Highway Code for Louisiana Drivers

Driving on the road requires you to know a lot of laws in order to drive safely and legally. While there are many common sense laws that are the same from state to state, there are other laws that may not. While you may know the laws of your state, if you are planning to move to or visit Louisiana, you need to be aware of the laws, which may be different from what you are used to. Below you'll find Louisiana's driving rules, which may differ from your state's.

Licenses

• The Study Permit is for persons aged 15 and over. The permit allows a teenager to take driving lessons after passing a knowledge test and a vision test. A study permit only allows one passenger, who is either a sibling at age 18 or an adult with a license at age 21.

• Intermediate licenses are issued after an eligible driver turns 16, has completed 50 hours of driving, held a driver's license for 180 days, and passed a driving test. An intermediate license only allows you to drive between 11:5 a.m. and 18:21 p.m. unless a sibling aged XNUMX or a XNUMX-year-old driver with a license is in the car.

• Those with a learner's or intermediate license cannot use a mobile phone while driving.

• The full license is available to individuals aged 17 and over who have completed the student's authorization and milestones.

• New residents must obtain a Louisiana license within 30 days of moving into the state.

Safety seats and seat belts

• Drivers and all passengers in cars, trucks and vans must wear seat belts that are properly positioned and fastened.

• Children weighing less than 60 pounds or aged six years or younger are not permitted in the front seat of any vehicle with an active airbag.

• Children weighing less than 20 pounds must be in a rear-facing car seat.

• Children aged 1 to 4 and weighing 20 to 40 pounds must be in a forward facing car seat.

• Children aged 4 to 6 and weighing 40 to 60 pounds must be in a child restraint seat.

• Children aged 6 and over who weigh more than 60 pounds may be strapped in with a booster or seat belt.

Cell Phones

• Drivers under the age of 17 are not allowed to use a mobile phone or any other wireless communication device while driving.

• Drivers of all ages are not allowed to text while driving.

Fundamental rules

• School Requirements - Persons under the age of 18 who drop out of school or have a habit of being late or absent may have their driver's license revoked.

• Garbage It's illegal to litter on the roads in Louisiana.

• Red markings on the sidewalk - It is forbidden to enter any roadway with red markings on the sidewalk. This can lead to you going against the traffic pattern.

• Pedestrian crossings — Drivers must give way to pedestrians at pedestrian crossings, including non-traffic lights and intersections.

• Road rage - Road rage, which can include aggressive driving and threatening other drivers, is a felony in Louisiana.

• Next — Drivers must leave a distance of at least three seconds between their vehicles and those they are following. This should increase depending on traffic and weather conditions, as well as vehicle speed.

• Walkthrough - Overtaking on the right is only permitted on roads with more than two lanes traveling in the same direction. If your vehicle must leave the roadway to pass on the right, it is illegal.

• right of way — Pedestrians have the right of way, even if they cross the road illegally or cross the road in the wrong place.

• Cyclists — All cyclists are required to wear a helmet with head straps when riding on bike lanes, public roads and other roads. Drivers are required to leave a distance of three feet between their car and a cyclist.

• Minimum speeds - Drivers must obey at least the minimum speed limits on interstate highways.

• School bus Drivers must stop at least 30 feet from a stopped bus that is loading or unloading children. Drivers on the opposite side of four- and five-lane roads that do not have a barrier separating the two sides must also stop.

• Railways - It is forbidden to stop on the railway tracks waiting for traffic lights or other traffic.

• Headphones - Headphones are not allowed while driving. You can use a single-ear headset or one earphone in one ear.

• Headlamps - Whenever windshield wipers are required to maintain visibility, the vehicle's headlights must be on.

Compliance with these traffic rules, in addition to the rules that apply in all states, will ensure your safety while driving in Louisiana. For more information, please refer to the Louisiana Class D and E Driver Manual.