Highway Code for New Jersey Drivers
Driving requires knowledge of the rules of the road, which all vehicle drivers must follow. While you may be familiar with residents of your state, if you are planning to visit or move to New Jersey, you should make sure you are aware of any traffic laws that may differ. Below you will find traffic rules for New Jersey drivers that may differ from what you are used to.
Licenses and permits
Drivers who move to the state must obtain a New Jersey license within the first 60 days of residence.
New Jersey has a Graduated Driver License (GDL) program. Drivers 16 years of age or older must meet all requirements for a Special Education Permit, Probationary License, and Basic Driver's License to legally drive on New Hampshire roads. All GDL drivers must have two stickers provided by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
New drivers over the age of 18 must be approved for the supervised driving practice test and then progress to a probationary driving license and a basic driving license.
Seat Belts and Seats
All drivers and passengers in moving vehicles are required to wear seat belts in New Jersey.
A police officer can stop a car for anyone in the front seat who is not wearing a seatbelt. Those in the back seat may be issued a violation if the vehicle is stopped for another reason.
Children under the age of 8 and 57 inches tall must be in a forward-facing safety seat with a 5-point safety harness in the rear seat. If they outgrow the forward-facing seat, they should be in a suitable booster seat.
Children under the age of 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds must be in a rear-facing safety seat with a 5-point seat belt in the rear seat. When they grow out of the rear-facing seat, they should be in a forward-facing car seat with a 5-point harness.
Children under the age of 2 and weighing less than 30 pounds must be in a rear-facing safety seat with a 5-point seat belt in the rear seat.
Children under the age of eight are only allowed to sit in the front seat if they are in an appropriate safety seat or booster seat and rear seats are not available. Rear-facing seats can only be used in the front seat if the airbag is disabled.
right of way
Motorists are required to give way in any situation in which failure to do so could result in an accident, whether or not the other party is at fault.
Drivers must also give way to postal vehicles that are trying to get back into traffic.
Drivers must give way to pedestrians at crosswalks. Motorists are responsible for the safety of pedestrians.
In New Jersey, expressways use lanes. These lanes are designed to enter and exit the expressway at the same location. Drivers entering the expressway are required to give way to those exiting the expressway.
School buses
Drivers must stop at least 25 feet from a stopped school bus with flashing red lights.
Drivers on the other side of highways with lane dividers or traffic islands must slow down to 10 mph.
Fundamental rules
Backup lights - Drivers must not drive a vehicle moving forward with the reversing lights on.
Window tinting - It is forbidden to add aftermarket tinting to the windshield or front side windows.
Snow and ice — All drivers must make every reasonable effort to remove all snow and ice accumulated on the hood, roof, windshield and trunk of the vehicle before driving.
Idling - It is illegal to let a car idle for more than three minutes, except in situations such as getting stuck in traffic or driving through a driveway.
Right turn on red - Motorists are allowed to turn right at a red light, if there are no signs prohibiting this, they come to a complete stop and give way to all pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
Frozen Dessert Trucks Motorists are required to stop when approaching an ice cream truck. After giving way to pedestrians and making sure that children are not going to cross the road, drivers are allowed to move at a speed of no more than 15 miles per hour.
The above New Jersey traffic regulations may differ from other states, but all drivers are required to follow them in addition to the more general traffic regulations that motorists in each state must follow. If you have additional questions or need more information, be sure to check out the New Jersey Driver's Guide.
