Maryland permit test: lanes, passing & merging
Lane choice, changing lanes, blind spots, passing rules and merging. 6 questions.
After passing a car, when is it safe to move back into the original lane?
Keyboard: press 1–4 or A–D to answer, Enter for the next question, S to save, R to read aloud, P to pause reading, L to listen and answer.
Sample lanes, passing & merging questions
After passing a car, when is it safe to move back into the original lane?
- A When you see both of its headlights in your rear-view mirror
- B As soon as your rear bumper is past its front bumper
- C When the other driver flashes the headlights
- D After you have counted one full second past the front of the car
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A. When you see both of its headlights in your rear-view mirror
Before returning to your lane after passing, wait until you can see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your rear-view mirror. That shows you have left enough space in front of it.
On a two-lane road, when is it okay to pass another vehicle on the right if you stay on the pavement and it is safe?
- A When the vehicle ahead is going under the limit
- B When the right shoulder is wide and paved
- C When the vehicle ahead is a large truck
- D When the vehicle ahead is about to turn left
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D. When the vehicle ahead is about to turn left
You normally pass on the left. Passing on the right is allowed if it is safe, you stay on the road, and the other vehicle is about to turn left, or you are on an unobstructed road with two or more lanes going your way.
In Maryland, how close to an intersection or railroad grade crossing may you pass another vehicle?
- A Not within 50 feet
- B Not within 200 feet
- C Not within 500 feet
- D Not within 100 feet
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D. Not within 100 feet
You may not pass while crossing or within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad grade crossing. Vehicles may turn or stop suddenly there, and you could end up in the path of cross traffic or a train.
The car ahead is waiting to turn left. Is it legal to pass it using the paved right shoulder?
- A Yes, if you signal first
- B Yes, if the shoulder is wide enough
- C No; passing on the shoulder is never allowed
- D Yes, if you stay under 15 mph
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C. No; passing on the shoulder is never allowed
You may pass on the right of a left-turning car only if you stay on the road. Passing on the shoulder, to the right or the left, is not allowed because bicyclists, pedestrians and stopped vehicles may be there.