New Hampshire · Handbook chapter 6 · 5 min read

Steering, right-of-way, New Hampshire speed limits, signaling distances, headlights, the horn, stopping distance, following distance, changing lanes, passing, backing, road conditions, rural roads and night driving.

Why this chapter matters

This is the largest part of the manual and the source of many test questions: the speed limits, the signal distances, the headlight rule and the four-second following distance are all here.

Steering

Hold the wheel at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 o'clock, thumbs and knuckles outside. Use hand-to-hand steering for small turns and hand-over-hand for larger ones.

Right-of-way

• At an intersection, the driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right (RSA 265:28), unless signs, signals or police say otherwise.
• A driver turning left yields to oncoming traffic that is in or close to the intersection (RSA 265:29).
• Yield to the driver who reaches the intersection first; at a four-way stop, if two arrive together, the driver on the right goes first.
• Yield to traffic on the public road when coming out of a driveway or private road, and to traffic already on an interstate when you are on the ramp.
• Yield to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers still in the intersection, and let a funeral procession pass as a group.
• For emergency vehicles with siren or flashing lights, from any direction: pull to the right, stop until they pass, and do not block an intersection.

Never assume you have the right-of-way.

Speed

• Speed limits are the maximum for ideal conditions.
• The minimum on an interstate is 45 mph unless conditions make that unsafe.
• In a posted school zone, the limit is 10 mph below the usual limit from 45 minutes before school opens to opening, and from closing until 45 minutes after.

Signals, lights and the horn

• Signal at least 100 feet before a turn, and at least 500 feet before changing lanes or exiting on a highway. Signal earlier in rain, snow or fog.
• Signal when changing lanes, turning, entering or leaving a road, turning into a driveway, merging, pulling away from or over to the curb, and passing.
• Headlights (at least 2 lit lamps in front) are required from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and whenever rain, snow or fog keep you from clearly seeing people and vehicles 1,000 feet ahead.
• Use the horn only when needed, with a light tap; never near blind pedestrians or horses.

Stopping and following distance

• Total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance. An alert driver's perception time and reaction time are each about 3/4 second to 1 second.
• Double your speed and your stopping distance becomes about 4 times as long.
• At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, braking alone takes about 158 feet.
• Keep at least a four-second following distance. If someone tailgates you, find a safe place to pull over and let them pass. Following too closely is against the law.

Lanes, passing and backing

• Before a lane change: check mirrors, do a head check of blind spots, find a gap, signal, look again, then move.
• Use the acceleration lane to match highway speed. To exit, move to the exit lane early, keep your speed on the main road, then slow in the deceleration lane.
• Pass only where signs or markings allow and conditions are good. Never pass near curves, hills, intersections, railroad crossings or bridges, and never on the shoulder. On multi-lane roads the left lane is for passing.
• Return to your lane once you can see the whole front of the passed vehicle in your rearview mirror.
• When being passed, keep your lane and speed; never speed up.
• Backing: check behind the car before getting in, go slowly, and keep looking back until stopped. A back-up camera helps but must never be your main tool.

Road conditions and rural roads

• Slow down before a curve; hard braking in a curve can cost traction.
• Slow at the first sign of rain, snow, sleet or ice. Hydroplaning happens when the tires ride up on water like water skis; slow down and keep good tread and pressure.
• Never drive through large pools of standing water.
• On gravel or dirt, slow down and leave more room. On narrow rural roads, center the car in the lane. At a one-lane bridge, the first driver to arrive generally goes first. At an uncontrolled rural intersection, slow and be ready to stop.

Night driving

• Use high beams when no one is coming; dim them for oncoming traffic and use low beams when following another vehicle.
• Use low beams in fog, rain or snow.
• If an oncoming driver's high beams are on, look toward the right edge of the road.
• Do not wear sunglasses or tinted lenses at night.
• Add at least one second to your following distance at night, and at least two on unfamiliar roads at night.

Vehicle warning systems

Rear cameras, back-up warnings, blind spot monitors, curve speed warnings and forward collision warnings mostly warn but do not act for you. A forward collision warning alone will not brake the car. Keep using mirrors and head checks.