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Ohio driving lesson · Basic Vehicle Control & Intersections

Starting, moving & stopping

A 3-minute lesson from the Ohio course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Basic Vehicle Control & Intersections
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
18

Smooth starts and stops protect you and the drivers around you. Just as important is knowing every place Ohio law requires a full stop — including a few that surprise new drivers.

Starting and moving the vehicle:

  • Check the owner's manual for how to start your vehicle
  • Right foot on the brake; check the gear selector is in park
  • Turn the key or push the Start button
  • Shift to D (drive); check for a safe path ahead and traffic to the sides and behind
  • Signal, then, if safe, move your foot to the accelerator and press gently
  • Accelerate gradually with the ball of your foot on the pedal and your heel on the floor
Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

To stop: check your mirrors for traffic behind you, move your foot from the accelerator to the brake, and press with steady pressure until you stop.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Stopping distance depends on:

  • The driver's reaction time
  • The vehicle's speed
  • The condition of the brakes
  • The pavement condition (wet, dry, icy, salted, gravel, etc.)
Handbook p. 18 ↗
3–4 seconds

Following distance to allow behind the vehicle ahead (Section 5)

Handbook p. 18 ↗

You must stop:

  • Behind the stop line or crosswalk at any stop sign or red signal before entering an intersection
  • Behind the stop line or crosswalk at a red signal even where turns on red are allowed
  • At a flashing red signal, yielding to all traffic that does not have to stop
  • At the sidewalk (or before the roadway if none) when leaving an alley, driveway or private road
  • Before an intersection when there's no room for your vehicle on the other side
  • For a public safety vehicle with flashing lights and siren (see exception)
Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

When emerging from an alley, driveway or private road in a business or residential district, yield to any pedestrian on the sidewalk.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

For an approaching public safety vehicle with lights and siren, move as far right as possible and stay there until it passes — unless it is traveling in the opposite direction on a divided highway.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

A legal turn on red may be made only after a full stop and after yielding to all crossing traffic and all pedestrians.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Put it into practice

You're leaving a restaurant driveway with no sidewalk. Stop before you enter the roadway, even if the street looks empty, then pull out when it's clear.

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.

What should you do as you start the engine?
  1. Press the accelerator with the gear in neutral
  2. Hold the brake with the gear in drive
  3. Put your right foot on the brake and check for park
  4. Release the parking brake first

Answer: Put your right foot on the brake and check for park

To start the engine, place your right foot on the brake pedal and check that the gear selector is in park.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
Where must you stop at a stop sign or red light?
  1. Behind the stop line or crosswalk
  2. Even with the stop sign
  3. Wherever you can see cross traffic
  4. Past the crosswalk if it's clear

Answer: Behind the stop line or crosswalk

A driver must stop behind the stop line or crosswalk at any stop sign or red light before entering the intersection.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
An emergency vehicle with flashing lights and siren approaches from behind on a two-lane road. What should you do?
  1. Speed up to clear the way
  2. Pull as far right as possible and stop until it passes
  3. Pull to the left shoulder
  4. Continue at the same speed

Answer: Pull as far right as possible and stop until it passes

Drivers must move as far right as possible and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
You're on a divided highway and an emergency vehicle approaches from the opposite direction. Must you stop?
  1. Yes, you must always stop
  2. Only if there's no median
  3. No — not when it's opposite you on a divided highway
  4. Only if it is a fire engine

Answer: No — not when it's opposite you on a divided highway

The stop requirement for approaching emergency vehicles does not apply if you're traveling opposite on a divided highway.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
Which of these does the handbook list as a factor in stopping distance?
  1. The number of lanes
  2. The posted speed limit
  3. The condition of the pavement
  4. Whether your headlights are on

Answer: The condition of the pavement

Stopping distance depends on reaction time, speed, brake condition, and pavement condition (wet, dry, icy, salted, gravel).

Handbook p. 18 ↗
You approach an intersection and there isn't enough room on the other side for your vehicle, even though you have a green light. What must you do?
  1. Proceed since you have the right-of-way
  2. Proceed slowly and squeeze through
  3. Only stop if a police officer is present
  4. Stop and wait despite the green light

Answer: Stop and wait despite the green light

You must stop before an intersection if there isn't enough space on the other side, regardless of the signal.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
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