AZ Permit Practice Test 21

All 20 questions in test 21

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. Exiting an Arizona freeway in heavy traffic, what space must you maintain?

   1. No space, to block lane changers
   2. Adequate space cushion from the vehicle ahead
   3. Extra space only behind your vehicle
   4. Space only after the ramp curve ends
   Show answer

   Adequate space cushion from the vehicle ahead. Exit queues compress as drivers brake for ramp curves at different points, so the cushion ahead absorbs those surprises. Tailgating the queue invites a rear crash when the line checks up on the ramp. Space behind belongs to the follower to manage, and waiting until after the curve is too late. Signal before exiting, use the deceleration lane, and keep the gap alive through the exit. That margin also leaves room if a driver ahead misses the exit and brakes sharply in confusion.

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

2. 2. A crossing barricade is lowered at an Arizona railroad crossing and no train is in sight. What is prohibited?

   1. Waiting behind the barricade
   2. Stopping at least 15 feet from the track
   3. Turning off your radio to hear the train
   4. Driving around or under the barricade
   Show answer

   Driving around or under the barricade. The manual says not to drive around or under a lowered crossing barricade. A lowered barricade means a train is coming or on the tracks, even if you cannot see it yet, and trains cannot stop quickly. Wait behind the barricade at a safe distance until it rises fully and signals stop. Going around it risks a collision with a train.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

3. 3. How should a driver handle stopping or turning on packed Arizona snow?

   1. Brake and turn at normal dry road speed always
   2. Speed up to keep the tires warm enough
   3. Turn first, then brake hard in the turn
   4. Slow early; packed snow behaves like ice
   Show answer

   Slow early; packed snow behaves like ice. Packed snow polishes into an ice like surface with a fraction of dry grip. Speed must come off before the stop or turn begins, because mid turn braking can lock wheels and slide the vehicle straight. Warm tires do not restore grip at speed. Early gentle slowing in a straight line keeps steering available for the turn itself. Following distance should also stretch well beyond dry habits. Treating every packed stretch as ice prevents the common first snowfall surprise.

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

4. 4. How should an Arizona driver hold the steering wheel while operating a motor vehicle?

   1. With one hand, keeping the other free
   2. With both hands on the wheel
   3. With hands only at the bottom of the wheel
   4. With one hand during straight driving
   Show answer

   With both hands on the wheel. Two hands on the wheel give the driver full control if a tire fails, a gust pushes the vehicle, or traffic ahead stops without warning. One handed steering leaves less strength and less range for a quick correction. The position also keeps hands away from phones and other distractions inside the car. During straight and calm driving the vehicle can still be pushed by wind or a rough patch. Keeping both hands placed and ready shortens reaction time and helps the vehicle stay centered in its lane through a surprise.

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

5. 5. Portable school crossing signs are posted in Arizona. What is the maximum speed from the first sign to past the crossing sign?

   1. 25 mph
   2. 35 mph
   3. 15 mph
   4. The normal street limit
   Show answer

   15 mph. While portable signs mark an active school crossing, the speed ceiling is 15 mph from the first sign until the vehicle is past the crossing sign. The normal street limit, often 25 mph in residential areas, is suspended through that marked stretch. Children can step from between parked cars with little warning, and low speed gives the driver a short stop. Passing is also barred in the zone. Once the signs are gone, the area limit applies again and the driver resumes normal scanning.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

6. 6. A crossing guard is helping children at an Arizona school crossing. What must drivers do?

   1. Follow guard directions and stop when someone is crossing
   2. Wave children across while rolling slowly forward
   3. Obey the guard only beside a police officer
   4. Pass the waiting line on the left side slowly
   Show answer

   Follow guard directions and stop when someone is crossing. A crossing guard directs the crossing like a human signal, and drivers follow those directions while stopping fully whenever a person is in the crosswalk. Rolling slowly beside children leaves no margin for a sudden step. The guard authority does not depend on a police officer standing nearby. Passing a waiting line defeats the protection the stop creates. Drivers should watch the guard hands and the crosswalk together, then move only when the crossing is empty and the guard allows traffic through.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

7. 7. What does a green signal allow an Arizona driver to do?

   1. Go without checking the intersection
   2. Turn in any direction at once
   3. Enter even if vehicles block the box
   4. Go in the signal direction if the roadway is clear
   Show answer

   Go in the signal direction if the roadway is clear. Green permits movement in the direction the signal faces when the roadway ahead is clear. It is permission, not a promise that others have stopped. A blocked intersection must not be entered until space exists beyond it. Turning still follows lane and yield rules for pedestrians and opposing traffic. A fast left right scan before rolling catches red light runners. That pause costs little and turns a legal green into a safe entry rather than a blind launch.

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

8. 8. Police lights appear behind you in Arizona. What is the first driving action?

   1. Speed to the next parking lot miles ahead
   2. Stop instantly in your travel lane
   3. Change lanes repeatedly to find space
   4. Signal and pull off or to the roadside as soon as safe
   Show answer

   Signal and pull off or to the roadside as soon as safe. A traffic stop begins with a calm signal and a move off the roadway at the first safe place. That tells the officer the stop is acknowledged and gets both vehicles out of traffic flow. Instant lane stops and long chases to a distant lot create danger and suspicion. Repeated lane changes look evasive rather than cooperative. After stopping, the driver turns off engine and audio, keeps hands visible, and follows officer instructions. Composure protects everyone standing near moving traffic.

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

9. 9. After an Arizona crash, your vehicle still runs. Where should you take it?

   1. Shoulder, median, or highway exit, then 911
   2. Stay centered in the travel lane
   3. Drive home before calling anyone
   4. Park across the gore area to wait
   Show answer

   Shoulder, median, or highway exit, then 911. An operable vehicle sitting in travel lanes collects risk every second traffic passes. Moving to the emergency shoulder, a median refuge, or off the highway at an exit creates a safer place to check injuries, call 911, and inspect damage. Driving home abandons scene duties, and gore areas remain unlawful waiting spots. Occupants should stay alert to approaching traffic after the move and keep out of lanes. Quick clearance also protects responders and reduces secondary crash chains behind the scene.

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

10. 10. You plan to turn left at a green light with a bicyclist and a car coming from the opposite direction. What must you do?

    1. Turn first, because you have already begun
    2. Yield only to the car, since bicycles must give way
    3. Yield to the oncoming bicycle and the oncoming car
    4. Turn if you signal and keep the same speed
    Show answer

    Yield to the oncoming bicycle and the oncoming car. When preparing to turn left, you must yield the right-of-way to any oncoming vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian. The oncoming bicyclist counts the same as the oncoming car, so wait until both have passed and the path is clear. Starting to turn, signaling, or holding your speed does not give you priority. Choose a gap that leaves enough time to finish the turn safely.

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

11. 11. A disabled vehicle sits on the shoulder of an Arizona freeway ahead. What should you do?

    1. Keep your speed and stay in your lane
    2. Reduce speed, move over, and pass with caution
    3. Brake hard and stop behind it
    4. Honk to warn the driver and pass quickly
    Show answer

    Reduce speed, move over, and pass with caution. If you approach a disabled vehicle, reduce your speed, move over, and proceed around it with caution. Slowing gives you time to react if someone steps out, and moving over gives extra room. Staying at speed in the same lane, stopping behind it, or passing quickly with a horn blast does not give people near the vehicle the space and time to stay safe.

    Study this in the handbook: Freeway and highway driving

12. 12. Before putting a vehicle in motion in Arizona, which pair must be checked for working order?

    1. Turn signals and rear mirrors
    2. Brakes and headlights alone
    3. Turn signals and brakes
    4. Headlights and horn alone
    Show answer

    Turn signals and brakes. Before the vehicle moves, the driver checks that the turn signals and the brakes are in working order. Signals tell other drivers what the vehicle will do, and brakes provide the stop that every trip needs. Mirrors, headlights, and the horn matter on the road, but naming them alone skips one of the two checks required before motion. Finding a dead signal or a weak brake pedal while still parked lets the driver fix the problem before it becomes an emergency in traffic.

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

13. 13. How should a driver travel through an Arizona diverging diamond interchange?

    1. By staying right at every point
    2. By following signals, signs, and pavement markings
    3. By choosing the fastest open lane
    4. By following the vehicle ahead closely
    Show answer

    By following signals, signs, and pavement markings. A diverging diamond briefly places traffic on the left side, so habit alone can mislead a driver about where to be. Signals control the crossovers, signs show the intended path, and pavement markings keep lanes separated through the switch. Staying right at every point fights the design. Picking the fastest lane or tailing the vehicle ahead replaces guidance with guesswork. Reading the signal and markings for your own lane gives a calm path through both crossovers and back to the normal side.

14. 14. What does a red painted curb mean in Arizona?

    1. Stop only to load or unload
    2. Park for five minutes with flashers
    3. Stop only for passengers
    4. You may not stop, stand, or park
    Show answer

    You may not stop, stand, or park. Red curb paint gives the strictest curbside message: no stopping, standing, or parking at any time. Loading uses yellow, passenger stops use white, and hazard flashers cannot soften a red ban. These spaces often protect fire access, hydrants, and clear travel paths. A driver who needs to pause must find a lawful place beyond the red paint. Reading curb color early prevents a rushed stop in a space that must stay open for safety vehicles and turning traffic.

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

15. 15. When may an Arizona driver disobey a traffic signal light?

    1. When a police officer directing traffic says to do otherwise
    2. When traffic feels light during late night hours
    3. When following a large truck through the crossing
    4. When no cross traffic can be seen from the stop line
    Show answer

    When a police officer directing traffic says to do otherwise. Signal lights control the intersection until a police officer on scene directs traffic differently. Officer directions override the light because the officer can see blocked lanes, crashes, or emergency movements the signal cannot. Light traffic, a truck ahead, and a clear view do not transfer that authority to the driver. Following officer hand directions keeps all approaches moving under one plan. Once the officer leaves or signals resume normal control, drivers return to obeying the lights as posted.

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

16. 16. Before stepping into an Arizona roadway, what must a pedestrian allow drivers time to do?

    1. Honk and wave the pedestrian across
    2. Change lanes around the pedestrian
    3. Perceive and react to the person stepping out
    4. Stop traffic on the cross street
    Show answer

    Perceive and react to the person stepping out. Even at a crosswalk, a driver needs a moment to notice a person, decide, and brake. Stepping out without that margin can make a lawful crossing physically impossible to honor. Honks, lane changes, and cross street control are not the pedestrian responsibility in this rule. Looking first, making eye contact where possible, and stepping at a steady pace give drivers the perception and reaction time the rule describes. Shared timing prevents the false belief that paint alone can stop a moving vehicle instantly.

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

17. 17. You decide to brake on an icy Arizona road. How should you apply the brakes?

    1. Gently, adding pressure as the tires grip
    2. Hard at first, then let off
    3. With quick stabs repeated fast
    4. Firmly with both feet on the pedals
    Show answer

    Gently, adding pressure as the tires grip. If you decide to brake on ice or other slippery surfaces, apply the brakes gently, increasing the pressure as you feel the tires grip the road. A gentle start avoids locking the wheels and lets you feel how much traction you have. Hard pushes or fast stabs can break the grip and start a slide, so slow down early and brake smoothly.

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

18. 18. Your car begins hydroplaning in Arizona rain. How should you hold the wheel?

    1. Turn it sharply side to side
    2. Let go until speed drops
    3. Hold it firmly until tires grip again
    4. Steer hard toward the shoulder
    Show answer

    Hold it firmly until tires grip again. While tires ride on water, steering inputs cannot bite and sharp turns wait as stored danger for the moment grip returns. Holding the wheel firmly keeps the vehicle pointed straight while speed bleeds off and tread reconnects. Releasing the wheel or aiming at the shoulder invites a sudden dart when traction resumes. Braking hard can lock wheels on the film. A steady grip, foot easing off the accelerator, and patience through a few seconds restore control without adding new forces.

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

19. 19. The driver ahead of you has signaled a left turn and is slowing in the left lane. When may you pass on the right?

    1. Any time the right lane is open
    2. Only when it is safe, since that driver is turning left
    3. Only if the driver ahead also signals right
    4. Never, since passing on the right is always banned
    Show answer

    Only when it is safe, since that driver is turning left. Passing on the right is permitted only when it is safe and the driver of the other vehicle is turning left. In that case, a vehicle that has signaled a left turn is slowing, and you may go around it on the right. The manual also warns never to pass to the left of a driver who has signaled a left turn. If conditions are not safe, wait.

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

20. 20. A driver is coming straight at you in your lane on an Arizona road. What should you do first to warn the driver?

    1. Speed up and swerve left to get past the other driver
    2. Slow down, flash your headlights, and use your horn
    3. Stop in the road and wait for the other driver to react
    4. Turn off your lights and brake hard to avoid being seen
    Show answer

    Slow down, flash your headlights, and use your horn. To warn a driver who is headed toward you, reduce your speed and flash your headlights and use your horn in an effort to warn the other driver. If that does not work, head for the shoulder and off the road away from the oncoming driver. Speeding up, stopping in the lane, or turning off lights does not help the other driver notice you.

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