You are on a two-way road wide enough for traffic in both directions. You are not passing, avoiding an obstruction or using a specially designated lane. Where should you drive?
Correct answer: On the right half of the roadway.
The ordinary rule is to travel on the right half. A clear view or smoother surface alone is not one of the listed exceptions.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1031(a): ordinary right-half rule and listed exceptions. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
A fallen limb blocks your side of a two-way road. An oncoming car is close enough that moving around the limb would interfere with it. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield to the oncoming car before using the unobstructed side.
An obstruction may justify going left of center, but it does not give you priority. Yield to traffic properly using the unobstructed side when it is close enough to be an immediate hazard.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1031(a)(2): obstruction exception and immediate-hazard yielding duty. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
You are moving slower than the normal traffic flow on a multilane road and are neither passing nor preparing a left turn. Which position does the ordinary rule require?
Correct answer: The available right-hand lane.
Traffic moving below the normal speed for the time, place and conditions belongs in the available right-hand lane or as close as practicable to the right edge. Passing and left-turn preparation are exceptions.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1031(b): slower-than-normal traffic; passing and left-turn exceptions. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
You meet an oncoming car on a road only wide enough for one line of vehicles in each direction. How should the usable roadway be shared?
Correct answer: Pass to the right of each other, each giving the other at least half the main-traveled portion as nearly as possible.
Opposing vehicles pass each other to the right. On this narrow-road layout, each driver must give the other at least half the main-traveled portion as nearly as possible.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1032: opposing traffic passes right and shares the main-traveled roadway. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
You are lawfully passing a car on its left. Your front bumper has just moved ahead of its front bumper. When may you return to the right side?
Correct answer: Only after you are safely clear of the car you passed.
The rule requires safe clearance before returning right. Getting the front of your car ahead or giving a signal does not establish enough room to merge back safely.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1033(a)(1): safe passing distance and return only when safely clear. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
Another car is passing you on the left where that maneuver is allowed. What should you do while the pass is being completed?
Correct answer: Give way to the right and do not increase your speed until the other car has completely passed.
Except where passing on the right is permitted, the overtaken driver must give way to the right and must not increase speed until completely passed. This paragraph does not make that duty depend on hearing a horn.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1033(a)(2): give way right and do not accelerate until completely passed. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
You are preparing to pass a person riding a bicycle on the highway. Which plan matches the vulnerable-user passing rule?
Correct answer: Reduce speed and provide at least four feet of clearance, crossing the center only when the passing rules permit it.
A bicycle operator is a defined vulnerable user. The rule calls for reducing speed and at least four feet of clearance; it does not cancel the restrictions on crossing the center of the highway.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1033(b); 4(81): vulnerable-user due care, at least four feet, and center-crossing limits; definition includes bicycle operators. Definition: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/001/00004, § 4(81). Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
A stationary delivery vehicle has its flashing lights on beside your path. How should you pass it under Vermont's rule for this situation?
Correct answer: Reduce speed and increase clearance, with at least four feet recommended, while obeying the limits on crossing the center.
For the specified stationary sanitation, maintenance, utility or delivery vehicles with flashing lights, the statute requires due care and reduced speed but describes four feet as recommended. Center-crossing rules still apply.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1033(c): specified stationary flashing-light vehicles; recommended four-foot clearance and due care. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
A car ahead is waiting to turn left. You could get around it only by driving onto the unpaved shoulder. What is the lawful choice?
Correct answer: Wait rather than pass off the pavement or main-traveled roadway.
A left-turning vehicle is one circumstance in which passing on the right may be permitted. It never authorizes passing by driving off the pavement or main-traveled portion.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1034(a)(1), (b): left-turn right-pass allowance does not authorize leaving pavement or main-traveled roadway. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
You are considering passing a moving car on its right on a street. Which roadway condition is specifically required for the street-width allowance?
Correct answer: Enough unobstructed pavement for at least two lines of moving vehicles, not space occupied by parked vehicles.
The street-width allowance requires sufficient width for two or more moving lines and unobstructed pavement not occupied by parked vehicles. It does not permit using an off-road shoulder to create that width.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1034(a)(2), (b): sufficient unobstructed pavement for two or more moving lines; no off-road passing. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
A passing zone is otherwise available, but the opposing lane disappears around a bend before you could complete a pass. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait until enough of the opposing lane is visible and clear to finish without interfering with other road users.
Authorization to pass is only one condition. The left side must also be clearly visible and free for enough distance to complete the maneuver without interfering with oncoming or overtaken vehicles or vulnerable users.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1035(a): left-of-center pass requires enough visible, clear distance for completion without interference. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
A lawful pass uses a lane normally reserved for opposing traffic. In addition to returning as soon as practicable, what oncoming-clearance limit applies?
Correct answer: Return to an authorized lane before coming within 200 feet of an approaching vehicle or vulnerable user.
The statute requires return as soon as practicable and, when using an opposing lane, before coming within 200 feet of approaching traffic or a vulnerable user. That limit does not excuse starting an unsafe pass.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1035(a): return as soon as practicable and before within 200 feet of approaching traffic. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
You are following a moving car toward a hillcrest on a two-way road, and the crest obstructs your view. There is no roadway obstruction or vehicle turning left into a private entrance. May you pass the car from behind?
Correct answer: No; the obstructed-view crest makes this passing maneuver prohibited.
The stated circumstances fall under the ban on passing from the rear when approaching or on a crest where the view is obstructed. The statute's one-way, roadway-obstruction and specified left-turn exceptions are not present.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1035(b)(1), (c): obstructed-view crest restriction and listed exceptions. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
Clearly visible signs mark a no-passing zone. You want to cross the center simply to overtake a slower moving car; no obstruction or private-entrance left turn is involved. What should you do?
Correct answer: Remain on your side and wait for a place where the pass is permitted and safe.
The posted restriction applies to this ordinary overtaking maneuver. The obstruction and specified private-entrance left-turn exceptions do not turn a slow moving vehicle into permission to pass.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1036(a)–(c): signed no-passing zone; obstruction and specified left-turn exceptions. Vermont Statutes Online: compilation includes actions of the 2025 session; unofficial VSA copy. Read October 1, 2026; no full 2026 session-law reconciliation. ↗
