You have just passed another vehicle on a two-lane Oregon road. When can you safely return to your lane?
-
A.
As soon as your front bumper passes the front bumper of the vehicle you passed.
-
B.
When you see it in your rearview mirror; signal first. Correct
-
C.
Only after counting four full seconds.
-
D.
Only after the no-passing zone ends.
The answer is "When you see it in your rearview mirror; signal first."
After completing your pass, you may return to your lane when you can see the vehicle you passed in your rearview mirror; that is the visual cue that you are far enough ahead to merge in without sideswiping. Before returning, signal. Cutting back too soon risks sideswiping the vehicle you passed; staying out too long risks a head-on collision with oncoming traffic.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. As soon as your front bumper passes the front bumper of the vehicle you passed.
That is far too early; you would sideswipe. The manual specifies rearview-mirror visibility, which requires far greater distance ahead. Misreading: Treats bumper clearance as the merge cue; the manual's cue is rearview-mirror visibility, which requires far greater distance ahead.
C. Only after counting four full seconds.
The manual uses a visual cue (rearview mirror), not a count. Misreading: Substitutes a fabricated four-second count for the manual's visual rearview-mirror cue.
D. Only after the no-passing zone ends.
The end of a no-passing zone governs where you may begin a pass, not when to return to your lane after one. The manual ties returning to your lane to mirror visibility. Misreading: Confuses pass-start rules (passes must finish before a no-passing zone begins) with the rule for completing a pass and merging back into your lane.
This question tests your knowledge of Passing in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Passing," p.31..
Related Oregon questions
- You're passing another vehicle on a two-lane Oregon road. On which side must you pass? →
- There's a solid yellow line on your side of the centerline. Are you allowed to pass? →
- You're passing a slower vehicle on a two-lane Oregon road posted at 55 mph. When may you exceed 55 mph during the pass? →
- In Oregon, under which condition may you legally pass another vehicle on the RIGHT? →
- You're approaching a slower vehicle on a two-lane Oregon road. The centerline is broken yellow on your side now, but you can see it changes to solid yellow on your side a few hundred feet ahead. May you start the pass? →
The Oregon book is on the way
Drop your email and we'll send the free Oregon cheat sheet now, plus a note the moment the book is available.