CO Permit Practice Test 2

All 20 questions in test 2

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. What do the signs posted for a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane identify?

   1. The types of vehicles and number of occupants required to use it
   2. The hours when the lane switches to the opposite direction
   3. The toll each vehicle must pay before entering the lane
   4. The minimum speed required while driving in the lane
   Show answer

   The types of vehicles and number of occupants required to use it. An HOV lane is reserved for certain vehicles. The white diamond painted in the lane marks it as restricted, and the posted signs tell you who may use it: the types of vehicles allowed and the number of occupants each vehicle must carry. Read the sign before you move over, because a vehicle that does not meet the requirement does not qualify. Lanes that change direction at different times are reversible lanes, a separate kind of lane marked by a barrier or double broken yellow lines. If your vehicle does not qualify, stay in the regular lanes.

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

2. 2. What do blue backgrounds on Colorado service signs provide?

   
   1. Directions to service facilities
   2. Warnings about school zones and curves
   3. Mileage to specific destinations only
   4. Rules prohibiting a turn
   Show answer

   Directions to service facilities. Blue backgrounds identify signs that provide directions to service facilities. They help drivers locate services, while warning signs alert drivers to hazards, guide signs provide destination and mileage information, and regulatory signs state enforceable rules. The color is a useful first clue, but read the wording or symbol before changing lanes or turning. Do not treat a blue service sign as permission to ignore another traffic control. Follow the roadway signs that govern the maneuver and use the service information to plan the stop safely.

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

3. 3. When are most deer and elk crashes described in the Colorado handbook as occurring?

   1. Only during heavy snowfall at midday
   2. Only during the middle of the afternoon
   3. Between dusk and dawn
   4. Between sunrise and noon on city streets
   Show answer

   Between dusk and dawn. The handbook identifies the period between dusk and dawn as the time when approximately 90 percent of deer and elk crashes occur. Darkness and reduced visibility make animal movement harder to detect, especially in rural and mountainous areas. The other choices narrow the risk to times the handbook does not identify. Slow when entering a marked animal crossing, scan the shoulders, and avoid a sudden swerve that could create a more serious loss-of-control crash.

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

4. 4. What jail range does Colorado's table list for a first DUI for a driver 21 or older?

   1. 2 to 180 days
   2. 60 to 365 days
   3. 5 to 365 days
   4. No jail for a first offense
   Show answer

   5 to 365 days. The handbook's table lists 5 to 365 days of jail for a first DUI, along with a 9 month revocation, a $600 to $1,000 fine and 48 to 96 hours of public service. Two to 180 days is the first DWAI range. Sixty to 365 days is the range for a third or later conviction. Saying there is no jail for a first offense contradicts the table, which lists a jail range for every row.

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

5. 5. What is the safest timing for slowing before a curve on a Colorado roadway?

   1. Brake sharply after leaving the curve
   2. Wait until the vehicle reaches the middle of the curve
   3. Accelerate before the curve so the tires grip harder
   4. Slow before entering the curve
   Show answer

   Slow before entering the curve. The handbook says to reduce speed before entering a curve because the tires need available grip to guide the vehicle. Entering too fast can cause a skid, especially on a wet, icy, or unfamiliar roadway. The manual places acceleration after the vehicle reaches the middle of the curve, so accelerating before the turn is not the safe sequence. Waiting until the vehicle is already deep in the bend makes a sudden correction more likely. Look through the curve, set a manageable speed early, and steer smoothly.

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

6. 6. A Colorado teen applies for a license before age 16 and 6 months. What training is required on top of the 50 hour log?

   1. 30 hours of classroom training only
   2. An extra 20 hours of night driving
   3. 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an approved driver education instructor
   4. No extra training
   Show answer

   6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an approved driver education instructor. Colorado requires every minor to hold a permit 12 months and log 50 hours, 10 at night. An applicant younger than 16 and 6 months must also complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an approved driver education instructor. Classroom time alone does not meet the rule, and there is no extra 20 hour night requirement. If no approved school offering enough training is within 30 miles, 12 more hours with a parent or permit supervisor may be substituted.

   Study this in the handbook: Getting a license, instruction permits and the drive test

7. 7. An angry driver is following you aggressively. What response does the handbook recommend?

   1. Match the driver's speed to prevent being passed
   2. Back off, give way, and let that driver go
   3. Make eye contact and confront the driver at the next stop
   4. Brake hard whenever the driver gets close
   Show answer

   Back off, give way, and let that driver go. The safest response to an aggressive driver is disengagement. Create space, yield the interaction, and allow the angry driver to move away instead of competing for position. Matching speed keeps the conflict active, while eye contact and confrontation can escalate a situation that is already unsafe. Do not retaliate with braking, gestures, or pursuit. Keep attention on the roadway, use ordinary defensive driving, and contact authorities only when you can do so without creating another distraction or hazard.

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

8. 8. A 12-year-old rides in your vehicle in Colorado. How must the child be restrained?

   1. In a rear-facing seat in the back seat
   2. In a seat belt or child restraint used as the maker instructs
   3. In a booster seat only, no matter the child's size
   4. No restraint is needed when riding in the back seat
   Show answer

   In a seat belt or child restraint used as the maker instructs. From age 9 up to 18, Colorado requires a child to be properly restrained in either a seat belt or a child restraint system, used according to the manufacturer's instructions. A rear-facing seat is for much younger children, and the booster-only choice ignores that a properly used seat belt is allowed at this age. Leaving a 12-year-old unbuckled in the back breaks the law, since seat belts are required for all children under 16. If no parent is in the car, the driver is responsible for making sure each child is properly fastened.

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

9. 9. Near the merge area shown by this sign, what freeway-driving courtesy should a driver use when safe?

   
   1. Drive across the median to avoid the ramp
   2. Stop in the acceleration lane until all traffic clears
   3. Move over to make room for vehicles entering
   4. Block the right lane so entering traffic must wait
   Show answer

   Move over to make room for vehicles entering. A merge sign warns that entering traffic may need space. On freeways, Colorado advises drivers already on the road to move over when it is safe near a merge area. Stopping in an acceleration lane is reserved for absolute necessity and blocking traffic makes merging less predictable. Use the sign as an early cue to scan left, check mirrors, and create room.

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

10. 10. On a four-lane highway posted faster than 40 mph, how far before a turn or lane change must you signal?

    1. 50 feet
    2. 100 feet
    3. 200 feet
    4. Only after the lane change begins
    Show answer

    200 feet. Urban streets use a 100-foot signal rule, but Colorado gives a longer distance for four-lane highways when the posted speed is faster than 40 mph. In that setting, the signal must be on for 200 feet before turning or changing lanes. The 100-foot choice is tempting because it applies elsewhere. Use the roadway type and speed limit together as your cue.

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

11. 11. When may a driver turn in the direction shown by a lighted green arrow?

    1. Only after waiting for every nearby vehicle to stop
    2. While the arrow is lit, in the direction it points
    3. In any direction, because a green arrow cancels lane markings
    4. Only after the signal changes to a flashing red light
    Show answer

    While the arrow is lit, in the direction it points. A lighted green arrow, shown alone or together with a red, green, or yellow light, means you may turn in the direction the arrow points. Once the arrow goes off, the protected phase is over: you may still turn only while the circular green is on, after yielding to through vehicles and pedestrians, and only if no sign or red arrow prohibits it. The arrow does not erase lane markings or require a flashing red display, and you need not wait for every nearby car to stop.

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

12. 12. If a vehicle loses traction on snow or ice, what should the driver do first?

    1. Press the accelerator firmly to regain grip
    2. Remove both feet from the brake and accelerator pedals
    3. Lock the wheels with maximum braking pressure
    4. Turn the front wheels away from the desired path
    Show answer

    Remove both feet from the brake and accelerator pedals. Snow and ice reduce tire grip, so continued pressure on either pedal can make the loss of control worse. Colorado's guidance is to take your foot off both the brake and accelerator, then turn the front wheels in the direction you want the car to go. Heavy acceleration can spin the tires, and locked wheels cannot guide the vehicle effectively. Steering away from the intended path compounds the drift. The useful cue is gentle hands and no pedal input while the tires regain contact, followed by smooth steering rather than a sudden correction.

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

13. 13. What does a sign showing a crossed U-turn arrow prohibit?

    
    1. Travel in the direction of the arrow
    2. All left turns at every nearby intersection
    3. Passing another vehicle on the roadway
    4. U-turns at that location
    Show answer

    U-turns at that location. A crossed U-turn symbol is a prohibited sign for the pictured maneuver, so the driver must not reverse direction with a U-turn at that location. It does not automatically ban every left turn, and it is not a passing restriction. The crossed symbol should be read together with the movement it covers. Continue straight or use a permitted turn farther ahead rather than forcing a reversal here.

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

14. 14. What does an ignition interlock device installed on a vehicle do?

    1. It limits the vehicle to 45 mph while the driver is on probation
    2. It keeps the driver from operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol
    3. It records the vehicle's location and reports it to the court weekly
    4. It locks the doors if an open container is found inside
    Show answer

    It keeps the driver from operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. An ignition interlock is installed on a motor vehicle to keep the driver from operating it while under the influence of alcohol. It needs a breath sample before the engine will start, and it asks for more samples from time to time while you drive. If it detects an elevated alcohol level, the vehicle will not start. It is not a speed limiter or a door lock, and the handbook does not describe it as a location tracker. Colorado requires one for two years after a driver refuses or fails to complete a required chemical test.

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

15. 15. On which Colorado roads does the handbook list a possible 65 to 75 mph limit?

    1. Designated rural interstates and highways
    2. All city streets
    3. Any business district
    4. Narrow mountain highways
    Show answer

    Designated rural interstates and highways. The 65 to 75 mph range is listed for designated rural interstates and highways. It is not a universal rural permission: the actual posted limit controls, and the handbook says speed signs show the maximum allowed in ideal conditions. City streets may have lower limits, business districts default to 25 mph, and narrow winding mountain highways default to 20 mph. Confirm the sign and reduce speed when weather, traffic, or roadway conditions demand it.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and stopping distance

16. 16. At a four-way stop, two vehicles arrive at the same time. Which driver must yield?

    
    1. The driver on the left
    2. The driver on the right
    3. The driver going straight
    4. The driver in the heavier vehicle
    Show answer

    The driver on the left. When vehicles reach a four-way stop simultaneously, the vehicle on the left yields and lets the vehicle on the right proceed first. Vehicle weight and intended direction do not change this tie breaking rule. The driver on the right does not yield merely because both cars arrived together. Still stop fully, observe the other vehicle, and proceed only when the intersection is clear, because the handbook says every driver remains responsible for avoiding a crash.

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

17. 17. During Colorado Accident Alert Status, you have a minor crash with no injuries, no alcohol and drivable cars. What must you do after exchanging information?

    1. Wait at the scene for an officer, however long it takes
    2. File a report within 10 days with the DMV only
    3. Nothing further
    4. File an accident report with law enforcement within 24 hours
    Show answer

    File an accident report with law enforcement within 24 hours. Accident Alert Status is declared when weather is so severe that officers cannot respond to the volume of crashes. If alcohol and drugs are not involved, no one is hurt, and all vehicles can be driven, the drivers exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, registration and insurance, and then must file an accident report with law enforcement within 24 hours. Waiting indefinitely defeats the purpose of the status. Ten days to the DMV and doing nothing are not the rule.

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

18. 18. A "No Train Horn" sign is posted below a railroad advance warning sign. What does it tell you about that crossing?

    1. Trains must stop completely before entering the crossing
    2. Drivers must sound their own horn before crossing the tracks
    3. The crossing is closed to all traffic until further notice
    4. Train horns do not blow there, so rely on the flashing lights and gates
    Show answer

    Train horns do not blow there, so rely on the flashing lights and gates. A crossing in a designated quiet zone carries a "No Train Horn" sign under the advance warning sign. Trains do not sound their horns as they approach there, so the flashing lights and gates become your main warning. You cannot count on hearing a train before you see it. Nothing in the handbook asks drivers to honk at these crossings, and the sign does not mean trains stop or that the road is closed. Look both ways, obey every light and gate, and never assume the tracks are clear just because the area is silent.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and light rail

19. 19. What do shared lane markings, called sharrows, tell road users?

    1. The lane may be too narrow for a car and a bicycle side by side
    2. The lane is reserved for bicycles during rush hour
    3. Drivers must change lanes to pass a bicyclist there
    4. Bicyclists must ride on the right edge of that lane
    Show answer

    The lane may be too narrow for a car and a bicycle side by side. A sharrow is a painted marking showing that drivers and bicyclists share the lane. It warns that the lane may be too narrow for a car and a bike to travel side by side. People on bikes may ride in the center of a lane with a sharrow, or anywhere they need to avoid obstacles or be more visible. It does not reserve the lane for bicycles at any hour, and it does not push riders to the right edge. Expect a bicyclist ahead of you and wait for room before passing.

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

20. 20. Under Colorado’s Move It Law, which crash should be moved off a divided highway?

    1. A crash with injuries if traffic is heavy
    2. Any crash involving a vehicle that cannot move
    3. Every crash before drivers exchange information
    4. A minor crash with drivable vehicles, no injuries, and no drugs or alcohol involved
    Show answer

    A minor crash with drivable vehicles, no injuries, and no drugs or alcohol involved. The Move It Law applies to minor crashes on divided highways when the vehicles can still be driven, no one is injured, and drugs or alcohol are not involved. It does not tell drivers to move disabled vehicles or ignore injury scenes. Once the vehicles are in a safer location, drivers can contact law enforcement and exchange information. The cue is a drivable, noninjury crash blocking traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Crash duties, the Move It Law and the Move Over Law