CO Permit Practice Test 17

All 20 questions in test 17

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. A driver rolls through a regulatory sign's instruction, figuring signs are advisory. What does Colorado call that failure?

   1. It earns only a warning on the first offense, always
   2. It is a traffic violation
   3. It is legal if no officer happened to observe it
   4. It is a violation only on state highways
   Show answer

   It is a traffic violation. The handbook says failure to obey regulatory signs is a traffic violation. Signs of this kind tell you about laws that apply at that location. Regulatory signs are not suggestions. They tell you what the law requires at that location, so ignoring them can lead to a traffic violation. If you drive through a stop sign or ignore a No U-turn sign, you can be cited for a violation, because these signs carry the force of law.

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

2. 2. A flashing yellow arrow appears for your left turn. What does it allow and require?

   1. Turn immediately, because the arrow gives full protection
   2. Stop and wait for a green arrow before you turn
   3. Go with caution while yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
   4. Turn only after the oncoming traffic has stopped fully
   Show answer

   Go with caution while yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. The handbook says a flashing yellow arrow means the driver turning left should proceed with caution and must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. You may go when the way is clear. A flashing yellow arrow lets you turn without a full stop but does not give you priority, so wait until oncoming traffic and pedestrians have cleared the path before you complete the turn.

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

3. 3. A minimum speed is posted on a Colorado freeway, but ice covers the lanes. May you legally drive below that minimum?

   1. No, the minimum applies in every kind of weather
   2. Yes, when road or weather conditions require it
   3. Only if you have your hazard lights switched on
   4. Only if you are driving in the leftmost lane of the road
   Show answer

   Yes, when road or weather conditions require it. The handbook says driving slower than the minimum speed limit is a traffic violation, unless it is due to road or weather conditions. Ice on the lanes is a clear case of road conditions. Slowing for icy lanes is the safe choice, and the exception applies only because conditions require it, not because a driver prefers a lower speed. Even then, drive as fast as is safe.

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

4. 4. The posted limit beside a stopped emergency vehicle is 40 mph, and you cannot move over. What passing speed applies?

   1. Slow to 25 mph unless personnel or conditions direct otherwise
   2. Slow to 20 mph below the posted limit of 40 mph
   3. Hold 40 mph and straddle the lane line to pass
   4. Slow to 10 mph on every pass of this kind
   Show answer

   Slow to 25 mph unless personnel or conditions direct otherwise. The handbook says that when passing a stopped emergency vehicle and you cannot move over, you should slow to 25 mph if the posted speed limit is 45 mph or less. At a posted 40 mph, that is 25 mph, unless personnel or conditions direct otherwise. When the posted limit is 45 mph or less, the slower speed of 25 mph applies. Be ready to adjust it if the officer or other personnel at the scene direct you otherwise.

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

5. 5. Your car with anti-lock brakes begins to skid on a slick corner. What steps help?

   1. Let up on the gas, press the brake, and steer where you want to go
   2. Accelerate gently so that the vehicle straightens out
   3. Turn the wheel sharply against the direction of the skid
   4. Shift to neutral and take your feet off all the pedals
   Show answer

   Let up on the gas, press the brake, and steer where you want to go. With anti-lock brakes, the handbook says if you begin to skid, let up on the accelerator and push on the brake, then turn the front wheels in the direction you want the car to go. Taking your foot off the gas, braking, and steering toward your intended path helps the vehicle regain traction, and abrupt moves tend to make a skid worse.

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

6. 6. An animal suddenly runs in front of your vehicle. What deserves priority?

   1. Swerving hard at any speed in order to miss the animal
   2. Braking only after your vehicle has passed the animal
   3. Accelerating so that you clear the animal's path quickly
   4. Keeping control of your vehicle before, during, and after any collision
   Show answer

   Keeping control of your vehicle before, during, and after any collision. The handbook says to concentrate on retaining control of the vehicle before, during, and after the collision with the animal, rather than swerving in a way that causes a worse crash. Hitting an animal is serious, but losing control of the vehicle could be worse, so slow down, hold the wheel firmly, and stay in your lane when you cannot avoid it.

   Study this in the handbook: Avoiding collisions, animals and vehicle failures

7. 7. A driver plans to turn into a parking lot in Colorado. What must the driver do first?

   1. Signal the turn, just as with a turn onto another road
   2. Signal only after you have already entered the parking lot
   3. Skip signaling when traffic behind you looks light
   4. Tap the brakes twice instead of using a signal
   Show answer

   Signal the turn, just as with a turn onto another road. The handbook says that before any turn, whether onto another roadway, into a parking lot, into another lane of traffic, or when leaving a parked position, it is extremely important that you signal. Drivers nearby need warning before you slow and turn. The same signal habit applies whenever you leave the road, change lanes, or pull away from a parked position, so make it automatic every time you turn.

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

8. 8. Under Colorado's Express Consent Law, what does operating a motor vehicle mean you have agreed to do?

   1. Accept a speeding citation without review
   2. Take a chemical test for alcohol or drugs when required
   3. Install an ignition interlock before every trip
   4. Submit to a vehicle inspection at every stop
   Show answer

   Take a chemical test for alcohol or drugs when required. Express consent concerns chemical testing for alcohol or drugs when law enforcement suspects impaired driving. It is not a blanket agreement to accept every citation, install equipment before every trip, or undergo a vehicle inspection at every stop. The handbook explains that the test may involve blood, breath, saliva, or urine. Remember the trigger: operating a motor vehicle creates the testing agreement, while suspicion of impairment allows officers to require the chemical test.

   Study this in the handbook: Drugs, penalties and express consent

9. 9. You approach a yield sign with a pedestrian stepping off the curb and a car crossing your path. What does the sign demand?

   1. Proceed slowly without ever having to stop for anyone
   2. Yield only to vehicles and not to any people crossing the street
   3. Stop only when a stop line has been painted on the road
   4. Slow or stop and yield to people and vehicles with the right of way
   Show answer

   Slow or stop and yield to people and vehicles with the right of way. The handbook says yield signs indicate you must slow or stop to yield to all pedestrians and any vehicle with right of way. Be prepared to stop at a yield sign if a pedestrian or vehicle has the right of way, and go only when the way is clear. The sign does not let you ignore anyone. Look both ways before you proceed through the intersection.

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

10. 10. A center lane is striped for shared use between opposing lanes. What movement is it reserved for?

    1. Passing slower vehicles in both of the directions
    2. Left turns in either direction
    3. General travel when the traffic gets heavy
    4. Parking while waiting to pick up passengers
    Show answer

    Left turns in either direction. The handbook says this center lane is for the exclusive use of left turning vehicles and may be used by drivers making a left turn in either direction. Look for the lane markings on both sides and use the lane only for left turns, never for passing or for traveling long distances along the road. Do not stop in the lane for longer than you need to complete the turn.

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

11. 11. While driving in Colorado, what should you do when a cell phone call or another urgent situation demands your attention?

    1. Ask a child in the vehicle to watch the road instead
    2. Handle the phone while moving if traffic is light
    3. Safely pull over before handling the distraction
    4. Increase speed so the task takes less time
    Show answer

    Safely pull over before handling the distraction. The handbook identifies distractions as a leading cause of driver error and specifically includes the cell phone among distractions to avoid. If a phone issue or another urgent situation demands attention, the safe response is to pull over safely before dealing with it. Light traffic does not make moving-phone use reliable, and neither a child passenger nor extra speed replaces the driver's attention. Make adjustments before leaving when possible, and use a safe stopping place for anything that cannot wait.

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

12. 12. How must a driver respond to a flashing red traffic signal in Colorado?

    1. Treat it like a flashing yellow warning
    2. Slow slightly and continue without stopping
    3. Wait for a green arrow before moving in any direction
    4. Treat it like a stop sign, then proceed after yielding
    Show answer

    Treat it like a stop sign, then proceed after yielding. A flashing red light has the same operating meaning as a STOP sign. The driver must stop, check for pedestrians and other traffic, and proceed only after the path is safe. Merely slowing is insufficient, and a flashing red does not require waiting for a green arrow if the intersection can be entered lawfully after the stop. Confusing it with a flashing yellow removes the required stop. Use the stop line or crosswalk as the stopping reference, then scan before moving.

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

13. 13. How does marijuana impairment compare by dose and person?

    1. It depends on dose, time since use, and the individual person
    2. Every user reaches exactly the same level of impairment as others
    3. Blood levels predict how impaired a driver is exactly
    4. Only the way that it is smoked has any effect at all
    Show answer

    It depends on dose, time since use, and the individual person. The handbook says that like alcohol, the degree of marijuana impairment depends upon the dose consumed, time since consumption, and differences between individuals. Because the effect varies from person to person, a driver cannot reliably predict how impaired he or she is after use, so the safest choice is not to drive. Like alcohol, marijuana impairs driving, and the effect depends on several things at once. A driver cannot judge their own level of impairment by how they feel, so the safe choice is not to drive after use.

    Study this in the handbook: Drugs, penalties and express consent

14. 14. When may a Colorado driver use a mobile electronic device while driving?

    1. Whenever the vehicle is stopped in traffic
    2. Only with a hands-free device or in an emergency
    3. Whenever the call seems short and important
    4. Whenever a passenger is riding in the car
    Show answer

    Only with a hands-free device or in an emergency. The handbook says drivers are not allowed to use any mobile electronic device while driving unless it is with a hands-free device or in an emergency situation. It also warns that carelessly driving while texting or manually using a device could bring a fine or a misdemeanor charge, and it advises pulling off the road if you need to use your phone.

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

15. 15. A license carries a corrective lens restriction. What must the driver do?

    1. Wear lenses only on freeways and only at night
    2. Keep the glasses in the vehicle just in case of need
    3. Wear glasses or contact lenses when driving
    4. Wear lenses only during the driving test at the DMV
    Show answer

    Wear glasses or contact lenses when driving. The handbook says that if you have a corrective lens restriction on your license, you need to wear glasses or contact lenses while driving. Driving without them breaks the license restriction. Wearing your glasses or contacts helps you see signs, signals and hazards in time, so follow the restriction every time you drive. The restriction appears on your license, so treat it as a rule you must follow every time you drive.

    Study this in the handbook: Drugs, penalties and express consent

16. 16. What should you do when you pull out of a driveway across a sidewalk?

    1. Check only toward the street traffic
    2. Check both directions before crossing the sidewalk
    3. Honk and pull out at once
    4. Roll forward quickly so nobody enters the gap
    Show answer

    Check both directions before crossing the sidewalk. The handbook lists a typical crash cause: a motorist pulling out from a driveway and failing to see a bicyclist on the road or sidewalk. To prevent it, check both directions when crossing a sidewalk, bike path, or road. The same table says a motorist turning right in front of a cyclist should yield and let the cyclist clear the intersection first, and should make turns from close to the curb.

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

17. 17. Steering in reverse follows which rule?

    1. The wheel works backward once you shift into reverse gear
    2. Only the rear wheels respond when you back up
    3. Turn it toward the direction you want the vehicle to go
    4. Steering stops responding until the car reaches 5 mph
    Show answer

    Turn it toward the direction you want the vehicle to go. The handbook says the steering wheel is always turned in the direction you want the vehicle to move, whether moving forward or in reverse. The rule does not change when you shift gears, so you turn the wheel toward where you want the vehicle to go. Hand position matters for control too: place both hands on the outside of the wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions or the 4 and 8 o'clock positions, with a firm but gentle grip, using your fingers instead of your palms.

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

18. 18. Most work zone crashes share what pattern?

    1. Sideswipes that happen at the first traffic cone
    2. Rollover crashes that happen on fresh pavement
    3. Rear-end crashes caused by an inattentive driver
    4. Head-on crashes that happen at the flagger stations
    Show answer

    Rear-end crashes caused by an inattentive driver. The handbook says most work zone crashes are rear-end collisions due to an inattentive driver. Keep your attention on the road and keep a safe following distance. Driving distracted or following too closely near workers and stopped vehicles is the main danger, so look well ahead and brake in plenty of time. Keep your attention fully on the road, slow down early when you see signs for the work zone, and leave extra space so you can stop if traffic ahead suddenly slows.

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

19. 19. Parked facing uphill where there is a curb, which way should the front wheels point?

    1. Away from the curb, so the wheel rests against it if the car rolls
    2. Toward the curb, in the same way as when parked downhill
    3. Straight ahead until the parking brake is fully set
    4. Left only when the street has no curb at all
    Show answer

    Away from the curb, so the wheel rests against it if the car rolls. The handbook says that when headed uphill where there is a curb, you turn the front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back gently. The wheel then rests against the curb, which stops the vehicle from rolling into traffic. Compare this with parking downhill, where the wheels turn toward the curb, since the direction of the roll is the opposite.

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

20. 20. When are snow and ice covered roads most hazardous?

    1. Only during the first hour after a storm begins
    2. Only after the plows have cleared both of the lanes
    3. When the temperature stays far below the freezing mark
    4. When the snow or ice begins to melt
    Show answer

    When the snow or ice begins to melt. The handbook says snow and ice covered roads are most hazardous when the snow or ice begins to melt. When the road is slippery, your tires do not grip as well and it will take longer to stop. Melting snow and ice leaves a thin wet film on the surface, which makes the road especially slick even when it seems to be warming up.

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