Traffic Laws and Rules of the Road
Core concepts
Illinois rules of the road center on the right-of-way, speed management, and lane discipline. Know the standard urban speed limit (30 mph unless posted), rural two-lane limits (55 mph unless posted), and that limits are maximums for ideal conditions, not targets. Understand the four-way stop sequence (first to arrive goes first; if simultaneous, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way), left-turn yielding, and that a driver turning left across oncoming traffic must yield. Learn following distance as the three-second rule and the requirement to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and to emergency vehicles using lights and siren.
Traps to watch
Questions love absolute words: "always," "never," "must." For example, a green light means proceed only if clear; you still yield to pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection. Another trap is confusing a legal pass zone with a safe one - passing is legal on a two-lane road with a broken yellow line, but only when you can see far enough ahead. Watch for the distinction between stopping and yielding at a flashing red (full stop, then proceed when safe) versus a flashing yellow (slow and proceed with caution, no stop required).
Worked example / rule of thumb
You approach a four-way stop at the same moment as a car on your right. Rule of thumb: when in doubt at an uncontrolled meeting, yield to the right. The car on your right proceeds first, then you. If three cars arrive together, the rightmost car goes first, then the next to its left, and so on clockwise.
Remember that school-zone and construction-zone limits are strictly enforced, and that passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights (on an undivided road) is a serious violation.