AK Permit Practice Test 2

All 20 questions in test 2

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. What do Alaska warning signs alert drivers to?

   1. Actual or potentially dangerous conditions ahead
   2. Only destinations and route distances
   3. A required vehicle registration renewal
   4. A parking fee that must be paid immediately
   Show answer

   Actual or potentially dangerous conditions ahead. A warning sign calls attention to a danger that may already exist or may develop farther along the roadway. It is not a route guide, payment notice, or registration reminder. The manual also advises extra caution and says most warning signs imply a speed reduction. When a yellow warning sign appears, read the condition it identifies, look farther ahead, and adjust speed and position before the hazard is close. The useful cue is warning equals changing road conditions, not a routine command or destination marker.

   Study this in the handbook: Road signs by color and shape

2. 2. How close must a train be for an Alaska driver to be prepared to stop at a crossbuck crossing?

   1. Within 100 feet
   2. Within one mile
   3. Only when the train is at the crossing
   4. Within 1,500 feet of the crossing
   Show answer

   Within 1,500 feet of the crossing. At a railroad crossbuck and warning sign, be prepared to stop if a train is within 1,500 feet of the crossing. The manual adds that you must stop even at an unmarked crossing, because trains cannot stop easily or within a short distance. If your vehicle is stuck on the tracks, get out, run away from the tracks and the vehicle in the direction the train is coming, and dial 911 once clear. The typically blue ENS sign lists a number answered by railroad dispatchers.

   Study this in the handbook: School buses, passing and railroad crossings

3. 3. What maximum backing speed does the Alaska manual suggest?

   1. The posted highway speed limit
   2. No more than 15 mph
   3. No more than 5 mph
   4. Any speed that keeps the mirrors clear
   Show answer

   No more than 5 mph. The manual suggests keeping backing speed at or below 5 mph. Slow movement gives the driver more time to look around the vehicle and stop for a person or vehicle entering the path. Fifteen mph and the roadway limit are far too fast for a maneuver with restricted visibility. Clear mirrors alone are not enough because mirrors do not show every area behind the vehicle. Turn the body and head to look through the rear window, move slowly, and keep scanning both sides before and during the maneuver.

4. 4. Why are good windshield wipers important during rainy nighttime driving?

   1. They make bald tires safe on wet pavement
   2. They allow a driver to ignore standing water
   3. They eliminate the need for headlights
   4. Streaking and skipping wipers are especially hazardous
   Show answer

   Streaking and skipping wipers are especially hazardous. The manual warns that windshield wipers which streak and skip are especially hazardous on a rainy night. Clear wiping helps preserve the driver's view, but it does not remove the need to manage speed, lights, traction, or tire condition. Wipers cannot make standing water harmless, replace headlights, or compensate for bald tires. A practical cue is to inspect blades and washer fluid before a trip when rain and darkness are likely.

   Study this in the handbook: Vehicle emergencies, skids and stalls on the tracks

5. 5. For what crashes must an Alaska driver submit a certificate of insurance to the DMV, and by when?

   1. Any crash with property damage of $1,000 or more, within 30 days
   2. Only crashes over $2,000, within 10 days
   3. Any crash with property damage of $501 or more, within 15 days
   4. Any crash with property damage of $251 or more, within 45 days
   Show answer

   Any crash with property damage of $501 or more, within 15 days. A certificate of insurance is required on all crashes with property damage of $501 or more and must be submitted to the DMV within 15 days, even if you submitted proof of insurance during the law enforcement investigation. Missing the deadline or being uninsured brings a 90 day suspension for a first occurrence and one year for a second, so file promptly after any crash.

   Study this in the handbook: What to do after a crash

6. 6. An Alaska 16-year-old has held a permit for 8 months and logged 40 hours, but got a traffic ticket conviction 3 months ago. Can the teen get a provisional license now?

   1. Yes, the 40 hours are complete
   2. No, the teen must wait until 18
   3. Yes, if a parent signs a waiver
   4. No, there must be no traffic law conviction within the six months before applying
   Show answer

   No, there must be no traffic law conviction within the six months before applying. To obtain a first provisional license under 18, the applicant must have held a valid permit for 6 months, have a parent, guardian, or employer certify at least 40 hours of driving (10 in challenging conditions), and must not have been convicted of a traffic law violation within the six months before applying. A conviction 3 months ago falls inside that window. No parental waiver removes it, and the teen does not have to wait until 18, only until six conviction free months pass.

   Study this in the handbook: Instruction permits and provisional licenses

7. 7. What must an Alaska provisional license holder show before graduating to a regular driver license?

   1. Only a birthday of 17
   2. A second road test
   3. At least six months on the provisional license with no traffic conviction or repeat minor consuming alcohol conviction in the prior six months
   4. Completion of a defensive driving course
   Show answer

   At least six months on the provisional license with no traffic conviction or repeat minor consuming alcohol conviction in the prior six months. Once you get a provisional license, you may not graduate to a driver license for at least six months, and you cannot have been convicted of a traffic law violation or of repeat minor consuming alcohol during the six months before applying. A new parental consent and a $15 fee are needed to remove the restriction. Turning 17 alone does nothing, and a second road test or defensive driving course is not required. At 18 the restrictions end on their own.

   Study this in the handbook: Instruction permits and provisional licenses

8. 8. An Alaska provisional license holder wants to drive two friends (not siblings) to the mall. When is that allowed?

   1. Only if one of the passengers is a parent, legal guardian, or a person at least 21
   2. Anytime before 1:00 am
   3. If both friends are 18 or older
   4. If the trip is under 10 miles
   Show answer

   Only if one of the passengers is a parent, legal guardian, or a person at least 21. During the provisional stage, the driver may not carry passengers unless one of the passengers is a parent, legal guardian, or a person at least 21 years old. Siblings are the exception and may ride without a parent. The time of day, the friends being 18, and trip distance do not create an exception. The separate hour restriction bars driving from 1:00 am to 5:00 am without a qualifying adult, except for work trips by the most direct route.

   Study this in the handbook: Instruction permits and provisional licenses

9. 9. An Alaska driver under 21 has three previous revocations for minor operating after consuming alcohol and is caught again. What is the administrative revocation?

   1. 30 days
   2. 60 days
   3. 90 days
   4. 1 year
   Show answer

   1 year. Alaska's administrative revocation periods for minor operating after consuming or refusing testing are 30 days for a first offense, 60 days with one previous revocation, 90 days with two previous revocations, and 1 year with three or more previous revocations. With three prior revocations, this driver faces 1 year. The revocation happens even if the criminal citation is dismissed or the minor is found not guilty.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, implied consent and under 21 rules

10. 10. What does the two-way road warning tell a driver to do?

    
    1. Use both lanes in either direction until the next town
    2. Keep right of approaching traffic on the two-way road
    3. Remain left because opposing traffic has a separate road
    4. Treat the roadway as one-way until a centerline appears
    Show answer

    Keep right of approaching traffic on the two-way road. The two-way warning marks a roadway where traffic approaches from opposite directions. Keeping right leaves space for oncoming vehicles and follows the manual’s instruction for this condition. Using both lanes in either direction would invite a head-on conflict. Staying left because opposing traffic is elsewhere reverses the needed position, while assuming one-way travel ignores the warning. Look for the centerline and maintain a lane that clearly separates your vehicle from approaching traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by color and shape

11. 11. What traffic pattern does a ONE WAY sign identify?

    
    1. The lane shown is reserved for buses during rush hour
    2. Traffic may use either direction until the next signal
    3. Travel only as indicated on the posted street
    4. Vehicles must turn around before reaching the posted street
    Show answer

    Travel only as indicated on the posted street. A ONE WAY sign tells drivers that travel on the posted street follows the indicated direction. It does not permit opposing movement, create a bus-only lane, or require an immediate turnaround. A driver entering such a street must align with the displayed direction and remain alert for the roadway’s lane arrangement. Choosing the two-direction option would create a head-on conflict with traffic using the designated flow. Read the arrow before moving into the street.

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by color and shape

12. 12. At an uncontrolled intersection, two vehicles approach with a danger of collision. Which driver must yield?

    
    1. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
    2. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
    3. The driver going faster yields to the slower driver
    4. Both drivers continue because neither has a stop sign
    Show answer

    The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. When two vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection at a position and time that creates a danger of collision, Alaska puts the duty to yield on the driver of the vehicle on the left. The driver on the right still slows and keeps the vehicle under control, because the manual says you have the right of way only when the other driver gives it to you. A useful check is to picture the other vehicle: if it is on your right, you are the one who yields. A vehicle already within the intersection must also be allowed to clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Intersections, right of way and roundabouts

13. 13. You are driving in a lane below or facing this sign. What must you do?

    
    1. Make a left turn from that lane
    2. Go straight or turn left from that lane
    3. Turn left only on a green arrow signal
    4. Yield to drivers turning left from that lane
    Show answer

    Make a left turn from that lane. The Alaska sign chart says to make a left turn when you are in a lane below or facing this sign. It is a black on white regulatory sign, so the instruction must be understood and obeyed, and going straight from that lane is not allowed. The sign says nothing about waiting for a green arrow. As with any left turn, signal for at least the last 100 feet and yield to oncoming traffic before you turn. The sign is a command to the drivers in that lane, not a warning to yield to someone else.

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by color and shape

14. 14. 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.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and lane control signals

15. 15. What does this orange sign tell drivers who reach it?

    
    1. All traffic detours to the right at the sign
    2. Only trucks detour to the right at the sign
    3. The right lane ends a short way past the sign
    4. A rest area opens on the right past the sign
    Show answer

    All traffic detours to the right at the sign. In the Alaska sign chart, this orange sign means all traffic detours to the right in front of the sign. Orange marks construction and maintenance signs, which show work in the road and temporary conditions, so adjust your speed and prepare for special conditions. The detour applies to every vehicle, not just trucks; the chart has a separate regulatory sign telling trucks to use the right lane. A lane ending has its own warning sign telling you to merge, and rest areas appear on white on blue service signs.

16. 16. On an Alaska two-lane road outside an urban area, when must a driver safely pull over for vehicles behind?

    1. When two vehicles are visible in the rearview mirror
    2. Whenever one vehicle follows for more than one mile
    3. Only when a police vehicle is among the following traffic
    4. When five or more vehicles are immediately behind
    Show answer

    When five or more vehicles are immediately behind. On a two-lane roadway outside an urban area, Alaska requires a driver to safely pull over when five or more vehicles are immediately behind. One vehicle, two visible vehicles, or a police presence does not establish the stated trigger. Pulling over must also be safe, so the driver should select a suitable place rather than stopping abruptly on the travel lane. Watch the traffic accumulating behind, communicate the maneuver, and let the line pass before reentering with adequate space.

    Study this in the handbook: School buses, passing and railroad crossings

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

    1. During the last 10 feet traveled before turning
    2. During the last 100 feet traveled before turning
    3. At least one mile before every turn
    4. Starting when 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.

    Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and pavement markings

18. 18. You are on a highway with separated roadways and two or more lanes in each direction. A school bus headed the opposite way is stopped with red lights flashing and its stop arm out. What must you do?

    1. Stop and wait until the stop arm is pulled back
    2. Stop only if you can see children near the bus
    3. You are not required to stop for that bus
    4. Slow to 15 mph and pass in the far right lane
    Show answer

    You are not required to stop for that bus. Alaska makes one exception to stopping for a school bus. On a highway with separated roadways and two or more lanes in each direction, a driver approaching a bus headed the opposite way need not stop, even with the bus stopped, red lights flashing, and stop arm extended. Many drivers would stop and wait anyway, but that is the rule for traffic behind the bus or on an undivided road. Whether children are visible is not the test, and the manual sets no special passing speed. Drivers behind the bus, or on an undivided road, must stop.

    Study this in the handbook: School buses, passing and railroad crossings

19. 19. Which motorcycles and scooters may be operated with an Alaska Class D license?

    1. Any motorcycle
    2. Those with engine displacements of less than 50cc
    3. None, all require Class M
    4. Only three wheeled motorcycles
    Show answer

    Those with engine displacements of less than 50cc. Motorcycles and motor scooters with engine displacements of less than 50cc can be operated with a Class D license. Class M1 covers motorcycles and scooters of 50cc or more, a 14 or 15 year old may hold an M2 license for scooters under 50cc, and Class M3 covers three wheeled motorcycles and motor driven cycles. The engine size decides which license the rider needs.

    Study this in the handbook: Vision, insurance and the point system

20. 20. What does the Alaska manual advise a driver who is taking prescription medicine to do?

    1. Take an extra dose before driving
    2. Ask a doctor about driving related side effects
    3. Mix it with alcohol to test its effect
    4. Stop all prescribed medicine permanently
    Show answer

    Ask a doctor about driving related side effects. The manual directs a person taking prescription medicine to ask a doctor about possible side effects related to driving. It does not recommend changing the dose, combining medicine with alcohol, or abandoning treatment without medical advice. Some nonprescription allergy and cold remedies can also affect driving, so the same caution applies beyond prescriptions. The practical cue is to check with a doctor before driving when a medicine may cause drowsiness or reduced alertness. Medication safety is part of impaired driving prevention even when the drug was legally obtained.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, implied consent and under 21 rules