Vulnerable Road Users and Special Driving Conditions
Pedestrians, cyclists, and school zones
Drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk or crossing at an uncontrolled intersection. Slow down and prepare to stop at school zones, and watch for children who step out from between parked cars. When passing a bicyclist, leave at least three feet where feasible and wait until oncoming traffic clears. Do not honk at cyclists or crowd them toward the curb. In work zones, obey flaggers and reduced limits; fines are often increased.
Night, fog, rain, and snow
Use low beams in fog, rain, or snow, because high beams reflect back and reduce visibility. Reduce speed on wet roads to avoid hydroplaning, and brake gently on ice. In snow, accelerate and steer smoothly and leave extra stopping room. At night, drive at a speed your headlights can outrun.
New Mexico dust storms, wind, and flooded roads
In a dust storm, pull off the road as far as possible, turn off your lights, set the parking brake, and take your foot off the brake so following drivers do not aim at your taillights. High winds require both hands on the wheel and reduced speed, especially for high-profile vehicles. Never drive into a flooded road: moving water can float or sweep away a car.
Worked example
A wall of dust reduces visibility to near zero on an open highway. Reasoning: stopping in the travel lane invites a rear-end crash, and leaving lights on makes your car look like a moving vehicle. Pull well off the pavement, turn off lights, and wait out the storm.
Traps that cost marks
Using high beams in fog; honking at or crowding bicyclists; speeding through work zones; braking hard on ice; driving around barricades into floodwater; stopping in the travel lane during a dust storm.