AL Permit Practice Test 4

All 20 questions in test 4

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. At an intersection, which movement is prohibited by a NO TURNS sign?

   
   1. A U-turn, while right and left turns remain open
   2. Both right and left turns
   3. A right turn, while left turns remain open
   4. Only a turn made after a complete stop
   Show answer

   Both right and left turns. The no-turns sign closes both turning choices at that intersection. It is broader than a sign that bans only a U-turn or only a right turn, and stopping first does not create an exception. Drivers should continue straight only if that movement is permitted, or choose another route. Read the words and symbol together before entering the intersection so a last-second turn is not attempted.

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

2. 2. What does the SPEED LIMIT number on a regulatory sign represent?

   
   1. The minimum speed required on every road
   2. A suggested speed that may be exceeded whenever traffic is light
   3. The posted speed under normal conditions
   4. The speed allowed only while passing
   Show answer

   The posted speed under normal conditions. The posted number is the speed limit under normal conditions. It is not merely a suggestion, a universal minimum, or a special passing speed. Weather, traffic, visibility, and road conditions can require a driver to go slower. Use the regulatory sign as the ceiling for ordinary conditions, then reduce speed whenever the roadway or surroundings make that limit unsafe. Where a minimum limit is also posted, usually on freeways and other controlled access highways, the sign shows both the maximum and minimum speeds permitted.

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

3. 3. What does a NO TURN ON RED sign change at a signalized intersection?

   
   1. It prohibits a right or left turn on red at that intersection
   2. It permits a turn without stopping if the road is clear
   3. It requires every vehicle to remain stopped after green appears
   4. It applies only to U-turns made from a red arrow
   Show answer

   It prohibits a right or left turn on red at that intersection. This sign removes the usual red-light turning permission at the marked intersection. A driver must wait for a permissive signal before making the prohibited right or left turn. Clear pavement does not override the posted instruction, and the sign is not limited to U-turns. Look for it beside the signal or at the corner, then remain behind the stop line until the allowed movement appears.

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

4. 4. What does Alabama establish through the uniform point system described in the manual?

   1. A system that automatically cancels every driver's license after one violation
   2. A system for suspending driver licenses based on listed grounds
   3. A system that applies only to commercial vehicle operators
   4. A system for setting county property tax rates
   Show answer

   A system for suspending driver licenses based on listed grounds. The manual presents Alabama's point system as a uniform system used to suspend driver licenses on one or both of the grounds listed in Section 32-5A-195. It then assigns point values to enumerated offenses for each driver, whether the offense occurred in Alabama or elsewhere. The cancellation choice overstates the effect by making every violation automatic, while the commercial-only option narrows a rule that applies to each driver. Property taxes have no connection to the driver-license system. The useful cue is that listed offenses receive points, and accumulated grounds can lead to suspension.

5. 5. Which hand signal tells other drivers that you plan to turn right?

   1. Hand and arm extended downward
   2. Hand and arm extended upward
   3. Hand and arm extended straight out
   4. Hand and arm pointed toward the rear
   Show answer

   Hand and arm extended upward. Alabama uses three arm positions for hand signals. For a right turn, the hand and arm point upward. A left turn is the arm held straight out, and stopping or slowing is the arm extended downward, so confusing up with down sends the driver behind you the opposite message. In daytime, hand and arm signals may be used in addition to signal lights, because reflected sunlight can make a flashing signal light hard for other motorists to see. An arm pointed toward the rear is not one of the listed signals.

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

6. 6. What is the statutory speed limit in an Alabama urban district unless another zone is posted?

   1. 55 miles per hour
   2. 35 miles per hour
   3. 45 miles per hour
   4. 30 miles per hour
   Show answer

   30 miles per hour. The manual lists 30 miles per hour as the statutory limit in an urban district, unless an officially posted speed zone establishes another limit. The 35 mph figure applies to an unpaved road, 45 mph applies to a county paved road unless posted, and 55 mph covers other locations in the listed statutory limits. Treat the road classification and signs as part of the question. A driver should not borrow the county-road number simply because the street is paved, nor assume the general rural figure applies inside a municipality.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

7. 7. What should an Alabama driver do when changing lanes?

   
   1. Rely only on the inside mirror
   2. Check clearance and the blind spot before moving
   3. Signal after entering the new lane
   4. Move first if the other lane looks faster
   Show answer

   Check clearance and the blind spot before moving. Before changing lanes, check safe clearance beside, ahead, and behind the vehicle, then glance over the shoulder to inspect the blind spot. Mirrors do not cover every area, so relying only on one is incomplete. A signal announces intent but does not grant permission to move, which makes signaling after entry especially unsafe. Wait for a real gap, keep the signal active through the maneuver, and move smoothly without forcing another road user to brake.

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

8. 8. Before entering an Alabama roundabout, whom must you yield to?

   
   1. No one if you signal a left turn
   2. Only vehicles approaching from the right
   3. Vehicles behind you but not people crossing
   4. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and traffic already in the roundabout
   Show answer

   Pedestrians, bicyclists, and traffic already in the roundabout. Before entering a roundabout, the driver must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists, then yield to traffic already circulating on the driver's left. Entry is allowed when a safe gap appears. The right-side choice imports a different intersection habit and overlooks the traffic already moving around the circle. A turn signal cannot create priority, so the signaling choice is also wrong. Slow down, read the yield signs, check the crosswalk, and watch the circulating lane before choosing an opening that does not force another road user to brake.

   Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts

9. 9. How long is an Alabama license suspended for 18 to 20 points in a 2-year period?

   1. 120 days
   2. 60 days
   3. 180 days
   4. 90 days
   Show answer

   120 days. The schedule lists 18 to 20 points in a 2-year period as a 120 day suspension. Sixty days is for 12 to 14 points, 90 days for 15 to 17, and 180 days for 21 to 23. Knowing the ladder matters because each step is only three points apart. The most serious point offenses, such as alcohol related convictions without mandatory revocation, count 6 points each.

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

10. 10. 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.

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

11. 11. What is the minimum reinstatement fee after an Alabama license is suspended, revoked, canceled or disqualified?

    1. $25
    2. $50
    3. $10
    4. Not less than $100
    Show answer

    Not less than $100. Anyone whose Alabama license has been canceled, suspended, revoked or disqualified must pay a reinstatement fee of not less than $100, plus meet other legal requirements, before being relicensed. The $50 figure is an added fee for failing to surrender the license on time, not the base fee. Twenty-five and ten dollars both fall below the stated minimum, so neither can be the reinstatement fee.

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

12. 12. What does Alabama state law prohibit placing on a vehicle window?

    1. A clean window with no attached material
    2. A transparent inspection sticker in the permitted location
    3. A rearview mirror mounted inside the vehicle
    4. A sign, poster, or other material that obstructs the driver's view
    Show answer

    A sign, poster, or other material that obstructs the driver's view. Alabama prohibits a sign, poster, or other material on a vehicle window when it obstructs the driver's view. The focus is the obstruction, not a blanket ban on every item associated with a window. A properly placed inspection sticker is not described by this sentence as the prohibited conduct, and an interior rearview mirror serves the driver's view rather than obstructing it. A clear window has no obstructing material at all. Before driving, check that decorations, papers, and other additions do not block the sightline needed for safe observation.

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

13. 13. What colors identify warning signs in Alabama, except for signs used in construction areas?

    1. Black and yellow, while construction signs are black and orange
    2. White and red, while construction signs are blue and white
    3. Green and white, while construction signs are black and yellow
    4. Orange and blue, while construction signs are white and red
    Show answer

    Black and yellow, while construction signs are black and orange. Warning signs normally use a black symbol or message on a yellow background. Construction areas are the important color exception, using black and orange instead. A green and white sign generally guides drivers, while white and red combinations are associated with regulatory messages. Do not choose a color pairing simply because orange suggests danger. On a practice question, first decide whether the sign warns about an ordinary roadway hazard or a temporary work area, then apply the matching color scheme. That quick classification helps distinguish a construction warning from a standard curve, crossing, or lane warning.

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

14. 14. Your car is stuck on railroad tracks and a train is approaching. After you leave the car, which way should you walk?

    1. Away from the train, along the tracks
    2. Down the middle of the tracks
    3. Back toward the car to keep watch
    4. Alongside the tracks toward the approaching train
    Show answer

    Alongside the tracks toward the approaching train. If the car cannot be moved off the tracks and a train is coming, abandon it and walk quickly alongside the tracks in the direction of the approaching train. Walking that way keeps you from being struck by debris when the train hits the vehicle. Heading away from the train feels natural but leaves you in the path of that debris. Never walk on the tracks or stay near the car. Once everyone is safely away, call your local law enforcement agency for help.

    Study this in the handbook: Driving emergencies

15. 15. By how much do roundabouts reduce fatal crashes, according to statistics in the Alabama manual?

    1. About 10 percent
    2. About 90 percent, with injury crashes down about 75 percent and all crashes about 35 percent
    3. They increase fatal crashes
    4. About 50 percent
    Show answer

    About 90 percent, with injury crashes down about 75 percent and all crashes about 35 percent. Crash statistics show that roundabouts reduce fatal crashes about 90 percent, reduce injury crashes about 75 percent, and reduce overall crashes about 35 percent compared with other types of intersection control. Keeping traffic moving one way in a counterclockwise direction leaves fewer conflict points. Yield to traffic already in the circle and to pedestrians before entering, and avoid stopping inside the circle.

    Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts

16. 16. What does a steady circular yellow traffic signal require a driver to do?

    1. Clear the intersection and do not enter when the red signal comes on
    2. Enter quickly before the red signal
    3. Stop only if another vehicle is present
    4. Turn in any direction without yielding
    Show answer

    Clear the intersection and do not enter when the red signal comes on. A steady circular yellow means the driver should clear the intersection, and must not enter it when the red signal comes on. It is not an invitation to accelerate through the junction. The option “Enter quickly before the red signal” encourages a late entry, while the stop-only-if-busy option overlooks the signal change itself. If you are already lawfully in the intersection, proceed out safely. If you have not entered, prepare to stop when safe and obey the red indication that follows.

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

17. 17. When passing another vehicle on a two-lane road, how should you use your turn signals?

    1. Right signal before passing, left signal after
    2. No signal is needed if the road ahead is clear
    3. Left signal before passing, right signal before returning to the right lane
    4. Left signal only, left on until you are back in your lane
    Show answer

    Left signal before passing, right signal before returning to the right lane. A pass uses two signals. Turn on the left signal before you pull out, then use the right signal after you have passed and before you move back into the right lane. Each one tells nearby drivers what you are about to do. Do not return too soon; wait until you can see the entire front of the passed vehicle in your interior mirror. Leaving only the left signal on, or skipping signals because the road looks empty, keeps other drivers guessing.

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

18. 18. Once you are driving inside a roundabout, when may you stop?

    1. Whenever you are unsure which exit to take
    2. To let a waiting car enter from the next entry
    3. Only when it is the only way to avoid a crash or other danger
    4. At each entry point, the same as at a four-way stop
    Show answer

    Only when it is the only way to avoid a crash or other danger. Traffic in a roundabout keeps flowing in one direction, so the rule is to keep moving and stop only when stopping is the only way to avoid a crash or another danger. If you are unsure of your exit, keep going and take it on the next trip around instead of braking in the lane. Stopping to wave in a waiting car reverses the rule, because vehicles already in the roundabout have the right of way. A roundabout does not work like a four-way stop with a stop at every entry.

    Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts

19. 19. Which listed vehicles are covered by Alabama’s child restraint law?

    1. Passenger cars, school buses, motorcycles, and large commercial trucks
    2. Passenger cars, pickup trucks, small vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles
    3. Sport utility vehicles, golf carts, and off-road utility vehicles
    4. Only vehicles registered to a child’s parent
    Show answer

    Passenger cars, pickup trucks, small vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles. The manual names passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans with seating capacity of 10 or fewer, minivans, and sport utility vehicles as covered vehicle types. The rule is therefore a specific list of vehicle types, and school buses, motorcycles, tractors, and golf carts are not on it. Registration ownership is irrelevant to the vehicle list. The phrase small vans in the correct answer reflects the manual's qualifier that a covered van seats 10 or fewer people. When reviewing a vehicle, match both the type and, for a van, the seating capacity described by the manual.

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

20. 20. On a two-lane road posted at 25 mph or more, what must a driver do if moving away from a stopped emergency vehicle is unsafe?

    1. Stop directly beside the emergency vehicle
    2. Maintain the posted speed and sound the horn continuously
    3. Move as far away as possible within the lane and slow to 15 mph below the posted speed limit
    4. Slow only 5 mph below the posted speed limit
    Show answer

    Move as far away as possible within the lane and slow to 15 mph below the posted speed limit. When a lane change is unsafe or impossible on a two lane road, the driver must move as far from the emergency vehicle or wrecker as possible within the lane. If the posted speed is 25 mph or greater, the driver must also travel 15 mph below that posted limit. Maintaining the limit ignores the reduced speed requirement, while stopping beside the emergency vehicle creates another hazard. A five mph reduction is not enough. Look for the two linked actions: maximize lateral space within the lane and make the required speed reduction.

    Study this in the handbook: The Move Over Law