Four focused lessons to make the rules easier to see on the road. Pair each one with Wyoming's official handbook for local details and exceptions.
4 lessons · Read at your pace
01ROAD SIGNS & SIGNALS
Read the road before you reach it
Signs give you three kinds of information: a rule to follow, a hazard to prepare for, or a direction to help you navigate.
01
Start with shape and color
A red octagon identifies a stop sign. An inverted triangle identifies a yield sign. Yellow warning signs call attention to hazards; orange signs draw attention to work zones. Read the symbol or wording to understand the specific message.
02
Translate recognition into an action
Recognizing a sign is only the first step. A stop sign calls for a complete stop and a check for conflicting traffic. A yield sign calls for reducing speed, looking for others who need the space, and stopping if necessary.
03
Look for conditions and exceptions
Supplemental plaques can change when or where a sign applies. Read time periods, arrows, and lane information together with the main sign. A posted maximum speed is not a promise that the speed is safe in rain, darkness, or congestion.
Keep this in mind
Shape tells you the category. The symbol tells you the message. Your surroundings determine the safe response.
Right of way is about resolving conflicts safely. A rule may say who should yield; it never makes a collision acceptable.
01
Find the potential conflict
Before entering a junction, look for vehicles approaching from other directions, pedestrians crossing, and cyclists alongside you. Check the entire space your vehicle will use, including the exit.
02
Pause before a turn
When turning across a travel path, make sure the gap is large enough to finish without forcing someone else to brake sharply. A driver flashing headlights or waving is not a substitute for checking the other lanes yourself.
03
Give yourself an exit
Do not move into an intersection just because your signal changes if traffic leaves no room beyond it. Wait until you can clear the crossing. When another road user acts unexpectedly, slow down and create space instead of trying to enforce priority.
Keep this in mind
Observe, identify conflicts, then move only when your path is clear. Use your state handbook for the exact priority rules.
Safe driving starts before you need an emergency maneuver. Attention, visibility, and space make ordinary surprises easier to manage.
01
Keep your attention on the drive
Set directions and adjust controls before moving. If a message or navigation problem needs attention, pull over in a safe place. Hands-free conversation can still compete for attention, even when your hands remain on the wheel.
02
Adapt your space to conditions
A comfortable gap on a dry road may be inadequate in rain or poor visibility. Leave additional room when stopping takes longer or your view is blocked. Avoid settling into another driver’s blind spot.
03
Recognize when to stop driving
Repeated yawning, drifting within a lane, and difficulty remembering recent miles can be signs of fatigue. Find a safe place to stop and rest. Opening a window is not a reliable treatment for sleepiness.
Keep this in mind
If visibility, traction, or attention gets worse, reduce demands on yourself: slow down, increase space, or stop somewhere safe.
Parking is a driving maneuver. Check the space, protect people nearby, and make sure your vehicle will stay where you leave it.
01
Read the whole restriction
Check curb markings, signs, arrows, time limits, and temporary notices. An apparently empty space may still be reserved or needed for visibility and emergency access. Consult your state handbook for required distances and local restrictions.
02
Look beyond the camera
Before reversing, check around the vehicle and look directly where you intend to move. A reversing camera can help, but its image may miss a child, cyclist, or obstacle outside its field of view. Move slowly enough to stop promptly.
03
Secure the vehicle and check the door
Use the parking brake and the appropriate transmission position. On a slope, follow your state handbook’s wheel-position guidance for the direction of the hill and presence of a curb. Before opening a door, check for passing traffic and bicycles.
Keep this in mind
Check the space, move slowly, secure the vehicle, and look before opening the door.
Road markings organize traffic. Good decisions combine those markings with signs, visibility, available space, and state rules.
01
Read the markings in context
White markings generally separate traffic traveling in the same direction; yellow markings generally separate opposing directions. Solid and broken lines have different meanings. Check the line on your side, posted signs, and your state’s rules before crossing.
02
Prepare before moving sideways
Signal, check mirrors, and check the blind spot before changing lanes. A signal communicates an intention; it does not reserve the space. Wait for a gap that lets you move without forcing another road user to react abruptly.
03
Keep a safe alternative
If you miss an exit, continue to the next safe route. Do not stop in a travel lane or reverse on a highway. If a passing maneuver cannot be finished with a clear view and adequate space, stay behind and wait.
Keep this in mind
A painted permission to move is only one condition. You also need visibility, space, and a safe path.