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Also effective January 1, 2018, no vehicle operated in
Tennessee shall be equipped with any flashing lights in any
color or combination of colors that display to the front of the
vehicle, other than factory installed emergency flashers. There
are exceptions for certain vehicles.
Littering
Litter is an unsightly
problem across the State
of Tennessee creating an
eyesore for our scenic
roads and highways.
Throwing cigarette butts, food sacks, tobacco products, papers,
cans, bottles or disposing of other material from vehicles are
all forms of littering. Littering not only harms the
environment we enjoy here in Tennessee but also poses a
potential traffic hazard and risk to you and your family.
Tennessee law requires any motor vehicle transporting litter or
any material, likely to fall or be blown off onto the highway, to
be in an enclosed space or fully covered by a tarpaulin.
Prevention of littering is a major savings of your tax dollar.
Costly cleanup of litter is required before our roadways can
receive certain maintenance services such as roadside grass
mowing.
Littering is against state law. Fines start at $50 and can be
up to $500 based upon the amount of litter. A person
convicted of littering is required to spend up to 40 hours of
public service removing litter and at the discretion of the
court, spend up to 8 additional hours of working in a waste
recycling center. Littering can be very costly. Let’s keep
Tennessee clean – don’t litter!
Slow-Moving Vehicles
It is against the law to drive slower than the posted minimum
speed under normal driving conditions. You may drive more
slowly than the minimum speed if you are driving in bad
weather, heavy traffic or on a bad road. If there is no posted
minimum speed, it is still against the law to drive so slowly
that you block traffic.
NOTE: You are considered to be driving a slow-moving
vehicle if you are traveling at a rate of speed that is 10 miles
per hour or more below the lawful maximum speed. If five or
more vehicles are lined up behind you, turn or pull off the
roadway as soon as you can do so safely. Slow drivers, who
block other traffic, cause many accidents.
Remember, slower is not always safer.
Funeral Procession
In Tennessee, it is a common and accepted practice for
oncoming traffic to pull to the side of the roadway as a sign of
respect when meeting a funeral precession.
Tennessee law
instructs the following:
• Vehicles following a funeral procession on a two-lane
roadway may not attempt to pass such procession; and
• No operator of a vehicle shall drive between vehicles in a
properly identified funeral procession except when
directed to do so by a traffic officer.
The Basic Speed Rule
The speed at which you drive determines how much time you
have to act or react and how long it takes to stop. The higher
the speed, the less time drivers have to spot hazards. Judge
the speed of other traffic, and react to avoid the mistakes of
other drivers.
The Basic Speed Rule (BSR) is not a Tennessee law, but it is a
general safety principle. The BSR does not set an exact speed
limit; instead, it teaches that the speed you may drive is
limited by current conditions. For example, if the posted
speed limit is 65 m.p.h., and you are driving at night on a two-
lane state highway and it’s raining or foggy, 65 m.p.h. is too
fast for those conditions.
To obey the BSR, think about your speed in relation to other
traffic (including pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles), the
surface and width of the road, hazards at intersections,
weather, visibility and any other conditions that could affect
safety.
Principles of the Basic Speed Rule:
1. Your speed must be careful and prudent. Use skill and good
judgment.
2. Your speed must be reasonable and proper, not too fast and
not too slow, for any conditions including:
• Amount of Traffic - How many cars on the road
• Speed of Traffic - How fast or slow it’s moving
• Whether Pedestrians are Present - Especially children in
school zones or neighborhoods
• Surface of the Road - Rough or smooth, paved, gravel, etc.
•
Width of the Road - One-lane, two-lane, four-lane
• Structure of the Road - Straight, curving, bridges, narrow
shoulders, etc.
• Visibility - How far ahead you can see clearly
•
Weather Conditions - Rain, snow, ice, fog, etc.
•
Your Own Driving Ability
3. Do not drive so slowly that you block, hinder, or interfere
with other vehicles moving at normal speeds.
4. Your speed must be adjusted to conditions so you can stop
within a clear distance ahead.
If you drive at a speed that is unsafe for existing conditions in
any area, you are violating the basic rule. This applies even if
you are driving slower than the posted speed or maximum
limit.