AL Permit Practice Test 18

All 20 questions in test 18

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. You want to pass a person on a bicycle in Alabama while traveling uphill into a curve with limited visibility. What should you do about that pass?

   1. Do not pass there; wait until you have a clear view ahead
   2. Pass at once, since a bicycle can clear the curve first
   3. Move partly into the oncoming lane and pass despite poor sight
   4. Signal with the horn and pass, since the rider must leave the road
   Show answer

   Do not pass there; wait until you have a clear view ahead. A person on a bicycle should be passed with the same caution and respect as another motor vehicle. Avoid passing when traveling uphill or in a curve, where visibility is limited or obstructed. The rider is not required to leave the road, and entering the oncoming lane without a clear view risks both the rider and unseen traffic. Wait until the road opens and the pass can be seen through.

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

2. 2. Your headlights suddenly fail at night in Alabama. What lights should you try next to guide you off the road?

   1. Only the interior dome light
   2. Parking lights and directional signals
   3. The brake lights while holding the pedal
   4. No other lights; steer by memory alone
   Show answer

   Parking lights and directional signals. Backup lighting may still work even when both headlamps go dark, and even a weak source can reveal the road edge long enough to leave traffic. Parking lamps and turn signals are the first alternatives to test. A dome light harms night vision inside the cabin, while brake lights point rearward and demand a pedal held down. Slow steadily, avoid abrupt steering, and use any roadside illumination to reach a safe stopping place.

   Study this in the handbook: Driving emergencies

3. 3. What is the greatest danger of excessive speed in Alabama, according to the manual discussion of speed?

   1. It turns a minor mishap into a fatal accident by increasing severity
   2. It mainly causes more frequent fender damage at low speed
   3. It reduces crash severity because vehicles clear intersections faster
   4. It matters only when a posted limit is exceeded by 20 mph
   Show answer

   It turns a minor mishap into a fatal accident by increasing severity. Speed multiplies kinetic energy, braking distance, and the violence of any impact that follows a mistake. A glance away, a tire failure, or a hidden driveway becomes far less survivable when closing speed leaves no margin. Low speed fender contact is the opposite end of the harm scale. Clearing intersections sooner does not reduce severity once a conflict occurs, and no twenty mile threshold suddenly creates danger. Posted limits matter legally, yet physics rises with every added mile per hour.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

4. 4. Pumping the brake pedal fails to build pressure in Alabama. How should the parking or emergency brake be used?

   1. Pull it as hard as possible to lock the rear wheels
   2. Use it only after the vehicle has fully stopped
   3. Apply it gently so the brakes do not lock and throw the car into a skid
   4. Alternate it rapidly between full on and full off
   Show answer

   Apply it gently so the brakes do not lock and throw the car into a skid. A parking brake applied too abruptly can lock wheels and start a skid at a time when control is already limited. Gentle pressure adds slowing force while letting you ease off if the rear begins to slide. Shifting to a lower gear can add engine braking during the same emergency. Waiting until a full stop makes the brake useless for slowing, while rapid full application repeats the lockup risk instead of controlling it.

   Study this in the handbook: Driving emergencies

5. 5. What does this Alabama warning sign announce about the road ahead?

   
   1. The divided highway is just beginning ahead
   2. A steep upgrade begins around the next curve
   3. The pavement ends at the bottom of a slope
   4. The road ahead goes downhill
   Show answer

   The road ahead goes downhill. A downgrade lets gravity build speed, so gear choice and early braking matter before the descent steepens. A beginning divider describes a change in roadway separation, not gradient. An upgrade would work the engine harder while helping slow the car. Surface ending concerns gravel or dirt, not slope. Check the descent early, select a lower gear when needed, and keep speed from creeping upward.

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

6. 6. When parking on an Alabama hill, what must you always do so the car does not roll into traffic if the brakes do not hold?

   1. Set the hand brake as well as turning the front wheels
   2. Leave the hand brake off so the car settles against the curb
   3. Rely only on turning the front wheels
   4. Keep the engine running so the transmission holds the car
   Show answer

   Set the hand brake as well as turning the front wheels. Hill parking assumes the service brakes might not hold. When parking on a hill, make sure the car does not roll into traffic if the brakes do not hold, and always set the hand brake, then shift to park or to reverse or low gear as appropriate. Wheels alone, a running engine, and an unset hand brake all leave the rollaway protection incomplete.

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

7. 7. You are on an Alabama expressway and stopped traffic leaves your exit ramp just behind you. What does the backing rule say about reaching it?

   1. Backing is prohibited on that controlled access highway
   2. Backing is allowed in any parking space on the expressway shoulder
   3. Backing is allowed on every public street without exception
   4. Backing is prohibited only on freeways at night
   Show answer

   Backing is prohibited on that controlled access highway. Backing accounts for many crashes, so some places ban it outright. Backing is prohibited on controlled access highways, meaning freeways and expressways, except for emergency vehicles in the performance of their duties. Backing into a parking place is the recognized exception on ordinary streets, and the freeway ban is not limited to nighttime. A driver who passes a freeway exit must continue rather than back up.

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

8. 8. An emergency vehicle approaches while an Alabama driver has not yet entered a roundabout. What should the driver do?

   1. Enter quickly and stop inside the circle
   2. Block the entry so the emergency vehicle can choose a lane
   3. Pull over and allow the emergency vehicle to pass
   4. Speed through the roundabout ahead of it
   Show answer

   Pull over and allow the emergency vehicle to pass. Position before entry creates a simple choice when sirens approach near a roundabout. Alabama tells a driver who has not entered to pull over and let the emergency vehicle pass. Entering and then stopping inside the circle would trap both vehicles in a narrow circulating lane. Blocking the mouth of the junction likewise removes escape room. Stay clear on the approach, keep the entry open, and merge only after the emergency movement finishes and normal yielding resumes.

   Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts

9. 9. At an Alabama four-way stop it is clearly your turn to go, but another driver looks ready to roll. What should you do before entering?

   1. Enter quickly to claim the turn before the other moves
   2. Pause and make sure it is safe before you go
   3. Wave the other driver through every time
   4. Honk once and proceed without checking again
   Show answer

   Pause and make sure it is safe before you go. Having the turn at a four-way stop does not ensure that every other driver will honor it. Alabama advises allowing at least a few seconds to make sure no one else begins to enter, even when it is your turn, because many people do not follow the rule. A short pause checks that risk. Rushing to claim the space or honking and going removes that protection.

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

10. 10. Traffic is heavy just beyond an Alabama railroad crossing. When should a driver proceed onto the tracks?

    1. As soon as the vehicle ahead moves one car length
    2. Whenever the crossing gates remain raised
    3. When the vehicle can fit between the rails
    4. Only when sure the vehicle can clear the crossing completely
    Show answer

    Only when sure the vehicle can clear the crossing completely. Gridlock beyond the rails can trap a vehicle in the train path. Alabama cautions against getting trapped, urging drivers in heavy traffic to wait until certain the crossing can be cleared before proceeding. A small advance by the vehicle ahead or a raised gate says nothing about space on the far side. Measure the whole vehicle length against the open area beyond the far rail. Hold back at the approach until that full space exists.

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

11. 11. You follow a motorcyclist toward an Alabama railroad grade crossing that crosses the road at an angle. Why might the rider slow or change direction?

    1. So the tracks can be crossed head on, at a right angle
    2. To warn cars behind that the crossing is closed to two wheelers
    3. Because a motorcycle must be walked over every track
    4. To wait on the shoulder until a car tests the rails
    Show answer

    So the tracks can be crossed head on, at a right angle. Railroad grade crossings may be rough or may cross the road at an angle. A rider may slow down or change direction so the tracks can be crossed head on, and may even rise off the seat to cushion a rough crossing. A following driver should expect that speed or direction change rather than closing in. The crossing is not closed, and no walk across or shoulder wait is required.

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

12. 12. You are driving on an Alabama freeway and traffic lanes are moving at different paces. What lane practice does the manual advise?

    1. Cut from lane to lane whenever a gap opens in faster traffic
    2. Change lanes repeatedly to pass each vehicle you reach
    3. Use any lane without signaling if you check traffic first
    4. Pick the lane that suits the pace you prefer and stay in it
    Show answer

    Pick the lane that suits the pace you prefer and stay in it. Freeway traffic moves smoothly when drivers keep a steady lane instead of weaving for small gains. Cutting from one lane to another is described as a dangerous practice. Choose the lane where traffic is moving at the pace you prefer and stay in it. If you must change lanes to pass or to leave the freeway, check traffic carefully and signal well in advance of the move.

    Study this in the handbook: The Move Over Law

13. 13. How does pavement type affect stopping distance, according to the Alabama manual?

    1. Stopping distance stays the same on every surface when the tires are in good condition
    2. Smooth asphalt grips better than rough concrete because it has more contact area
    3. Slippery brick or smooth asphalt gives far less stopping grip than rough, dry concrete
    4. Only wet pavement affects stopping, never the material it is made of
    Show answer

    Slippery brick or smooth asphalt gives far less stopping grip than rough, dry concrete. The manual lists the type and condition of the pavement among the factors that decide stopping distance and says there is a great difference between rough, dry concrete and slippery brick or smooth asphalt. A slippery or smooth surface gives the tires less grip, so the same car needs more room to stop. That is why speed must be matched to the road surface and not only to the posted limit.

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

14. 14. Your Alabama car keeps accelerating after you lift your foot, because the accelerator pedal has stuck down. What should you try first?

    1. Turn the steering wheel sharply to slow the car
    2. Press the brake and accelerator together harder
    3. Reach down by hand and pull the pedal up
    4. Hook your toe under the pedal and try to raise it
    Show answer

    Hook your toe under the pedal and try to raise it. A stuck accelerator in Alabama may free when you hook your toe under the pedal and try to raise it. That keeps hands on the wheel and eyes forward, unlike bending down by hand at speed. Sharp steering does not address engine power, and pressing both pedals fights the brakes with the engine. If the toe lift fails, switch the engine off to slow the vehicle, remembering that power steering and power brake help will fade once the engine stops.

    Study this in the handbook: Driving emergencies

15. 15. An Alabama driver under arrest for DUI is directed by an officer to take a chemical breath test and refuses. What happens to that drivers license?

    1. The driver may choose a blood test weeks later instead
    2. Nothing happens until a court convicts the driver
    3. The license is suspended for the refusal
    4. Only a warning letter is mailed to the driver
    Show answer

    The license is suspended for the refusal. A driver under arrest for DUI in Alabama who refuses chemical breath tests when directed by an officer faces suspension of the driver license. Refusal does not pause consequences until a court finishes the criminal case, and a warning letter understates a direct license action. Choosing a different test weeks later also misses the directed moment that the rule covers. Anyone facing that direction should understand that refusal itself carries the suspension, separate from what a court later decides about DUI.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol and the DUI law

16. 16. In Alabama, when changing lanes on a freeway to pass or exit, when should a driver signal?

    1. Well in advance of the lane change move
    2. Only after half the vehicle crosses the lane line
    3. At the same moment the steering wheel turns
    4. Only if another vehicle is directly alongside
    Show answer

    Well in advance of the lane change move. Freeway speeds leave very little time for others to react to a late signal. Signaling well before a lane change lets nearby drivers adjust their spacing instead of braking suddenly beside you. It also helps a driver in your blind spot understand that you intend to move over. Check mirrors, look over your shoulder, signal early, and wait for a genuine gap before steering across the line. Signaling at the last instant or halfway through the move defeats the warning. Early notice keeps the whole traffic stream calmer and more predictable.

    Study this in the handbook: The Move Over Law

17. 17. In Alabama, when may a cyclist use the full travel lane?

    1. Only when a police officer directs the cyclist there
    2. Only on rural roads with no shoulder
    3. If the travel lane is narrow
    4. At any speed on any multilane highway
    Show answer

    If the travel lane is narrow. A cyclist may take the full lane when that lane is too narrow for safe side by side travel. Full lane use makes the rider visible and prevents a driver from squeezing past within an inadequate space. No officer direction is needed for the narrow lane condition. Rural location alone does not create the permission, and multilane highways do not grant it at every speed or width. Drivers should change lanes to pass when lawful and safe. Patience behind a rider in a narrow lane avoids forcing the bicycle toward parked cars or debris.

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

18. 18. This pictured sign warns that the street ahead has which condition?

    
    1. The street ends at a railroad crossing just ahead
    2. The street ahead has no outlet and no through route
    3. The street narrows to one lane for local traffic only
    4. The street is closed to through trucks by weight limit
    Show answer

    The street ahead has no outlet and no through route. A dead end warning means the road simply stops being a through route. Drivers who continue should expect to turn around rather than reach another street. Local traffic, parked cars, and children may fill the short stretch because no through flow passes. Enter slowly, watch for vehicles backing from driveways, and choose a safe place to turn. If you do not need an address there, avoid entering at all. Turning early saves the tight backing and three point maneuvers that cramped ends often force on unprepared drivers near homes.

19. 19. An Alabama driver grows sleepy during a long interstate trip. Which shortcut should the driver avoid trusting?

    1. A nap at a rest area off the highway
    2. Coffee plus stretching during a stop
    3. Stay-awake drugs to keep driving
    4. Regular breaks to walk around outside
    Show answer

    Stay-awake drugs to keep driving. Chemical alertness can mask exhaustion without restoring judgment, lane control, or reaction speed. A drowsy brain misses signs and drifts before the driver notices anything wrong. Real rest reverses that decline, while coffee and stretching only buy brief relief for mild tiredness. Pulling fully off the roadway protects a sleeping occupant from passing traffic. Trip schedules deserve adjustment when eyelids grow heavy. Arriving late beats gambling on stimulants across dark highway miles, especially since monotony from wind and engine hum steadily deepens fatigue on expressway drives.

    Study this in the handbook: Losing your license, points and phone laws

20. 20. In Alabama, for whom must drivers stop when that person is directing movement with school children nearby?

    1. Only a police officer in uniform who is directing traffic
    2. School safety patrols who are directing movement
    3. A parent waving children across from the sidewalk curb
    4. Any adult standing near the entrance of a school building
    Show answer

    School safety patrols who are directing movement. A school safety patrol directing movement carries stopping authority for drivers near children, alongside stopping for the children themselves. A parent waving from a curb or an adult merely standing by a building does not hold that directed role. Uniformed police direction is a different traffic stop duty. When a patrol member steps out with a flag or sign, brake smoothly, keep the crosswalk clear, and remain stopped until the directed movement clears.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping rules, school buses and emergency vehicles