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Oregon driver handbook guide

Oregon driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 31 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s Oregon course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 48 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
31
Source PDF pages
112
Companion lessons
48
Licensing agency
DMV

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. Introduction Source p. 1
  2. Vision Test Source p. 9
  3. Knowledge Tests Source p. 10
  4. Drive Test Source p. 11
  5. Signs Source p. 15
  6. Traffic Signals Source p. 23
  7. Lane Travel and Speed Regulations Source p. 26
  8. Pavement Markings Source p. 30
  9. Maintaining a Space Cushion Source p. 34
  10. Curves and Changing Lanes Source p. 38
  11. Passing Source p. 39
  12. Freeway Driving Source p. 42
  13. Driving a Large Vehicle or Towing Source p. 43
  14. Turns and Intersections Source p. 46
  15. Roundabouts Source p. 51
  16. Sharing the Road and Pedestrians Source p. 54
  17. School Zones Source p. 57
  18. Bicycles Source p. 58
  19. Motorcycles and Mopeds Source p. 60
  20. Large Vehicles Source p. 61
  21. Buses and Other Vehicles Source p. 63
  22. Stopped Vehicles, Emergency Vehicles and Police Stops Source p. 65
  23. Work Zones Source p. 67
  24. Railroad Crossings, Light Rail and Streetcars Source p. 71
  25. Parking and Stopping Source p. 76
  26. Safe and Responsible Driving Source p. 81
  27. Hazardous Conditions Source p. 84
  28. Dangerous Driving Behaviors Source p. 88
  29. Vehicle Equipment Failures and Fuel Saving Source p. 92
  30. How to Apply Source p. 97
  31. Insurance, Collisions and Loss of Driving Privileges Source p. 101

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 1

Introduction

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Driver Manual
  • Manual
  • Important message to drivers only addresses requirements for obtaining a
  • drive test scheduling and office hours, go to
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 9

Vision Test

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 10

Knowledge Tests

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Class C Knowledge Test
  • Test in a DMV Office
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 11

Drive Test

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Guidelines for Taking a Knowledge Test Online
  • Rules and Guidelines for Drive Tests
  • Test Vehicle
  • Test Appointments
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 15

Signs

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Signs & Traffic Signals
  • Regulatory Signs—Prohibitive
  • Regulatory Signs – Other
  • Warning Signs
  • Route, Guide, and Information Signs
  • Next 7 Miles
  • Alert your family first!
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 23

Traffic Signals

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Sample Test Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 26

Lane Travel and Speed Regulations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Lane Travel
  • Speed Limits
  • Variable Speed Signs The Basic Rule Law
  • Slow Drivers
  • Racing
  • Vehicle Speed and Pedestrian Fatalities
  • 23Mph
  • 42Mph
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 30

Pavement Markings

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 34

Maintaining a Space Cushion

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Following Distance
  • Side Space Cushion
  • Space Cushion Behind
  • Backing Up
  • Stopping Distances
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 38

Curves and Changing Lanes

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Looking Ahead
  • Curves
  • Changing Lanes
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 39

Passing

This chapter’s sections include:

  • No Passing
  • Passing on the Right
  • Being Passed
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 42

Freeway Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Entering a Freeway
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 43

Driving a Large Vehicle or Towing

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Leaving a Freeway
  • Vehicle Trouble
  • Sample Test Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 14 · source p. 46

Turns and Intersections

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Turn Signals
  • Hand-and-arm signals
  • Turns
  • Turning Errors
  • U-Turns
  • Intersections
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 15 · source p. 51

Roundabouts

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Multi-lane Roundabouts
  • Emergency Vehicles in Roundabouts
  • Sample Test Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 16 · source p. 54

Sharing the Road and Pedestrians

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Sharing the Road
  • Pedestrians
  • Drive Safely.
  • White Canes and Guide Dogs
  • Children at Play
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 17 · source p. 57

School Zones

This chapter’s sections include:

  • School Zone Signs
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 18 · source p. 58

Bicycles

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Bike Boxes
  • Sharrow
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 19 · source p. 60

Motorcycles and Mopeds

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Mopeds
  • Melon
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 20 · source p. 61

Large Vehicles

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Pilot Vehicles
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 21 · source p. 63

Buses and Other Vehicles

This chapter’s sections include:

  • School Buses
  • Places of Worship or Worker Buses
  • Public Transit Buses
  • Slow Moving Vehicles
  • Over-Length and Over-Width Loads
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 22 · source p. 65

Stopped Vehicles, Emergency Vehicles and Police Stops

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Funeral Processions
  • Approaching Stopped Vehicles
  • Emergency Vehicles
  • Police Stops
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 23 · source p. 67

Work Zones

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Sample Test Questions
  • Before you start your car…
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 24 · source p. 71

Railroad Crossings, Light Rail and Streetcars

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Railroad Crossings
  • Trains
  • Sample Test Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 25 · source p. 76

Parking and Stopping

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Parking & Stopping
  • Parallel Parking
  • Angle Parking
  • Parking on Hills
  • Parking Spaces for Persons with Disabilities
  • Why can’t I park in a Disabled Person parking space?
  • No Parking
  • Emergency Parking
  • Sample Test Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 26 · source p. 81

Safe and Responsible Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Driving
  • Defensive Driving
  • Safety Belts The Click.
  • Communicating With Other Drivers
  • Avoiding a Collision
  • Driving Off the Road
  • Oncoming Traffic
  • Animals
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 27 · source p. 84

Hazardous Conditions

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Using Lights
  • Night Driving
  • Fog, Dust and Smoke
  • Rain
  • Snow and Ice
  • Skidding
  • Chains and Traction Tires
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 28 · source p. 88

Dangerous Driving Behaviors

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Distracted Driving
  • Road Rage
  • Fatigue and Drowsy Driving
  • Health and Hearing
  • Impaired Driving
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 29 · source p. 92

Vehicle Equipment Failures and Fuel Saving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • External Passengers
  • Vehicle Equipment Failures
  • Blowouts
  • Brakes Fail
  • Headlights Go Out
  • Power Steering Fails
  • Accelerator Sticks
  • Fuel Saving Techniques
  • Sample Test Questions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 30 · source p. 97

How to Apply

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Proof of Identity and Date of Birth
  • Proof of Current Residence Address
  • Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation
  • Veteran Designation
  • Deaf or Hard of Hearing Designation
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 31 · source p. 101

Insurance, Collisions and Loss of Driving Privileges

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Mandatory Insurance
  • Traffic Collisions
  • Your Responsibilities
  • Unattended Vehicles
  • Loss of Driving Privileges
  • With An Everybody Solution
  • Contact DMV to You by Your Local DMV Office
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The Oregon 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

Tests, applying and proving who you are

  1. Getting Your Permit and License
  2. The Vision and Knowledge Tests
  3. The Drive Test
  4. Proving Identity and Residence

Unit 2 · 6 lessons

Signs & Signals

Sign shapes, colors and signal meanings

  1. Red and Black-and-White Regulatory Signs
  2. Lane-Use, Transit and HOV Signs
  3. Warning Signs: Pedestrians, Curves and Crossroads
  4. Warning Signs: Lanes, Stops and Road Conditions
  5. Route, Guide and Service Signs
  6. Traffic Signals

Unit 3 · 4 lessons

Lane Travel & Speed

Keeping right, speed laws and pavement markings

  1. Driving on the Right and Speed Limits
  2. The Basic Rule, Variable Speeds and Racing
  3. Yellow Pavement Markings
  4. White and Red Pavement Markings

Unit 4 · 6 lessons

Space Cushion & Passing

Following distance, passing, freeways and towing

  1. Following Distance
  2. Side and Rear Space, Backing and Stopping Distances
  3. Looking Ahead, Curves and Changing Lanes
  4. Passing and No-Passing Zones
  5. Freeway Driving
  6. Driving a Large Vehicle or Towing

Unit 5 · 4 lessons

Turns, Intersections & Roundabouts

Signals, turn lanes, right of way and roundabouts

  1. Turn Signals and Hand Signals
  2. Making Right, Left and One-Way Turns
  3. U-Turns and Intersections
  4. Roundabouts

Unit 6 · 5 lessons

Sharing the Road

Pedestrians, schools, bicycles, motorcycles and big rigs

  1. Pedestrians and Crosswalks
  2. School Zones and Children
  3. Bicycles, Bike Boxes and Sharrows
  4. Motorcycles and Mopeds
  5. Sharing the Road with Large Vehicles

Unit 7 · 6 lessons

Buses, Railroads & Special Situations

Buses, emergency vehicles, work zones and rail

  1. School, Worship, Worker and Transit Buses
  2. Slow Vehicles, Oversize Loads and Funerals
  3. Emergency Vehicles and Police Stops
  4. Work Zones and Stopped Vehicles
  5. Railroad Crossings
  6. Streetcars and Light Rail

Unit 8 · 2 lessons

Parking & Stopping

Parking skills, hills and no-parking zones

  1. How to Park
  2. No-Parking Zones and Emergency Parking

Unit 9 · 8 lessons

Safe & Responsible Driving

Defensive driving, weather, impairment and emergencies

  1. Defensive Driving, Safety Belts and Communicating
  2. Avoiding a Collision
  3. Lights, Night, Fog and Rain
  4. Snow, Ice, Skids and Traction Devices
  5. Distracted Driving
  6. Alcohol, Drugs and Implied Consent
  7. Fatigue, Road Rage, Health and Passengers
  8. Equipment Failures and Saving Fuel

Unit 10 · 3 lessons

Insurance, Collisions & Your Record

Coverage minimums, crash duties and suspensions

  1. Mandatory Insurance
  2. After a Collision
  3. Losing Your Driving Privileges