Arizona · Handbook chapter 4 · 4 min read

Chapter 4: Roundabouts, parking and freeways

How to drive Arizona roundabouts and diverging diamonds, backing and parallel parking, hill parking, prohibited parking distances, freeway merging, gore areas and HOV lanes.

Why this chapter matters

Roundabouts and freeway ramps are where new drivers hesitate, and parking rules come with distances the test loves: 15, 20 and 50 feet. Learn them as a set.

Roundabouts

• Slow down: roundabouts are designed for 15 to 20 mph.
• Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists crossing, and to all vehicles already in the roundabout.
• Yield to large vehicles entering at the same time, and never pass a large truck inside the roundabout.
• Enter to the right of the central island when there is a gap. Once inside, do not stop. Follow signs and markings for your lane.
• Exit at any street, or go around again if you miss your exit.
• If an emergency vehicle comes, leave the roundabout if you can, or pull over to the right.

Diverging diamond interchanges

At a diverging diamond (DDI), traffic on the cross street briefly shifts to the left side of the road through the interchange. The crossovers happen at signals. Follow the signals, signs and markings; left turns onto the ramps flow freely after the crossover.

Backing and parallel parking

• Check behind the car before you get in, then turn and look through the rear window. Do not depend on mirrors or backup cameras alone. Back slowly.
• To parallel park, signal, pull alongside the car ahead about two feet away with rear bumpers lined up, back slowly while turning sharply right, then turn sharply left as your front bumper clears its rear bumper, and straighten up.

Parking on hills

Always set the parking brake.

Where you may not park

• On a sidewalk, in front of a driveway, or inside an intersection
• On a crosswalk, or less than 20 feet from one at an intersection
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
• Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing
• On a bridge or in a tunnel
• On a freeway or interstate, except in an emergency

Spaces marked with the international symbol of access are only for a vehicle with a valid placard or plate that is carrying the person it was issued to.

Emergency parking

Pull as far from traffic as you can, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, set out warning signals, stay with the car if possible and lock it if you leave.

Freeways

• Entering: yield to traffic already on the freeway, match the speed of the right lane, signal and merge. Never cross a solid line or cut through a gore area.
• Exiting: signal before the ramp and slow down in the exit lane, not on the freeway.
• Missed your exit? Go on to the next exit. Never back up or make a U-turn.
• The gore area is the space between the through lanes and a ramp. Driving over or parking in it is illegal.
• On three or more lanes, the right lane carries entering and exiting traffic; treat the far right as a slower through lane and the far left as the passing lane.
• If you break down, pull far onto the right shoulder, turn on flashers or raise the hood, and stay off the freeway on foot. After dark, use the dome light or flares.

HOV lanes

HOV lanes are marked with white diamonds. During posted weekday hours you may not use them with fewer than two people in the vehicle. Signal and take care crossing the solid white line in and out of them.