Right-of-Way

Study questions with answers

12 sample Right-of-Way questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. Two vehicles meet on a steep, narrow mountain road too tight for both to pass. As a rule:

   Correct answer: the vehicle heading downhill yields by backing up to a wider spot

   On a narrow mountain road the downhill vehicle usually yields by backing to a wider place, unless it is more practical for the uphill vehicle to do so.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Narrow Mountain Road)

2. 2. Even when your traffic signal is green, the law says you must still:

   Correct answer: yield to pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection

   The right-of-way law tells who must yield but never grants an absolute right to go, so you must still yield to those already lawfully in the intersection.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way

3. 3. You must yield to a transit bus that is pulling back into traffic when:

   Correct answer: its turn signal is on and the yield sign on the back of the bus is lit

   Drivers must give the right-of-way to a transit bus signaling to re-enter a lane when the illuminated yield sign on its rear is showing.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Transit Buses)

4. 4. You are approaching a stopped emergency vehicle on a road where you cannot change lanes. If the posted limit is 45 mph or lower, you must slow to:

   Correct answer: 25 mph

   If you cannot move over for a stopped emergency vehicle, slow to 25 mph where the limit is 45 mph or less, or to 20 mph under the limit where it is above 45 mph.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Emergency Vehicles)

5. 5. Before completing a left turn at an intersection without a green arrow, you must yield to:

   Correct answer: oncoming traffic, including bicyclists and motorcyclists, and pedestrians in the crosswalk

   A left-turning driver without a protected green arrow must yield to all oncoming traffic and to smaller road users and pedestrians crossing the intersection.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Turning Left)

6. 6. When a pedestrian is crossing at an intersection, a driver must:

   Correct answer: come to a complete stop and let the person cross safely

   Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks, marked or not, so you must stop and allow them to pass.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Pedestrians)

7. 7. Two cars reach a four-way stop at the very same moment. Who goes first?

   Correct answer: The driver on the right proceeds while the driver on the left yields

   At a four-way stop the first to arrive goes first; when two arrive together, the vehicle on the left yields to the one on the right.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Four-way Stop)

8. 8. When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing, you must stop at least:

   Correct answer: 20 feet away

   You must stop no closer than 20 feet from a school bus displaying flashing red lights and stay stopped until those lights turn off.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (School Bus)

9. 9. When merging onto a roadway, you are required to:

   Correct answer: yield to the traffic already on the road and not merge if a car must slow for you

   A merging driver must yield to vehicles already on the roadway and should not merge if it forces another driver to slow down.

   Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Merging)

10. 10. When you need to cross a bike lane to make a turn, you must:

    Correct answer: yield the right-of-way to any bicyclist in that lane

    Bicyclists have the right-of-way in a designated bike lane, so drivers must yield to them when merging into or crossing the lane to turn.

    Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Bicycles)

11. 11. At an intersection with no signs or signals, when two vehicles arrive together:

    Correct answer: the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right

    An uncontrolled intersection has no control devices; if two vehicles reach it at the same time, the one on the left yields to the one on the right.

    Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Uncontrolled Intersection)

12. 12. When an emergency vehicle approaches with siren and flashing lights, you should:

    Correct answer: pull over to the right edge of the road and stop, where it is possible

    Yield to emergency vehicles by pulling to the right edge and stopping; if you are in an intersection, clear it first and then pull over.

    Source: Colorado Driver Handbook — Right-of-Way (Emergency Vehicles)