VT DMV Sharing the Road 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Why should you increase your following distance behind a motorcycle?
- Motorcycles can stop more quickly and may swerve to avoid hazards (Correct answer)
- Motorcycles always travel slower than cars
- Motorcycle riders expect cars to tailgate
- Motorcycles produce dangerous exhaust
Correct answer: Motorcycles can stop more quickly and may swerve to avoid hazards
Motorcycles can stop faster and often shift position within a lane to avoid road hazards, so extra space is needed.
Question 2: A farm tractor displaying a slow-moving vehicle emblem is ahead on a Vermont highway. The emblem is what shape and color?
- An orange triangle with red border (Correct answer)
- A yellow diamond
- A red octagon
- A green circle
Correct answer: An orange triangle with red border
Slow-moving vehicles display a reflective orange triangle with a red border, warning that they travel 25 mph or less.
Question 3: When following a large truck uphill, why should you stay farther back?
- The truck may slow suddenly or roll back slightly when starting (Correct answer)
- Trucks accelerate faster uphill
- Truck drivers cannot use mirrors on hills
- It is illegal to follow trucks uphill
Correct answer: The truck may slow suddenly or roll back slightly when starting
Heavy trucks lose speed on grades and can roll back when starting from a stop, so extra space is safer.
Question 4: A blind pedestrian with a white cane is waiting at a corner. Who has the right-of-way?
- The pedestrian, always (Correct answer)
- The driver if the light is green
- Whoever arrived first
- The pedestrian only in marked crosswalks
Correct answer: The pedestrian, always
Pedestrians using a white cane or guide dog must always be given the right-of-way.
Question 5: You want to pass a bicyclist on a narrow two-lane road with an oncoming car approaching. What should you do?
- Slow down and wait until it is safe to pass with adequate clearance (Correct answer)
- Squeeze between the bicycle and the oncoming car
- Honk so the bicyclist moves onto the shoulder
- Pass immediately before the car arrives
Correct answer: Slow down and wait until it is safe to pass with adequate clearance
Wait behind the bicyclist until you can pass safely with the required clearance rather than squeezing through.
Question 6: What does it mean when a truck driver flashes their headlights after you pass them?
- It is often a courtesy signal that it is safe to return to the lane (Correct answer)
- You must pull over immediately
- The truck is about to pass you
- Your vehicle has a mechanical problem
Correct answer: It is often a courtesy signal that it is safe to return to the lane
Truckers often flash headlights as a courtesy to signal that a passing vehicle has cleared the truck, though you should verify with your mirrors.
Question 7: In winter, you encounter a snowplow on a Vermont road. What is the safest action?
- Stay well back and do not pass unless the road ahead is clearly visible and safe (Correct answer)
- Pass on the right where the plow blade is raised
- Follow closely to use the cleared path
- Flash your lights so the plow pulls over
Correct answer: Stay well back and do not pass unless the road ahead is clearly visible and safe
Snowplows create snow clouds and ridges that hide hazards, so stay back and pass only when clearly safe.
VT DMV Sharing the Road 3
Why should you increase your following distance behind a motorcycle?