another warning device at least 300 feet back (about 120 paces). Raise the hood. Tie a white handkerchief to the antenna or left door handle as a signal, if help is needed. RUNNING OFF THE PAVEMENT If a vehicle’s wheels drift onto the shoulder of the road, do not try to turn back onto the pavement right away. This might throw the vehicle off balance. Too often motorists panic and steer abruptly to return to the road, causing the vehicle to slingshot across the roadway or into traffic. Instead, a motorist should stay on the shoulder and ease up on the gas pedal. After the vehicle has slowed down to 25 mph or less, the motorist may turn back onto the road by turning the steering wheel one-quarter turn toward the roadway. This will allow tires to climb the pavement edge and get back onto the pavement. If a vehicle runs off the pavement: •• Slow down •• Regain control •• Turn slowly onto the road DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 105 CAR FIRES Most car fires are caused by short circuits in the electrical system. In case of fire, do not waste time. Get passengers out and away from the vehicle at once and call for help. A motorist should never attempt to put out a fire. PLUNGING INTO WATER Water causes more panic than any other emergency. Actual tests have resulted in a few tips. A vehicle with windows and doors closed will float for about three to ten minutes. Two major points of escape and self-rescue from a submerged vehicle are to wear a seat belt, which will increase the chances of surviving the initial impact with the water, and, while the vehicle is still floating on the surface, to escape through an open window. It is hard to open a door against water pressure, but a window can be rolled down easily. Power windows may short out, so try to open them at once. Glass in the side and rear windows can be broken but only with a heavy, hard object. A front-engine vehicle will sink nose first. Some air may be pushed to the rear, near the roof. When the pressure inside and outside the vehicle is equal, it is easier to open the door. A motorist should try to escape through a door or a window. Remember that three to five minutes gives plenty of time in an emergency. Wearing a seat belt is the best insurance against being knocked unconscious. Once out of the vehicle, a motorist may become disoriented underwater. Always remember to follow the air bubbles to reach the surface. STALLING ON RAILROAD TRACKS If a vehicle stalls on railroad tracks, the motorist and any passengers should get out and move far away from the vehicle and tracks, even if a train is not approaching. Once clear of the vehicle and tracks, a motorist should call the number on the Emergency Notification sign posted at the railroad crossing or 911. If a train is approaching, run at a 45-degree angle away from the vehicle and tracks but in the direction of the train to avoid being injured by flying debris. Page 106 DEFENSIVE DRIVING Vehicle Failure No matter how well a vehicle is maintained, there is still a chance a motorist will experience vehicle problems. A motorist should always be prepared for any type of situation and never panic. BRAKE FAILURE If a vehicle’s conventional disc and drum brakes suddenly fail, a motorist should shift to a lower gear and pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times. This may build up enough brake pressure to stop the vehicle. If that does not work, the parking brake should be used while holding the brake release, so the motorist can let up if the rear wheels lock and the vehicle begins to skid. With the vehicle in low gear, the motorist should begin looking for a safe place to stop off the roadway and call for help. TIRE BLOWOUT If a motorist experiences a flat tire or blowout, he/she should hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle straight while gradually slowing down. The motorist should remove his/her foot from the gas pedal but not use the brakes. The vehicle should coast to a stop on its own as the motorist pulls to a safe area off the roadway. POWER STEERING FAILURE When an engine dies, a vehicle’s steering will fail. The motorist should keep a firm grip on the wheel because extra hand power will be needed to turn or keep control. The vehicle should be brought to a stop in a safe area off the roadway. HEADLIGHT FAILURE If headlights suddenly go out, a motorist should safely bring the vehicle to a stop in a safe area off the roadway. The headlight or dimmer switches may help the lights go on again. If this does not work, the motorist should put the parking lights, emergency flashers or turn signals on and call for help. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 107 GAS PEDAL PROBLEMS If a gas pedal sticks, the motorist should keep his/her eyes on the road while quickly shifting to neutral. Steer the vehicle to a safe area off the roadway, turn the engine off and call for help. HOOD LATCH FAILURE If the vehicle’s hood suddenly flies up, the motorist should slow down immediately. He/she should try to look under the hood to see the road or look out of the side window around the hood. Using the center line or lane markings as a guide, the motorist should pull the vehicle to a safe area off the roadway as soon as possible. WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE When windshield wipers stop suddenly during rain or snow, the motorist should slow down, pull to a safe area off the roadway and turn on emergen- cy flashers. Call for help if necessary. Crashes (Accidents) AVOIDING CRASHES No matter how careful a motorist is, emergencies do arise. It is important to know how to safely handle any type of situation that may occur. Proper reaction could save the life of the motorist and his/her passengers or others involved. Above all, seat belts should always be worn while driving. If a motorist sees that his/her vehicle may hit something, one of these things can be done: stop, turn, or speed up. Stop quickly: If the vehicle has conventional disc and drum brakes, the motorist should pump the brakes to gain better control in steering. The wheels will lock and cause skidding if a motorist brakes too hard and holds them down. If the vehicle has antilock brakes (ABS), they will adjust automatically if a wheel begins to lock. With this brake system, a motorist can put maximum pres- sure on the brakes and retain steering control without pumping the brakes. Turn quickly: If a motorist cannot stop in time, he/she should turn away and drive off the road if necessary. If the motorist can keep from using the brakes while turning, this will lessen the chances of a skid. A motorist should not brake hard if turning onto a soft shoulder of a road. This could cause skidding or loss of control. Page 108 DEFENSIVE DRIVING Speed up: Sometimes it is best or necessary to speed up to avoid a crash. This may happen when another vehicle is about to hit a motorist’s vehicle from the side or from behind, and there is room to the front to get out of danger. A motorist should push the gas pedal to the floor. There may be only seconds to act, so a motorist must decide quickly. Once the danger has passed the motorist should slow the vehicle’s speed. LAST-MINUTE CHOICES A motorist should never panic, especially in the few seconds before a possible crash. There are some last-minute choices that he/she will have to make. A motorist should always be aware of what to do in an emergency. Reacting properly and quickly can avoid crashes or, at least, minimize damage. If a crash looks possible, the motorist should turn away from oncoming traffic, even if it means leaving the road. Driving off the road, rather than skidding, gives the motorist more control over the vehicle. The motorist should choose to hit something that will give way (such as a bush or shrubs) rather than something hard. Choose to hit something moving in the same direction, rather than something that is not moving. Choose to hit something not moving, rather than something coming straight on. If hitting something is unavoidable, try to make it a glancing blow. A sideswipe, for example, will help slow the vehicle. Try to never hit anything head-on. For every inch that a motorist steers away from a crash between the center of the vehicle‘s front end and the center of the oncoming object, the energy of the crash will dissipate and reduce injury and damage. REAR CRASH If the vehicle is about to be hit from the rear, the motorist must be ready to apply the brakes to avoid being pushed into a vehicle ahead. The motorist should brace his/her body between the steering wheel and the seat back, pressing the back of his/her head firmly against the headrest (if the vehicle has one). DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 109

SIDE CRASH If the vehicle is about to be hit from the side, the motorist should keep a tight grip on the steering wheel. This may keep him/her from being thrown against the side of the vehicle. The motorist should be ready to turn fast, so that if the vehicle spins around, he/ she can try to control the vehicle. HEAD-ON CRASH If the vehicle is about to be hit from the front, the motorist should use his/ her arms and hands to protect his/her face if wearing a shoulder strap and the vehicle is equipped with airbags. If the vehicle is not equipped with a shoulder strap or air bags, the motorist should throw himself/herself across the seat to keep from hitting the steering wheel or windshield. Air bags will typically deploy in vehicles that have them. PARKED VEHICLE CRASH If a motorist hits a parked vehicle, the police must be notified. The driver should also try to find the owner of the vehicle. What to Do in Case of a Crash If a motorist witnesses a crash or is involved in one, he/she should follow these tips to help protect everyone involved: •• Stop the vehicle. •• Remain calm. •• Assume the worst and get help (notify the police; call an ambulance). •• Wait at the scene but try not to block traffic. •• Ask for assistance from passing motorists, bikers, or joggers, if needed. •• Depending on the location of the crash – local road, highway or in a busy city intersection – warn oncoming traffic. Page 110 DEFENSIVE DRIVING REPORTING CRASHES (N.J.S.A. 39:4-129, 39:4-130, 39:4-131) New Jersey law requires motorists to notify the police of crashes where there is injury, death, or vehicle or property damage. If someone has been killed, do not move the body or permit anyone to move the body until the police or ambulance arrives. If the motorist is involved in the crash, he/she can help the police by answer- ing as many questions as possible and by giving them as many facts about the crash as possible. When damage to the property is more than $500 or there is personal injury, a motorist must: •• Send a written report to the MVC within 10 days if no police report is filed. A written report is not required if a report is filed by the police. A motorist can get a copy of the report from the police. •• Notify his/her insurance company at once, giving complete information about the crash. •• If the motorist is shaken up, he/she should see a doctor as soon as possible. DEFENSIVE DRIVING Page 111 6Drinking, Drugs, and Health Page 112 Drinking, Drugs, anD HealtH Page 113 Section Contents 114 Effects of Alcohol 115 How Much is Too Much 116 Drinking and Driving 116 Good Hosts and the Drinking Driver 117 Designated Drivers 117 Drugs and Driving 118 Healthy Driving Page 114 Drinking, Drugs, anD HealtH Effects of Alcohol Alcohol is a drug that affects overall driving ability. Alcohol may make a motorist overconfident and unable to think clearly. Motorists who drink may make more mistakes. Even if a motorist thinks he/she is below the level of legal intoxication, alcohol will affect driving. Drinking even a small amount of alcohol increases a motorist’s chances of having a crash. Never drink and drive. Driving under the influence of intoxicating beverages means that a driver’s senses and judgment are impaired by alcohol. After two, three or four drinks, alcohol begins to impair reaction time, coordination, and balance. Vision and the ability to judge distance is affected, making it more difficult to react and to drive safely. The only thing that can make a person sober is time. Alcohol is removed slowly by the body. The majority (90 %) of the alcohol that is detoxi- fied is oxidized (burned up) by the liver. The other 10 % is eliminated in breath, urine, and sweat. This fact is the prime reason why sober-up-quick methods do not work. In addition, studies have proven conclusively that a combination of alcohol and anger is responsible for much of the reckless, aggressive driving that can cause fatal highway crashes. While most alcohol-related crashes involve only one vehicle, they frequently result in the death or serious injury of numerous people, including passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. 1.5 ounces of 86 proof liquor 12 ounce bottle or can of beer Every drink contains about a 1/2 ounce of alcohol. It’s not what you drink but how many drinks you have. ONE DRINK EQUALS 5 ounce glass of wine (12%) How Much is Too Much The only scientific way to check is through blood alcohol concentration, or BAC. A simple breath test will show a motorist’s BAC. BAC is determined by four factors: •• Quantity of alcohol consumed •• Body weight •• How quickly drinks are consumed •• Food eaten The best way to reduce the risk of a crash caused by drinking and driving is not to drive at all after drinking. In New Jersey, it is illegal for an individual to drive while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drugs, or with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) For individuals younger than 21, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.01 percent or higher. Violators face severe penalties in addition to other penalties assessed for DUI/DWI. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14) If a motorist has reached a BAC of slightly above 0.05 percent after drinking, the risk for causing a motor vehicle crash doubles. The risk is six times as great when driving with a BAC of 0.10 percent. The risk is 25 times as great when driving with a BAC of 0.15 percent. note: Under state law, refusal to take a breath test is illegal. Penalties include loss of driving privileges, referral to an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC), fines, and installation of an ignition interlock device. (N.J.S.A. 39:4- 50.4a) Motorists who refuse to take a breath test in New Jersey are also subject to a violation surcharge. Failure to pay the surcharge will result in an indefinite suspension of driving privileges until the surcharge is paid. (N.J.S.A. 17:29A-35) It is important to remember that it does not matter what alcoholic beverage is consumed. There is just as much alcohol in the average beer as there is in the average drink of whiskey or wine. For example, 1½ ounces of 80-proof whiskey, 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine all contain the same amount of alcohol: about a ½ ounce of alcohol per drink. Studies show that most people arrested for drinking and driving had been drinking beer. Although food does slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, eating will not prevent a high BAC when steadily drinking large amounts. Heavy drinking will always produce a high BAC. Eating does not make a motorist sober. The best way to avoid drinking and driving is to arrange for a designated driver, use public transportation or call a cab. Drinking, Drugs, anD HealtH Page 115 Drinking and Driving Drinking affects a motorist’s thinking and slows reaction time. Alcohol may also give a motorist a false feeling that he/she can do anything. Law enforcement is trained to notice certain telltale signs that a motorist has been drinking: speeding: An intoxicated driver often thinks high-speed driving is safe. Weaving: Even though an intoxicated driver may stay in the correct lane, driving straight may be a problem. slow driving: An intoxicated driver may be overly cautious and drive slower than the normal traffic flow. Jerking motion: An intoxicated driver often may have short mental lapses and not keep a steady speed on a clear road. Quick stops: An intoxicated driver may make sudden stops at a traffic sign or light, rather than easing up to it. Good Hosts and the Drinking Driver Always be a good host. If serving alcohol at a party, always provide alco- hol-free drinks and serve nutritious foods or snacks. Never insist that a guest should drink an alcoholic beverage or insist on refills. Stop serving alcohol well before the party ends. If someone drinks too much, do not let them drive. If no other transportation is available, suggest a nap or invite the guest to stay the night. As a last resort, notify the police. Hosts may become involved in a lawsuit if a guest is involved in a drinking and driving crash after leaving the party. Page 116 Drinking, Drugs, anD HealtH Designated Drivers As the first state in the country to officially launch the Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers, New Jersey encourages all state residents to participate in designated driver programs wherever they travel, whether as a motorist or a passenger. Being a designated driver is a great responsibility. The desig- nated driver is responsible for the safe transportation of friends or family members who have been drinking alcoholic beverages. Designated drivers not only ensure the safety of the people they are escorting home but also the safety of other motorists. A motorist who chooses to have a designated driver when attending func- tions where alcohol will be served shows maturity and consideration for other motorists who share the road. More information about designated drivers and the Hero Campaign can be found at www.herocampaign.org. Drugs and Driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-49.1, 39:4-50) It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle on New Jersey roadways while under the influence of any drugs or while in possession of any drug without a valid prescription. The labels on bottles of prescription drugs will describe common side effects. Drugs that “may cause drowsiness or dizziness” should not be taken before driving. Ask a professional about how over-the- counter drugs may affect driving. Drugs that may affect basic driving skills include cold pills, tranquillizers, and some prescription medications. Never mix drugs without asking a medical professional about possible side effects or how the drug may affect driving. Alcohol should never be mixed with any drugs or medications. If asked, motorists using prescription drugs must show proof of the prescription to law enforcement. If a motorist does not have a prescrip- tion for the drug, and a prescription is necessary to obtain the drug, the drug will be considered illegal. After alcohol, marijuana is the drug most often found with drivers involved in crashes. Marijuana use may affect a motorist in the following ways: •• loss of tracking ability: This is the ability to maintain a vehicle in each lane. •• Distance judgment: Following too closely can cause problems. •• Vigilance: Not remaining attentive to the driving task can cause a motorist to follow too closely, drift into another lane, etc. •• Divided attention: Driving is a task that requires constant attention to traffic, roadway, and weather conditions, passengers, gauges, etc. Drinking, Drugs, anD HealtH Page 117 Healthy Driving HEALTH Any health problem can affect an individual’s driving. Even little problems like a stiff neck, a cough or a sore leg can give an individual trouble while driving. If a motorist is not feeling well, he/she should let someone else drive. VISION Vision is important to safe driving. Most of what a motorist does behind the wheel is based on what he/she sees. State law permits the MVC to retest the driving population. A motorist should have his/her eyes tested every year or two. If over age 40, a motorist should have his/her eyes checked every year. Good side vision (peripheral vision) is also essential for safe driving. Side vision helps a motorist see out of the corners of his/her eyes while looking straight ahead. Distance judgment is also an important component to driving. A motorist should know his/her distance from any object while driving. Bad distance judgment often causes crashes. HEARING Hearing is more important to driving than many people think. The sound of horns, sirens or screeching tires warns a motorist to be careful. A motorist may be able to hear a car that cannot be seen. Even people with good hearing cannot hear well if the radio is blaring or he/she is wearing earphones. A motorist should always keep the radio turned down and never, wear earphones. Page 118 Drinking, Drugs, anD HealtH Page 119

7Driver Privilege and Penalties Page 120 Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 121 Section Contents 122 The Driving Privilege 122 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) 127 Breath Test 127 Ignition Interlock Device 128 Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) 128 Motor Vehicle Violations 133 Driver Programs 136 Violation Surcharges and Point Violations 137 Point System 138 Moving Violation Point Chart 140 Interstate Compacts Page 122 Driver Privilege anD Penalties The Driving Privilege Driving is a privilege, not a right. State law allows, or requires, an individual’s driving privilege to be suspended for certain motor vehicle violations, which means the driver license will be taken away and the motorist may not drive for a stated period of time. In addition to license suspension, fines and imprisonment may also be imposed for moving violations. The length of suspension depends on several factors, including which law is broken and how many convictions a motorist receives. Likewise, license restoration depends on the types of offenses and the number of convictions. A habitual offender is a motorist whose driver license has been suspended three times in three years. To avoid any problems, it is important to know and obey New Jersey’s traffic laws, which are in place to protect every motorist. Some suspensions are decided on a case-by-case basis. If the sentence is not mandatory, the Chief Administrator of the MVC or the courts may suspend driving privileges. Reasons for loss of driving privileges may include, but are not limited to the following reasons: •• Failure to answer or pay parking tickets •• Driving while suspended •• Failure to provide proof of insurance •• Physical or mental disqualification •• Drug or alcohol use •• Traffic law violations •• At fault in a fatal crash •• Failure to respond to an MVC notice The MVC Chief Administrator may also require a re-examination of any person considered to be a problem driver. This re-examination will help determine whether driving privileges should be suspended. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) If a driver’s blood alcohol concentration is 0.08% or higher, or a person operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, they may be convicted of driving under the influence. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) Drivers under age 21 (the legal age to purchase/consume alcohol) found with a BAC of 0.01% or more while operating a motor vehicle will be further penalized. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14) In New Jersey, a person must be age 21 or older to purchase, possess or consume alcohol. Underage drinking is illegal and can have severe conse- quences for young people who drink and for adults who provide alcohol to those under age 21. If a driver under age 21 buys or drinks alcohol in a place with an alcoholic beverage license, he/she may be fined $500 and lose his/her license for a period of time. (N.J.S.A. 33:1-81) If a person under age 21 does not have a driver license, the suspension starts when he/she is first eligible to receive a license. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14) Also, the person may be required to participate in an alcohol education or treatment program. MANDATORY PENALTIES First offense/Operating under the influence of alcohol/BAC 0.08% or more but less than 0.10%. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) •• $250-$400 fine. •• 12- to 48-hour participation in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC). •• IDRC fee of $264 for the 12-hour program or $321 for the 48-hour program. •• Up to 30 days imprisonment. •• $100 Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund fee. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.8) •• $100 Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund (AERF) fee. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(b)) •• $1,000 annual surcharge for three years. (N.J.S.A. 17:29A-35(b)(2)(b)) •• $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund fee. (N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3.2) •• $125 DUI surcharge. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(i)) •• $33 Court costs. (N.J.S.A. 22A:3-4) •• $1 Body Armor Replacement Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(d)) •• $1 New Jersey Spinal Cord Research Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(e)) •• $1 Autism Medical Research and Treatment Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(f)) •• $3 New Jersey Forensic DNA Laboratory Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(g)) •• $1 New Jersey Brain Injury Research Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(h)) First offense/BAC 0.10% or more. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) •• $300-$500 fine. •• 12- to 48-hour participation in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC). •• IDRC fee of $264 for the 12-hour program or $321 for the 48-hour program. •• Up to 30 days imprisonment. •• $100 Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund fee. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.8) •• $100 Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund fee. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(b)) •• $1,000 Annual surcharge for three years. (N.J.S.A. 17:29A-35(b)(2)(b)) •• $75 Safe Neighborhoods Services Fund fee. (N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3.2) Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 123 •• $50 Violent crimes assessment fee. (N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3.1) •• $125 DUI surcharge. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(i)) •• $33 Court costs. (N.J.S.A. 22A:3-4) •• $1 Body Armor Replacement Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(d)) •• $1 New Jersey Spinal Cord Research Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(e)) •• $1 Autism Medical Research and Treatment Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(f)) •• $3 New Jersey Forensic DNA Laboratory Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(g)) •• $1 New Jersey Brain Injury Research Fund. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-41(h)) UNDERAGE OFFENSE Underage first offense/BAC 0.01% or more but less than 0.08%. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14) •• 30- to 90-day suspension of driving privilege (on the day motorist becomes eligible to obtain a license or on the day of conviction, whichev- er is later). •• 15 to 30 days community service. •• Participation in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) or alcohol education and highway safety program. Page 124 Driver Privilege anD Penalties Driving Offense Conviction loss Of license¹ Fines, Fees, surcharges imprisonment Community service (Cs), iDrC² Or Detainment Or interlock alcohol or drug-related (DUi)³ first offense prior to 12/1/19 3 months to 1 year $250-$500 fine; $1,000 a yr. for 3 yrs. surcharge; daily IDRC fee; $100 Drunk Driving Fund; $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund; $100 AEREF; $125 DUI Surcharge Up to 30 days 12-48 hrs. IDRC Possible interlock 6 months to 1 year alcohol DUi first offense on or after 12/1/19 with a BaC% below 0.15% Indefinite until an interlock device is installed Same as above Same as above BAC of 0.08% to 0.10%: interlock device for 3 months BAC of 0.10% to 0.15%: interlock device for between 7 months and 1 year alcohol DUi first offense on or after 12/1/19 with a BaC% at 0.15% or higher 3 months Same as above Same as above 12-48 hrs. IDRC Interlock during suspension and 12-15 months after restoration Drug-related DUi first offense on or after 12/1/19 7-12 months Same as above Same as above 12-48 hrs. IDRC No Interlock For offenses prior to 12/1/19: alcohol or drug-related DUi second offense that occurs within 10 yrs. of first offense 2 years $500-$1,000 fine; $1,000 a yr. for 3 yrs. surcharge; daily IDRC fee; $100 Drunk Driving Fund; $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund; $100 AEREF; $125 DUI Surcharge 48 hrs-90 days 12-48 hrs. IDRC; 30 days CS Interlock required during suspension and 6 months to 3 years following restoration For offenses on or after 12/1/19: alcohol or drug-related DUi second offense that occurs within 10 yrs. of first offense 1-2 years Same as above Same as above 12-48 hrs. IDRC; 30 days CS Interlock required during suspension and 2-4 years after restoration For offenses prior to 12/1/19: alcohol or drug-related DUi third offense that occurs within 10 yrs. of second offense 10 years $1,000 fine; $1,500 a yr. for 3 yrs. surcharge; daily IDRC fee; $100Drunk Driving Fund; $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund; $100 AEREF; $125 DUI Surcharge 180 days 12-48 hrs. IDRC; up to 90 days. Interlock required during suspension and 6 months to 3 years following restoration Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 125 Driving Offense Conviction loss Of license¹ Fines, Fees, surcharges imprisonment Community service (Cs), iDrC² Or Detainment Or interlock For offenses on or after 12/1/19: alcohol or drug-related DUi third offense that occurs within 10 yrs. of second offense 8 years Same as above Same as above 12-48 hrs. IDRC; up to 90 days CS Interlock required during suspension and 2-4 years after restoration Drinking alcoholic beverages while driving or riding N/A $200 fine, first offense; $250 fine, second offense N/A N/A Drinking alcoholic beverages while driving or riding (second offense) N/A $250 fine N/A 10 days CS Driving on DUi suspension Additional 1-2 yrs 5 $500 fine; $250 per yr. for 3 yrs. surcharge 10-90 days N/A Driving on DUI suspension Driving with no insurance (first offense) 1 year 6 $300-$1,000 fine; $250 per yr. for 3 yrs. surcharge N/A CS determined by court Driving with no insurance (second offense) 2 years Up to $5,000 fine; $250 per year for 3 yrs. surcharge 14 days 30 days CS Driving while possessing drugs 2 years Minimum $50 fine N/A N/A 1 Underage drinking may cause a 90-day delay to get a license. 2 Intoxicated Driver Resource Center. 3 Driving under the influence (DUI). Alcohol and drug-related offenses require completion of an alcohol screening and evaluation program. 4 For important additional information on second and subsequent offenses, check N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 to N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.18. 5 Also suspends registrations for the same period. 6 The period of license suspension may be reduced or eliminated if the driver provides the court with satisfactory proof of vehicle liability insurance at the time of the hearing. Page 126 Driver Privilege anD Penalties Breath Test (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a) New Jersey has an implied consent law. This means that motorists on New Jersey roadways have agreed, simply by using New Jersey roadways, to submit to a breath test given by law enforcement or hospital staff following an arrest for an intoxicated driving offense. Motorists who refuse to take a breath test will be detained and brought to a hospital, where hospital staff may draw blood. Motorists who refuse to take a breath test in New Jersey are subject to a violation surcharge of $1,000 per year for three years. Depending on the number of past offenses, a conviction for refusal could result in the loss of driving privileges, to run concurrently or consecutively, based on a judge’s order. Convictions for refusals in connection with a first offense will result in the loss of driving privileges until an ignition interlock device has been installed. Ignition Interlock Device (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.17) A motorist who is convicted of a DUI offense may be required to install an ignition interlock device in a motor vehicle the person owns, leases, or principally operates, whichever the person most operates in addition to any other penalties. This device is attached to the vehicle. An ignition interlock device has a built-in breathalyzer and prevents the vehicle from starting if the motorist’s BAC exceeds 0.05%. •• First DUi offense with BaC 0.08% or greater but less than 0.10%: Installation of ignition interlock device for three months from the date of driving privilege restoration. •• First DUi offense with BaC 0.10% or greater but less than 0.15%: Installation of ignition interlock device for seven months to one year from the date of the driving privilege restoration. •• First DUi offense with BaC of 0.15% or higher Or refusal to submit to Breath test offense: Installation of ignition interlock device during suspension and for 12-15 months from the date of driving privilege restoration. For refusal, ignition interlock for 9 – 15 months from the date of restoration. •• second or subsequent DUi Or refusal to take Breath test offense: Installation of ignition interlock device during suspension and for two to four years from the date of driving privilege restoration. ignition interlock in non-commercial vehicle for offenses occurring in a commercial motor vehicle: For a person convicted of a first violation of N.J.S.A. 39:3-10.13 (operation of a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04% but less than 0.08% or while Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 127 under the influence of a controlled substance), no suspension of the person’s basic driver’s license but mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device to be installed in the offender’s non-commercial vehicle for the period their commercial driver’s license is suspended. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-10.20(n)) VOLUNTARY INSTALLATION OF IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE PRIOR TO CONVICTION Voluntary installation of an ignition interlock device prior to conviction may result in a reduction in fines and, when applicable, a reduction in the period of license suspension. For offenses occurring on or after February 19, 2024, a person who has been arrested for certain alcohol-related offenses may, upon arrest and prior to conviction, voluntarily install an ignition interlock device in a motor vehicle the person owns, leases, or principally operates, and request from the MVC a driver’s license with a notation stating that the person is not to operate a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with an ignition interlock device. Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) State law requires that any motorist charged with an alcohol-related traffic offense must be detained at an IDRC. Each of New Jersey’s 21 counties has an IDRC where first- and third-time offenders are detained. Second-time offenders are detained at one of three regional IDRCs. The NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services, and the Intoxicated Driving Program coordinates all IDRCs. Department of Human services | intoxicated Driving Program (iDP) (state.nj.us) During detention, all offenders attend an alcohol and highway safety educa- tion program. The center evaluates each offender for an alcohol or drug problem and determines the need for treatment. Those deemed in need of treatment are referred to an appropriate provider for at least a 16-week treatment program. Satisfactory participation in a state-assigned program is a condition for re-licensing. Failure to comply will result in further loss of driving privileges and the possibility of imprisonment. Motor Vehicle Violations •• Unsafe driving: A conviction for unsafe driving that endangers a person or property requires payment of a fine of not less than $50 or more than $150 for a first offense; not less than $100 or more than $250 for a second offense; and not less than $200 or more than $500 for a third or subsequent offense. Motorists will be assessed four (4) motor vehicle penalty points if the third or subsequent offense occurs within five years of the prior offense. There is also a $250 court surcharge for each offense. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.2) Page 128 Driver Privilege anD Penalties •• reckless driving: Driving recklessly in a manner that willfully endangers the rights, property or safety of others is punishable by imprisonment of up to 60 days, or by a fine of not less than $50 or more than $200, or both for a first offense. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-96) Also, points are assessed. •• abandoning a vehicle: Motorists who abandon their motor vehicles on or along limited-access highways for four hours or more without permission are subject to a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 and possible loss of driving privileges for up to two years. For subsequent violations the fine is not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, and the suspension is up to five years. The same penalties apply when owners abandon their vehicles on any highway or public property or on private property without consent for 48 hours or more and when owners abandon their vehicles for any period without current license plates. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.5) •• Carrying alcoholic beverages: Motorists who carry open or unsealed alcoholic beverage containers or unsealed cannabis items in passenger areas of motor vehicles are subject to a fine of $200 for a first offense and $250 or 10 days of community service for all subsequent offenses. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-51a and 39:4-51b) •• ice and snow: Motorists of private vehicles face fines of $200 to $1,000 for each time ice flies from their vehicles and causes death, injury, or property damage. Fines for commercial owners and operators range from $500 to $1,500. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-77.1) Also, motorists who do not remove snow or ice from a vehicle before driving are subject to a fine of $25 to $75 regardless of whether any snow or ice is dislodged from the vehicle. •• Highway construction zones: Speeding or other moving violations in areas undergoing highway construction mean doubled fines. Some offenses include reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, improper passing, tailgating, improper turns, failure to observe traffic lanes, failure to observe a traffic signal or sign, and failure to obey directions of an officer. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-203.5) •• 65 mph zone: Speeding 10 mph or more above the posted speed limit or other certain moving violations in a 65 mph speed zone means doubled fines. Some offenses include racing on a public highway, refusal to comply with an officer’s request, failure to obey traffic signs or signals, failure to comply with rules for passing another vehicle, failure to obey road markings, failure to observe distance between vehicles, and careless driving. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-98.6) •• Failure to comply: Motorists face a $50 fine if they fail to comply with a police officer’s request to illuminate the driver’s compartment of the vehicle when stopped. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-57.1) Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 129

•• insurance fraud: Motorists convicted of fraud on insurance applications and claims forms may receive fines of up to $5,000, or imprisonment for up to three years, or both. In the event the motorist fraudulently receives or attempts to receive $500 or less, he/she may be fined up to $500 and/ or imprisoned for not more than six months as a disorderly person. In addition, a person convicted of an automobile insurance crime will lose his/her driver license for one year. (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-15) •• Hit-and-run: A hit-and-run involving bodily injury or death may result in a fine of $2,500 to $5,000 and/or 180 days in jail for the motorist. In addition, for a first offense, the motorist loses his/her license for one year. For a subsequent offense, the motorist permanently loses his/her license. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-129) •• not approaching and passing vulnerable road users with due caution: Drivers who do not approach and pass vulnerable road users with due caution, which results in bodily injury as defined in N.J.S.2C:11-1, shall be fined $500 and assessed two motor vehicle penalty points; if no bodily injury results, the violator shall be fined $100 and shall not be assessed any penalty points. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-92.4) •• lying on application: Lying when applying for a license or registra- tion will result in a fine of not less than $200 or more than $500 and/ or up to six months’ imprisonment. A motorist will also lose his/her driver license or registration privileges for six months to two years. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-37) •• Driving while suspended: Driving while a driver license and/or registra- tion is suspended can result in the following penalties: •• First offense: Fine of $500 and up to six months additional license and/ or registration suspension. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40) •• second offense: Fine of $750, jail sentence for not more than five days and up to six months additional license and/or registration suspension. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40) •• third offense: Fine of $1,000, a 10-day jail sentence and up to six months additional license and/or registration suspension. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40) Page 130 Driver Privilege anD Penalties Additional penalties for driving while suspended: •• Driving while license and/or registration is suspended for failure to prop- erly insure a vehicle will result in a fine of $500, an additional driver license suspension of one to two years and possible court-ordered imprisonment for up to 90 days. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40) •• Driving while a license and/or registration is suspended and having a crash that causes injury to another person will result in a fine, continued suspension and the potential for a minimum 45-day jail sentence. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40) •• Driving while a license and/or registration is suspended for a drug or alcohol offense, refusal to take a breath test or if the motorist is a habitual offender, will result in a fine of $500 and an additional license suspension of one to two years and/or possible court-ordered imprisonment for 10 to 90 days. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40) •• Driving while a driving privilege is suspended due to driving while under the influence, refusal to submit to a chemical test or for a habitual offender offense and driving on school property or within 1,000 feet of school property or through a school crossing zone will result in one to two years additional suspension time, a $500 fine and between 60 to 90 days imprisonment for a first offense. For second, third and subsequent offenses, the suspension and fines remain the same, but the imprison- ment term is increased to 120, 150 and 180 days, respectively. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40) •• Driving after failing to install an interlock device, as ordered by the court, results in a one-year suspension, in addition to any other suspension or revocation already imposed, and may include penalties as a disorderly person. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.19) •• It is a fourth-degree crime to drive while under suspension for a first violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 (driving under the influence) or N.J.S.A. 39:4- 50.4a (refusal to submit a breath test) and the driver had previously been convicted of driving while suspended while under suspension for the DUI or Refusal conviction. It is a fourth-degree crime to drive while under suspension for any second or subsequent violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 or N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a. (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-26) Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 131 Other violations: •• Allowing a person to operate a vehicle while that person’s license is suspended for driving while intoxicated or refusal to submit to a chemical test. A person who owns or leases a motor vehicle and permits another person to operate their motor vehicle, knowing that the license of the person he permits to operate the motor vehicle is suspended or revoked for a conviction of driving while intoxicated or refusal to submit to a chemical test is subject to license and registration suspension of up to six months, and is also subject to the following penalties: for a first or second offense, a fine of $1,000, imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both; and for a third or subsequent offense, a fine of $1,000, imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both, and forfeiture of the right to operate a motor vehicle over the highways of this State for a period of 90 days. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(h)) •• A person who makes an intentional misstatement of a material fact in an application for registration of a motor vehicle or a driver license, or a person who knowingly sells, loans or gives an identification document to another person for the purpose of aiding that person to obtain a driver license or registration for which that person is not qualified, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 or more than $500 and/or impris- onment for up to six months, in addition to revocation of the registration of the motor vehicle or suspension of the person’s driver license. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-37) •• A person who has another person take the license examination for them, or a person who takes a driver’s license examination in the name of or in the place of another person. A person who has another person take the license examination for them, or a person who takes a driver’s license examination in the name of or in the place of another person is subject to a fine of not less than $200 or more than $500 and/or imprisonment for not less than thirty days or more than ninety days. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-12) •• Failure to pay child support or court-ordered health care coverage. If a licensee owes six months or more of child support or court-ordered health care coverage, or if the licensee fails to respond to a subpoena relating to a paternity or child support action, or a child support-related warrant exists, the licensee’s driver license and professional license are subject to court-ordered suspension. (N.J.S.A. 2A:17-56.41, 2A:17-56.43) •• A boater convicted of operating under the influence (DUI) on New Jersey’s waterways will be suspended from both boating and all driver license privileges and is subject to imprisonment, and will be fined $250 to $500 for the first offense, $500 to $1,000 for the second offense and $1,000 for the third and subsequent offenses. Violators under 17 years of age will have their vehicle and moped license privileges delayed for three months, six months and two years for first, second and third offenses, respectively. (N.J.S.A. 12:7-46) Page 132 Driver Privilege anD Penalties Driving under the influence (DUI) with a minor in the vehicle: •• A parent or guardian who is convicted of DUI and who, at the time of the violation, has a minor (under 18 years old) as a passenger in the motor vehicle is guilty of a disorderly person’s offense. In addition, that person’s driving privilege is subject to suspension for up to six months and they shall be ordered to perform community service for a period of up to five days. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.15) Driver Programs DRIVER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Motorists who accumulate between 12 and 14 points in a 24-month period or more will receive a Notice of Scheduled Suspension by mail from the MVC. Upon receiving the notice, a motorist can do one of the following: •• Attend a New Jersey Driver Improvement Program (may not be eligible if points were accumulated within a 24-month period). •• Request a hearing. •• Surrender his/her driver license for the suspension period. Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 133 The MVC Chief Administrator or an Administrative Law Judge will determine if driving privileges should be suspended for a motorist who is granted a hearing. A motorist who successfully completes a Driver Improvement Program will have three points removed from his/her record. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9) Drivers may schedule training with a licensed Statewide Safety Organization, or a New Jersey-licensed driving school licensed to conduct a New Jersey- approved Driver Improvement Program. Visit the MVC website at www. state.nj.us/mvc/license/driverprograms.htm, for a list of licensed providers. A $75 administration fee, payable to the MVC, is required prior to scheduling a class with a private provider. An additional program fee, payable to the program provider, is also required prior to attending the class. After completion of a Driver Improvement Program or after restoration of a motorist’s driving privilege, he/she will be in a probationary period for one year. Any moving violations that occur during this probationary period will result in a scheduled suspension of the motorist’s driving privileges. PROBATIONARY DRIVER PROGRAM A motorist begins a two-year probationary driver period after receiving a special learner or examination permit. During this probationary period, a motorist convicted of two or more moving violations totaling four or more points must enroll in the Probationary Driver Program, which is administered by a licensed Statewide Safety Organization or New Jersey-licensed driving school licensed to conduct the Probationary Driver Program. (N.J.A.C. 13:20- 17.6) Visit the MVC website, www.state.nj.us/mvc/license/driverprograms. htm, for a list of licensed providers. A $75 administration fee, payable to the MVC, is required prior to scheduling a class with a private provider. Plus, an additional program fee, payable to the program provider, is required prior to attending the class. Completion of this program will result in up to a three-point reduction on an individual motorist’s driver history record. Failure to complete the program or conviction of one or more subsequent moving point violations during the test period will result in a suspension of driving privileges. Page 134 Driver Privilege anD Penalties DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSES Most road crashes are caused by motorist error. To reduce the likelihood of being involved in a crash, a motorist needs to understand the concept of defensive driving. These voluntary courses provide a motorist with standard crash-preventing techniques. Upon completion of the defensive driving course: •• Two points will be removed from the accumulated points currently on a driver license. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9) •• The motorist may qualify for an insurance rate reduction. Contact your insurance agent for more information. The MVC will only recognize a defensive driving course once every five years for point reduction. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9) In addition to classroom-based courses, motorists also have the option of taking an online Defensive Driving course. The MVC provides a list of approved online providers. For a list of state-approved defensive driving courses, visit the MVC website, www.state.nj.us/mvc/license/driverpro- grams.htm. MATURE DRIVER PROGRAM A mature driver should constantly re-evaluate his/her driving skills. Defensive driving courses are available to mature drivers, 55 years and older, at various driving schools or through specific organizations. Various providers offer a driver safety class that is intended to help drivers live more independently as they age and remain safe on today’s roads. The six-hour class, open to everyone, helps motorists refine existing skills and develop safe defensive driving techniques. The course is also available online. As a bonus, course participants may be eligible to receive a state-mandated, multi-year discount on their auto insurance premiums and a reduction of two points off their driving record, if applicable. Other restrictions may apply. Consult your insurance company for details. For a list of state-approved defensive driving courses, visit the MVC website at www.state.nj.us/mvc/license/driverprograms.htm. Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 135 Violation Surcharges and Point Violations Motorists who accumulate six or more points within three years are subject to a surcharge of $150 for six points and $25 for each additional point. Surcharges are levied in addition to any court-imposed fines and penalties. Surcharges will remain operational if a motorist has six or more points on his/her motorist record resulting from violations posted in the preceding three years. Point totals are based on the date the violations are posted to a motorist’s record, not when a violation occurred. (N.J.S.A. 17:29A-35) Standard point reductions do not apply to the violation surcharge system. Convicted or administratively suspended motorists must pay a prescribed dollar amount each year for three years. violations surcharges Unlicensed driver (N.J.A.C. 13:19-13.1) $100 No insurance - motorized bicycle (N.J.A.C. 13:19-13.1) $100 Driving while suspended (court of MVC reported) (N.J.A.C.13:19-13.1) $250 No liability insurance on motor vehicle (N.J.A.C. 13:19-13.2) $250 DUI/Refusal (N.J.S.A. 17:29A-35) $1,000 DUI/Refusal (third if within three years) (N.J.S.A. 17.29A-35) $1,500 Ways to pay a violation surcharge bill: •• Mail payment to NJSVS, P.O. Box 1502, Moorestown, NJ 08057-9704. •• Pay online at www.nJsurcharge.com (online services). •• Use charge-by-phone: call toll free (844) 424-6829 (using MasterCard, Visa or Discover). •• Visit any MVC Regional Service Center in person. Page 136 Driver Privilege anD Penalties Restoration fees may be paid online through our website www.nj.gov/mvc/ license/suspension.htm. Failure to pay any violation surcharges may result in a collection action. The MVC may file a judgment action in state Superior Court for unpaid surcharges, secure a lien against any real property that a motorist owns, file for wage garnishment or take other legal actions. (N.J.S.A. 17:29A-35) Motor vehicle convictions may increase automobile insurance premiums assessed by a motorist’s insurance company. Point System The MVC keeps track of a motorist’s driving record by adding points to the record when the motorist is convicted of a moving violation. The more serious the violation, the more points the motorist is given. See the following point chart for various possible violations. All point violations after March 1, 1974, will stay on a motorist’s driving record. Two points will be added to a driving record for traffic violations committed in other states. Up to three points will be subtracted from a motorist’s point total every year that the motorist goes without a violation or suspension, and the motorist’s driving privileges remain in good standing, but the point total will never be reduced below zero. (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9) Traffic laws are enforceable on highways, roadways, parking areas, driveways, and grounds owned and maintained by government entities. Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 137 Moving Violation Point Chart statute violation Point value N.J.S.A. 27:23-29 Moving against traffic: New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway 2 N.J.S.A. 27:23-29 Improper passing: New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway 4 N.J.S.A. 27:23-29 Unlawful use of median strip: New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway 2 N.J.S.A. 39:3-20 Operating a construction vehicle in excess of 45 mph 3 N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3 Operating a motorized bicycle on a restricted highway 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3d More than one person on a motorized bicycle 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-35 Failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-36 Failure to stop for pedestrian in crosswalk, passing a vehicle yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-41 Driving through a safety zone 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-52 and N.J.S.A. 39:5C-1 Racing on highway 5 N.J.S.A. 39:4-55 Improper action or omission on grades and curves 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-57 Failure to observe a direction of an officer 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-66 Failure to stop a vehicle before crossing a sidewalk 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-66.1 Failure to yield to pedestrians or vehicles while entering or leaving a highway 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-66.2 Operating a motor vehicle on public or private property to avoid a traffic control signal or sign 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-71 Operating a motor vehicle on a sidewalk 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-80 Failure to obey a direction of an officer 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-81 Failure to observe traffic signals 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-82 Failure to keep right 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-82.1 Improper operating of a vehicle on a divided highway or divider 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-83 Failure to keep right at an intersection 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-84 Failure to pass right of vehicle proceeding in opposite direction 5 N.J.S.A. 39:4-85 Improper passing on right or off roadway 4 Page 138 Driver Privilege anD Penalties statute violation Point value N.J.S.A. 39:4-85.1 Wrong way on one-way street 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-86 Improper passing in a no passing zone 4 N.J.S.A. 39:4-87 Failure to yield to an overtaking vehicle 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-88 Failure to observe traffic lanes 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-89 Tailgating 5 N.J.S.A. 39:4-90 Failure to yield at an intersection 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-90.1 Failure to use proper entrances to limited access highways 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-91 and N.J.S.A. 39:4-92 Failure to yield to emergency vehicle 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-96 Reckless driving 5 N.J.S.A. 39:4-97 Careless driving 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-97a Destruction of agricultural or recreational property 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.1 Slow speed blocking traffic 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.2 Driving in an unsafe manner (points assessed for a third or subsequent violation(s) occurring within five years of the most recent previous offense) 4 N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.3 Using a hand-held cell phone or electronic communication device while driving. (Points will be assessed against a third conviction within 10 years of a second conviction and all fourth and subsequent offenses.) 3 N.J.S.A. 39:4-98 and N.J.S.A. 39:4-99 Exceeding maximum speed 1-14 mph over the limit 2 Exceeding maximum speed 15-29 mph over the limit 4 Exceeding maximum speed 30 mph or more over the limit 5 N.J.S.A. 39:4-105 Failure to stop for a traffic light 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-115 Improper turn at a traffic light 3 N.J.S.A. 39:4-119 Failure to stop at a flashing red signal 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-122 Failure to stop for a police whistle 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-123 Improper right or left turn 3 N.J.S.A. 39:4-124 Improper turn from an approved turning course 3 N.J.S.A. 39:4-125 Improper U-turn 3 N.J.S.A. 39:4-126 Failure to give proper signal 2 Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 139

statute violation Point value N.J.S.A. 39:4-127 Improper backing or turning in street 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-127.1 Improper crossing of a railroad grade crossing 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-127.2 Improper crossing of a bridge 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-128 Improper crossing of a railroad grade crossing by certain vehicles 2 N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.1 Improper passing of a school bus 5 N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.4 Improper passing of a frozen dessert truck 4 N.J.S.A. 39:4-129 Leaving the scene of a crash No personal injury 2 Personal injury 8 N.J.S.A. 39:4-144 Failure to observe Stop or Yield signs 2 N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.6 Moving violation out-of-state 2 N.J.S.A 39:4-92.2 Procedure for motorist approaching certain stationary vehicles - “Move Over Law” 2 Interstate Compacts New Jersey belongs to two interstate compacts. Member states exchange information to ensure motorists comply with the law and that they receive penalties for violations. The Nonresident Violator Compact assures that nonresident motorists in member states will receive the same treatment as resident motorists. When motorists receive traffic citations in member states, they must fulfill the terms of that citation or face the possibility of license suspension in their home state until they meet those terms. Nonresident motorists have due process protection and cannot be detained out of state. Currently, 44 states and the District of Columbia are members of the compact. Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and Wisconsin are non-members. The compact does not apply to parking or standing violations, highway weight limit violations, and violations of hazmat transportation laws. (N.J.S.A. 39:5F-1 through 39:5F-30) The Driver License Compact exchanges violation information with other states and the District of Columbia. Out-of-state violations become part of a motorist’s New Jersey driving record. Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin are non-member states. (N.J.S.A. 39:5D-1 through 39:5D-14) Page 140 Driver Privilege anD Penalties Page 141 8Sharing the Road with Others Page 142 SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Page 143 Section Contents 144 People 146 Vehicles 155 Animals Page 144 SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS It is important for a motorist to maintain an awareness of how to operate his/her vehicle in a manner that safely shares the roadway with pedestri- ans, bicyclists, skaters, riders of motorized scooters, and other non-motor- ized vehicles. Sharing the road means being aware of and knowing how to safely pass a cyclist on the roadway, recognizing bicycle lanes, safely navigating intersections with pedestrians and cyclists, and exiting a vehicle without endangering pedestrians and cyclists. It is a motorist’s responsibil- ity to know how to safely share the road with others. People PEDESTRIANS In 2016, 166 pedestrians were killed in traffic-related crashes on New Jersey roadways. Although reduced from 173 in 2015, pedestrian deaths still accounted for 27 percent of New Jersey traffic fatalities in 2016 as compared to the national average of 15 percent. These fatalities need to be brought down further, with the goal of zero deaths. Many of the measures designed to make roads safer for motorists, such as large medians and wide shoulders, make the roads more treacherous for pedestrians. Vehicle- pedestrian crashes have a five percent fatality rate if the car is going 20 mph, but the rate jumps to 85 percent at 40 mph. Pedestrian activity is at its greatest in densely developed areas, such as cities and town centers, but it also is significant in neighborhoods and along and across suburban roadways. Motorists should take special precautions to watch for pedestrians. In most cases, pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections. There is a crosswalk at every intersection, even if it is not marked as such. This is known as an “unmarked crosswalk.” Pedestrians must obey pedestrian signals and use crosswalks at signalized intersections. There is a $54 fine for failure to observe the law. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-32 and 33) The penalty for pedestrians under 17 who violate the pedestrian laws is a $22 fine. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-203.3) Motorists are prohibited from blocking a crosswalk when stopped at a red light or stop sign. A motorist must not stop with any portion of his/her vehicle in the crosswalk area. When a motorist blocks a crosswalk, pedestrians are forced to go around the vehicle, putting them in danger. The driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a marked crosswalk, and shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county, or State regulation, and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. A motorist in violation of the law may face a fine of up to $200 and may be assessed 2 points on his/her driver record. The court may also impose a term of community service not to exceed 15 days. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-36) If a pedestrian suffers serious bodily injury because of a motorist’s violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-36, the motorist is subject to a $100-$500 fine, up to 25 days in jail and a driving privilege suspension of up to 6 months. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-36) This frequently causes severe injury or death to pedestrians, especially if the passing vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed. When stopping for a crosswalk on a multi- lane road, a motorist should stop approximately 30 feet before a crosswalk to avoid blocking visibility of a motorist in the second lane. Motorists should watch for signs that mark special hazard areas, such as school zones, bus stops, playgrounds, parks, and schools, where children are most likely to play or cross the streets. Children chasing a ball, for instance, give no thought to traffic. Small children are hard to see. Always watch for movement around parked vehicles. Motorists should drive cautiously along roadways with on-street parking, as pedestrians may appear from between parked vehicles. Motorists traveling at lower speeds will have a greater ability to stop their vehicle and avoid potential conflicts with pedestrians. Motorists should also follow the Safe Passing Law, which states that drivers must approach and pass vulnerable road users with “due caution.” “Due caution” means both slowing down and giving the other user plenty of space when passing: (1) Drivers must follow all current no passing and no speeding laws and move over a lane if there is one to move into, (2) On a single-lane road, drivers must allow at least a 4-foot safety zone when they pass, and (3) If 4 feet is not possible on a section of road, drivers must slow to 25 mph and be prepared to stop until they can pass safely without endangering those sharing the road. Drivers who do not follow the Safe Passing Law and cause bodily injury as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1 shall be fined $500 and assessed two motor vehicle penalty points; if no bodily injury results, the violator shall be fined $100 and shall not be assessed any penalty points. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-92.4) Pedestrians and joggers should always face oncoming traffic and use sidewalks when available. They should cross at crosswalks only on the proper signal, look all ways before crossing, avoid crossing between parked vehicles, and at night, wear light-colored or reflective clothes and carry a white handkerchief or a light. It is not good practice to wear headphones while walking or jogging near the roadway. At night, motorists should watch for anyone walking along a highway and exercise due caution. None of the above precautions absolve motorists from their duty to be extra vigilant in watching for pedestrians on the roadway. SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Page 145 Always watch for pedestrians. Be extra careful at intersections, particularly when making a permitted right turn on red. Motorists are required to stop for pedestrians who have the right-of-way within a crosswalk, and to yield to those who are crossing at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Be alert for pedestrians when making turns and entering and exiting drive- ways, parking lots, and alleys. VISUALLY CHALLENGED PERSONS The law is extremely specific that motorists must give the right-of-way when any of the following crosses any highway or intersection: blind persons who use a predominately white or metallic cane, blind persons accompanied by a guide dog, or a guide dog instructor engaged in instructing a guide dog. A motorist must stop when he/she sees a person with a white or metallic “colored” cane, or a blind person or instructor with a guide dog. All motorists must comply with this law. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-37.1) Vehicles MOTORCYCLES Be Alert! The laws governing four-wheeled vehicles such as cars and trucks also govern motorcycles. However, a motorcycle rider may react differently to situations when compared to other motorists. Always keep in mind several key items when sharing the road with motorcycles: •• Be aware of slippery, sloped, or uneven surfaces, or grooves and gratings in the roadway. These present potential hazards for motorcycle riders. •• Check blind spots twice before changing lanes or making turns. •• Watch for motorcycles at intersections and when making a left turn. •• Always signal your intentions. •• Anticipate a motorcycle rider’s maneuver to avoid obstructions that may be minimal to a car or truck, but dangerous to a motorcycle. •• Always leave plenty of room between an automobile and a motorcycle. •• Never follow a motorcycle too closely because motorcycles could brake within shorter distances than other types of vehicles. Page 146 SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS When passed by a motorcycle, a motorist should maintain his/her speed and position. Allow plenty of room for the motorcycle to complete the pass and resume proper lane position. A motorist’s failure to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the most common cause of motorcycle crashes. For more information on motorcycle safety, visit www.njridesafe.org. TRUCKS, TRACTOR-TRAILERS, AND BUSES A motorist should always use caution when driving alongside trucks, trac- tor-trailers, and buses. Sharing the road with larger vehicles can be safe if the motorist knows the limitations of these vehicles regarding visibility, required stopping distance and maneuverability. When passing a large truck, trac- tor-trailer, or bus, it is important to remember that there are several no-zones (blind spots) in which the truck, tractor-trailer, or bus driver cannot see other vehicles. In addition, during bad weather, a truck, or tractor-trailer, or bus can take as much as 25 percent longer to stop. The no-zone principle Avoid the areas around trucks, tractor-trailers, and buses where vehicles disappear into blind spots. Do not move so close to a truck or bus that the driver’s ability to stop or maneuver effectively is restricted. The potential for a crash is increased when a motorist is riding in the no-zone. If the driver of a large truck, or tractor-trailer, or bus cannot see another motorist’s vehicle in the rearview or side-view mirrors, the vehicle is in a no-zone, or blind spot. SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Page 147 NO-ZONE NO-ZONE NO-ZONE 10-20 FEET NO-ZONE 200 FEET The red areas are “no-zones.” If you are in one of these areas, the driver of the truck can’t see you Rear no-zone Stay far behind a truck or tractor-trailer that is preparing to back up or is backing up. Never pass close behind a truck or tractor-trailer that is prepar- ing to back up or is in the process of backing up. Because of their width, trucks, and tractor-trailers completely hide objects that suddenly come between them and a loading area. The area behind the truck or tractor-trailer is a no-zone (blind spot), not only for the truck or tractor-trailer driver but for other motorists as well. Page 148 SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Use caution when passing trucks. They make wide turns. A motorist should increase following distance behind a truck, tractor-trailer, or bus so its driver can spot a motorist’s vehicle in the rearview mirrors. Never tailgate or remain sandwiched between trucks, tractor-trailers, or buses. A motorist should maintain a sizeable space cushion between his/her vehicle and larger vehicles. Leave space when stopping at a light or sign behind a truck, tractor-trailer, or bus, especially when facing uphill. Larger vehicles may roll backward slightly when starting. Give more road space to a truck driver who is making a wide turn. Because trucks are larger than other vehicles, their drivers may have to slow, back up or swing wide to negotiate a turn. They cannot see smaller vehicles directly behind or beside them. For example, a truck may have to swing wide to the left to make a right turn. Front no-zone Maintain a consistent speed when passing. Do not pull in front of a truck when passing until the whole front of the truck can be seen in the rearview mirror. Always signal before changing lanes. Never pass a truck on the right. SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Page 149

Side no-zone Drive away from the long blind spots on the sides of trucks. If the truck driver must quickly change lanes or make an emergency maneuver, a vehicle in this area will be in the way. Do not linger alongside a truck when passing. Head-on no-zone A motorist should bear right when a large vehicle is traveling toward his/her vehicle from opposite direction. This reduces wind turbulence between the motorist and the larger vehicle, and possibly prevents a sideswipe. YIELDING TO SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES State law requires all non-emergency vehicles to yield the right-of-way to buses re-entering traffic after dropping off or picking up bus passengers. However, once the bus is back in the normal flow of traffic, motorists are not required to yield the right-of-way to buses changing lanes. Bus operators are required to drive in a safe and responsible manner. The yield law was enacted to improve safety on the state’s roadways. Violations of this law carry a fine of not less than $50 or more than $200, up to 15 days in jail or both a fine and jail term. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-87.1) MOPEDS Motorized bicycles, or mopeds, are low-speed, two-wheeled vehicles with pedals, intended for limited use on public roadways. Moped drivers may not exceed 25 mph, must follow all traffic signs and signals, and drive on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic. A motorist should always be alert for mopeds, which are smaller than motorcycles and may be harder to see. Moped drivers have the same rights and responsibilities as those driving other motor vehicles. A copy of the New Jersey Moped Manual may be viewed online at www.njmvc.gov. BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS, AND INLINE SKATES Under New Jersey law, bicyclists, skateboarders, and inline skaters have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. They are, however, classified as vulnerable road users, and in New Jersey, there are high rates of bicyclist injuries and fatalities, according to State Police data. A motorist should follow the Safe Passing Law when passing or approaching a bicyclist, skateboarder, or inline skater traveling in the same direction. This law states that drivers must approach and pass vulnerable road users with “due caution.” “Due caution” means both slowing down and giving the other user plenty of space when passing: (1) Drivers must follow all current no passing and no speeding laws, and move over a lane if there is one to move into, (2) On a single-lane road, drivers must allow at least a 4-foot safety zone when they pass, and (3) If 4 feet is not possible on a section of road, drivers must slow to 25 mph and be prepared to stop until they can pass safely Page 150 SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS without endangering those sharing the road. Drivers who do not follow the Safe Passing Law and cause bodily injury as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1 shall be fined $500 and assessed two motor vehicle penalty points; if no bodily injury results, the violator shall be fined $100 and shall not be assessed any penalty points. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-92.4) While bicycles ridden after dark must have front and rear lights, and a rear reflector, these illumination devices may be hard for a motorist to see. A motorist should always remain alert to the presence of smaller vehicles. When turning right, motorists should be aware of bicyclists, skateboarders, and inline skaters. Before turning, the motorist should wait until the intersection clears. Motorists signaling a right turn must yield to bicyclists, skateboarders, or inline skaters moving through an intersection. To turn left, a bicyclist, skateboarder, or inline skater may choose to use traffic lanes to turn as a vehicle would. A motorist should be aware that a bicyclist, skateboarder, or inline skater may ride on the right edge of the turn lane. Remember that motorists share the road with bicyclists, skateboarders, and inline skaters. Please be sure that you are helping to keep the roads safe by observing these safety precautions: •• Check your blind spots before turning, parallel parking, opening a door, or pulling away from a curb. •• Check around your vehicle by turning your head instead of relying only on your mirrors. •• When turning right, be sure to check for other traffic, including bicyclists, skateboarders, and inline skaters, and avoid turning in front of them. They may not be able to stop quickly. •• When turning left, yield to all oncoming traffic including bicyclists, skateboarders, and inline skaters. If a bicyclist, skateboarder, or inline skater is in front of you in a left turn lane, wait for them to complete their turn before you proceed. MOTORIZED SCOOTERS (N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.12 THROUGH 39:4-14.15; N.J.S.A. 39.1-1) A motorized scooter is a miniature motor vehicle. Although it is illegal for these vehicles to be driven on any public road or sidewalk, except on designated municipal or county property, motorists must be especially alert if these types of vehicles are present. Motorized scooters may be extremely hard to see. SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Page 151 Motorized scooters must be registered in the municipality or county where the owner resides and must be insured. No one under the age of 12 (or the age determined by the municipality or county where the motorized scooter will be operated) is permitted to operate a motorized scooter. Examples of motorized scooters include but are not limited to: •• Pocket bikes. •• Sport scooters. •• Super pocket bikes. •• Mini choppers. •• Scooters. •• Mini motorcycles. •• Mini scooters. •• Motorized skateboards. •• Other vehicles with motors not manufactured in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and which have no permanent Federal Safety Certification stickers affixed to the vehicle by the original manufacturer. The following are not motorized scooters: •• Electric personal mobility-assistive devices. •• Motorized bicycles and low-speed vehicles. •• Motorized wheelchairs. •• Mobility scooters or similar mobility-assistive devices used by persons with physical disabilities or person whose ambulatory mobility has been impaired by age or illness. INDIVIDUALS WITH A MOBILITY-RELATED DISABILITY State law allows individuals with a mobility-related disability to operate certain motorized scooters on any public street, with a posted speed limit not exceeding 25 mph. In addition, they may operate on public streets, with a posted speed limit more than 25 mph but not more than 35 mph if local government determines that the motorized scooter does not pose a danger to safety and the flow of traffic. The motorized scooter may only have a maximum speed capability of no more than 15 mph. (N.J.S.A. 39:4- 14.12 through 39:4-14.15) Page 152 SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS LOW-SPEED VEHICLES (N.J.S.A. 39:4-31.1 THROUGH 39:4-31.5) A low-speed vehicle (LSV) is a four-wheeled vehicle with an attainable speed of more than 20 mph, but no more than 25 mph on a paved surface. It cannot be powered by gas or diesel fuel and must comply with federal safety standards. Motorists should be alert when LSVs are present, as they may be difficult to see. TRAINS Trains can travel on any track, in either direction, or at any time. Motorists who ignore passive and active warning devices at railroad crossings risk serious and even deadly consequences. It is important to always remain alert to railroad crossings and never drive through flashing red lights or around descending or lowered gates. Remember these important tips: •• When you see the yellow, circular RR crossing advance warning sign and white RR crossing pavement markings, there is a railroad crossing ahead. •• Never race a train to a crossing. •• Do not be fooled – trains can appear as visual or optical illusions. The train you see is closer and moving faster than you think. •• Understand that trains cannot stop quickly. A freight train traveling at 55 mph can take a mile or more to stop. •• Trains always have the right of way. Motorists must yield to approaching trains. •• Do not get your vehicle boxed in on railroad tracks. Only proceed through a railroad crossing when there is room on the other side to get completely across the tracks without stopping. Trains can be three or more feet wider than the tracks on both sides. •• If your vehicle ever stalls on railroad tracks, get out immediately and move quickly away from the vehicle and tracks at a 45-degree angle in the direction from which the train is coming. Call the number on the Emergency Notification sign located at the crossing or 911. •• Do not pass other vehicles within 100 feet of a railroad crossing. •• If you are driving a standard transmission vehicle do not shift gears while crossing railroad tracks. •• Cross tracks only at designated railroad crossings, where you see warning devices. Railroad property is private property, and it is dangerous and ille- gal to cross railroad tracks at any location other than a marked crossing. •• When preparing to cross railroad tracks at a designated crossing, a motorist should obey warning devices, eliminate distractions, look both ways, listen for an approaching train and proceed quickly across the tracks. Never stop on railroad tracks. SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Page 153 SNOWMOBILES, ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES (ATVs), AND DIRT BIKES (N.J.S.A. 39:3C-1 THROUGH 39:3C-31) Motorists must be aware of the presence of legally registered snowmobiles, ATVs, and dirt bikes that may attempt to cross certain roadways. While it is illegal for these types of vehicles to ride on public roadways with other vehicles, they are permit- ted to cross certain roadways when safety permits. Operators of snowmobiles, ATVs, and dirt bikes must maintain a proof of insurance and always display the vehicle’s registration. Page 154 SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Animals Animals often dart onto roads or streets. Trying to avoid them often causes crashes. By swerving, the vehicle may hit something else or be hit by another vehicle from behind. The best defense against such crashes is to watch for animals on both sides of the road ahead and be prepared for unexpected movement. HORSEBACK RIDERS & HORSE-DRAWN VEHICLES Horse-drawn vehicles and horseback riders have the same rights and responsibilities as do drivers of motor vehicles when using public roadways. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-25.1) When approaching or passing a person riding or driving a horse-drawn vehicle, motorists are required to reduce their speed to 25 mph or less and proceed with caution. Additionally, at the request of, or upon a signal by putting up the hand or otherwise, of a person riding or driving a horse-drawn vehicle in the opposite direction, the motorist must stop his/her motor vehicle and remain stationary for as long as it takes the horse to pass. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-72) Horse-drawn vehicles and horseback riders may not use certain limited-ac- cess highways and must ride with traffic, keeping as far to the right as possible. Other rules apply. Speeding and illumination rules apply. A light must be displayed on the front of the horse-drawn •• 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. •• If visibility is 500 feet or less. •• When encountering fog, mist, smoke, or other factors that reduce visibility. (N.J.S.A. 39:4-25) SHARING THE ROAD WITH OTHERS Page 155 9Vehicle Information Page 156 Vehicle information Page 157 Section Contents 158 Vehicle Title and Registration 159 License Plates 160 Vehicle Inspection 161 Insurance Page 158 Vehicle information In addition to safely navigating the roadways, a motorist must also under- stand the requirements for vehicles that he/she drives. Vehicle Title and Registration New Jersey residents who buy a new or used vehicle must title, register, and insure it before driving it on public roads. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-4, 39:10-11, 39:6B-1, 39:6B-2) New Jersey law states a vehicle classified under the Lemon Law must have the classification on the title. (N.J.S.A. 39:10-9.3) For information about the Lemon Law, contact the Lemon Law Unit of the Division of Consumer Affairs at (973) 504-6200. If a motorist moves into this State, the law requires his/her vehicle to be titled and registered within 60 days; sooner, if the out-of-state registration expires before then. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-17.1) The titled owner (person whose name appears on the title as the owner) or a person with authority to act on the vehicle owner’s behalf1 is required to visit an MVC Vehicle Center to process the transaction. An initial registration for a brand-new vehicle is valid for four years. All other registrations are typically valid for one year.2 (N.J.S.A. 39:3-4) HOW TO COMPLETE AN INITIAL REGISTRATION Complete a New Jersey Vehicle Registration application (BA-49) at any MVC Vehicle Center. Provide the name of the vehicle’s current insurance company and the policy number on the application. Show proof of vehicle ownership. For a new vehicle, a manufacturer’s certifi- cate of origin and dealer’s certificate of sale are proof. For a previously owned vehicle, a title signed by the previous owner is proof. For a leased vehicle, get a power of attorney from the leasing company. For out-of-state vehicles that are leased or financed, secure the original title from the lien holder or leasing company. Visit www.njmvc.gov or call (609) 292-6500 for more information. Show proof that the required sales tax has been paid or pay the tax at any MVC Vehicle Center. 1 Visit www.njmvc.gov for specific information on who is authorized to act on the owner’s behalf. 2 Visit www.njmvc.gov for exceptions. License Plates (N.J.S.A. 39:3-33) Motorists will receive two matching license plates upon registering a vehicle. One plate is provided when registering a trailer, moped or motorcycle. For passenger vehicles, one plate should be attached to the front of the vehicle and the other to the rear, at least 12 inches but less than 48 inches above the ground. Both plates must be clean and visible. The rear plate must be light- ed, so it is visible from 50 feet at night, even with reflectorized plates. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-48b) Using license plates covers or holders that obscure or conceal any lettering on the license plate is a violation, with a fine of up to $100. LICENSE PLATE FACTS •• Report lost or stolen plates to local police. Retain a copy of the complaint. Inform the MVC. •• Replace lost or damaged plates within 24 hours at any MVC Vehicle Center and turn in the old plates at any MVC agency or mail them to the MVC, P.O. Box 403, Trenton, NJ 08666-0403. •• Transfer plates to your new vehicle. Most plates are transferable. Visit www.njmvc.gov or call (609) 292-6500 for details. •• If a motorist sells his/her vehicle and does not transfer the plates to another vehicle, he/she must surrender the old plates at any MVC agency or mail them to the MVC, P.O. Box 129, Trenton, NJ 08666-0129. A receipt will be provided. It should be kept in a safe place. •• Obtain other information about personalized or specialty plates from any MVC Vehicle Center or at www.njmvc.gov or call (609) 292-6500. •• A motorist may place only valid plates on his/her vehicle. Forged or counterfeit license plates on any motor vehicle may result in a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days impris- onment or a license suspension of up to six months. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-33, 39:3-38) •• If a motorist terminates vehicle insurance, the plates must be returned to the MVC. (N.J.A.C. 13:21-5.10b) •• If your vehicle is sold, junked or destroyed and you do not intend to purchase another, you must turn in the license plates to the NJMVC for cancellation. You must follow the procedure for surrendering license plates at a motor vehicle agency or by mail. Vehicle information Page 159

Vehicle Inspection All gasoline-fueled, passenger-registered vehicles, model year 1996 and newer, more than five model years old, registered in New Jersey, must pass State inspections every two years at a State inspection station or a State- licensed private inspection facility (PIF). (N.J.S.A. 39:8-2, N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.2) In addition, all diesel-fueled, passenger-registered vehicles, model year 1997 and newer, more than five model years old, with a GVWR of 8,500 pounds or less, registered in New Jersey must pass State emissions inspections every two years at a State inspection station or a PIF. (N.J.S.A. 39:8-2 and N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.2) All new passenger vehicles less than five model years old are issued a new car dealer sticker expiring five years after they are initially registered. (N.J.S.A. 39:8-2 and N.J.A.C. 13:20-28.6) All gasoline-fueled, commercial-registered vehicles and diesel-powered, commercial- registered vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 or less, are required to be inspected annually. When purchased at a deal- ership, these commercial-registered vehicles that are less than one year old will receive a new car dealer sticker expiring one year after they are initially registered. (N.J.S.A. 39:8-2 and N.J.A.C. 13:20-37.1) High-rise and reconstructed vehicles must be taken to specially equipped inspection stations in Winslow, Asbury Park or Westfield. Call (888) 656-6867 for more information. All motorists must bring a valid driver license, and valid New Jersey registration, and insurance documents for the vehicle to be inspected at either a State inspection facility or a PIF. When moving to New Jersey from another state, a motorist must have his/her passenger vehicle five model years or older inspected within 14 days after registering it. (N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4) If the passenger vehicle is less than five model years old, the vehicle will be exempted from inspection and will receive a new car dealer sticker expiring five years from the model year. If the vehicle is registered commercially, it is required to be inspected annu- ally. If the commercial vehicle is less than a year old, it will be issued a new car dealer sticker expiring when the vehicle becomes a year old. For motor vehicle inspection information, please call 1-888-NJMOTOR (1-888-656-6867) or visit www.njinspections.com. Page 160 Vehicle information Insurance Motor vehicle liability insurance is mandatory in the State of New Jersey. Every vehicle registered in New Jersey must have liability insurance. (N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1, 39:6B-2) The type and cost of insurance coverage can vary. Visit the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) website at www.state.nj.us/dobi/index.html to review the many insurance coverage choices or contact an insurance company. A New Jersey Identification (ID) Card will be provided for each vehicle insured under a policy. This card must remain in the vehicle with the driver. It must be shown prior to inspection, when involved in a crash and when stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation or roadside spot check. An electronic version of the Insurance ID card is acceptable. Failure to maintain liability insurance or driving with an uninsured vehicle can result in fines, community service, license and registration suspension, and violation surcharges. INSURANCE FRAUD The Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) in the Division of Criminal Justice aggressively investigates and prosecutes individuals who engage in insurance fraud. If a person commits insurance fraud by providing false information to an insurance company while making a claim or submit- ting an insurance application, the OIFP can file criminal charges that can result in incarceration. It may also impose civil fines of up to $15,000 for each violation. (N.J.S.A. 17:33A-5) In addition, a person convicted of insurance fraud could lose his/her driver license. Because fraud increases the cost of insurance for all New Jerseyans, motor- ists can help the OIFP by reporting fraud. Visit https://www.nj.gov/dobi/ index.html and click on Report Fraud, or call (877) 55-fraUD (877-553- 7283). All tips are kept strictly anonymous and confidential. Vehicle information Page 161 10Motorcycle Manual Page 162 Motorcycle Manual Page 163 Section Contents 164 New Jersey’s Definition of a Motorcycle 164 Getting a Motorcycle Endorsement or License 167 How to Get a Motorcycle License Without a Driver License 169 How to Get a Motorcycle Permit 170 How to Register a Motorcycle 170 Practice Riding and Road Test 172 Prepare to Ride 176 Motorcycle Check 177 Get Familiar with the Motorcycle 177 Control for Safety 180 See, Be Seen, and Be Heard 184 Use the SIPDE System 186 Check Blind Spots 188 Keep the Proper Distance 191 Handling Dangerous Surfaces 195 Ride Cautiously at Night 195 Know Hazards 199 Carrying Passengers and Cargo 201 Learning Group Riding 203 Ride Sober and Awake 205 Checking the Motorcycle 207 Accessories and Modifications Page 164 Motorcycle Manual New Jersey’s Definition of a Motorcycle According to New Jersey law, the classification of motorcycles includes motorcycles, autocycles, motor bikes, bicycles with a motor attached, and all other motor operated vehicles of the bicycle or tricycle (trike) type, but not motorized bicycles. The motor power can be part of the vehicle or attached. The vehicle must have a saddle or seat for the driver to sit astride or upon, or a platform on which to stand. Getting a Motorcycle Endorsement or License Every New Jersey resident who operates a motorcycle or trike must have a New Jersey motorcycle driver license or a motorcycle endorsement on an existing New Jersey basic or commercial license. Two exceptions exist: 1.1. The operator of a three-wheeled motor vehicle, equipped with a single cab that has a glazing around the occupant, seats like those of a passen- ger vehicle or truck, seat belts or automotive steering, is not required to have a motorcycle endorsement added to their basic automobile driver license, and is not required to wear a helmet. 2.2. The operator of a low-speed motorcycle. Applicants who already have a valid New Jersey basic or commercial driver license may qualify for test of knowledge and motorcycle road test waivers by taking an approved NJ Motorcycle Safety Education Program (MSEP) Basic Rider Course (BRC). For details, please visit www.njridesafe.org. Some applicants may not qualify for waivers, including those in the Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program. Contact the MVC for details, at (609) 292-6500. note: Anyone under the age of 18 is required to take the Motorcycle Safety Education Program Basic Rider Course before receiving a motorcycle endorsement. note: A valid basic driver license is required to operate an autocycle. A motorcycle license or endorsement is not required. LOW-SPEED MOTORCYCLES Basic auto license holders can operate a low-speed motorcycle without any endorsement or separate motorcycle license. Low-speed motorcycles are less than 50cc or have a motor rated at no more than 1.5 brake horsepower with a maximum speed of no more than 35 mph on a flat surface. Low-speed motorcycles may not be operated on any state toll road, limited-access highway, or any public road with a posted speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.11) Note: Anyone who takes a road test at MVC on a motorcycle that is 231cc or less is restricted to riding only a 500cc or less motorcycle (M endorsement or Class E motorcycle-only license with restriction). If the road test is taken on a motorcycle that is over 231cc, there will be no restriction with the M endorse- ment or motorcycle-only license. Anyone who successfully completes a Motorcycle Safety Education Program (MSEP) course is exempt from this motorcycle size requirement and will not be restricted. Riders who are restricted to a motorcycle that is 500cc or less will have a restriction “5” noted on their license and will be required to carry an MVC-issued restriction card while operating the motorcycle. HOW TO ADD A MOTORCYCLE ENDORSEMENT TO YOUR DRIVER LICENSE Enroll in a basic rider course, (or a 3-wheel basic rider course for trikes) or begin by purchasing a permit at a local MVC Licensing Center. ENROLL IN A BASIC RIDER COURSE Step 1: Take Basic Rider Course •• Register with an approved motorcycle training provider. •• Take motorcycle training course. Step 2: Get Course Completion Documents •• 100% participation required. •• Must successfully complete course. •• Will receive a stamped waiver form and a completion card. note: You must add a motorcycle endorsement to your license before you begin riding after completing the course. No motorcycle permit required to take a rider course. Motorcycle Manual Page 165 Step 3: Get Motorcycle Endorsement •• Must bring course completion documents to a driver testing center and prove your identity by passing 6-Point ID Verification. •• Must apply for a motorcycle permit. •• Must be at least 17 years old; parent/guardian consent required under age 18. •• Must pass vision test. •• Must pay required fee. APPLY WITHOUT A BASIC RIDER COURSE Motorcycle Permit Required First. Must Be At Least Age 18 To Take The MVC Road Test. Step 1: Get A Motorcycle Examination Permit •• Apply for a motorcycle permit at a local MVC Licensing Center. •• Must be at least 17 years old; parent/guardian consent required under age 18. •• Must pass MVC’s knowledge and vision tests. •• Make road test appointment date. •• Must pay required fee. Step 2: Practice Ride •• Must practice ride for at least 20 days. •• Must observe motorcycle permit riding restrictions. Step 3: Take Motorcycle Road Test at MVC Test Site •• Must bring your own motorcycle (registered and insured), helmet, and eye protection. •• Must pass road test (Must be at least age 18). Step 4: Get Motorcycle Endorsement •• Must pay required fee. Page 166 Motorcycle Manual How to Get a Motorcycle License Without a Driver License **Always begin by purchasing a permit at a local MVC Licensing Center** ENROLL IN A BASIC RIDER COURSE Motorcycle permit required first. Anyone under the age of 18 is required to take the Motorcycle Safety Education Basic Rider Course. Step 1: Get A Motorcycle Examination Permit •• Apply for a motorcycle permit at a local MVC Licensing Center. •• Must be at least 17 years old; parent/guardian consent required under age 18. •• Must pass MVC’s knowledge and vision tests. •• Must pay required fee. Step 2: Practice Ride •• Must practice ride for at least 6 months if under the age of 21 or 3 months if over 21 without any suspensions or postponements. •• Must observe motorcycle permit riding restrictions. Step 3: Take Basic Rider Course with An Approved Motorcycle Training Provider •• Register with a motorcycle training provider. •• Take a motorcycle training course. (Steps 2 and 3 can be interchanged. You must have your practice riding time in before getting your motorcycle license.) Step 4: Get Course Completion Documents •• 100% participation required. •• Must successfully complete course. •• Will receive a course completion card only (not a road test waiver). Motorcycle Manual Page 167 Step 5: Take Motorcycle Road Test at MVC Test Site •• Must bring your own motorcycle (registered and insured), helmet, and eye protection. Step 6: Get Probationary Motorcycle License (Class E) •• Must pass MVC’s road test. •• Must pay required fee. Step 7: Probationary Riding Privileges •• Must ride for at least one year. •• Must follow probationary driver license restrictions. Step 8: Get Unrestricted Motorcycle License •• Must be at least 18 years old. •• Must have completed one year of riding. •• Must pay required fee. APPLY WITHOUT A BASIC RIDER COURSE Motorcycle permit required first. Must be at least 18 years old to take the MVC Road Test. Step 1: Get A Motorcycle Examination Permit •• Apply for a motorcycle permit at a local MVC Licensing Center. •• Must be at least 17 years old; parent/guardian consent required under age 18. •• Must pass MVC’s knowledge and vision tests. •• Must pay required fee. Step 2: Practice Ride •• Must practice ride for at least 6 months if under the age of 21 or 3 months if over age 21 without any suspensions or postponements. •• Must observe motorcycle permit riding restrictions. Step 3: Take Motorcycle Road Test at MVC Test Site •• Must bring your own motorcycle (registered and insured), helmet, and eye protection. Step 4: Get Probationary Motorcycle License (Class E) •• Must pass road test (Must be at least age 18). •• Must pay required fee. Page 168 Motorcycle Manual Step 5: Probationary Riding Privileges •• Must ride for at least one year. •• Must follow probationary driver license restrictions. Step 6: Get Unrestricted Motorcycle License •• Must be at least 18 years old. •• Must have completed one year of riding. •• Must pay required fee. How to Get a Motorcycle Permit? •• You must be at least 17 years old; parent/guardian consent required under age 18. •• Complete a motorcycle permit application from an MVC Licensing Center. •• Pass the 6-Point ID Verification. •• Pay $5 permit fee. •• Pass the knowledge and vision tests to validate your permit. •• Study by reading the Driver Manual and Motorcycle Manual. MOTORCYCLE PERMIT RIDING RESTRICTIONS The holder of a motorcycle examination permit is prohibited from: •• Operating a motorcycle from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. •• Carrying passengers. •• Riding on any state toll road or limited-access highway. Motorcycle Manual Page 169

PRACTICING WITH YOUR PERMIT You must practice with a permit for at least 20 days before being eligible to take the road test. A motorcycle examination permit holder is no longer required to have an accompanying rider. How to Register a Motorcycle New Jersey’s annual motorcycle registration fee is $65. To register a motor- cycle, bring a valid insurance card and title to any MVC Vehicle Center. One license plate must always be displayed on the rear of the motorcycle. Qualified motorcyclists can obtain a Person with a Disability license plate that allows them to park in specially marked parking spaces. To obtain an application online visit www.njmvc.gov or request one by calling (609) 292-6500. Mail completed application to: MVc Special Plate unit P.o. Box 015 trenton, nJ 08666-0015 Riders should keep in mind that it is their responsibility to make sure their motorcycles are free from mechanical defects and are operating properly. Although motorcycles are no longer required to be inspected in New Jersey, law enforcement may still perform a roadside inspection and issue citations to cyclists for equipment out of compliance or failure to make repairs. Practice Riding and Road Test note: The following section does not refer to those testing on a trike. The trike test is like the basic auto road test. The MVC recommends that all applicants practice all riding skills. However, emphasis is placed on the following skills. Page 170 Motorcycle Manual 1.1. turning and Stopping. Tests an applicant’s ability to control the motorcycle while turning and stopping. The examiner will evaluate an applicant’s ability to stay within the path of the turn without putting a foot down, and to stop safely in a painted stop box without putting a foot down or skidding the vehicle. START Stop with front tires in box Sharp left turn Sharp left turn 2.2. cone Weave (u-turn). Tests an applicant’s ability to control the motorcy- cle at low speed while weaving through cones and making a U-Turn in a designated area. The examiner will evaluate an applicant’s ability to stay within the path of travel without touching lines or cones, and without putting a foot down. Cones are 12 feet apart with a two-foot offset. ▼ START ◀ Over 500cc engine ◀ 500cc engine and under Right U-turn Motorcycle Manual Page 171 3.3. Braking. Tests an applicant’s ability to safely brake quickly. An applicant will be evaluated on stopping distance in relation to speed of travel. 4. 4. obstacle Swerve. Tests an applicant’s ability to swerve the motorcycle quickly to avoid an obstacle. An applicant will be evaluated on the ability to stay within the path of travel and turn quickly without touching a boundary line. Obstacle turn ▼ START note: An applicant who stalls the motorcycle during the skills test will fail. Prepare to Ride Properly preparing for a trip is critical to safety. Before riding a motorcycle, check all gear and the motorcycle itself. If the motorcycle is borrowed, determine if any operational differences exist. Try the horn and controls before you start Clean, adjust mirrors Check Tires Condition, tread depth, inflation Check gas and oil levels Adjust and lubricate drive chain/belt Page 172 Motorcycle Manual GEAR CHECK A good rider wears the following: •• An approved U.S. Department of Transportation helmet. •• Approved eye and face protection. •• Protective clothing. The helmet is the single most important piece of equipment riders must wear. One of every five reported motorcycle crashes involve head or neck injuries. A helmet improves survival in crashes. Make sure the approved helmet is fastened securely. A properly fitting, approved helmet can increase rider comfort and reduce fatigue. HELMET USE Helmets are required by law for motorcycle operators and riders in New Jersey. Operators who carry passengers who do not wear helmets can be fined. Consider these additional facts: •• An approved helmet ensures adequate peripheral vision for riders. A study of more than 900 motorcycle crashes, in which 40 percent of the riders wore helmets, found no cases where a helmet impaired a rider’s vision or masked danger. •• Most crashes happen on short trips – less than five miles long – shortly after starting. •• Even low-speed crashes can be fatal. In fact, most occur at speeds slower than 30 mph. At these speeds, helmets can cut the number and severity of head injuries by half. Regardless of speed, riders without helmets are three times more likely to die from head injuries than riders wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Motorcycle Manual Page 173 HELMET SELECTION ▲ Full-face ▲ Three-quarter ▲ One-half Approved helmets come in three types: full-face, three-quarter, and one-half. Each must: •• Meet U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Standard (FMVSS) 218. Look for the DOT symbol on the outside back of the helmet. Then, look for a label inside the helmet with the manufac- turer’s name, month, and year of manufacture, construction materials, model, size, and other important information. •• Be equipped with a chinstrap and have at least four-square inches of red, amber, or white reflectorized tape on each side. •• Lack obvious defects, such as cracks, loose padding or frayed straps. note: Not all helmet damage is obvious. To ensure safety, do not buy a used helmet. When riding, keep the helmet securely fastened at all times. A loosened helmet is likely to fall off during a crash. EYE AND FACE PROTECTION Motorcycle operators are required to wear approved goggles or a face shield when operating a motorcycle, unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen. (N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.8, 76.9) A full-face helmet offers riders the most protection. A plastic face shield does protect a rider’s face from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects, and debris. Regardless, attention should be on the road – not on these potential problems. Choose equipment that is not distracting, so that your complete attention is on the road. Goggles can also protect a rider’s eyes from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects, and debris, but do not protect the rest of a rider’s face – but a face shield does. Most windshields will not protect eyes from wind; neither will eyeglasses or sunglasses. Glasses will not keep eyes from watering and might blow off while riding. Face shields and goggles must meet U.S. Department of Transportation and New Jersey standards, and should have the ANSI label. Because they are plastic, face shields and goggles will develop scratches and become brittle with age. For maximum protection and comfort, replace equipment regularly. Page 174 Motorcycle Manual Effective eye or face protection must: •• Be scratch-free. •• Be made of shatterproof material. •• Give a clear view to either side. •• Fasten securely. •• Allow air to pass through, so it will not fog. •• Allow enough room for eyeglasses or sunglasses, if needed. •• Tinted eye protection should not be worn at night or any other time when little light is available. CLOTHING Clothing helps protect riders in crashes and in other situations. Jackets and pants should cover arms and legs completely, while still providing comfort. Both should fit snugly enough that there is no flapping in the wind and loosely enough to let the rider move freely. Bright, reflective helmets and clothing help others see a motorcyclist. Leather offers the most protection, but sturdy, synthetic material also provides protection. Wear a jacket even in warm weather. Many motorcycle jackets are designed to protect without overheating, even on warm days. Boots and shoes should be high enough to cover ankles and sturdy enough to provide support. Soles should be made of a hard, durable material. Heels should be short enough not to catch on rough surfaces. Bootstraps and shoelaces should be tucked in. Full-finger leather or other motorcycle gloves are also important as they provide a good grip on controls, while helping to protect hands during a crash. In cold or wet weather, clothes should keep riders warm and dry, as well as protect riders from injury. Safely controlling a motorcycle with numb arms is nearly impossible. Riding for long periods in the cold weather can cause severe chill, fatigue, and hypothermia. A winter jacket should be wind resistant and fit snugly at the neck, wrists, and waist. Rain suits should be sized so they are easily removed and put on, as well as designed for riding. Otherwise, these suits can tear apart or balloon up at high speeds. Some gloves are made to keep wind or rain from traveling up sleeves. Motorcycle Manual Page 175 Motorcycle Check If something is wrong with the motorcycle, it is important to find out before entering traffic. Check these things before every ride: •• tires Keep tires in good condition. Check the tire pressure using a gauge. A tire may be underinflated without a noticeable change in appearance. Motorcycles do not handle properly if the air pressure is too low or too high. Check the owner’s manual for the right amount of air pressure. •• tire tread Worn or uneven tread can make the motorcycle hard to handle, particu- larly on wet pavement. •• rims/Spokes Check for bent, loose or damaged rims or spokes. •• Damage Check for cuts or objects stuck to the tread. Also, check the sidewalls for cracks. A blowout on a motorcycle can be extremely dangerous. •• controls Make sure the controls work smoothly. The throttle should snap back when released. •• cables Check for kinks or broken strands. If a cable breaks while riding, the motorcycle could become difficult to control and a crash could result. •• lights Make sure all lights work. Keep them clean. •• turn Signal Check all four turn signal lights. Make sure they flash when on and are bright (easily seen). •• Headlight Check the headlight. In daytime, pass a hand in front of the beam to make sure it works. At night, try the dimmer to make sure both high and low beams work. •• tail and Brake light Try each of the brake controls and make sure that each one flashes the brake light. •• Horn Ensure the horn works. •• chain Make sure the drive chain is properly adjusted and lubricated. Check the owner’s manual for information regarding chain adjustment. Page 176 Motorcycle Manual •• Mirrors Clean and adjust mirrors before riding. It is difficult and dangerous to adjust a mirror while riding. Swing both mirrors far enough outward to show about half the lane behind and as much as possible of the lane to the side. •• Gas and oil Check gas and oil levels before riding. Running out of gas is inconvenient. It can also be dangerous as it makes leaving the road difficult. Lack of oil can seize an engine, causing the rear wheel to lock and loss of control. Get Familiar with the Motorcycle Be completely familiar with the motorcycle before riding it. If the motorcycle is borrowed: •• Check everything. •• Learn where all controls are: turn signals, horn, headlight switch, fuel control valve, and motor cutoff switch. Be able to find and operate them without having to look. •• Check controls. Learn the gear pattern. Work the throttle, clutch, and brakes a few times before riding. •• Ride very cautiously until learning how the motorcycle handles. For instance, take turns slowly and allow for extra stopping distance. Control for Safety To learn how to control direction, speed, and balance, all riders should practice. This manual suggests ways to keep control of the motorcycle and avoid crashes. BODY POSITION To control a motorcycle well, riders must be in the proper position. •• Posture. Keep back straight, and head and eyes up. Arms should be relaxed and slightly bent. Motorcycle Manual Page 177 •• Hands Hold handle grips firmly. This helps riders keep a solid grip if the motorcy- cle bounces. A rider’s wrist should be down. This helps keep a rider from using too much throttle. •• Knees Keep knees against the gas tank to keep balance as the motorcycle turns. •• Feet Keep feet firmly on the foot pegs. Firm footing helps keep balance. Do not drag feet along the ground. Feet catching something on the ground can cause loss of control. Keep feet near the controls to get to them quickly, if necessary. Also, keep toes pointed up to keep them from getting caught in between the road and the foot peg. Engine cut-off switch Front brake lever Throttle Electric start button (if equipped) Rear brake pedal Speedometer and odometer Tachometer (if equipped) Light switch (high/low) Horn button Clutch lever Turn-signal switch Gear change pedal Page 178 Motorcycle Manual TURNING New riders often try to take curves or turns too fast, causing panic and loss of control. Braking too hard, which may cause a skid or loss of control, can also occur. Riders must learn to judge how fast a curve may safely be taken. Approach all turns with caution. When turning, use the following steps for better control: •• Slow Down Reduce speed before a turn. Keep speed down until completing the turn. •• look Use head turns for directional control and to look through the turn. •• lean To turn, the motorcycle must lean. To lean the motorcycle, push on the handgrip in the direction of the turn. Maintain steady speed or accelerate gradually. Avoid decelerating in the turn. Higher speeds and/or tighter turns require the rider to lean more in their turns. In normal turns, the rider and motorcycle should lean together. In slow, tight turns, lean the motorcycle only and keep your body straight. BRAKING/STOPPING Motorcycles have two brakes. Both are needed to stop effectively and safely. The front brake provides about three-quarters of the stopping power. Front wheel locks release the lever until the tire regains traction. If the rear wheel locks, do not release it. Keep it locked until the motorcycle comes to a stop. When braking, remember: •• Practice using the front brake correctly. Braking is an activity that requires continuous practice for maximum proficiency. •• When slowing down or stopping, always use both brakes. This ensures riders have enough skill to use the front brake properly when needed. •• Apply both brakes at the same time. Do not apply the rear brake first. SHIFTING There is more to shifting than getting the motorcycle to accelerate smoothly. Instability can occur if the gears are used incorrectly when downshifting, turning, or starting from a standstill on a hill. Change gears to match the engine speed with the road speed. Motorcycle Manual Page 179

DOWNSHIFTING It is important to shift down through gears for the appropriate slowdown or stop. This ensures riders always have enough power to accelerate quickly if needed. Travel at the proper speed to shift into a lower gear. Motorcycles may lurch, and the gear wheel may lock up, if downshifting is performed at too fast a speed or the clutch is released abruptly. Remember: •• Riding downhill. Motorcycles tend to pick up speed on a downgrade. •• Shifting into first gear. On many motorcycles, the speed range for first gear is exceptionally low. Under these conditions, use the brakes to slow down enough to shift safely. GOING UPHILL It is more difficult to get the motorcycle moving on an upgrade than it is on flat ground. There is always a danger of rolling backward and into another vehicle. Remember: •• Use the front brake to hold the motorcycle while starting the engine and shifting into first gear. •• Change to the foot brake to hold the motorcycle while operating the throttle with the right hand. •• For more power, open the throttle a little bit. •• Release the clutch gradually. The front wheel may come off the ground or the engine may stop, or both, if it is released too quickly. •• Release the foot brake when the engine begins to slow down, and the motorcycle begins to move forward. See, Be Seen, and Be Heard In crashes with motorcyclists, other motorists often say that they never saw the motorcycle. From ahead or from behind, a motorcycle’s outline is small, and it is easier for other motorists to misjudge distance and speed. However, there are ways to make riders and motorcycles more noticeable. Page 180 Motorcycle Manual CLOTHING Bright, reflective helmets and clothing help others see the motorcycle. Upper body clothing should be brightly colored orange, yellow, red, or green. Fluorescent colors are enough in bright daylight. At night, reflec- tive or retro-reflective clothing is best. Reflective materials are passive and do not change their brightness. Retro- reflective materials change brightness with surrounding light sources. They greatly increase the visibility of objects at night or during inclement weather. HEADLIGHT The best way to help others see you is to always keep headlights on. During the day, a motorcycle with lights off is twice as likely to go unnoticed. The headlight in many later-model motorcycles comes on automatically. SIGNALS Signals communicate intentions to other road users. Turn Signals Use turn signals to: •• Clearly indicate lane changes and other riding maneuvers. •• Become easier to see. Other motorists can easily see turn signals. The required signal may be given “by means of the hand and arm…or by an approved mechanical or electrical signal device.” “A signal of intention to turn right or left when required shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.” (N.J.S.A. 39:4-126) note: Turn off turn signals after the turn or lane change is made. If not, other motorists might be confused about a rider’s intentions. BRAKE LIGHT Help others see the motorcycle by tapping the foot brake lightly before slowing down. This action will flash the brake light. It is especially important to signal others by flashing the brake light when: •• Slowing down more quickly than might be expected. (For example, before making a turn from a high-speed highway.) •• Slowing down where others may not expect it. (For example, before slowing down to the turn in the middle of a block.) •• When being followed closely, flash the brake light before slowing down. (This cannot be done, however, in an emergency situation.) Motorcycle Manual Page 181 HORN Use the horn to get the attention of other motorists, but do not rely solely on it. Use the horn when someone is in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked on the street, riding a bicycle, or walking in the street, and may pull into traffic. In an emergency, use the horn and be ready to slow down or turn away from danger. The two biggest dangers are: •• Oncoming vehicles turning left. •• Vehicles on side streets pulling into traffic. Never count on “eye contact” as a sign that a motorist is aware and will yield the right-of-way. All too often, a motorist looks right at a motorcycle and still does not see it. ROAD POSITION Motorists have little choice about positioning in travel lanes. However, each marked lane provides three possible travel paths to motorcyclists. To be seen most clearly, ride in the portion of the lane where it is most likely a motorist can see a motorcycle. When behind a vehicle, ride where the motorist can see the motorcycle in the rearview mirror. Be sure you can see the rearview mirror of the vehicle in front of you. If you can see the rearview mirror in front of you, it is more likely the driver can see you. BLIND SPOTS When alongside a vehicle, speed up and get by quickly or drop back. Visible area Page 182 Motorcycle Manual CENTER POSITION It is not true that riding in the center of a lane is dangerous because of the grease strip residue left by other vehicles. Still, it is best to ride slightly to the left or the right of center. Unless the road is wet with rain, traction on most grease strips is the same as the rest of the pavement. However, big grease buildups found at busy intersections or tollbooths should be avoided. INTERSECTIONS Enter the intersection with a space cushion on either side that allows evasive action if necessary. Approach an intersection with the best view of oncoming traffic. Blind area Blind area When approaching a blind intersection, move to the portion of the lane in the other motorists’ field of sight. Remember, the key is to see as much as possible. Motorcycle Manual Page 183 Use the SIPDE System Nothing can guarantee that other motorists will see a motorcycle. A good rider is always looking to stay out of trouble. Experienced riders use a system known as SIPDE, an acronym for a process used to make judgments and act in traffic. SIPDe = Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute. Here is a closer look at each of these steps. SCAN Search aggressively for potential hazards. Scanning provides information to allow riders to make decisions in enough time to act. IDENTIFY Locate hazards and potential conflicts. Hazards can be divided into three groups based on how critical their effect may be. Page 184 Motorcycle Manual •• Cars, trucks, and other vehicles. They share the road with motorcycles. They move quickly. Reactions to them must be quick and accurate. •• Pedestrians and animals. They are characterized by unpredictability and quick movement. •• Stationary objects. Potholes, guardrails, bridges, roadway signs, hedges, or rows of trees will only create or complicate riding strategy. The greatest potential for conflict between riders and other traffic is at intersections. An intersection can be in the middle of an urban area or at a driveway on a residential street. Most motorcycle/automobile crashes occur at intersections. Oncoming vehicles turning left into the path of the motorcy- cle causes many crashes. Therefore, using SIPDE at intersections is critical. Before entering an intersection, search for: •• Oncoming traffic that may turn left. •• Traffic from the left. •• Traffic from the right. •• Traffic approaching from behind. Be alert at intersections with limited visibility. Be visually aware of busy surroundings that might camouflage a motorcycle. PREDICT Anticipate the effect of hazards. The direction a potential hazard moves is important. Clearly, a vehicle moving away is not as critical as a vehicle moving into a rider’s path. Determine the effect of the hazard and where a crash might occur. How critical is the hazard? How probable is a crash? This is the “What if…” phase of SIPDE that depends on knowledge and experience. Now, estimate the consequences of the hazard. How might the hazard – or effort to avoid it – affect others? DECIDE Determine how to reduce the hazard by: •• Communicating presence and intentions. •• Adjusting speed. •• Adjusting position. Communication is the most passive action because it depends on the response of someone else. Use lights and honk the horn but do not rely on the actions of others. Speed adjustment can be acceleration, slowing or stopping. Position adjustment can be changing lane position or completely changing direction. Motorcycle Manual Page 185 In both cases, the degree of adjustment depends on how critical the hazard is and how much time and space is available: The more time and space, the less amount of risk. In high potential risk areas, such as intersections, decrease the reaction time that is needed by increasing space and readying possible escape routes. EXECUTE This is when riding skills come into play, which must become second nature. The best decision will be meaningless without the skills to carry it out. Riders must ride within their own ability. Check Blind Spots USING HEAD CHECKS Motorcycles have blind spots just like other vehicles do. When changing lanes, turn and look at the traffic behind. That is the only way to see a vehicle behind and in the next lane. It is particularly important before a rapid lane change. Many riders make rapid lane changes out of necessity and habit. There is very little chance a motorist in the next lane can react quickly enough to avoid a rapid lane change. Check first, and then change. On a roadway with several lanes, check the far lanes, too. Another motorist could be headed for the same space. USING MIRRORS Traffic situations change quickly. Check mirrors every few seconds to see what traffic is approaching from behind. That way, passing cars and other vehicles will not be a surprise. There are particular times when it is very important to use mirrors. Page 186 Motorcycle Manual Rider’s blind spot Area seen in mirrors •• When slowing down or stopping suddenly. If there is a vehicle close behind, it may be better to keep moving. •• When stopped at an intersection. Watch vehicles approaching from behind. Evasive action may be necessary if an approaching motorist is not paying attention. •• When changing lanes. Make sure no one is about to pass. •• When turning. Watch vehicles behind, especially when making what could be an unexpected turn, such as into alleys, driveways, and side streets. Many motorcycles have round, convex mirrors, which provide a bigger view of the road behind than flat mirrors. However, these mirrors make vehicles seem farther away than they really are. To get used to convex mirrors: While stopped, pick out a parked vehicle in the mirror and form a mental image of how far away that vehicle is. Then, turn around and look to see how close it really is. Practice helps riders judge distance well. Even then, allow extra distance before changing lanes. Regardless, always make a final head check before changing lanes. POSITIONING Motorcycle riders can see things other motorists cannot see by riding the portion of the lane where they are most likely to be seen. riding through curves. Move to one side of the lane or the other to get a better view of the curve. Watching at intersections. Riders can peek easily around buildings, parked vehicles, or bushes to see if anything is coming. Other motorists cannot. Motorcycle Manual Page 187 Stopping at blind intersections. Blind intersections can make it hard to see danger coming from the side. At a stop sign, stop there first. Then, edge forward and stop again, just short of where the cross-traffic lane meets the lane you are in. From that position, lean forward and look around buildings, parked vehicles, or bushes. Keep the front wheel out of the cross lane of travel while doing this. Seeing at the roadside. Angle the motorcycle across the road to see both directions without straining, which is particularly important before making a U-turn. Keep the Proper Distance Correct for inside curves Correct for outside curves The best protection is distance between a motorcycle and other motorists. If another motorist makes a mistake, distance provides time to react and time to move away. FRONT Under ordinary conditions, stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead. This provides plenty of time to react if the motorist ahead stops suddenly. It also provides a better view of things in the road, such as potholes, slippery spots, tire treads, and other debris. Stay well behind the vehicle ahead, even when stopped. This will make it easier to get out of the way if someone bears down from behind. Page 188 Motorcycle Manual SIDE For oncoming or passing vehicles, move to the center of the lane. A rider can move from one side of the lane to another to increase their distance from other vehicles. An experienced rider changes position from one side of the lane to another as traffic conditions change. These road conditions require lane position changes: Passing vehicles. When another vehicle passes from behind, move toward the center of the lane. A slight mistake by either motorist could cause a sideswipe. Moving toward the center of the lane also helps avoid extended mirrors or things thrown from vehicle windows. Do the same for oncoming vehicles. Give way to large trucks. They can create gusts that affect control. There is more room for error in the middle of the lane. riding and intersections. Most crashes between vehicles and motorcy- cles happen at intersections. Motorists often have a hard time seeing a motorcycle coming directly at them. A vehicle may make a left turn across the motorcycle’s path or a vehicle may enter from a side street into the motorcycle’s path. These are two leading causes of motorcycle crashes at intersections. In the event a vehicle enters a rider’s path: •• Move as far away from the vehicle as possible. If the vehicle is on the right, move to the left. For a vehicle on the left or an oncoming vehicle with a left turn signal on, move to the right. •• Change lanes. Otherwise, move to the far side of the current lane. •• Approach slowly. If a motorist does pull out suddenly, chances of making a quick stop or a quick turn are better. At intersections, move as far away from oncoming vehicles as safely as possible. Passing parked vehicles. When passing parked vehicles, the motorcycle rider has an advantage over other motorists. Stay in the left portion of the lane to avoid problems caused by doors opening, motorists getting out of their vehicles or people stepping into traffic from between vehicles. Vehicles pulling out of parking spaces are another source of danger. Motorists can fail to see a motorcycle during a quick look behind for traffic. Motorists making U-turns are also a danger. The motorcycle rider sees the other motorist pull out and slows down or changes lanes to let them enter. Then suddenly, the other vehicle turns across the road and blocks the lane. This leaves the motorcyclist with no place to go. Approach vehicles pulling out or making a U-turn very cautiously. Stay to the left of the lane to pass parked vehicles. Motorcycle Manual Page 189

Sharing lanes. Vehicles and motorcycles each need a full lane to operate safely. To prevent lane sharing: •• Do not ride between rows of stopped vehicles. •• Do not try to squeeze past a stopped vehicle in the same lane. Anything could happen – a hand could come out of the window; a door could open or a vehicle could turn suddenly. •• Discourage lane sharing by others. The best way to do this is to keep a center lane position in situations where other motorists might be tempt- ed to squeeze by. Moving to the far side of a lane in these situations invites lane sharing. Lane placement depends on different circumstances. Ride in the portion of the lane where it is easiest to be seen. Page 190 Motorcycle Manual Merging vehicles. Vehicles entering a highway from an entrance ramp may have trouble seeing a motorcycle. One reason is that motorcycle headlights are difficult to see at an angle. Change lanes or make space to let the motorist in. Do not assume that motorists always see motorcycles. Vehicles alongside. Whenever possible do not ride alongside other vehicles. A vehicle in the next lane could change lanes without warning. A vehicle in the next lane can also block a possible escape route. Speed up or drop back until it is clear on both sides. BACK Many riders complain about tailgaters, which are motorists that follow too closely. When another vehicle is following too closely: •• Open up additional following distance. This provides the tailgater more time to react in an emergency. •• Slow down so the tailgater can pass when clear. Handling Dangerous Surfaces A motorcycle is delicately balanced on two wheels. To stay upright, the two wheels must have good traction. Any surface that affects the motorcycle’s traction will affect its balance. Any slippery surface increases the chance of a rider falling. Dangerous surfaces include: •• Slippery surfaces. •• Uneven surfaces. •• Grooves and gratings. •• Sloping surfaces. Some slippery surfaces are caused by: •• Liquids. •• Sand/Gravel. •• Leaves. •• Wet pavement, particularly just after rain and before surface oil washes to the side of the road. •• Gravel roads or places where sand and gravel have collected on paved roads. •• Mud, snow, and ice. •• Wet lane markings and steel surfaces (manhole covers). Page 191 Motorcycle Manual •• Metal construction plates. There are a number of precautions that riders can take to operate more safely on slippery surfaces. reduce speed. It takes longer to stop on slippery surfaces. Make up for this by traveling at a slower speed. It is particularly important to reduce speed on curves. Remember, speed limits posted on curves apply to good, dry surface conditions. use both brakes. The front brake is still more effective than the back brake – even on extremely slippery surfaces. On ice, riders should not brake at all. avoid sudden moves. Any sudden change in speed or direction can cause a skid on slippery surfaces. Therefore, turn, brake, accelerate, and change gears as little and as gradually as possible. On a very slippery surface, such as on a patch of ice, do not make changes until after passing it. avoid slippery areas. It is important to find the best pavement. Riders should be aware that: •• Oil from vehicles tends to build up in the center of the lane, particularly near the intersections where vehicles slow down or stop. On wet pave- ment, therefore, it is better to operate in the grooves created by the wheels of moving vehicles. Some people suggest using the left wheel track all the time. However, this may not always be a good idea. Instead, ride in the portion of the lane where it is easiest to be seen. •• Oil spots when stopping or parking can cause riders to fall. •• Dirt and gravel tend to collect along the sides of the road. It is very important to stay away from the edge of the road when making sharp turns at intersections or entering and leaving freeways at high speed. •• Certain sections of the road dry faster after rain or melt faster after snow. Always try to stay in the best part of the lane. Page 192 Motorcycle Manual It is almost impossible to maintain balance on ice, hard packed snow, or wet, slippery surfaces. Avoid them if possible. If it is impossible to avoid them, proceed across them in a straight line, but DO NOT adjust speed. Keep a center lane position and avoid the slippery area by riding slightly to the left or right of the center. Pull in the clutch and coast across. In some slippery areas, such as tollbooths, ride slightly to the left or right of the center to avoid problem areas. UNEVEN SURFACES Watch for uneven surfaces, such as bumps, broken pavement, potholes, or railroad tracks, while riding. If the condition is bad enough it could affect control of the motorcycle. Follow these guidelines to handle uneven surfaces: •• Slow down to reduce impact. •• Straighten out so that the motorcycle is upright. •• Rise slightly on the foot pegs to absorb the shock. Crossing railroad tracks Cross railroad tracks at an angle. When turning to cross the tracks head on, it may be more dangerous than crossing at a slight angle. Turn slightly to cross something running parallel, such as trolley tracks, ruts in the middle of the road or a pavement seam. To cross something running next to the motorcy- cle, move away far enough to be able to cross it at an angle. Then, just make a quick, sharp turn. Do not try to edge across it. It could catch the tires and upset balance. This Not this Page 193 Motorcycle Manual Grooves and Gratings When riding over rain grooves or metal bridge grating, the motorcycle will tend to wander back and forth. While this may be uneasy, it is not generally dangerous. Therefore, the best thing to do is ride relaxed and avoid abrupt maneuvers. Sloping Surfaces A road surface that slopes from one side to another is not difficult to handle when riding straight ahead. However, in a curve, a slope can make the turn harder if it is going the wrong way. This image shows a rider turning left on a high crowned curve, a road that is higher in the middle than at the sides. A turn to the left on a high crowned road is like a turn on a curve that is banked the wrong way. The crown makes the turn harder by: •• Cutting down on the clearance between the left foot peg and the surface. •• Adding the force of the down slope to the outward force of the turn, increasing the chance of a skid. •• Making it necessary to turn uphill. High crow ned curve The only way to handle the wrong-way banking is to slow down. This will straighten the motorcycle and reduce the outward force. Page 194 Motorcycle Manual Ride Cautiously at Night At night, the ability to see and be seen is limited. With one headlight, it is hard to see the condition of the road or something on the road. At night, other motorists may also have a hard time distinguishing a motorcycle headlight and taillight from the stronger lights of other vehicles. Here are some things that will help for riding at night: use the high beam: Use the high beam whenever you are not following or meeting a vehicle. Be able to stop within the lit distance. reduce speed. If there is something lying in the road ahead, it will be difficult to see unless it is within proximity. When traveling too fast, it will be difficult to avoid hazards in the road. It is important to reduce speed at night, particularly on unfamiliar roads. use the vehicle ahead. If there is a vehicle ahead, take advantage of it. Its lights can provide a better view of the road ahead than the motorcycle light. For example, vehicle taillights bouncing up and down may mean a bump or rough pavement is ahead. Increase distance. Distance is difficult to judge well at night. Make up for this by allowing extra distance from vehicles ahead. Leave more room on either side when riding alongside vehicles. Ensure there is enough distance to pass another vehicle. Know Hazards No matter how carefully a motorcyclist rides, there will always be “tight spots.” The chance of escaping safely depends on how quickly a rider reacts. Here is how to handle a few scenarios: QUICK STOPS Since the front brake supplies about three-quarters of the braking power, use it to stop quickly. Squeeze the brake lever steadily and firmly. Do not grab at it. Apply it without locking the front wheel. The rear brake should be applied at the same time. Try not to lock the rear wheel. Motorcycle Manual Page 195 TIRE FAILURE If the cycle starts handling differently, safely pull off the road and check the tires. Riders will more often feel a flat tire than hear it happen. If the front tire goes flat, the steering will feel “heavy.” If the rear tire goes flat, the back of the motorcycle will tend to jerk from side to side. If a tire suddenly loses air, react quickly to keep balance by: •• Concentrating on steering a straight course. •• Gradually closing the throttle and coasting. •• Edging toward the side of the road and stopping. STUCK THROTTLE Sometimes, when trying to close the throttle, it will not turn. If this happens when slowing down for traffic ahead or making a turn, react quickly to prevent a crash by: •• Immediately flip the engine cutoff switch and pull in the clutch at the same time. This disconnects the engine from the rear wheel and keeps riders from speeding up. After pulling the clutch, keep it in until stopped or the throttle is freed. •• When unable to close the throttle, use the motor cutoff switch or the key to turn off the engine. For motorcycles without a cutoff switch or if the key is on the side of the cycle – stop, and then turn off the engine. After stopping, check the throttle cable carefully to find the source of the trouble. Make certain the throttle is working freely before continuing. WOBBLE At various speeds, the front wheel can sometimes begin to wobble (shake from side to side). To ride out a wobble: •• Firmly grip the handlebars. •• Do not fight the wobble. •• Gradually close the throttle. (Do not apply the brakes; it could worsen the wobble.) •• Let the motorcycle slow down. Page 196 Motorcycle Manual Pull off the road as soon as possible. If carrying a heavy load, distribute the load more evenly. When at a gas station or using a tire gauge, check tire inflation. Other things that can cause a wobble are: •• Bent or out-of-alignment wheel. •• Poorly adjusted steering. •• Improperly mounted or designed windshield. •• Loose wheel bearings or loose spokes. OFF THE ROAD Do these two important things when leaving the roadway: Check the roadside. Make sure the surface of the roadside is firm enough to ride on. If it is soft grass, loose sand, or unclear, slow nearly all the way before leaving the roadway. Since motorists behind might not expect this, make sure to check mirrors and signal clearly and early. Pull well off the road. Get as far off the road as possible. A motorcycle by the side of the road is difficult to spot. Another vehicle may also leave the roadway, so it is important to be seen. ROAD HAZARDS Even a quick stop may not be enough to avoid hitting something. A piece of debris or a pothole might appear suddenly after the vehicle ahead passes over it, or the vehicle ahead might stop suddenly. The only way to avoid a crash is to make a quick turn or swerve. To make a quick turn, lean the motorcycle quickly in the necessary direction: The sharper the turn, the more severe the lean. To get the motorcycle to lean quickly, press on the inside of the handgrip in the necessary direction. To turn to the right, press on the inside of the right handgrip. This causes the front wheel to move slightly to the left and the motorcycle to continue straight ahead. The result is a lean to the right. Self-demonstration: While riding in a straight line, press the inside of the right handlebar. Notice the motorcycle turns to the right. Practice making quick turns, so that it is second nature in an emergency. Using this technique makes the motorcycle lean in a normal turn, too. Most riders do not notice it except on very sharp turns. In an emergency, do not switch lanes and risk being hit by a vehicle. It is possible to squeeze by most obstacles without switching lanes. This is one scenario when the size of the motorcycle is favorable. Even if the obstacle is a vehicle, there is generally time to make sure there are no vehicles in the other lane. Motorcycle Manual Page 197 RIDING OVER OBJECTS Sometimes there is no option but to ride over an object. Handling objects is a lot like riding over uneven surfaces. Here is what to do: •• Hold onto the handle grips tightly. •• Keep a straight course. This keeps the motorcycle upright and reduces the chance of falling on impact. •• Rise slightly on the foot pegs. This allows legs and arms to absorb the shock and helps the rider from being bounced off when the rear wheel hits. There are other ways of handling these obstacles. However, they require a lot of skill. The three steps above are a safe way to avoid obstacles found on highways. After riding over an object, always check tires for damage. FLYING OBJECTS Insects, cigarette butts thrown from vehicle windows, and rocks kicked up by the tires of other vehicles; any of these objects might strike riders. Without face protection, riders can be struck in the eye, the face or the mouth. Face protection still might become smeared or cracked, making it difficult to see. Whatever happens, do not let it affect motorcycle control. Watch the road and keep hands on the handlebars. As soon as it is safe, pull off the road and repair any damage. ANIMALS You should do everything you can to avoid hitting small animals. However, in traffic, do not swerve from the lane to avoid hitting an animal. There is a better chance of surviving impact with an animal than impact with another vehicle. Motorcycles tend to attract dogs. Do not kick a chasing animal. It is too easy to lose control of the motorcycle. Instead, downshift and approach the animal slowly. After reaching the animal, speed up suddenly, leaving it behind quickly and helping the dog lose interest. Page 198 Motorcycle Manual Carrying Passengers and Cargo Before carrying a passenger or large loads, know how both could affect motorcycle operation. Extra weight changes the way the motorcycle handles – the way it balances, the way it turns, the way it speeds up and the way it slows down. Passengers that weigh less than the operator impact operation less than those who are heavier. PASSENGERS Guidelines to follow in carrying a passenger or cargo: •• Check the motorcycle for adequate passenger-carrying equipment. •• Instruct passengers before starting. •• Adjust tires and shocks to account for the passenger’s weight. To carry a passenger, the motorcycle must have: a proper seat The seat must be large enough to hold the operator and passenger without crowding. Operators should not have to move any closer to the front of the motorcycle than normal. A passenger should not hang over the end of the seat. Foot pegs The passenger must have a set of foot pegs. Without firm footing, an operator and passenger can both fall off. Protective equipment A passenger must have the same type of protective equipment as the operator. Motorcycle Manual Page 199

INSTRUCTING PASSENGERS Never assume any passenger knows proper motorcycle etiquette or rules of conduct. Provide complete instructions before starting. A passenger should be told to: •• Get on the motorcycle only after the engine has been started. •• Sit as far forward as possible without crowding the operator. •• Hold the operator’s waist, hips, or belt tightly. •• Always keep both feet on the pegs, even when the motorcycle is stopped. •• Look over the rider’s shoulder in the direction of turns and curves. •• Stay directly behind the operator, leaning when the operator leans (in the same direction). •• Avoid any unnecessary motion. RIDING WITH A PASSENGER When carrying a passenger, the motorcycle will respond more slowly. It takes longer to speed up, slow down, and turn. Heavier passengers and lighter motorcycles take longer to maneuver at these times. To adjust for added passenger weight: •• Operate at a somewhat slower speed, particularly on corners, curves, or bumps. •• Begin to slow down earlier than usual when approaching a stop. •• Allow a greater following distance and keep more distance from vehicles on either side. •• Look for larger gaps whenever crossing, entering, or merging in traffic. If possible, warn passengers when starting, stopping quickly, turning sharply or riding over a bump. Otherwise, talk as little as possible when in motion. Page 200 Motorcycle Manual LOAD AND CARGO A motorcycle is not primarily designed to carry cargo. However, small loads can be carried safely when properly positioned and fastened. Check the motorcycle owner’s manual for information about carrying cargo. •• Keep the load low. Place the load next to the seat or place it in the saddlebags. Do not pile loads against a sissy bar or other backseat frames. This will change the center of gravity, disturbing the balance of the motorcycle. •• Keep the load forward. Place the load over or in front of the rear axle. Anything mounted behind the rear wheel can affect how the motorcycle turns and brakes. It can also cause wobbling. •• Distribute the load evenly. When using saddlebags, make sure they are loaded equally. An uneven load can cause the motorcycle to pull to one side. •• Secure the load. Fasten the load securely with elastic cords or ropes. A loose load can catch in the wheel or chain. If this happens, the rear wheel may lock up and cause the motorcycle to skid. •• check the load. Check the load every so often when stopped. Make sure it has not loosened or moved. Learning Group Riding The highway is not a place to socialize. Motorcyclists riding in groups do not have any special rights. When riding with others, do not interfere with the flow of traffic. SIZE A large group interferes with traffic and can force vehicles to attempt to pass a long line of motorcycles one at a time. Also, a large group tends to be separated easily by traffic or red lights. Those left behind may ride unsafely to catch up. Groups with more than four or five riders should divide into two or more smaller groups. Planning ahead When leading, look ahead for changes. Give hand signals early, so the word spreads among the riders in plenty of time. Start lane changes early enough to allow all riders to complete the changes. Putting beginners up front Place inexperienced riders behind the leader, and in a position where they can be watched from behind by more experienced riders. Motorcycle Manual Page 201 Following those behind Let the last in line or tailender set the pace. Use mirrors to keep an eye on the person behind. Slow down to let others catch up. If everyone does this, the group will stay with the rider on the tail end. Knowing the route Make sure everybody knows the route. Obey any special rules on a particular route. DISTANCE It is important to keep close ranks and safe distance. A close group takes up less space on the highway, making the group easier to see. A close group is also less likely to be separated by traffic lights. However, it must be done properly. Do not pair up Never operate directly alongside another motorcycle. There will be no place to escape or avoid another vehicle. Talk to another rider only when stopped. Staggered formation Keep close ranks yet maintain adequate distance through a “staggered” formation. The leader rides to the left side of the lane, while the second rider stays a little behind and rides to the right side of the lane. A third rider would take a left position, a normal two-second distance behind the second rider. This formation allows the group to ride in close ranks without reducing following distance and without having riders drive alongside one another. Staggered formation can be safely used on an open highway. However, a single file should be resumed on curves, during turns, while entering or leaving a highway, when returning to the narrow roadway or when topping the crest of a hill. When riders in a staggered formation want to pass, they should do it one at a time. When it is safe to do so, the lead rider should pull out and pass. When the leader returns to the lane, he or she should take the left lane position and open a gap for the next rider. As soon as the first rider is safely by, the second rider should move to the left position and watch for a safe chance to pass. After passing, the rider should return to the right lane position and open a gap for the next rider. 2 seconds Page 202 Motorcycle Manual Rider 1 Rider 2 Ride Sober and Awake Riding a motorcycle is more demanding than driving other motor vehicles. Riders must be in good physical and mental shape to ride safely. Three things that often keep riders from being in shape to ride safely are alcohol, drugs, and fatigue. ALCOHOL Drinking and riding is extremely dangerous. Nearly half of all motorcycle highway deaths involve alcohol use. Riding a motorcycle requires a high degree of skill and judgment. It also requires a good sense of balance. Alcohol limits these skills. It is dangerous to ride after drinking. Alcohol affects vision. Seeing clearly and judging distance becomes difficult. It is hard enough to ride a motorcycle safely with normal vision. Drinking and driving is just as extensive among motorcyclists as it is among automobile drivers. However, motorcyclists are far more likely to be killed or severely injured in a crash. About 2,500 motorcycles are involved in crashes each year on New Jersey roadways. These crashes result in 60 or more fatalities and nearly 2,000 injuries in the Garden State. No one is immune to the effects of alcohol. Alcohol makes everyone less able to think clearly and to perform physical tasks skillfully. Alcohol has extremely harmful effects on motorcycle operating skills. The effects of alcohol begin long before a rider is legally intoxicated. Motorcycle Manual Page 203 RIDE SAFE – RIDE SOBER Drugs Almost any drug can affect the skills needed to ride a motorcycle safely. This includes prescription drugs, as well as illegal drugs. It even includes such everyday drugs as cold tablets and allergy medication. Such drugs can cause weakness, dizziness or drowsiness. Understand the effects of any drugs you are taking before riding. Do not take illegal drugs. Stop and wait if dizziness or weakness from prescription or over-the-counter drugs occurs. Do not ride until regaining a normal feeling. When you resume riding, slow down, and maintain a greater than normal distance between your motorcycle and other vehicles. Fatigue Riding a motorcycle is more tiring than operating other vehicles. For road trips, tiredness sets in more quickly on a motorcycle. The effects of fatigue on vehicle control can also be much worse. To minimize risk: •• Protect yourself from the elements. Wind, cold, and rain can make riders tire quickly. Dress warmly. A windshield is worth its cost, especially for riders that travel frequently. •• Limit distance traveled. Do not cover more than about 300 miles a day. •• Take frequent rests. Stop and get off the cycle. It is also a good idea to drink water during rest stops. Page 204 Motorcycle Manual Checking the Motorcycle Plenty of things on the highway can cause trouble for riders. A motorcycle should not be one of them. Three ways to be sure a motorcycle will not let its rider down are: 1.1. Have the right equipment. 2.2. Keep the bike in safe riding condition. 3.3. Avoid add-on accessories or modifications that make it harder to handle. MODEL Selecting the right motorcycle is important. Beginners might want to consider a smaller motorcycle that is no more than 250cc until they become more experienced or until after driving several hundred miles. Make sure the motorcycle fits. A rider’s feet should be able to reach the ground while sitting. There are a few items of equipment that are necessary for safe operation. New Jersey requires that all these items be in good working order: •• Headlight and taillight. •• Front and rear brakes. •• Turn signals. •• Horn. •• At least one rearview mirror. These are just minimum requirements. To survive in traffic, have a mirror on each side of the handlebars. It is also a good idea to have reflectors on the sides of the motorcycle. SERVICE Motorcycles may need more frequent mechanical attention than other vehicles. When something goes wrong with the motorcycle, it could result in a crash. There is only one way to spot problems before trouble starts: Inspect the motorcycle carefully and fix things right away. The first section of this manual described checks that should be made before every ride. In addition, check these things at least once a week: Motorcycle Manual Page 205 tires Check the tread for wear. If the wear is uneven, have the wheels balanced and the alignment checked. Many blowouts are due to low air pressure. Also, check for cuts and scrapes that could cause a blowout. Wheels Check both wheels for missing or loose spokes. Check the rims for cracks or dents. Lift the wheel off the ground and spin it. Watch its motion and listen for noise. Also, move it from side to side to check for looseness. controls Check the controls for smooth operation. Check the cables for kinks or broken strands. Lubricate the control mechanisms at each end of the cable. chains and sprockets Oil the chain. Check the sprockets for worn teeth. Shock absorber Does the motorcycle “bounce” several times after crossing a bump? Hear a clunk? Check shock absorbers, which may need to be adjusted or replaced. Check the shocks for oil/leaks. Fasteners Check for loose or missing nuts, bolts, or cotter pins. Keeping the motorcycle clean makes it easier to spot missing parts. Brakes Adjust the brakes so that they lock the wheel when fully applied. If the wheel does not lock, or if there is a scraping sound when stopping, have the linings checked. Page 206 Motorcycle Manual Accessories and Modifications A safe motorcycle can quickly become a menace if the wrong accessories are added to it, or if changes are made to the motorcycle that can make it much harder to handle. Here are a few things to avoid: Highway pegs Mounted on the front of the motorcycle to allow the rider to lean back. These pegs delay the operator’s ability to reach the foot brake in an emergency. a Passenger Backrest Sometimes called a “sissy bar,” a high bar or a frame mounted on the back of the seat can change the motorcycle’s center of gravity, and affect its balance when loaded, and prevent the operator and passenger from getting off the motorcycle in a hurry. extended handlebars Which extend above the operator’s shoulders are illegal in New Jersey. Motorcycle Manual Page 207 Page 208 Page 209

11APPENDIX: Driver Safety Page 210 Traffic signs, signals, and road markings are set up to control the flow of traffic, making streets and highways safer for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. A safe driver always watches for and obeys all traffic, signals, signs, and road markings. During heavy traffic or in an emergency, a police officer may direct traffic. A police officer can overrule traffic signals. Law enforcement orders or directions must always be obeyed. Court penalties will be imposed for stealing or damaging airport, traffic, or railroad-crossing signs or equipment. Page 211 APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty TRAFFIC SIGNALS When traffic signals are hung vertically, the red light is always on top. The yellow is in the center. The green light is third in line. If there is a green arrow, it is always on the bottom. When the lights are horizontal, red is always on the left. RED LIGHT A motorist must stop before the intersection or crosswalk and remain stopped until the light changes to green. YELLOW LIGHT A motorist should stop before entering the intersection or crosswalk, unless his/her vehicle is so close to the intersection that it cannot be stopped safely. A yellow arrow means the signal is changing from green to red and gives the motorist a chance to stop safely. GREEN LIGHT A motorist should proceed through the intersection. Yield to pedestrians and vehicles still in the intersection and when turning left or right. Before making a left turn, yield to approaching vehicles. GREEN ARROW When shown alone or in combination with the red signal, proceed only as shown by the arrow. Be cautious and yield to pedestrians. FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT Slow down and proceed with care. FLASHING RED LIGHT Stop. Yield to traffic and pedestrians. Go only when safe. Flashing red lights at railroad crossings indicate an approaching train. Motorists must yield to the train. Go only when red lights stop flashing and when all other active warning devices deactivate. Page 212 APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty UNLIT SIGNAL Stop if a signal does not have any of its bulbs working and no one is directing traffic. It is considered a four-way stop sign. Look left and right. Yield to traffic coming from the right or left. Be careful and go only when safe. ORANGE, STEADY RAISED-PALM SYMBOL Pedestrians must not leave the sidewalk or enter the roadway when facing the light. Those already in the roadway should quickly go to a safe spot. Pedestrians already within the cross- walk will have time to cross the intersection before the signal changes. Those who have not yet left the sidewalk or curb should not enter the roadway. WHITE, STEADY PEDESTRIAN SILHOUETTE/ COUNTDOWN Pedestrians facing the signal may cross the roadway in the direction of the signal. New Jersey law requires turning motorists to yield to pedes- trians crossing on this signal and to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Pedestrian push buttons are located at certain traffic signals. A short time after the button is pushed, the flow of traffic at the intersection changes to a longer green for the side street. Traffic engineers use color, such as an optional yellow-green or standard yellow, for the pedestrian crossing and bicycle warning signs, which are of utmost importance. These signs alert New Jersey motorists that they must share the road with pedestrians and bicyclists and yield to them. Signs are divided into three basic categories: •• Warning: Warn motorists of hazards ahead that are difficult to see. •• Guidance: Guide motorists to a destination by clearly identifying the route. •• regulatory: Regulate traffic speed and movement. The signs are manufactured in different shapes and colors to convey a particular message. Examples of the various sign types, shapes and colors are found in the diagram on the next page. APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty Page 213 COLOr SHAPE NUMBEr Of SIDES MESSAGE White Vertical rectangle 4 Regulation (such as speed signs)1 Blue Rectangle, square 4 Motorists services and information Brown Rectangle 4 Public recreation and scenic guidance Green Rectangle 4 Direction guidance Orange Diamond 4 Construction and maintenance warning Red Octagon 8 STOP signs only Red Triangle 3 YIELD signs Yellow Pennant 3 No-passing warning signs Yellow Pentagon 5 School signs White X (NONE) Railroad crossing signs Yellow Round (NONE) Railroad crossing advance warning signs Yellow Diamond 4 Roadway hazard and railroad crossing warning signs 1 When the maximum safe speed around a curve or turn is lower than the posted speed limit, an advisory speed sign is used with the proper warning sign. WARNING SIGNS Warning signs are for road conditions that need caution and for specific hazards that may be encountered during certain road operations. Some of the warning signs alert motorists to road conditions, deer crossings, railroad cross- ings, school crossings or curved roadways. The signs are yellow and diamond-shaped with a black symbol or word message. Page 214 APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty ROAD WORK SIGNS Road work signs alert motorists to a variety of temporary roadway conditions. It is important to look for: Orange, diamond-shaped signs that warn the motorist of lane closing, lane shifts, flaggers, uneven pavement, and detours. Road work may temporarily close lanes or divert them, changing traffic patterns. Reduced speed limit signs that are posted along- side orange work zone signs. In New Jersey, all traffic fines are doubled in work zones. A motorist should react to road work signs by: •• Controlling the distance between his/her vehicle and the one in front, as well as his/her reaction time. Always read the signs, follow directions, and prepare to slow down or stop. •• Staying alert to the moving construction machinery in the work zone. With patience, a motorist will contribute to the overall safety of motorists and workers in the work zone. •• Watching for workers on the road, who risk injury or possibly death. Flaggers may stop and release traffic through the work zone. Note: Flaggers have the same authority as a regulatory sign, so a motorist may be cited if he/she disobeys their directions. GUIDANCE SIGNS Guidance signs identify destinations and routes for motorists. Motorist Service Signs: Motorist service signs have white letters or symbols on a blue background and provide information about motorist services. REGULATORY SIGNS Regulatory signs are generally rectangular, with the longer vertical dimen- sion, and have black wording and border on a white background. Some important regulatory signs to know are: •• StOP Octagonal sign with white wording and border on red background. •• yIELD White inverted triangle with red wording and border with a white border band. APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty Page 215 •• CrOSS BUCK X-shaped railroad crossing sign with black wording on a white back- ground means the same as a Yield sign. Motorists must always yield the right-of-way to trains. Trains cannot swerve to avoid motorists. •• DO NOt ENtEr White square with red circle that has a white band horizontally across the center of the circle and the words “DO NOT ENTER” in white letters on the upper and lower parts of the circle. Two national signs that indicate where certain interstate trucks can and cannot travel are now being used in New Jersey: •• Green Marks the routes and ramps where trucks are permitted; also marks the travel route to services and terminals. •• red Marks the routes and ramps where trucks are prohibited; also marks the end of designated routes. ROAD MARKINGS Road markings have the same force of law as signs or traffic signals. •• yellow center lines Separate traffic flow going in opposite directions. •• White lines Separate traffic going the same way when there is more than one lane; show edges of roads. •• Dashed lines On a motorist’s side of the center line of the road mean that passing is permitted when safe. •• Solid line On a motorist’s side of the center line means do not pass. •• road arrows When used with other signs, show the correct direction a motorist must take in that lane. •• White dashed lines Separate traffic lanes on multi-lane highways. •• Double yellow and white solid lines Prohibit passing. Do not cross the solid yellow line to pass. Stay in the lane. Keep to the right when driving slowly. Page 216 APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty •• yellow solid and dashed lines Control passing. If the solid yellow line is on the motorist’s side of the road, do not pass. Pass only if the dashed line is on the motorist’s side of the road. A pass must be completed before the yellow dashed lines become solid. •• Edge lines Separate the shoulder from the travel lane and show the edges of highways; Yellow edge lines separate the shoulder from the travel lane and show the edge of the highway. •• White crosswalks Indicate pedestrian crossing areas. Pedestrians should use these areas when crossing the road. At intersections where stop lines are missing stop before the crosswalk when required to stop by traffic signs or signals or for pedestrians. •• White stop lines Show where to stop at stop signs or traffic signals. •• White special markings Show special conditions, such as STOP AHEAD, SCHOOL, AND R X R, as a motorist alert. At railroacrossings, there will be a crossbuck and some crossings will include flashing red lights, ringing bells, and/or gates lowered across the road as a train approaches. Pavement markings, signs, and crossbucks are passive warning devices; flashing red lights, ringing bells, and lowered gates are active warning signs. •• White diamonds Indicate high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes reserved for a particular vehicle type or vehicles carrying multiple riders, as identified by posted regulatory signs. Such signs will also indicate hours that HOV lanes are in operation. HOV lanes may also be marked with white diamonds painted on the pavement of the lane. SPECIAL WARNING SIGNS These signs alert motorists to slow-moving vehicles. A fluorescent and reflec- tive orange triangular sign indicates slow-moving vehicles, such as farm and construction equipment operating on public highways. The operators must obey all traffic rules and place a slow-moving vehicle sign on the back of their vehicles to warn approaching motorists. APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty Page 217 RUMBLE STRIPS Transverse and longitudinal rumble strips are small indentions or narrow, raised strips on the highway or shoulder that are put there to alert the motorist that there is a decision point ahead (such as a four-way intersection after miles of uninterrupted travel). As the strips vibrate the steering wheel and make a noise, they will wake the motorist who may have dozed off or caution the motorist about the danger ahead. Rumble strips will not damage a vehicle. They are meant to get a motorist to drive more slowly. They are almost always used with a cautionary sign. SPEED BUMPS/SPEED HUMPS Other types of speed control devices include speed bumps and speed humps. A speed bump is a low ridge that runs across a street and that is designated to slow down cars. A speed hump is a longer, flatter version of a speed bump, which is more raised. ROUNDABOUTS A roundabout is a one-way, circular intersection in which traffic flows around a center island. Roundabouts are designed to meet the needs of all road users – drivers, pedestrians, pedestrians with disabilities, and bicyclists. A roundabout eliminates some of the conflicting traffic, such as left turns, which cause crashes at traditional intersections. Because roundabout traffic enters or exists only through right turns, the occurrence of severe crashes is substantially reduced. Page 218 APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty Page 219 APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty

Person with a Disability Flagman Ahead Cattle Crossing Merge Sharp Turn Ahead Yield Ahead Detour School Hill Divided Highway Signal Ahead Road Closed Slippery When Wet Lane Reduction Ahead Road Narrows Hospital Workers Cross Road Winding Road Two-Lane Traffic Page 220 APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty Bike Lane State Route Marker Side Road No U-Turns Left Turn Only Bike May Use Full Lane Reserved Parking No Passing Zone No Parking Any Time No Trucks No Standing Any Time Stop Here on Red Stop Sign Ahead Do Not Pass Multiple Turning Lanes Bicycles Present U.S. Route Marker Advisory Ramp Speed Do Not Enter Stop APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty Page 221 Yield Parallel Track Sign Bus/Car Pool Lane No Turns Exit Marker No Right Turn Crossbuck (Yield to Train) One Way Left Turn Only Mile Marker Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalk Rest Area Keep Right Interstate Road Closed Wrong Way Railroad Left or Straight Only No Pedestrians County Route Marker Page 222 APPENDIX: DrIvEr SAfEty Page 223 12APPENDIX: MVC Locations With at least one location in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties, the MVC provides numerous customer services. Please refer to the following pages and/or www.njmvc.gov for specific site information and appointment availability. In the following pages, you will find the locations of MVC Licensing Centers and Vehicle Centers, as well as MVC Road Test and Inspection facilities. Also included in this chapter are details on hours of operation, appointments, and services offered, as well as contact information for general customer, surcharge, suspension, and other inquiries. Page 224 VEHICLE CENTERS Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 8 am-3 pm Saturdays, closed Sundays. Services include new registrations/titles (including transfers) for individuals; dealer & salvage registrations/titles in bulk; license plate transactions; renewals for registrations expired more than 6 months or ineligible for online renewal. Appointment-only, with exception of customers requesting 5-year abstracts, and handicapped placards. LICENSING CENTERS Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 8 am-3 pm Saturdays, closed Sundays. Services include first-time licenses, non-driver IDs, and permits (including REAL ID option), out-of-state transfers, CDLs, TVRs (temporary visa-restricted licenses), knowl- edge testing, and license renewals not eligible for online renewal. Walk-in services with- out appointment are only available for permit validation, purchase of red reflectorized decals, 5-year abstracts, name and gender marker changes, and handicapped placards. ROAD TEST CENTERS Hours of operation, 8 am-5 pm Mon-Fri, closed Saturdays and Sundays. Applicants for a NJ driver license must take a behind-the-wheel test at an MVC facility. Road tests are only available by appointment through our website, www.njmvc.gov. Some Road Test locations serve as first-time Licensing Centers, where drivers who pass their Road Test can have their driver license issued on site. We do not accept cash at these locations – only credit cards are accepted. (See page 233 for locations) REGIONAL SERVICE CENTERS Hours of operation, 8 am-5 pm, Mon-Fri, closed Saturdays and Sundays. Among services offered are driver conferences for suspensions and restorations. CENTRAL INSPECTION FACILITIES Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 7 am-Noon Saturdays, closed Sundays. Inspections for all types of standard vehicles are available at these facilities. Some facilities require an appointment. See www.njinspections.com for more information. PRIVATE INSPECTION FACILITIES Hours of operation vary. More than 1,100 locations statewide, including at gas stations and body repair shops. These facilities will perform standard vehicle inspections for a fee. For a complete list of MVC-approved private inspection facilities visit www.njinspections.com. Page 225 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Licensing Centers Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 8 am-3 pm Saturdays, closed Sundays. Services include first-time licenses, non-driver IDs, and permits (including REAL ID option), out-of-state transfers, CDLs, knowledge testing, and license renewals not eligible for online renewal. Walk-in services without appointment are only available for permit validation, purchase of red reflectorized decals, 5-year abstracts, and name and gender marker changes, and handicapped placards. Please visit www.njmvc.gov for appointment availability. SUSSEX PASSAICC WARREN W MORRIS ESSEX HUNTERDON UNIONN SOMERSET SOMERSET MIDDLESEXX MERCER MONMOUTH OCEAN BURLINGTON CUMBERLAND ATLANTIC CAPE MAY SALEM CAMDEN CAMDEN GLOUCESTER GLOUCESTERCCC DSON HUDD HUD BERGENN 25 26 27 28 Page 226 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Licensing Centers Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 8 am-3 pm Saturdays, closed Sundays. Services include first-time licenses, non-driver IDs, and permits (including REAL ID option), out-of-state transfers, CDLs, knowledge testing, and license renewals not eligible for online renewal. Walk-in services without appointment are only available for permit validation, purchase of red reflectorized decals, 5-year abstracts, and name and gender marker changes, and handicapped placards. Please visit www.njmvc.gov for appointment availability. Newton 51 Sparta Avenue Newton, NJ 07860 Oakland 350 Ramapo Valley Road Suite 24, Oakland NJ 07436 Wayne 481 Route 46 West Wayne, NJ 07470 Paterson 125 Broadway Suite 201, Paterson, NJ 07505 Lodi 8 Mill Street (off Garibaldi Avenue) Lodi, NJ 07644 Randolph 160 Canfield Avenue Randolph, NJ 07869 Newark 228 Frelinghuysen Avenue Newark, NJ 07114 North Bergen 8901 Bergenline Avenue North Bergen, NJ 07047 Washington 404 E Washington Avenue Washington, NJ 07882 Flemington 181-B Routes 31 & 202 Ringoes, NJ 08551 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 9 10 Rahway 1140 Woodbridge Road and East Hazelwood Avenue Rahway, NJ 07065 Bayonne Route 440 and 1347 Kennedy Boulevard Family Dollar Plaza Bayonne, NJ 07002 Elizabeth 17 Caldwell Place Elizabeth, NJ 07201 South Plainfield 5000 Hadley Road, Suite 102 South Plainfield, NJ 07080 Edison 45 Kilmer Road Edison, NJ 08817 Bakers Basin 3200 Brunswick Pike Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Freehold 811 Okerson Road Freehold, NJ 07728 Eatontown 109 Route 36 Eatontown, NJ 07724 Delanco 400 Creek Road Delanco, NJ 08075 Toms River 1861 Hooper Avenue Village Square Toms River, NJ 08753 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Manahawkin 712 East Bay Avenue Manahawkin Plaza Suite 9 Manahawkin, NJ 08050 Runnemede 835 East Clements Bridge Road Runnemede Plaza Runnemede, NJ 08078 Camden 2600 Mount Ephraim Avenue Suite 400 Camden, NJ 08104 West Deptford 215 Crown Point Road (I-295 exit 20) Thorofare, NJ 08086 Salem The Finlaw Building 199 East Broadway, 1st Floor Salem, NJ 08079 Cardiff 6725 Black Horse Pike Harbor Square Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 Vineland 9 West Park Avenue Vineland, NJ 08360 Rio Grande 3305 Bay Shore Road Breakwater Shopping Plaza North Cape May, NJ 08204 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Page 227 Vehicle Centers Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 8 am-3 pm Saturdays, closed Sundays. Services include new registrations/titles (including transfers) for individuals; duplicate titles, dealer & salvage registrations/titles in bulk; license plate transactions; renewals for registra- tions expired more than 6 months or are ineligible for online renewal. Appointment-only, with exception of customers requesting 5-year abstracts, and handicapped placards. Please visit www.njmvc.gov for appointment availability. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Page 228 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Vehicle Centers Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 8 am-3 pm Saturdays, closed Sundays. Services include new registrations/titles (including transfers) for individuals; duplicate titles, dealer & salvage registrations/titles in bulk; license plate transactions; renewals for registra- tions expired more than 6 months or are ineligible for online renewal. Appointment-only, with exception of customers requesting 5-year abstracts, and handicapped placards. Please visit www.njmvc.gov for appointment availability. Newton 51 Sparta Avenue Newton, NJ 07860 Washington 404 E Washington Avenue Washington, NJ 07882 Wallington 450 Main Avenue Wallington Square Wallington, NJ 07057 East Orange 183 South 18th Street Suite B East Orange, NJ 07018 Springfield 271 Route 22 East Springfield, NJ 07081 Jersey City 438 Summit Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07307 Somerville 10 Roosevelt Place Somerville, NJ 08876 Hazlet 1374 Highway 36 Airport Plaza Hazlet, NJ 07730 South Brunswick 2236 Route 130 North Dayton, NJ 08810 Trenton 120 South Stockton Street Trenton, NJ 08608 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Lakewood 1195 Route 70 Leisure Center, Store 9 Lakewood, NJ 08701 Cherry Hill 1 Executive Campus at Cherry Hill Route 70 Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 Medford 175 Route 70 Suite 25 Sharp’s Run Plaza Medford, NJ 08055 Manahawkin 712 East Bay Avenue Manahawkin Plaza Suite 7 Manahawkin, NJ 08050 Turnersville 5200 Route 42 North Ganttown Plaza Turnerville, NJ 08012 Rio Grande 3305 Bay Shore Road Breakwater Shopping Plaza North Cape May, NJ 08204 Salem The Finlaw Building 199 East Broadway, 1st Floor Salem, NJ 08079 Cardiff 6725 Black Horse Pike Harbor Square Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 Runnemede 835 East Clements Bridge Road Runnemede Plaza Runnemede, NJ 08078 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Page 229

Page 230 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Regional service Centers Hours of operation, 8 am-5 pm, Mon-Fri, closed Saturdays and Sundays. Services include driver conferences and appeals for suspensions and restorations. *Regional Service Centers are located within MVC Licensing Centers with the exception of Trenton, which is an MVC Vehicle Center. SUSSEX PASSAIC WARREN MORRIS ESSEX HUNTERDON UNION SOMERSET MIDDLESEX MERCER MONMOUTH OCEAN BURLINGTON CUMBERLAND ATLANTIC CAPE MAY SALEM CAMDEN GLOUCESTER HUDSON BERGEN 1 Wayne 481 Route 46 West Wayne, NJ 07470 2 Paterson 125 Broadway, Suite 201 Paterson, NJ 07505 3 Newark 228 Frelinghuysen Avenue Newark, NJ 07114 4 trenton 120 South Stockton Street Trenton, NJ 08608 5 Eatontown 109 Route 36 Eatontown, NJ 07724 6 West Deptford 215 Crown Point Road (I-295 exit 20) Thorofare, NJ 08086 Page 231 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Road testing Hours of operation, 8 am-5 pm Mon-Fri, closed Saturdays and Sundays. Applicants for a NJ driver license must take a behind-the-wheel test at an MVC facility. Road tests are only available by appointment through the NJMVC website, www.njmvc.gov. SUSSEX PASSAICC WARREN W MORRIS ESSEX HUNTERDON UNIONN SOMERSET SOMERSET MIDDLESEXX MERCER MONMOUTH OCEAN BURLINGTON CUMBERLAND ATLANTIC CAPE MAY SALEM CAMDEN CAMDEN GLOUCESTER GLOUCESTERCCC DSON HUDD HUD BERGENN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 11 13 14 15 Page 232 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Road testing Hours of operation, 8 am-5 pm Mon-Fri, closed Saturdays and Sundays. Applicants for a NJ driver license must take a behind-the-wheel test at an MVC facility. Road tests are only available by appointment through the NJMVC website, www.njmvc.gov. Wayne* 481 Route 46 West Wayne, NJ 07470 Lodi* 8 Mill Street (off Garibaldi Avenue) Lodi, NJ 07644 Randolph 160 Canfield Avenue Randolph, NJ 07869 Newark 228 Frelinghuysen Avenue Newark, NJ 07114 Rahway* 1140 Woodbridge Road and East Hazelwood Avenue Rahway, NJ 07065 Edison 45 Kilmer Road Edison, NJ 08817 Bakers Basin* 3200 Brunswick Pike Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Eatontown* 109 Route 36 Eatontown, NJ 07724 Delanco* 400 Creek Road Delanco, NJ 08075 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Cherry Hill* 617 Hampton Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08802 Miller Air Park Route 530 and Mule Road Berkeley Township, NJ 08757 Winslow 550 Spring Garden Road Ancora, NJ 08037 salem 185 Salem Woodstown Road Salem, NJ 08079 Mays Landing 1477 19th Street Hamilton Industrial Park Mays Landing, NJ 08330 Cape May Cape May Airport 507 Terminal Drive Erma, NJ 08242 Basic auto test only, Wednesdays only 10 11 12 13 14 * Road Test locations serve as first-time Licensing Centers, where drivers who pass their Road Test can have their driver license issued on site. We do not accept cash at these locations – only credit cards are accepted. 15 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Page 233 Vehicle Inspection Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 7 am-Noon Saturdays, closed Sundays. Inspections for all types of standard vehicles are available at these facilities. Some facilities require an appointment. Visit www.njinspections.com for more information. SUSSEX PASSAIC WARREN MORRIS ESSEX HUNTERDON UNION SOMERSET MIDDLESEX MERCER MONMOUTH OCEAN BURLINGTON CUMBERLAND ATLANTIC CAPE MAY SALEM CAMDEN GLOUCESTER HUDSON BERGEN Page 234 APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Vehicle Inspection Hours of operation, 8 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri and 7 am-Noon Saturdays, Closed Sundays. Inspections for all types of standard vehicles are available at these facilities. Some facilities require an appointment. Visit www.njinspections.com for more information. 1 Newton 90 Moran Street Newton, NJ 07860 2 Wayne 481 Route 46 West Wayne, NJ 07470 3 Paramus 20 W. Century Road Paramus, NJ 07652 4 Lodi 8 Mill Street Lodi, NJ 07644 5 Washington Route 31 North Washington, NJ 07882 Appointment Only 6 Randolph 160 Canfield Avenue Randolph, NJ 07869 7 secaucus County Avenue and Secaucus Road Secaucus, NJ 07094 8 Newark 228 Frelinghuysen Avenue Newark, NJ 07114 9 Flemington 181 Routes 31 & 202 Ringoes, NJ 08551 10 Rahway 1140 Woodbridge Road Rahway, NJ 07065 11 Kilmer 33 Kilmer Road Edison, NJ 08817 12 south Brunswick 2236 Route 130 Dayton, NJ 08810 13 Bakers Basin 3200 Brunswick Pike Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 14 Freehold 801 Okerson Road Freehold, NJ 07728 15 Eatontown 109 Route 36 Eatontown, NJ 07724 16 southampton 1875 Route 38 Southampton, NJ 08088 17 Lakewood 1145 Route 70 Lakewood, NJ 08701 18 Cherry Hill 617 Hampton Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 19 Deptford 725 Tanyard Road Deptford, NJ 08096 20 Manahawkin 220 Recovery Road Manahawkin, NJ 08050 21 Winslow 250 Spring Garden Road Ancora, NJ 08037 22 salem 185 Salem Woodstown Road Salem, NJ 08079 Appointment Only 23 Millville 1406 Wheaton Avenue Millville, NJ 08332 24 Mays Landing 1477 19th Street Mays Landing, NJ 08330 25 Cape May 6 West Shellbay Avenue Cape May, NJ 08210 Appointment Only APPENDIX: MVC LoCAtIoNs Page 235 Page 236 Page 237 Lock it then Pocket Your Key Fob More than 1 million vehicles are stolen across the U.S. every year. Don’t make it easy. Prevent Vehicle Theft. Always remember to Lock it then Pocket your key fob and take it with you. Page 238 Page 239

General Customer Information (609) 292-6500 If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please use 7-1-1 NJ Relay. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:15 pm Detailed recorded information is available after-hours, seven days a week, including holidays. Motor Vehicle Commission P.o. Box 403 trenton, NJ 08666-0403 www.njmvc.gov Suspensions/Violations/Restorations (609) 292-7500 Motor Vehicle Commission P.O. Box 134 Trenton, NJ 08666-0403 Vehicle Inspection Information (888) NJMotoR (888-656-6867) toll-free in New Jersey (609) 895-6886 out of state www.njinspections.com Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm, and Saturday 7 a.m. to noon. To Pay a Surcharge Bill NJ-SVS P.O. Box 1502 Moorestown, NJ 08057-9704 To Return License Plates Motor Vehicle Commission P.O. Box 129 Trenton, NJ 08666-0129 Complaint About a Driving School’s Performance Motor Vehicle Commission Business License Services Bureau P.O. Box 170 Trenton, NJ 08666-0170 mvcBLsinvestigations@mvc.nj.gov CoNtACt INFoRMAtIoN Page 240 www.njmvc.gov R0724 GOVERNOR PHILIP D. MURPHY LT. GOVERNOR TAHESHA WAY ACTING CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR LATRECIA LITTLES-FLOYD