You are driving in the middle lane on a three lane expressway. A car begins to pass you on the right. The actions of that driver are:
- Wrong because "pass on the left" is a firm rule
- Wrong because he's passing you in your "blind spot"
- OK as long as he does it on a limited access highway
- OK if no signs forbid passing on the right ✓
Answer: D. OK if no signs forbid passing on the right
The driver passing you on the right is allowed to do it if no signs forbid passing on the right.
Why this is the answer
The manual says you normally pass on the left, but some situations let you pass on the right, and it lists the conditions. One of them is driving on a one-way road marked for two or more lanes, or wide enough for two or more lanes, where signs do not prohibit passing and parked cars or other obstructions do not restrict it. The manual also gives expressway-specific advice about checking mirrors and signaling before passing on the right, which shows this maneuver is expected on multi-lane roads like expressways.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Wrong because "pass on the left" is a firm rule — Passing on the left is the normal practice, but the manual does not make it a firm rule with no exceptions, because it lists situations where passing on the right is allowed.
- B. Wrong because he's passing you in your "blind spot" — The blind spot is not what decides this; the manual's conditions are about signs, lane markings and obstructions, and it tells drivers to shoulder-check before passing on the right.
- C. OK as long as he does it on a limited access highway — Being on a limited access highway is not the test the manual uses; what matters is whether signs prohibit passing and whether the lanes and obstructions allow it.
Remember it
Left is the usual side to pass, so when someone comes by on your right, look for a sign that bans it before you call it wrong.