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Arkansas driver handbook guide

Arkansas driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 22 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s Arkansas course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 41 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
22
Source PDF pages
98
Companion lessons
41
Licensing agency
DFA

A way through the handbook

Start with the application and licensing material that applies to your age and license type. Then work through the driving rules, signs, and safe-driving chapters. A rule is easier to remember when you can explain what it asks you to do in a real road situation.

For a quick refresher, use the chapter list below. For a deeper study session, follow a companion lesson and its checkpoint questions. The page numbers refer to this course’s source edition and may differ from the newest agency edition.

Chapter list

  1. Littering Law Source p. 2
  2. Table of Contents Source p. 7
  3. Introduction Source p. 13
  4. The Driver's License Source p. 14
  5. Types of Graduated Driver's Licenses Source p. 15
  6. Vision Requirements Source p. 17
  7. Accepted Identification List Source p. 18
  8. Chapter 1: Arkansas Law Source p. 21
  9. Chapter 2: Arkansas Rules and Regulations Source p. 28
  10. Traffic Control Signals, Signs, and Pavement Markings Source p. 35
  11. Railroad Crossing Signs Source p. 40
  12. Chapter 3: General Driving Source p. 43
  13. Right of Way Source p. 47
  14. Parking Source p. 53
  15. Chapter 4: Safe Driving Source p. 55
  16. Chapter 5: See and Be Seen Source p. 63
  17. Chapter 6: Tractor-Trailer Rigs Source p. 76
  18. Chapter 7: Sharing the Road with Bicycles and Motorcycles Source p. 79
  19. Chapter 8: Driving Fitness Source p. 83
  20. Chapter 9: Emergencies Source p. 89
  21. Chapter 10: Skills Test Guidelines Source p. 94
  22. Skills Test Checklist Source p. 98

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 2

Littering Law

This chapter’s sections include:

  • It’S Against The Law. by a Law Enforcement Officer
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 7

Table of Contents

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Types of Graduated Licenses
  • Accepted Identification List
  • Chapter 1: Arkansas Law
  • Chapter 2: Arkansas Rules and Regulations
  • Chapter 3: General Driving
  • Chapter 4: Safe Driving
  • Chapter 5: See and Be Seen
  • Chapter 6: Tractor Trailer Rigs
  • Chapter 8: Driving Fitness
  • Chapter 9: Emergencies
  • Chapter 10: Skills Test Guidelines
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 13

Introduction

This chapter’s sections include:

  • INTRODUCTION
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 14

The Driver's License

This chapter’s sections include:

  • THE DRIVER’S LICENSE
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 15

Types of Graduated Driver's Licenses

This chapter’s sections include:

  • TYPES OF GRADUATED DRIVER’S LICENSES
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 17

Vision Requirements

This chapter’s sections include:

  • VISION REQUIREMENTS
  • Countries Exempt From Testing
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 18

Accepted Identification List

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Effective: May 20, 2025
  • Effective: January 8, 2026
  • 2. Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian §27-16-702
  • 3. Accepted Secondary Identification
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 21

Chapter 1: Arkansas Law

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Protection from Secondhand Smoke for Children Act
  • §20-27-1903 – Tobacco Use
  • Arkansas Law On Littering
  • Unattended Children And Pets
  • Move Over Law
  • School Bus Law And Rules
  • Stop!
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 28

Chapter 2: Arkansas Rules and Regulations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • CHAPTER 2: ARKANSAS RULES AND REGULATIONS
  • Construction/Maintenance/Work Zone Safety
  • These Rules Apply When Workers Are Present In A Work Zone
  • QUESTION: How do I know what to do when coming up to a Work Zone?
  • QUESTION: What is a “Move Over” law?
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 35

Traffic Control Signals, Signs, and Pavement Markings

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Traffic Control Signals, Signs, And Pavement Markings
  • Lighted Traffic Signals
  • Lighted Arrows
  • Right On Red Rule
  • Stop Signs
  • Speed Limit Sign
  • Yield Sign
  • Slow Moving Vehicle Sign
  • Roadway Signs
  • Regulation Signs
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 40

Railroad Crossing Signs

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Pavement Markings
  • Cross Buck Sign
  • Railroad (Exempt) Signs
  • NEVER TRY AND BEAT A TRAIN!
  • Multiple Tracks
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 43

Chapter 3: General Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Lanes Of Traffic
  • Yellow Lane Markings
  • Crosswalks and Stop Lines
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 47

Right of Way

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Right Of Way
  • Intersections- Right of Way
  • Roundabouts
  • Right of Way at Stop Signs
  • General Right of Way Rules
  • Passing
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 14 · source p. 53

Parking

This chapter’s sections include:

  • No Curb Parking
  • Restricted Parking Zones
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 15 · source p. 55

Chapter 4: Safe Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • CHAPTER 4: SAFE DRIVING
  • Operating the Motor Vehicle
  • Overview
  • What is Distracted Driving?
  • Dangerous Distractions
  • Distracted Driving Law
  • 27-51-1601 – Fewer Distractions Means Safer Driving Act
  • Visual
  • Manual
  • Cognitive
  • What Can You Do?
  • Get Involved
  • Stay Alert
  • Changing Lanes
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 16 · source p. 63

Chapter 5: See and Be Seen

This chapter’s sections include:

  • CHAPTER 5: SEE AND BE SEEN
  • External Vehicle Lights
  • High and Low Beam Headlights
  • Warning Horn
  • Emergency Flashers/Hazard Lights
  • Let Other Drivers Know Your Intentions
  • Adjusting The Vehicle Speed
  • Adjusting To The Flow Of Traffic
  • Visibility And Reaction
  • Distance And Reaction The Safety Cushion
  • Hills and Curves
  • Left Lane On A Multilane Highway For Passing Only
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 17 · source p. 76

Chapter 6: Tractor-Trailer Rigs

This chapter’s sections include:

  • What You Need To Know (Required)
  • Braking
  • Turning
  • Avoiding The Tractor-Trailer “No Zone”
  • (Required)
  • Maneuverability
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 18 · source p. 79

Chapter 7: Sharing the Road with Bicycles and Motorcycles

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Bicycles And Motorcycles
  • Residential Areas Are Danger Zones
  • Lane Positions for Bicycles
  • Sharing the Road with Motorcyclists
  • Situations When Crashes Are Most Likely to Occur
  • How Can I Drive Aware?
  • Signal Your Intentions
  • Respect a Motorcycle
  • Allow Plenty of Space When Following a Motorcycle
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 19 · source p. 83

Chapter 8: Driving Fitness

This chapter’s sections include:

  • CHAPTER 8: DRIVING FITNESS
  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • Fatigue
  • Health
  • Drinking And Driving
  • Alcohol Impairment
  • Body Metabolism
  • Alcohol and the Law
  • Other Types of Drugs and Driving
  • Arkansas Organ & Tissue Donor Information
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 20 · source p. 89

Chapter 9: Emergencies

This chapter’s sections include:

  • CHAPTER 9: EMERGENCIES
  • Vehicle Emergencies
  • Brake Failure
  • Blowouts
  • Engine Failure
  • Headlight Failure
  • Faulty Accelerator
  • Avoiding Collisions
  • Stopping
  • Turning
  • Accelerating
  • Skids
  • Traffic Crashes
  • Assisting the Injured
  • Keep a Record of Crash Information
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 21 · source p. 94

Chapter 10: Skills Test Guidelines

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Inspecting Your Vehicle
  • Vehicle Seats
  • Vehicle Mirrors
  • Inside mirror
  • Side-view mirrors
  • Braking System
  • Lights
  • Windshield and Wipers
  • Tires
  • Steering System
  • Exhaust System
  • Engine
  • Horn
  • Preparing for the Skills Exam
  • Vehicle Inspection
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 22 · source p. 98

Skills Test Checklist

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Revised: June 24, 2025
  • 1. Original Driver’s License Permit
  • 2. Valid Licensed Driver
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The Arkansas course groups the source material into 10 units. Each lesson includes handbook page references, examples, and a checkpoint in the study app.

Unit 1 · 4 lessons

Your License

Permits, GDL levels, motorcycle classes, vision, ID documents

  1. Who needs a license & your instruction permit
  2. Learner's, Intermediate & Class D licenses
  3. Motorcycle licenses & vision standards
  4. ID documents for your test

Unit 2 · 6 lessons

Arkansas Traffic Laws

Police stops, seat belts, littering, Move Over, school buses, accessible parking

  1. When you're stopped by police
  2. Seat belts, child seats & secondhand smoke
  3. Littering laws & hot cars
  4. The Move Over law
  5. School bus stops
  6. Accessible (handicapped) parking

Unit 3 · 5 lessons

Work Zones, Signs & Signals

Work zones, flaggers, signals, signs, railroad crossings

  1. Work zones: signs, lights & double fines
  2. Driving through work zones & flaggers
  3. Traffic signals & arrows
  4. Regulatory & warning signs
  5. Railroad crossings

Unit 4 · 4 lessons

Lanes, Right-of-Way & Parking

Markings, turns, crosswalks, who goes first, parking

  1. Lane markings & lane use
  2. Turning, multiple lanes & crosswalks
  3. Right-of-way, stop signs & roundabouts
  4. Parking rules & no-parking zones

Unit 5 · 3 lessons

Safe Driving Basics

Belts, vehicle control, distraction, scanning, lane changes

  1. Seat belts & basic vehicle control
  2. Distracted driving & Arkansas cell phone law
  3. Scanning, lane changes, backing & blind spots

Unit 6 · 7 lessons

See and Be Seen

Lights, speed, following distance, space and passing

  1. Headlights, horn & signals
  2. Adjusting speed: curves, slippery roads & hydroplaning
  3. Keeping pace, merging & exiting
  4. Stopping distance & sight distance
  5. Following distance & traffic behind you
  6. Space to the side, merging & crossing traffic
  7. Passing safely & the left-lane law

Unit 7 · 3 lessons

Sharing the Road

Trucks, bicycles and motorcycles

  1. Tractor-trailers & the No-Zone
  2. Sharing the road with bicycles
  3. Sharing the road with motorcycles

Unit 8 · 4 lessons

Driving Fitness & Impaired Driving

Vision, fatigue, health, alcohol and drugs

  1. Vision & hearing
  2. Fatigue, health & emotions
  3. Alcohol & the law
  4. Other drugs & driving

Unit 9 · 3 lessons

Emergencies & Crashes

Breakdowns, collision avoidance, skids, crash duties

  1. Vehicle emergencies
  2. Avoiding collisions & handling skids
  3. Crashes: what to do & reporting

Unit 10 · 2 lessons

Vehicle Inspection & Testing

Pre-drive checks and the skills test

  1. Inspecting your vehicle
  2. The skills (road) test