- Octagon (8-sided) sign
- STOP. It is the only sign of this shape — come to a complete stop, then yield before proceeding.
- Inverted triangle sign
- YIELD. Slow down, give the right-of-way to traffic and pedestrians, and stop if necessary before merging.
- Yellow diamond sign
- A general warning of a hazard ahead — a curve, intersection, merge, or other condition that calls for caution.
- Orange diamond or rectangle sign
- A work-zone (construction or maintenance) sign. Slow down; in Georgia, fines for many violations double when workers are present.
- White rectangular sign
- A regulatory sign stating a law you must obey, such as a speed limit, one-way, or no-turn restriction.
- Green rectangular sign
- A guide sign giving directions, destinations, exits, and distances.
- Blue rectangular sign
- A motorist-services sign — rest areas, hospitals, gas, food, and lodging.
- Brown rectangular sign
- Marks a recreational area, park, or scenic point of interest.
- Pennant-shaped sign (horizontal triangle)
- Marks the start of a no-passing zone; it is posted on the left side of the road.
- Pentagon (5-sided) sign
- A school zone or school crossing sign — slow down and watch for children.
- Round (circular) sign
- A railroad-crossing advance warning. Slow, look, listen, and be ready to stop for a train.
- Crossbuck sign
- The white X-shaped sign at a railroad crossing; treat it like a yield sign and stop if a train is coming.
- Diamond-shaped DO NOT ENTER setting
- A red circle with a white horizontal bar means do not enter — you are facing the wrong way on a one-way street or ramp.
- WRONG WAY sign
- A red-and-white sign warning you are traveling against traffic; stop and turn around safely.
- Red and white regulatory color
- Red and white signs give an order you must obey, like STOP, YIELD, DO NOT ENTER, and WRONG WAY.
- Steady red light
- Stop and remain stopped until the light turns green; you may turn right on red after stopping unless a sign prohibits it.
- Steady yellow light
- The signal is about to turn red. Stop if you can do so safely; do not speed up to beat the light.
- Steady green light
- Proceed if the intersection is clear; when turning, yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
- Flashing red light
- Treat it like a stop sign: come to a complete stop, then proceed when it is safe.
- Flashing yellow light
- Slow down and proceed with caution; you do not have to stop but must watch for cross traffic.
- Green arrow signal
- A protected turn in the direction of the arrow; oncoming traffic is stopped, so you may turn.
- Red arrow signal
- Stop; you may not make the movement shown by the arrow until it turns green.
- Solid yellow center line
- Separates traffic moving in opposite directions; a solid yellow line on your side means no passing.
- Broken (dashed) yellow line
- Separates opposing traffic and allows passing when the way ahead is clear and it is safe.
- Double solid yellow lines
- Neither direction may pass or cross except to turn left into a driveway or road.
- Solid white line
- Separates lanes of traffic going the same direction; discourages or prohibits lane changes.
- Broken white line
- Separates same-direction lanes and allows lane changes when it is safe.
- White stop line
- The line at an intersection or crosswalk where you must stop for a sign or red light.
- Crosswalk markings
- White lines marking where pedestrians cross; you must yield to anyone in or entering the crosswalk.
- Yellow curb marking
- Indicates a loading zone or restricted parking; do not park where the curb is painted yellow.
- HOV diamond pavement symbol
- Marks a high-occupancy-vehicle lane reserved for vehicles carrying the posted minimum number of people.
- Bike-lane markings
- A lane reserved for bicycles, marked by a solid white line and a bicycle symbol; do not drive or park in it.
- Speed limit sign
- A white regulatory rectangle stating the maximum legal speed in good conditions for that road.
- Minimum speed sign
- States the slowest you may legally drive on that road, common on interstates.
- One-way sign
- A black-and-white arrow showing that traffic flows in only the direction of the arrow.
- No U-turn sign
- Prohibits making a complete turn to reverse direction at that location.
- Divided highway sign
- Warns that the roadway ahead is divided into two one-way roadways by a median.
- Merge sign
- Warns that another roadway joins yours ahead; adjust speed and position to blend safely.
- Lane-ends / lane-reduction sign
- Warns that a lane is ending ahead; merge into the continuing lane early and safely.
- Slippery when wet sign
- A yellow warning that the road can be slick in rain; slow down and increase following distance.
- Deer crossing sign
- Warns of animals that may enter the road; be especially alert at dawn and dusk.
- Two-way traffic sign
- Warns you are leaving a one-way roadway and entering a road with traffic in both directions.
- Roundabout sign
- Warns of a circular intersection ahead; yield to traffic already in the circle and keep moving counterclockwise.
- Hill / steep grade sign
- Warns of a downgrade ahead; shift to a lower gear and check your brakes.
- Signal-ahead sign
- Warns that a traffic signal is ahead, often where it is hard to see in time; be ready to stop.
- Reserved-parking (disabled) sign
- Marks parking for vehicles displaying a disabled placard or plate; parking there otherwise is illegal.
- End of no-passing zone
- Marked where the solid yellow line on your side becomes a broken line — passing is again allowed when clear.
- Rumble strips
- Grooves cut into the shoulder or center line that create noise and vibration to alert a drifting driver.
- Overhead lane-use sign
- A sign above a lane with a downward arrow tells you that lane leads to the destination or route shown.
- Arrow panel in a work zone
- A flashing arrow board on a truck or trailer directing drivers to move out of the lane it points away from.
- Right-of-way
- The legal right to proceed first. In Georgia you give it, never take it — yielding prevents most intersection crashes.
- Four-way stop order
- The first vehicle to stop goes first; if two stop at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
- Left turn at an intersection
- A left-turning driver must yield to oncoming traffic going straight and to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
- T-intersection rule
- Traffic on the road that ends (the stem of the T) must yield to traffic on the through road.
- Yield to emergency vehicles
- Pull to the right edge of the road and stop for any emergency vehicle using its lights and siren; do not block intersections.
- Pedestrian right-of-way
- Yield to pedestrians in or entering a marked or unmarked crosswalk; never pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian.
- Roundabout right-of-way
- Vehicles entering a roundabout yield to traffic already circulating; travel counterclockwise and signal when exiting.
- Georgia Basic Speed Law
- You must never drive faster than is reasonable and safe for conditions, even if that is below the posted limit.
- Urban/residential default speed
- 30 mph is the typical default speed limit in a Georgia urban or residential district unless otherwise posted.
- Two-lane highway default speed
- 55 mph is the typical limit on a Georgia two-lane highway unless otherwise posted.
- Rural interstate speed
- 70 mph is the typical maximum on a Georgia rural interstate unless otherwise posted.
- Keep-right rule
- Drive in the right lane except to pass; slower traffic must yield the left lane to faster traffic.
- Turn-signal distance
- Signal your intention to turn or change lanes well in advance — at least 100 feet before turning.
- Stopping for a school bus
- Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm; on undivided roads, traffic in both directions stops.
- Following too closely
- Tailgating is illegal and dangerous; keep at least a three-second gap, more in poor conditions.
- Passing rules
- Pass only on the left where markings and conditions allow; return to the right lane only when you can see the passed vehicle in your mirror.
- U-turn rules
- U-turns are legal in Georgia only where they can be made safely and are not prohibited by a sign or condition.
- Parking on a hill
- Turn your wheels toward the curb when facing downhill and away from the curb (toward the road) when facing uphill with a curb.
- Class CP learner's permit
- Georgia's instructional permit, available at age 15 after passing the Knowledge Exam; requires a licensed adult 21+ in the front seat.
- Class D provisional license
- Georgia's intermediate license for 16- and 17-year-olds, with a midnight–5 a.m. curfew and phased passenger limits.
- Class C license
- Georgia's standard unrestricted noncommercial license; an 8-year term costing $32.
- TADRA
- The Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act — Georgia's graduated-licensing law (Class CP at 15, Class D at 16, Class C at 18).
- Class CP holding period
- A teen must hold the Class CP learner's permit at least 12 months and one day, with no major convictions, before a Class D license.
- Class D curfew
- A Class D provisional license holder may not drive between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. — there are no exceptions.
- Class D first-6-months passengers
- During the first six months a Class D license is held, only immediate family members may ride as passengers.
- Class D second-6-months passengers
- During the second six months, only one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family may ride.
- Class D after 12 months passengers
- After 12 months, no more than three passengers under 21 who are not immediate family may ride.
- Joshua's Law
- Requires 16- and 17-year-olds to complete driver education (30 hrs instruction + 6 hrs behind the wheel) and 40 hours of supervised driving (6 at night).
- Knowledge Exam structure
- Two tests — a 20-question Road Signs Test and a 20-question Road Rules Test; you must pass both with at least 15 of 20.
- Knowledge Exam passing score
- 75% — at least 15 of 20 correct on each of the road signs and road rules tests.
- Georgia DDS
- The Department of Driver Services — Georgia's agency for licenses, permits, the Knowledge Exam, and points; Georgia has no 'DMV.'
- Seat-belt law
- Front-seat occupants and all occupants under 18 anywhere in the vehicle must wear a seat belt in Georgia.
- Child restraint law
- Children under 8 and shorter than 4 feet 9 inches must ride in the back seat in an appropriate restraint when a back seat is available.
- Headlight requirement
- Headlights are required from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, and whenever you can't see clearly 500 feet ahead.
- Right turn on red
- Permitted in Georgia after a full stop, if the way is clear and no sign prohibits it.
- Left turn on red
- Permitted only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping, where not prohibited.
- Move Over law
- Move one lane away from a stopped emergency, tow, utility, or DOT vehicle showing flashing lights; if you can't, slow below the limit.
- Reckless driving
- Driving in disregard for the safety of persons or property; a 4-point violation in Georgia.
- Aggressive driving
- A serious offense combining unsafe acts to harass or endanger others; adds 6 points to a Georgia record.
- HOV lane rules
- High-occupancy-vehicle lanes require the posted minimum number of occupants during marked hours.
- Yielding when entering a road
- When entering from a driveway, alley, or private road, yield to all traffic and pedestrians on the road you are entering.
- Funeral procession
- Yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession; do not cut through or join it.
- School-zone speed
- Slow to the reduced posted limit when the school-zone lights are flashing; watch for crossing guards and children.
- Open-container law
- It is illegal to have an open alcoholic-beverage container in the passenger area of a vehicle on a Georgia road.
- Driving on the shoulder
- Driving or passing on the shoulder is illegal except in an emergency or where specifically directed.
- Yielding to transit buses
- Yield to a public transit bus that has signaled and is re-entering traffic from a bus stop where posted.
- Backing safely
- Back up only when it can be done safely; check behind the vehicle first and never back on a highway or expressway.
- Railroad-crossing rule
- Never stop on the tracks; if a gate is down or lights are flashing, stop and wait until the train passes and the gate rises.
- Stopping for pedestrians at corners
- At intersections without signals, yield to pedestrians crossing in the crosswalk, marked or not.
- Roadway markings for turns
- Get into the correct turn lane early; follow arrow markings and do not change your turn at the last second.
- Georgia points system
- Each conviction adds points to your record; a driver 21+ is suspended at 15 points in 24 months.
- Under-21 suspension rule
- A driver under 21 is suspended by any single conviction worth 4 or more points — far stricter than the 15-point rule.
- How long points last
- Points stay on a Georgia driving record for two years from the conviction date.
- Speeding 24–33 mph over
- Adds 4 points to a Georgia driving record.
- Speeding 34+ mph over
- The highest speeding tier; adds 6 points to a Georgia driving record.
- Reckless driving points
- Adds 4 points to a Georgia driving record.
- Aggressive driving points
- Adds 6 points — one of the most heavily penalized violations in Georgia.
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Unlawfully passing a stopped school bus adds 6 points to a Georgia record.
- DUI per se, 21 and over
- A driver 21+ in a non-commercial vehicle is DUI at a BAC of 0.08 or greater.
- DUI BAC, under 21
- Georgia's zero-tolerance limit: a driver under 21 is DUI at a BAC of 0.02 or greater.
- DUI BAC, commercial driver
- A commercial driver is DUI at a BAC of 0.04 or greater, half the standard 0.08 limit.
- First DUI suspension
- A first DUI for a driver 21+ (BAC 0.08+) carries a minimum 12-month license suspension.
- Implied consent
- By driving in Georgia you have already consented to chemical testing; refusing the state test can itself suspend your license.
- Super Speeder definition
- A driver convicted of going 75 mph or more on a two-lane road, or 85 mph or more on any road or highway.
- Super Speeder fee
- A $200 state fee paid to DDS, in addition to any local fine imposed by the court.
- Super Speeder deadline
- Pay the $200 fee within 120 days of the DDS notice or the license is suspended.
- Super Speeder reinstatement
- If suspended for non-payment, a $50 reinstatement fee is added on top of the $200 fee.
- Hands-Free Georgia Act
- Effective July 1, 2018; drivers may not hold or support a phone or device with any part of the body while driving.
- Hands-Free first offense
- A first violation is a $50 fine and 1 point; second is $100 and 2 points; third is $150 and 3 points.
- Hands-Free allowed use
- A phone may still be used with a mount, holder, Bluetooth, earpiece, or voice command — just not held.
- Three-second following rule
- Keep at least three seconds of space behind the vehicle ahead; increase it in rain, fog, or at night.
- Scanning the road
- Keep your eyes moving — glance far ahead, then near, then to your mirrors — instead of fixing on one point.
- Blind spots
- Areas beside and behind your car that mirrors miss; glance over your shoulder before every lane change.
- Dimming high beams (oncoming)
- Dim your high beams within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle to avoid blinding the other driver.
- Dimming high beams (following)
- Dim your high beams within 200 feet when following closely behind another vehicle.
- High beams in fog or rain
- Use low beams in fog, rain, or snow — high beams reflect off the moisture and reduce your visibility.
- Hydroplaning
- When tires ride on a film of water and lose grip; ease off the gas, hold the wheel steady, and don't brake hard.
- Preventing hydroplaning
- Slow down in rain, keep tires properly inflated with good tread, and avoid standing water.
- Skid recovery
- If the rear skids, ease off the gas and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go; don't slam the brakes.
- Stopping distance factors
- Total stopping distance is your reaction distance plus braking distance, both of which grow with speed.
- Driving while drowsy
- Fatigue slows reaction time like alcohol; pull over and rest rather than pushing on when sleepy.
- Road rage avoidance
- Don't engage an aggressive driver; give space, avoid eye contact, and report dangerous behavior.
- Distracted driving
- Anything that takes your eyes, hands, or mind off driving — texting, eating, or grooming — sharply raises crash risk.
- Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
- With ABS, press and hold firm, steady pressure in an emergency stop; do not pump the brakes.
- Adjusting speed for conditions
- Slow for curves, intersections, weather, and traffic; the posted limit is a maximum for ideal conditions only.
- Night-driving caution
- Reduce speed at night so you can stop within the distance your headlights light up — about that 'overdriving your headlights' idea.
- Space cushion
- Keep open space on all sides of your vehicle so you have room to react and an escape path.
- Two-second rule in cities
- In slow city traffic a two-second gap may suffice, but add time as speed and hazards increase.
- Brake checking is dangerous
- Never brake suddenly to punish a tailgater; instead increase the gap ahead so you can stop gently.
- Handling a tailgater
- If tailgated and you can't move over, keep a steady speed and gradually increase the gap in front of you.
- Seat-belt benefit
- Seat belts keep you in place and behind the wheel in a crash, greatly reducing injury and death.
- Effects of alcohol
- Alcohol impairs judgment, reaction time, vision, and coordination — the first abilities you need to drive safely.
- Drugs and driving
- Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can impair driving; you can be charged with DUI for drugs as well as alcohol.
- Fatigue warning signs
- Heavy eyelids, drifting, missing exits, and yawning mean stop and rest — not just open a window.
- Vehicle maintenance for safety
- Working brakes, lights, tires, and wipers are part of safe driving and required for a roadworthy vehicle.
- Mirror and seat setup
- Adjust seat, mirrors, and head restraint before driving — never while moving.
- Speeding 15–18 mph over
- Adds 2 points to a Georgia driving record.
- Two-lane Super Speeder trigger
- Driving 75 mph or more on a two-lane road makes you a Super Speeder, even if local fines are separate.
- Any-road Super Speeder trigger
- Driving 85 mph or more on any road or highway makes you a Super Speeder regardless of the number of lanes.
- Defensive driving mindset
- Expect the unexpected, leave room, and have an escape plan; assume other drivers may make mistakes.
- School bus, two-lane road
- When a bus shows flashing red lights and an extended stop arm on a two-lane or undivided road, traffic in both directions must stop.
- School bus, divided highway
- On a road divided by a median or barrier, only traffic behind the bus must stop; oncoming traffic may proceed.
- When you may go after a bus stops
- Proceed only after the bus's red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is withdrawn.
- Move Over law coverage
- Covers stopped emergency, law-enforcement, tow, utility, and DOT vehicles — including Georgia's HERO units — with flashing lights.
- Move Over, can't change lanes
- If you cannot safely move one lane over, slow below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop.
- Three-feet bicycle rule
- Give a bicyclist at least 3 feet of clearance when passing in the same direction.
- Sharing the road with motorcycles
- Motorcycles are small and easy to miss; look twice at intersections and before changing lanes, and give them a full lane.
- Pedestrian at a crosswalk
- Stop and stay stopped until the pedestrian has fully cleared your half of the road; never assume they see you.
- Blind or disabled pedestrians
- Always yield to a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog; they have the right-of-way at all times.
- Large-truck blind spots
- Trucks have large 'no-zones'; if you can't see the driver's mirrors, the driver can't see you — don't linger alongside.
- Passing a large truck
- Pass promptly on the left, signal, and don't cut back in until you see the whole truck in your mirror.
- Emergency vehicle approaching
- Pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes; never follow closely behind one.
- Driving in fog
- Use low beams, slow down, and increase following distance; if it's too thick, pull completely off the road and turn on hazards.
- Driving in heavy rain
- Slow down, turn on low-beam headlights (required when wipers are on in many situations), and watch for hydroplaning.
- Driving in snow or ice
- Slow gently, brake and accelerate smoothly, and increase following distance dramatically; bridges ice first.
- Night driving on rural roads
- Use high beams where legal to see farther, but dim them within 500 feet of oncoming traffic.
- Breakdown on the highway
- Pull fully onto the shoulder, turn on hazard lights, and exit on the side away from traffic if you must leave the car.
- Stalled on railroad tracks
- Get everyone out and away from the tracks immediately, then call the posted emergency number or 911.
- Animal in the road
- Brake firmly and stay in your lane; don't swerve into oncoming traffic or off the road to avoid a small animal.
- Work-zone driving
- Slow down, merge early, watch for workers and equipment, and expect sudden stops; fines often double.
- Flashing arrow in a work zone
- An arrow board directs you out of a closed lane; merge in the direction the arrow shows well in advance.
- Sharing the road with bicycles
- Bicyclists may legally use the travel lane; pass only with at least 3 feet of space and when it is safe.
- Children near the road
- Slow down and be ready to stop near schools, parks, and residential areas; children can dart out unexpectedly.
- Funeral procession courtesy
- Do not cut into or interrupt a funeral procession; yield to it as you would to an emergency vehicle.
- Slow-moving vehicle emblem
- An orange-and-red triangle marks vehicles going 25 mph or less, such as farm equipment; slow and pass with care.
- Roundabout with pedestrians
- Yield to pedestrians at the crosswalks on entry and exit of a roundabout.
- Mountain or steep grades
- Use a lower gear downhill to save your brakes; yield to vehicles going uphill on narrow mountain roads.
- Construction flagger
- Obey a flagger's signals; their direction overrides signs and signals in a work zone.
- Wet leaves and gravel
- Reduce speed on wet leaves, gravel, or sand — they cut traction much like ice or water.
- Hydroplaning response
- Ease off the accelerator, keep the wheel steady, and don't brake hard until the tires regain grip.
- Sun glare
- Use your visor and sunglasses, slow down, and increase following distance when low sun blinds you.
- Tire blowout
- Hold the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, don't brake hard, and steer straight until you can pull off safely.
- Brake failure
- Pump the brakes to build pressure, downshift, and use the parking brake gradually; steer to a safe stop.
- Skidding on a curve
- Slow before the curve, not in it; if you skid, ease off the gas and steer where you want to go.
- Stopped emergency scene
- Slow down, move over if you can, and follow any officer or responder directions through the scene.
- Bicyclist turning left
- A bicyclist may move into the travel lane to turn left; give them room and don't squeeze past.
- Pedestrians at night
- Pedestrians are hard to see after dark; slow in areas with foot traffic and use your headlights properly.
- Sharing with mopeds and scooters
- Treat low-powered cycles like other vehicles; give them a full lane and 3 feet when passing.
- Yielding to buses re-entering
- Where posted, yield to a transit bus signaling to pull back into traffic from a stop.
- Disabled vehicle ahead
- Move over or slow as you would for an emergency vehicle, and pass only when the lane beside it is clear.
- Driving through deep water
- Avoid flooded roads; even a few inches of moving water can sweep a car away — turn around, don't drown.
- Wind and high-profile vehicles
- In strong wind, keep a firm grip and give extra space to trucks, buses, and trailers that can be pushed sideways.
- Sharing the road with trains
- Never try to beat a train; trains can't stop quickly and are closer and faster than they appear.
- Pedestrian-heavy areas
- In downtowns and near transit, slow down and scan crosswalks and between parked cars for people stepping out.
- Merge etiquette
- Adjust speed to blend smoothly with traffic; drivers already on the road should make room where they safely can.
- Headlight use in tunnels
- Turn on low-beam headlights entering a tunnel so you are visible in the dimmer light.
- Following emergency vehicles
- Stay at least 500 feet behind a fire truck or ambulance responding with lights and siren.
- Right-of-way is given
- Even in special situations, you give the right-of-way to protect the most vulnerable; never force your way.
- Passing on the right
- Allowed only in limited cases, such as a multi-lane road or a vehicle turning left; never on the shoulder.
- School-zone cameras
- Many Georgia school zones use automated speed cameras; a citation is a civil penalty with no points on your license.