AK Permit Practice Test 6

All 20 questions in test 6

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 alcohol concentration triggers Alaska's administrative action threshold for a person operating a commercial motor vehicle?

   1. .10 or higher
   2. .08 or higher only
   3. .04 or higher
   4. .01 or higher for every driver
   Show answer

   .04 or higher. The Alaska revocation list uses a lower threshold for a person operating a commercial motor vehicle: .04 or higher after an arrest for driving under the influence. The ordinary .08 figure remains relevant to a general motor vehicle operator, but it is not the only threshold in the manual. This distinction is easy to miss when a question mentions only alcohol concentration. Attach .04 to the commercial vehicle context, and do not apply that number indiscriminately to private passenger driving.

2. 2. What response do most Alaska warning signs imply?

   1. Stop in the travel lane at every warning sign
   2. Ignore the sign unless a police officer is present
   3. Maintain speed because warning signs are regulatory
   4. Decrease speed and adjust driving to the situation
   Show answer

   Decrease speed and adjust driving to the situation. Warning signs identify actual or potentially dangerous conditions ahead. The manual says most imply that the driver should decrease speed, observe extra caution, and adjust driving to the situation. They do not require an officer's presence, and they are not the same as regulatory commands. A full stop at every warning sign would also overstate the instruction. Read the sign as an advance cue to manage speed and attention, then respond to the particular curve, crossing, construction area, or other condition shown.

3. 3. How long is an Alaska non-commercial instruction permit valid?

   1. Six months
   2. One year
   3. Until the holder turns 18
   4. Two years
   Show answer

   Two years. Each type of non-commercial instruction permit remains valid for two years, which is longer than the six month period required before some teens may seek a provisional license. The one year choice confuses the permit term with the supervisor's experience requirement. Turning 18 does not automatically end the permit's stated validity. The manual also says an original permit can be renewed one time, so the two year period is not the same as an unlimited practice authorization. Keep the permit's duration separate from age based licensing steps and from the minimum holding period for a provisional license.

4. 4. 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.

5. 5. What roadway arrangement is shown by a divided-highway warning?

   
   1. A multi-lane roadway is divided by a median
   2. The roadway is changing from two lanes to one
   3. Vehicles may cross the median to make U-turns anywhere
   4. Opposing traffic will share one lane around the next curve
   Show answer

   A multi-lane roadway is divided by a median. A divided roadway has multiple lanes separated by a divider, and the manual identifies yellow left-edge lines on divided or one-way roadways. The median separates opposing traffic, so it is not an invitation to cross over or make a U-turn wherever convenient. The one-lane choice describes a merge rather than a divided design, and shared opposing traffic would describe an undivided road. As the warning approaches, stay on the vehicle’s side of the divider and follow the lane markings through the separated roadway.

6. 6. On a steady green ball, what must a driver turning left do before crossing opposing traffic?

   
   1. Turn immediately because green gives the turning vehicle priority
   2. Yield to vehicles going straight through from the opposite direction
   3. Wait for a red signal before making any left turn
   4. Yield only to vehicles approaching from behind
   Show answer

   Yield to vehicles going straight through from the opposite direction. A steady green ball permits a legal maneuver, but it does not clear opposing traffic for a left turn. The turning driver must yield to vehicles going straight through from the opposite direction, as well as pedestrians and other traffic with the right of way. Waiting for red is unnecessary and can create a new conflict. Use the green as permission to enter when clear, then let opposing through traffic pass before crossing its lane.

7. 7. During recovery from a skid, in which direction should the front wheels be turned?

   1. Toward the center line regardless of travel direction
   2. Straight toward the nearest curb
   3. Opposite the skid with a sharp steering movement
   4. In the direction of the skid
   Show answer

   In the direction of the skid. Skid recovery begins with control and a calm steering response. The manual directs the driver to turn the front wheels in the direction of the skid, then avoid sudden braking, oversteering, and overcorrection. A sharp movement toward a curb or center line can turn a loss of traction into a second hazard. Once grip returns, slow gently by depressing and releasing the brake pedal. Think of the steering wheel as following the slide, not fighting it with an abrupt reversal.

8. 8. What following rule applies when a driver is close behind another vehicle in Alaska?

   1. The gap must always be exactly one car length
   2. The gap must be reasonable and prudent for speed, traffic, and roadway conditions
   3. A driver may follow closely below 20 mph
   4. Following distance matters only on two-lane roads
   Show answer

   The gap must be reasonable and prudent for speed, traffic, and roadway conditions. Alaska requires a following distance that is reasonable and prudent with regard to speed, traffic, and roadway conditions. The manual's rule is flexible because a safe gap changes with weather, surface, congestion, and the time needed to react. One car length is not a universal measure, and low speed does not make tailgating acceptable. Leave enough space for the vehicle ahead to brake without forcing an emergency response. Recheck the gap whenever speed, visibility, or pavement conditions change.

9. 9. What do black-on-orange construction and maintenance signs indicate?

   1. A school crosswalk with a reduced-speed requirement
   2. A permanent destination and mileage information
   3. A nearby fuel, food, or lodging service
   4. Road work or temporary conditions needing special alertness
   Show answer

   Road work or temporary conditions needing special alertness. Black-on-orange construction and maintenance signs identify road work and temporary conditions that require special alertness. The permanent destination choice describes guide signs, the service choice describes white-on-blue service signs, and the school choice describes a different warning shape and purpose. When orange appears, reduce speed as needed, watch for workers, equipment, lane shifts, and unusual traffic patterns, and prepare for conditions that may change quickly. The color is an advance cue to expect a temporary arrangement rather than a normal lane or shoulder.

10. 10. When a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing and its stop sign extended, what must drivers do?

    
    1. Stop only when following the bus, never when meeting it
    2. Pass slowly if no child is visible
    3. Stop and remain stopped until the signals are discontinued and the sign is retracted
    4. Use the shoulder to go around the bus
    Show answer

    Stop and remain stopped until the signals are discontinued and the sign is retracted. A driver approaching a stopped school bus must make a complete stop before reaching it when the red lights flash and the stop sign is extended. The vehicle must remain stopped until the stop sign is retracted and the flashing red lights are discontinued, with the manual also describing the bus resuming motion or signaling the driver. A guess that no child is visible does not replace the signals. Stop before the bus, watch the arm and lights, and proceed only after the required signals end.

11. 11. A 6-year-old Alaska child is 48 inches tall and weighs 45 pounds. How must the child be secured?

    1. In a seat belt only
    2. In a rear-facing seat
    3. In a booster seat secured by a seat belt system or other approved restraint
    4. No restraint is required after age 5
    Show answer

    In a booster seat secured by a seat belt system or other approved restraint. A child over four and under eight who is less than 57 inches tall and weighs 20 or more but less than 65 pounds must be secured in a booster seat held by a seat belt system, or in another restraint that meets federal standards. This child fits all those limits. Rear-facing seats are for children under one or under 20 pounds. A child over four who exceeds the height or weight limits uses a seat belt, and restraint does not stop at age 5.

12. 12. About how long does it take the body to cancel the effects of four drinks?

    1. About four hours
    2. About two hours
    3. About one hour
    4. About eight hours
    Show answer

    About four hours. The manual says it takes an average of one hour to cancel the effects of one drink, so about four hours to cancel the intoxicating effects of four drinks. Black coffee, fresh air, food, or a cold shower might wake a person up but will not sober them up; alcohol is burned by the liver and only time helps. One and two hours are too short, and eight hours is not the manual's figure.

13. 13. On a four lane road, what should you do when passing a stationary emergency vehicle with overhead flashing lights?

    
    1. Pass in the lane closest to it at the posted speed
    2. Use the lane opposite the emergency vehicle if safe
    3. Stop in the travel lane until the lights turn off
    4. Turn around before reaching the scene
    Show answer

    Use the lane opposite the emergency vehicle if safe. On a four lane road, drivers must move to the lane opposite a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck when that movement is safe. Remaining beside the vehicle leaves responders exposed and ignores the move over requirement. A complete stop is not the default instruction, and turning around is unnecessary. If changing lanes is unsafe, the manual directs a reasonable and prudent speed when passing. First identify whether the road has four lanes, then decide between moving away and slowing safely.

14. 14. In crashes between cars and large trucks, who sustains most of the fatalities, according to the Alaska manual?

    1. Truck drivers in most cases
    2. Pedestrians
    3. Both equally
    4. Car occupants, usually the driver, in 78 percent of cases
    Show answer

    Car occupants, usually the driver, in 78 percent of cases. In large truck crashes, the occupants of a car, usually the driver, sustain 78 percent of the fatalities, and when a car is hit from behind by a truck the results are too often deadly. A car at 55 mph stops in about 130 to 140 feet but a truck needs 400 feet, so never cut in front of a truck or linger in its blind spots.

15. 15. When may an Alaska driver signal from a greater distance than the usual turn-signal minimum?

    1. Only when approaching a railroad crossing
    2. When traffic conditions or vehicle speed warrant it
    3. Only after entering the intersection
    4. Never, because signaling early is prohibited
    Show answer

    When traffic conditions or vehicle speed warrant it. Alaska permits a driver to signal from a greater distance when traffic conditions or the vehicle’s higher speed make extra warning useful. The rule does not limit early signaling to railroad crossings, and a signal given after entering the intersection arrives too late for approaching road users. Early notice should still match the intended maneuver and should be canceled after the turn so it does not mislead others. Use the normal final-100-foot requirement as the baseline, then extend the signal when speed or surrounding traffic calls for more communication.

16. 16. What does Alaska mean by having control of a motor vehicle?

    1. Keeping the vehicle moving at the posted limit at all times
    2. Directing and regulating its course and speed while being able to slow or stop
    3. Using cruise control so the driver never touches the pedals
    4. Relying on other drivers to create a safe path
    Show answer

    Directing and regulating its course and speed while being able to slow or stop. Vehicle control means the driver can direct and regulate the vehicle's course and speed and can slow or stop when desired. Maintaining a posted number, using cruise control, or trusting surrounding drivers does not prove that control exists. Fatigue, strong emotion, and distraction can weaken the driver's ability even when the vehicle is mechanically sound. Keep hands, attention, and speed coordinated with the roadway. A good cue is that control includes both steering and the ability to change speed promptly when circumstances demand it.

17. 17. What do Alaska warning signs alert drivers to do?

    1. Watch for dangerous conditions and adjust driving
    2. Treat the sign as a route destination
    3. Follow a mandatory parking instruction
    4. Maintain speed because the sign is informational
    Show answer

    Watch for dangerous conditions and adjust driving. A warning sign communicates that an actual or potentially dangerous condition lies ahead. The manual tells drivers to use extra caution, reduce speed when appropriate, and read the sign in relation to the situation on the road. It is different from a guide sign, which supplies route or destination information, and from a regulatory sign, which states an instruction backed by law. A yellow warning sign should prompt an active scan for the hazard rather than passive observation.

18. 18. 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.

19. 19. What is the minimum age to be issued an Alaska driver's license?

    1. 16
    2. 15
    3. 14
    4. 18
    Show answer

    16. Alaska may issue a driver's license to an applicant who is at least 16. Fourteen is the minimum age for an instruction permit, not a license. Applicants who are 16 or 17 must also have held a valid instruction permit for at least 6 months, and a first license before 18 is a provisional license with passenger and hour limits. Eighteen is the age when provisional restrictions end, not the minimum licensing age.

20. 20. An Alaska driver is convicted of driving 15 mph over the limit (not in a school zone). How many points are assessed?

    1. 4
    2. 2
    3. 6
    4. 10
    Show answer

    4. Alaska's speeding points are 2 for 3 to 9 mph over the limit, 4 for 10 to 19 mph over, and 6 for 20 mph or more over. At 15 mph over, the driver receives 4 points. Speeding in a school zone or playground crosswalk carries 6 points regardless of the amount. Ten points is reserved for the most serious offenses such as DUI and reckless driving.