AZ Permit Practice Test 20

All 20 questions in test 20

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. A bicycle symbol is painted on an Arizona road. What does it tell drivers?

   1. Only bicycles may ever use the road
   2. Bicyclists may be present, so exercise caution
   3. Cars must honk before proceeding
   4. The lane is closed to all traffic
   Show answer

   Bicyclists may be present, so exercise caution. A painted bicycle warns motorists that riders may be present along that road or lane space, calling for caution, space, and scanning. It does not expel cars from the whole road or close the lane to everyone. Honking near riders can startle them into a fall, the opposite of caution. Drivers should expect a rider at the edge or moving left for a hazard, and pass only with three feet of clearance in a lawful gap. The symbol turns an invisible risk into a planned one.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and turning lanes

2. 2. You are on a slippery Arizona road and see an obstacle ahead. Which response gives better control?

   1. Brake hard with the front tires locked
   2. Steer around it with the front tires rolling
   3. Stand on the brake and hold the wheel straight
   4. Accelerate hard to get past it
   Show answer

   Steer around it with the front tires rolling. On slippery surfaces, you have the most traction and control when the front tires are rolling, so your vehicle will respond better to steering than to braking. Hard braking can lock the wheels and take away steering. Look well ahead so you can ease off the accelerator early and steer around hazards gently rather than relying on a sudden stop.

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

3. 3. Your headlights go out suddenly at night on an Arizona road. What should you try first?

   1. Turn off all lights and slow to a stop
   2. Pull over into the travel lane
   3. Switch on your hazard lights and keep driving
   4. Try the high beam and low beam switch
   Show answer

   Try the high beam and low beam switch. If your headlights fail, try the high beam and low beam switch. This may restore normal function. Many failures come from a faulty dimmer switch rather than the lights themselves. If that does not help, use your parking lights and emergency flashers, slow down, and get off the road. Turning off lights or stopping in the lane makes the situation more dangerous.

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

4. 4. You want to alert a bicyclist ahead as you pass on an Arizona road. Is using your horn a good idea?

   1. Yes, a short honk is the safest warning
   2. No, it may startle the rider and cause a crash
   3. Yes, if you honk well before the pass
   4. No, since horns are banned on all roads
   Show answer

   No, it may startle the rider and cause a crash. The manual says it is not safe for motorists to honk their horn at bicyclists when passing, as this may startle them and cause them to crash. A sudden loud noise can make a rider swerve into the lane or off the road. Instead, slow down, move over, and give at least 3 feet of room while you pass. Calm, predictable movement tells the rider what you plan to do better than a blast of the horn does.

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

5. 5. What scene rule must every Arizona crash driver remember?

   1. Leave once information is copied
   2. Never leave the scene of a crash
   3. Leave if damage looks minor
   4. Leave when traffic backs up behind
   Show answer

   Never leave the scene of a crash. Remaining at the scene supports injured people, information exchange, and police work when needed. Minor looking damage can hide injuries or frame harm, and traffic pressure cannot cancel the duty. A driver may move a vehicle to a shoulder or exit for safety without leaving the scene area and its duties. Departing converts a crash into a hit and run style violation with severe privilege consequences. Staying, aiding, exchanging, and clearing lanes in the right order fulfills the law.

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

6. 6. Steam rises from under your hood in Arizona. What should you do first?

   1. Open the radiator cap at once
   2. Drive faster for cooling airflow on the road
   3. Pull aside and shut the engine off now
   4. Pour cold water on the hot engine
   Show answer

   Pull aside and shut the engine off now. Steam signals an overheated cooling system that needs the engine shut down before damage or a burst hose escalates. Pulling to the roadside and switching off immediately stops heat generation. Opening a hot radiator cap releases pressurized steam that burns skin, and cold water on hot parts can crack metal while scalding the driver. Airflow at speed cannot fix a failed cooling system. After the engine cools fully, water can be added; carrying extra water prepares for that later step.

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

7. 7. A vehicle races toward your stopped car from behind in Arizona. What can you do?

   1. Pull forward to add stopping room
   2. Hold brakes hard and brace only
   3. Reverse toward it to shorten impact
   4. Exit the vehicle into traffic lanes
   Show answer

   Pull forward to add stopping room. Extra feet ahead can be the difference between a near miss and a rear crash when a fast vehicle approaches a stopped line. Pulling forward where space allows gives that driver a longer stopping runway. Reversing shrinks the runway and stepping into lanes exposes the body. If impact becomes unavoidable, bracing between wheel and seat back and releasing the brake an instant before contact lessens the blow. Scanning mirrors at stops makes pulling forward possible before the final seconds.

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

8. 8. At what alcohol levels does impairment of driving ability begin, according to Arizona studies?

   1. Only above 0.15 percent
   2. Only at exactly 0.08 percent
   3. At levels substantially below 0.08 percent
   4. Alcohol never impairs below 0.20 percent at all
   Show answer

   At levels substantially below 0.08 percent. Driving skill starts falling well before the 0.08 percent legal line, with studies showing impairment at levels substantially below it. That is why a driver can face DUI arrest under 0.08 when other evidence shows intoxication. The higher figures describe aggravated categories or severe drunkenness, not the start of harm. A person who counts drinks against the legal line mistakes a prosecution threshold for a safety threshold. The protective rule is no alcohol before driving, because ability erodes from the early drinks.

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

9. 9. Why is judging a motorcycle distance harder for Arizona drivers?

   1. A single light gives fewer visual cues for judging distance
   2. Motorcycles run with their headlight off during the day
   3. A motorcycle light is dimmer than a car light at every distance
   4. Riders sit too low for drivers to see their lamp
   Show answer

   A single light gives fewer visual cues for judging distance. A motorcycle has a single headlight or taillight, while a car shows two. With only one point of light, a driver gets fewer visual cues for judging how far away the motorcycle is and how fast it is moving. That makes a turn across its path riskier. Drivers should allow extra time and space instead of assuming the motorcycle is farther away than it looks.

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

10. 10. You are merging onto an Arizona freeway and a car is already traveling in the lane you want. What must you do?

    1. Move over first, since you signaled early
    2. Speed up and force your way in front
    3. Yield to the car and merge safely
    4. Slow to a stop at the end of the ramp
    Show answer

    Yield to the car and merge safely. Traffic entering a freeway must yield right-of-way to traffic already on the freeway. The entering driver is responsible for safely merging, which means matching the speed of the right lane, signaling, checking the traffic around you, and merging when there is a gap. Forcing your way in front of another car or stopping at the end of the ramp creates a hazard for drivers behind and beside you, so use the ramp to build speed first.

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

11. 11. A motorcyclist ahead moves to one side of the lane in Arizona. What should a driver conclude?

    1. The rider is certainly about to turn
    2. Do not assume the rider will turn
    3. The rider is leaving the lane for you
    4. The rider is signaling you to pass
    Show answer

    Do not assume the rider will turn. A motorcycle lane shift has several innocent causes: preparing a turn, avoiding oil or debris, or moving to be seen better at an intersection. Assuming a turn from position alone can lead a driver to pull into the rider path. The lane remains the rider space until a turn is clearly underway. Watching speed, signal state, and head movement together gives a truer read. Patience through the ambiguous seconds prevents the classic intersection misjudgment behind many motorcycle crashes.

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

12. 12. Besides slowing before a left turn, what use does the Arizona two-way left turn lane provide from a side street?

    1. A place to drive into when turning left from a side street or driveway
    2. A parking space while waiting to pick up a passenger
    3. A passing lane for getting around a stopped bus
    4. A staging area for U turns at any point on the road
    Show answer

    A place to drive into when turning left from a side street or driveway. A driver turning left from a side street or driveway can enter the center lane as a first stage, then merge into through traffic when a gap opens. That two stage move avoids crossing every lane in one pressured sweep. The lane also shelters drivers slowing for a left turn off the main street. It never becomes parking, passing, or general U turn space. A driver inside should keep moving purposefully, watch for opposing turners aiming at the same refuge, and complete the merge without stopping longer than needed.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and turning lanes

13. 13. You notice your vehicle is traveling in another driver blind spot in Arizona. What should you do?

    1. Speed up or drop back out of it
    2. Stay there while traffic is heavy
    3. Honk once and remain beside them
    4. Flash your lights and hold position
    Show answer

    Speed up or drop back out of it. Another driver may change lanes without seeing a vehicle sitting beside the rear quarter. Leaving that area by speeding up or dropping back restores visibility in their mirrors and shoulder check. Staying there during heavy traffic is exactly when a sudden lane change is likely. A honk or light flash might help in a moment, but position is the lasting fix. The goal is to be seen without crowding. Adjust speed smoothly, keep lane discipline, and settle where surrounding drivers can track your vehicle easily.

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

14. 14. You see a round yellow sign with a large X on an Arizona road. What is the sign warning you about?

    1. A sharp curve ahead on the road
    2. A school zone with children near the road
    3. A railroad crossing ahead
    4. A merge point where lanes join ahead
    Show answer

    A railroad crossing ahead. A circle-shaped sign in Arizona gives warning that you are approaching a railroad crossing. The round shape is meant to be recognized early, which gives you time to slow down, look and listen, and be ready to stop for a train. Curves, school zones, and merging lanes use different shapes and symbols, so the circle should always make you think of tracks ahead and prepare for a possible stop.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

15. 15. What counts as a divided roadway for the Arizona school bus stop rule?

    1. Any road with painted lane stripes across it
    2. A road with physical barriers like a fence or curbing
    3. Any road with four or more travel lanes total
    4. Any road with a center two way turn lane
    Show answer

    A road with physical barriers like a fence or curbing. Only a physical separation creates the divided roadway exception for opposite direction traffic at a school bus. Fences, curbing, or a real separation of pavement count. Paint alone, extra lanes, and a center turn lane leave the roadway undivided, so opposite traffic must stop like everyone else. Drivers who are unsure should treat the road as undivided and stop. Children may cross multiple lanes to reach homes across the street, which is why paint cannot substitute for a barrier.

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

16. 16. Your Arizona lane is marked with both a curved arrow and a straight arrow. What may you do?

    1. Turn only, never go straight
    2. Go straight only, never turn
    3. Use the lane for passing on the right side only
    4. Turn in the arrow direction or go straight
    Show answer

    Turn in the arrow direction or go straight. Combined curved and straight arrows offer the driver both movements from that lane: turn where the curved arrow points, or continue straight. A curved arrow alone with ONLY would force the turn, and a straight only marking would bar it. The lane is a moving traffic lane, not a passing shortcut. The driver picks one movement early, signals for a turn, and watches for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Lane markings read together with signs give the full set of allowed movements.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and turning lanes

17. 17. You need to stop for a moment beside a red painted curb in Arizona. What is the rule?

    1. You may stop briefly while you stay in the car
    2. You may stop to pick up or drop off passengers
    3. You may stop to load or unload with the engine off
    4. You may not stop, stand, or park there
    Show answer

    You may not stop, stand, or park there. A red painted curb in Arizona means you may not stop, stand, or park. That rule covers short stops, waiting in the car, and passenger or cargo stops. White curbs allow quick passenger stops, and yellow curbs allow loading and unloading, but red allows none of those. Look for another legal place to stop, since stopping at a red curb blocks the area for traffic and emergency vehicles.

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

18. 18. How do headlights help safety on rural Arizona roads?

    1. Widen both road shoulders beside traffic flow
    2. Replace any need to slow down at night
    3. Warn a passing driver your lane is occupied
    4. Scare roadside animals away much earlier
    Show answer

    Warn a passing driver your lane is occupied. On a two lane rural road, a passing driver judges your lane from far away. Lit headlights make your approaching vehicle register early, discouraging a pass that would meet you head on. Lights do not change road width, safe speed, or animal behavior in that stated role. Day or night, an unlit gray vehicle blends into pavement and brush. Keeping headlights on in poor visibility closes the gap between your actual position and what the other driver believes is an empty lane.

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

19. 19. What does Arizona law say about driving over or parking in a gore area?

    1. It is allowed during heavy traffic
    2. It is allowed for under two minutes
    3. It is allowed only for passenger cars
    4. It is against the law in any part of a gore area
    Show answer

    It is against the law in any part of a gore area. A gore area is the wedge between a through roadway and an entrance or exit ramp. That pavement separates streams moving at different speeds and angles, so driving or parking there puts a vehicle where others do not expect one. Traffic weight, short stops, and vehicle size do not create exceptions. The ban covers any part of the area, including brief crossings to save a missed exit. Drivers who miss an exit continue to the next one and rejoin lawfully from a ramp.

    Study this in the handbook: Freeway and highway driving

20. 20. You are approaching an Arizona intersection and the arrow turns yellow before you enter. What must you do?

    1. Speed up so you can finish the turn first
    2. Enter and turn if no vehicle is oncoming
    3. Stop and wait for the next green arrow
    4. Slow and go through if the crosswalk is empty
    Show answer

    Stop and wait for the next green arrow. A yellow arrow warns that the light is about to change to red. If you have not yet entered the intersection, you must stop and wait for a green arrow. Only a driver who is already in the intersection should continue the turn and clear it safely. Speeding up or entering because the path looks empty puts you in the intersection as the signal changes.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and red light running