A traffic officer directs your lane through an intersection while its traffic light is red. What should you follow?
Correct answer: Follow the officer’s direction while watching for hazards.
The device-obedience rule expressly allows a traffic or police officer to direct otherwise. Follow the officer’s instruction attentively.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:9, I, officer-direction exception; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A traffic signal is completely out, and no officer is directing traffic. Which statement correctly describes the rule you must apply?
Correct answer: Use the applicable uncontrolled-intersection or four-way-stop rules, including their yielding duties.
RSA 265:9 V directs drivers to the rules applicable to intersections without devices or with four-way stops, and lists yielding duties. It does not grant priority to the busier road or establish that every dark signal is unconditionally a four-way stop.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:9, V, opening paragraph and listed yielding duties; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Your light becomes circular green while a vehicle is still lawfully completing its movement through the intersection. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield rather than enter in a way that conflicts with that vehicle.
Circular green permits movement but does not displace vehicles lawfully in the intersection when it appears. Let the existing movement clear your intended path.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:10, I(a), lawful intersection users; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
The only indication allowing your lane to move is a green left arrow. You intend to go straight. What does that arrow permit?
Correct answer: Only the indicated left turn; another movement needs a permitting indication.
A green arrow permits cautious entry for its indicated movement or another movement allowed by a simultaneously displayed indication. This arrow alone does not authorize going straight.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:10, I(b), movements permitted by green arrows; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
The green light ahead changes to steady yellow. What does that indication warn you about?
Correct answer: The related green movement is ending and a red indication follows.
Steady yellow warns that the related green movement is ending or that red will immediately follow. It is not a new priority or an invitation to accelerate into the intersection.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:10, II(a), steady yellow indication; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A circular red signal faces you, with a clearly marked stop line before the crosswalk. Where should you make the required stop?
Correct answer: At the marked stop line, without entering the crosswalk.
The red-signal rule identifies a clearly marked stop line as a stopping location. Do not roll beyond it into the crosswalk; the absence-of-line alternatives are not a reason to ignore an existing line.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:10, III(a), stopping at circular red; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You face a steady right-pointing red arrow. A right turn is lawful at this intersection, and no sign prohibits a turn on red. What does New Hampshire allow?
Correct answer: A right turn after the required stop, yielding to lawful intersection and crosswalk users.
RSA 265:10 III(f) expressly includes a steady red arrow as well as circular red. After stopping, a lawful right turn may be made unless a posted prohibition applies, with the stated yielding duties. The red-arrow restriction in III(d) preserves this exception.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:10, III(d) and III(f), right-turn exception and yielding; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You intend to turn left, but the signal is a steady red left arrow and no other indication permits your movement. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop and wait for an indication that permits the left turn.
The red-arrow rule requires waiting for a permitting indication. The separate after-stop exception is for a lawful right turn; it does not authorize the left turn described here.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:10, III(d), with the right-turn scope of III(f); official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
An official signal requires a stop between intersections. A pavement marking identifies the stopping point. Where should you stop?
Correct answer: At that designated pavement marking.
Official signals also apply away from intersections. The indicated sign or pavement marking establishes the stopping point; stopping at the signal is the fallback when neither exists.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:10, IV, signals away from intersections; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You plan to cross a corner business’s parking area, which is not a roadway, solely to get around a red traffic signal. Is that permitted?
Correct answer: No. You may not cut across nearby non-roadway property to avoid the control.
RSA 265:11-a prohibits cutting across public or private property at or near an intersection, when it is not a roadway, to avoid a traffic signal or sign.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:11-a, operative prohibition on avoiding signals or signs; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
At an ordinary road intersection, not a railway crossing, the signal facing you flashes red. How should you proceed?
Correct answer: Stop, then proceed only under the yielding rules that apply after a stop sign.
A flashing red road signal requires a stop, followed by the rules governing entry after a stop sign. Railway-crossing conduct is separately governed and is excluded from this stem.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:12, I(a) and II, flashing red and railway exclusion; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A circular yellow signal flashes at an ordinary road intersection. What response does it call for?
Correct answer: Proceeding only with caution, watching for conflicting movements.
The flashing-yellow rule permits proceeding through the intersection or past the signal only with caution. It does not promise an empty intersection or unconditional priority.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:12, I(b), flashing yellow caution; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
An overhead lane-use signal shows steady red above a lane. The lane looks empty. May you enter it to continue driving?
Correct answer: No. Do not enter or travel in a lane with that red indication.
A red overhead lane-use signal prohibits entering or traveling in the lane it controls. An apparently empty lane does not cancel the indication.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:13, III, steady red lane-use indication; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
An overhead lane-use control signal flashes yellow above a lane. This is a lane-use signal, not an intersection beacon. For what purpose may you use that lane?
Correct answer: Approaching and making a left turn.
Under the lane-use signal statute, flashing yellow authorizes use only to approach and make a left turn. That meaning is different from a flashing-yellow intersection signal.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:13, IV, flashing yellow lane-use indication; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A driver extends the left hand and arm straight out horizontally. What intention does that hand signal communicate?
Correct answer: A left turn.
The left-side horizontal hand-and-arm signal indicates a left turn. Recognizing it does not imply that hand signals replace required signal lamps on every vehicle.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:47, opening paragraph and I, left turn; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A driver gives a hand-and-arm signal upward from the left side of the vehicle. What should you expect?
Correct answer: A right turn.
An upward signal from the left side indicates a right turn. This question concerns the signal’s meaning, not the equipment rules for substituting hand signals.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:47, opening paragraph and II, right turn; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A driver ahead extends the left hand and arm downward. What does that signal indicate?
Correct answer: An intention to stop or decrease speed.
The downward hand-and-arm signal indicates a stop or decrease in speed. Allow for the expected slowdown rather than treating the gesture as permission to pass.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:47, opening paragraph and III, stop/decrease speed; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You are making a normal right turn in a passenger car, with no signs or markers directing a different path. How should you approach and turn?
Correct answer: Stay as close as practicable to the right curb or roadway edge.
The ordinary right-turn rule places both the approach and turn as close as practicable to the right curb or edge. Officially directed alternative paths are excluded from this scenario.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:42, I; different-course provisions in II(b) and IV; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Two lanes carry traffic in your direction toward an intersection. You will turn left, and no signs or markers direct a different course. Where should you approach?
Correct answer: In the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available in your direction.
New Hampshire’s left-turn rule specifies the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in your direction. It does not authorize an opposing lane or a turn across another same-direction lane.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:42, II(a), left-turn approach; II(b) and IV exceptions excluded; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Official markers and signs at an intersection direct your turn along a path different from the ordinary turning rule. Which path should you follow?
Correct answer: The course directed by the official markers and signs.
Authorities may direct a different turning course through intersection markers or signs. When those controls are placed, drivers must follow the course they require.
Source: New Hampshire RSA §265:42, IV, officially directed alternative turning course; official General Court HTML chapter body read October 1, 2026. Selected codified road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
