Roadwise States Wisconsin Driving lessons Passing & Changing Lanes Wisconsin driving lesson · The Basics
Passing & Changing Lanes A 3-minute lesson from the Wisconsin course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit The Basics
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 21, 22 Passing means going around another vehicle, and it's one of the riskiest moves you make. Wisconsin's rules are simple: pass on the left, one vehicle at a time, never above the limit.
Know the rule
You may use a paved shoulder to go around a vehicle only if it is stopped or making a left turn.
Handbook p. 21 ↗ Know the rule
The lane farthest left on a multi-lane road is for going around slower vehicles.
Handbook p. 21 ↗ Know the rule
A driver you pass on the right might not see you, which could cause a crash.
Handbook p. 21 ↗ Know the rule
If someone is trying to pass you, stay in your lane and slow down.
Handbook p. 21 ↗ Changing lanes Make sure the road is clear Use your turn signal Move one lane at a time Check over your shoulder in the direction you're moving: left shoulder for left, right for right Handbook p. 21 ↗ Blind spots The areas you check over your shoulder when changing lanes. You cannot see them by looking only in your mirrors.
Handbook p. 21 ↗ Know the rule
Pass only one vehicle at a time, on the left side. Don't stay in the passing lane; move safely back to your lane.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
You cannot go over the speed limit to pass another vehicle.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
Don't pass unless there's enough room in front of the vehicle you're passing. Other vehicles do not have to move to let you pass.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
Return to the driving lane once you see both headlights of the vehicle you passed in your rearview mirror.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Put it into practice
You're passing a slow car on a two-lane highway and there's a line of three more ahead of it. Pass just the one, then return once both its headlights appear in your rearview mirror, and wait for another safe chance.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
You may use a paved shoulder to pass another vehicle only if that vehicle is: Stopped or making a left turn A bicycle Turning right Traveling under the speed limit Answer: Stopped or making a left turn
A paved shoulder may be used to go around a vehicle only if it's stopped or making a left turn.
Handbook p. 21 ↗ Which lane on a multi-lane road is used to pass slower vehicles? The lane farthest to the right The center lane The lane farthest to the left The shoulder Answer: The lane farthest to the left
The lane farthest on the left of a multi-lane road is used for passing slower vehicles.
Handbook p. 21 ↗ Before changing lanes, in addition to signaling and checking mirrors, you must also: Rely on your backup camera Slow well below the speed of traffic Check your blind spot over your shoulder Wait for the driver behind to flash their lights Answer: Check your blind spot over your shoulder
Check over your shoulder toward the direction you're moving — mirrors alone don't show your blind spot.
Handbook p. 21 ↗ How many vehicles should you pass at one time? There's no limit if traffic allows Only one Up to two, if there's room As many as fit before the next curve Answer: Only one
Pass only one vehicle at a time on the left.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ When is it safe to return to your lane after passing a vehicle? After exactly three seconds When the passed driver flashes their lights As soon as your rear bumper clears their front bumper When you see both its headlights in your mirror Answer: When you see both its headlights in your mirror
It's safe to return to your lane once you see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your mirror.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ You are allowed to exceed the speed limit briefly to complete a pass. True False Answer: False
You cannot exceed the speed limit to pass another vehicle.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Previous lesson Turning, U-Turns & Y-Turns Next lesson Backing & Parking About the source Roadwise’s Wisconsin course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 21, 22. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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