New York DMV Permit Test Intersections, Turns, and Right of Way Summary

New York law requires you to signal at least 100 feet before you turn or change lanes. This gives other drivers and pedestrians time to react.

Wrong choices

• 50 feet: 50 feet is too short. New York law requires at least 100 feet.
• 25 feet: 25 feet gives other drivers far too little warning.
• 500 feet: You may signal earlier, but the minimum is 100 feet.

When an emergency vehicle with a siren and flashing lights approaches, pull over to the right edge of the road and stop. Wait until it has passed before moving again.

Wrong choices

• Speed up to stay ahead of it: Speeding up is dangerous. Let the emergency vehicle pass.
• Stop right where you are in your lane: Stopping in the lane can block it. Pull to the right first.
• Pull over to the left side of the road: Pull to the right unless an officer tells you otherwise.

When turning left, you must yield to oncoming vehicles and to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Wait in your lane until there is a safe gap.

Wrong choices

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

At an intersection without signs or signals, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

Wrong choices

• You, because the car is on your right: It is the other way around. The driver on the left yields.
• The faster car: Speed never decides the right of way.
• The car with more passengers: The number of passengers does not matter.

When you turn, you must yield to pedestrians crossing the street you are turning into, even on a green light. Wait until they are out of your path.

Wrong choices

• Go first, because your light is green: Drivers who turn must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
• Honk so the pedestrian hurries: Honking can scare the pedestrian. Just wait.
• Drive around the pedestrian: Driving around a pedestrian in a crosswalk is unsafe and illegal.

Outside New York City, you may turn right on a steady red light after a full stop, unless a sign prohibits it. You must yield to pedestrians and other traffic first.

Wrong choices

• Turn without stopping if no one is coming: You must come to a full stop first.
• You may never turn right on red: Outside NYC, right on red is allowed unless a sign prohibits it.
• Turn only if a green arrow also shows: A green arrow is not needed for right on red outside NYC.

When entering a road from a driveway, alley, or parking lot, you must yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk and to vehicles on the road.

Wrong choices

• You, because you were there first: Leaving a driveway does not give you the right of way.
• Only pedestrians, not cars: You must yield to both pedestrians and vehicles.
• Whoever honks first: Honking does not give anyone the right of way.

For a right turn, move close to the right side of the road (the right lane), signal at least 100 feet ahead, and turn into the right lane of the new road.

Wrong choices

• In the center of the road: Start a right turn from the right, not the center.
• In the left lane: Turning right from the left lane cuts across other traffic.
• On the shoulder of the road: Do not drive on the shoulder to make a turn.

For a left turn from a two-way road onto a two-way road, start from the part of your lane closest to the center line. Finish the turn to the right of the center line of the new road.

Wrong choices

• Start from the right lane; end in the far right lane: Starting a left turn from the right lane cuts across traffic.
• Start just right of the center line; end in the far left lane: Ending on the left side puts you in the path of oncoming traffic.
• Start in the oncoming lane; end in any open lane: Never move into the oncoming lane to turn.

When entering a roundabout or traffic circle, yield to traffic already in it and to pedestrians. Enter when there is a safe gap and drive counterclockwise (to the right of the center island).

Wrong choices

• Traffic waiting to enter behind you: Traffic behind you waits for you, not the other way around.
• No one, entering traffic has the right of way: Entering traffic must yield to vehicles already circling.
• Only large trucks in the roundabout: You must yield to all vehicles in the roundabout.