AL Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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. Except when backing into a parking place, how does the Alabama manual characterize backing on a public street or road?

   1. It is preferred whenever a turn is inconvenient
   2. It is never advisable
   3. It is required before entering any driveway
   4. It is allowed only during daylight
   Show answer

   It is never advisable. The manual describes backing on a public street or road as never advisable, except for backing into a parking place. That is a safety judgment broader than a time-of-day restriction, so daylight does not make the maneuver acceptable. The manual does not prefer reverse movement for convenience and does not require it before every driveway entry. If backing out of a driveway is necessary, back into the nearest lane and proceed from there, never across other traffic lanes. Think of minimizing reverse travel and checking all around the vehicle before moving.

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

2. 2. What fee does the Alabama manual list for each knowledge test?

   1. $5.00, with no checks accepted
   2. $10.00, payable only by check
   3. $15.00, waived for learner applicants
   4. No fee is listed for a knowledge test
   Show answer

   $5.00, with no checks accepted. The knowledge-test section lists a fee of $5.00 for each test and adds that checks are not accepted. The $10 and $15 amounts do not appear in this statement, and the manual does not describe the test as free for learner applicants. The wording each knowledge test matters because it ties the fee to every test attempt or category rather than presenting one general licensing charge. When preparing from this page, remember both pieces together: five dollars per knowledge test and no checks accepted.

   Study this in the handbook: Who needs a license, and the knowledge and road tests

3. 3. Your car breaks down at night and you have flares. How far behind your vehicle should you place them?

   1. 20 to 50 feet
   2. 600 to 1,000 feet
   3. 100 to 500 feet
   4. 50 to 100 feet
   Show answer

   100 to 500 feet. For a night breakdown, place flares or reflectors from 100 to 500 feet to the rear of your vehicle on the right hand edge of the highway to warn other traffic. Placing them only 20 to 100 feet back gives approaching drivers too little warning, while 600 feet or more goes beyond the stated range. Pull well off the highway or onto the shoulder, turn on your four way flashers, and raise the hood. Stay with the car if possible until help comes, and if you must walk, carry a light and walk facing traffic.

4. 4. What happens when a driver under arrest for DUI refuses a directed chemical breath test in Alabama?

   1. The license is renewed automatically
   2. The vehicle registration is canceled
   3. The driver receives only a parking citation
   4. The driver license is suspended
   Show answer

   The driver license is suspended. A driver under arrest for Driving Under the Influence who refuses to submit to chemical breath tests when directed by an officer will have the driver license suspended. The rule concerns the license, not cancellation of vehicle registration or a routine parking citation. Automatic renewal is the opposite of the stated consequence. The same implied consent passage explains that anyone who drives on Alabama public highways has already given consent to a chemical test of blood, breath, or urine for blood alcohol content.

   Study this in the handbook: DUI penalties and implied consent

5. 5. How should an Alabama driver handle hydroplaning?

   1. Press the accelerator to regain traction
   2. Take the foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down
   3. Turn sharply toward the nearest lane
   4. Apply the parking brake immediately
   Show answer

   Take the foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down. When hydroplaning begins, the manual recommends taking your foot off the accelerator and allowing the car to slow down. Pressing the accelerator can maintain the speed that lifted the tires onto water, while a sharp turn or parking-brake application can create an unpredictable skid. Keep steering controlled and avoid abrupt inputs until tire contact returns. Good tread helps prevent complete hydroplaning, but it cannot make excessive speed safe when water is deep or rain is severe.

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

6. 6. How long is Alabama's grace period after a driver license expires?

   1. 60 days, during which the license remains valid for renewal
   2. One year
   3. There is no grace period
   4. 10 days
   Show answer

   60 days, during which the license remains valid for renewal. Alabama law provides a grace period of 60 days after the expiration date of a driver license for the purpose of renewal, and the license remains valid during that period. Renewal can also be done up to 180 days before expiration. A license may be renewed without examination within a three year period after expiration; beyond that, testing is required.

   Study this in the handbook: Renewal, address changes and license classes

7. 7. At a crosswalk with no traffic signals, when must a driver stop?

   1. When the pedestrian has made eye contact with the driver
   2. Whenever pedestrians are in the crosswalk
   3. When the pedestrian began crossing from the driver's side
   4. Only at crosswalks located at intersections
   Show answer

   Whenever pedestrians are in the crosswalk. Where no signals control a crosswalk, you must stop whenever pedestrians are in it. The rule covers all crosswalks, and white crosswalk lines are used at intersections and, in some places, between intersections, so a mid-block crosswalk counts too. It does not matter which side the person started from, and no eye contact or crossing guard is needed to make the stop required. Look for the white lines early so you have room to stop smoothly.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings

8. 8. An Alabama driver accumulates 12 to 14 points in a 2-year period. How long is the suspension?

   1. 90 days
   2. 120 days
   3. 60 days
   4. 365 days
   Show answer

   60 days. Alabama's point suspension schedule starts at 12 to 14 points in a 2-year period, which brings a 60 day suspension. It then climbs to 90 days for 15 to 17 points, 120 days for 18 to 20, 180 days for 21 to 23, and 365 days for 24 or more. So 90, 120 and 365 days belong to higher point totals. The driver may request a pre-suspension or administrative hearing.

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

9. 9. While operating a motor vehicle in Alabama, what must a driver be prepared to do when a law enforcement officer asks?

   1. Show the license only after a violation is proven
   2. Mail a copy of the license to the officer later
   3. Present a library card instead of a license
   4. Present the driver license or learner permit in possession
   Show answer

   Present the driver license or learner permit in possession. Alabama requires a driver to have an appropriate driver license, or a learner permit, in his or her possession while operating a motor vehicle and to be prepared to present it to any law enforcement officer on request. The duty applies during the stop itself, not after a case is decided or by mail afterward. A library card or other card is not a substitute for a license. Carrying the license every time you drive lets you meet this requirement quickly, and the same rule applies to learner permit holders.

   Study this in the handbook: Renewal, address changes and license classes

10. 10. According to the Alabama manual, what is a driver's No. 1 responsibility when using a cellular phone while driving?

    1. Driving
    2. Finding the fastest route
    3. Keeping the phone conversation going
    4. Reading every incoming message
    Show answer

    Driving. The manual places driving first when a person uses a cellular phone. The other choices make the device or conversation the priority, which can divert attention from traffic, pedestrians, and changing road conditions. If a call is necessary, assess conditions first, use hands-free equipment when possible, and place the call while stopped or have a passenger handle it. Pull off the road to dial or finish a conversation. The practical cue is to treat phone use as secondary to vehicle control, not as a task that can compete with watching the roadway.

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

11. 11. 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 is required by law within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 200 feet when following another vehicle. The equipment rules also require the high beam to illuminate objects at a minimum of 350 feet.

    Study this in the handbook: Night and winter driving

12. 12. A pedestrian crosses the street in the middle of a block, away from any crosswalk. Who must yield?

    1. The driver, because any crossing point counts as a crosswalk
    2. The driver, but only if the pedestrian raises a hand
    3. The pedestrian must yield to all vehicles
    4. Neither, because whoever reaches the spot first goes first
    Show answer

    The pedestrian must yield to all vehicles. When people on foot cross somewhere other than a crosswalk, Alabama puts the duty on them: they must yield to all vehicles. That does not let a driver ignore someone already in the road. Injuries could be greatly reduced if motorists were more observant, especially on streets with parked vehicles, near bus stops, and where children walk to school or play. A raised hand does not change who must yield, and there is no first arrival rule for pedestrians. Stay ready to stop even when the walker is the one who should wait.

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

13. 13. What is the usual purpose of an Alabama warning sign?

    1. To mark a parking area
    2. To identify a public recreational or cultural destination
    3. To warn of a hazardous condition ahead requiring extra caution
    4. To give directions to a hospital or fuel station
    Show answer

    To warn of a hazardous condition ahead requiring extra caution. Yellow diamond-shaped signs are generally warning signs. They alert drivers to hazardous conditions ahead and call for extra caution, while fluorescent yellow is used for pedestrian crossings and school zones. Green, blue, and brown sign colors serve informational, service, or recreational guidance purposes instead. Slow your pace when a yellow diamond appears, look for the condition it identifies, and be ready to adjust before reaching the hazard. Shape and color together provide the early warning.

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

14. 14. Which group lists the three types of traffic signs by their function?

    1. Stop, yield, and speed-limit signs
    2. Construction, school, and railroad signs
    3. Interstate, county, and recreational signs
    4. Regulatory, warning, and information or guide signs
    Show answer

    Regulatory, warning, and information or guide signs. Alabama groups traffic signs by function into regulatory, warning, and information or guide signs. The construction, school, and railroad choices name particular subjects or locations, not the full functional classification. Interstate, county, and recreational labels describe route or destination markers, while stop, yield, and speed-limit signs are examples within the regulatory group. A useful study cue is to ask what job the sign performs: it may control traffic, warn about a hazard, or inform and direct motorists. That cue helps separate the three broad families from individual signs shown in the manual.

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

15. 15. What must you do at this sign?

    
    1. Slow down; proceed if clear
    2. Turn around before reaching the intersection
    3. Stop only if other cars are present
    4. Come to a COMPLETE stop at the line, yield, then go
    Show answer

    Come to a COMPLETE stop at the line, yield, then go. A STOP sign requires a complete stop before entering the intersection. Alabama's stopping rule places the stop at the marked stop line; if none exists, stop before the near crosswalk, or before entering the crossing street where the driver has a clear view. Slowing and proceeding without stopping misses the sign's command, and waiting for another car is unnecessary. After stopping, proceed cautiously and yield as needed. Use the line or crosswalk as the visual cue, then check for traffic before moving.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

16. 16. On a roadway with a posted minimum speed limit, when is driving below that minimum unlawful?

    1. Under normal weather, road, and traffic conditions
    2. When a police officer is following your vehicle
    3. At all times, even in heavy rain or dense fog
    4. When you are carrying a heavy load or many passengers
    Show answer

    Under normal weather, road, and traffic conditions. Minimum speed limits may be set on some roadways, and where they are posted, any speed below that minimum is considered unlawful under normal weather, road, and traffic conditions. When conditions are poor, the basic speed law still calls for a speed that is reasonable, so a minimum does not push you to drive fast in heavy rain or fog. The rule is not tied to a police officer behind you or to a heavy load. You must never drive so slowly that you interfere with vehicles moving at normal safe speeds, since drivers who block or hinder traffic by going too slow cause many accidents.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

17. 17. What does a solid yellow line on your side of the centerline indicate?

    
    1. Passing is required before the next intersection
    2. Passing is permitted only at night
    3. Only trucks may cross the line
    4. You may not pass
    Show answer

    You may not pass. A solid yellow line on your side of the centerline means you may not pass. The manual explains that two-lane highways are marked with solid yellow center stripes in areas where passing would be hazardous, so crossing it to overtake would ignore the intended protection. By contrast, broken lines mark areas with no passing restriction when it is safe to pass. Time of day does not change the restriction, and vehicle type does not create an exception for trucks. Read the line nearest your lane before considering any passing maneuver.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings

18. 18. What traffic pattern is indicated by a MERGE sign?

    
    1. The roadway ends and every vehicle must turn around
    2. Opposing traffic will begin using the driver's lane
    3. The driver will join other traffic traveling in the same direction
    4. A divided highway is changing into a railroad crossing
    Show answer

    The driver will join other traffic traveling in the same direction. A merge warning means traffic will join the driver’s flow in the same direction. Drivers entering from the right must yield to traffic on the main route, while the speed-change lane helps everyone blend smoothly. This is not an opposing-lane warning or a dead-end instruction. Check mirrors, maintain space, and adjust speed predictably so entering vehicles can merge without abrupt braking.

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

19. 19. If the accelerator pedal sticks, what should you try first?

    1. Press the pedal harder until it releases
    2. Hook your toe under the pedal and try to raise it
    3. Shift into reverse while moving forward
    4. Turn sharply toward the nearest curb
    Show answer

    Hook your toe under the pedal and try to raise it. A stuck accelerator requires a controlled attempt to free the pedal before choosing a more serious response. The manual advises hooking your toe under the pedal and attempting to raise it. Pressing harder could keep the vehicle accelerating, while shifting into reverse or steering abruptly could create a separate loss of control. If the pedal will not come free, the engine can be turned off to slow the vehicle, though power steering and power brakes will then be lost. Keep the vehicle pointed safely while reducing speed.

    Study this in the handbook: Driving emergencies

20. 20. A steady GREEN ARROW over a lane means you may:

    1. Park temporarily in the lane beneath the arrow
    2. Drive in the lane beneath the arrow while obeying other controls
    3. Ignore all other traffic controls in that lane
    4. Enter the lane after the arrow changes to yellow
    Show answer

    Drive in the lane beneath the arrow while obeying other controls. A steady green arrow over an individual lane permits travel in that lane, but it does not cancel ordinary traffic rules. You still need to obey signs, signals, and safe driving practices that apply at the same time. The choice claiming every other control can be ignored goes too far, because the manual expressly keeps those controls in force. Match the arrow with the lane directly below it, then scan for a speed limit, merge instruction, or other restriction before proceeding.

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