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Nova Scotia Class 7 overview

Nova Scotia Class 7: Right of way, pedestrians and emergency vehicles

Intersection right-of-way rules, marked and unmarked crosswalks, pedestrians at signals, driveways, emergency vehicles, the slow down and move over rule and yielding to transit buses.

  • 17 questions
  • Topic drill
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Right of way, pedestrians and emergency vehicles · Question 1Score 0/0

You are on a highway posted at 100 km/h and see a police car stopped on the shoulder with lights flashing. How fast may you pass it?

Study reference: Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook (2017 revision), Ch. 2 Rules of the Road — Right of way, Unmarked crosswalks, Emergency vehicles, update pages

All 17 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. You are on a highway posted at 100 km/h and see a police car stopped on the shoulder with lights flashing. How fast may you pass it?

    1. No more than 60 km/h
    2. No more than 80 km/h
    3. The posted limit, if you move over
    4. No more than 50 km/h

  2. You are turning right on a green light and a pedestrian is crossing the street you are turning into, also on green. Who has the right of way?

    1. You, because you have a green light
    2. The pedestrian
    3. Whoever entered the intersection first
    4. You, because turning traffic has priority

  3. How close may you follow a fire truck that is responding to a call?

    1. No closer than 150 metres
    2. No closer than 300 metres
    3. No closer than 100 metres
    4. No closer than 50 metres

  4. An ambulance with its siren and lights on is approaching from behind. What must you do?

    1. Pull to the right edge and stop
    2. Move to the left lane and slow down
    3. Stop where you are in your lane
    4. Speed up to get out of its way

  5. A pedestrian is about to cross at an intersection with no painted crosswalk lines. What must you do?

    1. Sound your horn and continue
    2. Keep going, since there is no marked crosswalk here
    3. Yield only if the pedestrian is a child
    4. Yield, because every intersection has a crosswalk

  6. A city bus at a stop signals to pull back into traffic on a street posted at 50 km/h. You are coming up behind it. What must you do?

    1. Sound your horn and continue
    2. Yield and let the bus pull out, if safe
    3. Stop only if passengers are crossing
    4. Pass it before it moves

  7. You believe you have the right of way, but another driver is about to pull out in front of you. What does the handbook say?

    1. Speed up to clear the intersection
    2. Sound your horn and keep your speed
    3. Keep going, since you are in the right
    4. Be ready to yield to avoid a collision

  8. Two cars arrive at an uncontrolled intersection at the same time from different streets. Which car must yield?

    1. The car on the left
    2. The car on the right
    3. The car going faster
    4. The car that is turning

  9. Police have stopped at a collision scene ahead. How close may you park to their vehicle?

    1. No closer than 60 metres
    2. No closer than 150 metres
    3. No closer than 30 metres
    4. No closer than 100 metres

  10. You are in the right lane of a two-lane highway going your way, and a tow truck is stopped at a collision on the shoulder. What else must you do besides slowing down?

    1. Turn on your high beams
    2. Sound your horn as you pass
    3. Move into the left lane if it is safe
    4. Stop behind the tow truck until it leaves

  11. You and an oncoming car arrive at an intersection at the same time. You want to turn left; the other driver is going straight. What do you do?

    1. Wave the other driver to turn
    2. Go first, since you are turning
    3. Turn first, since you signalled
    4. Yield and turn when it is safe

  12. You are driving out of a driveway onto a residential street. Where must you stop first?

    1. Just before the sidewalk
    2. Only if a pedestrian is visible
    3. At the edge of the street
    4. After crossing the sidewalk

  13. The rule to yield to a transit bus re-entering traffic does not apply to which vehicle?

    1. A bus on a 60 km/h road
    2. A city bus on a 50 km/h street
    3. A school bus
    4. An accessible transit bus

  14. A fire hose is stretched across the street at a fire. When may you drive over it?

    1. Only when police or a firefighter tells you to
    2. Never, under any circumstances
    3. When it is not carrying water
    4. When you drive over it slowly, at walking speed

  15. On a divided highway, an ambulance is stopped on the shoulder on the other side of the median. Must you slow down and move over?

    1. Yes, to 60 km/h
    2. No, the rule does not apply
    3. Yes, and you must change lanes
    4. Only at night

  16. You reach an intersection just as another car is already partway through it. Who has the right of way?

    1. You, if the other car is on your left
    2. Whichever driver signals first
    3. The car already in the intersection
    4. You, if you are on the larger road

  17. A car ahead of you in the next lane has stopped at a crosswalk. What should you do?

    1. Pass it slowly with care
    2. Stop; do not pass it
    3. Sound your horn and pass
    4. Pass it if no one is visible

Right of way, pedestrians and emergency vehicles: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Right of way, unmarked crosswalks

  • An intersection is any place two or more roads meet or cross, marked or unmarked. More than half of all traffic collisions happen at intersections.
  • Drive defensively and be prepared to yield.
  • Every intersection has a crosswalk, many unmarked. Drivers must yield to pedestrians at all intersections, marked or unmarked crosswalks.

Pedestrians

  • At intersections without signals, pedestrians have the right of way in marked crosswalks and in unmarked crosswalks (imaginary lines extending across the street).
  • At signals, pedestrians follow the same signals as drivers going the same way; crossing on green they have the right of way over all vehicles, including turning ones.
  • Moving through on green, look in all directions to be sure pedestrians have finished crossing.

Intersection right of way

  • A vehicle already in the intersection has the right of way over one that has not entered.
  • Two facing vehicles arriving together: both may go straight or turn right; a driver turning left yields to the one going straight.
  • Two or more vehicles arriving at the same time: the car on the left yields (i.e. yield to the vehicle on your right).
  • Whatever right of way you think you have, be 100 per cent ready to yield if it avoids a collision.
  • Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross.
  • Change lanes before the intersection, never while moving through it.
  • Waiting to turn left: keep wheels straight until you can complete the turn.

Emergency vehicles

  • Leaving a private driveway or parking lot: stop and yield to all vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Police, ambulance and fire vehicles with flashing lights and sirens have the right of way.
  • When one approaches from ahead or behind: move to the right edge or curb and stop completely; stay stopped until it passes or a peace officer tells you to move.
  • Never follow a fire vehicle within 150 metres.
  • Never drive or park within 150 metres of an emergency vehicle stopped at a collision or giving help.
  • Never drive over a fire hose unless a police officer or firefighter tells you to.

Slow down and move over (update page)

  • Passing an emergency vehicle pulled over with lights flashing: slow to 60 km/h, or the posted limit if lower than 60.
  • On a road with 2 or more lanes in your direction, also move into a lane farther away if safe.
  • Not required if the stopped vehicle is on the other side of a median on a divided highway.
  • Applies to: ambulances, police, fire department vehicles, Department of Lands and Forestry fire vehicles, fire chiefs' and deputy chiefs' vehicles, conservation officers, motor vehicle and carrier inspectors, public safety vehicles (e.g. sheriffs, bridge patrol), tow trucks stopped at a fire or collision or helping a vehicle.

Yield to transit buses (update page; also on the handbook web page)

  • A stopped transit bus signalling to re-enter traffic: if approaching from behind, yield so it can pull back in.
  • Required whenever the posted limit is 60 km/h or less and it is safe.
  • Does not apply to school buses.

Entering and leaving driveways

  • Yield to pedestrians crossing in front of you and to all vehicles approaching on the street.
  • Coming out of an alley, driveway or building in a business or residential district: stop immediately before driving onto the sidewalk or sidewalk area.

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