CO Permit Practice Test 13

All 20 questions in test 13

Every question below comes from the Colorado 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. May a driver pass another vehicle by using the shoulder of the road?

   1. No, passing on the shoulder is not allowed
   2. Yes, if the vehicle ahead is moving slowly
   3. Yes, if there is no oncoming traffic
   4. Yes, but only in a work zone
   Show answer

   No, passing on the shoulder is not allowed. The handbook says that you are not allowed to pass another vehicle by driving off of the pavement or on the shoulder of a roadway. It also says that typically you should pass on the left, and it allows passing on the right only on one-way streets and roadways with two or more lanes of travel in each direction. Passing off the pavement puts you where drivers do not expect a moving vehicle, and it can also leave you with no safe place to return.

   Study this in the handbook: Freeways, lane changes and passing

2. 2. Traffic ahead stops for a pedestrian at a crosswalk on a multi-lane road, and your lane looks clear. What must you do?

   1. Pass slowly in the open lane that is beside the stopped car
   2. Edge forward to look around the stopped vehicle
   3. Stop behind the vehicle or crosswalk and do not pass
   4. Proceed as long as your own lane stays empty
   Show answer

   Stop behind the vehicle or crosswalk and do not pass. The handbook says that when you approach a vehicle from the rear that is stopped at a crosswalk, you must not pass and must stop behind the vehicle, or behind the crosswalk in the adjacent lane on a multi-lane roadway. A pedestrian may be hidden from you. Stopping behind the vehicle or the crosswalk lets the pedestrian cross, so you should wait until the crosswalk is clear before proceeding.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, guide, work zone and special signs

3. 3. A lane closure is ahead on a Colorado highway. How should drivers use the lanes before the merge point?

   1. Move into the open lane as early as possible, before the merge
   2. Stop in the closing lane and wait for someone to let you in
   3. Continue to use both lanes equally, then alternate at the merge point
   4. Speed up in the open lane so late merging drivers cannot enter
   Show answer

   Continue to use both lanes equally, then alternate at the merge point. In a zipper merge, vehicles merge from two lanes into one lane in a zipper fashion, which keeps traffic flowing. The handbook says that when there is a lane closure ahead, drivers should continue to drive in both lanes equally. Each car should alternate into the remaining open lane until just before the point of closure. It also asks drivers to be respectful of those who wait to merge until just before the lane ends, because they are doing it correctly.

   Study this in the handbook: Scanning, following distance, phones and traffic stops

4. 4. What should drivers do around motorcyclists besides taking extra caution?

   1. Increase their following distance
   2. Move closer so the rider can see their vehicle
   3. Honk to warn the rider every time they pass
   4. Pass them quickly within the same lane
   Show answer

   Increase their following distance. The handbook tells drivers to watch for motorcyclists, use extra caution when driving around them and increase their following distance. Motorcycles can stop quicker than expected, so a driver who follows too closely may not have time to react. Leaving extra space behind a motorcycle gives you the room needed to stop safely. A longer gap also gives you a better view of the rider and of road hazards ahead of the rider that might make the rider swerve or stop.

   Study this in the handbook: Bicyclists, motorcycles, trucks and pedestrians

5. 5. Where parallel parking is permitted, how close to the curb must the vehicle sit?

   1. Within 24 inches of the curb on any kind of street
   2. Up to 18 inches away from it when traffic is light
   3. Any distance that still leaves one lane of traffic open
   4. Within 12 inches of the curb or as close as possible
   Show answer

   Within 12 inches of the curb or as close as possible. The handbook says that where parallel parking is permitted, your vehicle must be within 12 inches of the curb or as close as possible to the outside edge of the shoulder. Parking close keeps the vehicle out of the travel lane so traffic is not blocked or slowed. A vehicle parked beyond twelve inches from the curb sticks out into the lane, which is why the handbook sets a firm limit.

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

6. 6. The main road looks dry, but your route crosses bridges and shaded stretches in winter. What should you expect?

   1. Ice forms only after midnight, when the temperature drops
   2. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded spots can be icy while other pavement is not
   3. Bridges stay warmer than the open roads around them
   4. Shaded pavement dries out faster than sunny pavement in winter
   Show answer

   Bridges, overpasses, and shaded spots can be icy while other pavement is not. The handbook says overpasses, bridges, shaded areas and snow packed portions of the road can be icy even when other pavement is not. Slow down early on such stretches in cold weather. Reduce speed before you reach such stretches, because the road can look dry and still be slick. Ease off the gas early, avoid sudden braking or steering on those spots, and increase the space between you and the vehicle ahead until you are back on normal pavement.

   Study this in the handbook: Hills, curves, snow, ice and mountain roads

7. 7. You see the yellow diamond sign shown on a rural highway in Colorado. What should you prepare for?

   
   1. A lane that is ending with no traffic joining it
   2. A school crossing with children present nearby
   3. Railroad tracks that cross your road just ahead
   4. Vehicles entering your road from a side street
   Show answer

   Vehicles entering your road from a side street. The handbook says a merging traffic sign warns of vehicles entering from a side street. Watch for vehicles joining your road and be ready to adjust your speed or lane. Slow down, and be ready for vehicles entering from the side, since they may be merging into your lane or crossing it. Adjust your lane position if you can do so safely.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory signs: stop, yield and speed

8. 8. Your lane line pairing shows solid yellow on your side and broken yellow beyond it. May you pass?

   1. Yes, since the broken line on the far side allows you to pass it
   2. Yes, if the oncoming traffic looks far enough away
   3. Only bicyclists are limited by that kind of line
   4. No, you may not pass with the solid line on your side
   Show answer

   No, you may not pass with the solid line on your side. The handbook says you may not pass if the solid yellow line is on your side. If the broken yellow line is on your side, you may pass if it is safe to do so. Passing is allowed only when the broken line is on your side, so with the solid line on your side you stay in your lane until the markings change, however clear the road ahead may look.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, guide, work zone and special signs

9. 9. After alcohol enters the bloodstream, what makes a person sober again?

   1. Coffee and fresh air taken over about an hour
   2. Only time, as the body eliminates the alcohol
   3. A large meal eaten after the person has finished drinking
   4. A cold shower taken before the person drives home
   Show answer

   Only time, as the body eliminates the alcohol. The handbook says once alcohol is in the bloodstream, only the passage of time will make a person sober, as the body eliminates it through normal bodily processes. There is no quick fix such as coffee, food, or a shower, so the only safe plan is to wait or arrange another ride instead of driving. Time lets the body clear alcohol gradually, which is why a person may still be impaired the morning after drinking heavily, and it is why friends should arrange a safe ride.

   Study this in the handbook: Losing your license, seat belts and child restraints

10. 10. Posted at 55 mph on a divided highway, you cannot change lanes beside a stopped emergency vehicle. What speed applies?

    1. Slow to exactly 25 mph for this particular case
    2. Maintain 55 mph but use extra caution while you are passing
    3. Slow to a total of 20 mph while you pass by
    4. Slow to 20 mph under the posted limit and pass with care
    Show answer

    Slow to 20 mph under the posted limit and pass with care. For passing a stopped emergency vehicle when you cannot move over, the handbook says to slow to 20 mph under the posted speed limit if the posted speed limit is above 45 mph. With 55 mph posted, that means about 35 mph. The slowdown is a fixed amount below the limit when the posted limit is above 45 mph, and a fixed speed when the limit is 45 mph or less. Know both numbers before you drive past emergency crews.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way at intersections, roundabouts and mountain roads

11. 11. Before getting into a vehicle to back up, what check comes first?

    1. Check that the radio volume is set low for reversing
    2. Check behind the vehicle, since children and small objects can be hidden
    3. Look only in the side mirrors after you have gotten in
    4. Ask a passenger to watch behind once you start moving
    Show answer

    Check behind the vehicle, since children and small objects can be hidden. The handbook says to check behind your vehicle before you get in. Children and small objects cannot be seen from the driver's seat, so a walk around the back is the only reliable way to be sure. Make this check each time, because a child or a small object behind the vehicle can be out of view from the driver's seat and in the path of the vehicle.

    Study this in the handbook: Fitness to drive, distractions and basic control

12. 12. A 20-month-old weighing 30 pounds rides in your Colorado vehicle. What restraint setup is required?

    1. A forward-facing child seat that is placed in the rear row
    2. A booster seat that is used with only a lap belt
    3. A seat belt, as long as the child is sitting still
    4. A rear-facing child restraint secured in the rear seat
    Show answer

    A rear-facing child restraint secured in the rear seat. The handbook says children less than 2 years old and weighing less than 40 pounds must be properly secured in the rear seat in a rear-facing child restraint system. A 20-month-old at 30 pounds meets both of those conditions. The weight and age together decide the type of seat. This child is under 2 and under 40 pounds, so rear-facing in the back is the correct setup, not a forward-facing seat or a booster.

    Study this in the handbook: Losing your license, seat belts and child restraints

13. 13. What habit lowers the chance of becoming an aggressive driver?

    1. Leave early and allow enough time for the trip
    2. Drive faster whenever you are running slightly late
    3. Close the gaps so that others cannot merge first
    4. Carry the anger from your day into your driving
    Show answer

    Leave early and allow enough time for the trip. The handbook says to leave early for any trip, because too frequently people do not allow enough time to get where they want to be on time. Hurrying leads to risky choices. Allowing extra time removes the pressure that leads to speeding, tailgating and other aggressive acts, so plan your trip with time to spare. Giving yourself extra time lets you stay calm in traffic and obey the speed limit.

    Study this in the handbook: Distracted, reckless and aggressive driving

14. 14. On a steep, narrow Colorado road, which vehicle generally yields when two vehicles cannot pass?

    1. The vehicle with fewer passengers
    2. The uphill vehicle
    3. The downhill vehicle
    4. The vehicle that arrived later at the trailhead
    Show answer

    The downhill vehicle. On a steep narrow road, the downhill vehicle generally yields by backing to a wider place or stopping to leave room for the uphill vehicle. The handbook allows an exception when it is more practicable for the uphill driver to return to a wider space or turnout. That exception does not reverse the ordinary rule automatically. First identify the direction of travel, then consider which driver can reach a safe wider area with less difficulty.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way at intersections, roundabouts and mountain roads

15. 15. In a work zone, what driving habits protect crews most?

    1. Keep a tight gap behind the car ahead so traffic moves fast
    2. Be ready to stop suddenly and do not tailgate
    3. Watch the equipment instead of the traffic in front of you
    4. Hold your speed steady to keep the work zone moving along
    Show answer

    Be ready to stop suddenly and do not tailgate. The handbook says to be prepared to stop suddenly and not to tailgate in a work zone. Traffic can stop abruptly there, and leaving space keeps you from hitting the vehicle ahead or endangering crews. In a work zone the space ahead of you is your protection, because traffic may stop abruptly and workers can be close to the lanes.

    Study this in the handbook: Scanning, following distance, phones and traffic stops

16. 16. A ONE WAY sign's arrow points left along the street you want to enter. What does it permit?

    1. Parking on either side of that street
    2. Two-way travel at speeds below 15 mph
    3. Travel only in the direction the arrow points
    4. Turns in both directions at the corners
    Show answer

    Travel only in the direction the arrow points. The handbook says One Way signs indicate you may only travel in the direction indicated by the sign's arrow. Do not enter against the arrow, even for a short distance, because other drivers are not expecting traffic from that direction. The arrow shows the only direction in which vehicles may travel on that street, so if the arrow points left, do not enter the street going right, and look for other signs that confirm the direction of traffic before you turn onto a one-way street.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory signs: stop, yield and speed

17. 17. No speed sign appears as your road changes from country highway to a small town street. How do you choose a legal speed?

    1. Use the default limit for that road type and slow for conditions
    2. Keep the highway limit as you drive through the town
    3. Drive 10 mph under the last posted speed limit
    4. Pick whichever speed feels comfortable to you
    Show answer

    Use the default limit for that road type and slow for conditions. The handbook lists the unposted Colorado limits by type of road: 20 mph on narrow winding mountain roads and blind curves, 25 mph in business districts, 30 mph in residence districts. Choose the default that fits the road, and go slower if conditions require. The speed that applies depends on the type of area, so identify the area you are in and follow that default. Slow down further whenever weather or other conditions require it.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, school buses and work zones

18. 18. You spot a shield-shaped route marker on a rural highway. What does its shape tell you?

    1. The type of route, such as Interstate, U.S., State, or County
    2. The speed limit that goes with that type of route
    3. The distance to the next fuel station ahead
    4. Whether trucks are allowed to use that roadway
    Show answer

    The type of route, such as Interstate, U.S., State, or County. The handbook says the shape of a route sign or marker indicates the type of roadway: Interstate, U.S., State or County highway. Learning the shapes helps you tell at a glance whether a road is an Interstate, a U.S. route, a State route, or a County road. These route markers have a standard shape for each kind of highway, which helps you follow the correct road when you navigate. Look at the shape, not just the number, if you are unsure what type of road you are on.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, guide, work zone and special signs

19. 19. A bike lane's paint stops at an intersection, then resumes on the far side. Does the lane still exist mid-intersection?

    1. No, the lane ends wherever the paint lines stop
    2. Yes, the bike lane runs through the intersection whatever the paint
    3. Only when a bicyclist happens to be present there
    4. Only at intersections that have traffic signals
    Show answer

    Yes, the bike lane runs through the intersection whatever the paint. The handbook says a bike lane extends through an intersection regardless of whether paint connects the bike lane on either side. Watch for bicyclists going straight when you turn. Look for riders moving through the intersection beside you and yield to them before you turn across the lane, even though the paint stops there. Remember that it is the driver's duty to yield to bicyclists proceeding straight through the intersection, even when the lines are missing.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines, crosswalks and special lanes

20. 20. Your phone rings with an urgent call mid-drive, and traffic is moving fast. What does Colorado advise?

    1. Answer briefly while you keep watching the traffic
    2. Let a passenger hold the phone up to you
    3. Pull over safely before dealing with the call
    4. Text back to say that you are driving right now
    Show answer

    Pull over safely before dealing with the call. The handbook says to safely pull over to address distracting or urgent situations. Wait until you are stopped in a safe place before dealing with a phone call. Even a short call takes your attention from the road, so waiting until you have safely stopped is the better choice, and an urgent call can wait a minute. Find a safe place to stop, make the call, and then continue on your trip with your full attention.

    Study this in the handbook: Fitness to drive, distractions and basic control