What is the speed limit in an Illinois school zone?

20 mph on school days between 6:30 AM and 4 PM when children are present and signs are posted.

How far must you park from a fire hydrant in Illinois?

You must park at least 15 feet from a fire hydrant in Illinois.

What is the BAC limit for drivers 21 and older in Illinois?

The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is .08% for drivers age 21 and older. Illinois has zero tolerance for drivers under 21.

Illinois DMV Cheat Sheet

Every critical number, rule, and fact you need for the Illinois written test — all on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Interstate / Tollway70 mph

4-Lane Highway65 mph

Other Highways / Rural55 mph

City / Town30 mph

School Zone20 mph

Alley15 mph

💡 School zone speed applies on school days, 6:30 AM – 4 PM, when children are present and signs are posted.

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrant15 feet

From crosswalk at intersection20 feet

From fire station driveway20 feet

From stop sign / yield / signal30 feet

From railroad crossing50 feet

From curb (parallel parking)12 inches

In front of a drivewayNever — it's illegal

🍺 DUI / Alcohol Laws

Legal BAC limit (21+).08%

Under 21 BAC limitZero tolerance (any trace)

Refuse chemical test12-month suspension

Fail chemical test6-month suspension

1st DUI convictionMinimum 1-year revocation

Under 21 DUI2-year revocation

Under 21 any alcohol3-month suspension

⚠️ Refusing the test (12 months) is WORSE than failing it (6 months). This is Illinois' implied consent law.

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Turn signal in city100 feet before

Turn signal outside city200 feet before

Following distance3-second rule

School bus stop distance20 feet minimum

No passing near intersectionWithin 100 feet

No passing near bridge/tunnelWithin 100 feet

Dim headlights (oncoming)500 feet

Dim headlights (passing)300 feet

School bus warning (urban)100 feet in advance

School bus warning (rural)200 feet in advance

RR crossing stop range15–50 feet from rail

Pass pedestrian / cyclist3 feet clearance

🔷 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
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, the driver on the RIGHT goes first.
→At an uncontrolled intersection: yield to the vehicle on the RIGHT.
→Turning left: always yield to oncoming straight-through traffic.
→Entering from alley, driveway, or private road: stop and yield to ALL traffic.
→At a T-intersection (no signs): the vehicle on the terminating road yields.
→Pedestrians in a crosswalk: ALWAYS yield — marked or unmarked.
→Emergency vehicles with lights/sirens: pull to the RIGHT and stop.

🎓 Teen / GDL Laws

Minimum age for permit15 years

Hold permit for9 months minimum

Practice hours required50 hrs (10 at night)

Driver's ed classroom30 hours

Behind-the-wheel training6 hours

Curfew Sun–Thu10 PM – 6 AM

Curfew Fri–Sat11 PM – 6 AM

Phone use under 19No use at all (even hands-free)

🚌 School Bus Rules

→Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus with red flashing lights on ANY two-lane road (both directions).
→Exception: on a four-lane roadway, you don't stop if going the OPPOSITE direction from the bus.
→Penalty for passing a stopped school bus: license suspension + $300 minimum fine + community service.

🚗 Other Must-Know Rules

→Safety belts required for ALL passengers, front and back (age 8+).
→Children under 8: must be in a child safety restraint system.
→Children under 2: must be in a rear-facing car seat (unless over 40 lbs or 40 inches).
→Handheld phone use while driving: ILLEGAL for all ages.
→Headlights required: sunset to sunrise + whenever wipers are on.
→Horn audible from: 200 feet.
→Rearview mirror visibility: 200 feet behind.
→Hill parking: downhill = turn wheels TO curb. Uphill with curb = turn wheels AWAY from curb.
→U-turns: illegal if you can't see 500 feet in all directions.
→Skidding: ease off gas/brakes, steer INTO the direction of the skid.

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