Lane Use and Passing

Lane Use and Passing questions with answers

1. The center line beside your lane is a broken yellow line. What does it allow?

   1. You may never cross it for any reason, not even to pass a slow vehicle ahead
   2. You may drive along in the opposing lane whenever traffic in your own lane is slow
   3. It separates two lanes of traffic that are both traveling in your direction
   4. You may cross into the opposing lane to pass when it is safe and clear
   Show answer

   Answer D: You may cross into the opposing lane to pass when it is safe and clear

   A broken yellow center line marks a passing zone where traffic in that direction may cross into the opposing lane to pass when the way ahead is clear.

   Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

2. The center line beside your lane is solid yellow while the opposite side has a broken yellow line. What does this mean?

   1. The road ahead narrows and becomes one-way in your direction
   2. Neither direction may pass at this point, because one solid line binds both
   3. Both directions may pass here as long as it is done with care
   4. You may not pass, but traffic in the other direction may
   Show answer

   Answer D: You may not pass, but traffic in the other direction may

   A solid yellow line on your side of the center marks a no-passing zone for your direction only, while the broken line grants the opposing direction a passing zone.

   Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

3. What do two solid yellow lines down the middle of a two-way road mean?

   1. The lanes on both sides carry traffic in the same direction
   2. The road is divided by a physical barrier
   3. Passing is allowed for both directions with extra care
   4. Passing is prohibited for traffic in both directions
   Show answer

   Answer D: Passing is prohibited for traffic in both directions

   A double solid yellow line marks a two-direction no-passing zone, so neither direction may cross it to overtake another vehicle.

   Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

4. A broken white line separates your lane from the lane beside it. What does it indicate?

   1. You must stay in your lane until the broken line changes to a solid one
   2. The lane beside you is reserved for buses and other authorized vehicles
   3. Both lanes carry traffic in the same direction and lane changes are permitted
   4. The lane beside you carries traffic coming toward you from the opposite direction
   Show answer

   Answer C: Both lanes carry traffic in the same direction and lane changes are permitted

   White lines separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, and a broken white line means changing lanes across it is permitted when it is safe.

   Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

5. You are traveling beside a solid white lane line. What does it tell you?

   1. Traffic on the other side of that line is moving toward you from the opposite way
   2. Crossing it is discouraged or prohibited, so stay in your lane
   3. You may change lanes freely across it whenever a gap appears beside you
   4. The lane you are traveling in ends within a few hundred feet
   Show answer

   Answer B: Crossing it is discouraged or prohibited, so stay in your lane

   A solid white line separates lanes going the same direction where lane changing is discouraged or prohibited, such as where a through lane meets a mandatory turn lane.

   Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

6. A highway lane is marked with a large white diamond and signed as a high-occupancy vehicle lane. Who may use it?

   1. Any driver who is running late, because the lane exists to let faster traffic get past the queues
   2. Only vehicles carrying at least the number of occupants shown on the sign, during the posted hours
   3. Only commercial vehicles and buses, since the diamond marks a lane reserved for them
   4. Any vehicle at all, because the diamond symbol is decorative and carries no restriction
   Show answer

   Answer B: Only vehicles carrying at least the number of occupants shown on the sign, during the posted hours

   The diamond marking identifies a preferential lane whose occupancy requirement and hours of operation are stated on the accompanying signs.

7. When is passing another vehicle on the right generally permitted?

   1. Whenever the shoulder is paved and wide enough for your vehicle, provided you signal first and return to the travel lane as soon as the pass is finished
   2. Whenever the vehicle ahead of you is traveling below the posted speed limit and refuses to move over
   3. When the road has two or more lanes in your direction, or the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room without leaving the pavement
   4. Any time the driver ahead waves or signals you to go around on the right side
   Show answer

   Answer C: When the road has two or more lanes in your direction, or the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room without leaving the pavement

   Passing on the right is limited to situations where a lawful lane exists for it or the vehicle ahead is turning left, and it may never be done by driving onto the shoulder.

8. Where is passing prohibited even when no line is visible?

   1. Only within city limits, since passing is unrestricted on open rural roads
   2. Only when it is raining or snowing hard enough to cut visibility
   3. Only on roads with more than two lanes, where a vehicle may be overtaken on either side
   4. On a curve or near the crest of a hill, at intersections and at railroad crossings
   Show answer

   Answer D: On a curve or near the crest of a hill, at intersections and at railroad crossings

   Passing is prohibited wherever your view of oncoming traffic is blocked or where vehicles may cross your path, which includes hills, curves, intersections and rail crossings.

9. Another driver has pulled out to pass you. What should you do?

   1. Stay in your lane, keep your speed steady or ease off, and let the pass finish
   2. Speed up a little so that the other driver spends less road completing the pass
   3. Brake hard so that the other driver has room to cut back in ahead of you
   4. Move over toward the center line so the maneuver is blocked before it starts
   Show answer

   Answer A: Stay in your lane, keep your speed steady or ease off, and let the pass finish

   Accelerating while being passed forces the other driver to stay in the opposing lane longer, so the safe response is to hold or slightly reduce speed and stay right.

10. What must you do before changing lanes, in addition to signaling and checking your mirrors?

    1. Flash your headlights at the traffic behind so it knows you are moving over
    2. Sound the horn to warn any driver already in the lane you are entering
    3. Nothing more, because mirrors that are properly aimed show everything beside you
    4. Glance over your shoulder to check the blind spot the mirrors do not cover
    Show answer

    Answer D: Glance over your shoulder to check the blind spot the mirrors do not cover

    Mirrors leave an area beside and behind the vehicle that they cannot show, so a quick head check is needed before the vehicle moves sideways.

11. You are driving slower than the general flow on a multilane highway. Which lane should you use?

    1. The center lane, so that faster traffic can pass you on either side
    2. The left lane, so that the faster traffic behind you is able to pass on the right
    3. Any lane at all, as long as your speed stays at or below the posted limit
    4. The right lane, keeping the left lanes free for faster traffic and passing
    Show answer

    Answer D: The right lane, keeping the left lanes free for faster traffic and passing

    Slower traffic must keep right so that faster vehicles and overtaking traffic can use the left lanes without weaving between lanes.

12. You are entering a freeway using an on-ramp with an acceleration lane. What is the correct technique?

    1. Stop at the end of the ramp and wait there until a very large gap appears, because traffic already on the freeway will not adjust for you
    2. Enter at a low speed and let the traffic already on the freeway slow down to make room for you
    3. Use the acceleration lane to reach the speed of traffic, then merge into a gap while yielding to traffic already on the freeway
    4. Merge immediately at the start of the ramp, before you have gained any speed
    Show answer

    Answer C: Use the acceleration lane to reach the speed of traffic, then merge into a gap while yielding to traffic already on the freeway

    The acceleration lane exists so you can match the speed of freeway traffic before merging, and drivers already on the freeway have the right-of-way.

13. You are leaving a freeway at an exit that has a deceleration lane. Where should you slow down?

    1. On the shoulder just past the exit
    2. Only after you reach the end of the ramp
    3. After you have moved fully into the exit lane
    4. In the through lane, before you reach the exit lane
    Show answer

    Answer C: After you have moved fully into the exit lane

    Braking in a through lane surprises the traffic behind you, so you move into the exit lane at highway speed and then slow down inside it.

14. An overhead lane-use control signal shows a steady red X above your lane. What does it mean?

    1. The lane will close soon, so prepare to leave it
    2. You may not use that lane and must move out of it
    3. The lane is reserved for high-occupancy vehicles
    4. You may use the lane but only at reduced speed
    Show answer

    Answer B: You may not use that lane and must move out of it

    A steady red X means the lane below it is closed to you, while a steady yellow X is the warning to prepare to vacate the lane and a downward green arrow means the lane is open.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

15. You have just passed a vehicle on a two-lane road. When may you return to your lane?

    1. As soon as the front of your vehicle is level with the other front bumper
    2. When you can see the whole vehicle in your inside mirror
    3. As soon as the other driver flashes the headlights to invite you back in
    4. When you have traveled at least three car lengths past the vehicle you passed
    Show answer

    Answer B: When you can see the whole vehicle in your inside mirror

    Seeing the entire vehicle you passed in your rearview mirror shows there is room to pull back in without cutting it off.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

17. The vehicle you want to pass is traveling close to the speed limit. What should you do?

    1. Pass anyway, since the law allows a short burst above the limit while overtaking
    2. Pass on the right shoulder, where the posted limit does not apply to your speed
    3. Stay behind, because a pass may not take you over the limit
    4. Flash your lights until the other driver slows enough for you to pass legally
    Show answer

    Answer C: Stay behind, because a pass may not take you over the limit

    The speed limit applies while passing too. If you cannot complete the pass without exceeding it, do not start the pass.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

18. You have started to pass and you see the no-passing zone beginning ahead. What should you do?

    1. Continue the pass, because a pass already begun may be finished inside the zone
    2. Hold your position beside the other vehicle until the zone ends further along
    3. Speed up sharply so that the whole pass is over before the first solid line
    4. Ease off, drop back and return to your own lane
    Show answer

    Answer D: Ease off, drop back and return to your own lane

    A pass must be completed before the no-passing zone starts. If it will not fit, abandon it and slot back in behind.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

19. You are about to pass a bicyclist on a narrow two-lane road. What is the correct way to do it?

    1. Wait for a clear gap and move well left, giving the rider wide space
    2. Stay in your lane and pass close, so that you spend less time beside the rider
    3. Sound the horn as you draw level to warn the rider that you are passing
    4. Pass at once, because a bicycle must move onto the shoulder for faster traffic
    Show answer

    Answer A: Wait for a clear gap and move well left, giving the rider wide space

    Pass a cyclist as you would a car: wait for clear road, change lane position to leave generous clearance, and return only when the rider is well behind you.

    Source: nhtsa.gov

20. Traffic is heavy and crawling where a sign warns that your lane ends and two lanes must become one. What is the best practice?

    1. Move over as early as possible and expect drivers behind you to hold back
    2. Stop at the end of your lane and wait until the other lane is completely empty
    3. Use the lane to the end, then take turns merging one by one
    4. Speed up and pass as many vehicles as you can before your lane runs out
    Show answer

    Answer C: Use the lane to the end, then take turns merging one by one

    In stop-and-go traffic the zipper merge, using both lanes up to the merge point and then alternating, keeps the queue shorter and traffic moving; in free-flowing traffic move over as soon as it is safe.

    Source: highways.dot.gov

21. Why is repeatedly changing lanes to work through heavy traffic a poor idea?

    1. It raises the crash risk and saves almost no time
    2. It is allowed only on roads with three or more lanes in the same direction
    3. It makes the engine work harder and shortens the life of the transmission
    4. It is safe as long as you signal each change and check the mirrors first
    Show answer

    Answer A: It raises the crash risk and saves almost no time

    Each lane change adds a conflict with another vehicle, and in congestion the lanes move at similar average speeds, so the gain is negligible.

    Source: nhtsa.gov

22. You are about to pass a long tractor-trailer on a two-lane road. What should you expect?

    1. The pass will be quicker than passing a car, because the truck is slower
    2. You will need more clear road, since the vehicle is much longer
    3. The truck driver will slow down and wave you past as soon as you signal
    4. You may cut back in sooner, because a truck can brake harder than a car
    Show answer

    Answer B: You will need more clear road, since the vehicle is much longer

    A tractor-trailer can be 70 feet long, so passing it takes more distance and more time than passing a car at the same speed difference.

    Source: fmcsa.dot.gov

23. An overhead lane signal shows a flashing yellow X above your lane. What does it mean?

    1. The lane will close shortly, so move out of it before the next block
    2. The lane is open for through travel just as a green arrow would show
    3. The lane is reserved for buses and other high occupancy vehicles
    4. The lane may be used only for a left turn
    Show answer

    Answer D: The lane may be used only for a left turn

    A flashing yellow X marks a lane that may be used only to make a left turn; a steady yellow X is the one that warns you to leave the lane.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

24. A steady green downward arrow is displayed above the lane you are in. What does it tell you?

    1. You may drive in that lane
    2. You may use that lane only if you are turning at the next intersection
    3. The lane is about to be given to traffic coming from the opposite direction
    4. You must move into another lane before you reach the overhead signal itself
    Show answer

    Answer A: You may drive in that lane

    A green downward arrow means the lane beneath it is open for travel in your direction.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

25. You are traveling at the same speed as a vehicle in the next lane, just behind its rear door. What should you do?

    1. Stay there, since matching speed with the traffic beside you is the safest place
    2. Change your speed so that you leave that driver's blind spot
    3. Sound the horn to let the other driver know that you are alongside
    4. Move closer to the lane line so that the other driver can see you more easily
    Show answer

    Answer B: Change your speed so that you leave that driver's blind spot

    That position is the classic blind spot. Slow slightly or move ahead so the other driver can see you before deciding to change lanes.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

26. Traffic in your lane is backed up and the paved shoulder looks clear. May you drive along it to get past?

    1. Yes, provided you signal first and return to the lane straight afterwards
    2. Yes, because the traffic ahead of you is stopped rather than moving
    3. No, the shoulder is not a travel lane
    4. Yes, if you keep your speed low and the shoulder is paved and wide enough
    Show answer

    Answer C: No, the shoulder is not a travel lane

    Passing must be done within the roadway; driving on the shoulder to get around traffic is prohibited and surprises anyone entering from the right.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

27. You are joining a highway from a short ramp that has no acceleration lane. What should you do?

    1. Stop or slow at the end of the ramp and wait for a safe gap
    2. Pull out at once, because traffic on the highway has to make room for you
    3. Accelerate hard along the shoulder until you match the speed of the traffic
    4. Cross straight to the second lane, where there is usually less traffic to join
    Show answer

    Answer A: Stop or slow at the end of the ramp and wait for a safe gap

    Without an acceleration lane there is no room to match speed, so you must yield at the end of the ramp and enter only when a gap allows it.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

28. On a busy multilane highway, where is the best place to travel?

    1. Beside another vehicle, so that you always have company on one side
    2. In a gap in the traffic, with space open on both sides
    3. Directly behind a large truck, which shields you from the wind ahead
    4. In the far left lane, where drivers are said to be more attentive
    Show answer

    Answer B: In a gap in the traffic, with space open on both sides

    Travelling in a gap keeps escape routes open on both sides, while riding alongside other vehicles removes the room you would need to swerve.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

29. An exit ramp is separated from the highway by a triangle of pavement painted with white stripes. What may you do there?

    1. Use it to slow down before you commit yourself to taking the exit ramp
    2. Use it to wait until a gap appears in the traffic already on the ramp
    3. Nothing; keep off it and choose either the lane or the ramp
    4. Use it to change your mind and rejoin the highway after passing the exit
    Show answer

    Answer C: Nothing; keep off it and choose either the lane or the ramp

    The striped area between a ramp and the through lanes is not for driving, stopping or last-second changes of direction.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

30. Two solid white lines are painted between your lane and the lane beside it. What do they mean?

    1. Passing is allowed there but only for vehicles traveling below the speed limit
    2. The lane beside you carries traffic in the opposite direction to yours
    3. You may cross them to reach an exit ramp but not for any other reason
    4. Crossing from one lane to the other is prohibited
    Show answer

    Answer D: Crossing from one lane to the other is prohibited

    Double solid white lines separate lanes of traffic going the same way and may not be crossed.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

31. Your exit from a three-lane highway is about a mile ahead on the right, and you are in the left lane. What should you do?

    1. Wait until you can read the exit sign, then cross all the lanes together
    2. Start moving right now, one lane at a time
    3. Stay in the left lane until the last moment so that you keep a higher speed
    4. Take the exit after the one you want and come back on the other roadway
    Show answer

    Answer B: Start moving right now, one lane at a time

    Plan ahead and change lanes one at a time well before the exit, so you never have to cut across several lanes at the gore.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

32. You are behind three slow vehicles on a two-lane road and the way ahead looks clear. What is the sound decision?

    1. Pass all three at once, since a single long pass takes less time than three
    2. Pass on the right where the shoulder is wide enough to hold your vehicle
    3. Follow closely behind the last one so that you are ready when a gap appears
    4. Pass one vehicle at a time, if the road allows it
    Show answer

    Answer D: Pass one vehicle at a time, if the road allows it

    Passing several vehicles in one move keeps you in the oncoming lane far too long and leaves nowhere to go if a vehicle appears.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

33. When may a driver of a motor vehicle use a marked bicycle lane?

    1. Whenever the general traffic lane beside it is congested and the bike lane is clear
    2. For short stops to let a passenger out, as long as the hazard lights are switched on
    3. Only to cross it when turning or entering the road where the markings allow
    4. At any time after dark, when very few cyclists are expected to be riding
    Show answer

    Answer C: Only to cross it when turning or entering the road where the markings allow

    A bike lane is a lane for cyclists. Motor vehicles may only cross it to enter or leave the road or to make a turn where the markings permit.

    Source: nhtsa.gov

34. What must you be sure of before you pull out to pass on a two-lane road?

    1. That the road ahead is clear far enough for the whole pass
    2. That the vehicle ahead has signaled that it is safe for you to overtake it
    3. That you can reach a speed at least twenty miles an hour above the other vehicle
    4. That a paved shoulder is available in case oncoming traffic appears suddenly
    Show answer

    Answer A: That the road ahead is clear far enough for the whole pass

    You need enough clear road to pull out, pass and return before any oncoming vehicle arrives, and you must judge that distance before you start.

    Source: dmv.ca.gov

35. A sign on a divided highway reads Keep Right Except to Pass. What does it require of you?

    1. Use the left lane only to overtake, then return to a lane on the right
    2. Drive in the far right lane at all times, even when a much slower vehicle is ahead of you
    3. Stay in the left lane whenever your speed is at or above the posted limit for that highway
    4. Move out of the left lane only once a vehicle behind you flashes its headlights at you
    Show answer

    Answer A: Use the left lane only to overtake, then return to a lane on the right

    The left lane on such a highway is reserved for overtaking, so a driver who has finished a pass must move back to the right.

36. You are traveling a long distance on a highway with three lanes in your direction, at about the speed of the surrounding traffic. Which lane is generally the best choice?

    1. The far left lane, because it usually has the fewest entrances and exits along the route
    2. The far right lane at all times, no matter how much traffic is entering and leaving there
    3. The center lane, which keeps you clear of merging traffic and of overtaking traffic
    4. Whichever lane happens to be empty at the moment, changing as often as needed to stay in it
    Show answer

    Answer C: The center lane, which keeps you clear of merging traffic and of overtaking traffic

    On a three-lane roadway the center lane avoids both the ramp traffic on the right and the overtaking traffic on the left, so it usually has the steadiest flow.

37. Why does the speed of the right-hand lane of a freeway change so often?

    1. It is reserved for trucks and for buses, so passenger cars must keep out of it entirely
    2. Vehicles entering and leaving the highway all use that lane
    3. The posted speed limit for that lane is lower than the limit for the lanes to its left
    4. Its surface is usually in far worse condition than the surface of the other travel lanes
    Show answer

    Answer B: Vehicles entering and leaving the highway all use that lane

    Entrance and exit ramps feed into the right lane, so traffic there is constantly slowing to leave or speeding up to join.

38. You are driving in the left lane at the posted speed limit and a line of vehicles has built up behind you. What should you do?

    1. Hold your speed and your lane, because you are already driving at the legal limit for that road
    2. Slow down gradually until the drivers behind you decide to move over and pass on the right
    3. Switch on your hazard lights so the drivers behind you understand why you are staying there
    4. Move into a lane on your right when it is safe and let the traffic behind go by
    Show answer

    Answer D: Move into a lane on your right when it is safe and let the traffic behind go by

    Most states require traffic moving slower than the flow to keep right and reserve the left lane for passing, so a driver holding up a line of vehicles should move right when it is safe rather than block the lane.

39. You are on a city street with two lanes in your direction, cars parked along the curb and driveways every few yards. Which lane is usually safer?

    1. The lane next to the parked cars, because from there you can see into each driveway sooner
    2. The lane farther from the curb, away from opening doors and vehicles pulling out
    3. Neither lane in particular, so change lanes every block to keep any one hazard from staying beside you
    4. Whichever lane is moving faster at that moment, since speed matters more than position here
    Show answer

    Answer B: The lane farther from the curb, away from opening doors and vehicles pulling out

    Most of the hazards on such a street come from the curb side, so the inside lane gives you more space and more time to react.

40. Is it acceptable to drive with your vehicle straddling the line between two lanes?

    1. Yes, while you are still deciding which of the two lanes you would rather travel in
    2. Yes, if the traffic is heavy and both of the lanes are moving at about the same speed
    3. Yes, as long as you keep your turn signal flashing the whole time you are astride the line
    4. No, you must drive as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane
    Show answer

    Answer D: No, you must drive as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane

    A vehicle astride the line takes up two lanes and leaves the drivers around it unable to predict where it will go.

41. You are driving through a long curve on a road with two lanes in your direction. What is correct?

    1. Stay within your own lane all the way through, adjusting speed before you enter
    2. Drift toward the inside of the curve to straighten your path, using part of the lane beside you
    3. Move into the outside lane at the start of the curve and back into your own lane at the exit
    4. Change into the lane beside you in the middle of the curve if that lane is moving more freely
    Show answer

    Answer A: Stay within your own lane all the way through, adjusting speed before you enter

    Wandering out of your lane in a curve puts you into the path of a vehicle you cannot see, and the slowing belongs before the curve rather than in it.

42. What does a sign reading Slower Traffic Keep Right require?

    1. Every vehicle on the road must move into the right lane at the point where the sign is posted
    2. The right lane ahead is about to end and all of the traffic using it must merge to the left
    3. Traffic moving slower than the general flow must use the right-hand lane
    4. Trucks and other heavy vehicles are banned from the road beyond the point where it is posted
    Show answer

    Answer C: Traffic moving slower than the general flow must use the right-hand lane

    The sign applies to any vehicle traveling below the speed of the traffic around it, which must keep right so faster vehicles can use the lanes to the left.

43. A sign warns that the right lane ends ahead, and traffic is still flowing freely. What should you do if you are in that lane?

    1. Drive to the very end of the lane and then force your way into the line of traffic beside you
    2. Stop where the lane ends and wait there until every other vehicle in the line has gone past
    3. Signal, adjust your speed and move left in good time before the lane ends
    4. Speed up so that you get ahead of all the vehicles traveling in the lane to your left first
    Show answer

    Answer C: Signal, adjust your speed and move left in good time before the lane ends

    When traffic is moving freely there is room to merge early and smoothly, which avoids the last-second lane change at the closure point.

44. On a long uphill grade a second lane opens on the right and a sign directs slower traffic into it. You are towing a trailer and holding up a line of vehicles. What should you do?

    1. Move into the right-hand lane and let the faster traffic use the left lane
    2. Stay in the left lane and keep your speed as high as the trailer you are towing will allow
    3. Use the shoulder of the road so that both of the marked lanes stay open for traffic behind you
    4. Straddle the two lanes so that no driver can attempt to overtake you anywhere on the grade
    Show answer

    Answer A: Move into the right-hand lane and let the faster traffic use the left lane

    A climbing lane exists so that slow vehicles can be passed safely, and the slower vehicle is the one that belongs in it.

45. The lane you are in is marked with a straight arrow and a right-turn arrow together. What does that mean?

    1. Drivers in that lane must turn right and may not continue straight ahead from it at all
    2. The lane becomes a right turn lane during the hours shown on the sign posted beside it
    3. Traffic going straight has to give way to every vehicle turning right out of that lane
    4. Drivers in that lane may either go straight or turn right
    Show answer

    Answer D: Drivers in that lane may either go straight or turn right

    A lane marked with two arrows serves both movements, so a driver in it may take either one.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

46. You are in the right-hand lane of a multilane street and that lane becomes a right-turn-only lane ahead, but you want to go straight. What should you do?

    1. Continue straight from that lane, because the arrow applies only to drivers who choose to turn
    2. Change into a through lane before you reach the markings for the turn lane
    3. Stop at the line and wait for a gap so that you can move over once you are in the intersection
    4. Turn right and then make a turn at the next opportunity to get back onto the route you wanted
    Show answer

    Answer B: Change into a through lane before you reach the markings for the turn lane

    A lane-use arrow is a regulatory marking, so a driver who wants to continue straight has to leave that lane before it becomes a mandatory turn lane.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

48. Why should a driver crossing several lanes change only one lane at a time?

    1. Because one turn signal is legally valid for only a single lane change at a time
    2. Each lane has its own traffic and its own blind spot to be checked
    3. Because the turn signal cancels itself as soon as the steering wheel returns to center
    4. Because crossing more than one lane at once is permitted only on a one-way street
    Show answer

    Answer B: Each lane has its own traffic and its own blind spot to be checked

    Sweeping across two or three lanes means entering lanes you never checked, so each change gets its own signal, mirror check and head check.

49. You are already inside an intersection when you realize you should be in the lane beside you. What should you do?

    1. Change lanes at once, before the vehicles behind you have a chance to close the gap up
    2. Stop in the middle of the intersection and wait for the other driver to let you across
    3. Stay in your lane through the intersection and change lanes afterwards
    4. Reverse a short distance until you are behind the crosswalk and change lanes there
    Show answer

    Answer C: Stay in your lane through the intersection and change lanes afterwards

    Drivers in an intersection are watching for cross traffic and turning vehicles, so an unexpected sideways move there is easily missed.

50. You are about to change lanes to the left when you notice a vehicle already overtaking you in that lane. What should you do?

    1. Hold your lane and your speed, and change only after that vehicle has gone by
    2. Complete the change quickly, because you switched on your signal before the other driver arrived
    3. Move over slowly, so that the other driver has enough time to brake and drop in behind you
    4. Speed up and move over ahead of the overtaking vehicle so that the gap ahead of you stays open
    Show answer

    Answer A: Hold your lane and your speed, and change only after that vehicle has gone by

    A signal asks for space but does not create it, and the overtaking driver has nowhere to go if you move across.

51. Why should you make sure your turn signal has stopped flashing after a lane change?

    1. A signal left flashing tells other drivers that you intend to move again
    2. The bulb in the signal will burn out if it is left flashing for more than a few minutes
    3. The flasher unit prevents the brake lights from working for as long as it is running
    4. The law requires every signal to be switched off within three seconds of a lane change
    Show answer

    Answer A: A signal left flashing tells other drivers that you intend to move again

    Other drivers act on your signals, so one that is left on gives them false information about what you are about to do.

52. Besides the traffic behind you, what else must you check before moving into the next lane?

    1. Only the surface of the lane you are entering, in case of potholes or spilled material
    2. Only the position of the vehicle that is traveling directly behind you in your own lane
    3. That the vehicle you are currently following has already signaled the same lane change
    4. That there is room ahead in the new lane for your normal following distance
    Show answer

    Answer D: That there is room ahead in the new lane for your normal following distance

    Moving into a gap that is too short leaves you tailgating the vehicle ahead with a vehicle close behind you.

53. Your vehicle has a blind spot warning light in the door mirror. What should that mean for your habits?

    1. You no longer need to look over your shoulder, since the sensor covers exactly that area
    2. You still check the blind spot yourself, because the system can miss a rider
    3. You may change lanes without signaling whenever the warning light is not lit up at all
    4. You should watch the warning light instead of the mirrors while the vehicle is in motion
    Show answer

    Answer B: You still check the blind spot yourself, because the system can miss a rider

    Blind spot systems are an aid, not a substitute, and a motorcycle or a bicycle can be missed or arrive faster than the sensor expects.

54. How should your speed behave while you move from one lane into the next?

    1. Slow down sharply so that you can drop into the gap behind the nearest vehicle there
    2. Accelerate hard so that you spend the least possible time between the two lanes
    3. Keep it steady or adjust it smoothly to match the traffic in the new lane
    4. Coast with the transmission in neutral so that the vehicle settles as it crosses over
    Show answer

    Answer C: Keep it steady or adjust it smoothly to match the traffic in the new lane

    A lane change works best as a smooth movement at the speed of the lane you are joining, since sudden braking or acceleration surprises the drivers around you.

55. You have begun to move into the next lane when the gap you were aiming for closes. What is the safest action?

    1. Continue into the lane and expect the other driver to drop back and make room for you
    2. Brake hard while you are still between the two lanes and wait there for another opening
    3. Return to your own lane, cancel the signal and wait for a better gap
    4. Sound the horn and keep moving over, because you signaled the change before you started
    Show answer

    Answer C: Return to your own lane, cancel the signal and wait for a better gap

    An unfinished lane change leaves you in a space that no longer exists, and the lane you came from is still yours.

56. A vehicle is sitting in your blind spot and you need to change into that lane. What should you do?

    1. Change lanes anyway, because a driver traveling alongside you is expected to give way
    2. Adjust your speed to open a clear gap, then check again and move over
    3. Signal and drift over slowly until the other driver notices you and moves out of the way
    4. Give up on the lane change and take a later exit instead of moving over at all
    Show answer

    Answer B: Adjust your speed to open a clear gap, then check again and move over

    Changing your speed either drops the other vehicle behind you or lets it move ahead, which turns the blind spot back into open space.

57. Why is a shoulder check especially important on a road with motorcycles and bicycles?

    1. Riders are legally required to travel in the blind spot of the vehicle ahead of them
    2. Motorcycles are not permitted to travel beside a passenger car in the same lane
    3. The mirrors fitted to a car are aimed too high to show any narrow vehicle at all
    4. A narrow vehicle can disappear completely in the blind spot
    Show answer

    Answer D: A narrow vehicle can disappear completely in the blind spot

    A motorcycle or a bicycle is small enough to be hidden entirely by a door pillar or by the blind spot the mirrors do not cover.

58. How should the outside mirrors be aimed to reduce your blind spots?

    1. Outward, so each one covers the lane beside you rather than repeating the inside mirror
    2. So that a wide strip of the side of your own vehicle is visible in each of the two mirrors
    3. Both of them angled downward toward the road surface just beside the front wheels of the car
    4. Inward, so that the same area of road appears in the inside mirror and in both side mirrors
    Show answer

    Answer A: Outward, so each one covers the lane beside you rather than repeating the inside mirror

    Mirrors aimed too far inward show you the same road three times and leave a large gap beside the vehicle, so aiming them outward shrinks the blind spot.

59. You want to move into the right lane just as an entrance ramp joins the highway at that point. What is the better choice?

    1. Move over at once, so that you are settled in the lane before the ramp traffic arrives there
    2. Wait until you are past the merge area so you do not squeeze the entering traffic
    3. Sound the horn to tell the drivers on the ramp that you are taking the lane ahead of them
    4. Straddle the lane line until all the entering vehicles have chosen a lane for themselves
    Show answer

    Answer B: Wait until you are past the merge area so you do not squeeze the entering traffic

    The merge area is where ramp traffic has to find a gap, so adding a lane change of your own into the same space creates a conflict.

60. What is the correct order of a pass on a two-lane road?

    1. Check ahead and behind, signal left, move out, accelerate past, signal right and return
    2. Accelerate while you are still behind the other vehicle, then signal left once you are alongside it
    3. Move into the opposing lane first and decide from there whether the road ahead of you is clear
    4. Sound the horn, pull out without signaling, and return to your own lane as soon as you are ahead
    Show answer

    Answer A: Check ahead and behind, signal left, move out, accelerate past, signal right and return

    A pass begins with the decision that the road is clear and ends with a signaled return, and each step warns other drivers before the vehicle moves.

61. How much clear road do driver manuals say you need before starting a pass at highway speed on a two-lane road?

    1. About the length of two vehicles, since you only have to get past the one that is ahead of you
    2. Whatever distance remains before the next curve, whether or not you can see beyond that curve
    3. Enough to complete the pass and return, roughly ten to twelve seconds of travel
    4. About three seconds, which is the same gap you normally keep behind the vehicle ahead of you
    Show answer

    Answer C: Enough to complete the pass and return, roughly ten to twelve seconds of travel

    At highway speed the whole maneuver of pulling out, overtaking and returning takes roughly ten to twelve seconds, and every foot of that has to be visible before you start.

62. Why can an oncoming vehicle that looks comfortably far away leave you far less room than you expect?

    1. Oncoming headlights always make a vehicle appear farther away than it really is on the road
    2. The oncoming driver is required to slow down while another vehicle completes a pass ahead
    3. Distance to an oncoming vehicle cannot be judged at all once you are above forty miles an hour
    4. You and that vehicle close the gap at the sum of both your speeds
    Show answer

    Answer D: You and that vehicle close the gap at the sum of both your speeds

    Two vehicles approaching at 55 mph each close the distance between them at about 110 mph, so the gap disappears in half the time you would expect.

63. You are following closely behind a vehicle you intend to pass on a two-lane road. What should you do first?

    1. Close up further, so that the pass uses as little road in the opposing lane as it possibly can
    2. Pull out immediately while you are still close, so that the opposing lane is used only briefly
    3. Flash your headlights repeatedly until the driver ahead pulls onto the shoulder to let you by
    4. Drop back to give yourself room to build speed before you pull out
    Show answer

    Answer D: Drop back to give yourself room to build speed before you pull out

    From close behind you cannot see far enough ahead and you have no room to gather speed, so the pass takes longer and starts blind.

64. You are about to pass another vehicle at night with your high beams on. What should you do?

    1. Keep the high beams on, so that the driver ahead of you can see you clearly in the mirrors
    2. Flash the high beams repeatedly until the driver ahead moves over to the right to let you by
    3. Switch to low beams as you come up behind it and while you are alongside
    4. Switch the headlights off for a moment while you are alongside so as not to dazzle the driver
    Show answer

    Answer C: Switch to low beams as you come up behind it and while you are alongside

    High beams shining into the mirrors of the vehicle ahead blind the very driver whose reaction you depend on during the pass.

65. You have just returned to your own lane after passing. Why should you not slow down straight away?

    1. The vehicle you passed is close behind and needs room to stop
    2. Slowing down while your turn signal is still flashing is prohibited by the traffic laws
    3. It uses noticeably more fuel than holding a constant speed for another few seconds does
    4. The driver you passed will read it as an invitation to pass you straight back again
    Show answer

    Answer A: The vehicle you passed is close behind and needs room to stop

    Returning and then braking leaves the driver you just overtook with almost no following distance, which is how a pass turns into a rear-end collision.

66. The vehicle ahead of you has pulled out to pass a truck. May you follow it out and pass as well?

    1. Yes, because the driver ahead of you has already checked that the road ahead is clear
    2. No, wait until it is done and judge the road for yourself
    3. Yes, provided that you stay close behind so that both of the passes take less time overall
    4. Yes, as long as you flash your headlights first to warn any oncoming traffic that you are there
    Show answer

    Answer B: No, wait until it is done and judge the road for yourself

    You cannot see past the vehicle ahead of you, and if it has to abort the pass there is nowhere for either of you to go.

67. The car ahead of you slows down for no reason that you can see. Should you pull out and pass?

    1. Yes, because a driver who slows down for no visible reason is obstructing the traffic behind
    2. No, find out why it is slowing before you commit to the other lane
    3. Yes, provided that you sound your horn as a warning before you begin to move out to pass
    4. Yes, if the center line is broken, since the pavement marking settles the question for you
    Show answer

    Answer B: No, find out why it is slowing before you commit to the other lane

    A driver usually slows for something, such as a turn, a hazard or a pedestrian, and that something is often exactly where your pass would take you.

68. You are in a marked passing zone but a steady stream of oncoming traffic is coming toward you. What does the broken center line allow?

    1. It requires oncoming drivers to make room whenever another vehicle is overtaking ahead of them
    2. It allows a pass whenever you are able to complete the maneuver inside the marked zone itself
    3. A pass only when the road is clear, so you have to stay behind
    4. It allows you to use the shoulder of the opposing lane in order to complete a pass in traffic
    Show answer

    Answer C: A pass only when the road is clear, so you have to stay behind

    A passing zone marks where the sight distance is adequate, but it never gives permission to enter a lane that another vehicle is occupying.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

69. You want to pass on a two-lane road where several people are walking on the narrow shoulder ahead. What should you consider?

    1. The pedestrians are required to leave the roadway entirely while a pass is being carried out
    2. The pass is perfectly safe as long as you sound your horn before you reach the people walking
    3. The shoulder counts as an extra lane that either vehicle can use in order to finish the pass
    4. There is no escape room if the pass goes wrong, so wait for a better place
    Show answer

    Answer D: There is no escape room if the pass goes wrong, so wait for a better place

    A pass depends on having somewhere to go if it goes wrong, and a shoulder occupied by pedestrians removes that option for both vehicles.

70. You are on a one-way street with two marked lanes. May you pass a slower vehicle on the right?

    1. Yes, using the right lane, provided that the move is safe and signaled
    2. No, all passing must be done on the left even on a street that carries one-way traffic
    3. Yes, but only if the driver of the vehicle ahead has signaled a left turn beforehand
    4. No, unless the vehicle you want to pass has stopped and is waiting there to turn left
    Show answer

    Answer A: Yes, using the right lane, provided that the move is safe and signaled

    On a roadway with two or more marked lanes in your direction, moving into the free lane and going by is a normal lane change rather than an unlawful pass.

71. The vehicle in front of you has stopped and is waiting to turn left, and there is a paved shoulder to the right. May you use it to get by?

    1. Yes, provided that you signal first and return to the travel lane as soon as you have passed
    2. Yes, because a vehicle that is waiting to turn left has effectively given up its own lane
    3. Yes, whenever the shoulder is paved, since a paved shoulder counts as a travel lane
    4. No, in most states a pass may not be made by leaving the paved travel lanes
    Show answer

    Answer D: No, in most states a pass may not be made by leaving the paved travel lanes

    Passing on the right is normally lawful only inside the marked travel lanes, and most states prohibit driving onto the shoulder to get around a turning vehicle; the few states that allow it attach strict conditions.

72. A driver behind you on a two-lane road clearly wants to pass. Why should you not wave that driver past?

    1. A hand signal given out of the window is only lawful for a turn or for a stop, never a pass
    2. You cannot see the whole road ahead for them and they may rely on your signal
    3. It would cancel your own right to use the lane until the vehicle behind you has gone past
    4. The driver behind is only allowed to pass at a point where the pavement markings permit it
    Show answer

    Answer B: You cannot see the whole road ahead for them and they may rely on your signal

    Waving another driver out invites them to trust your judgment of a road you cannot see well enough, and the decision to pass belongs to the driver making it.

73. A driver who is passing you cannot complete the pass because a vehicle is coming. What should you do?

    1. Hold exactly the same speed, because the other driver is the one who started the maneuver
    2. Accelerate so that there is space for the passing driver to move in ahead of your vehicle
    3. Ease off the accelerator and make room for them to drop back in
    4. Pull onto the shoulder so that all three of the vehicles involved can pass side by side
    Show answer

    Answer C: Ease off the accelerator and make room for them to drop back in

    The only place for the passing vehicle to go is the gap behind you, and easing off opens that gap immediately.

74. You come up behind a bicyclist who is descending a steep hill in the middle of the traffic lane. What should you take into account?

    1. A bicyclist has to move onto the shoulder whenever a motor vehicle comes up behind them
    2. You may pass inside the lane, because a bicycle going downhill needs less room than usual
    3. The rider will brake and pull over as soon as you have come up close behind the bicycle
    4. The rider may be moving at close to the speed of the traffic
    Show answer

    Answer D: The rider may be moving at close to the speed of the traffic

    A bicycle can reach the speed of traffic on a descent, so there is little to gain from a pass and the rider needs the whole lane to steer around surface hazards.

75. A farm implement ahead of you on a two-lane road is wider than its own lane. What should you do?

    1. Pass on the right using the shoulder, since the machine is over the left side of the roadway
    2. Pass at once, because slow-moving farm machinery has to give way to faster traffic behind it
    3. Flash your headlights until the operator pulls off into the field and lets the traffic go by
    4. Hang back until you can see past it and pass only with a clear road
    Show answer

    Answer D: Hang back until you can see past it and pass only with a clear road

    Wide equipment hides the road ahead and may extend farther across the center line than it appears, so the pass needs more room and a much better view.

76. The driver of a slow farm vehicle moves partly onto the shoulder and waves you past. Who is responsible for the pass?

    1. You are, so pass only if you can see that the road is clear
    2. The operator of the farm vehicle, because the wave counts as a signal that it is safe to go
    3. Neither driver, because passing a slow farm vehicle is exempt from the usual passing rules
    4. The oncoming traffic, which is required to slow whenever a farm vehicle is being overtaken
    Show answer

    Answer A: You are, so pass only if you can see that the road is clear

    A courtesy wave is not a traffic control, and the driver who changes lanes is the one answerable for the maneuver.

77. You are in a passing zone that continues over the crest of a hill ahead. May you start a pass?

    1. Yes, because the pavement markings show that this whole stretch is a legal passing zone
    2. Only if you can finish it well before the crest
    3. Yes, provided that you keep your headlights switched on the whole time you are alongside
    4. Yes, if you sound the horn as a warning before you reach the top of the rise in the road
    Show answer

    Answer B: Only if you can finish it well before the crest

    Beyond the crest you cannot see oncoming traffic, so any part of the pass that happens there is being made blind.

79. Why is passing on a curve prohibited even when the traffic seems light?

    1. The sideways force of the curve would tend to push your vehicle into the opposing lane
    2. Vehicles are required by law to travel more slowly on a curve than on a straight road
    3. You cannot see far enough around it to know the lane is clear
    4. The pavement on a curve is banked, which gives the tires much less grip than usual
    Show answer

    Answer C: You cannot see far enough around it to know the lane is clear

    A pass is only as safe as the distance you can see, and a curve hides the very lane the maneuver uses.

80. A yellow pennant-shaped sign is posted on the left side of a two-lane road facing you. What is it telling you?

    1. The roadway ahead narrows and the oncoming traffic will have to give way to your vehicle
    2. You are entering a no-passing zone and may not start a pass
    3. The lane markings ahead have worn away and should not be relied on for the next mile
    4. An extra passing lane is about to open on the left-hand side of the road ahead of you
    Show answer

    Answer B: You are entering a no-passing zone and may not start a pass

    The pennant is placed on the left so that it faces the driver who might pull out, and it marks the beginning of a no-passing zone.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

81. You are following a large truck on a two-lane road and cannot see past it. What should you do before deciding to pass?

    1. Move to the left within your own lane while staying close behind the rear of the trailer
    2. Pull part way out into the opposing lane and look from there before making the decision
    3. Rely on the truck driver, whose left turn signal means the road ahead of the truck is clear
    4. Drop back so that your view of the road ahead opens up
    Show answer

    Answer D: Drop back so that your view of the road ahead opens up

    Distance is what buys you a view around a large vehicle, and no decision to pass can be made from a position where you cannot see.

82. A yield sign is posted where an entrance ramp meets the highway. What must you do?

    1. Come to a complete stop at the sign every time before entering the highway travel lanes
    2. Enter the highway first, because a vehicle on a ramp has priority at the point of the merge
    3. Give way to the traffic already on the highway and merge into a gap
    4. Hold your ramp speed and expect the highway traffic to change lanes in order to make room
    Show answer

    Answer C: Give way to the traffic already on the highway and merge into a gap

    The yield sign confirms that the merging driver is the one who must fit into the traffic stream rather than the other way round.

83. A signal on an entrance ramp changes from red to green and lets one vehicle at a time onto the highway. What should you do?

    1. Stop on the red and go on the green, one vehicle for each green
    2. Ignore it, because a ramp signal applies only to trucks and to buses during the peak hours
    3. Treat the red light as a yield sign and merge into the highway whenever any gap appears
    4. Wait for a green arrow, since a round green light does not apply to a metered entrance ramp
    Show answer

    Answer A: Stop on the red and go on the green, one vehicle for each green

    A ramp meter spaces vehicles out so they join the highway one at a time instead of arriving as a group, and it is a traffic signal like any other.

84. You are in the acceleration lane and the gap you were aiming for is now beside you. What is the best adjustment?

    1. Change your speed a little to line up with a gap, then merge smoothly
    2. Hold your speed exactly and merge into whatever space happens to be there at the very end
    3. Brake hard so that you fall in behind the whole line of vehicles traveling on the highway
    4. Accelerate past the gap and merge in front of the leading vehicle of the group beside you
    Show answer

    Answer A: Change your speed a little to line up with a gap, then merge smoothly

    The acceleration lane is for matching both the speed and the position of a gap, and small speed adjustments are what line the two up.

85. You reach the end of the acceleration lane and there is still no gap in the traffic. What should you do?

    1. Stop on the shoulder just past the end of the lane and wait there for a much longer gap
    2. Slow down and merge behind the traffic rather than forcing your way in
    3. Continue along the shoulder at speed until a gap opens up further along the highway ahead
    4. Move over anyway, because the drivers already on the highway are required to make room
    Show answer

    Answer B: Slow down and merge behind the traffic rather than forcing your way in

    Merging behind the traffic costs you only a little speed, while forcing into a space that is not there puts you alongside a vehicle with nowhere to go.

86. While you are still on an entrance ramp, where should your attention be?

    1. Only straight ahead along the ramp, leaving the highway traffic to the mirrors after merging
    2. Only over your left shoulder, because the curve of the ramp itself keeps your path clear
    3. Only in the inside mirror, which shows you the whole of the highway behind your vehicle
    4. Along the ramp ahead and back at the highway traffic in the mirrors and over your shoulder
    Show answer

    Answer D: Along the ramp ahead and back at the highway traffic in the mirrors and over your shoulder

    A merge needs both halves of the picture at once: the ramp curving ahead of you and the traffic you are about to join behind and to your left.

87. You have just merged onto a freeway from an entrance ramp. What should you do next?

    1. Move straight across to the left lane so that the traffic behind you on the ramp has room
    2. Stay in the right lane until your own exit, however many miles away that exit may be
    3. Settle into the right lane and build up speed before changing lanes
    4. Switch on your hazard lights until your speed matches that of the traffic around you
    Show answer

    Answer C: Settle into the right lane and build up speed before changing lanes

    Crossing lanes while you are still below the speed of the traffic forces other drivers to brake, so the speed comes first and the lane change second.

88. You realize you have just gone past your exit on a freeway. What should you do?

    1. Reverse along the shoulder until you are level with the exit ramp and then take it
    2. Cross the striped pavement area to reach the ramp before it separates completely
    3. Carry on to the next exit and turn around there
    4. Stop on the shoulder and wait for a gap so that you can back into the exit ramp
    Show answer

    Answer C: Carry on to the next exit and turn around there

    A missed exit costs a few minutes, while backing up or cutting across the striped gore area puts you in the path of traffic that is not expecting it.

89. Why is backing up on a freeway or on its shoulder prohibited?

    1. Traffic arrives far too fast to expect a vehicle moving the wrong way
    2. The surface of the shoulder is not built to carry the weight of a reversing vehicle safely
    3. Reverse lights are not bright enough to be seen in daylight by the traffic on a highway
    4. It is allowed only when a police officer is present at the scene to direct the traffic
    Show answer

    Answer A: Traffic arrives far too fast to expect a vehicle moving the wrong way

    Freeway traffic closes on a stopped or reversing vehicle at highway speed and has almost no time to react to something moving against the flow.

90. An overhead sign shows that the right lane is EXIT ONLY. What does that mean if you intend to stay on the highway?

    1. You may stay in it as long as you continue straight ahead at the point where the exit leaves
    2. You have to move out of that lane before the exit
    3. You may stay in it, because an exit only lane rejoins the main highway a short distance later
    4. You must slow to the ramp speed and then rejoin the main highway just beyond the exit ramp
    Show answer

    Answer B: You have to move out of that lane before the exit

    An exit only lane leaves the highway completely, so a driver continuing on the highway has to change lanes before it does.

91. An entrance ramp joins a highway just before an exit ramp leaves it. What should you expect in that short section?

    1. That the traffic entering from the ramp is prohibited from using that stretch of the highway
    2. That the speed limit is raised there so that the two streams can separate more quickly
    3. That drivers leaving the highway must give way to everything that is entering it there
    4. Vehicles crossing paths as some enter and others leave
    Show answer

    Answer D: Vehicles crossing paths as some enter and others leave

    In a weaving section entering traffic moves left while exiting traffic moves right over the same short stretch, so lane changes there need extra room and extra care.

92. A sign warns that your exit leaves from the left side of the freeway. What should you do?

    1. Stay to the right and cross all of the lanes at the last moment before the ramp begins
    2. Ignore it, because in practice the exits from an interstate highway are always on the right
    3. Use the left shoulder as a deceleration lane so that you can reach the ramp in good time
    4. Move into the left lane in good time before you reach the exit
    Show answer

    Answer D: Move into the left lane in good time before you reach the exit

    Left-hand exits are unusual, which is exactly why they are signed well in advance and why the lane changes should be finished early.

93. A sign at the start of an exit ramp shows a speed much lower than the highway limit. What does it apply to?

    1. The last mile of the highway that you have traveled just before reaching the exit ramp
    2. The road at the far end of the ramp, once you have arrived at the intersection there
    3. The curve of the ramp itself, once you have left the highway
    4. The whole of the highway ahead, for every driver, whether they are leaving it or not
    Show answer

    Answer C: The curve of the ramp itself, once you have left the highway

    The ramp speed is set by the sharpness of the ramp curve, so you slow to it inside the deceleration lane rather than out on the highway.

94. The queue for an exit ramp has backed up into the right lane of the highway. What should you do if you want that exit?

    1. Drive up the paved shoulder to the ramp and merge at the front of the waiting queue
    2. Join the back of the queue in the lane instead of cutting in later
    3. Pass the queue in the next lane along and then cut in at the mouth of the exit ramp
    4. Stop in a through lane and wait for another driver to let you across into the queue
    Show answer

    Answer B: Join the back of the queue in the lane instead of cutting in later

    Passing a queue and forcing in at the front stops the whole line, and using the shoulder puts you where broken-down vehicles are expected to be.

95. The lane control signal above your lane changes to a steady yellow X. What should you do?

    1. Prepare to leave the lane, because it is about to be closed
    2. Slow down but stay where you are, since a yellow X only warns you of a hazard in the lane
    3. Stop in the lane and wait there until a green arrow is displayed above you once again
    4. Continue as normal, because only a red X actually closes a lane to the traffic using it
    Show answer

    Answer A: Prepare to leave the lane, because it is about to be closed

    A steady yellow X is the warning that the lane below it is about to close, giving drivers time to move over before the red X appears.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

96. A set of reversible express lanes is closed off with gates and signs while it runs the other way. What must you never do?

    1. Use those lanes at all, because they are reserved for buses and for taxis at every hour
    2. Travel in them at the same speed as the traffic in the general purpose lanes beside them
    3. Enter past a closed gate or a sign showing the lanes are closed
    4. Carry more than one passenger in them during the hours when the gates have been opened
    Show answer

    Answer C: Enter past a closed gate or a sign showing the lanes are closed

    When reversible lanes are closed they may already be carrying traffic in the opposite direction, so entering past a gate can put you head-on into that traffic.

97. A high-occupancy vehicle lane is separated from the general lanes by a pair of solid white lines with a gap every so often. Where may you enter or leave it?

    1. Anywhere along the lane, as long as you signal properly before you cross over the lines
    2. Only at the very beginning and the very end of the whole high-occupancy lane section
    3. Wherever the traffic in the general lanes has slowed down enough to let you across
    4. Only at the openings where the solid lines are broken
    Show answer

    Answer D: Only at the openings where the solid lines are broken

    The solid lines forbid crossing, so entry and exit are limited to the designated openings where the marking is broken.

    Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

98. Federal law lets a state open its high-occupancy vehicle lanes to certain vehicles carrying only one person. Which of these is covered by that allowance?

    1. Rental cars and other vehicles that are not registered in the state
    2. Motorcycles
    3. Delivery vans making local stops during their working hours
    4. Any vehicle that is towing a trailer or a boat behind it
    Show answer

    Answer B: Motorcycles

    Federal law lets states allow motorcycles into high-occupancy vehicle lanes regardless of the number of occupants, because keeping riders in the flow is safer than the alternative.

99. A freeway sign reads BUSES ONLY ON SHOULDER 6 AM TO 9 AM. Who may drive on the shoulder then?

    1. Only the vehicles named on the sign, during the hours shown
    2. Any vehicle at all, because the shoulder becomes an ordinary travel lane at those times
    3. Only vehicles that are traveling below the minimum speed limit posted for the highway
    4. Only vehicles that are preparing to leave the highway at the next available exit ramp
    Show answer

    Answer A: Only the vehicles named on the sign, during the hours shown

    Shoulder running is granted by the sign to the class of vehicle and the hours the sign names, and it does not turn the shoulder into a general travel lane.

100. You have stopped on the shoulder of a highway and want to rejoin the traffic. What is the correct way?

     1. Pull straight out into the travel lane and then accelerate once you are among the traffic
     2. Wait until there is no traffic in sight in either direction before moving off the shoulder
     3. Reverse a short distance first so that you have a longer run up to the traffic lane ahead
     4. Signal, build up speed along the shoulder, then merge into a gap
     Show answer

     Answer D: Signal, build up speed along the shoulder, then merge into a gap

     Entering a fast lane at a slow speed is what causes the conflict, so the shoulder is used to gain speed before the merge in the same way as an acceleration lane.

101. A large panel mounted on a trailer at the roadside displays a flashing arrow pointing left. What does it tell you?

     1. That a left turn will be permitted at the next intersection you come to
     2. Move into the lane to your left
     3. That the road curves to the left just beyond the equipment on the shoulder
     4. That workers are present on the left-hand side of the roadway ahead of you
     Show answer

     Answer B: Move into the lane to your left

     An arrow panel directs traffic out of a closed lane, so the arrow shows the direction you must move rather than the shape of the road ahead.

     Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

102. Cones and drums mark a shifted lane through a work zone. What should you do?

     1. Follow the path that they mark and stay inside it
     2. Follow the original white lane lines, because permanent markings always take precedence
     3. Weave between the drums whenever the marked path is slower than the lane beside it
     4. Choose whichever side of the cones happens to carry the least traffic at that moment
     Show answer

     Answer A: Follow the path that they mark and stay inside it

     Channelizing devices define the temporary travel path, and the space on the other side of them belongs to the workers.

     Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

103. In a work zone the temporary lane lines conflict with the old lines still visible on the pavement. Which do you follow?

     1. The original lines, because a permanent marking always takes precedence over a temporary one
     2. Whichever of the two sets the vehicle in front of you happens to be following at the time
     3. The temporary markings, which show the current traffic pattern
     4. Neither of the two sets, because lane markings do not apply at all inside a marked work zone
     Show answer

     Answer C: The temporary markings, which show the current traffic pattern

     Temporary markings define the traffic pattern in force, and the old lines are simply the layout that no longer applies.

     Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

104. Traffic in a work zone is down to one lane in each direction, separated by a temporary double yellow line. May you pass?

     1. Yes, because temporary markings are advisory only and carry no legal weight of their own
     2. Yes, provided that there are no workers visible anywhere along that stretch of the road
     3. No, temporary markings prohibit passing just as permanent ones do
     4. Yes, if the vehicle ahead of you is traveling below the posted work zone speed limit
     Show answer

     Answer C: No, temporary markings prohibit passing just as permanent ones do

     A temporary marking has the same legal force as a permanent one, and a work zone is the last place with room to spare for an overtaking vehicle.

     Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

105. In heavy stop-and-go traffic, why does using both lanes right up to a merge point help?

     1. It lets the faster drivers reach the front of the queue and clear the merge point sooner
     2. It means that fewer vehicles have to change lanes anywhere in the whole of the work zone
     3. It removes the need to signal, because every driver already knows where the lane ends
     4. It stores the queue in two lanes, so the backup is shorter
     Show answer

     Answer D: It stores the queue in two lanes, so the backup is shorter

     Filling both lanes halves the length of the queue and keeps it away from the traffic upstream, which is why alternating at the merge point works better when traffic is slow.

106. You are in the open lane where another lane is merging into yours. What is your part in the merge?

     1. Keep a steady speed and leave a gap for one vehicle to come in
     2. Close up on the vehicle ahead of you so that nobody is able to get in front of you at all
     3. Speed up so that the merging traffic has no choice but to fall in behind you and your gap
     4. Stop before the merge point and wave the whole of the other line of traffic through first
     Show answer

     Answer A: Keep a steady speed and leave a gap for one vehicle to come in

     A merge works when each driver in the through lane lets one vehicle in, which keeps both lines moving instead of stopping them both.

107. You are passing a line of slow traffic in the lane beside you and you notice a gap in that line ahead. What should you expect?

     1. A vehicle may pull out of that gap into your lane
     2. That the gap will have closed up before you reach it, so it can safely be ignored
     3. That the slow line will speed up as soon as you draw level with the gap in it
     4. That the drivers in the slow lane will wait for you to go past before they move
     Show answer

     Answer A: A vehicle may pull out of that gap into your lane

     A gap in a slow line is an invitation to any driver waiting to turn out of a side street or to change lanes, and they are looking at the gap rather than at you.

108. What is lane splitting?

     1. A car and a motorcycle traveling side by side within a single lane at low speed
     2. A motorcycle riding between two lanes of traffic moving the same way
     3. A motorcycle using the paved shoulder to get past a line of stopped traffic
     4. Two motorcycles riding side by side in one lane of a multilane roadway
     Show answer

     Answer B: A motorcycle riding between two lanes of traffic moving the same way

     Lane splitting means riding along the line between two lanes of traffic going in the same direction rather than staying within a lane.

110. Where in the United States may a motorcycle ride between lanes of traffic?

     1. On any freeway at a time when the traffic in the lanes is stopped or moving very slowly
     2. Anywhere at all, because a motorcycle is entitled only to half the width of a traffic lane
     3. Only where a state has specifically authorized it
     4. On any road where the lanes are wide enough for a rider to fit between two vehicles
     Show answer

     Answer C: Only where a state has specifically authorized it

     Riding between lanes is prohibited in most states and permitted only where a state law expressly allows it, so a rider must know the rule for the state being ridden in.

111. You are stopped in slow traffic and a motorcycle comes up between the lanes. What should you do?

     1. Move over into the next lane in order to block the rider from coming through the gap
     2. Open your door a little so that the rider knows that you have seen the motorcycle there
     3. Sound the horn to warn the drivers around you that a rider is coming up between lanes
     4. Hold your position and avoid any sudden lane change
     Show answer

     Answer D: Hold your position and avoid any sudden lane change

     The danger to a rider between lanes comes from a vehicle moving sideways without warning, so staying predictable is what protects them.

112. A sign on a freeway restricts trucks to the two right-hand lanes. What should a car driver expect in those lanes?

     1. More heavy vehicles and slower changes of speed
     2. That cars are prohibited from traveling in the two right-hand lanes as well as the trucks
     3. That the trucks in those lanes have priority over any car that is merging from a ramp
     4. That the posted speed limit in those lanes is lower for every vehicle that uses them
     Show answer

     Answer A: More heavy vehicles and slower changes of speed

     A truck lane restriction concentrates heavy vehicles on the right, and those vehicles accelerate, brake and change lanes far more slowly than cars.

113. A disabled vehicle is blocking your lane on a two-lane road with a single solid yellow line on your side. What should you do?

     1. Stay behind it and wait for it to be towed away, however long a delay that may cause
     2. Use the shoulder at your normal speed to get past the disabled vehicle without delay
     3. Wait until the oncoming lane is clear, then go around carefully
     4. Sound the horn continuously until the other driver moves the vehicle out of the lane
     Show answer

     Answer C: Wait until the oncoming lane is clear, then go around carefully

     The solid line prohibits overtaking a moving vehicle, but in most states a driver may go around an obstruction such as a disabled vehicle once the oncoming lane is clear and the move can be made safely.

     Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

114. A sign shows a lane joining from the right with no merge required. What does that mean?

     1. That the traffic entering from the right has to stop before it joins the roadway you are on
     2. The joining traffic gets its own new lane, so nobody has to merge
     3. That your own lane ends a short distance ahead and you must move one lane to your left
     4. That the two streams of traffic have to alternate one vehicle at a time where they meet
     Show answer

     Answer B: The joining traffic gets its own new lane, so nobody has to merge

     An added lane means the roadway gains a lane at that point, so entering vehicles have somewhere to go without anyone changing lanes.

115. Traffic ahead of you has stopped in your lane while the next lane is still moving. What is the first thing to do?

     1. Change lanes at once, because the traffic stopped in your lane is going nowhere at all
     2. Use the shoulder to get around the stopped vehicles that are blocking your own lane
     3. Slow down first and check the next lane before moving over
     4. Sound the horn while changing lanes so that the other drivers know to make room for you
     Show answer

     Answer C: Slow down first and check the next lane before moving over

     Braking is the action that keeps you from hitting the stopped traffic, and the lane change is only safe once you have looked.

116. You are behind a slow vehicle on a two-lane road and a marked passing lane begins a mile ahead. What is the sensible choice?

     1. Pass now, because the passing lane ahead may already be occupied when you get to it
     2. Pass on the shoulder, which serves the same purpose as the passing lane further on
     3. Follow closely so that you are first into the passing lane at the moment it opens
     4. Wait for the passing lane rather than using the opposing lane
     Show answer

     Answer D: Wait for the passing lane rather than using the opposing lane

     A passing lane lets you overtake without ever entering the lane used by oncoming traffic, which is far safer than a pass a minute earlier.

117. You are overtaking in a short passing lane on a two-lane road and it is about to end. What must you do?

     1. Finish the pass and move back to the right before it ends
     2. Stay in the lane until the pavement narrows and then merge in wherever you can find room
     3. Continue straight ahead, because it is the other lane that ends at that point in the road
     4. Stop at the end of the lane and wait for a gap in the line of traffic beside your vehicle
     Show answer

     Answer A: Finish the pass and move back to the right before it ends

     The added lane ends and the traffic returns to a single lane in each direction, so the pass has to be complete before the pavement runs out.

118. On a two-lane road with a broken yellow center line, may you cross it to turn into a driveway on the left?

     1. No, a yellow line may only be crossed while you are actually overtaking another vehicle
     2. No, a turn across a yellow center line requires a marked left turn lane to be provided
     3. Yes, when it is safe and the oncoming lane is clear
     4. Yes, but only if you first stop completely while astride the center of the roadway
     Show answer

     Answer C: Yes, when it is safe and the oncoming lane is clear

     A broken center line may be crossed for a pass or for a left turn into a road or a driveway, once the oncoming lane is clear.

     Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

119. You are approaching a narrow bridge where the road has one lane in each direction and no shoulder. What should you do about passing?

     1. Pass while you are on the bridge if there is no oncoming vehicle anywhere in sight
     2. Do not pass on or near the bridge
     3. Pass by using the walkway at the side of the bridge, which is wide enough to do so
     4. Pass anywhere on the bridge after sounding the horn to warn any oncoming driver
     Show answer

     Answer B: Do not pass on or near the bridge

     A narrow bridge gives neither vehicle anywhere to go, so passing is prohibited there in the same way as on a hill or in a tunnel.

120. A lane is marked with a large white bicycle symbol and chevrons, but there is no separate bicycle lane. What does it mean?

     1. Bicyclists may use the whole lane, so follow or pass with care
     2. Bicyclists must stay over the painted symbols so that cars can pass within the same lane
     3. The lane is reserved for bicycles during the hours that are posted on the nearby signs
     4. Motor vehicles are not permitted to travel in that lane at any time of the day at all
     Show answer

     Answer A: Bicyclists may use the whole lane, so follow or pass with care

     A shared lane marking shows that bicyclists and drivers use the same lane and positions riders away from parked car doors, so passing means changing lanes.

     Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

121. You are on a four-lane divided highway and a vehicle in your lane is stopped waiting to turn left across the median. What is the normal way past?

     1. Pass it on the left by using the median area for a short distance until you are clear
     2. Sound the horn so that the driver ahead moves forward and out of your lane of travel
     3. Stop behind it and stay there until the left turn has been completed by that driver
     4. Slow down and go by in the lane to the right when it is clear
     Show answer

     Answer D: Slow down and go by in the lane to the right when it is clear

     On a multilane road the free lane beside you is the lawful place to go past a vehicle waiting to turn, and the median is not part of the roadway.

122. You find yourself in a lane that must turn, you wanted to go straight, and you cannot change lanes safely. What should you do?

     1. Continue straight ahead anyway, because a lane arrow is a recommendation rather than a rule
     2. Stop where you are and wait in the lane until another driver lets you change lanes safely
     3. Reverse back to the previous intersection and take the correct lane from that point on
     4. Make the required turn and find another route
     Show answer

     Answer D: Make the required turn and find another route

     Going straight from a mandatory turn lane surprises everyone around you, while a wrong turn costs only a few extra minutes.

123. How should you use your mirrors while another vehicle overtakes you on a multilane road?

     1. Watch only the inside mirror until the overtaking vehicle disappears from it completely
     2. Watch only the side mirror, since that mirror covers the whole of the lane beside you
     3. Follow it from the inside mirror to the side mirror and then to your own view
     4. Turn your head to follow the other vehicle for as long as it is traveling beside you
     Show answer

     Answer C: Follow it from the inside mirror to the side mirror and then to your own view

     Handing the vehicle from one mirror to the next keeps it in sight through the blind spot instead of losing it there.

124. The driver ahead of you is straddling the lane line and is not signaling. How should you respond?

     1. Pass on either side quickly, before the driver decides which of the lanes to settle in
     2. Stay back until you can see which lane that driver will take
     3. Sound the horn repeatedly until the driver settles into one or other of the two lanes
     4. Move into the lane that the vehicle is partly occupying and follow along behind it
     Show answer

     Answer B: Stay back until you can see which lane that driver will take

     A vehicle astride the line could move either way, so the only safe place is behind it where both possibilities are still covered.

125. A center lane is marked with a broken yellow line on each side and is controlled by overhead lane signals. How is that lane used?

     1. It carries traffic one way or the other according to the signals
     2. It is a two-way left turn lane that drivers may use for a left turn at any time of day
     3. It is a shoulder that is opened to ordinary traffic during the peak hours of each day
     4. It is a lane for high-occupancy vehicles traveling in either of the two directions
     Show answer

     Answer A: It carries traffic one way or the other according to the signals

     A reversible lane is marked with broken yellow lines on both sides and its direction of travel is set by the lane control signals above it.

     Source: mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov