Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95): study guide

Key rules by chapter

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

1. Non-Commercial Learner's Permit Information

• The health care provider must complete the back of the DL-180 no earlier than six months prior to your 16th birthday.
• Drivers under 18 must complete at least 65 hours, including at least 10 hours at night and 5 hours in bad weather.
• The 65 hours must include no less than 10 hours of nighttime driving and 5 hours of bad weather driving.

2. Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings (review questions pp. 27-34)

• Pennsylvania allows the same turns on red at a steady red arrow as at a steady red light, after stopping and yielding.
• If the green arrow becomes a green light, you may still turn, but you must yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
• On single-lane ramps, only one car may enter the highway each time the light turns green.

3. Learning to Drive (review questions pp. 69-82)

• Check tires 'cold': before you have driven or at least three hours after you have driven.
• It is against the law to have anything hanging from the rearview mirror while moving; tags, permits and placards may hang there only when parked.
• Adjust the head restraint so its top is at least as high as the top of your ears.

4. Driving Record Information (review questions pp. 90-92)

• PennDOT begins corrective action when a driving record reaches six or more points.
• The first time you reach six or more points, you must take a written special point examination.
• Reaching six or more points a second time requires a departmental hearing.

5. Laws and Related Issues

• You must notify PennDOT within 15 days of a name or address change, even if moving out of state.
• Drivers and front-seat passengers must buckle up, and passengers 8 to under 18 must wear belts wherever they sit.
• A driver or passenger who is not buckled up can be killed on impact at speeds as low as 12 mph.

6. References

• Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, confusion and more; carbon monoxide is odorless.

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 Pennsylvania, which are where most people lose points.