Ohio · Handbook chapter 4 · 5 min read
Chapter 4: Rules of the road
Ohio speed limits by road type, the assured clear distance rule, right-of-way, traffic signals, regulatory, warning, work zone and guide signs, pavement markings, two-way left turn lanes and crosswalks.
Why this chapter matters
This is the heart of the knowledge test. Ohio's test covers traffic signs as well as laws, so expect several sign pictures, plus questions on speed limits, signals and lane lines. Learn the speed limit list: 15, 20, 25, 35, 50, 55 and 70 mph.
Speed limits
A posted limit is the reasonable speed for that road in good, dry conditions with normal traffic. In rain, snow, fog, poor road surfaces or heavy traffic, a reasonable speed may be lower than the sign. Whatever the posted limit, Ohio law forbids driving faster than lets you stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
| Limit | Where it applies |
|---|---|
| 15 mph | Alleys within a municipal corporation |
| 20 mph | School zones during recess and while children arrive at or leave school |
| 25 mph | Streets within a municipal corporation |
| 35 mph | State routes or through highways within municipal corporations outside business districts (not controlled-access highways) |
| 50 mph | State routes within municipal corporations outside urban districts |
| 55 mph | Freeways with paved shoulders inside municipal corporations |
| 70 mph | Rural freeways |
Right-of-way
Right-of-way says who goes first. It is something you give, not something you take. Yield to:
- The driver who reaches the intersection before you.
- Oncoming traffic when you turn left.
- The driver on your right when you both arrive at a four-way intersection at the same time.
- Traffic on the road when you enter from a driveway or private road.
- Traffic already on a freeway when you are on the entrance ramp.
- Pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers still in the intersection.
- Public safety vehicles and funeral processions.
Traffic signals
| Signal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Steady red | Stop before the stop line, crosswalk or intersection and wait for green |
| Steady yellow | The light is about to turn red; prepare to stop |
| Steady green | Go with caution if the intersection is clear |
| Green arrow | You may turn in the arrow's direction without stopping |
| Flashing yellow | Slow down and go with caution |
| Flashing red | Come to a complete stop, then go when no cross traffic is in your path |
| Dark (no power) | Treat it as a stop sign: a four-way stop unless an officer is directing traffic |
Traffic signs
The shape and color of a sign tell you what kind of message it carries.
- Regulatory signs give the law: STOP (red octagon), YIELD (red and white downward triangle: slow, stop only if needed and yield to oncoming traffic), DO NOT ENTER (at one-way roads and freeway exit ramps), ONE WAY, and school zone speed limits during restricted hours.
- Prohibitory signs use a red circle with a slash, which means NO: no left turn, no right turn, no U-turn, no bicycles.
- Warning signs are usually yellow diamonds with black symbols or words: curves, sharp turns, downhill grades, T and Y intersections, roundabouts, two-way traffic, one-lane bridges (the vehicle nearest the bridge goes first), low clearance, pedestrian and bicycle crossings. The NO PASSING ZONE sign, a yellow pennant, marks where passing is prohibited, and the railroad advance warning sign is a yellow circle with an X and RR.
- Work zone signs are orange. Slow down, follow flaggers and signs, and watch for workers and equipment. Speeding in a work zone can bring doubled fines and even jail.
- Guide signs are green (directions and distances), blue (services such as gas, food, lodging and hospitals) or brown (recreation areas such as a national forest).
- Route signs: the shape tells you the road type, such as interstate, U.S., state or county route.
Pavement markings
| Marking | Meaning |
|---|---|
| White lines | Separate traffic moving in the same direction |
| Solid yellow line | Separates traffic moving in opposite directions |
| Double solid yellow | Do not drive left of it, except to turn left or to pass a slow-moving vehicle such as a bicycle |
| Solid yellow with broken yellow | Drivers on the broken side may pass; drivers on the solid side may not |
| Broken yellow | Drivers in either direction may pass when it is safe |
Two-way left turn lane
A center lane edged on each side by a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line, marked with white two-way arrows, is for left turns only, from either direction. Enter it just before your turn. Never use it to travel or pass.
Crosswalks
You must yield to pedestrians in or entering a crosswalk. If there is a stop line before the crosswalk, stop behind it. Crosswalks are not all marked the same way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the speed limit in an Ohio school zone?
20 mph during recess and while children are arriving at or leaving school.
What is the speed limit on a rural Ohio freeway?
70 mph.
What does a traffic light with no power mean?
Treat it as a four-way stop, unless a police officer is directing traffic.
Who goes first at a four-way intersection if two cars arrive together?
The driver on the right.
What does a red circle with a slash mean?
It means NO: the action shown inside is prohibited.
What color are work zone signs?
Orange, with black letters or symbols.
Based on the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4 (Ohio Department of Public Safety) and Section 10 (inoperable signals).