When was the last time you paged through your state’s motorists handbook? You know, the one a person seeking to obtain a learner’s permit must memorize in order to pass the test. My teenage cousin will be taking her test next month and last night I was quizzing her on some of the questions that may appear on her test. It was an eye-opening experience to say the least.
Namely, because it has been two decades since I got my driver’s license, which means it’s been even longer since I cracked opened a book to review the rules of the road. The other reason the book took me for a loop… I got my driver’s license in the state of Hawaii. Back then you were allowed to get your learner’s permit at 14. So much has changed since then. Which is not to say that drivers in Hawaii don’t follow some of the same road rules as drivers on the mainland–it’s just that we don’t have to deal with questions like: “You can or cannot honk your horn at livestock in the road?” The answer: “You cannot. You might spook the animal.”
So many signs, so many rules. So much confusion. It’s all laid out in the state’s motorist handbook, but that doesn’t mean drivers know it. But, getting back to the question about the livestock. In Wisconsin, you are allowed to honk at deer. But not livestock. Oh and by the way, according to the manual… you aren’t allowed to honk at slow drivers either. However, I learned last night that the state of Wisconsin does allow (and even recommends) drivers honk at a motorist who is not paying attention. But the book says no honking around blind pedestrians.
And what about four way stops? If two cars arrive at the same time the book says the car on the right goes first. If everyone arrives at the same time? Well, the handbook doesn’t say what to do. In my experience everyone inches out at once or everyone sits around staring at one another—either way it’s not very productive.
What about turning? When turning left the book teaches that you always turn into the nearest lane. Don’t cross over lanes. And what if you do? If a cop catches you, you could be looking at a ticket and a fine.
What happens if your turn signals break? Hand signals. They’re also explained in the book. A few other items from the book: always turn your headlights on if you are driving away from the sun. And, always stop to help a farmer herd up his livestock if he flags you down. Believe it! It’s in the book.
The bottom line—driving is a tremendous responsibility and there are a lot of rules of the road, but like I told my teenage cousin, as long as you use common sense and courtesy you should be good to go. That advice (and a lot of studying) may get her the learner’s permit she so desperately desires.
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