Alabama · Handbook chapter 3 · 5 min read

Good habits, turning rules, three-point turns, sharing the road with bicycles, motorcycles and large trucks, parking rules and distances, parking on hills, and Alabama's seat belt and child restraint laws.

Why this chapter matters

Most of what you do behind the wheel is covered here: turning, sharing the road and parking. The distances in this chapter, from signaling to parking near a hydrant, are favorite test questions.

Good habits

• Adjust the seat and mirrors and buckle up before you start the engine, and make sure passengers do too.
• Sit upright, with both hands on the outside of the wheel. The top of the wheel should be no higher than your shoulders.
• Stay inside a single lane. Lanes exist even where they are not marked.

Turning

• Plan ahead and get into the proper lane well before the turn.
• Signal at least 100 feet before turning and keep signaling until you turn.
• Slow down before the turn and finish in the proper lane. Pedestrians have the right of way.
• On a four-lane road, turn right from the right lane into the right lane; turn left from the lane nearest the center line and enter just right of the center line.
• In bright sun, hand signals can be used as well as signal lights.

Three-point turns

Not allowed on interstates, on curves, or near hilltops where drivers within 500 feet cannot see you. Local rules may also forbid them, sometimes without signs.

Sharing the road with bicycles

• Riders have the same rights and duties as drivers and must ride with traffic, as far right as practical, and use a bicycle lane where there is one. Riding on the sidewalk is illegal in Alabama.
• Riders under 16 must wear a helmet.
• Leave at least 3 feet when you pass a rider. Do not pass on hills or curves, and never blast your horn at a rider.
• Drivers may use a bike lane only to park where allowed, to enter or leave the road, or to prepare for a turn. To turn across a bike lane, move into it first if that is safe for any rider in it.

Sharing the road with motorcycles

• A motorcycle is only about two feet wide, so it is hard to see and to judge for speed and distance.
• Look twice before turning left in front of one. Many motorcycle signals do not cancel themselves, so be sure the rider is really turning.
• Keep the same 2-second following distance, and more in rain or at night.
• A motorcycle is entitled to the full lane. Never drive alongside one in the same lane.
• Wind, gravel, metal bridges, grooved pavement and rough railroad crossings can make riders change speed or position suddenly.

Sharing the road with large vehicles

• Side No-Zones: if you cannot see the driver's face in the side mirror, the driver cannot see you. Pass on the left, quickly.
• Rear No-Zones: the blind area behind a truck can reach 200 feet. Do not tailgate, and dim your lights when following at night.
• Front No-Zones: at 55 mph a car needs about 193 feet to stop and a loaded truck about 430 feet. Do not cut in after passing.
• Backing: never cross behind a truck that is backing up.
• Turning: trucks swing left to turn right. Do not pass on the right of a truck signaling a right turn.

Parking

On a rural highway, move a stopped vehicle off the pavement. On a hill, set the parking brake and use PARK (or reverse or low gear):

Do not park:

• In an intersection, on a crosswalk or sidewalk, in front of a driveway, on a bridge or in a tunnel, or beside a car already parked at the curb.
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
• Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an uncontrolled intersection.
• Within 30 feet of a flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic signal at the side of the road.
• Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.
• Beside a yellow curb or where signs forbid it.

Seat belts and child restraints

• Every occupant, whatever their age, must be restrained. Wear the lap belt snug across the hip bones.
• Children through age 15 must be restrained:

Violations bring a fine and points on the driver's record.