Lane changes, passing and wet roads

Key points

1. Before changing lanes, turn your head and look over your shoulder to check your blind spots.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “Check your "blind spots" by turning your head and looking over your shoulder in the direction you plan to move.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 63

2. Finish passing before coming within 100 feet of an oncoming vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 71

   “You must complete a passing maneuver before coming within 100 feet of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 71

3. Do not pass within 100 feet of an intersection, railroad crossing, bridge or tunnel.

   Source: Handbook p. 71

   “you are within one hundred feet of an intersection or a railroad crossing. you are within one hundred feet of a bridge or tunnel.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 71

4. You should not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.

   Source: Handbook p. 76

   “You should not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 76

5. On slippery roads, reduce your speed, use extra caution and allow twice the normal following distance.

   Source: Handbook p. 74

   “You should reduce your speed, use extra caution and allow twice the normal following distance.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 74

6. Partial hydroplaning starts at about 35 mph, and by 55 mph tires may lose all contact with the road.

   Source: Handbook p. 74

   “Partial hydroplaning starts at about 35 miles per hour, and increases with speed until (at 55 M.P.H.) the tires may lose all contact with the pavement.”
   Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Handbook p. 74

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Louisiana practice test

1. 1. Before changing lanes, what should you do to check the area your mirrors cannot show?

   1. Look only at the vehicle directly ahead
   2. Turn your head and look over the shoulder toward the lane you plan to enter
   3. Turn on the hazard flashers and move immediately
   4. Rely on the inside mirror without checking beside the vehicle
   Show answer

   Turn your head and look over the shoulder toward the lane you plan to enter. A blind spot is an area around the vehicle that the mirrors cannot reveal. Before moving sideways, check the new lane and behind you, then turn your head toward that lane to inspect the blind spot. The choice about looking only ahead ignores traffic that may be beside or approaching from the rear. Hazard flashers do not replace a lane-change check, and the inside mirror alone leaves areas hidden. Use the sequence as a driving cue: mirror check, shoulder glance, signal, then move only after the lane is clear.

2. 2. What adjustment does the guide recommend when driving on a road covered with oil and water?

   1. Keep normal speed but shorten the gap to the vehicle ahead
   2. Reduce speed, use extra caution, and allow twice the normal following distance
   3. Brake hard throughout the trip to test traction
   4. Turn off the headlights so reflections do not distract you
   Show answer

   Reduce speed, use extra caution, and allow twice the normal following distance. Oil and water can make a roadway behave much like ice, so the guide calls for reduced speed, extra caution, and twice the normal following distance. Shortening the gap would remove the extra time needed if the vehicle ahead stops or skids. Repeated hard braking can itself cause a loss of control and does not create traction. The first rain is especially hazardous because oil and grease may still be on the pavement. Slow before the slick area, keep steering smooth, and leave room to respond.

3. 3. Why should a driver avoid passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk?

   1. The stopped vehicle may be hiding a pedestrian
   2. The stopped vehicle always has a mechanical failure
   3. Passing is allowed only when the crosswalk has a traffic signal
   4. A driver must pass before the pedestrian reaches the curb
   Show answer

   The stopped vehicle may be hiding a pedestrian. The guide warns that a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk can block the next driver's view of a pedestrian. Passing it may put the passing driver directly into the pedestrian's path without enough sight distance to stop. The stopped vehicle does not need to have a mechanical problem, and a signal does not make a blind pass safe. Approach cautiously, prepare to stop, and wait until the crossing area is visible and clear. The practical cue is an occupied lane beside a crosswalk, especially when the stopped vehicle hides what is ahead.

Source: the Louisiana Class D and E Driver's Guide, Chapter 5: Safe Driving Habits. 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.