Parking rules and railroad crossings

Key points

1. You may only stop briefly to pick up or drop off passengers within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 20

2. The same brief-stop rule applies within 30 feet of a stop sign, yield sign or traffic signal.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “Within 30 feet of a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal;”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 20

3. You may never stop, stand or park within 75 feet of the spot across from a fire station driveway or within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “Within 75 feet of the spot across the street from a fire station driveway; • Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing;”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 20

4. If your vehicle is disabled, try to park off the highway, leaving free passage and a clear view of it for 200 feet each way.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “If the vehicle is disabled, you should make every practical effort to park off the highway, leaving free passage and a clear view of your vehicle for 200 feet in each direction.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 20

5. When parallel parking, stop about 2 feet from the car ahead of the space, door to door.

   Source: Handbook p. 20

   “(you should be approximately 2 feet from the other car-door to door).”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 20

6. Stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail when a signal flashes, a gate is down or a train is near.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “You must always stop within 50 feet, but not less than 15 feet, from the nearest rail of a railroad crossing when any of the following apply:”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 21

7. A complete stop is required at a crossbuck when a red light is flashing.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “A complete stop is required when a red light is flashing.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 32

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Georgia practice test

1. 1. How far from a fire station driveway is stopping, standing, or parking prohibited at the listed location?

   1. Within 20 feet of the spot across the street
   2. Within 50 feet of the spot across the street
   3. Within 75 feet of the spot across the street
   4. Within 100 feet of the spot across the street
   Show answer

   Within 75 feet of the spot across the street. Georgia lists a location within 75 feet of the spot across the street from a fire station driveway among places where stopping, standing, or parking is prohibited. The 20, 50, and 100 foot choices change the stated distance and are not the figure in this parking list. The concrete cue is to measure from the point across the street, not from the driveway entrance in an unrelated direction. Keeping that space clear helps preserve access and visibility around emergency facilities.

2. 2. How far from a railroad crossing is stopping, standing, or parking prohibited?

   1. Within 20 feet
   2. Within 50 feet
   3. Within 75 feet
   4. Within 100 feet
   Show answer

   Within 50 feet. Georgia lists stopping, standing, or parking within 50 feet of a railroad crossing as prohibited. The 20-foot choice understates the protected distance, while 75 and 100 feet are larger figures that are not the distance stated in this parking rule. This restriction keeps vehicles away from the crossing approach and preserves room for visibility and movement. The practical cue is the landmark: when a railroad crossing is nearby, keep the vehicle at least 50 feet away unless another instruction requires an even safer position.

3. 3. How close to a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal may a Georgia driver park?

   1. No closer than 15 feet
   2. No closer than 30 feet
   3. No closer than 20 feet
   4. No closer than 50 feet
   Show answer

   No closer than 30 feet. Georgia's parking list bars parking within 30 feet of a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, within 20 feet of a fire station driveway, and in front of a driveway. A vehicle parked closer than 30 feet to the sign hides it from approaching drivers. Fifteen and twenty feet belong to the hydrant and crosswalk rules.

Source: the Georgia Drivers Manual, Section 5: Traffic Laws. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.