New York Driver License: Sharing the Road and Crashes

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

1. A driver is about to back out of a driveway where children have been playing nearby. Beyond checking the mirrors, what should the driver do first?

Look through the rear window instead of the mirrors
Get out of the vehicle and check behind it
Ask a passenger to watch through the rear window
Sound the horn twice and back up slowly

Answer: B — Get out of the vehicle and check behind it

With children nearby, the driver must physically get out and check behind the vehicle before backing, not just rely on mirrors or the rear window.

2. A pedestrian using a white cane is crossing at an intersection with no crosswalk markings, and the traffic signal favors vehicles. Who has the right-of-way?

The vehicle, because the signal favors traffic
The pedestrian, but only at a marked crosswalk
Whichever party entered the intersection first
The pedestrian, regardless of the signal

Answer: D — The pedestrian, regardless of the signal

A blind pedestrian with a guide dog or white/metal cane has the right-of-way at any marked or unmarked crosswalk, even against signals.

3. A driver is making a left turn at an intersection. Since pedestrians walk facing oncoming traffic, where should the driver pay particular attention for pedestrians?

Far left
Right side near the curb
Only within painted crosswalk lines
Directly behind the vehicle

Answer: A — Far left

Because pedestrians face traffic, drivers should watch the right side on right turns and the far left on left turns.

4. What share of New York City pedestrian injury crashes happen during a driver's left turn?

About 20 percent
More than 35 percent
About 10 percent
More than 60 percent

Answer: B — More than 35 percent

Left turns are especially dangerous, accounting for more than 35 percent of NYC pedestrian injury crashes.

5. A driver is about to open a parked car's door on a city street. What should the driver do first to avoid hitting a passing bicyclist?

Turn the head to check the blind spot
Sound the horn before opening the door
Open the door slowly regardless
Check the side mirror only

Answer: A — Turn the head to check the blind spot

Drivers must check blind spots by turning their head before opening a door, since bicyclists are easy to miss in mirrors.

6. Before turning right on red, why should a driver look right and behind first?

Pedestrians always cross from the left
It is required only at night
A bicyclist may be approaching on the right rear
Oncoming traffic may be turning left simultaneously

Answer: C — A bicyclist may be approaching on the right rear

A bicyclist may be coming up on the right rear, so drivers must look right and behind before turning right on red.

7. What is a bike box at an intersection?

A lane reserved for bicycles running the length of a block
A two-way path physically separated from vehicle traffic
A marked area ahead of where traffic must stop, giving bicyclists extra space
A designated bicycle parking area at the curb

Answer: C — A marked area ahead of where traffic must stop, giving bicyclists extra space

A bike box is a marked area at an intersection ahead of the stop line that gives bicyclists extra space, distinct from a bike lane or cycle track.

8. A cyclist wants to carry a 3-year-old as a passenger on a bicycle. What is required?

The child must be at least 4 years old
The child must be secured in an attached safety seat
Children under 5 may not be carried at all
The child may sit on the handlebars if holding on

Answer: B — The child must be secured in an attached safety seat

Children aged 1 to 4 may only be carried in an attached safety seat.

9. A cyclist plans to ride at night on a public road. From how far away must the headlight be visible?

100 feet
500 feet
300 feet
200 feet

Answer: B — 500 feet

A bicycle headlight must be visible from 500 feet ahead at night; 300 feet is the taillight distance and 200 feet is the side visibility distance.

10. A motorcyclist ahead has a turn signal flashing but does not seem to be turning. Why can this signal be unreliable?

Motorcycle signals are only visible at night
Motorcycles are not required to have turn signals
Motorcycle turn signals usually do not cancel themselves, so a flashing signal may mean nothing
State law does not require motorcyclists to signal

Answer: C — Motorcycle turn signals usually do not cancel themselves, so a flashing signal may mean nothing

Motorcycle turn signals usually do not self-cancel, so a flashing signal may not indicate an actual turn.

11. Two motorcyclists are riding side by side sharing a single lane width. Is this legal, and could a car share that lane with one of them?

Legal for any combination of two vehicles
Legal only on multi-lane highways
Illegal in all cases
Legal for two motorcycles, but a car may not share the lane with either one

Answer: D — Legal for two motorcycles, but a car may not share the lane with either one

Two motorcycles may ride side by side in one lane, but a motorcycle may not share a lane with another kind of vehicle.

12. A rider is operating a Class B moped (top speed 21 to 30 mph) on a multi-lane road. Which lane may the rider use, aside from turning left?

The center lane only
Any lane, like a Class A moped
Only the right lane or shoulder
Only the leftmost lane

Answer: C — Only the right lane or shoulder

Class B and C mopeds may use only the right lane or shoulder, except when turning left; only Class A may use any lane.

13. As a motorcyclist crosses a steel deck bridge, where should the rider move within the lane?

The center of the lane
The left edge of the lane
The right edge of the lane
Off onto the shoulder

Answer: A — The center of the lane

A motorcyclist is expected to move to the center of the lane when crossing a steel deck bridge.

14. A rider wants to operate a moped with a top speed of 35 mph on public roads. Which class is it, and what license does it require?

Class B, requiring any class license
Class A, requiring any class license
Class A, requiring a Class M license or permit
Class C, requiring no license

Answer: C — Class A, requiring a Class M license or permit

A top speed of 35 mph falls in the Class A range (31 to 40 mph), which requires a Class M license or permit.

15. A truck ahead signals a right turn but first swings left within its lane. What should the driver behind understand?

The truck's turn signal is malfunctioning
The truck is making a wide right turn and will move right after swinging left
The truck intends to turn left instead
The truck is changing lanes to let others pass

Answer: B — The truck is making a wide right turn and will move right after swinging left

Trucks make wide right turns by moving left first, so drivers should not try to pass or squeeze by during the swing.

16. After passing a large truck, when is it safe to move back into its lane?

After signaling for three seconds
When the truck flashes its headlights
When the truck's whole front is visible in the mirror
Immediately after clearing the truck's front bumper

Answer: C — When the truck's whole front is visible in the mirror

A driver should pull back in only once the truck's whole front is visible in the mirror, ensuring enough clearance.

17. Why do tractor-trailers need drivers to leave more following space than cars typically require?

Trucks always travel below the speed limit
Air brakes delay the truck's stopping
Trucks have shorter stopping distances than cars
Truck tires grip the road better, causing sudden stops

Answer: B — Air brakes delay the truck's stopping

Air brakes delay braking in tractor-trailers, so they stop much later than cars and need plenty of following space.

18. An ATV rider needs to cross a highway. What must the rider do?

Cross only at marked ATV crossings
Yield only if traffic is present
Slow down and cross at any convenient angle
Stop, yield, and cross at a 90-degree angle

Answer: D — Stop, yield, and cross at a 90-degree angle

ATVs and snowmobiles crossing a highway must stop, yield, and cross at a 90-degree angle.

19. A driver is approaching a horse and rider on the road. What must the driver avoid doing?

Sounding the horn near the horse
Slowing down before passing
Passing at a reasonable speed
Giving the horse extra distance

Answer: A — Sounding the horn near the horse

Sounding the horn near a horse is illegal, since it can spook the animal.

20. A driver is involved in a crash in which another person is injured. What is required, and what happens if the driver leaves without doing it?

The driver must stop only if asked by the other party
The driver must stop; leaving is only a minor traffic violation
Stopping is optional if the damage looks minor
The driver must stop; leaving the scene of an injury crash is a crime

Answer: D — The driver must stop; leaving the scene of an injury crash is a crime

A driver must always stop; leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death is a crime, not just a traffic violation.

21. A driver is in a crash causing $1,500 in damage to another person's property, with no injuries. The driver's insurer has already been notified. What else must the driver do?

Report within 30 days to the insurer only
Report the crash to DMV within 10 days on form MV-104
Report only if police were not present
Nothing further, since the insurer was notified

Answer: B — Report the crash to DMV within 10 days on form MV-104

Crashes with $1,000 or more in property damage to one person must be reported to DMV within 10 days on form MV-104; notifying the insurer does not satisfy this.

22. An injured passenger is trapped in a vehicle after a crash, with no fire or other immediate danger. What should a bystander do?

Pull the person head first by the clothing to a safe spot
Move the person to the roadside immediately
Not move the injured person
Sit the person upright to check for injuries

Answer: C — Not move the injured person

An injured person should not be moved unless fire or another life-threatening danger forces it; the head-first pull by the clothing is the method for that forced move only, and no such danger is present here.

23. A crash has knocked down power lines that are touching a vehicle involved. What should the occupants of that vehicle do?

Exit quickly and move away individually
Stay inside the vehicle
Honk the horn continuously for help
Get out and stay well away from the downed wires

Answer: B — Stay inside the vehicle

Staying away from downed wires is the rule for people outside the vehicle; occupants of a vehicle the wires touch or lie near are told to stay inside.

24. During a road test, which of these features are you not allowed to use at all?

Forward collision warning
Backup warning system
Adaptive cruise control
Blind spot monitor

Answer: C — Adaptive cruise control

Candidates may use most warning and some assist systems on the road test, but not adaptive cruise control or automatic parallel parking.

25. A driver's vehicle has lane keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking. What is the correct way to use these features?

Continue doing head checks and using mirrors, since these systems only assist and do not drive
Rely on them fully in poor weather since they are designed for those conditions
Use them as a replacement for checking blind spots
Stop checking mirrors once the vehicle has these features

Answer: A — Continue doing head checks and using mirrors, since these systems only assist and do not drive

Driver assistance systems assist but do not drive, so drivers must stay focused and keep doing head checks and using mirrors.