AZ Permit Practice Test 18

All 20 questions in test 18

Every question below comes from the Arizona 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. You are approaching a bridge on an Arizona road and cannot see what lies beyond it. What does the manual say about passing?

   1. Pass if the oncoming lane looks empty
   2. Pass only if you signal 100 feet earlier
   3. Do not pass within 100 feet of the bridge
   4. Pass when you can speed up before the bridge
   Show answer

   Do not pass within 100 feet of the bridge. The manual says you must not pass within 100 feet of a bridge, tunnel, or underpass where your view is blocked. Vehicles may be coming through the blocked area, and there would be little room to return to your lane. Wait until you have cleared the structure and have a clear view before you consider passing. Signaling or speeding up does not make passing safe there.

   Study this in the handbook: Signaling, passing and U turns

2. 2. Light fog is settling over an Arizona road. What matters most for you to do?

   1. Keep your speed, since the fog is light
   2. Speed up to get out of the fog
   3. Use high beams to see farther
   4. Slow down, since fog also hurts distance judgment
   Show answer

   Slow down, since fog also hurts distance judgment. Even light fog reduces visibility and your ability to judge distance, so it is very important to slow down. Keeping your speed because the fog looks light leaves too little time to react to hazards that appear suddenly out of the haze. High beams reflect off the fog and add glare instead of helping. Slowing early and watching the road edge markings helps you stay in control until the fog clears.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping distance, bad weather and night driving

3. 3. What does the Arizona manual say happens if you use water on a burning gasoline fire?

   1. It cools the fuel and shrinks the fire
   2. It dilutes the gasoline so the fire dies
   3. It smothers the fire if the stream is steady
   4. It spreads the flames
   Show answer

   It spreads the flames. Gasoline is lighter than water and does not mix with it. If you pour water on burning gasoline, the fuel floats on top and spreads out, and the fire spreads with it. The manual says not to use water on a gasoline fire for that reason. Move away from the vehicle, keep others back, and wait for responders rather than trying to put the fire out with water.

   Study this in the handbook: Dust storms, blowouts, fires and brake failure

4. 4. After a blowout, your car is almost stopped on an Arizona highway. What should you do before pulling to the side?

   1. Turn on your turn signal, then pull off and brake
   2. Turn off your lights to save the battery
   3. Brake hard and stop in the lane
   4. Wave out the window and keep rolling
   Show answer

   Turn on your turn signal, then pull off and brake. Just before your vehicle stops, activate your turn signal to let other drivers know you are moving to the side of the road, then pull off the roadway and apply the brakes. The signal tells drivers behind you what you plan to do. Turning off lights, stopping in the lane, or waving out a window does not give others the same clear warning.

   Study this in the handbook: Dust storms, blowouts, fires and brake failure

5. 5. Why can swerving around road debris in Arizona cause a worse outcome?

   1. Debris always damages tires more
   2. The driver may lose control and leave the roadway
   3. Swerving is always illegal in Arizona
   4. Debris moves away from vehicles
   Show answer

   The driver may lose control and leave the roadway. A violent swerve at speed can break traction, cross oncoming lanes, or run the vehicle off the edge into rollover terrain. Some debris that looks threatening would cause less harm driven over than the loss of control the swerve creates. That judgment must happen in a fraction of a second, which is why thinking ahead about debris decisions matters. Tire pieces, fallen loads, and storm rocks are common Arizona hazards. Calm scanning and speed choice keep the eventual decision small rather than violent.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping distance, bad weather and night driving

6. 6. What load rule applies to every vehicle driven on an Arizona highway?

   1. Loads must not drop, sift, leak, or escape
   2. Loads may sift if the trip is short
   3. Only trucks over ten tons need covers on highways
   4. Loose loads are allowed below 35 mph
   Show answer

   Loads must not drop, sift, leak, or escape. Debris from unsecured loads becomes a highway hazard that other drivers must dodge at speed, so Arizona requires every vehicle to be constructed or loaded so nothing drops, sifts, leaks, or escapes. Short trips and low speeds do not exempt a pickup bed of gravel or a trailer of brush. Truck size does not limit the duty. Tarps, tailgates, and tiedowns serve that rule. A driver should check a load after the first miles, when settling often loosens straps and shifts cargo toward openings.

   Study this in the handbook: Vehicle equipment, seat belts and child seats

7. 7. You feel angry and agitated before an Arizona drive. What is the best action?

   1. Drive slowly in the left lane
   2. Use the drive to work off anger
   3. Follow other vehicles closely for focus
   4. Wait until you are calm before driving
   Show answer

   Wait until you are calm before driving. Anger, excitement, worry, and depression distort the decisions driving requires, and anger erupts most often in heavy traffic. Waiting until calm restores judgment about speed, gaps, and other drivers mistakes. Venting through driving or tailgating converts emotion into vehicle movement. Even slow left lane driving with a heated mind invites conflict. A short pause, a walk, or handing the keys to a calm driver breaks the chain between feeling and crash risk before the vehicle moves.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI penalties

8. 8. A driver who had alcohol does not feel impaired. What hidden effect may still exist?

   1. Better judgment about speed
   2. Perfect lane keeping ability
   3. Confidence rises while ability falls
   4. Faster braking reactions
   Show answer

   Confidence rises while ability falls. Impairment can inflate confidence while skill falls, so the driver feels more capable as control actually worsens. That false confidence encourages speed, close following, and risky passes the sober driver would refuse. Judgment, lane keeping, and braking all degrade rather than improve. Feeling normal is therefore a poor test of fitness after drinking or drug use. A preplanned ride, rideshare, or designated driver removes the decision from the impaired moment when self assessment is least trustworthy.

   Study this in the handbook: Crashes, wrong way drivers and traffic stops

9. 9. How is an Arizona two-way left turn lane bordered?

   1. Two solid white lines
   2. Two yellow lines, the inner broken and the outer solid
   3. One broken white line only
   4. Double solid yellow lines on both sides
   Show answer

   Two yellow lines, the inner broken and the outer solid. The center two way left turn lane wears a pair of yellow lines on each side: inner line broken, outer line solid. That pattern separates the shared turn refuge from opposing through lanes and from same direction lanes. White lines would signal same direction control instead. Double solid on both sides would read as a no crossing center. Reading the inner broken plus outer solid pair helps a driver enter the lane lawfully for a left turn and refuse it for passing or through travel.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and turning lanes

10. 10. Entering a roadway from an Arizona alley or driveway, who must the driver yield to?

    1. Only motor vehicles on the road
    2. Only pedestrians on the sidewalk nearby
    3. Pedestrians and approaching vehicles
    4. No one, if a signal was used
    Show answer

    Pedestrians and approaching vehicles. A vehicle leaving an alley or driveway crosses a sidewalk before reaching traffic, so people on foot and vehicles already on the road both hold priority. Yielding to only one group leaves the other exposed at exactly the conflict point. A turn signal communicates but never creates a gap. The driver stops before the sidewalk, scans the walk in both directions, then checks road traffic. Rolling out slowly after yielding keeps a hidden child or cyclist from becoming a sudden emergency.

    Study this in the handbook: Signaling, passing and U turns

11. 11. A crossing guard steps into an Arizona crosswalk with children. What must drivers do?

    1. Drive on slowly when the guard looks away
    2. Obey the guard and stop while anyone is in the crosswalk
    3. Pass on the left of the stopped traffic
    4. Move up to the crosswalk edge and wait for the horn
    Show answer

    Obey the guard and stop while anyone is in the crosswalk. The manual says to follow the crossing guard's instructions and come to a complete stop when any person is in the crosswalk. Remain stopped until everyone has finished crossing and the guard signals you to proceed. Driving on while the guard looks away, passing stopped vehicles, or creeping forward can endanger children who may not be visible to drivers in other lanes.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

12. 12. On an undivided Arizona roadway, a school bus shows flashing lights with its stop arm out. What must you do?

    1. Stop for the school bus
    2. Pass slowly on the left side
    3. Proceed if children are not visible
    4. Stop only when traffic behind waits
    Show answer

    Stop for the school bus. On an undivided roadway there is no barrier between your lane and children crossing from a stopped bus. Flashing lights with the stop arm out mark an active loading zone, so every approach stops. Passing slowly still enters the space where a child may step from the bus front. A clear view can deceive because the bus body hides small children. The stop holds until the bus moves or its lights and arm clear, and it applies even when the road looks quiet.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way, pedestrians and roundabouts

13. 13. Who may use an Arizona parking space marked with the international symbol of access?

    1. Any driver for under five minutes
    2. Any vehicle with a disabled passenger, with no placard needed
    3. A vehicle with a valid placard or plate carrying the person it was issued to
    4. Delivery drivers while loading
    Show answer

    A vehicle with a valid placard or plate carrying the person it was issued to. Spaces marked with the international symbol are reserved for vehicles showing a valid placard or license plate with that symbol, and only while carrying the person the placard or plate was issued to. Borrowing the space for a quick stop blocks someone who needs the wider access. A passenger with a disability still needs the displayed credential. Delivery loading belongs in loading areas, not reserved access spaces. Checking for the placard or plate before judging a parked vehicle also prevents mistaken reports.

    Study this in the handbook: Parking rules, hills and painted curbs

14. 14. On an Arizona highway with three lanes one way, how should the far right and far left lanes be treated?

    1. Right as passing, left as slow through lanes
    2. Right as slower through, left as passing
    3. Both as equal speed through lanes
    4. Right for parking, left for trucks only
    Show answer

    Right as slower through, left as passing. A three lane highway sorts traffic by purpose: the far right works as the slower through lane, and the far left serves passing. Reversing those roles traps fast traffic behind slow vehicles and pushes passing into merge zones. The middle lane carries steady through travel. Parking and truck only claims misread the design. Drivers who are not passing should drift right as space allows, while passers complete the move and return. That sorting keeps speed differences orderly and reduces lane change friction.

    Study this in the handbook: Parking rules, hills and painted curbs

15. 15. You are passing a bicyclist who is traveling the same way on an Arizona road. How much distance must you allow?

    1. At least 1 foot
    2. About the width of your mirror
    3. At least 6 inches
    4. At least 3 feet
    Show answer

    At least 3 feet. Motorists are required to allow a minimum safe distance of 3 feet when passing a bicyclist traveling in the same direction. That space gives the rider room to wobble or steer around a pothole without being struck by your mirror or fender. If the lane is too narrow to leave 3 feet, wait until you can change lanes or pass with a larger gap. Passing closer than the minimum is unsafe even at low speed.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicycles, motorcycles, trucks and light rail

16. 16. Inside an Arizona roundabout, what tells a driver which lane to use?

    1. The lane used by the vehicle ahead of you
    2. The emptiest lane at the yield line
    3. Directions on signs or pavement markings
    4. Your exit number alone
    Show answer

    Directions on signs or pavement markings. The Arizona manual says to follow directions on signs or pavement markings about which lane to use inside a roundabout. Arrows and lane signs show which lanes lead to which exits, so drivers should read them before entering. Copying the car ahead, choosing the emptiest lane, or relying on an exit number can put you in a lane that does not lead where you want to go or that conflicts with other traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Signaling, passing and U turns

17. 17. You must stop for a train at an Arizona crossing. How far from the nearest track should you stay?

    1. No closer than 15 feet
    2. Within 5 feet of the near rail
    3. No closer than 3 feet
    4. About one car length
    Show answer

    No closer than 15 feet. When required to stop at a railroad crossing, the manual says to stop no closer than 15 feet from the nearest railroad track. That distance keeps your vehicle clear of the train's path and of equipment that extends beyond the rails. Staying back also gives you room to see down the tracks and to react. Stopping closer risks being struck.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

18. 18. Bushes and buildings block your view at an Arizona intersection. How should you proceed?

    1. Enter quickly before cross traffic arrives at speed
    2. Inch forward slowly until the view is clear
    3. Stop in the crosswalk and wait there
    4. Rely on sounds from cross traffic
    Show answer

    Inch forward slowly until the view is clear. Blocked views call for slow forward movement in small steps until the driver can actually see cross traffic. Speeding into the gap bets safety on luck. Stopping inside the crosswalk creates a new hazard for people walking and may still leave the view blocked. Sounds give hints but cannot show a quiet bicycle or an electric vehicle. Inching forward keeps the vehicle ready to stop at each stage. Once the way is visibly clear in both directions, the driver can proceed with normal care through the crossing.

    Study this in the handbook: Defensive driving, scanning and following distance

19. 19. Where may an Arizona driver pass on the right on an open highway when it is safe to do so?

    1. Where the road is marked for two or more lanes going your way
    2. Only where the left lane sits empty for a long open stretch ahead
    3. Only where traffic moves slower than 35 mph for a full mile
    4. Only beside a slow truck climbing a long uphill grade
    Show answer

    Where the road is marked for two or more lanes going your way. Passing on the right on an open highway depends on marked same direction lanes, at least two of them moving the way the driver is going. In that setting the pass stays inside paved lanes built for parallel traffic. An empty left lane points to the normal left pass instead. Speed alone and slow trucks do not create the permission. The driver must still signal, check mirrors and blind areas, and keep clear of anyone turning. Lane markings, not impatience, decide whether the right side pass is allowed.

    Study this in the handbook: Signaling, passing and U turns

20. 20. A yellow sign ahead shows a winding arrow, with a small square sign below it showing a number. What does the sign set mean?

    1. The road ends and you must stop there
    2. The road turns and the small sign shows the safe speed
    3. A passing zone starts and the number is its length
    4. Merging traffic joins and the number is the lane count
    Show answer

    The road turns and the small sign shows the safe speed. Turn, curve, and winding road signs warn Arizona drivers that the roadway changes direction ahead. Below them you may find a small yellow square sign showing the safe speed to drive through the curve. That number is advice for the curve, so you should slow to it before the turn begins. It does not mark a passing zone, a merge, or the end of the road.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signs, railroad crossings and work zones