CO Permit Practice Test 19

All 20 questions in test 19

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. Your brake pedal goes soft and the car will not slow normally. What is the first fix to try?

   1. Take your foot off the gas and pump the brake pedal
   2. Use the parking brake right away as your first step
   3. Shift to neutral and coast on downhill
   4. Turn off the engine while the car is still rolling fast
   Show answer

   Take your foot off the gas and pump the brake pedal. For brake failure, the handbook says to take your foot off the accelerator and pump the brake pedal several times. This will often build up enough brake pressure to allow you to stop. Pumping the pedal builds pressure in the system, and if that fails, the next steps are to use the parking brake carefully or downshift. Stay calm and look for a safe place to stop.

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

2. 2. You drive in a city area and plan to change lanes in two blocks. How long must the signal run beforehand?

   1. For about 25 feet in urban areas before you make the move
   2. Only while the wheels are actually turning
   3. Continuously for 100 feet before the turn or lane change
   4. For 200 feet on every one of the city streets
   Show answer

   Continuously for 100 feet before the turn or lane change. The handbook says that in urban areas you must signal continuously for 100 feet before making a turn or lane change. On four lane highways where the limit is above 40 mph, the distance is longer, so choose the right distance for the road you are on, and begin signaling before you reach the point where you want to move.

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

3. 3. A rural road sign tells motorists how far to stay from bicyclists when passing. What does it require?

   1. At least 3 feet from your door handle only
   2. About 1 foot, when traffic is approaching
   3. Three feet, but only where a sign is posted
   4. At least 3 feet from the outermost part of your vehicle
   Show answer

   At least 3 feet from the outermost part of your vehicle. The handbook says motorists passing a bicyclist must give a minimum of three feet from the outermost part of their vehicle or any attachments, such as mirrors or trailers, and that this applies on all roadways even if a sign is not posted. Leave more room when driving a larger vehicle or in rural or windy conditions. It also says you can briefly cross a solid yellow line when there is no oncoming traffic and you have a clear view ahead.

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

4. 4. An advisory speed plate hangs below a curve warning sign. What does its number offer?

   1. A safe speed for the curve or corner in ideal conditions
   2. The legal minimum speed that applies for that particular curve
   3. A speed that fits every kind of weather day
   4. The speed that trucks must use on the ramps
   Show answer

   A safe speed for the curve or corner in ideal conditions. The handbook says advisory speed signs are cautionary signs that show the safe speed around curves, corners and off-ramps in ideal conditions. In rain or snow, go slower. The posted number is a suggestion for a safe pace in good conditions, not a rule, and you may need to go even slower if the road is wet or icy. Use it as a guide, and slow down more if conditions are worse than ideal.

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

5. 5. You wait at a red light on a one-way street, turning left onto another one-way street, with no prohibiting sign. What is allowed?

   1. Left on red is never allowed in this situation
   2. Turn left on red after stopping, unless a sign prohibits it
   3. Turn without stopping if the traffic is light
   4. Turn only when a green arrow is showing
   Show answer

   Turn left on red after stopping, unless a sign prohibits it. The handbook says you may turn left on a red light if you are turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless prohibited by a sign. Come to a complete stop and yield before turning. Be sure you are on a one-way street turning onto another one-way street and that no sign says otherwise. Yield to pedestrians and any vehicle with the right of way.

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

6. 6. Your passenger opens a beer in the front seat on a public road in Colorado. What does the law say?

   1. Passengers may hold open containers if the driver has none
   2. Having an open alcohol container in the passenger area is unlawful
   3. Open containers are legal when your blood alcohol is under 0.08
   4. Only the container that belongs to the driver is regulated
   Show answer

   Having an open alcohol container in the passenger area is unlawful. The handbook says it is unlawful for someone to possess an open container of alcohol, or an open container of marijuana, while in the passenger area of a motor vehicle that is on a public road. The rule covers passengers as well as the driver. The rule covers any open container in the passenger area, so keep alcohol and marijuana containers sealed or stored where passengers cannot reach them.

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

7. 7. Roadside crews work from vehicles flashing yellow and blue lights. What duty applies as you approach?

   1. Pass closely by them at the posted speed limit
   2. Yield only to red and blue lights and never to the yellow ones
   3. Stop in the lane right beside the work crew
   4. Yield the right of way and use extra caution near them
   Show answer

   Yield the right of way and use extra caution near them. The handbook says you must yield right of way to service vehicles and maintenance equipment when in use and flashing yellow and blue warning lights. Slow down and use extra caution around the crew. These vehicles are working near moving traffic, so give them extra room and watch for workers beside the road. Slow down early rather than passing close at full speed.

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

8. 8. Why do mirrors alone not make backing up safe?

   1. Mirrors do not show the area just behind the vehicle
   2. Mirrors flip left and right in the image they show
   3. Mirrors work only at speeds below 10 mph
   4. Cameras replace the need to look back over your shoulder
   Show answer

   Mirrors do not show the area just behind the vehicle. The handbook says to use your mirrors for backing up but to keep in mind that mirrors do not show the area immediately behind your vehicle. Turn and look over your shoulder as well. Check mirrors and look over your shoulder, and back slowly so you can stop quickly if someone or something appears behind you. Mirrors show only part of the picture, so relying on them alone leaves a gap directly behind the vehicle where a child or object could be.

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

9. 9. Driving down a steep hill or mountain, how should gears be used?

   1. Stay in the highest gear to save fuel on the way down
   2. Use neutral so that the vehicle can roll freely downhill
   3. Shift to lower gears to control your speed
   4. Ride the brakes for the whole length of the descent
   Show answer

   Shift to lower gears to control your speed. The handbook says to shift to lower gears to control speed when driving down steep hills or mountains. The engine then helps hold the vehicle back so that the brakes do not have to do all the work. A lower gear lets the engine slow the vehicle, which keeps the brakes cool and available for when you really need them.

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

10. 10. You drive a rural Colorado road at dusk in late fall. When do deer and elk crashes cluster?

    1. Between noon and the middle of the afternoon on most days
    2. Only during the hours of the morning rush
    3. Only on weekend nights when the moon is full
    4. Between dusk and dawn, when most such crashes occur
    Show answer

    Between dusk and dawn, when most such crashes occur. The handbook says to stay alert for animals in or near the roadway, particularly in rural and mountainous regions and between dusk and dawn, when approximately 90 percent of crashes with deer and elk occur. Slow down in rural and mountain areas at those hours and watch the sides of the road, since animals may suddenly enter the roadway. The risk is greatest when the light is low.

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

11. 11. At a crossing without flashing lights or gates, what should a driver do?

    1. Stop if needed before the tracks and check for a train
    2. Cross quickly without slowing down at all
    3. Stop on the tracks themselves so that you can look both ways
    4. Sound the horn and proceed at the same speed
    Show answer

    Stop if needed before the tracks and check for a train. The handbook says that when approaching a railroad crossing not marked with flashing lights or gates, you should stop, if necessary, before reaching the crossing, to check for approaching trains. Slow enough that you could stop, look in both directions, and listen before you cross, since nothing signals you that a train is coming. Take that extra moment at each such crossing. It is a small habit that can prevent a very serious collision between a train and a vehicle.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and light rail

12. 12. Where must a driver never stop the vehicle at a railroad crossing?

    1. Anywhere within sight of the crossing signs
    2. On the tracks, since stopping there is illegal and dangerous
    3. Behind the painted stop line before the tracks
    4. On the shoulder of the road beside the tracks
    Show answer

    On the tracks, since stopping there is illegal and dangerous. The handbook says never to stop on the tracks, and adds that stopping on the tracks is illegal and very dangerous. A stopped vehicle there can be struck by a train that cannot stop quickly. A train extends beyond the rails and cannot swerve, so a stopped vehicle on the tracks must be moved out of the way as quickly as possible.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and light rail

13. 13. What turning bans protect drivers near light rail tracks?

    1. Turn quickly in front of it so that you beat it
    2. Turn across the tracks after checking to the left side only
    3. Never turn in front of an approaching light rail vehicle
    4. Turn near the tracks without any extra checks at all
    Show answer

    Never turn in front of an approaching light rail vehicle. The handbook's light rail safety tips say each light rail car weighs up to 40 tons and can't stop quickly. It says never to turn in front of an approaching LRV and never to turn across a set of light rail tracks without checking in all directions. It also says to watch for people getting on and off a stopped LRV, and to be especially alert in light rail areas, as nearby buildings and foliage can make it difficult for motorists to see LRVs.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and light rail

14. 14. In Colorado, which factor most affects how severe a crash will be?

    1. The type of road surface where it happens
    2. The speed of the vehicles involved
    3. The color of the vehicles involved
    4. The time of day when it happens
    Show answer

    The speed of the vehicles involved. The handbook says speed is the greatest factor influencing the severity of a crash. The faster a vehicle is moving, the more force is involved when it hits something, and the less time a driver has to react and stop. Other conditions matter, but none outranks speed. Crash severity is a matter of physics, so reducing speed is the most effective step a driver can take to lower the damage of any collision.

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

15. 15. You disagree with an officer's decision during a traffic stop. What does the handbook advise?

    1. Argue your case at the roadside until it is settled
    2. Refuse to sign the ticket and drive away
    3. Ask the officer to cancel the ticket on the spot
    4. Do not argue, and contest the decision later in court
    Show answer

    Do not argue, and contest the decision later in court. The handbook says that if you disagree with the officer's decision or course of action, you should not prolong the contact by arguing with the officer. Instead, you may contest the decision in court through established legal channels. It adds that your acceptance and signature on a traffic ticket is not an admission of guilt, but refusing to sign a traffic ticket may result in your arrest.

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

16. 16. Which passing behavior is illegal even when the road ahead looks clear?

    1. Signaling before you start to pass another vehicle
    2. Checking your mirrors before you move to the left
    3. Exceeding the posted speed limit while passing
    4. Returning to the lane once the passed vehicle is clearly visible in the mirror
    Show answer

    Exceeding the posted speed limit while passing. The handbook lists behaviors that are illegal when passing, including passing in marked no-passing zones and exceeding the posted speed limit when passing. The road ahead looking clear does not allow you to go over the limit. Both the no-passing zones and the speed limit still apply during a pass, so being clear of traffic does not make either one optional.

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

17. 17. In snow and ice, what space habit matters most?

    1. Follow closer so that the leader clears a path for you
    2. Keep an extra large space ahead and slow down
    3. Keep your normal spacing and stay at the posted speed
    4. Brake later than usual to test how well the surface grips
    Show answer

    Keep an extra large space ahead and slow down. The handbook says to maintain an extra large space between you and the vehicle ahead, especially in conditions that affect stopping distance such as snow and ice, and not to forget to slow down. More space gives you extra distance and time to stop on a surface where tires grip poorly, and slowing down reduces the distance you need. Doing both at once gives you the best chance to stop in time.

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

18. 18. Without anti-lock brakes, what sequence allows a quick evasive turn?

    1. Turn the wheel first, then brake hard in the middle of the turn
    2. Lock the front wheels with the brake, then steer firmly
    3. Step on the brake, then let up and steer
    4. Pump the horn repeatedly while you turn the wheel
    Show answer

    Step on the brake, then let up and steer. Without ABS, the handbook says to step on the brake pedal, but then let up and turn the steering wheel. Letting up on the brake allows the wheels to roll and steer. Releasing the brake lets the front wheels roll so they can turn, whereas keeping them locked would send the vehicle straight ahead no matter how you steer. Practice this technique in a safe place so that you can do it quickly when you need it.

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

19. 19. When are U-turns allowed in Colorado?

    1. At any intersection that does not have a traffic signal on it
    2. Only when it endangers no one, and never where No U-turn is posted
    3. Whenever the roadway looks empty for a moment or two
    4. Only on roads that have a center turn lane present
    Show answer

    Only when it endangers no one, and never where No U-turn is posted. The handbook says U-turns are forbidden unless they can be made without endangering other motorists and their passengers. They are also not allowed in places marked by No U-turn signs. Both conditions must be met. A quiet road with an empty look is not enough. The turn must be free of danger to others, and the signs on the road have the last word.

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

20. 20. You leave your car parked beside a rural road overnight with all lights off. What does Colorado require?

    1. Parking lights on from sunset to sunrise, or when visibility is under 1,000 feet
    2. No lights at all, since an unattended vehicle may sit dark
    3. High beams left on so drivers can spot the vehicle from far away
    4. Hazard flashers left running all night to mark the vehicle
    Show answer

    Parking lights on from sunset to sunrise, or when visibility is under 1,000 feet. The handbook says any vehicle parked alongside the roadway, whether attended or not, must have parking lights turned on from sunset to sunrise or whenever visibility is less than 1,000 feet. Parking lights make the vehicle visible to drivers who approach it in the dark. Leaving the vehicle with no lights on is not allowed beside the roadway during those hours.

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