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. Before you start across a road at an intersection, what must you be sure of?

   Correct answer: That the entire roadway can be crossed before nearing traffic arrives

   Make certain you can clear the entire roadway before approaching traffic reaches your vehicle.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.7.7 — Space Needed to Cross or Enter Traffic

2. 2. When the red lights at a crossing begin to flash, what must you do?

   Correct answer: Stop and give the train the right of way

   Flashing red lights mean a train is coming, so you must stop and yield the right of way to it.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.15.2 — Warning Signs and Devices

3. 3. Why should you never try to beat a train to a crossing?

   Correct answer: A train's speed is very hard to judge

   The speed of an oncoming train is very hard to judge, so racing it is extremely dangerous.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.15.3 — Driving Procedures

4. 4. A crossbuck at a rail crossing requires you to do what for an approaching train?

   Correct answer: Give the train the right of way

   At a crossbuck the law requires you to let an approaching train go first.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.15.2 — Warning Signs and Devices

5. 5. How does a heavy load affect the gap you need when entering traffic?

   Correct answer: It requires a larger gap because acceleration is slower

   A heavily loaded vehicle accelerates even more slowly, so you must allow an even larger gap before pulling out.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.7.7 — Space Needed to Cross or Enter Traffic

6. 6. At a crossing with gates and flashing lights, when may you proceed?

   Correct answer: Only after the gates raise and lights stop, when clear

   Stay stopped until the gates rise and the lights quit flashing, then cross only when it is safe.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.15.2 — Warning Signs and Devices

7. 7. After one train has passed a multi-track crossing, what should you check before you proceed?

   Correct answer: That no other train is coming on a second track

   Make sure no second train is approaching on another track, since the first train can hide it from view.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.15.3 — Driving Procedures

8. 8. Under Wisconsin's move-over law, what are you doing when you change lanes for a stopped emergency vehicle?

   Correct answer: Yielding the right of way to the emergency vehicle

   The law frames the lane change as yielding the right of way to the emergency vehicle stopped with its lights on.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.8.1 — Move-Over Laws

9. 9. When completing a wide right turn forces you into the oncoming lane, what should you avoid doing for vehicles heading toward you?

   Correct answer: Back up to give them room

   Do not back up for them, because reversing could cause you to strike a vehicle behind you; instead give them room.

   Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.7.6 — Right Turns

10. 10. Why do you usually need a larger gap to pull a commercial vehicle into traffic than you would in a car?

    Correct answer: Because of slow acceleration and greater vehicle size

    Large vehicles accelerate slowly and take up more room, so a bigger opening is needed to merge safely.

    Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.7.7 — Space Needed to Cross or Enter Traffic

11. 11. At a large traffic circle or rotary, who is generally signed and marked to yield?

    Correct answer: Vehicles on the circle yield to those entering

    These larger circles are typically set up so that vehicles already on the circle yield to vehicles entering it.

    Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.7.6 — Circular Intersections

12. 12. When making a left turn at an intersection, where should your vehicle be before you begin turning?

    Correct answer: At the center of the intersection

    Begin the turn only after your vehicle reaches the middle of the intersection, so its left side does not clip another vehicle.

    Source: Wisconsin CDL Manual, Section 2.7.6 — Left Turns