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Retired questions · Rules of the Road
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Deck · 481 questions

Retired questions · Rules of the Road - USCG Exam Questions

These are retired questions the Coast Guard no longer draws exams from. They stay online for reference; the current questions are in Rules of the Road.

Steering and sailing rules, lights and shapes, and sound signals, covering both the international COLREGs and the U.S. Inland Rules. This is the strictest module on the deck exam: it requires 90 percent to pass.

Every question below is a real U.S. Coast Guard exam question with four choices. Answer one and the correct choice is revealed instantly, with the USCG reference and illustration where the question uses one.

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All Retired questions · Rules of the Road questions

Questions 301–400 of 481 · page 4 of 5

  1. #540 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which is NOT a distress signal?
  2. #544 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which of the following indicates that your vessel is in distress?
  3. #545 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND All of the following are distress signals EXCEPT __________.
  4. #546 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Continuous sounding of a fog whistle by a vessel is a signal __________.
  5. #547 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If you saw flames aboard a vessel but could see the vessel was not on fire, you would know that the __________.
  6. #548 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When a vessel signals her distress by means of a gun or other explosive signal, the firing should be at intervals of appro...
  7. #549 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Distress signals may be __________.
  8. #551 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Additional light signals are provided in the Annexes to the Rules for vessels __________.
  9. #553 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel is NOT required to keep out of the way of a __________.
  10. #554 INTERNATIONAL ONLY What characteristic must a light used to indicate passing intentions have?
  11. #556 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Traffic separation schemes established by the International Maritime Organization __________.
  12. #558 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You hear the fog signal of another vessel forward of your beam. Risk of collision may exist. You MUST __________.
  13. #559 INTERNATIONAL ONLY Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast on the whistle is a signal which could be sounded by a __________.
  14. #560 INLAND ONLY While underway in a harbor you hear a vessel sound a prolonged blast. This signal indicates that this vessel __________.
  15. #563 INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are underway in a narrow channel, and you are being overtaken by a vessel astern. After the overtaking vessel sounds the proper...
  16. #564 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A proper look-out shall be maintained __________.
  17. #565 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A head-on situation at night is one in which you see dead ahead a vessel showing __________.
  18. #566 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel must proceed at a safe speed __________.
  19. #567 INLAND ONLY Your power-driven vessel is overtaking another power-driven vessel in a narrow channel. You wish to overtake her on her starboard side. Yo...
  20. #569 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are on watch in the fog. Your vessel is proceeding at a safe speed when you hear a fog signal ahead of you. The Rules...
  21. #570 INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel displaying three red lights in a vertical line is __________.
  22. #572 INLAND ONLY You are overtaking another power-driven vessel in a narrow channel. The other vessel will have to move to allow you to pass. You wish to o...
  23. #574 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The rule regarding look-outs applies __________.
  24. #576 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Sailing vessels are stand-on over power- driven vessels except __________.
  25. #579 INLAND ONLY the term "Great Lakes", as defined by the Inland Rules of the Road, does NOT include __________.
  26. #581 INTERNATIONAL ONLY In addition to her running lights, an underway vessel constrained by her draft may carry in a vertical line __________.
  27. #584 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND By radar alone, you detect a vessel ahead on a collision course, about 3 miles distant. Your radar plot shows this to be a...
  28. #586 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel underway and fishing shall keep out of the way of a __________.
  29. #588 INLAND ONLY Which is CORRECT regarding a "special flashing light"?
  30. #590 INTERNATIONAL ONLY You are on watch and sight a vessel showing a high intensity all-round flashing red light. The light indicates a __________.
  31. #592 You are proceeding against the current on a river in the Great Lakes System. You are meeting a downbound vessel. Both vessels are power-driven. The ot...
  32. #593 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When two vessels are in immediate danger of collision, the stand-on vessel must __________.
  33. #599 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If it becomes necessary for a stand-on vessel to take action to avoid collision, she shall NOT, if possible, __________.
  34. #603 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Two power driven vessels meeting in a "head- on" situation are directed by the Rules to __________.
  35. #607 INLAND ONLY Which statement is TRUE concerning narrow channels?
  36. #610 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel may enter a traffic separation zone __________.
  37. #613 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that certain factors are to be taken into account when determining safe speed. One of the factors is the _...
  38. #614 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are the watch officer on a power-driven vessel and notice a large sailing vessel approaching from astern. You should _...
  39. #615 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND "safe speed" is defined as that speed where __________.
  40. #621 INTERNATIONAL ONLY A vessel displaying a high intensity all-round flashing red light is __________.
  41. #625 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that certain factors are to be taken into account when determining safe speed. Those factors include _____...
  42. #635 INLAND ONLY Two vessels in a crossing situation have reached agreement by radiotelephone as to the intentions of the other. In this situation, whistle...
  43. #638 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement is TRUE concerning two sailing vessels approaching each other?
  44. #640 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If your vessel is the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation __________.
  45. #647 INLAND ONLY You are overtaking another power-driven vessel in a narrow channel. The other vessel will have to move to allow you to pass. You wish to o...
  46. #648 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Under the Rules, any vessel may slacken her speed, stop, or reverse her engines to __________.
  47. #655 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You see another vessel approaching, and its compass bearing does not significantly change. This would indicate that ______...
  48. #657 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are watching another vessel approach and her compass bearing is not changing. This means that __________.
  49. #660 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When navigating in thick fog with the radar on, you should __________.
  50. #661 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Risk of collision exists when an approaching vessel has a(n) __________.
  51. #665 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Risk of collision is considered to exist if __________.
  52. #671 INLAND ONLY You are underway in a narrow channel, and are being overtaken by another power-driven vessel. The overtaking vessel sounds the signal indi...
  53. #673 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND To determine if risk of collision exists, a vessel which is fitted with radar must use __________.
  54. #675 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that risk of collision shall be deemed to exist __________.
  55. #676 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that risk of collision shall be deemed to exist __________.
  56. #677 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You sight another power-driven vessel dead- ahead showing both the red and green sidelights. The required action to take w...
  57. #681 INLAND ONLY You are overtaking another power-driven vessel in a narrow channel, and you wish to overtake on the other vessel's port side. You will sou...
  58. #684 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel sailing shall keep out of the way of all of the following vessels except a vessel __________.
  59. #685 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND There are two classes of vessels which, to the extent necessary to carry out their work, do not have to comply with the ru...
  60. #688 INLAND ONLY At night, which lights are required on barges moored in a group formation, more than two barges wide, and located where other vessels can...
  61. #689 INLAND ONLY In a narrow channel, a power-driven vessel desiring to overtake another power-driven vessel on the other vessel's starboard side will soun...
  62. #691 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel. She is about one mile distant and is on your starboard bow. You believe she will cross...
  63. #693 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching another vessel on crossing courses. She is about one mile distant and is on your starboard bow. You be...
  64. #696 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When taking action to avoid collision, you should __________.
  65. #703 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are in restricted visibility and hear a fog signal forward of the beam. Nothing appears on your radar screen. You must...
  66. #705 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall __________.
  67. #711 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are approaching a narrow channel. Another vessel in the channel can only be navigated safely in that channel. You shou...
  68. #713 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are preparing to cross a narrow channel. You see a vessel that can only be navigated safely within the channel. You sh...
  69. #714 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Your 15-meter vessel is crossing a narrow channel and a large cargo vessel to port is within the channel and crossing your...
  70. #721 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is on course 000°T. Vessel "B" is on a course such that she is involved in a head-on situation and is bearing 3...
  71. #722 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Vessel "A" is overtaking vessel "B" as shown in illustration D017RR below. In this situation vessel "B" is which of the fo... illustration
  72. #724 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a crossing situation, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall __________.
  73. #728 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When underway in a channel, you should if safe and practicable __________.
  74. #732 INLAND ONLY Whistle signals shall be exchanged by power driven vessels in sight of one another when __________.
  75. #733 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When underway in a channel, you should keep to the __________.
  76. #735 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND For a stand-on vessel to take action to avoid collision she shall, if possible, NOT __________.
  77. #736 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel proceeding along a narrow channel shall __________.
  78. #738 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel approaching a narrow channel shall __________.
  79. #745 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND In a traffic separation scheme, when joining a traffic lane from the side, a vessel shall do so __________.
  80. #747 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Traffic separation schemes __________.
  81. #750 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall __________.
  82. #752 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall NOT __________.
  83. #753 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of a __________.
  84. #754 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A power-driven vessel is underway and fishing with trolling lines. This vessel __________.
  85. #757 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If a sailing vessel with the wind on the port side sees a sailing vessel to windward and cannot tell whether the other ves...
  86. #762 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What describes a head-on situation?
  87. #764 INLAND ONLY You are operating a vessel through a narrow channel and your vessel must stay within the channel to be navigated safely. Another vessel is...
  88. #771 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when she can see at night __________.
  89. #773 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which statement correctly applies to a situation where a sailing vessel is overtaking a power-driven vessel?
  90. #776 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway you sight a vessel displaying the day-shapes shown in illustration D006RR below. What action should you tak... illustration
  91. #778 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that a vessel overtaking another vessel is relieved of her duty to keep clear when __________.
  92. #783 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A sailing vessel must keep course and speed when __________.
  93. #789 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are in charge of a stand-on vessel in a crossing situation. The other vessel is 1.5 miles to port. You believe that ri...
  94. #793 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND When two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on and there is a risk of collision, each shall __________.
  95. #794 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A "head on" situation shall be deemed to exist at night when a power-driven vessel sees another power-driven vessel ahead...
  96. #795 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND A head-on situation at night is one in which you see __________.
  97. #797 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND The Rules state that a seaplane shall __________.
  98. #800 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are in charge of a power-driven vessel navigating at night. You sight the red sidelight of another vessel on your port...
  99. #801 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Every vessel which is directed by these Rules to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, if the circumstances of the...
  100. #802 BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND You are underway in restricted visibility. You hear the fog signal of another vessel about 22° on your starboard bow. If d...

Rules of the Road questions: what to expect

Q How many Rules of the Road questions are in the Deck pool?

This retired set holds 481 Rules of the Road questions the Coast Guard no longer draws on exams. They stay online for reference; the current Rules of the Road module is the one to study.

Q What score do I need to pass the Rules of the Road module?

Rules of the Road requires 90 percent, the highest passing score on the exam. On a 30-question module that leaves room for three mistakes, so most candidates make it the center of their study plan.

Q Are these the real USCG Rules of the Road exam questions?

Yes. They are the published U.S. Coast Guard questions, matched to the National Maritime Center's 2026 sample examinations. Answer any question to see the correct choice, the USCG reference and the illustration where the question uses one.

Other Deck modules

About the Deck question pool

The Deck pool holds the current U.S. Coast Guard questions for every deck credential, from Able Seaman and the OUPV six-pack up to unlimited Master. Each question is multiple choice with four options, graded instantly, with the USCG reference shown where one exists.