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. ↗
