Michigan DMV Permit Test Right of Way, Emergency Vehicles, School Buses, and Railroad Crossings Summary

Flashing red overhead lights mean the bus is picking up or dropping off passengers. Stop and stay stopped until the red lights turn off or the bus moves again. Flashing yellow overhead lights mean be prepared to stop.

Wrong choices

• Whenever the bus is slowing down: A slowing bus alone does not require a stop.
• When its yellow hazard lights are flashing: Yellow hazard lights mean go ahead with caution.
• Only when you can see children near the bus: You must stop for the red lights whether or not you see children.

Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus with its red overhead lights flashing. Children may dart into the street, so stay alert. Fines for not stopping are double the normal amount.

Wrong choices

• At least 10 feet: Michigan requires at least 20 feet.
• At least 100 feet: The legal minimum is 20 feet.
• At least 5 feet: That is far too close; the law says 20 feet.

When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, pull over to the right edge of the road, clear of intersections, and stop until it passes. Keep a foot on the brake so its driver sees your brake lights, and watch for more than one emergency vehicle.

Wrong choices

• Speed up to stay ahead of it: You must get out of its way, not race it.
• Stop right where you are, even in an intersection: Stopping inside an intersection can block the ambulance.
• Keep driving at the same speed: You must yield the right of way and stop.

You must yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk, at an intersection or midblock, even if your light is green. Take extra care around children, older people, and people with disabilities.

Wrong choices

• Only when your light is red: You must yield even on green.
• Only if the crosswalk is at an intersection: You must also yield at marked midblock crosswalks.
• Only if the pedestrian is a child: You must yield to all pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming traffic, including on a green light. Wait until all oncoming traffic has cleared. Watch especially for motorcycles and bicycles, whose speed is easy to misjudge.

Wrong choices

• Only vehicles behind you: The danger is from oncoming vehicles, not ones behind.
• No one, because your light is green: A green light does not give a left-turning driver the right of way over oncoming traffic.
• Only trucks and buses: You must yield to all oncoming traffic.

Stop when the bells ring, the lights flash, or the gate is down or moving. Never drive through, around, or under an activated crossing. After the train passes, wait until the gates rise, the lights and bells stop, and you are sure all tracks are clear.

Wrong choices

• Cross if you look both ways and see nothing: The warning devices are on because a train is coming.
• Drive under the gate arms if there is room: Never go under lowered gates.
• Drive around the gates carefully: Never drive through, around, or under an activated crossing system.

At a four-way stop, the driver who stopped first goes first. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on its right.

Wrong choices

• Whoever honks first: The horn does not give the right of way.
• Whichever vehicle is larger: Vehicle size does not decide the right of way.
• You, because the car on the right yields to the left: It is the other way around.

When you see a stopped emergency vehicle with lights flashing, slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit and move over a lane if traffic and conditions allow. If you cannot move over, slow down and leave as much space as you can.

Wrong choices

• Stop behind the police car: You are not required to stop; you must slow down and move over.
• Keep your normal speed since it is on the shoulder: You must slow down even though it is off the road.
• Slow to 10 mph below the limit, but never change lanes: You should move over a lane when traffic and conditions allow.

Once the lights and gates activate or you hear the train horn, you have about 20 seconds. Immediately get everyone out and as far from the tracks as possible, then call 911. If the signals are not on, get out and call the railroad's number on the blue Emergency Notification Sign.

Wrong choices

• Keep trying to restart the engine: You have only about 20 seconds; leave the car immediately.
• Call the number on the blue sign before leaving the car: That is the step when the signals are NOT on. With the gates coming down, get out first.
• Stay in the car with seat belts buckled: Staying in a car on the tracks is deadly.

Michigan law requires you to yield to a pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog, to a pedestrian crossing from an alley, driveway, building, or private road, and to one who entered the crosswalk before the signal changed. Avoid honking or revving near people who are blind.

Wrong choices

• A pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog: You must yield here, but this is not the only correct situation.
• A pedestrian crossing from a driveway or alley: You must yield here, but this is not the only correct situation.
• A pedestrian who entered the crosswalk before the signal changed: You must yield here, but this is not the only correct situation.