New York video lessons · Lesson 3 of 10
New York Turns, Lanes and Passing: five situations explained
All five situations and their answers are below. To watch the lesson, create a free account.
In this video
- 0:00Intro
- 0:16When may you pass on the right in New York?
- 1:26Another car is passing you on the left. What should you do?
- 2:24During a right turn, where do your rear wheels travel?
- 3:19Approaching a roundabout, which way do you look for traffic that has the right-of-way?
- 4:10You turn left from a two-way road onto a four-lane highway. Where do you go first?
- 5:12Recap
In short
You may pass on the right when a vehicle ahead turns left, or on roads marked or wide enough for two or more lanes your way. If another vehicle passes you on the left, decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane. Your rear wheels travel inside the path of the front wheels, nearer to the curb on a right turn.
The five situations
Pick an answer first, the way the video pauses for you. Each one cites the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21).
Situation 1
When may you pass on the right in New York?
Answer: A. When the vehicle ahead is turning left, or on roads with two or more lanes in your direction. You may pass on the right when a vehicle ahead turns left, or on roads marked or wide enough for two or more lanes your way. Never use the shoulder unless allowed.
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21) › Chapter 6 › How to Pass on the Right
Situation 2
Another car is passing you on the left. What should you do?
Answer: A. Decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane. If another vehicle passes you on the left, decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane.
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21) › Chapter 6 › Being Passed
Situation 3
During a right turn, where do your rear wheels travel?
Answer: C. Inside the path of the front wheels, nearer the curb. Your rear wheels travel inside the path of the front wheels, nearer to the curb on a right turn.
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21) › Chapter 5 › Turns
Situation 4
Approaching a roundabout, which way do you look for traffic that has the right-of-way?
Answer: B. To the left. Look to the left: traffic in the roundabout has the right-of-way. Enter when there is an adequate gap.
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21) › Chapter 8 › Roundabouts
Situation 5
You turn left from a two-way road onto a four-lane highway. Where do you go first?
Answer: B. Into the left lane, right of the center line, then move over when safe. Enter the left lane, to the right of the center line; when traffic permits, you can move out of the left lane.
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21) › Chapter 5 › Turns
Transcript
0:00Intro
Turning, changing lanes and passing are where small mistakes get expensive. Here are five situations from the New York State Driver's Manual. For each one, pick your answer before I reveal it.
0:16Situation 1
The car ahead of you has stopped with its left signal on, waiting to turn. When may you pass on the right in New York? The answer is A: When the vehicle ahead is turning left, or on roads with two or more lanes in your direction. You may pass on the right when a vehicle ahead turns left, or on roads marked or wide enough for two or more lanes your way. Never use the shoulder unless allowed. You may pass on the right when the vehicle ahead is turning left, or on roads with two or more lanes your way. Never on the shoulder unless allowed.
1:26Situation 2
A car pulls out to pass you on the left. Another car is passing you on the left. What should you do? The answer is A: Decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane. If another vehicle passes you on the left, decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane. Ease off the gas slightly and stay centered in your lane until they're safely by.
2:24Situation 3
You're making a tight right turn at a corner. During a right turn, where do your rear wheels travel? The answer is C: Inside the path of the front wheels, nearer the curb. Your rear wheels travel inside the path of the front wheels, nearer to the curb on a right turn. Your rear wheels cut inside the path of your front wheels, closer to the curb. Leave room so you don't clip it.
3:19Situation 4
You're slowing for a roundabout and need to find a gap. Approaching a roundabout, which way do you look for traffic that has the right-of-way? The answer is B: To the left. Look to the left: traffic in the roundabout has the right-of-way. Enter when there is an adequate gap. Look left. Traffic already in the roundabout has the right-of-way, so enter when there's an adequate gap.
4:10Situation 5
You're turning left from a two-way road onto a four-lane highway. You turn left from a two-way road onto a four-lane highway. Where do you go first? The answer is B: Into the left lane, right of the center line, then move over when safe. Enter the left lane, to the right of the center line; when traffic permits, you can move out of the left lane. Turn into the left lane, just right of the center line. When traffic allows, move over.
5:12Recap
You may pass on the right when a vehicle ahead turns left, or on roads marked or wide enough for two or more lanes your way. If another vehicle passes you on the left, decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane. Your rear wheels travel inside the path of the front wheels, nearer to the curb on a right turn. Look to the left: traffic in the roundabout has the right-of-way. Enter the left lane, to the right of the center line; when traffic permits, you can move out of the left lane. Nice work. Try more turning and passing questions in Practice by Topic, then test yourself with a full mock exam.
The rules in this lesson
- You may pass on the right when a vehicle ahead turns left, or on roads marked or wide enough for two or more lanes your way.
- If another vehicle passes you on the left, decrease your speed slightly and stay centered in your lane.
- Your rear wheels travel inside the path of the front wheels, nearer to the curb on a right turn.
- Look to the left: traffic in the roundabout has the right-of-way.
- Enter the left lane, to the right of the center line; when traffic permits, you can move out of the left lane.
Original practice lesson written from the New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21). EstatePass is not affiliated with or endorsed by the New York DMV; these are not official test questions.