Question

Difficulty: HardPassing, Overtaking, and Lane Changing Rules

You are driving on a two-lane rural road following a slow-moving farm tractor. The centerline on your side is a broken yellow line, indicating passing is generally permitted. However, you notice an unsignaled highway intersection approximately 80 feet ahead. Which of the following actions is legally permitted in this scenario?

  1. Remain behind the tractor and delay passing until your vehicle has completely cleared the intersection and entered a safe passing zone.Answer
  2. B
    Initiate the pass immediately, because a broken yellow centerline grants legal authorization to pass regardless of upcoming intersections.
  3. C
    Exceed the posted speed limit temporarily to complete the pass before your vehicle enters the intersection area.
  4. D
    Execute the pass quickly because broken yellow lines indicate oncoming traffic must yield to passing vehicles near intersections.

Answer

The driver must remain behind the vehicle and wait until completely past the intersection before initiating a pass.
Traffic laws explicitly prohibit driving on the left side of the roadway to overtake or pass another vehicle when approaching within 100 feet of an intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, viaduct, or tunnel. Even though a broken yellow line indicates that passing is generally allowed on that road segment, statutory proximity prohibitions override pavement markings to prevent severe collisions with turning traffic.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify road conditions and distance to hazards.
Recognize that the vehicle is within 80 feet of an upcoming intersection despite the broken yellow line.
Safety regulations establish specific buffer zones around high-risk road features.
2
Apply statutory traffic rules for passing near intersections.
Determine that driving on the left side of the road to pass is illegal within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad crossing, bridge, or tunnel.
Intersections carry high risk for collisions caused by turning vehicles and restricted cross-visibility.
3
Select the correct legal driver action.
Hold position behind the slow-moving vehicle until safely past the 100-foot intersection boundary.
Ensures compliance with traffic safety laws and prevents head-on or broadside collisions.

Key Concept

Passing prohibition within 100 feet of an intersection
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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