Colorado · Handbook chapter 7 · 4 min read

Chapter 7: Parking, freeways, lane changes and passing

Colorado parking rules and distances, hill parking, parallel parking, entering and leaving freeways, metered ramps, changing lanes, when you may and may not pass, and hills and curves.

Why this chapter matters

Parking distances and passing rules are full of numbers the test likes: 30 feet, 15 feet, 12 inches, 200 feet, 100 feet. Learn them here.

Parking

• With an automatic, leave the car in park. With a manual, leave it in low gear facing uphill and reverse facing downhill. Set the parking brake and take the key.
• Where parallel parking is allowed, park within 12 inches of the curb, or as close as possible to the edge of the shoulder.

Where you may not park

• On railroad tracks, a sidewalk, a crosswalk, a bridge or other elevated structure, or any controlled-access highway.
• Within 30 feet of a traffic signal, STOP sign or railroad crossing.
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
• In an intersection, tunnel, runaway truck ramp or on/off ramp, or blocking a driveway.
• In a bike lane.

Hill parking

Parallel parking

Stop even with the car ahead, turn sharply right and back slowly; when clear of that car, turn sharply left and keep backing; then turn right and pull to the center of the space. To leave, signal, check mirrors and blind spots, and pull out when safe.

Freeways

• Entering: use the acceleration lane to match freeway speed, signal and merge into a gap. Do not merge until the solid white line ends, do not stop in the acceleration lane unless you must, and yield to freeway traffic.
• Metered ramps: stop and wait for the green light before entering.
• On the freeway: use the right lane if you are slower than traffic. The left lane is for passing, left exits and heavy traffic. Move over when you can to let merging traffic in. Signal at least 200 feet before changing lanes, avoid frequent lane changes and never drive across a median.
• Leaving: signal 200 feet before the deceleration lane, keep your speed until you are in it, then slow to the ramp's advised speed. Do not exit at the last second.

Changing lanes

1. Signal for at least three seconds or 200 feet.
2. Check ahead, check your mirrors, and look over your shoulder at your blind spot.
3. Move over when it is safe, center in the lane, check the mirror again and cancel the signal within three seconds.

Passing

• Pass on the left. You may pass on the right only on one-way streets and roads with two or more lanes each way. Never pass on the shoulder or off the pavement.
• Pass one vehicle at a time. You have finished when you can see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your rearview mirror.
• Give cyclists at least three feet, including mirrors and trailers. Give more on rural roads, in wind or when driving a large vehicle.

Do not pass

• If you cannot return before coming within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle (including a cyclist), or before a solid yellow line begins.
• On a curve or hill where your view is blocked.
• Within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing.
• Within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel when your view is blocked.
• In a marked no-passing zone, above the speed limit, or past a school bus with red lights flashing and stop arm out.

Hills and curves

• If you cannot see over a hill, slow down until you can see the road again.
• Slow down before a curve, and begin to accelerate only after the middle of the curve.