You're approaching an intersection, and you notice that the roadway beyond the intersection is blocked with traffic. What should you do?
- Proceed into the intersection and wait until the traffic ahead moves on.
- Stop before entering the intersection and wait until the traffic ahead moves on. ✓
- Sound your horn to warn the cars ahead to move on.
- Keep as close as possible to the vehicle ahead.
Answer: B. 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 cleared enough for you to move through.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's guidance on stopping says you should keep the vehicle under control, stop in a position that lets you see the area ahead, and leave reasonable space between you and the vehicle in front so you can still manoeuvre. It then says to move forward when adequate space becomes available ahead. Applied to a blocked intersection, that means holding back and waiting for room beyond the crossing instead of pulling in and sitting there.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Proceed into the intersection and wait until the traffic ahead moves on. — Moving in and waiting inside the intersection leaves you with no space ahead and no way to manoeuvre, which is the opposite of the handbook's advice to keep a gap and move forward only when space opens up.
- C. Sound your horn to warn the cars ahead to move on. — The passages never describe horn use as a way to clear traffic, and sounding it would not create the space ahead that the handbook tells you to wait for.
- D. Keep as close as possible to the vehicle ahead. — Crowding the vehicle in front removes the reasonable stopping space the handbook says you need so you can still manoeuvre if necessary.
Remember it
Look past the crossing, not at it: if there is no room on the far side for your truck, there is no room for you to enter.