AL Permit Practice Test 15

All 20 questions in test 15

Every question below comes from the Alabama question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. In Alabama, a steady green arrow lights for your turning movement. What must traffic facing you do?

   1. Proceed slowly through the turn lane
   2. Stop while you move in the arrow direction
   3. Turn across your path if no horn sounds
   4. Enter the intersection and block your exit
   Show answer

   Stop while you move in the arrow direction. Arrows grant a protected movement by holding conflicting traffic at the line. Oncoming drivers who creep forward or swing across erase that protection instantly. Horns do not transfer permission, and blocking an exit creates gridlock plus collision risk. The turning driver still watches for walkers and vehicles already lawfully inside the crossing, because protection never excuses blind motion. Once the arrow fades, expectations change quickly. While green shows, however, opposing lanes wait, giving the indicated turn a clear window negotiated by the signal rather than by guesswork between strangers.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, arrows and lane use signals

2. 2. What road condition does this pictured Alabama warning sign announce, and what should a driver do?

   
   1. A dip in the roadway, so slow down
   2. A steep upgrade, so accelerate before climbing
   3. Loose gravel, so steer onto the shoulder
   4. A flooded lane, so stop in the dip itself
   Show answer

   A dip in the roadway, so slow down. A dip drops the pavement briefly, which can jolt steering and compress suspension at speed. Alabama pairs the warning with a simple speed reduction, giving tires and springs time to absorb the change. Treating the feature as a hill, a gravel patch, or a place to halt misreads the symbol. Ease off early, keep the vehicle centered, and avoid hard braking while wheels cross the lowest point. Following drivers also gain room when the slowdown happens gradually.

3. 3. In Alabama, what speed may be driven where the statutory limit for interstate highways is posted?

   1. 55 miles per hour on every interstate segment
   2. 60 miles per hour where an interstate is posted
   3. 65 miles per hour where an interstate is posted
   4. 70 miles per hour where posted on interstate
   Show answer

   70 miles per hour where posted on interstate. Interstate segments in Alabama may carry a posted statutory limit of seventy miles per hour. Sixty five applies where posted in other contexts, not as the interstate figure in this list. Fifty five covers other locations outside the named categories. Sixty has no place in this statutory set. Posted signs control the segment you are actually driving, so seventy is never automatic everywhere. Weather, traffic density, work zones, and vehicle condition can still require a materially slower speed under the basic speed rule.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

4. 4. In Alabama, how does mixing alcohol with another drug compare with using either substance alone?

   1. Combined effects multiply instead of merely doubling
   2. The alcohol cancels most drug effects
   3. Only the stronger substance influences driving
   4. A small drink makes medicinal drugs safer
   Show answer

   Combined effects multiply instead of merely doubling. Two impairing substances interact inside the brain and body in ways simple addition fails to predict. Sedatives plus alcohol can suppress breathing and awareness far beyond what either produces separately. Believing the drink neutralizes a pill, or that medicine permits drinking, reverses the danger entirely. Prescription guidance deserves respect here: ask a doctor about driving effects and avoid alcohol alongside medicinal drugs. Even ordinary cold remedies may carry ingredients that dull attention. Layering substances before driving stacks unpredictable impairment onto a task that punishes the slightest delay in perception or response.

5. 5. Rain has soaked an Alabama road where a person rides a bicycle ahead of you. What should you expect about that rider stopping?

   1. The rider will brake more sharply than on dry pavement
   2. Wet pavement will keep the bicycle unusually steady
   3. The rider can stop at once if you sound the horn
   4. The rider will have much less ability to slow or stop
   Show answer

   The rider will have much less ability to slow or stop. Wet rims and tires cut bicycle braking power, so the rider needs a longer margin and may wobble while slowing. Dry pavement grip cannot be assumed after rain. Moisture reduces control rather than steadying the bike. A horn blast may startle the rider without shortening the stop. Increase your following gap, pass only with generous clearance, and avoid forcing a sudden brake check beside puddles.

   Study this in the handbook: Curves, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

6. 6. A school crossing warning is posted on your Alabama street and children are walking near the far curb. How should you drive through that area?

   
   1. Slow down and watch for children crossing
   2. Honk from a block away and keep speed
   3. Stop in the lane until every child leaves the sidewalk
   4. Hold speed, because children must wait for cars
   Show answer

   Slow down and watch for children crossing. A school crossing warning in Alabama calls for slowing down and watching for children crossing. Children near a curb can step out with little warning and may misjudge gaps, so holding speed behind a horn blast leaves almost no margin. Stopping in the lane without a crossing underway can also confuse drivers behind you. Reduce speed before the crossing, scan both curbs and parked cars, and be ready to stop smoothly if a child enters the street.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, construction and guide signs

7. 7. A tire blows out on your Alabama car at highway speed and the car pulls hard to one side. What should you do to regain control?

   1. Hold tight, steer straight, ease off
   2. Accelerate quickly to outrun the vibration from the tire
   3. Turn sharply toward the shoulder immediately without slowing
   4. Brake firmly at once to stop the hard pulling sensation
   Show answer

   Hold tight, steer straight, ease off. A blowout throws an Alabama vehicle out of control, and recovery starts with holding the steering wheel tightly, steering straight, and easing up on the accelerator. Firm braking while the car pulls can lock the remaining grip and swing the vehicle, while added speed feeds the instability. A sharp shoulder turn before control returns has the same problem. Let speed fall on its own, keep the nose straight, and brake gently only after the car is under control and nearly stopped.

   Study this in the handbook: Skids, hydroplaning, fog and hills

8. 8. Which hand signal tells drivers behind you that you are stopping or decreasing speed in Alabama?

   1. Hand and arm extended straight out
   2. Hand and arm extended upward
   3. Arm waved in a circle above the car
   4. Hand and arm extended downward
   Show answer

   Hand and arm extended downward. A downward arm reads as a downward intention: speed is coming down. Straight out points left, upward points right, and a circling wave has no assigned meaning in the set drivers learn. Use the downward signal before a planned slowdown when lamps may be hard to see, then brake smoothly so following drivers get both cues in sequence. Sudden slowing without any notice invites a rear end crash, especially in bright sun. Pair the arm signal with an early brake lamp tap on longer stops.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing, backing, lane changes and loads

9. 9. Before a trip in Alabama, what should you check about your tires, including the spare?

   1. That they are properly inflated, have good tread, and are free of cuts
   2. Only the two front tires, because the spare is checked when the car is serviced yearly
   3. That the spare is slightly underinflated so it will fit the storage well in the trunk
   4. That the tread looks new, without checking pressure on any tire before the trip
   Show answer

   That they are properly inflated, have good tread, and are free of cuts. A trip check covers the tires that may be needed far from help. Check your tires, including spares, to make certain they are properly inflated, have good tread, and are free of cuts, and make sure the car is in good mechanical condition. Checking only the front tires, storing an underinflated spare, and judging tread without pressure all leave a defect that can strand or destabilize the car.

10. 10. Your Alabama car plunges into deep water but does not sink. How should you get out?

    1. Open a door slowly and swim out that way
    2. Escape immediately through a window
    3. Wait inside until rescue crews open a door
    4. Climb into the trunk area and wait for air
    Show answer

    Escape immediately through a window. A floating car gives a short window for escape through a window. Opening a door lets more water rush in and can speed sinking, besides being hard against water pressure. Waiting for rescuers wastes the brief time while the vehicle still rides at the surface. Trunk air is discussed after a car has sunk and settled, a later and different stage. Unbuckle, open or break a window early, and move children out first when possible.

    Study this in the handbook: Driving emergencies

11. 11. You are passing a truck or bus in Alabama. On which side should you try to pass, and how promptly?

    1. Pass on the left, and do it as quickly as you safely can
    2. Pass on the right, where the blind spot is smallest
    3. Pass on either side slowly, riding beside it for a while
    4. Pass only after stopping behind it so the driver sees you
    Show answer

    Pass on the left, and do it as quickly as you safely can. Large vehicles have big blind spots on both sides, so time beside them should be short. When passing a truck or bus, always try to pass on the left and do it as quickly as possible, getting ahead so the driver can see you. Riding alongside on either side keeps you in a side no zone, the right side is not the clear side, and stopping behind is not a pass.

    Study this in the handbook: Curves, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

12. 12. At an Alabama four-way stop, two vehicles arrive at different times. Which vehicle is allowed to leave its stop sign first?

    1. The larger vehicle, regardless of arrival time
    2. The first vehicle to arrive at a complete stop
    3. The vehicle traveling on the wider road
    4. The driver who flashes headlights first
    Show answer

    The first vehicle to arrive at a complete stop. Orderly departure at a four-way stop follows the sequence of completed stops. Alabama states that the first vehicle to arrive at a complete stop leaves first, which rewards patience and removes guessing. Size, road width, and headlight signals do not reorder the queue. A driver who rolls slowly without fully stopping has not earned the earlier place. After taking a turn, each driver should still pause briefly, since others occasionally ignore the sequence and enter anyway.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign types, regulatory signs and four way stops

13. 13. In Alabama, bicycle riders younger than what age must wear a securely fastened protective helmet on public roadways?

    1. Younger than 12 years old
    2. Younger than 14 years old
    3. Younger than 16 years old
    4. Younger than 18 years old
    Show answer

    Younger than 16 years old. Younger riders have less experience judging gaps in traffic and are more vulnerable when a fall or collision occurs. Alabama therefore ties the helmet duty to age rather than to the length of the trip or the type of street. A securely fastened helmet stays in place during a sudden stop and protects the head far better than a loose strap or a carried helmet. Parents should check fit before every ride on public roadways, paths, and parks. Drivers should still give young cyclists generous space whenever they pass.

    Study this in the handbook: Curves, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

14. 14. In Alabama, while backing a vehicle, how should a driver keep watch behind the car?

    1. Rely only on the inside mirror and backup camera while moving slowly backward
    2. Sound the horn once, then watch the left side mirror during the whole maneuver
    3. Look to the front, sides, and rear, and keep looking over the right shoulder to the rear
    4. Ask a passenger to watch and report only after the vehicle has fully stopped
    Show answer

    Look to the front, sides, and rear, and keep looking over the right shoulder to the rear. Mirrors leave blind areas close behind the bumper, right where small children, pets, and low objects hide. Turning your head gives a direct view through the rear window and side glass. Keep checking front and sides too, since traffic or people can enter the path while you move. Back slowly so you can stop at once. A walking pace leaves time to react when something appears. Finish by straightening into the target lane or space without swinging wide into passing traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, backing, lane changes and loads

15. 15. In Alabama on an extremely cold day, why use caution with windshield washer and wipers at high speed?

    1. Washer fluid can still freeze on the windshield and totally obscure vision
    2. Washer fluid always melts ice faster at high speed
    3. Wipers are prohibited at highway speed in cold weather
    4. Cold washer fluid can crack every windshield instantly
    Show answer

    Washer fluid can still freeze on the windshield and totally obscure vision. Wind chill at highway speed can defeat antifreeze protection once fluid spreads thinly across cold glass. A sudden frozen film may leave the driver nearly blind at the worst moment. Clearing snow and ice before moving, warming the defroster, and testing the washer while slow reduce that risk. No rule bans wiper use at speed, and cracking is not the stated danger; loss of sight through a frozen coating is the concern to avoid.

16. 16. You have moved into an Alabama freeway exit ramp and are approaching the intersecting roadway. What must you be prepared to do?

    1. Speed up to merge without checking cross traffic
    2. Stop on the freeway before the ramp
    3. Yield or stop at the intersecting roadway
    4. Turn left across the ramp entrance
    Show answer

    Yield or stop at the intersecting roadway. A ramp delivers a driver from high speed flow into a cross street where ordinary intersection duties return. Traffic on that roadway may have priority, so readiness to yield or halt protects both streams. Accelerating blindly into the junction discards the check that the ramp end demands. Stopping earlier on the freeway itself endangers fast followers and solves nothing. Crossing back over the ramp entrance is no part of a normal exit. Slow on the ramp, scan the junction, and give way as required.

17. 17. You witness an Alabama crash from a safe place and call for help while crews are still on the way. Which set of details will most help responders reach and size up the scene?

    1. Vehicle colors and makes, plus the license plate numbers you saw
    2. Exact location, road blockage, probable damage, and injuries
    3. Which driver you think caused the crash and why you think so
    4. Names and phone numbers of every other witness on the scene
    Show answer

    Exact location, road blockage, probable damage, and injuries. A witness call helps most when responders can find the scene and prepare for what they will meet there. The manual advises a person reporting a crash and requesting aid to give the exact location, whether the road is blocked, and the probable damage as well as injuries. Accuracy helps police respond quickly to the scene. Vehicle descriptions, opinions about fault, or witness names do not tell crews where to go, whether traffic can pass, or whether medical help is needed.

    Study this in the handbook: Phones, fatigue, following distance and crashes

18. 18. You park facing uphill on an Alabama street where a curb runs beside your car. How should you set the front wheels and gears?

    1. Wheels straight ahead, in neutral
    2. Wheels toward the road edge, with no brake set
    3. Wheels toward the curb, in reverse gear
    4. Wheels away from the curb, in low gear or PARK
    Show answer

    Wheels away from the curb, in low gear or PARK. Facing uphill with a curb in Alabama, turn the front wheels away from the curb and shift into low gear or PARK, with the hand brake set as hill parking requires. If holding power fails, a backward roll swings the turned front tire into the curb and helps stop the car. Wheels toward the curb with reverse gear belong to downhill parking, while straight wheels in neutral leave nothing to catch a roll. Set the brake, turn the wheels, and test that the car holds.

    Study this in the handbook: Curves, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

19. 19. You face a steady green signal in Alabama and want to turn. What can a posted sign at that intersection do?

    1. Allow the turn without yielding to anyone
    2. Require you to turn even if the way is blocked
    3. Change the green signal into a yield sign
    4. Prohibit that turn, even on the green signal
    Show answer

    Prohibit that turn, even on the green signal. A green light permits movement, but it does not erase a separate posted restriction at the same corner. If a sign forbids a turn there, the driver must continue in a lawful direction instead of turning across traffic or a crosswalk. Turning anyway because the light is green can conflict with the reason the turn was banned, such as poor sight distance or heavy foot traffic. Read signs and signals together before entering, and yield to vehicles and pedestrians already moving lawfully.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, arrows and lane use signals

20. 20. For maximum effectiveness in Alabama, how should a safety belt be worn across the body?

    1. Loosely across the stomach for comfort
    2. Under one arm so the shoulder strap feels loose
    3. Behind the back with only the lap part visible
    4. Drawn snugly across the hip bones
    Show answer

    Drawn snugly across the hip bones. Belt geometry decides where crash forces enter the body. Snug webbing over strong hip bones spreads load and keeps an occupant positioned for airbag and seat design. A loose stomach placement lets the body slide and concentrates force on soft tissue. Routing webbing under an arm or behind the back defeats the restraint layout entirely, even though a buckle may click. Pull slack out after buckling, keep the lap portion low, and check passengers before moving rather than after reaching highway speed.

    Study this in the handbook: Parking, safety belts and child restraints