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Meeting on a narrow mountain road

A free practice question for the California permit test, with the answer explained.

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Practice question · Right of way

You're driving up a steep, narrow mountain road. A car is coming down, and there's no room for both of you. Who has the right of way?

The rule

When two vehicles meet on a steep road too narrow for either to pass, the one facing uphill gets the right of way.

When neither car can pass on a steep, narrow road, the car facing uphill has the right of way, so the car coming down backs up until you can get by. It has more control backing up.

From the California Driver Handbook, section 7, page 42. This question is our own wording of that rule. The handbook and the DMV have the final word.

Often mixed up with

People confuse these rules with this one. Each has its own practice question.

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