TCOLE Traffic Laws and Enforcement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Texas Transportation Code, what is the minimum following distance a driver must maintain behind an emergency vehicle that is stopped with lights activated?
- 25 feet
- 50 feet
- 100 feet
- 500 feet (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 500 feet
Texas law requires drivers to maintain at least 500 feet following distance behind a stationary authorized emergency vehicle with lights activated.
Question 2: A driver makes a left turn from a one-way street onto another one-way street in Texas. Which lane should the driver turn into?
- The rightmost available lane
- The leftmost available lane (Correct answer)
- Any lane at the driver's discretion
- The center lane only
Correct answer: The leftmost available lane
When turning left from a one-way onto another one-way, Texas law requires the driver to enter the leftmost available lane.
Question 3: Under Texas law, a driver approaching a school bus with alternating red lights flashing on a divided highway must:
- Stop regardless of direction of travel
- Stop only if traveling in the same direction as the bus (Correct answer)
- Slow to 15 mph in both directions
- Stop only if traveling in the opposite direction
Correct answer: Stop only if traveling in the same direction as the bus
On a divided highway with a physical median, only drivers traveling in the same direction as the school bus must stop for flashing red lights.
Question 4: What BAC level creates a legal presumption of intoxication for a commercial motor vehicle operator in Texas?
- 0.08
- 0.04 (Correct answer)
- 0.02
- 0.06
Correct answer: 0.04
Texas law sets a BAC of 0.04 as the legal limit for commercial vehicle operators, half the standard 0.08 limit.
Question 5: A Texas officer observes a driver weaving within their lane but not crossing lane lines. This behavior:
- Cannot form the basis for a traffic stop
- Can support reasonable suspicion for a DWI stop (Correct answer)
- Is only actionable after three observed weaves
- Requires a field sobriety test before a stop is legal
Correct answer: Can support reasonable suspicion for a DWI stop
Weaving within a single lane can contribute to reasonable suspicion of intoxication even without crossing lane markings.
Question 6: Under Texas Transportation Code §545.351, the basic speed rule states a driver must not drive at a speed that:
- Exceeds the posted limit by any amount
- Is greater than reasonable and prudent under conditions (Correct answer)
- Exceeds 70 mph on any highway
- Is above the nighttime speed limit
Correct answer: Is greater than reasonable and prudent under conditions
The basic speed rule prohibits driving faster than is reasonable and prudent given actual road, weather, and traffic conditions.
Question 7: In Texas, a driver involved in a crash resulting only in property damage of $1,000 or more must:
- File a written report with DPS within 10 days (Correct answer)
- Immediately call the nearest law enforcement agency
- Notify their insurance company within 24 hours
- File a report only if the other driver requests one
Correct answer: File a written report with DPS within 10 days
Texas law requires a written crash report to DPS within 10 days when damage meets or exceeds $1,000 and no officer investigated the scene.
TCOLE Traffic Laws and Enforcement 2
Under Texas Transportation Code, what is the minimum following distance a driver must maintain behind an emergency vehicle that is stopped with lights activated?