A pedestrian crosses midblock outside a crosswalk and fails to yield to your approaching car. What duty do you still have?
Correct answer: Exercise due care to avoid a collision, despite the pedestrian's failure to yield.
A pedestrian crossing outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked intersection crosswalk must yield to vehicles. That does not remove a driver's independent duty to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:37, Drivers to Exercise Due Care; paired with §265:36 I, Crossing at Other Than Crosswalks; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
A young child is close to the roadway and appears unaware of traffic. Which response meets your duty toward the child?
Correct answer: Take proper precautions and be ready for unexpected movement into your path.
The due-care rule specifically requires proper precaution when a driver observes a child or an obviously confused, incapacitated or intoxicated person. A warning when necessary does not replace other precautions needed to avoid a collision.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:37, Drivers to Exercise Due Care, child and vulnerable-person precaution clause; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
A pedestrian with impaired vision is attempting to cross while holding a white cane extended in front of them. What must an approaching driver do?
Correct answer: Come to a full stop and take the precautions needed to avoid injury before proceeding.
The full-stop duty applies when a totally or partially blind person crosses or attempts to cross using a trained guide dog or a raised or extended white cane, including one tipped with red. Necessary precautions are required before proceeding.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:41, Care Required, first operative paragraph; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
A person with impaired vision is crossing without a white cane or trained guide dog. Does the absence of those aids remove the person's ordinary rights as a pedestrian?
Correct answer: No. The person retains the rights and privileges the law gives pedestrians.
The cane and guide-dog provision expressly preserves ordinary pedestrian rights for a totally or partially blind person who is not using those aids. Their absence is not permission to disregard the person's safety or applicable priority.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:41, Care Required, second operative paragraph; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
You approach a private car stopped beside the road with its hazard lights flashing. Oncoming traffic prevents a safe wide move to the left. Which response follows New Hampshire's roadside-incident rule?
Correct answer: Reduce speed and give as much practical berth as you can without endangering oncoming traffic.
The rule covers stopped or standing vehicles displaying warning signals, including hazard lights. Drivers must maintain reduced speed and give a practical wide berth without endangering oncoming traffic. It does not require an unsafe maneuver.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:37-a, Motorist Duties When Approaching Highway Emergencies, I opening and I(a); history includes 2025, 254:2, effective September 13, 2025; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
At a collision scene, part of your lane is blocked and an authorized person directs traffic into an available lane. What should you do?
Correct answer: Follow the directions and vacate the blocked lane as soon as possible.
Drivers approaching the covered incident must obey authorized traffic directions and applicable emergency controls, and vacate as soon as possible a lane that is wholly or partially blocked. The reduced-speed and safe-berth duties also apply.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:37-a, Motorist Duties When Approaching Highway Emergencies, I(a)–(c); official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
Your car develops a mechanical problem and stops in a traffic lane. Its hazard flashers work, the car is movable, and you can safely move it to the shoulder. What is required?
Correct answer: Activate the hazard flashers and immediately move it to the shoulder or another safe area off the traveled roadway.
For a mechanical breakdown, working hazard flashers must be activated. If the stopped vehicle is movable and the driver can move it, the driver must immediately move it to the shoulder or another safe area off the traveled portion.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:37-b, Avoidance of Lane Blockage, II–III; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
A clearly visible railroad signal warns that a train is approaching. Where must you stop your car before deciding whether it is safe to proceed?
Correct answer: Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.
When a listed railroad warning condition exists, the driver must stop at least 15 feet but no more than 50 feet from the nearest rail and must not proceed until it is safe. A clearly visible electric or mechanical warning of an approaching train is one such condition.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:48, Obedience to Signal Indicating Approach of Train or Other Maintenance of Way On-Track Equipment, I opening and I(a); official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
No crossing lights are flashing, but you can plainly see a train approaching so close that it presents a hazard. May you continue across without stopping?
Correct answer: No. The plainly visible train in hazardous proximity requires a stop.
A plainly visible approaching train in hazardous proximity is an independent trigger for the required railroad stop. Drivers must not wait for flashing lights, a horn or a lowered gate before respecting that hazard.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:48, Obedience to Signal Indicating Approach of Train or Other Maintenance of Way On-Track Equipment, I opening and I(d); official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
A train has passed and the crossing gate has started to rise. There is already enough room beneath it for your car. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait; you must not drive through, around or under the gate while it is being opened.
The prohibition applies while a railroad gate or barrier is closed, being closed or being opened. Available physical clearance is not permission to drive beneath a gate that is still opening.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:48, Obedience to Signal Indicating Approach of Train or Other Maintenance of Way On-Track Equipment, II; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
An official stop sign controls your approach to a designated railroad crossing. You see no train. How should you proceed?
Correct answer: Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail, then proceed only with due care.
At designated railroad grade crossings where the required stop signs are erected, every vehicle must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail and proceed only with due care. The duty is not conditional on seeing a train.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:49, All Vehicles Must Stop at Certain Railroad Grade Crossings, second operative paragraph; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
On an undivided road, an identified school bus ahead has stopped to receive children and its red lights are flashing. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop at least 25 feet before the bus and remain stopped until it moves or its red lights stop flashing.
The ordinary stopping rule applies to meeting or overtaking an identified bus stopped to receive or discharge school children. Stop at least 25 feet away and do not proceed until the bus resumes motion or its flashing red lights cease. This undivided-road scenario does not fall within the divided-road exception.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:54, Overtaking and Passing School Bus, I and III; current ordinary stopping duty, not January 1, 2027 enforcement provisions; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
A school bus is stopped in the opposite direction on the other roadway of a divided highway. A physical median separates the two roadways. Does the school-bus stopping rule require your car to stop?
Correct answer: No. The exception covers an opposite-direction bus on the other half of a divided highway with separate roadways.
The statute does not require a stop when meeting or passing an opposite-direction school bus on the other half of a divided highway with separate roadways. It does not create an exception for every multilane or undivided road.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:54, Overtaking and Passing School Bus, III, separate-roadways exception; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
You are required to stop behind a school bus receiving children on an undivided road. A wide paved area on its right looks empty. May you use it to pass while the bus remains stopped with red lights flashing?
Correct answer: No. A driver subject to the stopping duty must not overtake and pass the bus on the right.
The statute expressly prohibits passing the school bus on the right when the driver is required to stop under paragraph I, apart from the paragraph III exceptions. An empty-looking shoulder does not remove the duty.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:54, Overtaking and Passing School Bus, I, III and IV; ordinary operation only, no future enforcement claim; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
A transit bus, not a school bus, has stopped to let passengers get on and off. As you approach to pass, what does the passenger-bus rule require?
Correct answer: Slow down and stop if needed for public safety.
Drivers approaching or passing a bus or other passenger vehicle stopped for boarding or alighting must slow down and, if public safety requires it, stop. This is distinct from the identified school-bus stopping rule.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:55, Approaching Buses, Etc., operative paragraph; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
Outside a business or residence district, you want to stop a normally operating car to check a route. A safe, practical place off the paved or main-traveled roadway is available. Where should you stop?
Correct answer: Off the paved or main-traveled roadway in the available safe place.
Outside a business or residence district, a driver must not voluntarily stop, stand or park on the paved or main-traveled part when it is practicable to do so off that part. The unavoidable disabled-vehicle exception is not relevant to this normally operating car.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:68, Stopping, Standing or Parking Outside Business or Residence Districts, I–II; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
You are choosing an otherwise lawful voluntary stopping place outside a business or residence district. Along with leaving unobstructed room for traffic, how far away must the stopped car be clearly visible in each direction?
Correct answer: At least 200 feet.
For this rural stopping rule, an unobstructed width must remain for other vehicles and the stopped vehicle must be clearly visible from 200 feet in each direction. Hazard lights do not replace those requirements.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:68, Stopping, Standing or Parking Outside Business or Residence Districts, I, unobstructed-width and clear-view clauses; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
With no traffic emergency or official direction, you want to stop beside a car already parked at the curb so a passenger can get out. Is this allowed just because it will be brief?
Correct answer: No. Stopping on the roadway side of the parked car is prohibited.
Double parking is in the category that prohibits stopping, standing and parking. The momentary passenger exception in the separate standing/parking category does not create a passenger-loading exception here. The scenario excludes the general traffic-conflict and official-direction exceptions.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:69, Stopping, Standing or Parking Prohibited in Specified Places, opening exceptions and I(a); contrasted with II; official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
An otherwise safe curb location has an official No Standing sign, with no additional restriction. Which activity fits the statute's momentary passenger exception?
Correct answer: Momentarily stopping to pick up a passenger who is ready at the curb.
The standing/parking category allows a momentary stop to pick up or discharge passengers. It does not provide the same exception for waiting, route planning or merchandise delivery. Other applicable restrictions must still be respected.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:69, Stopping, Standing or Parking Prohibited in Specified Places, II opening and II(f); official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
A curb location is marked only No Parking and is not otherwise restricted. Which activity is within the statute's temporary loading exception?
Correct answer: Temporarily stopping while actually unloading merchandise.
The no-parking category excepts temporary stops for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading merchandise or passengers. Merely planning to load later does not satisfy that condition. A No Standing or No Stopping restriction is a different category.
Source: New Hampshire RSA 265:69, Stopping, Standing or Parking Prohibited in Specified Places, III opening and III(b); official operative HTML body read October 1, 2026. ↗
