Ohio Driver Manual — Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws (HSY 7607): study guide

Key rules by chapter

A few of the rules from each chapter that come up in our practice questions:

1. How to Get Your Driver License

• At age 15 years and six months you meet the minimum age to complete the vision screening and knowledge test.
• The 40-question test requires a 75% passing rate.
• You must wait one day before retesting; there is no limit on attempts, but only one test per day.

2. Before You Drive

• In Ohio, studded tires are legal from November 1 through April 15.
• A safe tire has a minimum of 1/16-inch tread depth with no major bumps, bulges or damage.
• There should be at least 10 inches between your chest and the steering wheel to allow space for air bag deployment.

3. Be Alert

• First offense in two years: 2 points and up to a $150 fine; a distracted driving course can help avoid the fine and points.
• Third or more in two years: 4 points, up to a $500 fine and a possible 90-day suspension.
• First violation: 60-day suspension and $150 fine; second: one-year suspension and $300 fine. It is a primary offense.

4. Rules of the Road

• Alleys within a municipal corporation have a 15 mph speed limit.
• School zones have a 20 mph limit during recess and while children are arriving or leaving during normal hours.
• Streets within a municipal corporation have a 25 mph limit.

5. Learning to Drive

• Ohio requires you to pull to the right and stop for an approaching public safety vehicle, unless it is traveling in the opposite direction on a divided highway.
• Left turn on red is allowed only from the extreme left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless posted otherwise.
• A turn signal must be given at least 100 feet before the intended turn, by mechanical or hand signal.

6. State Laws and Penalties

• For drivers under 21 it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .02% or higher.
• It is illegal for commercial drivers to operate with a BAC of .04% or higher.
• A refusal leads to a suspension of one to five years starting immediately, and it stands even if you are acquitted of the OVI charge.

7. Special Driving Situations

• Lights must be on from sunset to sunrise, in rain, snow, fog or other unfavorable conditions, whenever you cannot clearly see objects 1,000 feet ahead, and whenever wipers are in use due to precipitation.
• Headlights are required any time natural light does not make it possible to clearly see objects 1,000 feet ahead.
• If your vehicle starts to skid, take your foot off the accelerator, steer in the direction of the skid and never apply brakes while skidding.

8. Safe Driving Tips

• Keep a minimum following distance of one vehicle length for every 10 mph, or four seconds between you and the vehicle ahead.
• Ideally, try to look at what is occurring 20 to 30 seconds in front of your car.
• At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, it can take about 158 feet to stop.

9. Sharing the Road

• The slow-moving vehicle triangle means the vehicle is traveling less than 25 mph.
• You may cross a solid yellow line to pass a slow-moving vehicle traveling less than half the posted limit, if you don't speed and have enough clear space.
• When following a motorcyclist, allow at least a 4-second following distance, or more in wet conditions.

10. Emergency Situations

• A front tire blowout makes the vehicle pull sharply in the direction of the blowout; a rear blowout causes wobbling and some pull.
• If possible, place flares about 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle to warn drivers and give them time to move over.
• You may file Form BMV 3303 within six months if there was more than $400 damage or injury and the other party had no insurance.

12. Purchase Your Driver License

• The co-signing parent or guardian is jointly and severally liable for damages caused by the minor's negligence or willful misconduct until the minor's 18th birthday.
• If you are under 21, your Ohio Driver License expires on your 21st birthday and must be renewed in person.
• During the first 12 months, a driver under 18 may not drive from midnight to 6 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian, or going to/from work or a school or religious event with documentation.

13. What Else Should I Know?

• Within 30 days of establishing residency, Ohio drivers must have an Ohio-issued Driver License.
• Once you are employed, sign a lease, buy a home or enroll children in school in Ohio, you are a resident.

How to study the handbook

Read one chapter, then take a practice test. Every answer explanation names the handbook section it comes from, so when you get one wrong, go back to that section. Pay most attention to exact numbers and to the rules specific to Ohio, which are where most people lose points.