Illinois · Handbook chapter 10 · 5 min read
Chapter 10: Safe driving, emergencies and equipment
Illinois safe-driving advice: the three-second rule, speed and stopping distance, fog, rain, wind and winter, expressways, night driving, skids, emergencies, aggressive drivers, breakdowns, and the equipment every car must have.
Why this chapter matters
Laws tell you what you must do; this part of the Rules of the Road tells you how to stay alive doing it. It covers bad weather, emergencies and the equipment your car needs, all common exam material.
Following distance and speed
- Tailgating causes most rear-end crashes. Use the three-second rule: when the car ahead passes a fixed object, you should not reach it before you count three. Leave more in bad weather.
- If someone tailgates you, change lanes or pull over and let them by.
- Doubling your speed quadruples your stopping distance. Tires, brakes, wind and the type of vehicle all change how quickly you can stop.
- At 55 mph three seconds is about 243 feet; at 70 mph about 309 feet.
Weather
- Fog: turn off cruise control, slow down, use low beams or fog lights, and pull off the road if it is too thick. Do not creep along at 5 to 10 mph.
- Rain: Illinois requires headlights whenever your wipers are on. Roads are most slippery when rain starts. Slow down to avoid hydroplaning; if you hydroplane, ease off the gas and ride it out. Never drive through flooded roads or viaducts.
- Wind: slow down and correct your steering when leaving sheltered areas or meeting trucks.
- Winter: drive slower with more following distance, no cruise control, clear all snow and ice first, brake gently and early. Bridges, overpasses and shaded spots stay icy longer. If stranded, stay in your car, run the engine only briefly with a window open, and keep the tailpipe clear.
Expressways and night driving
- Use the speed-change lane to match traffic speed before merging. The right lane is for slower traffic; do not drive continuously in the left lane.
- If you miss an exit, go on to the next one; backing up on an expressway is illegal. If you break down, pull off, raise the hood and turn on flashers.
- At night use lights from sunset to sunrise. Dim high beams 500 feet before meeting an oncoming vehicle and 300 feet before passing one. Do not overdrive your headlights.
- On a high-capacity road or the Tollway, a stranded driver should stay in the car with the belt on, use hazard lights and call 911 (or *999 on the Tollway).
Emergencies
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Skid | Ease off the gas or brake, steer in the direction of the skid, then straighten |
| Wheels drop off the pavement | Grip the wheel, ease off the gas, brake gently, check traffic, steer back gently |
| Blowout | Ease off the gas, hold the wheel firmly, do not brake suddenly, pull off |
| Brake failure | Pump the pedal, then use the parking brake and shift to a lower gear |
| Stuck gas pedal | Hook your toe under it; if it stays stuck, shift to neutral and brake gently |
| Headlights fail | Use flashers, parking lights or turn signals and pull off |
| Vehicle approaching head-on in your lane | Slow down, pull right and sound the horn |
| Power lines on the car | Stay inside until help comes; if fire forces you out, jump clear without touching the car and the ground at once, land on both feet and shuffle 50 feet away |
| Car in water | Escape through a window; if it sinks, move to the back for air and exit a rear window |
Never run a car in a garage attached to a house: carbon monoxide can kill before symptoms appear.
Aggressive drivers
Speeding, tailgating, running lights and cutting others off are aggressive driving. If you meet an angry driver, do not respond or make eye contact, keep doors locked, and leave room to pull away.
Required equipment
- Brakes: two systems. The foot brake must stop the car from 20 mph within 30 feet.
- Headlights: two, used sunset to sunrise, with wipers, and when you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead.
- Taillights: two red, visible 500 feet behind. Turn signals visible 300 feet. A white plate light readable at 50 feet.
- Horn heard 200 feet away. A rearview mirror showing 200 feet behind.
- No tinting on the windshield except a 6-inch strip at the top.
- A load sticking out 4 feet or more behind needs a red flag by day and a red light at night.
- TVs or video screens visible to the driver are banned while moving, and radar jammers are illegal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the three-second rule?
Pick a fixed object. When the car ahead passes it, count three seconds; if you reach it sooner, you are following too closely.
Which way do I steer in a skid?
In the direction of the skid, after easing off the gas or brake, until you regain traction.
Should I use high beams in fog?
No. Use low beams or fog lights; high beams reflect back and make it harder to see.
When must I dim my high beams?
500 feet before meeting an oncoming vehicle and 300 feet before passing one from behind.
Based on the Illinois Rules of the Road 2026 (DSD A 112), Chapter 11: Safe Driving Tips and Chapter 12: Equipment for Safe Driving.