Last week’s article presented 20 questions on vehicle and traffic law (VTL) and traffic safety. Hopefully you took the test and keep your answers. This article repeats the questions, gives the correct answers and the authority for the answers. See how you did.

True or false

1. A driver facing a steady red right turn arrow may proceed with the right turn after having first stopped and determined it is safe to complete the turn. [False — VTL section 1111(d)(3); you may not enter the intersection to turn in the direction indicated by a steady red arrow]

2. Main St. in downtown Malone is the third busiest street or road in all of Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Clinton counties. [True — New York State Department of Transportation traffic counts. #1 is Cornelia St., Plattsburgh, #2 is Arsenal St., Watertown]

3. Amber rear turn signals are safer than red ones. [True — Studies have proven amber rear turn signals safer. They are mandatory in Europe. (IIHS)]

4. If your vehicle has daytime running lights, you are not required to turn on your headlights when your wipers are on. [False — VTL, article 375(2)(a) mandates “headlights” whenever wipers are in use — daytime running lights are not headlights under VTL]

5. Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, if you are caught speeding in excess of 50 km/h (30 mph) above the posted speed limit police can impound your vehicle and license on the spot. [True — Ontario Highway Traffic Act]

6. A battery-powered wheelchair used by a person with a disability is considered an assist to a pedestrian and therefore, if there are no sidewalks available, must be ridden against traffic. [True — VTL sections 130, 130(a), and 1156(b)]

7. As long as you are licensed to drive the vehicle, you may legally park in front of a fire hydrant provided you remain seated in the front seat and can immediately move such vehicle in case of emergency. [True — VTL 1202(3)(b)(1)]

8. When riding in the front seat of a taxi, fastening the seatbelt is not required. [False — seatbelts are required for all front seat passengers, including the taxi driver, and rear seat passengers under age 16; VTL 1229-c(3-c)]

9. At an intersection controlled by a stop sign, if there is no stop bar and no painted crosswalk, you must stop at the stop sign. [False — no section in VTL requires stopping at the spot of the stop sign; the MUTCD states the purpose of a stop sign is to control right-of-way]

10. You approach an intersection controlled by a non-working traffic light (i.e. power outage). All drivers must treat the intersection as an “ALL-WAY” STOP. [True – VTL section 1117]

Multiple choice questions

11. A conviction for using a handheld electronic device while driving carries: a) 0, b) 2, c) 3, d) 5 driver violation points. [d — 5 points; NYS DMV]

12. If facing a blinking yellow left turn arrow, it means: a) don’t turn — the yellow arrow is about to turn red, b) you may turn left only if it is safe to do so, c) you must wait for a green light to make a left turn, d) trucks only may turn left [b — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices]

13. At a signalized intersection, you are facing a green light and want to turn left, but there is a string of oncoming traffic. You should: a) stop at the stop bar and wait, b) go straight so as not to hold up traffic behind you, c) turn right and then make a U-turn, d) proceed into the intersection and wait for a break in oncoming traffic or the light to change, then complete your left turn. [d — NYS Driver’s Manual]

14. Parking is prohibited: a) within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, b) within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, c) on a crosswalk, d) on a sidewalk, e) where prohibited by an official sign, f) all of these. [f — VTL 1202]

15. If a snowplow hits and damages your rural mailbox, the municipality that owns the snowplow must repair the mailbox within a) 48 hours, b) one week, c) by the following April 1st, d) is under no obligation to repair it. [d — Highway Law, section 319]

16. When parallel parking a vehicle on a village street with curbs, you must park within: a) 6 inches from the curb, b) 12 inches from the curb, c) 18 inches from the curb. [b –VTL section 1203(a)]

17. You are driving in Quebec and face a flashing green light. The meaning of this is: a) you may only proceed straight or turn right through the intersection, b) you may safely make a left turn in front of oncoming traffic, c) no left turn is allowed. [b — when you are facing a flashing green light, drivers coming from all other directions face a red light and you may safely turn left; Quebec Driving Course Manual]

18. Unless other times are specified on a SCHOOL SPEED ZONE sign, the school speed limit is πin effect: a) at all times, b) from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on school days, c) only when students are present. [b – VTL 1180(c); however, times should be stated on all school speed zone signs without flashing beacons]

19. All drivers must, by law, obey regulatory signs. Which of the following signs is NOT a regulatory sign: a) speed limit, b) no parking, c) round yellow railroad crossing in advance of a RR crossing, d) the white cross-buck railroad crossing sign at the near edge of the tracks? [c — the round yellow RR crossing sign is a warning sign, not a regulatory sign. MUTCD]

20. On county and town roads within towns having a population of less than 50,000, the authority by law to set speed limits rests with: a) the town, b) the largest city within the town, c) NYS Dept. of Transportation. [c – VTL section 1622]

Most of the questions are taken from previous articles over the past six or seven years, so you should have done quite well. If not, now is the time to review the New York state driver’s manual. Of course, reading the weekly articles on VTL and traffic safety would also help. Most of us think we’re good drivers, yet we don’t know all the laws that govern how we drive. We are never too old to learn, so let’s keep it going.