Michigan Right of Way and Intersections Practice Questions

Right of Way and Intersections questions

1. 1. Two vehicles reach a four-way stop at exactly the same moment. Who goes first?

   1. A. The vehicle furthest to the right
   2. B. The vehicle furthest to the left
   3. C. The larger vehicle

   Answer: A — The vehicle furthest to the right

   At a four-way stop the first to stop goes first; when arrivals tie, the driver on the right has the right of way.

2. 2. At a four-way stop where vehicles arrive at different times, who proceeds first?

   1. A. The driver going straight ahead
   2. B. The driver on the widest road
   3. C. The driver who stopped first

   Answer: C — The driver who stopped first

   Order of arrival decides at a four-way stop; ties are broken in favour of the vehicle on the right.

3. 3. You reach an intersection with no signs or signals at the same time as a car on your right. What must you do?

   1. A. Sound your horn and continue
   2. B. Yield to the vehicle on your right
   3. C. Proceed because you are on the left

   Answer: B — Yield to the vehicle on your right

   At an uncontrolled intersection the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

4. 4. You enter an uncontrolled intersection at an unlawful speed. What happens to your right of way?

   1. A. You forfeit it
   2. B. It is unaffected
   3. C. It transfers to the slower vehicle

   Answer: A — You forfeit it

   A driver entering an intersection at an unlawful speed forfeits any right of way they would otherwise have had.

5. 5. Why should you slow down at an intersection with no traffic control even when you appear to have the right of way?

   1. A. Because the speed limit is always lower there
   2. B. Because stopping is legally required
   3. C. Because another driver may not yield as required

   Answer: C — Because another driver may not yield as required

   Right of way is something you give, not take; a defensive driver is prepared for another driver's mistake.

6. 6. You are turning left at an intersection with a green ball signal. Who must you yield to?

   1. A. Only the vehicles waiting behind you
   2. B. Oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the crosswalk
   3. C. Only pedestrians who are already in the road

   Answer: B — Oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the crosswalk

   A permissive green allows a left turn only after yielding to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.

7. 7. From which lane should you begin and end a left turn on a two-way street?

   1. A. From the lane nearest the centre line into the lane just right of the centre line
   2. B. From the right-hand lane into whichever lane is available
   3. C. From the centre of the road across into the far side of the street just ahead

   Answer: A — From the lane nearest the centre line into the lane just right of the centre line

   Left turns start from the lane closest to the centre line and finish in the lane just to the right of the centre line on the new road.

8. 8. How should a right turn at an intersection be made?

   1. A. From the centre lane into whichever lane is free
   2. B. Wide, so that the vehicle swings out to the left before turning
   3. C. From as close to the right edge as practical, into the right lane

   Answer: C — From as close to the right edge as practical, into the right lane

   Keeping close to the right edge prevents another vehicle or cyclist from moving up on your right during the turn.

9. 9. You are stopped in an intersection waiting to turn left when the signal turns yellow. What should you do?

   1. A. Remain stopped until the next green shows
   2. B. Complete the turn when oncoming traffic clears
   3. C. Reverse back out of the intersection

   Answer: B — Complete the turn when oncoming traffic clears

   A vehicle already lawfully in the intersection should clear it as soon as it can be done safely.

10. 10. What must you do when approaching a roundabout?

    1. A. Slow down and yield to traffic already circulating
    2. B. Come to a complete stop before entering
    3. C. Accelerate in order to merge into a gap in traffic

    Answer: A — Slow down and yield to traffic already circulating

    Traffic already in a roundabout has the right of way; approaching drivers slow and yield.

11. 11. Which direction does traffic travel in a roundabout in the United States?

    1. A. Clockwise, entering to the left
    2. B. Either way, depending on the sign
    3. C. Counterclockwise, entering to the right

    Answer: C — Counterclockwise, entering to the right

    United States roundabouts circulate counterclockwise, so drivers enter by turning right.

12. 12. An emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren while you are inside a roundabout. What should you do?

    1. A. Reverse back out of the roundabout
    2. B. Continue to your exit, then pull over clear of the roundabout
    3. C. Stop immediately where you are inside the roundabout

    Answer: B — Continue to your exit, then pull over clear of the roundabout

    Stopping inside a roundabout blocks every other user; exit first and then pull over.

13. 13. An ambulance approaches with lights and siren active. What must you do?

    1. A. Pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes
    2. B. Speed up in order to stay well ahead of the approaching ambulance
    3. C. Stop immediately in your own lane

    Answer: A — Pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes

    Yield by moving to the right and stopping clear of the intersection so the emergency vehicle has a clear path.

14. 14. On which roadway are you NOT required to stop for a school bus loading in the opposite roadway?

    1. A. Any road at all that carries a painted centre line between the directions
    2. B. Any road that has more than two marked traffic lanes
    3. C. A divided highway of four or more lanes carrying traffic in opposite directions

    Answer: C — A divided highway of four or more lanes carrying traffic in opposite directions

    The exception applies only on a divided highway of four or more lanes where at least two lanes carry traffic in opposite directions.

15. 15. What do the amber flashing lights on a school bus mean?

    1. A. The bus is broken down
    2. B. The bus is preparing to stop and load or unload
    3. C. The bus has finished loading and is moving off

    Answer: B — The bus is preparing to stop and load or unload

    Amber lights give advance warning that the bus is about to stop and display its red lights.

16. 16. You are entering a highway from a private driveway. Who has the right of way?

    1. A. Traffic already on the highway and pedestrians on the sidewalk
    2. B. You do have it, because you are the one entering the road first
    3. C. Whichever vehicle happens to be moving faster

    Answer: A — Traffic already on the highway and pedestrians on the sidewalk

    A driver entering from a driveway or alley must yield to roadway traffic and to pedestrians crossing the driveway.

17. 17. You are turning left across an oncoming lane into a driveway. Who has the right of way?

    1. A. You, because you signalled first
    2. B. Neither driver has priority
    3. C. The oncoming vehicle

    Answer: C — The oncoming vehicle

    A left-turning driver must yield to oncoming traffic that is close enough to be a hazard.

18. 18. A vehicle is already in the intersection when your light turns green. What should you do?

    1. A. Sound your horn to make it move
    2. B. Wait until it clears before proceeding
    3. C. Proceed because you have a green light

    Answer: B — Wait until it clears before proceeding

    A green light means proceed only when the way is clear; vehicles lawfully in the intersection must be allowed to finish.

19. 19. You are on a road that ends at a T intersection with a through street. Who must yield?

    1. A. You must yield to traffic on the through street
    2. B. Traffic on the through street must yield to you
    3. C. Whoever arrives first proceeds

    Answer: A — You must yield to traffic on the through street

    A driver on a terminating road yields to traffic on the through roadway.

20. 20. A funeral procession is passing through an intersection. What is the safest and most courteous action?

    1. A. Merge into the procession in order to cross the junction
    2. B. Sound your horn and proceed through it
    3. C. Wait and let the procession pass without cutting into it

    Answer: C — Wait and let the procession pass without cutting into it

    Cutting into a procession is dangerous because the vehicles follow closely and travel as a group.

21. 21. You approach an intersection where a driver is already waiting to turn left with a signal on. What should you assume?

    1. A. That the driver will turn immediately in front
    2. B. Nothing, until you confirm the driver has actually seen you
    3. C. That the driver will simply wait there for you to pass first

    Answer: B — Nothing, until you confirm the driver has actually seen you

    Defensive driving means confirming another driver's intent rather than assuming a signal will be honoured.

22. 22. Why should you avoid entering an intersection you cannot clear?

    1. A. You would block cross traffic when the signal changes
    2. B. It is perfectly legal to do so, only discourteous
    3. C. It has no real effect on other drivers

    Answer: A — You would block cross traffic when the signal changes

    Entering an intersection without room to exit leaves you stranded across cross traffic when the light changes.

23. 23. When making a turn, when should you check your mirrors and blind spot?

    1. A. Only after you have already started making the turn
    2. B. Only if the road is unusually busy
    3. C. Before you signal and again before you begin the turn

    Answer: C — Before you signal and again before you begin the turn

    Checking early and again just before moving catches vehicles, motorcycles, or cyclists that appeared in the interval.

24. 24. You are turning right on red and there is a cyclist in the bike lane beside you. What must you do?

    1. A. Sound your horn and proceed
    2. B. Yield to the cyclist before completing the turn
    3. C. Turn first because you are the larger vehicle

    Answer: B — Yield to the cyclist before completing the turn

    A right turn on red requires yielding to all traffic and pedestrians lawfully proceeding, cyclists included.

25. 25. You are stopped in an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches. What is the correct action?

    1. A. Clear the intersection first, then pull to the right and stop
    2. B. Stop immediately at exactly the point where you now are
    3. C. Reverse back out of the intersection

    Answer: A — Clear the intersection first, then pull to the right and stop

    Stopping inside the intersection blocks the emergency vehicle's path; clear it first, then pull over.

26. 26. Why should you avoid stopping suddenly in a travel lane when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind?

    1. A. It is against the law to slow down at all for one
    2. B. Emergency vehicles always pass on the left-hand side of the road, whatever the traffic
    3. C. Following drivers may not stop in time and the emergency vehicle needs a predictable path

    Answer: C — Following drivers may not stop in time and the emergency vehicle needs a predictable path

    Predictable movement to the right lets the emergency vehicle and following traffic anticipate what you will do.

27. 27. Which statement best describes right of way?

    1. A. It always belongs to the larger of the vehicles
    2. B. It is something a driver gives, not something a driver takes
    3. C. It is a legal entitlement that always overrides caution

    Answer: B — It is something a driver gives, not something a driver takes

    The law says who must yield, not who may force their way through; safety depends on giving way when there is doubt.

28. 28. What is the greatest risk at an intersection where your view is blocked by parked cars or shrubbery?

    1. A. Cross traffic and pedestrians may appear with little warning
    2. B. The posted speed limit may change ahead without any warning
    3. C. Your brakes may fade under repeated use

    Answer: A — Cross traffic and pedestrians may appear with little warning

    A blocked sight line means you must creep forward slowly until you can see, rather than relying on the right of way.

29. 29. Two vehicles meet on a narrow mountain road where neither can pass. Which one should back up?

    1. A. The vehicle travelling uphill
    2. B. The smaller vehicle
    3. C. The vehicle travelling downhill

    Answer: C — The vehicle travelling downhill

    The downhill vehicle has better control while reversing, so the uphill vehicle keeps the right of way.

30. 30. Where should you position your front wheels while waiting to turn left in an intersection?

    1. A. Turned slightly right
    2. B. Pointing straight ahead
    3. C. Turned to the left ready for the turn

    Answer: B — Pointing straight ahead

    Wheels turned left mean a rear-end impact would push your vehicle into oncoming traffic.