Ohio Driver License: Speed, Right-of-Way and Turns

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Speed, Right-of-Way and Turns. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver is traveling under the posted speed limit on a straight road but going fast enough that they could not stop within the distance they can see ahead. What has the driver violated?

Nothing, as long as they are under the posted limit
The assured-clear-distance-ahead rule
The right-of-way rule
The recommended 3-to-4-second following-distance rule

Answer: B — The assured-clear-distance-ahead rule

Ohio law requires being able to stop within the distance you can see ahead, regardless of the posted limit.

2. Driving in heavy fog on a road posted for 45 mph, what speed is appropriate?

5 mph over the limit to clear the low-visibility area faster
The same speed as surrounding traffic, regardless of the sign
Exactly 45 mph, since that is the posted limit
A speed slower than the posted limit

Answer: D — A speed slower than the posted limit

In reduced-visibility or poor conditions, a reasonable speed is slower than the posted sign.

3. Driving through a narrow alley inside a municipality, what is the speed limit?

15 mph
25 mph
20 mph
35 mph

Answer: A — 15 mph

Alleys inside a municipality carry the lowest posted limit, 15 mph.

4. Approaching a school zone during morning drop-off as children are arriving, what speed limit applies?

15 mph
20 mph
35 mph
25 mph

Answer: B — 20 mph

School zones are limited to 20 mph during recess and while children arrive or leave.

5. Driving on a state route inside a municipality, outside the business district, on a road that is not a controlled-access highway, what is the speed limit?

35 mph
50 mph
55 mph
25 mph

Answer: A — 35 mph

State routes and through highways inside a municipality outside business districts, and not controlled-access, are limited to 35 mph.

6. Driving on a freeway out in the countryside, well outside any municipality, what is the speed limit?

65 mph
70 mph
55 mph
60 mph

Answer: B — 70 mph

Rural freeways carry the highest posted limit, 70 mph.

7. Two vehicles reach an uncontrolled four-way intersection at exactly the same time. Which driver should yield?

The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
The driver who signals first, regardless of position
Whoever is going straight yields to whoever is turning

Answer: A — The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right

When two vehicles reach a four-way intersection simultaneously, the one on the left yields to the driver on their right.

8. A driver comes to a complete stop at a stop-sign intersection just before another car arrives from a cross street. Who should proceed first?

The driver on the right, regardless of arrival order
The driver going straight, regardless of arrival order
The driver who arrived first
The driver already stopped must wait for the new arrival

Answer: C — The driver who arrived first

The driver who arrives first at an intersection has the right-of-way to proceed first.

9. Turning left across an intersection, who must a driver yield to?

No one, since a green light gives the turning driver priority
Oncoming traffic
Traffic approaching from behind
Traffic waiting to turn right from the cross street

Answer: B — Oncoming traffic

A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic.

10. Pulling out of a private driveway onto a public street, who has the right-of-way?

The driver leaving the driveway, if they signal first
Traffic already on the public road
The driver leaving the driveway always has priority over side streets
Whichever vehicle is moving faster

Answer: B — Traffic already on the public road

A driver entering a public road from a driveway or private road must yield to traffic already on that road.

11. Merging onto a freeway from an entrance ramp, who must yield?

The merging driver has priority if using a turn signal
Traffic already on the freeway must make room for merging vehicles
The merging driver must yield to traffic already on the freeway
Whichever vehicle is in the right lane has priority

Answer: C — The merging driver must yield to traffic already on the freeway

A driver merging from an entrance ramp must yield to traffic already on the freeway.

12. How much following distance should a driver keep behind the vehicle ahead?

8 to 10 seconds
3 to 4 seconds
1 to 2 seconds
5 to 6 seconds

Answer: B — 3 to 4 seconds

A 3 to 4 second gap is the recommended following distance.

13. Leaving a private driveway in a residential district where a sidewalk crosses the exit, where must a driver stop, and to whom must they yield?

At the nearest stop line, yielding to cross traffic
At the sidewalk, yielding to pedestrians on it
At the edge of the roadway, yielding to oncoming vehicles only
There is no required stop if no vehicles are visible

Answer: B — At the sidewalk, yielding to pedestrians on it

When leaving an alley, driveway or private road, a driver must stop at the sidewalk and yield to pedestrians on it.

14. A driver approaches an intersection with a green light, but traffic on the far side is backed up with no room for another vehicle. What should the driver do?

Sound the horn and proceed slowly through
Stop before entering the intersection
Proceed since the light is green
Merge into the oncoming lane to get around the backup

Answer: B — Stop before entering the intersection

A driver must stop before entering an intersection if there is no room on the far side, even with a green light.

15. At an intersection controlled by a flashing red signal, what must a driver do?

Treat it the same as a flashing yellow signal
Stop only if another vehicle is approaching
Stop, then yield to traffic that does not have to stop
Slow down, but a full stop is not required

Answer: C — Stop, then yield to traffic that does not have to stop

A flashing red signal requires a full stop and yielding to traffic that need not stop.

16. An ambulance with flashing lights and siren approaches from the opposite direction on a divided highway, separated from the driver's lanes by a median. What should the driver do?

Continue on; the requirement to pull over and stop does not apply across a divided highway
Pull to the left and stop until it passes
Speed up to clear the intersection before it arrives
Pull to the right and stop, as with any approaching public safety vehicle

Answer: A — Continue on; the requirement to pull over and stop does not apply across a divided highway

Drivers need not stop for a public safety vehicle on the other side of a divided highway.

17. Where should a driver's hands be placed on the steering wheel to keep control while staying clear of a deploying air bag?

10 and 2 o'clock
9 and 3 o'clock
12 and 6 o'clock
4 and 8 o'clock

Answer: D — 4 and 8 o'clock

Holding the wheel at 4 and 8 o'clock keeps control while keeping arms clear of a deploying air bag.

18. Before backing out of a parking space, why should a driver first walk around the vehicle?

To spot children or small objects that are invisible from the driver's seat
To confirm the taillights are working
To check the tire pressure
To check for a wide turning radius

Answer: A — To spot children or small objects that are invisible from the driver's seat

Walking around the vehicle before backing reveals children or small objects that can't be seen from the seat.

19. While backing up and looking through the rear window, where should the driver's left hand be on the steering wheel?

3 o'clock
9 o'clock
6 o'clock
12 o'clock

Answer: D — 12 o'clock

While backing, the left hand should be at 12 o'clock while the driver looks through the rear window.

20. Approaching an intersection, in what order should a driver visually scan for cross traffic?

Left, then right, then left again
Straight ahead only, then proceed
Right, then left, then right again
Right only, then proceed if clear

Answer: A — Left, then right, then left again

At every intersection, a driver should search left, right, then left again.

21. How far ahead of a turn should a driver signal?

Only once entering the turn lane
At least 50 feet
At least 200 feet
At least 100 feet

Answer: D — At least 100 feet

Turns should be signaled at least 100 feet ahead.

22. Making a right turn at an intersection, from which part of the lane should a driver turn?

From the rightmost part of the lane into the rightmost lane of the new street
From the leftmost part of the lane, cutting across
Swing wide to the left first, then turn right
From the center of the lane into any open lane

Answer: A — From the rightmost part of the lane into the rightmost lane of the new street

Right turns should be made from the rightmost part of the lane into the rightmost lane of the new street, without swinging wide.

23. Completing a left turn onto a multi-lane street, into which lane should a driver turn?

The lane just right of the center line
Whichever lane happens to be open
The rightmost lane of the new street
The leftmost lane, even if it means crossing opposing lanes

Answer: A — The lane just right of the center line

Left turns are made from the leftmost part of the driver's lane into the lane just right of the center line, even on four-lane roads.

24. Before turning right on a red signal, what must a driver do?

Slow down, but a full stop is not required if the way looks clear
Come to a complete stop, then proceed once crossing traffic and pedestrians are clear
Only stop if a posted sign specifically requires it
Yield to pedestrians only; crossing vehicle traffic is not a concern

Answer: B — Come to a complete stop, then proceed once crossing traffic and pedestrians are clear

Right on red requires a complete stop and clearing crossing traffic and pedestrians first, unless prohibited by a sign.

25. Under what circumstance is turning left on a red signal permitted?

From any left-turn lane onto a two-way street
Only from the extreme left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street
From a one-way street onto a two-way street, if the intersection is clear
Never, under any circumstance

Answer: B — Only from the extreme left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street

Left on red is only allowed from the extreme left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless posted otherwise.

26. In which direction does traffic travel around the center island of a roundabout?

Clockwise
Counterclockwise
Either direction, depending on the lane
Straight through the island

Answer: B — Counterclockwise

Roundabout traffic moves counterclockwise around the raised center island.

27. A driver is approaching a roundabout while other vehicles are already circulating inside it. Who must yield?

Whoever signals first has priority
The circulating traffic yields to the entering driver
The entering driver yields to the circulating traffic
The vehicle on the right has priority, as at a four-way intersection

Answer: C — The entering driver yields to the circulating traffic

Entering traffic must yield to traffic already circulating in the roundabout.

28. In a roundabout, a driver wants to go straight through, exiting on the far side directly across from where they entered. Which exit should they take?

The 4th exit
The 2nd exit
The 1st exit
The 3rd exit

Answer: B — The 2nd exit

Going straight through a roundabout corresponds to taking the 2nd exit.