Arizona · Handbook chapter 3 · 4 min read

Chapter 3: Safe driving practices

Defensive driving, Arizona's hands-free phone law, scanning and blind spots, the 3-second cushion, signaling 100 feet ahead, passing rules and the 100-foot no-passing distances.

Why this chapter matters

Most crashes come from small lapses: a glance at a phone, following too closely, a lane change without a head check. This chapter covers the habits the test checks most and the distances that go with them.

Defensive driving

Defensive driving means staying aware of conditions, planning ahead, expecting danger and acting early so you never touch another vehicle or object. Courtesy and consideration are the most important attitudes, with concentration close behind. Driving drowsy or upset can be as dangerous as driving impaired.

Distractions and the phone law

• Arizona forbids holding or supporting a wireless device while driving.
• You may not read or write texts or watch, record or broadcast video while driving.
• Hands-free and voice-to-text use is allowed; a handheld device may be used only to report an emergency.
• Also avoid reading maps or GPS screens, reaching for dropped items, tending children and buckling up while moving.

Steering and scanning

• Look well ahead and make small steering corrections. You tend to steer where you look.
• Look about one city block ahead so you are not forced into last-second decisions.
• Check left and right at intersections, and check your mirrors often.
• Before a lane change, check mirrors and turn your head to look over your shoulder. Blind spots are not visible in mirrors.
• Do not ride in another driver's blind spot: speed up or drop back.
• When parked cars, bushes or buildings block your view, inch forward until you can see.

Your space cushion

• Keep at least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead in most conditions, and 3 to 6 seconds when conditions are poor. Most rear-end crashes are caused by following too closely.
• Stay in the middle of your lane.
• Leave at least 3 feet when sharing a lane with or passing a bicycle.
• If someone tailgates you, ease off to open more room ahead, and move to another lane when safe so they can pass.

Entering traffic and communicating

• From a side road or driveway, stop and wait for a gap. Do not trust another driver's turn signal until they actually turn.
• Signal at least 100 feet (about 4 seconds) before turning, changing lanes, entering or leaving a freeway, pulling from the curb or pulling over.
• If you are turning just past an intersection, wait until you are in the intersection to signal.
• Signaling does not give you the right-of-way. Cancel the signal after the move.

Passing

• Pass on the left. Return only when you can see the whole front, or both headlights, of the passed vehicle in your rearview mirror, then look over your shoulder and signal.
• When someone wants to pass you, move right when safe and never speed up.
• You may pass on the right only when it is safe and the vehicle ahead is turning left, or the road has two or more marked lanes going your way. Never leave the pavement to pass.

Do not pass

• Across a double solid line, or a solid line on your side
• Near a curve or hilltop where you cannot see ahead
• Within 100 feet of a street crossing or a railroad crossing
• Inside 100 feet of a bridge, tunnel or underpass that blocks your view