Massachusetts Permit Test: Sharing the Road Practice Questions

Correct answer: Four feet

Massachusetts' Vulnerable Road Users Law requires at least four feet when passing. If safe, you may use the next lane or cross the center line, but must obey the speed limit.

Source: Chapter 2: Safety First – Vulnerable Road Users Law

Correct answer: Pedestrians, roadside workers, bicyclists and skaters

The law covers pedestrians, roadside workers, bicyclists, people on horses or in horse-drawn carriages, and people using wheelchairs, scooters, skateboards, roller skates and similar devices.

Source: Chapter 2: Safety First – Vulnerable Road Users Law (Massachusetts Driver's Manual, rev. April 2026, PDF p. 57)

Correct answer: Up to $100

Drivers and passengers can be fined up to $100 for opening a door into an oncoming bicycle. Use the Dutch Reach and check behind you first.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Laws for Bicyclists and Motorists – As a motorist

Correct answer: Opening the door with your far hand

The Dutch Reach means opening the door with your far hand, which turns your body so you can see approaching bicyclists and keeps the door from opening too fast.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – The Danger of Open Doors to Bicyclists

Correct answer: Yes, on any street except posted highways

Bicyclists may use the full lane anywhere, anytime and on any street, even if there is a bike lane, except limited-access highways posted against bicycles.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Laws for Bicyclists

Correct answer: No; riding to the right of traffic is legal

Bicycles can legally ride to the right of motor vehicle traffic, and the law says that is not a defense for a motorist who causes a crash.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Laws for Bicyclists – As a motorist

Correct answer: 16

Bicycle operators and passengers under 16 must wear an approved helmet on public ways and bicycle paths.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Laws for Bicyclists

Correct answer: No; it is entitled to the full lane

Motorcycles have the right to the full width of a lane. Never move into a lane with a motorcycle, even if it is wide and the rider is to one side; crowding a motorcycle is illegal.

Source: Chapter 2: Safety First – Motorcycles

Correct answer: Four seconds

Leave extra space behind a motorcycle: a four-second following distance, compared with three seconds for other vehicles.

Source: Chapter 2: Safety First – Motorcycles

Correct answer: Stop until the lights stop flashing

You must stop for a school bus with flashing lights and stop sign out no matter which side of the road you are on, and stay stopped until the lights stop and the sign folds back.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Road Respect/Sharing the Road – School Buses

Correct answer: Across a divided highway with a barrier

The only exception is when the school bus is stopped on the other side of a divided highway with a barrier between the directions of travel.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Road Respect/Sharing the Road – School Buses

Correct answer: A $250 fine and possible suspension

A first violation of the school bus law can bring a license suspension and a $250 fine.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Road Respect/Sharing the Road – School Buses

Correct answer: You are tailgating, in its blind spot

If you cannot see a truck's mirrors, you are tailgating and are in the driver's blind spot. Back off to restore your safety cushion.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Trucks and Other Large Vehicles

Correct answer: Only the two right-hand lanes

Trucks and buses may drive only in the two right-hand lanes: the far right for normal travel and the second for passing.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Trucks and Other Large Vehicles

Correct answer: No closer than 8 feet

You must not drive closer than eight feet to a trolley's passenger step while it is loading or unloading passengers.

Source: Chapter 4: Rules of the Road – Buses and Trolleys