Texas Driver License: Sharing the Road

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

1. You are passing a large truck on level, flat road. Compared with passing a car, how much longer should you expect the pass to take?

About ten to fifteen seconds longer
About three to five seconds longer
About the same amount of time
About one second longer

Answer: B — About three to five seconds longer

A truck's length and slower acceleration mean it takes noticeably longer to pass than a car on level ground.

2. After passing a large truck, its driver flashes the headlights to signal it is clear to move back over. What should you check before pulling back into the lane?

That you can see the entire front of the truck in your rearview mirror
That the truck driver has flashed the lights twice
That the truck has slowed to a stop
That your turn signal has been on for at least five seconds

Answer: A — That you can see the entire front of the truck in your rearview mirror

Seeing the truck's entire front in your mirror confirms you have enough clearance to move back safely.

3. You are driving at 55 mph directly behind a loaded tractor-trailer traveling at the same speed. If the truck suddenly must stop, roughly how much distance might it need compared with a car's stopping distance of about 240 feet?

The truck needs less distance because it has more brakes
The truck needs about 300 feet, slightly more than a car
The truck needs more than 400 feet, well beyond a car's distance
The truck needs exactly the same distance as a car

Answer: C — The truck needs more than 400 feet, well beyond a car's distance

A loaded tractor-trailer's much greater weight pushes its stopping distance well past what a car needs at the same speed.

4. Driving behind a large truck, you check its side mirrors and cannot see the driver's face in either one. What does this mean?

You are far enough back to be safe
The truck is about to change lanes
The mirrors are broken or misadjusted
You are in the truck's blind spot and the driver cannot see you

Answer: D — You are in the truck's blind spot and the driver cannot see you

Mirror visibility is mutual: if you can't see the driver's face, the driver can't see your vehicle either.

5. Traffic is merging for a lane closure ahead, and a large truck is in the lane you need. Why should you avoid cutting in front of the truck to beat it to the merge point?

It is illegal to merge near any truck
The truck's turbulence will pull your car toward it
Trucks always yield to merging cars anyway
It removes the truck driver's safety cushion, since trucks need much more room to slow down

Answer: D — It removes the truck driver's safety cushion, since trucks need much more room to slow down

Cutting in front eliminates the following distance the truck depends on to stop safely, given its much longer stopping distance.

6. How does the risk of dying in a crash compare for a motorcycle rider versus a car occupant?

A rider is less likely to die because motorcycles are more maneuverable
A rider is about 35 times more likely to die than a car occupant
A rider is about equally likely to die as a car occupant
A rider is about 5 times more likely to die than a car occupant

Answer: B — A rider is about 35 times more likely to die than a car occupant

A motorcycle rider's lack of protective structure makes fatal outcomes far more likely than for someone in a car.

7. You are stopped at an intersection waiting to turn left, and a motorcycle is approaching from the opposite direction. What is the safest action, given the most common type of car-motorcycle crash?

Proceed as normal since motorcycles must yield to turning cars
Flash your headlights and turn immediately once acknowledged
Turn left quickly before the motorcycle gets closer, since it is easy to judge its speed
Take a second look and wait for the motorcycle to pass before turning

Answer: D — Take a second look and wait for the motorcycle to pass before turning

A car turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle is the most common car-motorcycle crash, so an extra look before turning is essential.

8. A motorcycle ahead of you has its left turn signal flashing, but the bike keeps going straight for several seconds. What should you do?

Do not rely on the signal; motorcycle signals usually do not cancel themselves, so wait until the bike actually turns
The rider is definitely about to turn left immediately
The signal is malfunctioning and needs to be reported
The rider is signaling that it is safe for you to pass

Answer: A — Do not rely on the signal; motorcycle signals usually do not cancel themselves, so wait until the bike actually turns

Motorcycle signals usually do not self-cancel, so a flashing signal is not proof of a turn; wait until the bike actually turns.

9. You are driving behind a motorcycle on the highway. How much following distance should you keep, and what should you do if you both stop at an intersection?

Four to six seconds following, but you may pull up close since the rider can move sideways
Two to three seconds following, then stop right behind it as with any vehicle
One second following, since motorcycles stop faster than cars
Four to six seconds following, then stop a full vehicle length behind at the intersection

Answer: D — Four to six seconds following, then stop a full vehicle length behind at the intersection

A longer four-to-six-second gap and a full vehicle length at stops protect the rider from being thrown by even light contact.

10. Why should you never walk in front of, between, or behind a light rail train?

Trains are loud enough that you will hear one coming in time to step clear
Trains always yield to pedestrians at every location
Trains only operate on designated pedestrian-free streets
Trains cannot start or stop quickly

Answer: D — Trains cannot start or stop quickly

A train's inability to start or stop quickly is exactly why getting near its path is dangerous, regardless of how quiet it is.

11. A light rail train is approaching a crossing you are about to cross, and it looks like you might just be able to beat it across. What should you do?

Proceed if the gates have not yet come down
Honk your horn and proceed, since the train must yield to crossing traffic
Never try to race the train or beat it to the crossing, since even a tie is a loss
Speed up to clear the tracks before the train reaches the crossing

Answer: C — Never try to race the train or beat it to the crossing, since even a tie is a loss

Racing a train is never worth it, since anything short of a clear win still risks a collision.

12. You are driving and about to make a right turn, but a cyclist is riding in the lane near where you plan to turn. What should you do?

Honk to signal the cyclist to stop before you turn
Turn quickly across the cyclist's path before it gets closer
Merge with the bicycle traffic and turn from behind the cyclist rather than turning across its path
Wait in your lane and let the cyclist pass on the right before turning

Answer: C — Merge with the bicycle traffic and turn from behind the cyclist rather than turning across its path

Merging behind the cyclist avoids cutting across their path, which is the crash pattern this rule is meant to prevent.

13. A cyclist is riding in the middle of a traffic lane that is only 12 feet wide with no bike lane, rather than staying to the right. Is this allowed?

No, cyclists must always ride as far right as possible regardless of lane width
No, cyclists may only take a full lane when passing another vehicle
Yes, because the lane is narrower than 14 feet with no bike lane, so the cyclist may take the full lane
Yes, but only on one-way streets

Answer: C — Yes, because the lane is narrower than 14 feet with no bike lane, so the cyclist may take the full lane

A lane under 14 feet wide with no bike lane is too narrow to share safely, so the cyclist may legally use the full lane.

14. You are stopped at a stop sign about to pull away, and a bicycle is crossing through the intersection on the cross street. What is required?

Proceed if the cyclist is more than one lane away
Nothing, since bicycles must always yield to cars at stop signs
Sound your horn and proceed since you arrived at the stop sign first
Yield to the bicycle, since right-of-way rules apply equally to bikes

Answer: D — Yield to the bicycle, since right-of-way rules apply equally to bikes

Bicycles have the same right-of-way as any cross traffic, so you must yield before pulling away.

15. You are riding a bicycle on a one-way street with two lanes of traffic. Which position and direction are correct?

Ride in the center of the right lane at all times
Ride against traffic so you can see cars coming
Ride with traffic, as near as possible to the right curb regardless of lane count
Ride with traffic, as near as possible to the left curb

Answer: D — Ride with traffic, as near as possible to the left curb

On a multi-lane one-way street, cyclists ride with traffic but position themselves near the left curb.

16. A cyclist ahead of you extends the left arm straight out to the side. What is the cyclist signaling?

A stop
A request to pass
A right turn
A left turn

Answer: D — A left turn

A straight-out left arm is the standard hand signal for a left turn.

17. A cyclist wants to carry a passenger on the handlebars and hitch a ride by holding onto a passing truck for extra speed. Is this allowed?

No hitching is not allowed, but carrying an extra passenger on the handlebars is fine for short distances
Yes, both are allowed as long as the cyclist keeps one hand on the handlebars
No, a bicycle may not carry more people than it is built for, and hitching to a moving vehicle is not allowed
Yes, hitching to a vehicle is allowed as long as speed stays under 20 mph

Answer: C — No, a bicycle may not carry more people than it is built for, and hitching to a moving vehicle is not allowed

Both carrying more riders than the bike is built for and hitching to a moving vehicle are explicitly prohibited.

18. You are equipping a bicycle for night riding. From what distance should the front light and rear reflector each be visible?

Both front and rear must be visible from 500 feet
Front white light visible from 300 feet; rear red reflector visible from 500 feet
Front white light visible from 100 feet; rear reflector visible from 500 feet
Front white light visible from 500 feet; rear red reflector visible from 50 to 300 feet

Answer: D — Front white light visible from 500 feet; rear red reflector visible from 50 to 300 feet

The required minimums are a front white light seen from 500 feet and a rear reflector seen from 50 to 300 feet.

19. A cyclist rides along a street lined with parallel-parked cars, following the shared lane markings ("sharrows") painted in the lane. What is the purpose of these markings?

To show cyclists where to ride to avoid opening car doors and to alert drivers to expect bikes
To indicate the cyclist must dismount and walk the bike
To show where the bike lane legally ends
To mark a lane reserved exclusively for bicycles

Answer: A — To show cyclists where to ride to avoid opening car doors and to alert drivers to expect bikes

Shared lane markings position cyclists safely away from parked-car doors and cue drivers to anticipate bikes in the lane.

20. You are walking along a road that has no sidewalk. Which side of the road should you walk on?

The left side, facing oncoming traffic
The right side, walking with traffic
Either side, as long as you stay close to the center line
The side with more streetlights, regardless of traffic direction

Answer: A — The left side, facing oncoming traffic

Without a sidewalk, pedestrians should walk on the left facing traffic so they can see and react to approaching vehicles.

21. A pedestrian without any visual or physical disability wants to carry a white cane while walking on a public road, just to be more visible. Is this allowed?

Yes, but only at night
Yes, anyone may carry a white cane for visibility
No, only blind, partially blind, or disabled people may carry a white cane on a public road
No, white canes are banned entirely on public roads

Answer: C — No, only blind, partially blind, or disabled people may carry a white cane on a public road

Carrying a white cane on a public road is reserved for blind, partially blind, or disabled individuals.

22. While driving, you see a pedestrian with a white cane about to step into the roadway, and there is no other way to avoid endangering them. What must you do?

Slow down slightly but continue driving, since pedestrians with canes are trained to detect traffic
Swerve into the next lane without stopping
Sound the horn and maintain your speed
Come to a full stop

Answer: D — Come to a full stop

When no other option prevents danger to a pedestrian with a white cane, a full stop is required.

23. If a driver's reaction time slows by just half a second due to distraction, what happens to the likelihood of a crash?

It stays about the same
It increases by about ten percent
It roughly doubles
It decreases slightly

Answer: C — It roughly doubles

Even a small delay in reaction time, like half a second, is enough to roughly double crash likelihood.

24. Your phone rings while you are driving. What is the appropriate response?

Answer only if you are stopped at a red light
Answer it briefly since short calls are legal while driving
Answer using speakerphone, which is always allowed regardless of age or location
Do not answer; pull safely off the road or let a passenger make the call

Answer: D — Do not answer; pull safely off the road or let a passenger make the call

The safe response is not answering while driving, instead pulling over, letting a passenger take it, or limiting use to emergencies.

25. A 17-year-old driver wants to use a hands-free wireless device to change music while driving outside any school zone. Is this allowed?

Yes, hands-free devices are always allowed regardless of age
No, but only because hands-free devices are restricted specifically to school zones for all drivers
Yes, but only if the vehicle is stopped
No, drivers under 18 may not use a wireless device at all, even hands-free, except in an emergency

Answer: D — No, drivers under 18 may not use a wireless device at all, even hands-free, except in an emergency

Drivers under 18 face a total ban on wireless device use, hands-free or not, except in emergencies, regardless of location.