PennDOT Sharing the Road Safely 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When passing a bicyclist on a Pennsylvania road, what is the minimum safe passing distance required by law?
- 1 foot
- 2 feet
- 3 feet (Correct answer)
- 4 feet
Correct answer: 3 feet
Pennsylvania law requires drivers to maintain at least 4 feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.
Question 2: A large truck is making a wide right turn. What should you do if you are in the lane to the right of the truck?
- Speed up to get through before the truck turns
- Stay back and allow the truck to complete its turn (Correct answer)
- Honk to alert the truck driver of your position
- Move to the left lane immediately
Correct answer: Stay back and allow the truck to complete its turn
Trucks need extra space for wide turns, so you should stay back and never attempt to squeeze between a turning truck and the curb.
Question 3: What does a triangular orange slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem on the back of a vehicle indicate?
- The vehicle is carrying hazardous materials
- The vehicle travels at speeds under 25 mph (Correct answer)
- The vehicle is an emergency responder
- The vehicle has oversized cargo
Correct answer: The vehicle travels at speeds under 25 mph
The orange triangle SMV emblem warns other drivers that the vehicle travels at 25 mph or less, commonly seen on farm equipment.
Question 4: When driving near pedestrians at night, you should:
- Assume pedestrians can see you clearly
- Use high beams to illuminate them better
- Reduce speed and be prepared to stop (Correct answer)
- Sound your horn to warn them
Correct answer: Reduce speed and be prepared to stop
Pedestrians are much harder to see at night, so you must slow down and be ready to stop when driving in areas where people may be walking.
Question 5: What should a driver do when approaching a school bus that has stopped with flashing red lights on a two-lane road?
- Slow to 15 mph and proceed cautiously
- Stop only if children are visible
- Stop completely in both directions of travel (Correct answer)
- Stop only if approaching from behind the bus
Correct answer: Stop completely in both directions of travel
On a two-lane road, traffic in both directions must stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights.
Question 6: A motorcyclist is riding in the left portion of a lane. This position is most likely chosen to:
- Intimidate other drivers
- Increase visibility and avoid road hazards (Correct answer)
- Violate traffic laws
- Prepare for an illegal lane change
Correct answer: Increase visibility and avoid road hazards
Motorcyclists often ride in the left portion of a lane to increase their visibility to other drivers and avoid debris near the road's edge.
Question 7: When sharing the road with a horse-drawn vehicle, you should:
- Sound your horn to alert the horse
- Pass quickly to minimize disturbance
- Slow down, pass wide, and avoid sudden movements (Correct answer)
- Flash your headlights to signal your presence
Correct answer: Slow down, pass wide, and avoid sudden movements
Horses can be startled by sudden sounds or movements, so pass slowly and widely to avoid causing the animal to panic.
PennDOT Sharing the Road Safely 2
When passing a bicyclist on a Pennsylvania road, what is the minimum safe passing distance required by law?