A traffic officer directs you to continue through an intersection even though the signal facing you is red. Which instruction controls your movement?
Correct answer: Follow the officer’s direction while watching for hazards.
The duty to obey a traffic-control device has an exception when a traffic or police officer directs otherwise. Continue attentively, following that direction.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-4, obedience to devices and officer-direction exception; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Your signal turns green, but a pedestrian is still lawfully crossing in front of you. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield until your movement will not interfere with the pedestrian.
A circular green permits movement, but drivers must yield to pedestrians lawfully in the associated crosswalk and vehicles lawfully in the intersection.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (1)(i)(A); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
The only signal permitting movement in your lane is a green left arrow. You want to go straight. What does that arrow authorize?
Correct answer: Only the indicated left turn, made cautiously; it does not authorize going straight.
A green arrow permits the movement it indicates. Another movement needs a separate signal permitting it; the arrow alone is not a general green light.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (1)(iv); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A circular green light changes to steady yellow as you approach. What does the yellow tell you?
Correct answer: The green movement is ending and red will follow; do not treat it as an invitation to speed up.
Steady yellow warns that the green movement is ending and red is next. The existing movement rules still apply during yellow; it does not grant a new priority.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (2)(i); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You face a steady red light at an intersection with a clearly marked stop line before the crosswalk. Where must you stop?
Correct answer: At the marked stop line, before entering the crosswalk.
At steady red, the marked stop line is the stopping point. If there is no line, stop before the near-side crosswalk; if there is no crosswalk, stop before the intersection.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (3)(i); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You want to turn right at a steady circular red light. No sign prohibits the turn and no red arrow is displayed. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop completely, then yield as required and turn only when safe.
A right turn on circular red is permitted under these stated conditions, but only under the rules that apply after stopping at a stop sign. Permission to turn does not remove the stop or yielding duties.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (3)(i)(A); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A steady red arrow points right in your turn lane. There is no other signal permitting that right turn. May you turn after stopping?
Correct answer: No. Wait for a signal or other traffic-control device permitting that movement.
A steady red arrow prohibits entering to make its indicated movement until a signal or other traffic-control device permits it. The circular-red right-turn permission does not apply to this red arrow.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (3)(i)(A) and (3)(ii); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Your left-turn signal is a flashing yellow arrow. An oncoming vehicle is close enough to conflict with your turn. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield to the oncoming vehicle and turn cautiously when the path is safe.
A flashing yellow arrow permits a cautious turn, not a protected one. Yield to conflicting oncoming traffic, pedestrians lawfully in the crosswalk and vehicles lawfully in the intersection.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (4)(iii)(A)–(B); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
The traffic signal facing you flashes red. What is the correct way to enter the intersection?
Correct answer: Stop fully, then apply the yielding rules for a stop sign before proceeding.
A flashing circular red requires a complete stop. After stopping, entry follows the same right-of-way rules as a stop sign.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (5)(i); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You face a flashing circular yellow light. Which response is correct?
Correct answer: Proceed cautiously, watching for conflicts and yielding where required.
Flashing yellow means caution. It does not give unconditional priority or eliminate the duty to yield to pedestrians and vehicles already lawfully within the intersection.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (4)(i)(A)–(B); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
An official traffic signal requires you to stop at a location between intersections. A pavement marking shows the stopping point. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop at the indicated pavement marking.
Official signals also apply away from intersections. Use the sign or pavement marking that indicates the required stopping point; without one, stop at the signal.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-7, signals outside intersections; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You face a circular green light, but a clearly posted sign prohibits left turns. What may you do?
Correct answer: Follow the permitted movements and do not make the prohibited left turn.
A circular green does not override lane-use signs, turn prohibitions, lane markings or separate turn signals. A clear gap does not cancel the posted restriction.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-13-6, (1)(i); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A driver extends their left hand and arm straight out horizontally from the vehicle. What movement does that signal indicate?
Correct answer: A left turn.
A left arm extended horizontally indicates a left turn. The direction of the arm matters; upward and downward signals have different meanings.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-10, (1); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A driver’s hand and arm extend upward from the left side of the vehicle. What does that signal mean?
Correct answer: The driver intends to turn right.
An upward hand-and-arm signal from the left side indicates a right turn.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-10, (2); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A driver gives a hand-and-arm signal downward from the left side of the vehicle. What should you understand?
Correct answer: The driver intends to stop or decrease speed.
The downward hand-and-arm signal means stopping or slowing. Allow for that change rather than interpreting it as permission to pass.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-10, (3); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Rain and poor visibility make the posted speed too fast for the conditions. What should determine your speed?
Correct answer: A reasonable speed for the actual hazards, even when that is below the posted limit.
Rhode Island requires a speed that is reasonable and prudent for existing conditions and hazards. A posted limit is not a promise that the same speed is safe in rain or poor visibility.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-14-1, reasonable and prudent speed; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You approach a narrow curve with a limited view of the road beyond it. Which approach follows the reduced-speed rule?
Correct answer: Approach and travel through at an appropriately reduced speed for the hazard.
The reduced-speed rule covers curves, hill crests, narrow or winding roads and other special hazards. Anticipate the condition rather than wait for a conflict to develop.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-14-3, (a), road and visibility hazards; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
On a highway with two lanes in your direction, a disabled ordinary car is stopped on the shoulder within 12 feet of the roadway. No officer directs otherwise, and you can change lanes safely without interfering with traffic. What should you do?
Correct answer: Move into the lane farther from the stopped vehicle and remain there until safely clear.
The rule includes a stationary nonemergency vehicle on the shoulder or breakdown lane. For this vehicle within 12 feet of the roadway, move to a farther lane when the change is safe, unless a lawful traffic direction requires otherwise.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-14-3, (a) and (b)(1), including nonemergency vehicles; 2023 history; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
A tow truck is stopped within 12 feet of the roadway with warning lights flashing. No officer directs otherwise, and traffic makes a lane change unsafe. How should you pass the scene?
Correct answer: Reduce to a safe speed for the conditions and remain at reduced speed until completely past.
For this roadside scene within 12 feet of the roadway, an unsafe lane change is not required. Slow and continue at a reduced, safe speed until completely past; do not force a lane change into traffic.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-14-3, (b)(2); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Snow requires you to travel slowly enough that following traffic is also slowed. Does the rule against impeding traffic require you to speed up beyond what is safe?
Correct answer: No. Reduced speed necessary for safe operation is an exception to that rule.
The prohibition on unnecessarily impeding normal traffic expressly excepts reduced speed needed for safety or compliance with law. It is not an instruction to drive too fast for the conditions.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-14-9, (a); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
