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Question

Difficulty: HardRegulatory Signs

A motorist driving along a two-lane roadway approaches an intersection where a rectangular regulatory sign reads 'DO NOT PASS'. A stalled commercial vehicle blocks the lane ahead, and a law enforcement officer standing at the intersection explicitly signals the motorist to cross the center line and pass the stopped vehicle. Which action must the driver legally take under these circumstances?

  1. Follow the manual directions of the traffic officer by proceeding carefully around the stopped vehicle despite the regulatory signAnswer
  2. B
    Remain stopped behind the stalled vehicle until it is moved, because posted regulatory signs strictly prohibit passing under all conditions
  3. C
    Accelerate above the posted speed limit to maneuver past the obstruction as quickly as possible before entering the intersection area
  4. D
    Treat the scenario as a yield-controlled intersection by stopping completely regardless of officer signals and waiting until all lanes clear

Answer

Follow the manual directions of the traffic officer by proceeding carefully around the stopped vehicle despite the regulatory sign.
Under standard motor vehicle codes, lawful directions from a traffic officer or police officer supersede any conflicting traffic control devices, including posted regulatory signs such as 'DO NOT PASS'. The driver must follow the officer's instructions to bypass the obstruction safely.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the controlling authority in the traffic scenario
Recognize that a uniformed officer is actively providing manual traffic control instructions at the scene
Traffic safety codes mandate that manual signals from a law enforcement officer take priority over static regulatory signs, signals, or lane markings
2
Evaluate the posted regulatory sign constraints against officer directions
Determine that the posted 'DO NOT PASS' regulatory restriction is temporarily overridden by the officer's hand directions
Officers are empowered to direct traffic contrary to standard regulatory signs to relieve emergency obstructions safely
3
Execute the required vehicle operation safely
Proceed around the obstruction at a safe, controlled speed while complying with the officer's signals
Driver compliance with official hand directions ensures orderly movement and scene safety

Key Concept

Priority of Traffic Controls and Law Enforcement Authority
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Regulatory Signs

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