RI DMV · Quick Reference 2026

RI DMV Test Cheat Sheet

Every key number, rule, and fact from the Rhode Island Driver's Manual — on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Most highways50–65 mph

Residential areas25 mph

Stopping distance @ 50 mph~175 ft

Stopping distance @ 60 mph~240 ft

School zonesReduce + extra caution

Work zones — finesDOUBLED 24/7 MEMORIZE

Roundabout entrySlow + yield

Basic Speed LawAdjust to conditions

💡 Rhode Island's Basic Speed Law (p. 36) requires you to drive only as fast as conditions safely permit — regardless of the posted limit. Speeding fines double in designated work zones, 24 hours a day, even when no workers are present.

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrant8 feet MEMORIZE

From crosswalk at intersection20 feet

From fire station driveway20 feet

Across from fire station (with signs)75 feet

From stop sign / signal30 feet

From railroad rail50 feet

From curb (parallel parking)12 inches max

Always prohibitedSidewalk · intersection · railroad tracks · driveway · bridge · tunnel

🍺 Alcohol & DUI Laws

BAC limit — drivers 21+0.08%

BAC limit — under 21 (DWI)0.02%–0.08% Zero tolerance

BAC limit — CDL0.04%

Refuse chemical test (1st)Min 6-month suspension

Refuse chemical test (2nd)1–2 year suspension

Implied consentBreath/blood/saliva/urine

Drinking age21

Reduces alcohol effectsONLY time

Body eliminates alcohol viaBreathing · perspiring · oxidation

Open-container ruleIllegal for ANY-age driver to consume alcoholic beverage or drug while driving

⚠️ Refusing the chemical test triggers a separate civil penalty in addition to the criminal DUI charge. Anyone of any age driving with BAC 0.08%+ is charged with DUI (p. 61).

⚖️ DUI Penalties (Adults, 1st Offense)

BAC Range	Fine	Jail	Suspension
0.08%–0.10%	Up to $300	Up to 1 yr	30–180 days
0.10%–0.15% (or unknown)	Up to $500	Up to 1 yr	3–12 months
0.15% or above	Up to $1,000	Up to 1 yr	3–18 months
Refusal (1st)	$200–$500	Comm. service	6–12 months

⚠️ Plus 10–60 hours of community service, mandatory alcohol education, ignition interlock at higher BACs, and contributions to the alcohol/drug treatment fund. Penalties scale up steeply for 2nd and 3rd offenses (p. 61–63).

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Signal before turn / lane change100 feet

Following distance (good cond.)3 seconds

Following distance (motorcycle)4 seconds

Following — bad weather+1 sec per condition

Behind emergency vehicle500 feet minimum

Dim high beams (oncoming)500 feet

Dim high beams (following)200 feet or less

Headlights required <500 ft visibility

Stop at stop sign3 seconds minimum

Backing more than 30 ftActivate hazards

Train stopping distance~1.5 miles

Turnabout visibility500 ft each direction

Long trips — rest every100 mi / 2 hrs

Looking away > 2 secDoubles crash risk

💡 Wireless device use increases collision risk by 400%. Hands-free is no safer than hand-held — both divert attention. Texting is forbidden for all ages in Rhode Island; under-18 drivers may not use any wireless device — even hands-free — except in emergencies (p. 18, 36).

🔷 Sign Shapes

Shape	Meaning	Example
Octagon (8 sides)	STOP	Stop sign
Inverted triangle	YIELD	Yield sign
Diamond	WARNING	Curves, merges, hills
Pentagon (5 sides)	SCHOOL	School zone/crossing
Circle	RAILROAD	Advance RR warning
Pennant	NO PASSING	No passing zone (left side)
Vertical rectangle	REGULATORY	Speed limits, rules
Horizontal rectangle	GUIDE	Directions, distances
Crossbuck (X)	RR CROSSING	At the crossing itself

🎨 Sign Colors

Color	Meaning
🔴 Red	Stop, yield, do not enter, prohibition
⬜ White	Regulatory — rules and laws
🟡 Yellow	Warning — hazards ahead
🟢 Green	Guide — directions, distances
🔵 Blue	Services — gas, food, hospital
🟠 Orange	Construction / work zone
🟤 Brown	Parks, recreation, historic
💛 Yellow-Green	Pedestrian, school, bicycle

↗️ Right-of-Way Rules

→At a 4-way stop: first to arrive goes first. If tied, vehicle on the RIGHT goes first.
→At an uncontrolled intersection: treat as a yield — the driver on the LEFT yields to the driver on the RIGHT (p. 41, 58).
→Turning left at a green (no arrow): yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
→Entering from a private road or driveway: stop at the sidewalk and again at the curb line.
→Roundabout/rotary: yield to vehicles already inside the rotary (RIGL 31-17-8).
→Pedestrians in a crosswalk: ALWAYS yield — marked or unmarked.
→Visually impaired pedestrian (white cane / guide dog): full stop and yield before the intersection.
→Emergency vehicles with lights/sirens: pull to the RIGHT and stop.

🚌 School Bus Rules

→Any non-divided road (including 5+ lane roads with center turn lane): traffic from BOTH directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.
→Divided highway exception: opposite-direction traffic does NOT stop when separated by a Jersey barrier, guardrail, grass or cement median, trees, or water (p. 54).
→Yellow flashing lights = bus is preparing to stop. Slow down and prepare to stop.
→Stay stopped until red lights stop flashing — then proceed with caution.
→Applies on public highways, private roads, and parking lots.
→1st-violation fine for passing a stopped school bus: $250–$500 + possible 30-day suspension.

🎓 Teen / GDL Laws

Minimum age — Limited Learner Permit16

Hold permit before road test6 months

Supervised practice hours50 hrs (10 at night)

Driver-ed classroom (under 18)33 hours

Driver-ed registration age15 yrs 10 mo

Provisional License — solo curfew1:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m.

Provisional held before full license12 months

Full Operator's License age17 yrs 6 mo

Passenger restriction (1st 12 mo)Max 1 non-family under 21

Supervising driver minimum age21

Supervising driver years licensed5+

Phone use under 18Prohibited (incl. hands-free)

Texting (any age)Forbidden

Vision standard20/40 with corrected lenses

🛡️ Child Restraint & Safety Belts

Birth – age 2 (or 30 lbs)Rear-facing, back seat

Age 2+ (or 30 lbs)Forward-facing harness

Under age 8Booster seat (rear)

Booster outgrowth57 in. tall & 80 lbs

Under 18Lap/shoulder belt required

Driver responsibilityVehicle operator is responsible for ALL passengers under 18 (RIGL 31-22-22)

🏦 Insurance & Financial Responsibility

Bodily injury (per person)$25,000

Bodily injury (per accident)$50,000

Property damage (per accident)$25,000

Police-report thresholdProperty damage > $1,000

Proof of insuranceRequired at every traffic stop — electronic ID card accepted

📋 License Fees & Administration

Driver-ed course (CCRI, 33 hrs)~$120

Knowledge exam questions40

Knowledge exam time limit90 minutes max

Passing score80% (32 of 40)

Address change deadline10 days

Knowledge exam locationCranston DMV

All other feeswww.dmv.ri.gov · subject to DMV technology & transportation surcharges

🔧 Vehicle Equipment Limits

Minimum tire tread depth2/32 inch

Window tint VLT≥ 70% visible light

Vehicle height alterationMax 4 in. from spec

Noise — speed zones ≤ 35 mph86 dbA max

Noise — speed zones > 35 mph90 dbA max

Rear plate visibility60 feet

🚗 Other Must-Know Rules

→Headlights required: sunset to sunrise, when wipers are in use, and when visibility is less than 500 feet (p. 52).
→Hill parking: Downhill (with or without curb) = wheels turn RIGHT (toward curb). Uphill with curb = wheels turn LEFT. Uphill without curb = wheels turn RIGHT.
→U-turns allowed only when permitted and not interfering with traffic in either direction (p. 30).
→Skid recovery: ease off gas, keep foot off the brake, and steer in the direction you want to go (p. 43).
→Hydroplane: ease off the accelerator, steer straight, no sudden steering or braking. Never use cruise control in rain/snow.
→Stuck accelerator: shift to NEUTRAL while applying the brake (p. 44).
→Vehicle in water: open a window and exit through it — never open the door.
→Stalled on tracks with train approaching: exit and run parallel to tracks, opposite the train's direction.
→Head-on threat: steer RIGHT toward the shoulder — never steer left.
→Engine fire: pull off, kill ignition, get out, do NOT open the hood; call 911.
→Move Over Law: change lanes away from stopped emergency / tow / work-zone vehicles, or slow down if you can't move over.

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