Name:
Date:
Mentor:
How to use this practice test. Pick the one
best answer for each question and write its letter on the "My answer" line.
- Try each question on your own first. If you are stuck, read the Nudge — it points you toward the right way of thinking without giving the answer away.
- After every question, write why you picked your answer in your own words. This shows whether you understand the rule or are only guessing.
- Review your written reasons with your mentor. Look up any rule you are unsure of in the MV-21 chapter named in the section header.
- On the real permit test you answer 20 questions and must get 14 right, including at least 2 of the 4 road-sign questions. These questions come only from chapters tested on the written exam.
CHAPTER 4Traffic Control — MV-21 Chapter 4
1.What is the normal shape and color of a warning sign?
- A. A yellow diamond with black letters or symbols.
- B. A white rectangle with black letters.
- C. A green rectangle with white letters.
- D. A blue rectangle with white symbols.
Nudge — Think about the sign that warns you a hazard or special rule is coming up — its distinctive shape is meant to catch your eye.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
2.You approach an intersection where the traffic lights are completely out of service and not operating. What must you do?
- A. Drive through at normal speed since the signals are off.
- B. Stop as you would for a stop sign, then proceed according to right-of-way rules.
- C. Wait until another driver goes first before moving.
- D. Treat the intersection as if you always have the right-of-way.
Nudge — A dark signal doesn't leave the intersection lawless. Ask what fallback would keep right-of-way orderly when the device fails — Chapter 4's section on out-of-service lights spells it out.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
3.At a steady red light, when may you legally make a left turn (assuming no sign prohibits it)?
- A. Any time, as long as no cars are coming.
- B. When turning from a two-way road onto a one-way road.
- C. When turning from a one-way road onto another one-way road, after a full stop and yielding.
- D. Left turns on red are never allowed in any situation.
Nudge — Sketch each combination and trace your left turn, noting which lanes of moving traffic your path would cross in each case. Chapter 4 lists the exact conditions for this exception.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
4.A driver of a school bus containing pupils faces a steady red light and wants to turn right. What is the rule?
- A. The school bus driver may turn right on red like any other vehicle.
- B. The school bus driver may turn only if the students are seated.
- C. The school bus driver may turn right on red only in New York City.
- D. The school bus driver cannot turn right on any red light.
Nudge — The options differ mainly in the conditions they attach — seated students, location, none. Chapter 4 has a specific paragraph on school buses at red lights; recall it rather than picking the condition that sounds most reasonable.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
5.In New York City specifically, what is the rule about turning at a red light?
- A. Right turns on red are always allowed unless a sign prohibits them.
- B. Left turns on red are permitted but right turns are not.
- C. You are not allowed to turn on a red light unless a sign permitting it is posted.
- D. The rules are identical to the rest of New York State.
Nudge — First recall the statewide default for turning right on red, then ask whether the manual treats New York City the same way or differently — Chapter 4 covers this in its red-light section.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
6.What does a flashing red traffic light mean?
- A. The same as a STOP sign: stop, yield the right-of-way, and go when it is safe.
- B. Drive with caution but do not stop.
- C. The light is broken and should be ignored.
- D. Stop and remain stopped until the light turns green.
Nudge — Don't confuse 'flashing' with 'broken.' Recall what steady red demands of you, then work out how flashing modifies that demand — and for how long it holds you there.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
7.What does a flashing yellow traffic light indicate?
- A. Drive with caution.
- B. Stop completely before proceeding.
- C. The light is about to turn red.
- D. You must yield to all cross traffic before entering.
Nudge — Compare with Question 6: a flashing signal borrows its meaning from something you already know. Test each option — which ones quietly demand a full stop, or claim to predict what the light will do next? Ask what yellow has always asked of a driver.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
8.You are driving in a lane and see a steady yellow "X" lit above your lane. What should you do?
- A. Continue in the lane; yellow means proceed.
- B. Stop immediately in the lane.
- C. Move out of this lane because lane use is changing.
- D. Use the lane only to make a left turn.
Nudge — Lane-control signals follow traffic-light logic. Work out what a red X and a green arrow over a lane would each tell you, then place a steady yellow X between those two meanings.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
9.Two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction are separated by a line. What color will that line be?
- A. Yellow.
- B. Red.
- C. Blue.
- D. White.
Nudge — One color is used when traffic flows the same way; the other warns of oncoming traffic. Match the color to same-direction flow.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
10.You are driving on the side of the road where a solid line is paired with a broken line, and the solid line is on your side. What are you permitted to do?
- A. Pass freely whenever traffic allows.
- B. Pass only at night.
- C. Cross the line any time to make a right turn.
- D. You cannot pass or cross the line, except to make a left turn into a driveway.
Nudge — Read the paint nearest your tires — that's the line that governs you. Then check Chapter 4's chart of what solid versus broken lines allow before you commit to an answer.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
11.What do double solid lines between lanes mean?
- A. You may pass if no oncoming traffic is visible.
- B. You cannot pass or change lanes, and cannot cross them except to turn left to enter or leave the highway.
- C. You may change lanes but not pass.
- D. They mark the edge of the roadway.
Nudge — Line this up with Questions 10 and 13: as the paint between lanes gets more solid, what happens to your options? Place double solid lines on that scale before you choose.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
12.While driving, you notice the edge line of the road angling in toward the center of the road. What does this tell you?
- A. The road is about to become wider.
- B. The road is narrower ahead.
- C. A passing zone is beginning.
- D. You are entering a one-way street.
Nudge — If the edge of the road bends inward, picture what's happening to the width of the space you have to drive in.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
13.A single broken line separates two lanes. What does it permit?
- A. You may never cross it.
- B. You may cross it only to turn left into a driveway.
- C. You may pass only when an obstruction forces you to.
- D. You may pass or change lanes if you can do so safely without interfering with traffic.
Nudge — Line this up against Questions 10 and 11: the more solid paint between lanes, the tighter the restriction. Where does a single broken line sit on that scale — and notice the safety condition the manual still attaches before you cross any line.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
14.What does a diamond symbol painted in a lane indicate?
- A. The lane is closed to all traffic.
- B. The lane is for emergency vehicles only.
- C. The lane is reserved for buses, HOV (high-occupancy vehicles), bicycles, or other special vehicles.
- D. The lane is a passing lane.
Nudge — Don't guess from the shape alone — recall where you've actually seen painted diamonds and what the signs posted beside those lanes said. Chapter 4's pavement-marking section covers it.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
15.A police officer is standing in an intersection signaling you to drive through, but the traffic light facing you is red. What must you do?
- A. Obey the red light and remain stopped.
- B. Obey the police officer and drive through.
- C. Wait for the light to turn green before moving.
- D. Stop and ask the officer to confirm.
Nudge — There's a clear chain of authority among signs, signals, and people directing traffic. Who sits at the top?
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
16.At an intersection you must stop for a red light. There is a crosswalk painted across the road but no stop line. Where must you stop?
- A. Before you reach the crosswalk.
- B. In the middle of the crosswalk.
- C. Anywhere within the intersection.
- D. Past the crosswalk but before the far curb.
Nudge — Picture a pedestrian mid-crossing under each option: where does your bumper end up, and whose path does it block? Chapter 4 explains where to stop when the stop line is missing.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
17.What color are work area (construction zone) signs?
- A. Yellow with black symbols.
- B. Orange with black letters or symbols.
- C. Red with white letters.
- D. Green with white letters.
Nudge — Work-zone signs use a color you don't see on any other sign type — one that stands out sharply from warning-sign yellow.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
18.In a work zone, what is the lowest speed limit that can be posted?
- A. 15 MPH.
- B. 35 MPH.
- C. 25 MPH.
- D. 45 MPH.
Nudge — Chapter 4 states this minimum outright — it's recall, not reasoning. Rule out speeds that feel unsafe beside workers on foot, then verify the exact figure in the manual with your mentor.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
19.Which of the following people is authorized to direct traffic and must be obeyed?
- A. Only uniformed state police officers.
- B. Only DMV employees.
- C. Any adult standing near the road.
- D. Police officers, fire police, highway work area flag persons, school crossing guards, and school bus drivers.
Nudge — Watch for the word 'only' — absolute words deserve a second look. Chapter 4 gives a specific roll call of people authorized to direct traffic; recall the list rather than reasoning from job titles.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
20.What is the rule about driving across the solid line that marks the edge of the road?
- A. It is illegal, except when told to by a police officer or authorized official, or when allowed by an official sign.
- B. It is always permitted to save time.
- C. It is allowed whenever the shoulder is paved.
- D. It is allowed only at night.
Nudge — Ask what job the edge line does, then test each option: is it a principled exception or just a convenience? Chapter 4's marking rules draw exactly that distinction.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
CHAPTER 5Intersections and Turns — MV-21 Chapter 5
21.Two drivers reach an intersection from opposite directions at about the same time. One goes straight; the other wants to turn left. Who must yield?
- A. The driver going straight must yield.
- B. Whoever arrived a fraction of a second later must yield.
- C. Neither driver has to yield if the light is green.
- D. The driver turning left must yield to traffic going straight or turning right.
Nudge — Sketch both paths through the intersection and notice whose route cuts across the other's. Chapter 5's right-of-way rules follow directly from that picture.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
22.You and another driver stop at STOP signs at the same time at right angles to each other, and the other driver is on your right. Who has the right-of-way?
- A. You do, because you are on the left.
- B. Whoever honks first.
- C. You must both wait for a third vehicle to clear.
- D. The driver on your right has the right-of-way.
Nudge — There's a simple left-right rule for ties at uncontrolled intersections or simultaneous stops. Which side yields?
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
23.You are pulling out of a parking lot onto a street. What must you do?
- A. Proceed first because you are entering traffic.
- B. Yield only to vehicles, not pedestrians.
- C. Stop and yield the right-of-way to traffic on the roadway and to pedestrians.
- D. Speed up to merge before other cars arrive.
Nudge — Picture it from the street driver's seat: who is appearing in whose path? Chapter 5's rules on entering a road from a lot or driveway settle who must wait.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
24.The light is green, but traffic is backed up on the far side of the intersection so you could not clear it completely. What should you do?
- A. Enter anyway since your light is green.
- B. Wait until traffic ahead clears so you do not block the intersection.
- C. Enter and stop in the middle of the intersection.
- D. Sound your horn and proceed slowly.
Nudge — Play each option forward one signal cycle: where is your car sitting when the cross street gets its green? Pick the choice that still works at that moment.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
25.You are approaching a traffic circle (rotary) and vehicles are already circulating in it. Who has the right-of-way?
- A. You do, as the entering vehicle.
- B. Whoever is going faster.
- C. The larger vehicle has the right-of-way.
- D. Drivers already in the circle have the right-of-way.
Nudge — Think of a highway entrance ramp — another spot where arriving traffic meets traffic already in motion — and apply the same merging logic you'd use there.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
26.You hear a siren close by but cannot tell where the emergency vehicle is. What should you do?
- A. Continue driving normally until you see it.
- B. Speed up to get out of the area.
- C. Safely pull over to the right edge of the road and stop until you are sure it is not headed toward you.
- D. Stop immediately in your lane wherever you are.
Nudge — You can't plan around a vehicle you can't locate. Test each option against the worst case — the siren is headed straight down your street — and keep only what still works then.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
27.An emergency vehicle with lights and siren is approaching in the opposite lane of a two-way road. What must you do?
- A. Nothing, since it is on the other side of the road.
- B. Continue at reduced speed.
- C. Move to the left side of the road.
- D. Pull over to the right and stop, even though it is in the opposite lane.
Nudge — 'It's on the other side of the road' feels like a safe assumption — which is exactly why it's tested. Check whether Chapter 5's pull-over duty says anything about which lane the emergency vehicle is in.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
28.You are in the middle of an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches with its siren on. What is the correct action?
- A. Stop immediately where you are in the intersection.
- B. Reverse out of the intersection.
- C. Drive out of the intersection first, then pull over to the right and stop.
- D. Turn left to get out of the way.
Nudge — You have two duties pulling against each other here: get out of the emergency vehicle's way, and never leave an intersection blocked. Test each option against both duties — only one honors them at the same time.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
29.You see a personal vehicle displaying flashing blue lights. What does this indicate?
- A. An authorized police emergency vehicle you must yield to.
- B. A volunteer firefighter responding to an alarm; you are not required to yield but may as a courtesy.
- C. A volunteer ambulance member.
- D. A snow plow or tow truck.
Nudge — Blue lights on a personal car signal a specific kind of volunteer responder — and these drivers must still obey all traffic laws.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
30.What do green lights on a personal vehicle indicate?
- A. A volunteer ambulance or rescue squad member.
- B. A volunteer firefighter.
- C. A hazard vehicle such as a tow truck.
- D. An unmarked police vehicle.
Nudge — Blue and green form a matched pair marking the two kinds of volunteer emergency responders. Cross off any option that isn't a volunteer at all, then use your reasoning from Question 29 to sort out which color belongs to which.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
31.What do amber (yellow) flashing lights on a vehicle such as a snow plow or tow truck mean?
- A. You must stop and yield as you would for an ambulance.
- B. The vehicle is a volunteer firefighter's car.
- C. They warn other drivers of possible dangers; the vehicle is a hazard vehicle, not an emergency vehicle.
- D. The vehicle is broken down and abandoned.
Nudge — Compare with Questions 29 and 30 — each light color marks a category of vehicle with its own rules. Recall which category Chapter 5 puts plows and tow trucks in before you choose.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
32.How far ahead of a turn or lane change does the law require you to signal?
- A. At least 50 feet.
- B. At least 100 feet.
- C. At least 200 feet.
- D. At least 500 feet.
Nudge — This is an exact-figure rule from Chapter 5 — one to memorize. If unsure, convert each option into car lengths and ask which give drivers behind you real warning without signaling absurdly early.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
33.What is the correct hand signal for a right turn?
- A. Left arm extended upward at a 90-degree angle (forming an 'L').
- B. Left arm extended straight out horizontally.
- C. Left arm extended downward at a 90-degree angle.
- D. Right arm extended straight out the passenger window.
Nudge — All hand signals are given with the same arm, out the driver's window — that rules out one option instantly. Then picture the three positions: straight out, angled up, angled down. Assign "left turn" and "slow or stop" first; the position left over is your answer.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
34.When preparing to make a right turn, where should your vehicle be positioned?
- A. In the center of your lane to allow a wide, sweeping turn.
- B. In the left lane so you have more room.
- C. Straddling two lanes.
- D. As far to the right as possible, turning into the right lane.
Nudge — Picture the gap each starting position leaves on your right side, and ask what could slip into that gap just as you begin your turn.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
35.You are turning left from a two-way road into a one-way road. Which lane of the one-way road should you turn into?
- A. The right lane.
- B. The left lane.
- C. The center lane.
- D. Any available lane.
Nudge — Sketch it: you cross the oncoming lane, then enter a street where every lane flows the same direction. The rule is to enter the nearest lane going your way — trace the turn on paper and see which lane your path reaches first.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
36.From which position may you legally begin a U-turn?
- A. From the left portion of the lane nearest the centerline, never from the right lane.
- B. From the right lane, to give yourself the widest arc.
- C. From any lane, as long as it is safe.
- D. From the shoulder of the road.
Nudge — A U-turn swings you all the way around. Try each starting position in your head: from which one can you complete the whole arc without cutting across other lanes of traffic partway through the turn?
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
37.You cannot make a U-turn where other drivers cannot see your vehicle from how far away in either direction?
- A. 200 feet.
- B. 1,000 feet.
- C. 500 feet.
- D. 100 feet.
Nudge — Straight recall from Chapter 5. Sanity-check your pick: you're reversing direction across traffic, so rule out any distance that wouldn't let an approaching driver spot you and react at normal road speed.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
38.Where are U-turns always prohibited, according to the manual?
- A. On a limited access expressway, even where paths connect the two sides.
- B. On any two-lane road.
- C. In residential neighborhoods.
- D. At any intersection with a traffic light.
Nudge — Chapter 5's U-turn section names specific prohibited places — this is recall. If you're torn, ask which options describe a road's basic design rather than momentary conditions around it.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
39.A pedestrian is legally crossing in a crosswalk to your right as you prepare to turn. What must you do?
- A. Yield to the pedestrian, whether the crosswalk is marked or unmarked.
- B. Complete your turn quickly before the pedestrian reaches you.
- C. Yield only if the crosswalk is painted.
- D. Sound your horn so the pedestrian waits.
Nudge — Two options differ only in a single condition about the crosswalk itself. Check how Chapter 5 defines a crosswalk — that definition decides which of the two survives.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
40.You have entered an intersection to make a left turn on a green light, but oncoming traffic prevents you from turning immediately. What should you do with your wheels while you wait?
- A. Turn your wheels to the left so you are ready to go.
- B. Keep your wheels straight until you can complete the turn.
- C. Turn your wheels sharply to the right.
- D. It does not matter which way the wheels point.
Nudge — Consider what happens if you're rear-ended while waiting with your wheels already turned toward oncoming traffic.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
CHAPTER 6Passing — MV-21 Chapter 6
41.Under most conditions, on which side do you pass another vehicle traveling in the same direction?
- A. On the left.
- B. On the right.
- C. On either side, whichever is faster.
- D. On the shoulder.
Nudge — Start from the keep-right principle: slower traffic holds the right side of the road, so overtaking traffic moves toward where the faster flow belongs. Two of these options break the law outright — eliminate those first.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
42.May you exceed the speed limit to complete a pass?
- A. Yes, briefly, to get around the vehicle safely.
- B. Yes, but only on highways.
- C. Yes, if the vehicle you are passing is speeding.
- D. No, you must never exceed the speed limit to pass another vehicle.
Nudge — Three of these options claim an exception to the posted limit exists. Before choosing one, ask: does the manual ever describe the speed limit as flexible, or as a ceiling that no maneuver changes? Test each "yes" against that.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
43.A vehicle ahead of you has stopped at a crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross. What may you do?
- A. Pass it on the left if the way is clear.
- B. Pass it on the right slowly.
- C. You must never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross.
- D. Pass it only if you sound your horn first.
Nudge — Ask yourself why that car might really be stopped there, and exactly what you could — and couldn't — see if you started to pull around it.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
44.You want to pass on the left, but an oncoming vehicle is approaching. How much clearance must you be able to maintain before that oncoming vehicle reaches you?
- A. You must be able to return within 50 feet of the oncoming vehicle.
- B. You must be able to return to your lane before the oncoming vehicle comes within 200 feet of you.
- C. You must be able to return within 500 feet of the oncoming vehicle.
- D. There is no distance requirement if you signal.
Nudge — Chapter 6 gives an exact figure here — pure recall. If you're stuck, picture two vehicles closing at highway speed and how quickly the gap between them disappears each second.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
45.You are on a two-way road and within 100 feet of a railroad crossing. Can you pass on the left?
- A. No, passing on the left within 100 feet of a railroad crossing on a two-way road is prohibited.
- B. Yes, if no train is visible.
- C. Yes, if you signal first.
- D. Yes, but only during the day.
Nudge — Chapter 6 attaches special passing rules to railroad crossings on two-way roads — this is recall, not judgment. If you're torn, flag it and look up the crossing rules with your mentor.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
46.Before you change lanes to pass on the left, why should you look over your shoulder rather than rely only on your mirrors?
- A. Mirrors are often dirty.
- B. Even correctly adjusted mirrors leave blind spots where a vehicle may not be visible.
- C. Looking over your shoulder is faster than checking mirrors.
- D. The law prohibits using mirrors when passing.
Nudge — Test each option: is it factually false, is it trivial, or is it a real safety reason? Focus on what a mirror physically cannot show you, even when it is perfectly adjusted.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
47.After passing a vehicle on the left, how do you know it is safe to return to the right lane?
- A. When you can see the front bumper of the vehicle you passed in your rear-view mirror.
- B. When you can no longer see the vehicle at all.
- C. As soon as you have fully entered the left lane.
- D. After counting to ten.
Nudge — Test each option for reliability: which are vague, arbitrary, or impossible to judge consistently? The manual favors a check any driver can repeat the same way every time.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
48.Which of the following is a situation where you may legally pass on the right?
- A. Whenever the left lane is occupied.
- B. When the vehicle ahead of you is making a left turn.
- C. By driving onto the shoulder to get around.
- D. Any time you are in a hurry.
Nudge — Chapter 6 lists a small set of situations where a right-side pass is legal. Recall that list first and match against it — don't reason backward from whichever option sounds handiest in traffic.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
49.When passing on the right, can you drive on or across the shoulder of the road?
- A. Yes, the shoulder is there for passing.
- B. No, you cannot drive on or across the shoulder unless a sign allows it or a traffic officer directs you.
- C. Yes, if the shoulder is paved.
- D. Yes, if traffic is heavy.
Nudge — Ask what the shoulder exists for — and who might already be occupying it: a stalled car, a cyclist, someone walking. Test each option against that picture.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
50.Another vehicle is passing you on the left. What should you do?
- A. Decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane.
- B. Speed up so they cannot complete the pass.
- C. Move onto the shoulder.
- D. Move toward the center line to block them.
Nudge — Your goal while being passed is to shorten the time the other driver spends exposed alongside you. Test each option: does it shorten that exposure, stretch it out, or create a new hazard?
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
51.You notice many vehicles passing you on the right. What does the manual say you should do?
- A. Speed up to match the other traffic.
- B. Stay where you are; they are passing illegally.
- C. Move into the right lane and allow them to pass you on the left.
- D. Report them to the police.
Nudge — Treat a repeated pattern like this as feedback about your own driving. Ask which option actually responds to the message rather than ignoring it or punishing the messenger.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
52.A school bus ahead of you is stopped with its red lights flashing. What must you do?
- A. Slow down and pass carefully.
- B. Continue if you are on the opposite side of the road.
- C. Stop only if children are visible.
- D. Stop before you reach the bus, at least 20 feet away.
Nudge — Several options make your duty conditional — on which side you're on, or on what you can see. Check whether Chapter 6's school-bus rule accepts any conditions like those before you choose.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
53.A school bus is stopped with red lights flashing on the opposite side of a divided highway. What must you do?
- A. Continue driving; the divider separates you.
- B. Stop, because you must stop for a school bus even on the opposite side of a divided highway.
- C. Slow to 20 MPH but keep moving.
- D. Stop only if it is a two-lane road.
Nudge — Don't import logic from other states or from what a divider 'should' mean — answer from New York's manual alone. Chapter 6 addresses divided highways by name in its school-bus rule.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
54.A school bus ahead begins flashing yellow warning lights. What do these indicate?
- A. The bus is turning left.
- B. You may pass immediately.
- C. The bus has broken down.
- D. The bus is about to stop to load or discharge passengers; slow down and prepare to stop.
Nudge — School-bus lights borrow their logic from the traffic signals in Chapter 4. Work out the color sequence — which comes before which — and what a driver behind should be doing at each stage.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
55.After a school bus's red lights stop flashing but before you drive on, what should you especially watch for?
- A. Children along the side of the road; drive slowly until you have passed them.
- B. Oncoming traffic only.
- C. The bus's turn signal.
- D. Potholes in the road.
Nudge — The flashing red lights protect people while the bus is stopped — but the danger doesn't vanish the instant they switch off. Ask yourself who was just outside the bus, and where they might be standing now.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
56.What is the minimum fine for a first conviction of illegally passing a stopped school bus?
- A. $100.
- B. $500.
- C. $250.
- D. $50.
Nudge — Pure recall — Chapter 6 prints the fine schedule for this violation. Anchor the first-offense figure in memory, and verify it in the manual with your mentor rather than guessing.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
57.If you are convicted of three school-bus-passing violations within three years, what happens to your driver license?
- A. Nothing beyond the fines.
- B. Your license is suspended for 30 days.
- C. Your license will be revoked for a minimum of six months.
- D. You must retake the written test.
Nudge — First separate suspension from revocation — they're different penalties. Then recall which one Chapter 6 attaches to three convictions in three years, and the minimum period that goes with it.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
58.When you pass a motorcycle, how much lane space should you give it?
- A. Half a lane, since motorcycles are narrow.
- B. Only enough space to squeeze by.
- C. You may share the lane if it is wide.
- D. The same full lane width you would give any other vehicle.
Nudge — Set the bike's physical width aside. Ask what road space the law grants any vehicle traveling in a lane, and whether Chapter 6 makes motorcycles an exception to that grant.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
59.You are within 100 feet of a bridge, tunnel, or viaduct on a two-way road and your view is obstructed. What is the rule about passing on the left?
- A. Passing is permitted if you signal.
- B. Passing is allowed only for slow vehicles.
- C. Passing on the left is prohibited there.
- D. Passing is allowed at reduced speed.
Nudge — This pairs with Question 45 — Chapter 6 handles a small family of fixed locations with one shared rule. If you worked that one out, ask whether the same family logic applies here.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
60.When overtaking a bicyclist from behind, what does New York law require?
- A. Sound your horn and pass closely.
- B. Pass on the right.
- C. Wait behind the bicycle until it leaves the road.
- D. Pass on the left at a safe distance until the bicycle has been cleared.
Nudge — Decide first whether the law treats a bicycle as traffic or as an obstacle, then apply the standard passing procedure this chapter has drilled — every step of it, start to finish.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
Answers & Why
Work through the whole test before you read this. Each entry gives the correct letter and the rule behind it — that is the part worth remembering, because the real test asks the same rules in different words. Where a wrong option is the tempting one, it says why it fails. Anything you got wrong, find in the NYS Driver’s Manual (MV-21) and read it in the original.
- 1. AA yellow diamond with black symbols is the standard warning sign. It tells you what is ahead; it never bans anything. White rectangles carry regulations, green gives directions.
- 2. BA dead signal is treated as an all-way stop: stop, then proceed on normal right-of-way rules. Assuming priority because your light is dark is how these intersections produce crashes.
- 3. CLeft on red is legal only from a one-way road onto another one-way road, after a full stop and yielding — and only where no sign prohibits it. Turning from a two-way road never qualifies.
- 4. DA school bus carrying pupils may not turn on any red light, right or left. The restriction is about the cargo, not the location, so the New York City wording in C is a distractor.
- 5. CNew York City reverses the statewide default: no turn on red unless a sign permits it. Everywhere else in the state, right on red is allowed unless a sign forbids it.
- 6. AFlashing red is identical to a stop sign — stop, yield, then go when it is safe. You do not wait for green; the signal is not going to change.
- 7. AFlashing yellow means proceed with caution. It is a warning that the intersection is not under normal control, not a signal that is about to change.
- 8. CA steady yellow X means lane use is changing — move out of the lane. A red X means the lane is closed to you entirely; a green arrow means it is open.
- 9. DWhite separates traffic moving in the same direction. Yellow separates opposing traffic. Getting this pair right answers a large share of the line-marking questions.
- 10. DWith the solid line on your side you cannot pass or cross it, except to turn left into a driveway or road. The broken line on the other side means the opposing driver may pass.
- 11. BDouble solid means no passing and no lane changing for either direction, except to turn left to enter or leave the highway.
- 12. BAn edge line angling inward warns the road narrows ahead. It is a pavement-marking warning, read the same way as a sign.
- 13. DA single broken line permits passing or changing lanes when it is safe to do so without interfering with other traffic.
- 14. CA painted diamond marks a reserved lane — buses, high-occupancy vehicles, bicycles or other specified traffic. Reserved is not the same as closed, which is what rules out A.
- 15. BA police officer directing traffic overrides the signal. Any lawful direction from an authorized person takes precedence over a light or sign.
- 16. AWith no stop line, stop before the crosswalk. The crosswalk belongs to pedestrians; stopping inside it forces them around your car and into traffic.
- 17. BOrange with black letters or symbols is the work-zone color. Yellow is a general warning; orange specifically means temporary conditions and people working.
- 18. C25 MPH is the lowest limit that may be posted in a New York work area. Fines in work zones are doubled, and a work-zone speeding conviction carries points.
- 19. DAll of them — police, fire police, flag persons, school crossing guards and school bus drivers may direct traffic and must be obeyed. Authority comes from the role, not the uniform.
- 20. ACrossing the solid edge line is illegal unless an officer or authorized official directs you, or a sign allows it. The shoulder is not a travel lane.
- 21. DThe left-turning driver yields to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right. A green light does not change this; it only means you may enter the intersection to wait.
- 22. DSame time, right angles: the driver on the right goes first. When in doubt, yield — being right is no defense after a collision.
- 23. CLeaving a driveway or parking lot you must stop and yield to both traffic and pedestrians. Traffic already on the roadway always has priority over traffic joining it.
- 24. BDo not enter unless you can clear it. A green light is permission to proceed, not permission to block the intersection — a separate violation in its own right.
- 25. DVehicles already in the circle have right-of-way. You wait for a gap. Size and speed are never right-of-way factors.
- 26. CIf you hear a siren but cannot locate it, pull to the right and stop until you are sure it is not coming toward you. Stopping in your lane, as in D, leaves you blocking a live traffic lane.
- 27. DOn a two-way road you must pull right and stop even for an emergency vehicle in the opposite lane. It may need your side of the road to get around stopped traffic.
- 28. CClear the intersection first, then pull right and stop. Stopping inside the intersection blocks every approach, including the one the emergency vehicle needs.
- 29. BFlashing blue marks a volunteer firefighter responding to an alarm. It is not an emergency vehicle, so you are not required to yield — though it is a courtesy to.
- 30. AGreen marks a volunteer ambulance or rescue squad member. Like blue, it asks for courtesy rather than requiring you to yield.
- 31. CAmber flashing lights mark a hazard vehicle — plow, tow truck, maintenance — warning you of a danger. They do not carry the right-of-way an ambulance does.
- 32. BSignal at least 100 feet before the turn or lane change. The point is to give other drivers time to react, so signaling as you turn is too late.
- 33. ARight turn: left arm up at a right angle, forming an L. Left arm straight out is a left turn; left arm down is stopping or slowing.
- 34. DPosition as far right as practical and turn into the right lane. Swinging wide invites a vehicle to slip up your inside.
- 35. BTurning left from a two-way into a one-way, enter the left lane — the lane nearest the one you came from. It is the shortest, most predictable path.
- 36. ABegin a U-turn from the left portion of the lane nearest the centerline, never from the right lane. Starting from the right sweeps you across lanes drivers cannot predict.
- 37. CYou may not make a U-turn where you cannot be seen from 500 feet in either direction — over a crest or around a bend, for instance.
- 38. AU-turns are always prohibited on a limited-access expressway, including at the connecting paths between the two carriageways.
- 39. AYield to a pedestrian legally crossing, whether the crosswalk is marked or unmarked. An unmarked crosswalk exists at most intersections and carries the same duty.
- 40. BKeep your wheels straight while you wait. If you are struck from behind with wheels turned left you are pushed into oncoming traffic.
- 41. APass on the left under most conditions. Passing on the right is the narrow exception, not the norm.
- 42. DNever. The speed limit applies during a pass exactly as it does the rest of the time. If you cannot complete the pass legally, do not start it.
- 43. CYou may never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian. It has stopped for a reason you cannot see, and the pedestrian is hidden from you by that vehicle.
- 44. BYou must be able to get back into your lane before the oncoming vehicle is within 200 feet of you. If the gap is doubtful, it is not there.
- 45. ANo passing on the left within 100 feet of a railroad crossing on a two-way road, regardless of whether a train is in sight.
- 46. BEven correctly adjusted mirrors leave blind spots. A shoulder check is the only way to see a vehicle sitting in one, and it takes under a second.
- 47. AReturn when you can see the passed vehicle's front bumper in your rear-view mirror. That is a measurable cue; "far enough" is a guess.
- 48. BYou may pass on the right when the vehicle ahead is making a left turn. Never by using the shoulder, which is what makes C wrong.
- 49. BNo. You cannot drive on or across the shoulder to pass unless a sign allows it or an officer directs you — paved or not.
- 50. ASlow slightly and hold your lane position. Speeding up extends the time the passing driver spends in the opposing lane, which is the dangerous part.
- 51. CIf many vehicles are passing you on the right, you are in the wrong lane — move right and let them pass on the left. The left lane is for passing, not for cruising.
- 52. DStop at least 20 feet before the bus and stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing. In New York this applies from both directions.
- 53. BNew York is stricter than most states: you must stop even for a bus on the opposite side of a divided highway. Assuming the divider excuses you is the single most expensive assumption on this test.
- 54. DYellow warning lights mean the bus is about to stop to load or discharge. Slow down and prepare to stop — do not try to beat the red lights.
- 55. AWatch for children beside the road and drive slowly until you are past them. Children who have just left a bus behave unpredictably and are short enough to be hidden by your hood.
- 56. CThe minimum fine for a first conviction is $250, plus 5 points on your license. The penalty is deliberately steep.
- 57. CThree convictions within three years means license revocation for at least six months — revocation, not suspension, so you must reapply rather than simply wait it out.
- 58. DGive a motorcycle the full lane width, exactly as you would a car. It is entitled to the whole lane, and sharing it is both illegal and dangerous.
- 59. CPassing on the left is prohibited within 100 feet of a bridge, tunnel or viaduct on a two-way road where your view is obstructed — there is nowhere to escape.
- 60. DOvertake a bicycle on the left, at a safe distance, and stay there until you have fully cleared it. Cutting back in early is what causes the most common car-bike collision.
Reflection
Which chapter's questions were hardest for you — Traffic Control, Intersections & Turns, or Passing? Which questions did you need the Nudge for? Name the section of the manual you will re-read before your next practice run.