What minimum safe passing clearance does Massachusetts require around a vulnerable road user?
Correct answer: At least four feet.
Leave a safe distance of at least four feet. If necessary, use adjacent lane space or cross the center line only when safe, and obey the speed limit.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 49 (physical PDF page 57) — Vulnerable Road Users Law. ↗
An oncoming car leaves too little room to pass a bicyclist safely. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait behind until traffic or road width allows a safe pass.
Do not force a close pass. The manual directs you to wait for oncoming traffic to pass or the road to widen.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 51 (physical PDF page 59) — Bicycles and Mopeds continuation. ↗
Does the four-foot vulnerable-road-user passing protection include roadside workers?
Correct answer: Yes; roadside workers are included.
The protected group includes roadside workers, pedestrians, riders and users of several mobility devices, not just bicyclists.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 49 (physical PDF page 57) — Vulnerable Road Users Law. ↗
A pedestrian using a white cane is crossing the street. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop completely and remain stopped until they have safely crossed.
The White Cane Law requires a complete stop for a blind pedestrian crossing. Wait until the person has crossed safely.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 100 (physical PDF page 108) — Pedestrians. ↗
You have stopped for a blind pedestrian. Should you honk or wave to tell the person to cross?
Correct answer: No; remain stopped without honking or waving them on.
The manual specifically says not to honk or wave a blind pedestrian on. Keep the vehicle stopped while the person crosses safely.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 50 (physical PDF page 58) — Pedestrians — visually impaired individuals. ↗
A pedestrian does not react to vehicle noise. What should a driver assume?
Correct answer: The person may not hear the vehicle; yield rather than rely on sound.
Hearing ability is not reliably visible. Do not assume that a pedestrian or rider can hear you and will move aside.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 50 (physical PDF page 58) — Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals. ↗
You are turning right while a bicyclist is continuing straight along your right side. What must you do?
Correct answer: Yield instead of cutting across the bicyclist's path.
Turning drivers must yield to bicyclists continuing straight through the intersection. Check before crossing their path.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 96 (physical PDF page 104) — Intersections. ↗
Which action helps prevent hitting a bicyclist with your parked vehicle's door?
Correct answer: Check behind and use the far hand to open the door carefully.
Checking mirrors and using the far hand encourages a body turn and a look behind. It also discourages suddenly swinging the door open.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 116 (physical PDF page 124) — The Danger of Open Doors to Bicyclists. ↗
You need to cross a bicycle lane while turning off the road. What must you do first?
Correct answer: Check for bicyclists and cross carefully while yielding as required.
Motor vehicles may cross or enter these lanes for the permitted turn, not ordinary through travel. Check carefully for riders before crossing.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 91 (physical PDF page 99) — Bicycle Lanes. ↗
A sharrow is painted in the lane you are using. What does it tell you?
Correct answer: Bicycles and motor vehicles share this lane.
Sharrows guide bicycle positioning in shared traffic. They are not the same as exclusive bicycle-lane markings.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 91 (physical PDF page 99) — Shared Lane Markings. ↗
A green bicycle box ahead of a crosswalk is empty when your light is red. Where should you stop?
Correct answer: Behind the bicycle box, even though no rider is in it.
Drivers must stop behind a bicycle box even when empty and wait for green. The space supports safer bicycle positioning.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 116 (physical PDF page 124) — Bicycle Boxes. ↗
A narrow road has dashed advisory bicycle lanes and you need that space to meet another car. What must you do?
Correct answer: Yield to bicyclists before using the lane space when necessary.
Advisory lanes can be used by motor vehicles when necessary, but drivers must yield to bicyclists first.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 91 (physical PDF page 99) — Advisory Bicycle Lanes. ↗
A truck ahead moves left before a possible right turn. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stay safely behind instead of entering the gap on its right.
Large vehicles may move left to make room for a wide right turn. The right-side gap can close and may be a blind spot.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 106 (physical PDF page 114) — Passing on the Right, continues on page 107. ↗
Where can a car be hidden from a truck driver?
Correct answer: In blind spots at the front, back and both sides.
Large vehicles have blind spots around multiple sides. Avoid lingering in those areas and leave ample following space.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 105 (physical PDF page 113) — Trucks and Other Large Vehicles, continues on page 106. ↗
A rider signals you to stop as you approach their horse. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop and proceed only when it is safe.
The manual requires stopping when the rider or driver signals. Avoid loud noises and give animals adequate space.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 109 (physical PDF page 117) — Animals and Horse-Drawn Vehicles continuation. ↗
A trolley is boarding passengers. How close may you drive to its passenger step?
Correct answer: No closer than eight feet.
Massachusetts requires at least eight feet from the trolley passenger step during boarding or unloading. Watch for people and remember the trolley cannot swerve.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual, revised April 2026, printed page 107 (physical PDF page 115) — Buses and Trolleys. ↗
