Question

Difficulty: MediumPavement Markings and Lane Lines

You are driving on a two-lane rural highway with a broken yellow centerline. Up ahead, approximately 80 feet before an upcoming intersection, a slow-moving agricultural tractor is traveling in your lane. Which of the following statements correctly describes your legal ability to overtake this vehicle across the centerline?

  1. You cannot legally cross the centerline to pass because overtaking is prohibited within 100 feet of an intersection, regardless of pavement markings.Answer
  2. B
    You are legally permitted to pass as long as you complete the maneuver before entering the intersection boundary.
  3. C
    You may cross the centerline to pass only if the line turns into a solid yellow line on your side before the intersection.
  4. D
    You may pass at any time because a broken yellow centerline overrides location-based passing restrictions.

Answer

You cannot legally cross the centerline to pass because overtaking is prohibited within 100 feet of an intersection, regardless of pavement markings.
While a broken yellow line generally allows drivers to pass, statutory traffic laws prohibit driving on the left side of the road when approaching within 100 feet of an intersection. Because the vehicle is 80 feet from the intersection, passing is strictly illegal.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the pavement marking rules
A broken yellow line generally indicates that passing is permitted when safe.
Broken yellow lines mark centerlines where drivers may cross into the opposing lane to overtake slower vehicles.
2
Evaluate statutory location restrictions
Traffic law prohibits driving on the left side of the roadway within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad crossing, bridge, or tunnel.
Intersection hazard zones present high risk of cross-traffic collisions regardless of pavement line patterns.
3
Combine line permissions with distance restrictions to determine legality
Because the vehicle is 80 feet from the intersection (less than 100 feet), passing is illegal.
Statutory rules prohibiting passing near intersections override general line permissions.

Key Concept

Pavement line passing permissions are subject to statutory safety restrictions near intersections
Rate this question