2013 Oregon Driver Manual - Oregon Department of Transportation

Section 3
Rules of
the Road
The rules of the road are those laws and practices that provide safe
and effi cient movement of vehicles. They include such things as starting,
signaling, turning, overtaking, passing, and stopping.
Even on a short trip, you may be faced with dangerous driving
conditions. Statistics show that half of all vehicle crashes occur within 25
miles of home.
The following will help you avoid the need to make quick decisions and
sudden moves:
• Learn the traffi c rules and follow them.
• Be prepared to yield to others to avoid a crash.
• Always watch carefully for advance warning and information signs.
• Be a courteous driver. Be predictable; communicate clearly and early.
Anticipate other vehicles’ movements and plan ahead.
Speed Regulations
The speed at which you drive determines how much time you have to
act or react and how long it takes to stop. The higher the speed you are
traveling, the less time you have to spot hazards, judge the speed of other
traffi c, and react to conditions.
The Basic Rule Law
The basic rule states you must drive at a speed that is reasonable and
cautious for existing conditions. The basic rule applies on all streets and
highways at all times.
To obey the basic rule, you need to think about your speed in relation
to other traffi c, pedestrians, bicycles, the surface and width of the road,
hazards at intersections, weather, visibility, and any other conditions that
could affect safety. Use posted speed signs to help you determine what is a
reasonable and prudent speed for present conditions.
If you drive at a speed that is unsafe for existing conditions in any area,
at any time, even if you are driving slower than the speed limit, you are
violating the basic rule. The basic rule does not allow you to drive over
the speed limit.
33