KSA Driving Theory Practice

Passing Obstacles: Practice Questions

Passing a stationary obstacle, such as a broken-down car, roadworks or a standing herd of animals, is treated like a lane change. Look, evaluate, decide and act: check the interior and left mirrors, signal left, check the left blind spot, slow down if the gap is narrow and leave enough side distance. If traffic is coming from the opposite direction, wait behind the obstacle and let it pass first. Do not pass if it would endanger others, or while people are boarding a stopped tram. When passing parked cars at 50 km/h keep about one metre.

20 questions · Handbook pp. 190–195 · Unit 6: Overtaking, Parking & Vehicle

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Question 1Which of the following counts as a 'stationary object' you may have to drive around?

  1. AA vehicle travelling ahead of you in the same lane
  2. BA herd of animals standing on the road (correct answer)
  3. CA vehicle approaching from the opposite direction
  4. DA car waiting at a green light behind you

Correct answer: B. Stationary objects include parked vehicles, groups of people and herds of animals.Source: Handbook p. 190

Question 2When must you NOT pass a stationary obstacle?

  1. AWhen passing it would obstruct or endanger other road users (correct answer)
  2. BWhen the obstacle is a parked car
  3. CWhen you need to slow down to pass it
  4. DWhen you have to signal left first

Correct answer: A. Do not pass if other road users would be obstructed or endangered.Source: Handbook p. 191

Question 3The only way past an obstacle is to drive over a traffic island and damage its kerb and signposts. What should you do?

  1. APass quickly to minimise the damage
  2. BPass slowly, because the obstacle forces you to
  3. CPass with hazard lights on
  4. DDo not pass; wait or find another way (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. Do not pass if it would cause damage to fixed objects.Source: Handbook p. 191

Question 4A tram has stopped and people are getting on and off on one side of the road. May you drive past?

  1. AYes, if you sound your horn
  2. BYes, at up to 30 km/h
  3. CNo, do not pass while people are getting on or off (correct answer)
  4. DYes, if you pass on the left side

Correct answer: C. Do not pass when people exit or enter railway vehicles on one side of the road.Source: Handbook p. 191

Question 5Driving around a fixed obstacle in your lane is handled most like which manoeuvre?

  1. AMaking a U-turn
  2. BReversing
  3. CAn emergency stop
  4. DChanging course (changing lanes) (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. The handbook says passing an obstacle is similar to changing course: mirrors, signal, shoulder check, speed, move.Source: Handbook p. 192

Question 6There is an obstacle in your path. What is the correct order of thinking?

  1. AEvaluate, act, look, decide
  2. BLook, evaluate, decide, act (correct answer)
  3. CDecide, act, look, evaluate
  4. DAct, look, decide, evaluate

Correct answer: B. Look (what happened?), Evaluate (oncoming traffic, enough space?), Decide (pass or stop), Act (move or stop).Source: Handbook p. 193

Question 7At the 'Evaluate' step when you meet an obstacle in your path, what do you check?

  1. AWhether you can pass it without signalling
  2. BWhether traffic is coming and whether there is enough space to pass (correct answer)
  3. CHow much time you will lose
  4. DWho owns the obstacle

Correct answer: B. Evaluate: is there a movement coming? Is there enough space for passage?Source: Handbook p. 193

Question 8After evaluating an obstacle in your path, what are the two possible decisions?

  1. APass it or stop (correct answer)
  2. BOvertake on the right or on the left
  3. CReverse or turn around
  4. DSound the horn or flash the lights

Correct answer: A. Decide: decide to either pass or stop; then act on that decision.Source: Handbook p. 193

Question 9Before driving around an obstacle, which mirrors should you check?

  1. ANo mirrors; just look ahead
  2. BOnly the right side mirror
  3. CThe interior mirror and the left side mirror (correct answer)
  4. DOnly the interior mirror

Correct answer: C. Check the interior and left side mirrors for vehicles behind that may be about to overtake.Source: Handbook p. 193

Question 10Which signal should you give before moving out around an obstacle in your lane?

  1. AA right signal
  2. BHazard warning lights only
  3. CNo signal is needed
  4. DA left signal (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. Signal: give a left signal, because you are moving to the left to pass.Source: Handbook p. 193

Question 11Which blind spot should you check before moving out to pass an obstacle?

  1. AThe blind spot on the left side of your vehicle (correct answer)
  2. BThe blind spot on the right side
  3. CNo blind spot check is needed for a stationary obstacle
  4. DThe area directly in front of the bonnet

Correct answer: A. Shoulder: check the blind spot on the left side, the side you are moving into.Source: Handbook p. 193

Question 12The gap beside an obstacle in your lane is narrow. How should you adjust your speed?

  1. ASlow down (correct answer)
  2. BSpeed up to get past quickly
  3. CStop and switch off the engine
  4. DKeep exactly the same speed

Correct answer: A. Adapt the speed: speed up if the obstacle can be passed quickly, slow down if the gap is narrow.Source: Handbook p. 193

Question 13When moving around an obstacle, what must you make sure of?

  1. AThat you sound the horn throughout
  2. BThat there is enough sideways distance from the obstacle, and that you drive smoothly (correct answer)
  3. CThat you pass as close to the obstacle as possible
  4. DThat you keep your right wheels on the shoulder

Correct answer: B. Move to the left, make sure there is enough sideways distance, and drive smoothly.Source: Handbook p. 193

Question 14A broken-down car (with a warning triangle) blocks car A's lane. Car B is coming from the opposite direction. Who goes first?

Two-lane road: broken-down grey car with warning triangle blocks orange car A's lane; blue car B approaches the other way
  1. AWhichever car is faster
  2. BCar A, because it reached the obstacle first
  3. CCar B, because its side of the road is open (correct answer)
  4. DCar A, because it is on the left

Correct answer: C. The driver whose road is open has the right of way. A has the obstacle in its lane and must wait for B.Source: Handbook p. 194

Question 15There is an obstacle in YOUR lane and a car is approaching in the other lane. What should you do?

  1. ASound the horn and drive around
  2. BWait behind the obstacle and let the oncoming car pass first (correct answer)
  3. CMove out quickly before it arrives
  4. DFlash your lights so it stops for you

Correct answer: B. The driver whose lane is free has priority. With the obstacle in your lane, you give way.Source: Handbook p. 194

Question 16When driving past parked vehicles at 50 km/h, roughly what side distance should you keep?

  1. ANo gap is needed
  2. BAbout 20 centimetres
  3. CAbout one metre (correct answer)
  4. DAbout three metres

Correct answer: C. At 50 km/h one metre is a safe side distance, roughly the space needed to open a vehicle door.Source: Handbook p. 195

Question 17Why is about one metre recommended when passing parked cars at 50 km/h?

  1. AIt is required only for trucks
  2. BIt is the length of a bicycle
  3. CIt is roughly the space needed for a car door to open (correct answer)
  4. DIt is the width of a lane marking

Correct answer: C. One metre approximates the space needed to open the vehicle door.Source: Handbook p. 195

Question 18How does your speed affect the side distance you need when passing parked vehicles?

  1. AThe faster you drive, the smaller the distance can be
  2. BSpeed has no effect on side distance
  3. CThe faster you drive, the greater the side distance must be (correct answer)
  4. DSide distance only matters at night

Correct answer: C. The required lateral distance depends on driving speed: faster means a greater distance.Source: Handbook p. 195

Question 19You are passing a row of parked cars on a two-way road and a car is coming the other way with no room for both. What may you have to do?

  1. ASlow down or stop to let the oncoming car through (correct answer)
  2. BSpeed up to pass first
  3. CSound the horn and continue
  4. DDrive onto the sidewalk

Correct answer: A. On a two-way road you may have to slow down or stop when traffic comes from the other direction.Source: Handbook p. 195

Question 20What extra hazard should you watch for when driving past parked vehicles?

  1. ATheir alarms going off
  2. BDirt on their number plates
  3. CTheir headlights dazzling you
  4. DVehicles that are about to pull out (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. Pay attention and be careful of vehicles that are about to move.Source: Handbook p. 195

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