District of Columbia driving lesson · Highway & Roundabout Driving
Stopping, parking & backing on highways
A 3-minute lesson from the District of Columbia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
A car stopped or backing on a highway is in serious danger. The rules are strict: stop only in real emergencies, get as far off as you can, and never back up.
Know the rule
Stopping on the traveled portion of the highway is prohibited. Stopping on the shoulder is allowed only when your car won't run or in other emergencies.
Parked on a highway shoulder from sunset to sunrise, or when light is too poor to see people or objects 1000 feet away, you must turn on hazard or parking lights (if equipped).
The most common backing mistake is failing to look both ways behind. Mirrors don't give a full view: turn your body and head to the right, look out the rear window, and back slowly while glancing quickly to either side.
You miss your exit on the interstate. Backing up along the shoulder is never allowed. Keep going to the next exit, get off, and find a way back.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Stopping on the traveled portion of an interstate highway is:
Allowed if your hazards are on
Allowed for up to 5 minutes
Prohibited
Allowed to read a map
Answer: Prohibited
Stopping on the traveled portion of the highway is prohibited; stopping on the shoulder is allowed only when your car won't run or in other emergencies.