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DMV Permit · Passing

When is it unsafe or illegal to pass another vehicle?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

When a solid yellow line is on your side, near intersections or railroad crossings, on hills or curves with limited sight distance, or when a school bus is loading

  1. A When a solid yellow line is on your side, near intersections or railroad crossings, on hills or curves with limited sight distance, or when a school bus is loading
  2. B Only at night
  3. C Whenever you are in a hurry
  4. D Passing is always allowed

Why this is the answer

Passing is unsafe or prohibited in several situations: where a solid yellow line marks your side of the road (no-passing zone), when approaching or within an intersection or railroad crossing, on hills or curves where you cannot see far enough ahead, when a vehicle ahead has stopped for a pedestrian, and when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing. Pass only when it is legal and you can clearly see that the lane is clear far enough ahead to complete the pass and return safely. Recognizing when not to pass is critical, because passing errors cause severe head-on collisions.
Source: Standard driver handbook, Passing Rules

Practice more questions

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About this topic: Passing

Passing on a two-lane road requires clear sight distance, a legal stretch, and gap planning. Most passing-related crashes happen because the driver misjudged either the distance or the oncoming vehicle's speed. This is one of 4 DMV Permit questions on passing, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our DMV Permit exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

Related questions

Passing

Before passing another vehicle on a two-lane road, you should:

 Passing

Solid yellow lines on the road indicate:

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You are on a two-lane road and begin passing a vehicle. Midway through the pass, you see an oncoming car approaching. What should you do?

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