Directions given by traffic officers take precedence over signs, signals, and pavement markings. People authorized to direct traffic include police officers, fire police, highway work area flag persons, and school crossing persons.

Highway work zones are established according to the type of work underway along the roadway. Signs in work areas are typically diamond-shaped, orange, have black letters or symbols, and serve as a warning that people are working on or near the highway.

When a truck passes you, help the truck driver by keeping to the far side of your lane. You’ll make it easier for the truck driver to pass safely if you slightly reduce your speed. Don’t speed up while a truck is passing your vehicle.

You may use a cell phone to contact law enforcement or in an emergency. If you must make a call, pull safely off the road and make the call. Try to keep the conversation short or have a passenger make the call for you, if possible.

High speeds greatly increase stopping distances and severity of crashes. The faster you drive, the greater the impact or striking power of your vehicle, should you be involved in a collision.

The only time a vehicle should enter the center lane is at a point where the vehicle will have time to slow down or stop in order to make a safe left turn maneuver. The center lane should never be used as a passing lane or as a through-traffic lane.

Warning signs advise drivers of potentially hazardous conditions. For your own safety, obey warning signs. Disregarding the information provided by a warning sign may result in an accident due to your negligence.

When parking on an incline where there is a curb, you should turn your wheels sharply to the left, away from the curb. This way, if your brakes fail, your vehicle will not roll into traffic.

Drivers may not pass within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel. Drivers should only pass where they may legally and safely do so.

To prevent drowsiness on long trips, you should schedule regular stops. Give yourself time to rest and stretch, even if you are not feeling tired.

If you experience a tire blowout, take your foot off the gas pedal and do not immediately apply the brakes. Gradually slow down before gently applying the brakes and pulling off the side of the road.

The slightest contact between a car and a motorcycle can mean a spill or injury for the rider. Allow a following distance of at least four to six seconds when following a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

Because of their size, trucks need longer distances to stop than smaller vehicles do.

Yellow lines are used in the center of the road to separate lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions.

The only method that effectively reduces your BAC is to not drink alcohol for a period of time. Coffee, exercise, and cold showers cannot reduce your BAC or change the effects of alcohol. They can help you remain awake, but they cannot change your BAC or make you sober.

A roundabout is a circular intersection that flows in a counterclockwise direction around a central island and usually does not include a traffic signal. Motorists must enter from the right, yielding to traffic already in the roundabout, and follow the circle to the right until the desired roadway is reached.

You must do everything you can to prevent striking a pedestrian or another vehicle, regardless of the circumstances. It is the driver’s basic responsibility to be alert to pedestrians and to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians, even if the pedestrian is crossing the street where they should not be.

If a traffic light at an intersection is not functioning due to a power outage, yield to other drivers in the same manner as you would when approaching a four-way stop. When it is your turn, proceed through the intersection with caution.

Texas drivers are not allowed to have muffler cutouts on their vehicles. It is prohibited for a vehicle to be equipped with a radar interference device designed, manufactured, used, or intended to be used to interfere with, scramble, disrupt, or cause to malfunction a radar or laser device used to measure a vehicle’s speed. Red lights and sirens are prohibited except when used by an emergency vehicle.

The Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act was enacted to ensure all drivers are financially responsible for the death, injury, or property damage they may cause while operating a motor vehicle. All owners and/or operators of motor vehicles in Texas must have at least the minimum amount of liability insurance.

A broken yellow line alongside a solid yellow line means that passing is allowed from the lane on the side next to the broken line.

This sign indicates that left turns are prohibited.

When turning left, drivers must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. Drivers must also always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers who are already in the intersection.

As speed increases, the chance of a fatality increases. If you are moving faster than 80 miles per hour, you have almost no chance of living through a crash. Driving more slowly than other traffic can also be dangerous because other motorists may become impatient and make dangerous moves to pass you.

In rainy conditions, you should use your low beam headlights.

This sign warns that there is a steep hill or downgrade ahead.

When changing lanes, you should check your vehicle's blind spots by looking over your shoulder in the direction that you want to move. Always check your mirrors and turn on your directional signal before beginning a lane change.

A large truck has large blind spots to the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. Avoid lingering in these areas. Because of their larger size and weight, trucks require more room to maneuver and stop than passenger vehicles.

Double solid yellow lines in the center of the road mean that passing is not allowed from either direction. You may not cross the lines unless you are making a left turn or passing pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of scooters or skateboards when the opposite lane is clear and you can pass safely.

A wide variety of intoxicants can impair your ability to drive. These include all types of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, inhalants, and many legal medications (both prescription and over-the-counter).