AR Permit Practice Test 11

All 20 questions in test 11

Every question below comes from the Arkansas 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 have been drinking in Arkansas and you do not have a designated driver. What should you do?

   1. Use public transportation or a cab
   2. Drive home slowly on side streets with few other cars
   3. Wait fifteen minutes and then drive if you feel steady
   4. Drink coffee at the venue and then drive yourself home
   Show answer

   Use public transportation or a cab. Without a designated driver, public transportation or a cab keeps an impaired person out of the driver seat. Slow driving on side streets still involves steering, judging gaps, and reacting while alcohol is in the body. Fifteen minutes is far too short for alcohol to clear. Coffee may add a feeling of alertness without sobering the drinker. Paying for a ride is minor compared with a crash or an arrest, so arrange that ride before trying to head home.

   Study this in the handbook: Drinking and Driving

2. 2. Which three types of distraction does the Arkansas guide say occur together when you use a hand-held phone?

   1. Visual, hearing, and emotional
   2. Visual, manual, and cognitive
   3. Manual, spoken, and physical
   4. Cognitive, auditory, and social
   Show answer

   Visual, manual, and cognitive. The guide says that texting or talking on a hand-held cell phone involves three types of distraction at the same time. Visual means taking your eyes off the road, manual means taking your hands off the wheel, and cognitive means taking your mind off driving. A hand-held phone does all three at once, which is why it is one of the most dangerous distractions for a driver.

   Study this in the handbook: Phone Laws and Distracted Driving

3. 3. In heavy traffic, how do regular mirror checks help you?

   1. They let you stop watching the road ahead for a few seconds
   2. They show fast or close traffic and give you time to react
   3. They replace the need to signal your moves
   4. They show every vehicle that is hidden in your blind spots
   Show answer

   They show fast or close traffic and give you time to react. The guide says that in heavy traffic you should occasionally watch your rearview and side mirrors to know where traffic is positioned. By checking your mirrors you will be able to see rear traffic approaching too fast and vehicles following too close, which allows you more time to react. Mirrors do not show blind spots, so a check over your shoulder is still needed before a lane change.

   Study this in the handbook: Turns, Lane Changes and Passing

4. 4. You plan to turn right where a bicyclist rides in the same direction near your turn. How should you handle the turn?

   1. Pass the rider first and then turn right in front of the rider
   2. Speed up so that the rider cannot catch up to your car
   3. Honk and turn once the rider slows down
   4. Merge with the bicycle traffic, not across the rider
   Show answer

   Merge with the bicycle traffic, not across the rider. The guide says to merge with bicycle traffic when preparing for a right turn, and not to turn directly across the path of a cyclist. Drivers who overtake a bicyclist and then turn right in front of the rider can cause an accident. Merging puts you in line with the rider so that you turn from the same lane position, and you can look left, then right and left again to check the rider's speed before turning.

   Study this in the handbook: Trucks, Motorcycles and Bicycles

5. 5. A curb beside an open Arkansas parking space is painted a color. What may the paint tell you?

   1. Anyone may park there for as long as they like
   2. Only the nearest shop's customers may park there
   3. The curb is painted for street cleaning crews only
   4. Parking in that area may be restricted
   Show answer

   Parking in that area may be restricted. The guide's parking section says to check for signs that may prohibit or limit parking, and it adds that colored curb markings may indicate a restricted parking area. It lists red curb as a fire zone and yellow curb as a loading zone or other restriction. Painted curbs are one way a driver learns where parking is limited, so a colored curb is a cue to look for the restriction before you leave the car there.

   Study this in the handbook: Parking Rules and Accessible Parking

6. 6. Red lights begin flashing at a crossing and the gates start to lower. What does this tell you?

   1. A train has just passed and the road ahead is clearing
   2. A drill is under way and traffic may go on
   3. A train is approaching and the crossing is closing
   4. A signal fault has occurred and you may cross
   Show answer

   A train is approaching and the crossing is closing. The guide says that when the red lights are flashing, a train is present, and as the lights begin to flash the gates lower, which means a train is approaching. When the gates are down, the road is closed and it is unsafe and illegal to cross. The warning is that a train is coming now, not that one has gone by or that the signal is out of order.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning and Railroad Crossing Signs

7. 7. Which way of holding the steering wheel does the Arkansas guide recommend?

   1. Both hands together at the top of the wheel
   2. One hand on the wheel and one on the shifter
   3. Hands on opposite sides of the wheel
   4. Both hands low and close together at the bottom
   Show answer

   Hands on opposite sides of the wheel. The guide says to place your hands on opposite sides of the steering wheel. With a hand on each side you are more comfortable, and you can make turns without taking your hands off the wheel. Holding the wheel with both hands bunched together, or using only one hand, gives you less leverage and less control when a quick turn is needed. Good control of the wheel is part of staying in command of the vehicle.

8. 8. A slow vehicle blocks your lane on a two-lane Arkansas road and the paved shoulder looks wide open. What should you do?

   1. Use the shoulder since it is paved and clear
   2. Wait for a legal chance to pass in the traffic lane
   3. Use the shoulder only if you signal first and check behind you
   4. Use the shoulder if the slow driver waves you on
   Show answer

   Wait for a legal chance to pass in the traffic lane. The guide says never to pass on the shoulder, whether it is paved or not, because other drivers will never expect you to be there and may pull off the road without looking. It also says never to drive on the shoulder of any road unless directed by a police officer. A wide, paved shoulder is not a passing lane, so wait for a lawful opening in the traffic lane, with room to return safely.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement Markings and Lane Use

9. 9. In Arkansas, your vehicle has antilock brakes. What can you do while braking hard that may help you miss a crash?

   1. Close your eyes during the stop
   2. Turn the vehicle while braking
   3. Release the pedal to steer better
   4. Turn only after a full stop
   Show answer

   Turn the vehicle while braking. Because the system keeps wheels rolling, steering stays alive during a hard stop. You can brake firmly and still guide the vehicle toward a clear gap or around the danger. Releasing the pedal throws away stopping power you still need. Waiting for a full stop wastes the distance where a path change could help. Closing your eyes removes the view you need to pick that path. Look where you want to go, hold pedal pressure, and steer smoothly rather than jerking the wheel.

   Study this in the handbook: Vehicle Emergencies and Crashes

10. 10. A crash has knocked electrical wires down across the road. What should you do about the wires?

    1. Move them aside with a dry stick
    2. Drive over them slowly to clear the road
    3. Cover them with a blanket from your car
    4. Stay away from them
    Show answer

    Stay away from them. The guide's steps for what to do after a traffic crash say that if there are electrical wires down, you should not go near the wires. When you call for help, give the dispatcher any warnings such as gas spills, fire, or downed electric lines. Downed wires can still carry electricity even when they look harmless, so keeping away is the only safe response.

    Study this in the handbook: Vehicle Emergencies and Crashes

11. 11. A car suddenly pulls out ahead of you and you cannot stop in time. What does the guide say you should consider?

    1. Braking only, since turning is always the riskier move
    2. Closing your eyes and braking hard
    3. Turning, since a driver can often turn quicker
    4. Speeding up straight through the gap
    Show answer

    Turning, since a driver can often turn quicker. The guide says that in most cases a driver can turn the vehicle quicker than it can be stopped, so you should consider turning to avoid a collision. Grip the wheel with both hands, and once you have turned away be ready to keep the vehicle under control, because some drivers steer away from one collision only to end up in another. Braking alone may not stop you in time.

    Study this in the handbook: Vehicle Emergencies and Crashes

12. 12. In Arkansas, when signs and markings allow passing, how many vehicles should a driver pass at one time as a safe rule?

    1. As many as fit before the next curve
    2. Two vehicles if they are traveling slowly
    3. Any number if the horn is sounded first
    4. Only one vehicle at a time
    Show answer

    Only one vehicle at a time. Passing a single vehicle keeps the time spent beside or facing other traffic short and predictable. Strings of cars stretch that exposure and hide gaps where someone might pull out. A slow pace by others does not remove oncoming risk or blind driveways along the stretch. The horn cannot substitute for a clear view and enough returning space. Finishing one pass, settling back in, and reassessing sets up the next move safely.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping Distance and Following

13. 13. In Arkansas, can a driver get a ticket for going too fast for conditions even while driving the posted speed limit?

    1. Yes, when weather or traffic makes that speed unsafe
    2. No, the posted limit always protects a driver from a ticket
    3. Only if the driver also runs a red light
    4. Only on highways with no posted limit
    Show answer

    Yes, when weather or traffic makes that speed unsafe. A posted limit is a ceiling for good conditions, not a promise that every mile per hour below it is safe. Ice, rain, darkness, and heavy traffic can make lawful looking speed unsafe. Officers may cite speed that is unreasonable for what the road presents at that moment. Slowing earlier gives tires more grip and leaves a wider margin for surprise moves by others. Matching pace to visibility and surface keeps a routine trip from turning urgent.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed Limits and Road Conditions

14. 14. You are about to turn across the path of a bicyclist at an intersection. What should you try to do first?

    1. Rely on the rider's hand signal and turn
    2. Gain and hold eye contact with the rider
    3. Speed up so you clear the rider's path first
    4. Turn first and watch the rider in your mirror
    Show answer

    Gain and hold eye contact with the rider. The guide says most bicyclists maintain eye contact with the drivers around them when making a turn, so a driver should attempt to gain and maintain eye contact with the cyclist before turning. Eye contact confirms that the rider has seen you and shows you what the rider plans to do. Relying on a signal, racing across, or turning first and looking later all skip that check.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, Motorcycles and Bicycles

15. 15. Another car is about to pull into the street between you and the corner where you plan to turn. When should you signal?

    1. After you have passed that car
    2. Right away, so the car knows your plan
    3. Only when you reach the corner itself
    4. At the same time that you begin to brake
    Show answer

    After you have passed that car. The guide says that if another vehicle is about to enter the street between you and where you plan to turn, you should wait until you have passed it to signal your turn. A signal given earlier may make the entering driver think you are turning at that earlier street, and the driver may pull out in front of you. Waiting keeps the meaning of your signal clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights, Horn and Signals

16. 16. You are about to start a long drive and want to stay alert through the afternoon. Which meal choice does the guide recommend?

    1. A large meal so you will not get hungry
    2. A heavy meal right after you start driving
    3. No food at all until the trip is finished
    4. A light meal before you leave
    Show answer

    A light meal before you leave. Among the ways the guide lists to keep from getting tired on a long trip is to eat light meals before departure. Large, full meals tend to cause drowsiness, which is the opposite of what a driver needs. A light meal avoids hunger without making you sleepy. The guide also suggests regular breaks and getting a good night's sleep before you leave, but its advice about food is to keep it light.

17. 17. Before changing lanes in Arkansas, how should you check for a motorcycle nearby?

    1. Rely only on a quick glance at the center mirror
    2. Listen for engine sound and move if traffic sounds quiet
    3. Make a visual check of mirrors and blind spots before moving
    4. Signal and move at once so the rider can react
    Show answer

    Make a visual check of mirrors and blind spots before moving. A motorcycle can hide in a blind spot or vanish during a quick look because of its smaller size. Check mirrors and turn for a direct visual check before entering or leaving a lane. Repeat that care at intersections where paths cross. Sound and signals alone cannot confirm a clear space. A real look for a rider prevents a side swipe during a routine lane move.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, Motorcycles and Bicycles

18. 18. You scan an intersection mainly for cars and trucks before turning. What habit does the guide say to correct?

    1. Looking more than once at the cross street ahead
    2. Checking your mirrors before you turn
    3. Looking only for cars can hide a motorcycle
    4. Signaling before you turn at the corner
    Show answer

    Looking only for cars can hide a motorcycle. The guide lists reasons drivers may not see motorcyclists, and the first is that many drivers tend to look for other cars and not for motorcyclists. It adds that the profile of a motorcycle is much smaller than a car, making an approaching rider harder to see. Taking a second look for a motorcycle before turning, particularly on left turns, helps correct that habit.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, Motorcycles and Bicycles

19. 19. After you pass the pictured sign, a person steps into the crosswalk ahead. What must you do?

    
    1. Yield to the pedestrian
    2. Go ahead if you can pass behind the person
    3. Honk and keep going at the same speed
    4. Stop only if the person is in your lane
    Show answer

    Yield to the pedestrian. The guide says a driver must yield to pedestrians in or about to enter a crosswalk, and that not all crosswalks are marked, so drivers should watch for pedestrians when crossing intersections. Drivers must also yield, where necessary, to avoid striking pedestrians who are legally crossing the road. Passing behind a person, honking, or waiting only for your own lane does not satisfy the duty to yield.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, Sidewalks and Traffic Circles

20. 20. You see a reflective orange triangle with a red border on the back of a vehicle ahead. What does it tell you?

    1. It is traveling slower than normal traffic
    2. The vehicle is carrying a wide or oversize load
    3. The vehicle is about to turn left
    4. The vehicle is a school transport
    Show answer

    It is traveling slower than normal traffic. The guide says a reflective orange triangle bordered with red is the slow-moving vehicle sign, and that it warns other road users that the vehicle is traveling slower than the normal speed of traffic. Farm tractors, animal-drawn vehicles, and roadway maintenance vehicles usually travel 25 mph or less and should have the sign visible from the rear. Give yourself time to slow down or change lanes.

    Study this in the handbook: Stop, Yield and Regulation Signs