Washington · Handbook chapter 9 · 6 min read
Chapter 9: School, work and emergency zones, parking and transporting
Washington zone and parking rules: the 20 mph school zone, work zones, the move over or slow down law, no-parking distances, curb colors, parking on hills, the Dutch Reach, children and animals in parked cars, disabled and EV parking, loads, animals, ferries and beach driving.
Why this chapter matters
This chapter is packed with exact numbers: speeds, distances from hydrants, crossings and driveways. These are classic permit test questions, and they are easy points once you have learned them.
School zones
The roads next to a school building or playground form a school zone. Look for signs, painted markings or flashing lights. The limit there is 20 mph, and a sign may tell you the hours or conditions when it applies. Children may be around after hours for sports and the playground, so slow down near schools at any time.
Work zones
- Watch for signs, cones, barrels, large vehicles and workers.
- Always slow down in a work zone, even if no workers are present: lanes may be narrower and the pavement rough.
- Leave more following distance and be ready to stop. Take extreme care at night.
- Move over where you can, cut distractions, and follow the work zone signs until you pass the END ROAD WORK sign.
- Fines double for offenses in a work zone when workers are present, and putting a construction worker in danger can cost you your license.
Emergency zones
An emergency zone forms around a crash, a broken-down vehicle or a person in distress. Roadside responders include tow trucks, garbage trucks, incident response, highway maintenance, utility crews, police, fire trucks and ambulances. The moment a roadside responder with flashing lights comes into view, the law gives you two choices:
- Move over into a lane farther away, or
- Slow down to at least 10 mph below the posted limit.
Never drive faster than 50 mph in an emergency zone. The Move Over, Slow Down notice at the front of the guide adds that you should move over 200 feet before and after the scene.
Where you may not park
| Place | Rule |
|---|---|
| Intersection, crosswalk, sidewalk or bike lane | Never |
| Traffic signal, stop sign or yield sign | Not within 30 feet |
| Driveway, alley or private road | Not within 5 feet |
| Fire station driveway, opposite side of the street | Not within 75 feet |
| Pedestrian safety zone | Not within 20 feet |
| Railroad crossing | Not within 50 feet (and never on the tracks) |
| Fire hydrant | Not within 15 feet |
| Construction zone, bridge, overpass, tunnel or underpass | Never |
| Beside a parked vehicle (double parking) | Never |
| Freeway shoulder | Only in an emergency |
You must also not park facing oncoming traffic or more than 12 inches from the curb, or wherever a sign forbids it.
Curb colors
- White: short stops only.
- Yellow or red: a loading zone or another restriction. Red stripes or a red curb can also mark a fire lane.
Leaving your car
- Always set the parking brake, especially on a hill.
- Check your mirrors before opening the door, and use the Dutch Reach: open the door with the hand farthest from it. Your body turns, so you see bicyclists coming, and the door opens more slowly.
- Take your keys and lock up.
Children and animals
- It is a crime to leave a child under 16 alone in a parked vehicle with the motor running.
- It is a crime to leave a child under 12 alone in a parked vehicle.
- It is a crime to leave an animal in a vehicle where heat, cold, poor ventilation or lack of water could harm it.
- If no one nearby can open the vehicle, police may remove the child or animal by any reasonable means and are not responsible for the damage.
Parking on a hill
| Situation | Turn your front wheels |
|---|---|
| Uphill with a tall curb | Away from the curb, so the back of the front tire rests against it |
| Uphill with a low or rounded curb | Toward the curb may be safer, so the car would roll away from the road |
| Downhill with a curb | Toward the curb, so the front of the front tire rests against it |
| No curb | Toward the edge of the road, so the car rolls away from traffic |
Parking maneuvers
- Angled or perpendicular: signal, move forward slowly while turning, center the car between the lines, pull to the front of the space and secure it. To leave, back straight out until your bumper clears the car beside you, then turn sharply.
- Parallel: signal, back slowly until your front bumper lines up with the rear bumper of the car you are parking behind, turn sharply into the space, straighten, and stop before touching the car behind. Finish no more than 12 inches from the curb.
Special parking
- Spaces for disabled parking need the right plate or placard. The striped access aisle beside them must be kept clear. Do not hang the placard from the mirror while driving.
- It is illegal to park in an electric vehicle charging space unless your vehicle is connected to the charger.
Transporting
- When towing, follow the rules on weight limits, tow cables and taillight hookups, brakes and licensing.
- An unsecured load is illegal and dangerous. Tie items down with rope, netting or straps, tie large objects directly to the vehicle, and carry only what you can secure.
- Animals may not ride outside the vehicle, such as in a truck bed, without a harness or enclosure. A loose pet, or one on the driver's lap, is a distraction.
Ferries and beaches
- Washington State Ferries are part of the highway system, so all rules of the road apply. Cutting into a ferry line is a traffic offense. Do not block driveways or intersections in a holding lane. Bicyclists get priority loading on most ferries.
- You may drive on ocean beaches only in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. The beach counts as a state highway, the speed limit is 25 mph, and pedestrians and bicyclists always have the right-of-way. Enter only at marked approaches and drive only on hard-packed sand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the school zone speed limit in Washington?
20 mph.
What must I do when I pass a tow truck with flashing lights?
Move over into a farther lane or slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit, and never go faster than 50 mph in the emergency zone.
How close to a fire hydrant can I park?
No closer than 15 feet.
How far from a stop sign must I park?
At least 30 feet.
Which way do I turn my wheels parking downhill next to a curb?
Toward the curb, so the front tire rests against it.
Can I leave a child in the car while I run into a shop?
Not if the child is under 12, and never with the motor running if the child is under 16.
Based on the Washington Driver Guide (Washington State Department of Licensing), sections 4.17 to 4.20 and the Move Over, Slow Down page at the front of the guide.