An emergency vehicle approaches using the required audible and visual warning signals. No officer directs otherwise. Where should you move?
Correct answer: Toward the roadway edge or curb, parallel and close to it, clear of the intersection.
Yield and move close to the edge or curb, parallel to it and clear of an intersection. The rule does not tell you to block the intersection while yielding.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-405(a)–(b); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
After pulling aside for an approaching emergency vehicle with the required signals, when may you leave that stopped position?
Correct answer: After the emergency vehicle has passed, when it is safe to rejoin traffic.
The statute requires staying stopped in the yielding position until the emergency vehicle passes. Check traffic before moving again; no fixed waiting count replaces that duty.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-405(c); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You are traveling in the same direction as a moving emergency vehicle using its required audible and visual signals. An officer has not directed you otherwise. May you pass it?
Correct answer: No; the stated exceptions are a stopped emergency vehicle or an officer’s direction.
Maryland prohibits passing in the same direction while those emergency signals are in use, except when the emergency vehicle has stopped or a police officer directs otherwise.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-405(d); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
An ordinary car is stopped on the highway shoulder with hazard warning lights. You approach from behind and can safely and lawfully change to a nonadjacent lane. What should you do?
Correct answer: Move into the available lane that is not immediately beside the stopped car.
Maryland’s move-over provision includes stopped vehicles displaying hazard lights or listed caution signals, not just marked emergency vehicles. Change away from the adjacent lane when practicable, lawful and safe.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-405(e)(1)(ii) and (2); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A stopped vehicle with warning signals is ahead, but traffic prevents a safe lane change away from it. What is the required alternative?
Correct answer: Slow to a reasonable, prudent speed safe for the conditions.
If a compliant lane change cannot be made, reduce to a safe speed for the weather, road and nearby vehicle or pedestrian conditions. The rule does not require an unsafe lane change.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-405(e)(2)(ii); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
On an undivided road, a school vehicle ahead is stopped with alternating red lights. You approach from the opposite direction. How far from its front must you stop?
Correct answer: At least 20 feet.
The stopping distance is at least 20 feet from the school vehicle’s front when approaching it from the front. The different-roadway divided-highway exception does not apply to this undivided road.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-706(a); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You approach from behind a school vehicle stopped on the roadway with alternating red lights. What stopping distance applies?
Correct answer: At least 20 feet behind it.
Maryland requires at least 20 feet from the rear when approaching the school vehicle from behind while its alternating red lights operate.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-706(a); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A school vehicle is stopped with red lights on the opposite, separate roadway of a divided highway. You are on the other roadway. Does this school-vehicle stopping rule require your stop?
Correct answer: No; the separate-roadway exception applies in this situation.
The exception depends on a divided highway and a different roadway. It does not simply depend on the number of painted lanes.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-706(c); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You approach a stopped school vehicle with alternating red lights on a four-lane road that has no separate divided roadways. May you pass because there are four lanes?
Correct answer: No; lane count alone does not create the divided-highway exception.
The exception is for a school vehicle on a different roadway of a divided highway. On the undivided road described, meeting and overtaking drivers must stop as required.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-706(a) and (c); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You have stopped for a school vehicle’s alternating red lights. Which event ends the specific requirement to remain stopped under this rule?
Correct answer: The school vehicle resumes moving or its alternating red lights are deactivated.
Remain stopped until the vehicle moves or the alternating red lights are deactivated. Even then, continue to watch for children and other hazards before proceeding.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-706(b); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
At a crosswalk with no operating traffic signal or pedestrian overpass/tunnel, a pedestrian is crossing on your half of the roadway. What must you do?
Correct answer: Come to a stop for the pedestrian.
In the circumstances covered by this provision, Maryland requires a stop when the crossing pedestrian is on your half of the roadway. Eye contact is not a condition of that duty.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-502(a); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
At an unsignalized crosswalk without an overpass or tunnel, a pedestrian is approaching your half from the adjacent lane on the opposite half. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop rather than waiting for the pedestrian to step into your own lane.
The stopping rule also covers a pedestrian approaching from an adjacent lane on the other half. It does not allow waiting until the pedestrian is directly in your vehicle’s path.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-502(a)(2)(ii); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A car ahead has stopped at a crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross. You cannot see the entire crossing area. May you overtake that car?
Correct answer: No; do not overtake and pass a vehicle stopped for the crossing pedestrian.
Passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian at a marked crosswalk or an unmarked intersection crosswalk is prohibited. The stopped vehicle may hide the pedestrian.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-502(c); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A pedestrian enters the roadway outside a crosswalk and creates a conflict. Does a driver’s right of way remove the duty to avoid hitting that person?
Correct answer: No; drivers must still exercise due care to avoid a collision.
Regardless of other right-of-way provisions, drivers must exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians. A pedestrian’s mistake is not permission to maintain a dangerous course.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-504(a); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A blind pedestrian using a guide dog or predominantly white cane is crossing. What right-of-way duty applies to you?
Correct answer: Yield to the pedestrian.
Maryland protects blind and partially blind pedestrians using the specified cane or a guide dog. A red tip is not required on a qualifying white or metallic cane.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-511(a)(1); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A mobility-impaired person is crossing the road using a motorized wheelchair. What must drivers do?
Correct answer: Yield the right of way to that person.
The statute expressly covers mobility-impaired people crossing with manual or motorized wheelchairs and other listed mobility devices.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-511(a)(3); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A bicyclist is riding lawfully and steadily, and the road is wide enough for a lawful pass with the required clearance. What minimum distance should you leave?
Correct answer: At least 3 feet, while passing safely.
The normal rule requires a safe pass with at least 3 feet of clearance. The scenario excludes the statute’s listed exceptions; a minimum distance never excuses a collision risk.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-1209(a)(1)–(2); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You are about to turn across a designated bicycle lane occupied by a lawful rider. Who must yield?
Correct answer: You must yield to the rider before crossing the lane.
A driver about to enter or cross a designated bicycle lane or shoulder must yield to a person lawfully riding there, unless another specific provision applies.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-1209(d)(1); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You could leave 3 feet beside a bicycle, but the available space and approaching traffic make the pass unsafe. Should you attempt it merely because you can meet the number?
Correct answer: No; the duty to pass safely and avoid a collision still applies.
The statute requires due care as well as the specified clearance in ordinary conditions. Meeting a distance alone does not justify an unsafe passing maneuver.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-1209(a)(1); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A motorcycle is ahead in your lane. May you squeeze your car alongside it within that same lane?
Correct answer: No; a motorcycle is entitled to full use of the lane.
A motor vehicle may not deprive a motorcycle of full lane use. The exception for motorcycles riding two abreast does not authorize a car to crowd beside one.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-1303(b); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
An ordinary motorcycle rider, not an officer performing official duties, wants to pass between adjacent rows of traffic. What does Maryland’s rule say?
Correct answer: That between-lanes movement is prohibited.
Maryland prohibits operating a motorcycle between lanes or adjacent rows of vehicles. The stated police-duty exception does not apply to an ordinary rider.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-1303(a)(2), (c)–(d); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A pedestrian begins crossing in the direction of a walking-person signal. What must a turning driver do?
Correct answer: Give the pedestrian the right of way.
A walking-person or Walk indication permits crossing in that direction and requires vehicle drivers to give the crossing pedestrian the right of way.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-203(b); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A pedestrian has not yet entered the road when the upraised-hand or Wait indication appears. What should the pedestrian do?
Correct answer: Do not start crossing in that direction.
A pedestrian may not start crossing against a Don’t Walk, upraised-hand or Wait indication. Rules for someone already partway across are different.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-203(c)–(d); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
A person began crossing on Walk and is only partway across when the hand or Don’t Walk indication appears. What should the person do?
Correct answer: Continue without delay to the sidewalk or safety island.
A pedestrian who partly completed the crossing on Walk should continue without delay to a sidewalk or safety island. The signal change is not an instruction to freeze in traffic.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-203(e); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
You notice a child near the road and an obviously confused person beginning to cross. What additional duty does Maryland state?
Correct answer: Exercise proper precaution for these vulnerable pedestrians.
The law specifically calls for proper precaution when a driver observes a child or an obviously confused or incapacitated individual, alongside the general duty to avoid pedestrians.
Source: Maryland Code, Transportation §21-504(c); Maryland General Assembly current statute text, reviewed September 15, 2026. ↗
