Everything important from the Alabama Driver Manual — organized for the exam
Memorize these numbers first. Alabama ALEA test questions are frequently built around specific distances, speeds, BAC levels, and time periods. These come up constantly.
Road signs are tested heavily. Know each sign's shape, color, and meaning. The real test often shows a sign description and asks what it means.
| Shape | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Octagon (8-sided) | STOP — always and only | Stop sign |
| Triangle (pointing down) | YIELD — give right of way | Yield sign |
| Diamond | WARNING — hazard ahead | Curve, pedestrian, deer |
| Pentagon (5-sided) | SCHOOL ZONE | School crossing |
| Pennant (triangle right) | NO PASSING ZONE | No-passing pennant |
| Round (circle) | RAILROAD CROSSING advance warning | RR crossing sign |
| Rectangle (vertical) | REGULATORY — rules you must follow | Speed limit, turn restrictions |
| Rectangle (horizontal) | GUIDE or INFORMATION | Street name, mile marker |
| X-shaped crossbuck | RAILROAD CROSSING — treat like yield | Railroad crossbuck |
| Color | Category | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Regulatory — STOP / PROHIBIT | Stop, yield, do not enter, wrong way, no-turn circles |
| Yellow | WARNING | General hazard warnings — curves, hills, intersections, animals |
| Orange | WORK ZONE / CONSTRUCTION | Construction ahead, road crew, slow down and drive with care. Reduce speed in work zones and be prepared to stop suddenly (Ch. 5) |
| Green | GUIDE / DIRECTIONAL | Highway exits, distances, direction, mile markers |
| Blue | SERVICES | Gas, food, lodging, hospital, rest area |
| Brown | RECREATION / CULTURAL | Parks, campgrounds, historical sites, scenic areas |
| White | REGULATORY | Speed limits, lane rules, turn restrictions |
| Fluorescent Yellow-Green | WARNING — pedestrian / school / bike | School zones, crosswalks, bike lanes |
| Fluorescent Pink | INCIDENT MANAGEMENT | Crash clean-up, debris removal, temporary traffic control |
Right of way is the #1 failure topic on the ALEA knowledge test. Master every scenario below — these questions will be on your exam.
| Signal | What You Must Do |
|---|---|
| Solid GREEN | Proceed — but yield to traffic already in intersection |
| Solid YELLOW | Prepare to stop if safe; proceed only if stopping would be dangerous |
| Solid RED | Stop completely; may turn right on red after stop and yield (unless posted) |
| GREEN ARROW | Protected turn — oncoming traffic must stop. You may turn in the arrow's direction, but still yield to vehicles and pedestrians already in the intersection. |
| YELLOW ARROW | Protected turn is ending — prepare to yield or stop |
| Flashing YELLOW ARROW | Unprotected turn — you MAY turn but MUST yield to oncoming and pedestrians |
| Flashing RED | Treat exactly like a STOP sign — stop, yield, proceed when safe |
| Flashing YELLOW | Caution — slow down and proceed carefully. Do not need to stop. |
| RED + GREEN ARROW | Stop for through traffic; turn in direction of arrow only |
| Signal NOT working | Treat as ALL-WAY STOP — all traffic stops |
DUI questions appear on virtually every ALEA knowledge test. Know the BAC levels, implied consent law, and penalties. Alabama uses "DUI" (Driving Under the Influence).
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| BAC of 0.08%+ (driver 21+) | DUI — 1st: $600–$2,100 fine, up to 1 year jail, 90-day suspension. 2nd (within 10 yrs): mandatory 48 hrs or 20 days community service, $1,100–$5,100, 1-year revocation. 3rd: mandatory 60-day jail (no suspension), $2,100–$10,100, 3-year revocation. 4th+: Class C felony (Ch. 4). |
| BAC test result 0.08%+ (21+) — admin | Officer takes license immediately. You receive a temporary permit valid for 30 days. Case reviewed by ALEA. Refusing a chemical test results in driver license suspension under the Implied Consent Law (Ch. 4). |
| Test refusal — Implied Consent | Driver license suspended upon refusal. Subsequent refusals result in longer suspensions. A refusal can still be used as evidence in the DUI case. Alabama's Implied Consent Law applies to all drivers on public highways (Ch. 4). |
| BAC — 0.02% or more (under 21) | DUI violation — Alabama applies the standard DUI statute to under-21 drivers with BAC 0.02%+. Commercial driver limit: 0.04%. School bus and daycare: 0.02%. Same DUI penalties apply (Ch. 4). |
| 4th+ DUI conviction | Class C felony — $4,100–$10,100 fine, 5-year license revocation, imprisonment 1 year 1 day to 10 years. Cannot be charged as misdemeanor (Ch. 4). |
| Accident causing death while DUI | Manslaughter or homicide resulting from operating a vehicle while impaired requires mandatory license revocation. Felony charges apply (Ch. 2). |
School bus rules are heavily tested. In Alabama, you must stop for a school bus from EITHER direction when its red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended. Stop at least 20 feet from the bus. You are NOT required to stop when on a divided highway with four or more lanes and the bus is stopped in the opposing roadway, or if the bus is stopped in a loading zone where pedestrians are not permitted to cross. All other situations require stopping (Ch. 6).
| Location | Minimum Clearance |
|---|---|
| Fire hydrant | 15 feet — do not park within 15 ft of a fire hydrant (Ch. 3) |
| Traffic control device (stop sign, yield sign, flashing signal) | 30 feet — do not park within 30 ft of the approach to any traffic control device (Ch. 5) |
| Crosswalk at intersection | 20 feet — do not park within 20 ft of a crosswalk at an intersection (Ch. 5) |
| Railroad crossing | 50 feet — do not park within 50 ft of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing (Ch. 3) |
| In front of any driveway | Always prohibited — do not block any driveway, public or private (Ch. 3) |
| Driveway entrance (public or private) | Not in front of — always prohibited |
| Accessible (handicapped) space | Never — also do not park on the diagonal access lines (Ch. 5) |
| Inside an intersection or on a crosswalk | Never — always illegal |
| Handicapped space (without placard) | Never park here |
| Bridge, overpass, or tunnel | Never — always prohibited (Ch. 5) |
| No Stopping zone | Never stop here, for any reason |
| No Parking zone | No parking — may stop to load/unload |
The rule: always turn wheels so that if the car rolls, it rolls away from traffic or is caught by the curb.
| Situation | Turn Wheels | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Facing DOWNHILL, WITH curb | RIGHT (into curb) | Car rolls into curb and stops |
| Facing DOWNHILL, NO curb | RIGHT (away from road) | Car rolls away from traffic |
| Facing UPHILL, WITH curb | LEFT (away from curb) | Car rolls back, caught by curb |
| Facing UPHILL, NO curb | RIGHT (away from road) | Car rolls away from traffic |
GDL questions appear on many tests. Know Alabama's Graduated Driver Licensing rules — minimum ages, supervisor requirements, curfew restrictions, and passenger limits all appear regularly on the ALEA exam.
| Equipment | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Headlights (on) | Sunset to sunrise, and any time you cannot see clearly ahead for 500 feet, or when windshield wipers are in use due to weather (intermittent use excepted). Low beams required within 500 feet of oncoming / 200 feet when following (Ch. 7). |
| High beams (dim) | Dim within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. Use low beams when following within 200 feet of another vehicle. High beams illuminate up to 350 feet under normal conditions. Use low beams in fog, heavy rain, sleet, snow (Ch. 7) |
| Horn | Use when needed to prevent a crash. Do NOT use to express anger, greet friends, or encourage others to move. Avoid around blind pedestrians and animal-drawn vehicles (Ch. 6) |
| Turn signals | Signal continuously during the last 100 feet before turning — Alabama uses one single standard for all speeds (Ch. 6) |
| Tinted windows | Only the upper 6 inches of the front windshield may be tinted. Passenger cars (sedans, coupes, station wagons): all side and rear windows must allow at least 32% light transmission. SUVs, trucks, vans: front-seat side windows must also allow 32%; darker tint permitted behind the driver (Ch. 6). |
| TVs / video screens visible to driver | Prohibited while vehicle is in motion (navigation is excepted) |
| Muffler | Must prevent excessive or unusual noise |
| Brakes | Must have two separate braking systems: a foot brake and a parking/emergency brake. Both must be in good working order. If your brake pedal sinks to the floor, try pumping it to build pressure before using the parking brake (Ch. 7, 9). |
| Wipers | Must adequately clean the windshield when used |
| Tail lights / rear reflector | At least one red tail light visible from 500 feet |
| Tires | Must be properly inflated, have good tread, and be free of breaks, cuts, and decay. Use the penny test: if Lincoln's head is covered by tread, depth is safe. Keep tires free of damage (Ch. 2) |
| Hazard lights | For use when parked/stopped in an emergency — not while driving normally |
| Seat belts & child restraints | All occupants regardless of age must be restrained. Child restraint law (Ch. 3): Rear-facing until at least 1 year old or 20 lbs. Forward-facing seat until at least 5 years old or 40 lbs. Booster seat until 6 years old. Seat belt until 15 years old. Violators receive points on driving record plus a fine. |
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