A bicyclist is ahead of you on your right and an oncoming vehicle is approaching from your left at the same time. What does the manual tell you to do?
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A.
Slow down, let the oncoming vehicle pass, then move left to pass the cyclist. Correct
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B.
Speed up to get past the cyclist before the oncoming car reaches you.
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C.
Move right in your lane to make room for the oncoming vehicle.
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D.
Hold your speed and steer between the cyclist and oncoming vehicle.
The answer is "Slow down, let the oncoming vehicle pass, then move left to pass the cyclist."
The manual's rule is to handle one traffic condition at a time: slow down, let the oncoming vehicle pass, then move left to give the cyclist a wide berth. Choice C falls back on the 'move right when a hazard is on the left' habit, ignoring the cyclist already occupying that right-side space.
The traps in the wrong answers
B. Speed up to get past the cyclist before the oncoming car reaches you.
Speeding past the cyclist to beat the oncoming car forces you to handle both hazards at once. This answer treats oncoming traffic as a race deadline instead of the second hazard to clear first.
C. Move right in your lane to make room for the oncoming vehicle.
Moving right would leave no safe passing gap for the cyclist and could clip them. This answer falls back on the "move right when a hazard is on the left" habit, ignoring the cyclist.
D. Hold your speed and steer between the cyclist and oncoming vehicle.
Threading between the two at speed leaves no margin if either shifts even slightly. This answer assumes constant speed and steering can substitute for slowing to separate the two hazards.
This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in Pennsylvania. Source: Pennsylvania Driver Manual, "Traffic Flow," p.43..
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