Rhode Island permit test: lanes, passing & merging
Lane choice, changing lanes, blind spots, passing rules and merging. 5 questions.
Before passing another vehicle, the manual says three questions must all be answered 'yes.' What are they?
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
Before passing another vehicle, the manual says three questions must all be answered 'yes.' What are they?
- A Is it legal, am I late, and is the car slow?
- B Is it daytime, is it legal, and is it a highway?
- C Is it safe, is the road straight, and am I faster?
- D Is it legal, is it safe, and is it worth it?
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D. Is it legal, is it safe, and is it worth it?
Before passing, ask whether passing is legal, whether it is safe, and whether it is worth it. If any answer is no, stay behind.
After passing a car, how does the manual say you know it is safe to return to the right lane?
- A When the passed car's tires show in your inside mirror
- B When you are one car length ahead of it
- C When the other driver flashes their headlights
- D As soon as your rear bumper has cleared the other car's front bumper
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A. When the passed car's tires show in your inside mirror
Go far enough past that you can see the tires of the car you passed on the pavement in your inside rearview mirror. Then signal right and return to your lane.
On a two-lane road, when may you pass another vehicle on the right?
- A When the vehicle ahead is making or about to make a left turn
- B When the driver ahead is going below the speed limit
- C By using the paved shoulder if it is wide enough
- D Whenever the vehicle ahead of you is a slow-moving truck or a bus
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A. When the vehicle ahead is making or about to make a left turn
You may pass on the right when the vehicle ahead is turning left, or on roads wide enough for two or more lanes in your direction. Never leave the pavement to pass.

View diagram
Before changing lanes, what must you do to check the areas your mirrors cannot show?
- A Check only the inside rearview mirror
- B Tap the horn and change lanes slowly
- C Rely on your side mirror, as long as it is adjusted correctly
- D Look over your shoulder in the direction you are moving
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D. Look over your shoulder in the direction you are moving
Blind spots are areas your mirrors cannot show. Before any lane change or pass, look over your left or right shoulder to check them.