AL Permit Practice Test 2

All 20 questions in test 2

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. Which circumstance makes an Alabama speed limit violation prima facie evidence that the speed is unlawful?

   1. Driving faster than a posted limit established for normal conditions
   2. Driving below the limit during heavy rain
   3. Driving at the limit on a clear road
   4. Driving on a road with no official regulatory sign
   Show answer

   Driving faster than a posted limit established for normal conditions. Alabama's manual explains that statutory speed limits apply for normal driving conditions, unless another zone has been established and posted on an official regulatory sign. Speed in excess of those limits is prima facie evidence that it is unlawful and may lead to arrest. The below-limit choice is not an excess-speed violation, and traveling exactly at the limit is not above it. A road lacking an official sign does not create the stated posted-limit condition. Check both the normal-conditions qualifier and the fact that the speed exceeds the applicable limit.

2. 2. What is the driver expected to do near a pedestrian crossing warning sign?

   
   1. Use caution, slow down, and watch both sides for pedestrians
   2. Assume pedestrians will wait because the crossing is not at an intersection
   3. Drive faster to clear the crossing before anyone reaches it
   4. Stop in the travel lane whenever the sign is present, even with no pedestrian
   Show answer

   Use caution, slow down, and watch both sides for pedestrians. The warning identifies a place where people on foot often cross, and the crossing may be between intersections. Drivers should approach more slowly and carefully while watching both sides of the street. The sign alone does not require an unnecessary stop in an empty roadway, but a pedestrian in the crosswalk must be yielded to. Keep sight lines open and cover the brake near the crossing.

3. 3. Two vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection from different roads at about the same time. Which driver yields?

   
   1. The larger vehicle automatically proceeds first
   2. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
   3. The driver traveling faster yields
   4. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
   Show answer

   The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. At an uncontrolled intersection, Alabama assigns the yield duty to the vehicle on the left when vehicles arrive from different roadways at about the same time. The driver on the right is the one to whom the left-side driver yields. Vehicle size and speed do not create the priority described here, so those choices add conditions absent from the rule. First determine whether signs or signals control the intersection. If they do not, compare the vehicles’ approach sides and use the simple left-yields-to-right cue before entering.

4. 4. What do fluorescent yellow signs indicate in Alabama?

   
   1. Railroad crossings and no-passing zones
   2. Pedestrian crossings and school zones
   3. Construction detours and hospital entrances
   4. Speed limits and lane assignments
   Show answer

   Pedestrian crossings and school zones. The Alabama manual uses fluorescent yellow to identify pedestrian crossings and school zones. That color is a warning cue, so drivers should reduce speed and watch for people entering the roadway or children near a school. Railroad crossings and no-passing zones use different sign treatments, while construction detours and hospital entrances are not the meanings given here. Speed limits and lane assignments are communicated by regulatory or guide signs rather than this fluorescent warning color.

5. 5. What roadway transition is shown by a two-way traffic warning sign?

   
   1. The driver is entering a divided highway with a permanent median
   2. The driver is leaving a separated one-way roadway and entering a two-way roadway
   3. Passing is permitted in both directions without checking traffic
   4. All traffic must turn right at the next intersection
   Show answer

   The driver is leaving a separated one-way roadway and entering a two-way roadway. The two-way warning marks a change from separated one-way travel to a roadway where traffic moves in both directions. The driver should keep right and watch for oncoming vehicles. It does not promise unrestricted passing, indicate a divided highway, or require a right turn. Expect the opposing stream before crossing the centerline or choosing a passing maneuver. Check the lane ahead before moving left.

6. 6. How can an Alabama driver reach the State Troopers from a cell phone to report a crash or drunk driver?

   1. Dial 311
   2. Dial 0 for the operator
   3. Text the plate number to 511
   4. Dial *HP, which is *47, toll free
   Show answer

   Dial *HP, which is *47, toll free. For highway emergencies, to report accidents and drunk drivers, dial *HP, which is *47, toll free on your cell phone to contact Alabama State Troopers. The same section reminds drivers that parking is not permitted on the freeway except in an emergency. Pull safely off the road before making the call, and give the trooper the highway, direction and nearest mile marker so help can find the scene.

7. 7. On a steady circular green signal, what must you do before turning left?

   
   1. Turn immediately because green gives every vehicle priority
   2. Yield to vehicles and pedestrians lawfully in the intersection
   3. Wait for a green arrow even when no restriction is posted
   4. Yield only to vehicles, never to pedestrians
   Show answer

   Yield to vehicles and pedestrians lawfully in the intersection. A steady circular green permits a driver to go straight or turn, but the movement is not a free pass through occupied space. Before turning left, look for people crossing and vehicles already lawfully using the intersection, then yield to them. The choice “Turn immediately because green gives every vehicle priority” wrongly treats the signal as automatic priority over everyone else. A green arrow would create a protected movement, but the choice “Wait for a green arrow even when no restriction is posted” invents a requirement that the manual does not impose for an ordinary green. Use the simple cue: green allows movement, while a clear path and proper yielding still control the turn.

8. 8. What should a driver do if the vehicle runs off the pavement onto the shoulder?

   1. Swerve sharply back immediately
   2. Accelerate until the tires climb onto pavement
   3. Stay on the shoulder and reduce speed
   4. Turn across the opposite lane
   Show answer

   Stay on the shoulder and reduce speed. If wheels drift onto the shoulder, stay there and reduce speed instead of swerving immediately back onto the pavement. A sharp return can throw the vehicle off balance, especially when the shoulder edge is uneven. Once speed is lower and the roadway is clear, turn gently back onto the pavement. The acceleration choice adds instability and the opposite-lane option introduces opposing traffic. Keep both hands steady, avoid panic steering, and use a gradual reentry angle.

9. 9. Before moving into another lane, what must a driver confirm?

   1. That the turn signal has been on for one second
   2. That the vehicle behind has slowed down first
   3. That safe clearance exists beside, ahead of, and behind the vehicle
   4. That the driver can see only the next lane in the mirror
   Show answer

   That safe clearance exists beside, ahead of, and behind the vehicle. A lane change requires a safe opening on all relevant sides, including beside the vehicle, ahead, and behind. Mirrors help, but they do not show every part of the blind spot, so a shoulder glance is also needed. The signal communicates intent but does not create clearance or grant a right to move. The choice “That the turn signal has been on for one second” invents a timing rule, and the choice “That the driver can see only the next lane in the mirror” accepts an incomplete check. Make the cue practical: signal, check mirrors, look over the shoulder, and move only after the full path is open.

10. 10. How far do high beam headlights normally illuminate the road, according to the Alabama manual?

    1. About 100 feet
    2. About 1,000 feet
    3. About one mile
    4. About 350 feet under normal conditions
    Show answer

    About 350 feet under normal conditions. Headlights on high beam normally illuminate the roadway about 350 feet under normal conditions, and you should never drive so fast that you cannot stop within the distance you can see ahead with your lights. Dimming when meeting or following is required by law; dim within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and when following closely. Inspection requires high beams to reach 350 feet.

11. 11. In a skid involving a conventional rear-wheel-drive vehicle, easing off the gas helps by:

    1. Removing the need to steer
    2. Locking the front wheels immediately
    3. Making the rear wheels spin faster
    4. Letting the engine slow the rear wheels slightly
    Show answer

    Letting the engine slow the rear wheels slightly. For a conventional rear-wheel-drive vehicle, easing off the accelerator lets the engine act like a brake on the rear wheels. That can reduce the rear slide and give the front of the vehicle time to catch up while you steer. The faster-wheel choice reverses the manual's description, and no skid response removes the need for steering. Use gentle input: release the gas, avoid a sudden brake application, and work to keep the rear from outrunning the front.

12. 12. What mandatory penalties follow a second Alabama DUI conviction within 10 years?

    1. A 90 day suspension only
    2. At least 5 days in jail or 30 days of community service, a one year revocation, and a fine of $1,100 to $5,100
    3. A $600 fine
    4. Lifetime revocation
    Show answer

    At least 5 days in jail or 30 days of community service, a one year revocation, and a fine of $1,100 to $5,100. Section 32-5A-191(f) sets a fine of $1,100 to $5,100 for a second DUI conviction within 10 years, with jail of up to one year. The sentence must include at least five days in jail or at least 30 days of community service, which cannot be suspended or probated, and ALEA revokes the license for one year, followed by a two year ignition interlock requirement. The older manual figure of 48 hours or 20 days is out of date. A first offense carries $600 to $2,100 and a 90 day suspension, and a third brings a three year revocation.

13. 13. What is the Alabama rule for a driver approaching a flashing red signal?

    1. Continue without slowing if the lane is clear
    2. Treat it the same as a flashing yellow signal
    3. Treat it the same as a STOP sign
    4. Stop only when a police officer is present
    Show answer

    Treat it the same as a STOP sign. A flashing red signal has the same meaning as a STOP sign. The driver must stop and then proceed only when the intersection can be entered safely and any applicable right-of-way duties are satisfied. Treating it like flashing yellow would reduce the required control, while continuing through a clear lane ignores the signal entirely. Police presence is not needed to activate the rule. At an unfamiliar intersection, identify the stop location, come to a complete stop, scan for traffic and pedestrians, and continue only after the way is clear.

14. 14. What is the penalty for a first Alabama Hands-Free Law conviction?

    1. A $100 fine and 2 points
    2. A $50 fine and 1 point
    3. A $150 fine and 3 points
    4. A warning with no points
    Show answer

    A $50 fine and 1 point. A first conviction under Alabama’s Hands-Free Law carries a $50 fine and 1 point on the driver’s record. The $100 and 2 point penalty belongs to a second conviction, while $150 and 3 points applies to a third conviction within the stated period. A warning with no points is not the listed first offense consequence. Keep the sequence tied to the conviction count: first, second, and third have increasing fines and points over a 24-month period.

15. 15. In the Alabama Parent/Teen Driving Agreement, what does the teen promise about electronic devices while driving?

    1. Use a device whenever traffic is moving slowly
    2. Use a handheld phone only for messages to a parent
    3. Avoid all cell-phone and electronic-device use while driving and pull over to use one
    4. Ask a passenger to hold the device while the teen drives
    Show answer

    Avoid all cell-phone and electronic-device use while driving and pull over to use one. The Parent/Teen Driving Agreement contains a broad promise: the teen will not use a cell phone or other electronic device while driving and will pull over to make calls, receive calls, text, or use an electronic device. This agreement language is broader than identifying one particular message type. Slow traffic and parental messages do not create exceptions in the quoted promise. Having a passenger hold the device also misses the point, because the teen agrees to pull over before using it. Treat the agreement as a planned safe-driving commitment, not a permission to multitask.

16. 16. How far from a vehicle you are following must you dim your high beams?

    1. Within 100 feet
    2. Within 500 feet
    3. Within 300 feet
    4. Within 200 feet
    Show answer

    Within 200 feet. Alabama requires low beams when following another vehicle within 200 feet. The separate 500-foot distance applies to an oncoming vehicle, so swapping those figures is the tempting mistake. A 100-foot or 300-foot threshold does not match the manual’s rule. Dim before the gap closes to 200 feet so the vehicle ahead is not exposed to glare in its mirrors. Keep the two distances paired in memory: 500 feet for meeting oncoming traffic, 200 feet for following traffic.

17. 17. How far before the track is Alabama's round railroad warning sign placed?

    1. 100 feet
    2. 2,000 feet
    3. 750 feet
    4. Directly at the crossing
    Show answer

    750 feet. The round railroad warning sign is yellow with a black X and the letters RR. It means a highway railroad crossing is ahead and is placed 750 feet before the track. The pavement may also be marked with a large X and two RR's, a yellow line in advance of the crossing means no passing, and white lines beside the track show where to stop.

18. 18. What does an Alabama YIELD sign require a driver to do?

    1. Slow down and yield to pedestrians and vehicles on the intersecting road
    2. Speed up before entering the intersection
    3. Stop for exactly three seconds in every situation
    4. Proceed first whenever the driver arrived before another vehicle
    Show answer

    Slow down and yield to pedestrians and vehicles on the intersecting road. A YIELD sign tells the driver to reduce speed and give way to pedestrians crossing the roadway and vehicles on the intersecting street or highway. It does not promise that the approaching driver may proceed first, and it does not impose a fixed three-second stop when traffic is clear. Speeding up defeats the purpose of the sign because it reduces the time available to observe and respond. Approach under control, check both the crossing path and the intersection, and continue only after the people and vehicles with priority are safely clear.

19. 19. What does a steady green arrow allow a driver to do?

    1. Enter only after the arrow changes to yellow
    2. Enter the intersection in the arrow's direction, yielding to lawful users
    3. Ignore pedestrians because opposing traffic must stop
    4. Make any movement from any approach lane
    Show answer

    Enter the intersection in the arrow's direction, yielding to lawful users. A steady green arrow authorizes entry into the intersection for the movement shown by the arrow, while the driver still yields to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully using the intersection. The arrow does not erase those obligations or authorize unrelated movements from every lane. The yellow-arrow choice delays the protected movement until it ends, which is the opposite of the signal's instruction. Scan the crosswalk and intersection before moving, then follow the arrow and any additional signal or sign that controls the turn.

20. 20. How many reckless driving convictions within 12 months require the Alabama Director to revoke a license?

    1. Three
    2. Two
    3. Four
    4. One
    Show answer

    Three. The Director must revoke a license on receiving a record of three reckless driving convictions within 12 months. Other mandatory revocations include vehicular manslaughter or homicide, a second or later DUI conviction, using a vehicle in a felony, and failing to stop and render aid after an injury crash. One or two reckless convictions do not trigger this rule, and four is more than the rule requires.