A 3-minute lesson from the Texas course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Workers and responders stopped on the roadside are extremely exposed. Texas's Slow Down or Move Over law protects them. Texas also bans street racing in every form, with penalties up to a felony.
The law covers these vehicles when stopped on the road with lights activated:
Emergency medical vehicles
Law enforcement vehicles
Fire trucks
Tow trucks
Utility service vehicles
TxDOT vehicles or other highway construction or maintenance vehicles
Mail, delivery and trash-collection vehicles often stop in the roadway. Proceed with caution and, if possible, change lanes before safely passing them.
The criminal penalty for a street racing conviction ranges from a Class B misdemeanor to a second-degree felony. Racing on a public highway or street also brings a mandatory license suspension.
Two or more vehicles accelerating side by side to outdistance each other, or vehicles over a common course comparing speed or acceleration over a set distance or time.
Using vehicles to outgain or outdistance another vehicle or keep it from passing, to arrive somewhere first, or to test a driver's endurance over a long route.
On a two-lane highway posted at 65 mph, a tow truck is loading a car on the shoulder with lights flashing. You can't change lanes, so slow to 45 mph (20 below the limit) until you've passed it.
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.
A TxDOT maintenance vehicle is stopped on the shoulder with lights flashing on a multi-lane road. What must you do?
Nothing unless it is a police or fire vehicle
Slow to 10 mph below the limit and stay in your lane
Stop completely until the vehicle leaves
Move out of the closest lane or slow to 20 mph under the limit
Answer: Move out of the closest lane or slow to 20 mph under the limit
For a stopped TxDOT or similar vehicle with lights activated, move over or reduce speed by 20 mph below the limit.