- Octagon (8-sided) red sign
- STOP — come to a complete stop, yield, then go when safe. The only octagonal sign.
- Downward-pointing triangle, red & white
- YIELD — slow down, give the right-of-way, and stop if needed.
- Yellow diamond sign
- General warning — a hazard ahead such as a curve, hill, merge, or intersection.
- Orange diamond or rectangle sign
- Construction or maintenance work zone ahead — slow down and watch for workers.
- Pentagon (5-sided) sign
- School zone or school crossing ahead.
- Pennant-shaped (horizontal triangle) sign
- No-passing zone — posted on the left side of the road.
- Round (circular) sign
- Railroad crossing ahead (usually with 'RR').
- White rectangular sign
- Regulatory sign — a law you must obey, such as speed limit, one way, or lane use.
- Crossbuck (white X-shaped sign)
- Marks a railroad crossing; means the same as a yield sign — give way to trains.
- Red on a sign or signal
- Stop or prohibition.
- Yellow on a sign
- General warning.
- Orange on a sign
- Construction or maintenance/work zone.
- Green on a sign
- Guidance — directions, distances, and destinations.
- Blue on a sign
- Motorist services such as gas, food, lodging, and hospitals.
- Brown on a sign
- Recreational and cultural areas — parks and points of interest.
- Steady red light
- Stop and remain stopped until the light turns green.
- Steady yellow light
- The light is about to turn red — stop if you can do so safely.
- Steady green light
- Go if the intersection is clear; yield to pedestrians and vehicles still in it.
- Flashing red light
- Treat it like a STOP sign — stop, yield, then proceed when safe.
- Flashing yellow light
- Caution — slow down and proceed carefully through the intersection.
- Red arrow signal
- No turn in that direction until the arrow turns green.
- Green arrow signal
- You may proceed in the direction of the arrow; the way is protected.
- Completely dark (unlit) traffic signal
- Treat the intersection as a four-way (all-way) stop.
- Solid yellow line on your side
- No passing — do not cross it to pass.
- Broken (dashed) yellow center line
- Passing is allowed from your side when it is safe.
- Double solid yellow lines
- No passing in either direction.
- One solid + one broken yellow line
- Only the side with the broken line may pass when safe.
- Solid white line
- Discourages or prohibits lane changes — stay in your lane.
- Broken (dashed) white line
- Separates same-direction lanes; you may change lanes when safe.
- Yellow center two-way left-turn lane
- A shared center lane used only for left turns, from either direction.
- Yellow lines (general meaning)
- Separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
- White lines (general meaning)
- Separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.
- White painted stop line at an intersection
- Stop behind it; if none, stop before the crosswalk or intersection edge.
- Speed limit sign
- A regulatory sign — the maximum legal speed for ideal conditions on that road.
- 'Do Not Enter' sign
- Red circle with a white horizontal bar — you may not enter; wrong way or restricted road.
- 'Wrong Way' sign
- Rectangular red and white sign — you are facing oncoming traffic; turn around.
- 'One Way' sign
- Traffic moves only in the direction the arrow points.
- 'No Turn on Red' sign
- Overrides the default right turn on red — you may not turn while the light is red.
- 'Divided Highway' warning sign
- A divided highway with a median begins ahead — keep right.
- 'Merge' warning sign
- Traffic from another roadway will join yours — adjust speed and position.
- Interstate route shield
- A red-white-and-blue shield with a route number — marks an interstate highway.
- U.S. route marker
- A black-and-white rounded shield with a number — marks a U.S. highway.
- Mile marker (e.g., 'MILE 142')
- Small roadside sign showing distance from a fixed point; helps you locate yourself.
- Exit number sign
- Numbered exits on a freeway, usually matching the nearest mile marker.
- Yellow 'EXIT ONLY' panel on a guide sign
- That lane leaves the freeway at the next exit — move over if you want to stay on.
- Yellow diamond with a curved arrow
- A curve in the road ahead in the direction shown — slow down.
- 'Slippery When Wet' warning sign
- The road can be slick in rain or ice — reduce speed and avoid hard braking.
- Railroad advance-warning sign
- Round yellow sign with 'RR' — a crossing is ahead; be prepared to stop.
- Regulatory vs. warning sign
- Regulatory (white/red) states a law you must obey; warning (yellow/orange) alerts you to a hazard.
- Lane-use control arrows (overhead)
- Tell you which movements (straight, turn) are allowed from each lane.
- HOV / carpool lane diamond marking
- A lane reserved for high-occupancy vehicles during posted hours.
- 'Left Lane for Passing Only' sign
- On a multilane Texas highway, slower traffic must keep right and use the left lane only to pass.
- Texas urban-district default speed limit
- 30 mph on a street in an urban district unless a sign says otherwise.
- Texas alley default speed limit
- 15 mph.
- Texas numbered rural highway default limit
- 70 mph on a numbered state or federal highway unless posted otherwise.
- Highest posted speed limit in Texas
- Up to 85 mph on certain highways (e.g., parts of SH 130) — the highest in the U.S.
- County road outside an urban district (default)
- Up to 60 mph unless posted otherwise.
- Prima facie speed limit
- Texas's presumed-safe default limit where none is posted; it can be rebutted by conditions.
- Basic speed law (Texas)
- You must always drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for current conditions.
- Four-way stop, two vehicles arrive together
- The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
- Four-way stop, who goes first
- The first vehicle to come to a complete stop has the right-of-way.
- Turning left at an intersection
- Yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right.
- Entering a road from a driveway or alley
- Yield to all traffic already on the roadway and to pedestrians.
- Pedestrian in a crosswalk
- All drivers must yield and stop for the pedestrian.
- Uncontrolled T-intersection
- Traffic on the road that ends yields to traffic on the through road.
- Right turn on red in Texas
- Allowed after a complete stop, unless a sign prohibits it; yield to pedestrians and cross traffic.
- Left turn on red in Texas
- Allowed from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a complete stop, unless prohibited.
- Roundabout rule
- Yield to traffic already circulating, enter when there's a gap, go counter-clockwise, signal your exit.
- No parking within ___ of a fire hydrant
- 15 feet.
- No parking within ___ of a stop sign, yield sign, or signal
- 30 feet.
- No parking within ___ of a crosswalk at an intersection
- 20 feet.
- Parking on a hill, facing downhill
- Turn your front wheels toward the curb.
- Parking on a hill, facing uphill with a curb
- Turn your front wheels away from the curb.
- School-zone speed (when lights flash / children present)
- Obey the posted reduced limit; slow down and watch for children.
- Texas turn-signal requirement
- Signal continuously for at least the last 100 feet before a turn or lane change.
- Slower traffic on a multilane highway
- Keep to the right; use the left lane only to pass.
- Passing on the right
- Allowed only in limited cases (e.g., the vehicle ahead is turning left) and never off the paved road.
- Two-way left-turn (center) lane use
- Use it only to prepare for or complete a left turn — not as a travel lane.
- Driving in a funeral procession
- Yield to it; do not cut through or break into the procession.
- Emergency vehicle approaching with lights and siren
- Pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes.
- Yielding when merging onto a freeway
- Match the speed of traffic and merge into a gap; through traffic generally has the right-of-way.
- U-turn legality
- Permitted where not prohibited by sign and where you can be seen for a safe distance.
- Texas standard (regular) license class
- Class C — for most passenger vehicles and light trucks.
- Agency that issues Texas driver licenses
- The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
- Agency that handles Texas registration & titles
- The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), through county tax offices — not driver licenses.
- Texas standard license renewal fee
- $25 for a standard 6-year renewal (varies by age; confirm current amount with DPS).
- Texas license renewal cycle
- Most adult Texas driver licenses are valid for 6 years.
- Stopping for a stopped school bus
- Stop in both directions for flashing red lights, except across a divided highway with a median.
- Open-container law
- It is illegal to have an open alcoholic-beverage container in the passenger area of a vehicle on a public road.
- Headlight use (Texas)
- Required from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, and when visibility is under 1,000 feet.
- Dimming high beams
- Dim within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 300 feet when following another vehicle.
- Yielding to a blind pedestrian with a white cane / guide dog
- Always yield; they have the right-of-way.
- Crossing a solid line to enter a turn lane
- Do not cross a solid white line; enter where the line becomes broken.
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street
- Prohibited; obey the 'One Way' arrow direction.
- Right-of-way (definition)
- The right to proceed first; in Texas it is something you yield, never take.
- When in doubt about right-of-way
- Yield — give up the right-of-way to avoid a crash.
- Backing up safely
- Check behind the vehicle, back slowly, and never back on a freeway or in an intersection.
- Stopping at a flashing red signal
- Stop completely, yield, then proceed when safe — same as a STOP sign.
- Speed in a construction work zone
- Obey posted work-zone limits; traffic fines can be doubled when workers are present.
- Flagger in a work zone
- A flagger's instructions override signs and signals — obey the flagger.
- Yielding to vehicles in a roundabout
- Entering traffic yields to vehicles already in the circle.
- Three-point turn
- A turn-around using forward and reverse on a narrow road where a U-turn isn't possible.
- Required following distance in normal conditions
- At least a three-second gap behind the vehicle ahead.
- Texas move-over for a stopped TxDOT vehicle
- Move over a lane or slow down, just as for police, fire, EMS, and tow trucks.
- Texas adult BAC limit
- 0.08% — it is illegal to drive at or above this blood alcohol concentration.
- Texas commercial-driver BAC limit
- 0.04% — half the limit for a regular driver.
- Texas under-21 alcohol rule (zero tolerance)
- ANY detectable amount of alcohol is a DUI offense for a driver under 21.
- DWI vs. DUI in Texas
- DWI = Driving While Intoxicated (any age, 0.08%+ or loss of faculties); DUI = a minor with any detectable alcohol.
- Standard first DWI classification
- A Class B misdemeanor: 72 hours-180 days in jail, fine up to $2,000, and license suspension.
- Enhanced DWI (0.15%+)
- A Class A misdemeanor on a first offense: up to 1 year in jail and a fine up to $4,000.
- 'Lost normal use of faculties'
- You can be charged with DWI at any BAC if alcohol or drugs impair your mental or physical faculties.
- Implied consent (Texas)
- By driving you agree to a breath or blood test if lawfully arrested for DWI.
- Administrative License Revocation (ALR)
- A civil license suspension that starts when you fail or refuse a breath/blood test — separate from the criminal case.
- ALR suspension for a first test refusal
- 180 days.
- DWI with a child passenger under 15
- A felony in Texas (child endangerment), with much harsher penalties.
- Texas statewide texting ban (since Sept 1, 2017)
- Reading, writing, or sending a text or electronic message while driving is illegal statewide (HB 62).
- Is Texas a full hands-free state?
- No — handheld voice calls are still legal statewide for adults; only texting is banned statewide.
- Handheld phones in a Texas school zone
- Banned — no handheld phone use of any kind while driving in an active school zone.
- Wireless devices for drivers under 18
- Prohibited entirely — no device use, even hands-free.
- Local handheld bans
- Many Texas cities (e.g., Austin, San Antonio) add stricter local handheld bans — watch for signs.
- Driver Responsibility Program (DRP)
- Texas's former surcharge 'points' system — repealed September 1, 2019.
- Does Texas still assess surcharge points?
- No — the DRP was repealed in 2019; license suspensions now come from the offense itself or failure to appear/pay.
- Three-second following rule
- Pick a fixed point the car ahead passes, count 'one-thousand-one, two, three'; if you reach it first, you're too close.
- Following distance in rain, fog, or behind a motorcycle
- Increase to four or more seconds.
- Texas seat-belt law
- Every occupant, in every seat, must wear a seat belt; it is a primary offense.
- Child safety seat requirement
- A child younger than 8 (unless taller than 4 ft 9 in) must ride in an appropriate child safety seat.
- Rear-facing car-seat guidance
- Keep infants and toddlers rear-facing as long as possible, up to the seat's height/weight limits.
- Defensive driving (definition)
- Anticipating hazards and others' mistakes early so you have time to react safely.
- Two-second / safe scanning habit
- Scan well down the road and check mirrors every few seconds; keep an escape path.
- Hydroplaning
- Tires ride on a film of water and lose grip — ease off the gas and steer straight; don't brake hard.
- Driving in fog
- Slow down and use low beams; high beams reflect off fog and reduce visibility.
- If your brakes fail
- Pump the pedal, downshift, use the parking brake gradually, and steer to a safe stop.
- If a tire blows out
- Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and steer straight; don't brake hard.
- Drowsy driving
- As dangerous as impaired driving — pull over and rest; coffee and open windows aren't real fixes.
- Driving under the influence of prescription drugs
- Can be a DWI if the drug impairs you — impairment, not just alcohol, is the test.
- Safe speed for conditions
- Even below the posted limit, you must slow for rain, fog, traffic, or hazards (basic speed law).
- Blind-spot check before changing lanes
- Signal, check mirrors, then look over your shoulder to clear the blind spot.
- Stopping distance and speed
- Doubling your speed roughly quadruples your stopping distance.
- Glare from oncoming high beams
- Look toward the right edge of your lane to keep oriented without being blinded.
- Two-second rule for night driving
- Don't overdrive your headlights — be able to stop within the distance you can see.
- Highway hypnosis
- Drowsy, trance-like driving on long monotonous roads — take breaks and stay engaged.
- Aggressive driving / road rage
- Avoid it; don't engage, give space, and report dangerous drivers when safe.
- Texas DWI education / intervention
- A first DWI conviction typically requires a state-approved DWI education program.
- Crash injuring or killing someone (intoxication)
- Intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter — felony charges in Texas.
- What to do if you're in a crash
- Stop, check for injuries, call for help, exchange information, and don't leave the scene.
- Leaving the scene of a crash
- A crime (hit and run); severity rises with injury or death.
- Required liability insurance (Texas minimum)
- 30/60/25: $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage.
- Fatigue and reaction time
- Tiredness slows reaction time and judgment much like alcohol does.
- Distracted driving (three types)
- Visual (eyes off road), manual (hands off wheel), and cognitive (mind off driving).
- Texting while driving combines
- All three distraction types at once — the most dangerous distraction.
- Drinking and 'sobering up'
- Only time removes alcohol from your system — coffee, food, or a cold shower won't speed it.
- Driving emotionally upset
- Strong emotions impair judgment; calm down before driving.
- Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
- Press and hold firm pressure in an emergency stop; do not pump — let ABS prevent lockup.
- Speeding penalty in a work zone with workers present
- Fines can be doubled.
- Texas Move Over / Slow Down law
- Move out of the lane closest to a stopped emergency/service vehicle with flashing lights, if you safely can.
- Move Over law — if you can't change lanes
- Slow to 20 mph below the posted limit (or 5 mph if the limit is 25 mph or less).
- Vehicles the Move Over law covers
- Police, fire, EMS, tow trucks, TxDOT vehicles, and others showing amber/flashing lights stopped roadside.
- School bus with flashing red lights + stop arm
- Stop in both directions and wait until the lights stop and the arm folds back.
- Exception to stopping for a school bus
- Only when you're on the other side of a divided highway separated by a physical median or barrier.
- Is a center turn lane a 'divided highway'?
- No — a painted line or center turn lane is NOT a median; you must still stop for the bus.
- Penalty for illegally passing a stopped school bus
- A fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense in Texas.
- Texas learner-license minimum age
- 15 (after a driver education course and passing the written test).
- Who must be with a Texas learner-license holder
- A licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat at all times.
- Minimum time to hold a learner license
- At least 6 months before applying for a provisional license.
- Supervised driving hours for a teen
- At least 30 hours, including 10 hours at night, logged with a licensed adult.
- Texas provisional-license minimum age
- 16, after the learner period, supervised hours, and the Impact Texas Drivers course.
- Provisional nighttime restriction
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. (except for work, school, or an emergency).
- Provisional passenger restriction
- No more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member.
- Provisional wireless-device rule
- No use of any wireless device (even hands-free) for drivers under 18.
- Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course
- A required video on distracted-driving dangers, completed within 90 days before the road test.
- When provisional restrictions end
- At age 18, when the driver receives a full unrestricted Class C license.
- Railroad crossing with flashing lights
- Stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail and wait; never drive around a lowered gate.
- Crossbuck at a railroad crossing
- Means yield to trains — the same as a yield sign.
- Beating a train
- Never try it — trains can't stop quickly and are wider than the tracks.
- Sharing the road with bicyclists
- Treat them as vehicles with full road rights; pass with a safe distance.
- Sharing the road with motorcyclists
- Allow extra following distance and check blind spots — motorcycles are easy to miss.
- Large truck turning right
- It may swing wide to the left first; never try to squeeze up its right side.
- Truck 'No-Zones' (blind spots)
- Large areas behind, beside, and in front of a truck where the driver can't see you.
- Pedestrian right-of-way
- Yield and stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk; never pass a vehicle stopped for one.
- Blind pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog
- Always has the right-of-way — stop and let them cross.
- Approaching an emergency vehicle with lights and siren
- Pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes.
- Driving in heavy rain
- Slow down, use low beams, increase following distance, and watch for hydroplaning.
- Driving in fog or dust reducing visibility
- Slow down, use low beams, and pull off safely if you can't see.
- Work-zone driving
- Slow down, merge early, obey flaggers, and watch for sudden stops and lane shifts.
- Animals on the road
- Slow down; brake in a straight line rather than swerving into another lane or off the road.
- Sharing the road with a slow-moving vehicle
- Orange triangle emblem marks vehicles going under 25 mph — pass only when safe.
- Funeral procession
- Yield to it and do not break into or interfere with it.
- Stopped on the shoulder for an emergency
- Pull completely off, use hazard lights, and exit away from traffic.
- Highway-railroad crossing with no signals
- Look and listen both ways; be ready to stop, since you must yield to any train.
- Driving near a school during arrival/dismissal
- Expect children and reduced speed limits; be ready to stop suddenly.
- Passing a stopped emergency vehicle (general)
- Move over or slow down — Texas's Move Over / Slow Down law applies.
- Bicyclist riding in the lane
- Allowed; give room and don't pass too closely.
- Construction worker or flagger directing traffic
- Their signals override traffic signs and signals — obey them.
- Driving onto a flooded road
- Turn around, don't drown — even shallow moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
- Sharing the road with horses or horse-drawn vehicles
- Slow down, give wide space, and avoid sudden noises or movements.
- Yielding to transit buses re-entering traffic
- In some areas you must yield to a bus signaling to merge from a stop.
- Emergency vehicle approaching from behind in traffic
- Move toward the right and stop when safe to clear a path.
- Stopping distance for a loaded truck
- Much longer than a car — don't cut in front of a truck and brake.
- Roadside assistance / disabled vehicle ahead
- Slow down and give it room — the Move Over principle protects stopped vehicles too.
- New Texas resident license deadline
- Get a Texas driver license within 90 days of moving to Texas.