Michigan Driver License: Sharing the Road

26 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Sharing the Road. Free, no account needed.

1. A car and a commercial truck are both traveling 55 mph when their drivers brake hard. About how much farther does the truck travel before stopping?

About 100 feet farther
About 270 feet farther
About 50 feet farther
About 400 feet farther

Answer: B — About 270 feet farther

The car stops in about 130 feet and the truck needs about 400 feet, a difference of roughly 270 feet.

2. A driver is traveling next to a large truck and lingers alongside its cab for an extended period. Why is this risky?

The truck driver could report the car for tailgating
The area alongside, ahead of, and close behind the truck is a blind spot where the driver may not be seen during a lane change or turn
It is illegal to drive next to any truck regardless of position
The truck's exhaust could overheat the car's engine

Answer: B — The area alongside, ahead of, and close behind the truck is a blind spot where the driver may not be seen during a lane change or turn

Those no-zone areas are the truck's blind spots, so lingering there risks a collision if the truck changes lanes or turns.

3. What should a driver do with their headlights when following a truck or bus after dark?

Turn off the headlights until ready to pass
Use only parking lights
Use low beams
Flash the high beams periodically so the driver knows they are there

Answer: C — Use low beams

Low beams should be used at night when following a truck or bus.

4. A truck ahead signals a right turn but first swings toward the center of the road. What should a driver behind it do?

Honk to warn the driver they are drifting out of the lane
Assume the signal was a mistake and pass on the right
Pull up beside the cab so the truck driver can see them better
Recognize the truck needs room to swing wide before turning right and not try to squeeze past on the right

Answer: D — Recognize the truck needs room to swing wide before turning right and not try to squeeze past on the right

Trucks swing wide left to turn right, so a truck that appears to drift before a right turn is making room, not making an error.

5. At a red light, a truck in the next lane needs to turn right. Why should a driver avoid stopping past the white stop line?

It only matters if the truck's trailer is over 8.5 feet wide
Stopping past the line can put the car in the truck's path as it swings wide to turn
It is a separate violation unrelated to the truck
It blocks the truck driver's view of the traffic signal

Answer: B — Stopping past the line can put the car in the truck's path as it swings wide to turn

Because trucks swing wide to turn right, a car stopped past the stop line can end up in the truck's path.

6. A delivery truck is backing into a driveway and momentarily blocks the road ahead. What should a driver behind it do?

Pull up close and honk to signal the truck to hurry
Wait; never cross behind a truck that is backing or about to, since its wide trailer can hide a car completely
Quickly drive around behind it while there is still a gap
Pass on the right shoulder

Answer: B — Wait; never cross behind a truck that is backing or about to, since its wide trailer can hide a car completely

Trailers are about eight and a half feet wide and can hide a car completely, so crossing behind a backing truck is dangerous.

7. After passing a truck on the left, when is it safe for a driver to move back into the lane ahead of it?

As soon as the truck's grille appears in the side mirror
After counting three seconds from the start of the pass
When the truck flashes its headlights
Once the entire cab of the truck is visible in the rearview mirror

Answer: D — Once the entire cab of the truck is visible in the rearview mirror

A driver should pull back into the lane only once the whole truck cab is visible in the rearview mirror.

8. Which of these vehicles would display an orange slow-moving-vehicle triangle on the back?

A delivery van
A four-wheeler
A farm tractor
A golf cart

Answer: C — A farm tractor

Vehicles limited to 25 mph, like tractors, combines, and buggies, carry the orange triangle; four-wheelers and golf carts do not count.

9. A driver comes up behind a horse-drawn buggy on a road with no safe place to pass yet. What speed and following distance are appropriate?

Slow to 25 mph and stay 10 feet back
Slow to 15-20 mph and stay at least 20 feet back
Slow to a crawl and stay right on its bumper
Maintain normal speed and stay 50 feet back

Answer: B — Slow to 15-20 mph and stay at least 20 feet back

Behind a horse and rider or buggy, drivers should slow to 15-20 mph and stay at least 20 feet back.

10. A driver is stuck behind a horse and rider and grows impatient. What should the driver avoid doing?

Staying well back from the horse
Honking the horn or revving the engine, which can spook the horse
Slowing down further
Waiting for a safe place to pass

Answer: B — Honking the horn or revving the engine, which can spook the horse

Honking or revving near a horse can spook it, so drivers should avoid doing that.

11. A driver has a green light, but a pedestrian is still partway through the crosswalk. What should the driver do?

Yield only if the pedestrian is a child
Proceed, since the green light gives the right of way
Yield to the pedestrian even though the light is green
Honk so the pedestrian hurries across

Answer: C — Yield to the pedestrian even though the light is green

Drivers must yield to people crossing even when their own light is green.

12. A vehicle in the lane next to a driver has stopped at a crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross. What should the driver do?

Pass only if the stopped vehicle is not a truck or bus
Wait rather than pass, since the stopped vehicle may be hiding the pedestrian from view
Pass, since their own lane is still moving
Honk before passing to check for pedestrians

Answer: B — Wait rather than pass, since the stopped vehicle may be hiding the pedestrian from view

A vehicle stopped for a pedestrian, especially a large truck or bus, may be hiding that pedestrian, so it must never be passed.

13. A pedestrian carrying a white cane is approaching an intersection. What must the driver do?

Proceed normally if there is no marked crosswalk
Stop or yield for the pedestrian
Honk to alert the pedestrian to the car's presence
Flash the headlights to signal it is safe to cross

Answer: B — Stop or yield for the pedestrian

Drivers must stop or yield for a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog, and should avoid honking since noise masks the cues they rely on.

14. A driver is passing a school and playground area. What should the driver expect?

No special caution is needed if a crossing guard is absent
Pedestrians are barred from the area during school hours
Children may dart into the road unexpectedly
Only marked crosswalks will have pedestrian activity

Answer: C — Children may dart into the road unexpectedly

Near schools, playgrounds, and parks, drivers should expect children to dart out.

15. A driver approaches an intersection with a marked crosswalk and a painted stop line before it. Where should the driver stop?

At the marked limit line before the crosswalk
Wherever gives the clearest view around other vehicles
Inside the crosswalk for a better view of cross traffic
Just past the crosswalk, closer to the intersection

Answer: A — At the marked limit line before the crosswalk

Drivers should stop at the marked crosswalk limit line, or before the intersection if there is no line, and never block the crosswalk.

16. A driver wants to pass a motorcyclist traveling below the speed limit on a multi-lane road. What should the driver do?

Straddle the lane line while going around
Slow down and pass within the same lane, hugging one side
Stay in the same lane and pass quickly to minimize time beside the rider
Move into an adjacent lane, treating the motorcyclist as any other vehicle

Answer: D — Move into an adjacent lane, treating the motorcyclist as any other vehicle

It is illegal to pass a motorcyclist in the same lane; drivers should move into an adjacent lane just as they would to pass a car.

17. A driver waiting to turn left sees an oncoming motorcycle approaching the intersection. What should the driver do?

Proceed if the motorcycle has not yet signaled
Take extra care, assume the motorcycle is closer than it looks, and let it pass first
Flash the headlights and turn before the motorcycle arrives
Turn quickly, since the motorcycle is smaller and slower than a car

Answer: B — Take extra care, assume the motorcycle is closer than it looks, and let it pass first

Left turns at intersections are especially dangerous for motorcyclists, so drivers should assume the rider is closer than it appears and let it pass.

18. A driver is following a motorcyclist on a city street. How much following distance should the driver leave?

1 to 2 seconds
5 to 6 seconds
3 to 4 seconds
The same close distance used for a car, since motorcycles stop shorter

Answer: C — 3 to 4 seconds

Drivers must leave 3 to 4 seconds behind a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle.

19. A motorcyclist ahead is slowing down by downshifting instead of applying the brakes. What should a following driver keep in mind?

The motorcycle is experiencing mechanical failure
The rider may be slowing without the brake light coming on, so extra space is needed
The rider is preparing to make a U-turn
The rider is not actually slowing down, since no brake light is lit

Answer: B — The rider may be slowing without the brake light coming on, so extra space is needed

Motorcyclists often slow by engine braking, which shows no brake light, so following drivers need extra space.

20. A driver has parked at the curb and is about to open the driver's door. Which hand should they use, and why?

The left hand, so they naturally look over the right shoulder
The right hand, so they naturally look over the left shoulder
Whichever hand is closer to the door handle
Either hand; the check happens regardless

Answer: B — The right hand, so they naturally look over the left shoulder

Opening the door with the right hand turns the body so the driver looks over the left shoulder for approaching traffic; opening a door into approaching traffic is dangerous and illegal.

21. What is the minimum engine size that allows a motorcycle to be used on freeways and limited-access highways?

50 cc
125 cc
250 cc
100 cc

Answer: B — 125 cc

Motorcycles of 125 cc or more may use freeways and limited-access highways.

22. Which description matches the legal definition of a moped?

Two or three wheels, an engine no larger than 100 cc, a top speed of 30 mph on level ground, and no gear shifting
Any small motorcycle under 125 cc
Three wheels, an engine up to 150 cc, requiring gear shifting
Two wheels only, an engine up to 50 cc, and a top speed of 20 mph

Answer: A — Two or three wheels, an engine no larger than 100 cc, a top speed of 30 mph on level ground, and no gear shifting

A moped has two or three wheels, an engine of no more than 100 cc, a top speed of 30 mph on level ground, and needs no gear shifting.

23. On which type of road are bicyclists not allowed to ride?

Limited-access freeways
Two-lane rural highways
Residential streets
Roads with marked bike lanes

Answer: A — Limited-access freeways

Bicyclists may ride on all roads except limited-access freeways.

24. A driver approaches a bicyclist riding along the edge of a two-lane road and wants to pass. How much space should the driver leave?

At least 10 feet
At least 3 feet, though some cities require 5
Just enough to avoid crossing the center line
At least 1 foot

Answer: B — At least 3 feet, though some cities require 5

Drivers must leave at least 3 feet when passing a bicyclist, and some cities require 5 feet.

25. A driver is stuck behind a slow bicyclist in a marked no-passing zone with a clear, unobstructed view ahead. May the driver pass?

No, passing is never allowed in a no-passing zone
Yes, a bicyclist may be passed in a no-passing zone when it can be done safely
Only if the bicyclist waves the car through
Only on a divided highway

Answer: B — Yes, a bicyclist may be passed in a no-passing zone when it can be done safely

A no-passing zone still allows passing a bicyclist when it can be done safely.

26. What distinguishes an autocycle from a standard motorcycle?

It has four wheels and no seat belts
It has two wheels but a fully enclosed cabin
It is limited to 30 mph like a moped
It has three wheels, seat belts, a roll bar or hoops, and a steering wheel instead of a straddle seat

Answer: D — It has three wheels, seat belts, a roll bar or hoops, and a steering wheel instead of a straddle seat

An autocycle is a three-wheeled motorcycle with seat belts, a roll bar or hoops, and a steering wheel but no straddle seat.