AK Permit Practice Test 3

All 20 questions in test 3

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 regulatory signs tell a driver?

   1. An instruction that must be understood and obeyed
   2. Only the distance to the next town
   3. A possible wildlife hazard ahead
   4. The color of the pavement surface
   Show answer

   An instruction that must be understood and obeyed. Regulatory signs communicate an instruction backed by statute, regulation, or local ordinance, so the driver must understand and obey it. A destination or mileage clue belongs to guide signs, while a possible hazard is the role of a warning sign. Pavement color is not the function described in the manual. Because violating a regulatory instruction can result in a traffic citation, treat these signs as commands or restrictions rather than general travel information. The sign's wording and color pattern should prompt compliance with the stated rule.

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

2. 2. A 19-year-old in Alaska uses a fake driver's license to buy alcohol for the first time. What can DMV do?

   1. Revoke the driving privilege for 60 days
   2. Nothing, it is only a store matter
   3. Revoke for 5 years
   4. Issue a warning letter
   Show answer

   Revoke the driving privilege for 60 days. Alaska law allows DMV to revoke the driving privilege of a person who uses a false or fraudulent driver's license to obtain alcohol. The revocation is 60 days for a first offense and 1 year for later offenses. It is not merely a store matter or a warning, and 5 years is the administrative DUI period with three or more priors. Minors using a false license to get alcohol is listed among mandatory administrative revocations.

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

3. 3. Who may park in a space marked with this sign?

   
   1. A vehicle stopping for 15 minutes or less
   2. A vehicle with its hazard lights flashing
   3. A vehicle carrying an older passenger
   4. A vehicle with disability plates or a placard
   Show answer

   A vehicle with disability plates or a placard. The Alaska sign chart says this space is reserved for persons with disability plates or a placard. Without one of those, the space is not available to you, no matter how short the stop. Flashing hazard lights do not create permission to park there, and having an older passenger does not qualify a vehicle either, because the reservation is tied to the plates or placard. When you see this sign at a parking space and your vehicle does not display the plates or placard, choose another space.

4. 4. 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.

   Study this in the handbook: Safety belts and child seats

5. 5. The posted limit on this road is 50 mph. When does driving well below it break Alaska law?

   
   1. Whenever you drive more than 10 mph under the posted limit
   2. Never, because the posted number is only a maximum
   3. Only when a separate minimum speed sign is posted
   4. When your slow speed holds back or blocks the normal flow of traffic
   Show answer

   When your slow speed holds back or blocks the normal flow of traffic. A posted limit is a maximum, but Alaska also has a slow speed rule: a driver may not go so slowly that it holds back or blocks the normal and reasonable flow of traffic. The never choice is tempting because the limit is a maximum, yet driving far too slowly is its own violation. No fixed number such as 10 mph under is given. Slower speeds are still expected when traffic, surface, width, or weather conditions are poor. On some two-lane roads, a slow driver with five or more vehicles behind must pull over.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed laws and impact

6. 6. Before passing another vehicle on an Alaska two-lane road, what should the driver check ahead?

   1. A hill crest that hides approaching traffic
   2. Only the rearview mirror, because the opposing lane is presumed clear
   3. A solid yellow line already in the passing vehicle's lane
   4. A clear path with no no-passing zone or oncoming vehicle
   Show answer

   A clear path with no no-passing zone or oncoming vehicle. Safe passing begins with a view far enough ahead to confirm there is no no-passing zone and no oncoming vehicle. Looking only behind misses the primary conflict, while a solid yellow line or a blind hill crest signals that the maneuver should not begin. The driver must also complete the pass without interfering with approaching traffic. Stay back for sight distance, inspect the centerline and opposing lane, and abandon the attempt whenever the view cannot support a complete return to the right lane.

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

7. 7. How should a driver approach an Alaska flashing red ball?

   1. Stop before the crosswalk or line, look in all directions, then proceed when safe
   2. Slow down and continue without stopping if the crosswalk is empty
   3. Wait for a green ball before moving in any direction
   4. Stop after entering the intersection so the signal is visible
   Show answer

   Stop before the crosswalk or line, look in all directions, then proceed when safe. A flashing red ball requires a stop behind the crosswalk, stop line, or, if neither exists, before entering the intersection. After stopping, the driver looks in all directions for approaching traffic and pedestrians and proceeds only when it is safe. Treating it like a flashing yellow allows movement without the required stop, while waiting for a green ball describes a different signal operation. Stop at the proper reference point, scan the full intersection, and then continue only after the path is clear.

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

8. 8. When an authorized emergency vehicle approaches with flashing red or blue lights, where should a driver stop?

   
   1. At the left edge of the roadway
   2. In the middle of the intersection
   3. At the right hand edge, clear of an intersection
   4. On the shoulder only if the siren is operating
   Show answer

   At the right hand edge, clear of an intersection. The driver must yield by slowing, moving to the right hand edge of the roadway, clearing the intersection, and stopping for the emergency vehicle. The siren does not have to be operating when the authorized vehicle displays the specified flashing lights. Stopping in an intersection can obstruct the response, and moving left contradicts the stated direction. The shoulder only choice is too narrow because the rule identifies the right edge and a clear intersection, whether or not a usable shoulder exists.

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles and the Move Over law

9. 9. What share of collisions involve fire or submersion, according to the Alaska manual?

   1. About 25 percent
   2. Less than one half of one percent
   3. About half
   4. Nearly all fatal crashes
   Show answer

   Less than one half of one percent. Collisions involving fire or submersion make up less than one half of one percent of all traffic collisions. The manual adds that your chances of surviving a burning or submerged vehicle are far greater with a belt on, because you are more likely to stay conscious and able to escape. More than 80 percent of collisions occur at speeds under 40 mph, and three of four fatal collisions happen within 25 miles of home.

   Study this in the handbook: Safety belts and child seats

10. 10. A moose suddenly runs onto the road in front of your vehicle. What does the Alaska manual say to do?

    1. Swerve around it toward the shoulder
    2. Sound the horn and keep your speed
    3. Steer around it into the other lane
    4. Brake firmly but do not swerve
    Show answer

    Brake firmly but do not swerve. If an animal runs in front of your vehicle, the manual says to brake firmly but not swerve. Swerving can cause a crash with another vehicle or send you into a pedestrian or a fixed object such as a tree or utility pole. Keeping your speed is also wrong. Moose often travel in pairs or groups, so after one crosses, slow down and watch for others. If you do hit a big game animal, notify a State Trooper or Fish and Wildlife Officer as soon as possible.

    Study this in the handbook: Night driving, lighting, weather and animals

11. 11. What condition is indicated by a traffic signal symbol on a yellow warning sign?

    
    1. The next signal is permanently out of service
    2. A traffic signal is ahead, so the driver should prepare to obey it
    3. A police checkpoint will stop every vehicle
    4. Streetlights are being repaired after the intersection
    Show answer

    A traffic signal is ahead, so the driver should prepare to obey it. The traffic signal symbol gives advance notice of a signal ahead. The driver should look forward, adjust speed as needed, and be ready to obey the indication when reaching the intersection. It does not say that the signal is broken, that police will stop every vehicle, or that streetlights are under repair. Warning signs are meant to identify conditions before the driver arrives at them. The practical cue is to begin scanning for the signal early, especially when a curve, hill, or other obstruction could shorten the available stopping distance.

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

12. 12. After driving through deep water, your brakes pull to one side when you test them. How does the Alaska manual say to dry them?

    1. Drive at highway speed so the air flow dries them
    2. Pump the brakes hard several times while parked
    3. Drive slowly in low gear and apply the brakes lightly
    4. Shift to neutral and coast until they feel normal
    Show answer

    Drive slowly in low gear and apply the brakes lightly. Deep water can leave brakes wet, and the manual warns that wet brakes may pull to one side or may not hold at all. Test them lightly after the water crossing. To dry them, drive slowly in a low gear while pressing the brake pedal lightly. Highway speed is the risky choice, because wet brakes may not hold when you need them. Pumping the pedal while parked is not the method the manual gives. Shifting to neutral is also wrong: the manual calls for a low gear, and Alaska prohibits coasting with the gears in neutral on a downgrade. Keep testing lightly until the brakes work evenly.

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

13. 13. What speed range does the Alaska manual say most roundabouts are designed for?

    1. About 30 to 35 mph
    2. About 15 to 20 mph
    3. Exactly 5 mph in every roundabout
    4. The posted freeway speed
    Show answer

    About 15 to 20 mph. The manual says most roundabouts are designed for speeds of about 15 to 20 mph. Slow down before reaching the circle, enter to the right of the center island, and yield to traffic already inside. The design range is not a universal five-mph requirement, and a freeway speed is inappropriate for a circular intersection. Use the center island, lane markings, pedestrians, and traffic already in the circle to set a controlled pace. The low-speed design supports steady movement without requiring every vehicle to stop.

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

14. 14. If a WRONG WAY sign faces you, what does it indicate?

    
    1. A turn is required at the next legal opening
    2. A construction crew is directing traffic around a lane closure
    3. The road is temporarily limited to commercial vehicles
    4. The driver has entered the prohibited direction of a roadway or ramp
    Show answer

    The driver has entered the prohibited direction of a roadway or ramp. The Alaska manual describes the white on red WRONG WAY sign together with the DO NOT ENTER sign. The DO NOT ENTER sign faces traffic that would enter a roadway or ramp in the wrong direction, and a WRONG WAY sign may be placed further down that prohibited direction. Seeing it means the vehicle is already traveling the prohibited way. It does not announce a required turn, a lane closure, or a commercial vehicle restriction; those would be different messages.

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

15. 15. When must headlights be on in Alaska between sunset and sunrise?

    1. Only after full darkness
    2. From one half hour after sunset to one half hour before sunrise
    3. From sunset to sunrise exactly
    4. From 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    Show answer

    From one half hour after sunset to one half hour before sunrise. Headlights must be turned on from one half hour after sunset to one half hour before sunrise, and in daytime whenever visibility is reduced to 1,000 feet or less by fog, rain, snow, smoke or dust. Change to low beam 300 feet or more behind a vehicle going the same direction and when meeting oncoming traffic. The fatal crash rate at night is higher per mile than by day.

    Study this in the handbook: Night driving, lighting, weather and animals

16. 16. What must an Alaska driver with a concealed deadly weapon do during a traffic stop?

    1. Nothing unless asked
    2. Place the weapon on the dashboard
    3. Notify the officer immediately
    4. Leave the vehicle to show it
    Show answer

    Notify the officer immediately. Under Alaska law, if you are contacted by an officer and you have a deadly weapon concealed on your person, you must notify the officer immediately. AS 28.35.182 separately requires drivers to stop when signaled by police. Drivers must also have their license, proof of insurance and current registration in their possession and show them on request. The manual advises keeping your hands visible, such as on the steering wheel, and waiting for the officer to ask before retrieving documents from a wallet, purse, console, or glove compartment.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles and the Move Over law

17. 17. An Alaska driver's suspension period ends, but the driver never reinstated or filed SR22 proof. What is the status of the license?

    1. The suspension continues beyond the ending date until privileges are properly reinstated with proof of financial responsibility
    2. It is automatically valid again
    3. It is valid only for work
    4. It becomes a provisional license
    Show answer

    The suspension continues beyond the ending date until privileges are properly reinstated with proof of financial responsibility. A suspension or revocation continues beyond its ending date unless you properly reinstate your driving privileges and file proof of financial responsibility for the future, usually an SR22 insurance filing. The license does not revive automatically, and there is no automatic work-only or provisional status. A reinstatement fee is required after any suspension, revocation, or limitation. The SR22 filing makes the insurer notify DMV if coverage lapses or is cancelled.

    Study this in the handbook: DUI revocations and ignition interlock

18. 18. How do impact and braking distance at 80 mph compare with 20 mph, according to the Alaska manual?

    1. Four times greater
    2. They are 16 times greater
    3. Twice as great
    4. About the same
    Show answer

    They are 16 times greater. Increase the speed to 80 mph and the impact and braking distance are 16 times greater than at 20 miles per hour, because both grow with the square of speed. Quadrupling speed does not quadruple the danger; it multiplies it sixteen fold. Speed limits are maximums for favorable conditions, and the basic speed law requires slowing whenever conditions are worse.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed laws and impact

19. 19. What does a steady yellow traffic signal ball tell a driver?

    1. A red light is about to appear, so stop unless stopping is unsafe
    2. The intersection is reserved for left turns
    3. Proceed at increased speed before the signal changes
    4. Stop only if the vehicle behind is also stopping
    Show answer

    A red light is about to appear, so stop unless stopping is unsafe. A yellow ball warns that a red light is about to appear. Stop unless you are already within the intersection or so close that stopping safely is not possible. The choice encouraging acceleration turns a transition warning into a race and can leave the vehicle in the intersection when cross traffic receives a green signal. As the light changes, check your stopping distance, brake smoothly if there is room, and continue with extreme caution only when the manual's exception applies. Yellow is a decision point, not permission to speed up.

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

20. 20. What administrative revocation period is listed for a new DUI or refusal offense when the driver has two prior convictions?

    1. Six months
    2. Ninety days
    3. Three years
    4. Ten years
    Show answer

    Three years. Alaska's administrative schedule escalates with prior DUI or Refusal convictions. A first offense is listed as 90 days, one prior conviction produces one year, and two prior convictions produce a three-year revocation. The five-year period belongs to a driver with three or more prior convictions. Do not substitute the first-offense period simply because the new event is the one being reviewed. Count the qualifying history, then select the matching duration from the sequence.

    Study this in the handbook: DUI revocations and ignition interlock