A car ahead stops at an intersection to let a pedestrian use an unmarked crosswalk. No marking says otherwise. May you overtake that car while the pedestrian crosses?
Correct answer: No. You must not overtake and pass a vehicle stopped there to permit a pedestrian to cross.
The no-passing rule covers marked crosswalks and unmarked crosswalks at intersections. The statute also presumes an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection unless markings indicate otherwise.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-4, Overtaking of vehicle stopped for pedestrian, subsections (a)-(b); official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
A pedestrian starts crossing midblock outside any marked or unmarked crosswalk and fails to yield to your car. What duty still applies to you?
Correct answer: Exercise due care to avoid a collision even though the pedestrian should yield.
A pedestrian outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked intersection crosswalk must yield, but the driver still has a separate duty of due care to avoid a collision. Right-of-way is not permission to strike someone.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-8, Due care by drivers; paired with §31-18-5, Crossing other than at crosswalks, operative paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
You see a young child close to the roadway who may move into your path. Which response follows Rhode Island's due-care rule?
Correct answer: Take appropriate extra precautions and be prepared to avoid unexpected movement.
The statute specifically requires proper precaution when a driver observes a child or an obviously confused, intoxicated or incapacitated person. An audible warning, when necessary, does not eliminate the duty to avoid a collision.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-8, Due care by drivers, child and vulnerable-person precaution clause; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
A pedestrian is attempting to cross the street while holding a white cane extended in front of them. What must an approaching driver do?
Correct answer: Come to a full stop before the crossing place and take necessary precautions before proceeding.
The rule requires a full stop before the intersection or crossing place for a pedestrian attempting to cross with a raised or extended white cane, including a white cane tipped with red. The driver must then take necessary precautions to avoid injury.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-14, Full stop for pedestrian with guide dog or white cane, operative paragraph; raised or extended cane condition; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
A person you know is visually impaired is crossing the street without a cane or guide dog. Does the absence of those aids remove the person's ordinary legal rights as a pedestrian?
Correct answer: No. A visually impaired person keeps the legal rights and privileges of a pedestrian without those aids.
The law expressly preserves the pedestrian rights of people who are blind, visually impaired or deaf when they do not carry a cane or use a guide or signal dog. This is not a claim that the special cane-based stop rule has no conditions.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-15, Pedestrians who are blind or deaf not guided by dog or carrying white cane, first paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
To enter a parking-garage driveway, your car must cross a public sidewalk where a pedestrian is walking. Who must yield at the sidewalk?
Correct answer: You must yield to the traffic proceeding along the sidewalk.
A driver crossing a sidewalk must yield to all traffic proceeding along and upon it. Signaling a turn does not give the car priority across that sidewalk.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-18, Right-of-way on sidewalks, operative paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
A clearly visible railroad warning signal indicates that a train is approaching. Where must an ordinary car driver stop relative to the nearest rail?
Correct answer: At least 15 feet but no more than 50 feet from the nearest rail, then wait until it is safe to proceed.
When one of the statutory warning conditions applies, the required stop is between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. An active signal warning of the train's immediate approach is one of those conditions.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-20-1, When railroad crossing stops required of all vehicles, opening paragraph and subdivision (1); official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
At a railroad crossing, you plainly see a train approaching close enough to be a hazard, even though no warning light is flashing. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop as required and do not proceed until the crossing can be made safely.
A train that is plainly visible and in hazardous proximity is itself a statutory reason to stop. A driver need not wait for a second warning such as a flashing light or horn.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-20-1, Opening stop requirement and subdivision (4), plainly visible train in hazardous proximity; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
A train has passed and the crossing gate is beginning to rise, but it is still moving. May you drive under it as soon as there appears to be room for your car?
Correct answer: No. Do not drive through, around or under the barrier while it is closed or being opened or closed.
The gate rule includes a barrier that is being opened, not only one that is fully down. Physical clearance for the car is not permission to pass a moving gate.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-20-2, Driving through railroad gate or barrier, subsection (a); official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
On an undivided road, you approach a properly marked school bus stopped to receive students with its red lights flashing. No child is visible in your lane. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop before reaching the bus; do not pass while it remains stopped with the red lights flashing.
The stop requirement applies when meeting or overtaking the school bus from either direction in this situation. The statute permits proceeding when the bus resumes motion or the flashing lights cease; the driver must still proceed safely.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-20-12, Stopping for school bus required, subsection (a), first paragraph; undivided-road scenario excludes §31-20-13 separate-roadway exception; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
A stopped school bus is across a wide physical median on the other roadway of a divided highway. You are driving on the separate opposite roadway. Does its stop alone require you to stop under the school-bus rule?
Correct answer: No. The statute provides an exception when the bus is on the other side of the divided highway.
The separate-roadway exception applies to a driver on the other side of a divided highway. This does not exempt traffic following the bus on its roadway or remove any other applicable duty to drive safely.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-20-13, School buses stopped on divided highway or in loading zone, subdivision (1); official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
You are driving an ordinary private car in the same lane behind a moving school bus. What minimum distance does this Rhode Island provision require?
Correct answer: At least 50 feet, with more space whenever conditions require it.
Section 31-20-12 prohibits traveling in the same lane less than 50 feet behind a school bus, except for emergency vehicles on official business. This minimum does not promise that 50 feet is a safe gap at every speed or in every condition.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-20-12, Subsection (a), same-lane following-distance paragraph and emergency-vehicle exception; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
A crossing guard is helping pedestrians cross ahead of you. What controls when you may move past the guard?
Correct answer: Stop before the guard and wait until signaled to proceed or until the guard has finished helping the pedestrian safely to the sidewalk.
The statute requires an approaching driver to stop before the crossing guard. It specifies release by the guard or completion of the guard's duty of aiding the pedestrian safely to the sidewalk.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-20-17, Stopping for crossing guards and school bus monitors required, subsection (a); official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
Outside a business or residential district, you want to stop briefly to consult directions. A safe, practical stopping place is available off the paved or main traveled part of the highway. Where should you stop?
Correct answer: Off the paved or main traveled part rather than leaving the car in the travel path.
Outside a business or residence district, a driver must not stop, stand or park on the paved or main traveled part when it is practical to stop off that part. Attending the car or making a brief stop does not remove that restriction.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-21-1, Stopping on traveled portion of open highway prohibited, first paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
For a voluntary stop on an open highway outside a business or residential district, the rule requires leaving unobstructed width for traffic. What clear view of the stopped car must also be available?
Correct answer: A clear view from 200 feet in each direction along the highway.
The provision requires both free passage and visibility of the stopped vehicle from 200 feet in each direction. Satisfying only one of these conditions is not enough.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-21-1, Second paragraph, unobstructed width and 200-foot view in each direction; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
You are at a place where a passenger pickup is otherwise lawful. Where should you position your car to let the passenger get in?
Correct answer: As close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
The passenger-loading rule directs the driver to admit or discharge passengers as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or road edge. This does not create permission to stop at an otherwise prohibited place.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-21-6, Admission or discharge of passengers, operative paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
You are parked beside a bicycle lane and want to open the door into that space. A cyclist is approaching. What must you do?
Correct answer: Wait until opening the door is reasonably safe and will not interfere with the cyclist.
Door opening must be reasonably safe and must not interfere with moving traffic. The law explicitly includes bicycles and pedestrians on bicycle lanes, shoulders and sidewalks.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-21-14, Opening vehicle doors, first paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
Your passenger has finished getting out, but you want to leave the door open on the side exposed to moving traffic while you sort items inside. What does the door rule require?
Correct answer: Do not leave it open longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
The statute regulates both safe opening and how long a traffic-exposed door remains open. Once the passenger-loading need ends, that door must not remain open unnecessarily.
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-21-14, Opening vehicle doors, second paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗
