AK Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the Alaska 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. On a four-lane road, how should you pass a stationary emergency vehicle with overhead flashing lights when safe?

   
   1. Stop directly behind it in the travel lane
   2. Stay beside it in the nearest lane
   3. Pull into the lane opposite the emergency vehicle
   4. Use the shoulder at full speed
   Show answer

   Pull into the lane opposite the emergency vehicle. When a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck has overhead flashing lights on a four-lane road, drivers must pull into the lane opposite it if that move is safe. If it is not safe, or if the road has only two lanes, slow to a reasonable and prudent speed while passing. Staying beside the vehicle leaves workers exposed, while a shoulder sprint creates another hazard. Scan early and choose the protective option available.

2. 2. Which vehicles are exempt from Alaska's seat belt law because of their age?

   1. Vehicles built before 1965 without belts as original equipment that are not custom collector vehicles
   2. Pickup trucks of any year
   3. Any vehicle over 20 years old
   4. No vehicles are exempt
   Show answer

   Vehicles built before 1965 without belts as original equipment that are not custom collector vehicles. Alaska law requires everyone in a motor vehicle to use a safety belt, with exceptions including vehicles built prior to 1965 that did not have safety belts as original equipment and are not classified as custom collector vehicles. Belts made after 1974 use an inertia reel that locks when the car slows suddenly. A driver may be fined up to $50 and get two points for unrestrained passengers under 16.

3. 3. How much does a copy of an Alaska driving record cost?

   1. Free
   2. $50
   3. $10
   4. $2
   Show answer

   $10. For a fee of $10 a driving record may be provided to the driver or to a person the driver designates. The record shows points, convictions and any suspensions, which matters because points accumulate toward suspension and insurers review the record. Requests are made at a DMV office or through the DMV website, and employers often ask for one before hiring a driver.

4. 4. What must a driver do before suddenly stopping or decreasing speed?

   1. Turn off all vehicle lights
   2. Signal the intention for the benefit of other drivers
   3. Move into the left lane without checking
   4. Accelerate until the road is clear
   Show answer

   Signal the intention for the benefit of other drivers. A driver should signal an intention before suddenly stopping or reducing speed so other drivers have warning of the change. Turning off lights gives following traffic less information, and moving left without checking adds a lane conflict. Acceleration does not address the risk created by an unexpected slowdown. The practical cue is to communicate before changing speed, scan mirrors for approaching traffic, and brake smoothly whenever conditions allow. Signaling does not replace checking the road, but it gives nearby drivers time to react to the vehicle’s next movement.

5. 5. What should this pedestrian warning sign prompt a driver to do?

   
   1. Use extra caution and be prepared to stop for pedestrians
   2. Sound the horn so pedestrians leave the crossing
   3. Pass a stopped vehicle near the crosswalk on either side
   4. Speed up before pedestrians can reach the roadway
   Show answer

   Use extra caution and be prepared to stop for pedestrians. A pedestrian warning sign alerts the driver to a condition that may require extra attention and a speed adjustment. The manual says warning signs call for extra caution and that most imply decreasing speed. Sounding the horn, passing a stopped vehicle, or accelerating can hide or endanger a person in the crossing area. Scan the roadway and shoulder, cover the brake, and be ready to stop if someone enters the path. The sign is advance notice, so prepare before reaching the place where pedestrians may appear.

6. 6. What condition does the skidding-car warning identify?

   
   1. A bridge that is closed to passenger vehicles
   2. A designated area where drivers may practice racing
   3. A gravel surface that requires tire chains at all times
   4. A slippery roadway after rain, frost, or similar conditions
   Show answer

   A slippery roadway after rain, frost, or similar conditions. The skidding-car symbol warns that the roadway can become slippery after rain, frost, or related weather. Reduce speed and use smooth steering, braking, and acceleration because available traction may be lower than the pavement appearance suggests. It does not identify a racing area, automatically require chains on gravel, or indicate a closed bridge. Fresh precipitation can make the surface especially deceptive. Increase following space and avoid sudden control inputs near the warning.

7. 7. At a STOP sign, which action is required before entering the intersection?

   
   1. Stop only after a pedestrian enters the crosswalk
   2. Reduce speed and continue if no vehicle is approaching
   3. Make a complete stop before the intersection or at the stop line, then yield
   4. Stop beyond the crosswalk so the front wheels can see cross traffic
   Show answer

   Make a complete stop before the intersection or at the stop line, then yield. A STOP sign requires the vehicle to become fully stationary before the intersection or at the stop line. The driver must stop behind the crosswalk, check both directions for vehicles and pedestrians, and yield the right-of-way. Merely slowing is inadequate, even on an empty street. Stopping past the crosswalk can put the vehicle into the pedestrian path and reduce the view of traffic. Use the stop line as the first stopping point, then proceed only after the intersection is clear.

8. 8. Under Alaska's ignition interlock chart, how long must a driver with a second DUI or Refusal conviction keep the device installed?

   1. 6 months
   2. 12 months
   3. 18 months
   4. 30 months
   Show answer

   12 months. Alaska's interlock chart sets 6 months for one DUI or Refusal conviction, 12 months for two, 18 months for three, 24 months for four, and 30 months for five. A second conviction therefore requires 12 months. Six months is the single conviction period, and 18 and 30 months belong to later convictions. The device is required on any vehicle the person operates, and the driver pays for installation and maintenance and must show proof of installation and SR22 financial responsibility when reinstating.

9. 9. An Alaska driver receives a DMV revocation notice after a DUI arrest. How long does the driver have to request an administrative hearing?

   1. Seven days from the Date Issued on the notice
   2. 24 hours
   3. 30 days
   4. 90 days
   Show answer

   Seven days from the Date Issued on the notice. The request for an administrative hearing must be made in writing within seven days of the Date Issued on the notice, unless the driver qualifies for a late hearing due to physical incapacity. A timely request by a driver with a valid license brings a temporary license good until the hearing date, unless the court has revoked the license. Twenty-four hours, 30 days, and 90 days are not the deadline.

10. 10. At an uncontrolled intersection, what right-of-way protection does Alaska give a non-motorized user?

    1. The rule applies only inside a marked bicycle lane
    2. The user must always wait for every vehicle
    3. The user has priority only after waving to drivers
    4. The user has right-of-way over motorized vehicles
    Show answer

    The user has right-of-way over motorized vehicles. At an uncontrolled intersection, Alaska gives a non-motorized user the right-of-way through the crossing over motorized vehicles. A person walking or bicycling does not need to wave, stand in a special lane, or surrender priority to every approaching car. Drivers must slow, watch the crossing, and yield rather than treating the absence of traffic signals as permission to continue. The important cue is the word uncontrolled: the protection still applies where signs and lights do not direct the movement.

11. 11. When may a driver turn right on red in Alaska?

    
    1. Without stopping if no vehicle is nearby
    2. After a full stop, when safe, unless a sign prohibits the turn
    3. Only after waiting for the next green arrow
    4. At any time while pedestrians are crossing
    Show answer

    After a full stop, when safe, unless a sign prohibits the turn. A right turn on red is permitted only after a full stop, when the turn can be made safely, and when no No Turn on Red sign restricts it. The absence of nearby vehicles does not remove the stop requirement. A green arrow is not required for every right turn, but pedestrians and other road users still must be considered before moving. Treat the red signal as a stop first, then check the sign, crosswalk, and conflicting traffic before turning.

12. 12. What information do Alaska guide signs provide?

    1. Only emergency telephone numbers
    2. Mandatory stop instructions and penalties
    3. Warnings about all dangerous conditions ahead
    4. Destination, route guidance, and place names
    Show answer

    Destination, route guidance, and place names. Guide signs provide destination information, route guidance, and place names. The choice describing mandatory stops belongs to regulatory signs, while warnings about dangerous conditions belong to warning signs. Guide signs help drivers plan their path and judge where an exit or turn leads, so the manual advises paying special attention to mileage information. A green and white guide sign is a planning cue: read it early, confirm the route before changing lanes, and avoid sudden movements caused by waiting until the last moment.

13. 13. What is the fee for an original Alaska instruction permit, and for removing a provisional restriction?

    1. $15 for each
    2. $50 and $25
    3. $100 and $10
    4. Free for both
    Show answer

    $15 for each. The fee for an original instruction permit is $15, and to remove a provisional restriction a new parental consent must be provided and a new license issued for a fee of $15. A driver 18 or older may obtain a license without provisional restrictions and without parental consent for the same $15 fee. The driving test through the DMV also costs $15.

14. 14. How far before a turn must a driver continuously signal the intention to turn or move?

    1. Only during the final 10 feet
    2. During the last 100 feet traveled before turning
    3. At least one mile before every turn
    4. Only after the vehicle begins turning
    Show answer

    During the last 100 feet traveled before turning. Alaska requires a hand and arm or directional signal continuously during the last 100 feet traveled before turning or moving the vehicle right or left. The final 10 feet choice gives following traffic too little notice, while signaling only after movement begins is late. A greater distance may be sensible when traffic or speed makes earlier notice safer. Use the 100-foot mark as a minimum cue, keep the signal active through the approach, and cancel it after the maneuver so other drivers are not misled about your next movement.

15. 15. What minimum following interval does Alaska regulation require?

    1. At least six seconds
    2. One car length per 10 mph
    3. At least the two second rule, though the manual recommends four seconds
    4. There is no minimum
    Show answer

    At least the two second rule, though the manual recommends four seconds. While the manual's chart recommends the four second rule, regulation 13 AAC 02.090 requires at a minimum the two second rule. Pick a fixed object, and if you pass it before finishing the count you are too close. Add time for rain, ice, darkness, and when following large vehicles or motorcycles. Speed multiplies the distance needed to stop, so the count matters more on highways.

16. 16. What can unsafe driving around an emergency vehicle cause?

    1. A waiver of all traffic rules near the scene
    2. A longer green signal at the next intersection
    3. Permission to follow the emergency vehicle closely
    4. A crash, personal injury, and citations
    Show answer

    A crash, personal injury, and citations. The manual warns that failure to vacate the lane or unsafe driving around emergency vehicles can lead to a crash, personal injury, and citations. This warning applies even when a driver is trying to get past the scene quickly. A traffic signal does not change the risk, and drivers never gain permission to follow closely or ignore other rules. Slow down, create space, and obey directions from the emergency response area. The practical cue is to treat the scene as a protected work zone and avoid abrupt movements.

17. 17. What minimum following interval does Alaska law require, while the manual recommends a longer interval for ordinary driving?

    1. Six seconds only when traffic is light
    2. Exactly four seconds in every condition
    3. One second behind a passenger vehicle
    4. At least two seconds
    Show answer

    At least two seconds. Alaska's rule sets a floor of at least two seconds, but the manual presents four seconds as an easier everyday method for judging space behind another vehicle. Wet or slippery pavement and trailer towing call for six seconds or more. The four-second method is not a license to follow closely when conditions worsen. A driver should count from the moment the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point and increase the interval whenever stopping or visibility becomes harder.

18. 18. Which passenger is specifically allowed without a parent in an Alaska provisional license holder's vehicle?

    1. A sibling
    2. Any classmate under 21
    3. A friend from work under 21
    4. No passenger under 21 in any circumstance
    Show answer

    A sibling. During the provisional period, a sibling may ride without a parent in the vehicle. The rule otherwise limits passengers unless a parent, legal guardian, or qualifying adult at least 21 is present. The classmate and coworker choices invent relationship exceptions that the manual does not list. The absolute prohibition is also too broad because siblings are expressly identified as an exception. A useful test cue is to distinguish the sibling exception from the separate requirement about a supervising adult, since those provisions address different passenger situations.

19. 19. What do construction and maintenance signs indicate?

    1. Permanent destinations and route guidance
    2. Work in the road and temporary conditions requiring special alertness
    3. A nearby fuel station or lodging service
    4. A rule that applies only to pedestrians
    Show answer

    Work in the road and temporary conditions requiring special alertness. Construction and maintenance signs identify road work or temporary conditions that can change the normal driving path. The manual tells drivers to adjust speed and prepare for special conditions, so the orange work-zone message calls for active attention rather than ordinary cruising. Green guide signs serve destinations, blue service signs identify conveniences, and pedestrian-only rules are a different category. Scan beyond the sign for cones, panels, flaggers, narrowed lanes, or workers and make the adjustment before entering the work area.

20. 20. What should an Alaska driver do when an animal is walking on or along the highway?

    1. Swerve toward the animal to make it leave
    2. Honk continuously and maintain speed
    3. Exercise care, slow when circumstances require, and be able to stop
    4. Assume the animal will yield because it is off the pavement
    Show answer

    Exercise care, slow when circumstances require, and be able to stop. Alaska requires drivers to exercise care around animals, slow when circumstances require, and remain able to stop if necessary. An animal or its handler may move unpredictably, so maintaining speed or swerving toward it can create a collision. Reduce speed early, scan both the roadway and shoulder, and leave room for movement before passing. The important cue is the possibility that the animal may enter the vehicle's path, not whether its feet are currently on the pavement. A controlled stop is safer than a sudden swerve.