You're approaching an intersection, and you notice that the roadway beyond the intersection is blocked with traffic. What should you do?
- Keep as close as possible to the vehicle ahead.
- Sound your horn to warn the cars ahead to move on.
- Stop before entering the intersection and wait until the traffic ahead moves on. ✓
- Proceed into the intersection and wait until the traffic ahead moves on.
Answer: C. Stop before entering the intersection and wait until the traffic ahead moves on.
Stop before entering the intersection and wait until the traffic ahead has moved on and there is room for your vehicle on the other side.
Why this is the answer
The crossings guidance says to enter an intersection only when it can be done safely with a clear path, and to move only when you are certain others have given you the right-of-way. It also tells you to keep the vehicle under full control and to give the right-of-way rather than take it. If the roadway past the intersection is plugged with traffic, your path is not clear, so the safe choice is to hold back before the intersection until space opens up ahead.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Keep as close as possible to the vehicle ahead. — Following the vehicle ahead closely ignores the guidance to keep your vehicle under full control and not to depend on other drivers' choices.
- B. Sound your horn to warn the cars ahead to move on. — The passages never describe using the horn to hurry traffic along, and warning others does nothing about the blocked roadway ahead.
- D. Proceed into the intersection and wait until the traffic ahead moves on. — Moving into the intersection and stopping there puts you in a space you cannot clear, which conflicts with entering only when your path is clear.
Remember it
Before you roll into an intersection, look past it, not just at it: if there is no room for you on the far side, wait on this side.