You are ready to leave a curbside parking place, but a cyclist is approaching along your intended path. When may you start moving?
Correct answer: After establishing that the movement can be made safely, without pulling into the cyclist’s path.
Starting from a stopped, standing or parked position is allowed only when the movement can be made with reasonable safety. Being ready to leave does not make the path clear.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-1, care when starting from a stop; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
At a normal intersection without markings directing a different turn path, how should you position your car for a right turn?
Correct answer: Approach and turn as close as practical to the right curb or roadway edge.
The ordinary right-turn rule calls for both approach and turn to be as close as practicable to the right curb or edge. Do not use an unnecessary wide swing in a passenger car.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-2, (1)(i); ordinary layout stated in the prompt; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You plan an ordinary left turn where both roads carry traffic in both directions. Where should you approach the turn when no special lane markings direct otherwise?
Correct answer: In your right half of the road, nearest its center line.
For this two-way layout, approach within your lawful half nearest the center line. The rule does not authorize crossing into opposing traffic before the turn.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-2, (2)(i); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
An intersection has one-way traffic on the road you are leaving or entering, and no special markings direct another path. From which lane should you approach a left turn?
Correct answer: The extreme left lane lawfully available to traffic traveling your direction.
Where one or more of the roads is one-way, the statute calls for an approach in the extreme left lane lawfully available in the driver’s direction.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-2, (3)(i); official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Near a hill crest, another approaching driver cannot see your vehicle within 500 feet from one direction. May you make a U-turn there?
Correct answer: No. The restricted visibility makes a U-turn there prohibited.
A U-turn is prohibited on a curve or at or near a grade crest when the vehicle cannot be seen by an approaching driver from either direction within 500 feet.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-4, curve or grade-crest visibility restriction; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You signal before turning into a driveway, but a vehicle is still in the path your turn would cross. What does the signal allow you to do?
Correct answer: Communicate your intention, while still waiting until the movement can be made safely.
The turn rule requires a reasonably safe movement as well as an appropriate signal when other traffic may be affected. A signal communicates intent; it does not remove the safety requirement.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-5, safe movement and signal requirements; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
Traffic may be affected by your planned turn. For at least how much of the approach must you signal continuously before turning?
Correct answer: The last 100 feet traveled before the turn.
When a turn signal is required, Rhode Island calls for a continuous signal during at least the final 100 feet before the turn. One early flash does not satisfy continuous signaling.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-6, continuous final100feet; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You need to stop or reduce speed suddenly, and there is an opportunity to warn the vehicle immediately behind. What does the rule require?
Correct answer: Give an appropriate signal before the stop or sudden reduction.
When there is an opportunity, warn the driver immediately behind before stopping or suddenly decreasing speed. The rule recognizes that some emergencies leave no opportunity for advance warning.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-16-7, opportunity to signal before stopping; official HTML codification read October 1, 2026. Selected road-rule foundation, not a complete DMV handbook or licensing review. ↗
You are driving normally on a two-way road wide enough for traffic in both directions. You are not passing, turning or avoiding a closed lane. Which part of the roadway should you use?
Correct answer: The right half of the roadway.
Rhode Island's ordinary rule is to drive on the right half. The statute lists specific exceptions; an empty opposing lane is not one of them.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-1 — Right half of road; opening rule and exceptions (1)–(4); official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
Your car is moving more slowly than the normal traffic flow. You are not passing or preparing to turn left. Which lane should you normally use?
Correct answer: The available right-hand lane.
Slower traffic belongs in the available right-hand lane, or as close as practicable to the right edge. Passing and preparing for a left turn are stated exceptions.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-2 — Slow traffic to right; first paragraph and passing/left-turn exceptions; official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
On a road just wide enough for one line of traffic in each direction, an oncoming car approaches. How should you share the traveled roadway?
Correct answer: Pass to the right and give the other driver at least half of the traveled portion as nearly as possible.
Opposing vehicles pass to the right of each other. On a road with only room for one traffic line each way, each driver must provide the other about half of the main traveled roadway, as nearly as possible.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-3 — Passing of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions; operative paragraph; official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
You have lawfully moved left to pass another car. When may you move back to the right in front of it?
Correct answer: Only after you are safely clear of the car you passed.
A pass must leave a safe distance, and the passing driver must be safely clear before moving back to the right. Merely drawing alongside is not enough.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-4 — Overtaking on left; subsection (1), safe clearance before returning right; official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
Another driver gives an audible signal and begins a lawful pass on your left. What should you do while that vehicle passes?
Correct answer: Give way to the right and do not increase your speed until it has completely passed.
Except where passing on the right is allowed, an overtaken driver must give way to the right after the audible signal and must not speed up until completely passed.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-4 — Overtaking on left; subsection (2), overtaken driver's duty after audible signal; official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
A car ahead is waiting to turn left. The only way to pass on its right would take your tires off the pavement onto the roadside. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait; a right-side pass cannot be made by driving off the pavement or main-traveled roadway.
A left-turning vehicle can qualify for a right-side pass, but only when the movement is safe and stays on the pavement or main-traveled part of the road.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-5 — Overtaking on the right; subsections (a)(1) and (b); official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
On an unobstructed one-way road, there is enough roadway width for two lines of moving vehicles. A car ahead is moving slowly. What makes passing it on the right permissible?
Correct answer: There is enough room to complete the pass safely while staying on the traveled roadway.
The statute permits right-side passing on a qualifying one-way roadway of sufficient unobstructed width. It still requires a safe movement without leaving the pavement or main-traveled roadway.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-5 — Overtaking on the right; subsections (a)(2) and (b); official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
You would need the opposing lane to pass a slow car, but cannot see far enough ahead to know whether you could finish without affecting oncoming traffic. What should you do?
Correct answer: Remain behind until the visible, clear distance is sufficient for the entire pass.
Before crossing the center to pass, the left side must be visible and clear for enough distance to complete the pass without interfering with either oncoming or overtaken traffic.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-6 — Clearance for overtaking; first operative paragraph; official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
On a two-way road, a hillcrest hides any oncoming vehicles close enough to create a hazard. May you move into the left half of the roadway to pass before reaching the crest?
Correct answer: No; the obstructed view makes that left-side movement prohibited.
On a two-way roadway, the statute prohibits driving left where a crest or curve obstructs the view enough to create an oncoming-traffic hazard. It does not depend on a separate sign.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-7 — Places where overtaking prohibited; subsections (a)(1) and (b); official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
You are on a two-way road, 75 feet before a railroad grade crossing. May you drive into the left half of the roadway to overtake a slow car there?
Correct answer: No; the prohibition applies within 100 feet of or while crossing the railroad crossing.
The section prohibits this left-side movement within 100 feet of or through a railroad grade crossing. Its one-way-road exception does not fit this two-way-road situation.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-7 — Places where overtaking prohibited; subsections (a)(2) and (b); official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
An official, clearly visible no-passing sign applies to your direction. The road ahead looks empty. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stay behind instead of treating the empty road as permission to pass.
Drivers must obey clearly visible official no-passing directions. A driver's own impression that the road is empty does not cancel the posted restriction.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-8 — Posting of no passing zones; visible signs and markings paragraph; official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
You have signaled a lane change, but have not yet established that the next lane is safe to enter. What must happen before you move over?
Correct answer: You must first determine that the movement can be made safely.
A vehicle should remain within its lane as nearly as practical and may leave it only after the driver has established that the move can be made safely. Signaling does not replace that check.
Source: R.I. General Laws § 31-15-11 — Laned roadways; subsection (1); official legislature HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
