CO Permit Practice Test 25

All 20 questions in test 25

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. Morning fog limits your view to about 800 feet on a Colorado road. What lighting does the law require?

   1. Parking lights only, until the sun has fully risen in the sky
   2. No lights are needed in fog during the daytime
   3. Headlights on, since visibility is under 1,000 feet
   4. High beams, to help you cut through the fog
   Show answer

   Headlights on, since visibility is under 1,000 feet. Colorado law requires you to drive with your headlights on from sunset to sunrise or when visibility is less than 1,000 feet. With a view of only about 800 feet, headlights are required. Fog can hide a vehicle in daylight, so turn on your headlights whenever visibility drops under 1,000 feet, not only at night, to help other drivers notice you and to help you see.

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

2. 2. What makes distractions so dangerous for drivers?

   1. Distractions are the leading cause of driver error
   2. They matter only for drivers who are new to driving
   3. They affect drivers only when traveling at high speed
   4. They cause problems only when other passengers are present
   Show answer

   Distractions are the leading cause of driver error. The handbook says distractions are the leading cause of driver error. A distraction is anything that takes away your attention, even momentarily, from the task of driving. Because distraction is the top cause, avoiding phones, food, and other tasks while the vehicle is moving is among the most effective ways to prevent errors. A quick glance at a phone, a snack, or a passenger can be enough to cause a crash, because even a moment of lost attention matters when traffic is moving. That is why the handbook stresses it.

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

3. 3. In slippery conditions in a vehicle without anti-lock brakes, what is threshold braking?

   1. Pressing the brake fully until the wheels lock up and the car skids
   2. Brake pressure applied to a point just short of locking the brakes
   3. Pumping the pedal rapidly until the sliding finally stops
   4. Using only the parking brake to slow down on the ice
   Show answer

   Brake pressure applied to a point just short of locking the brakes. The handbook says that if you do not have anti-lock brakes, you use threshold braking when skidding or in slippery conditions, applying brake pressure to a point just short of locking up the brakes. The idea is to brake as hard as you can without letting the wheels lock, so you keep steering control and still slow the vehicle quickly.

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

4. 4. When helping an injured person as a Good Samaritan, when may you move the victim?

   1. Whenever the victim asks to sit up or lie down
   2. Before checking the person for any other problems
   3. To take a clear photo of the whole crash scene
   4. Only if the victim's life is in danger
   Show answer

   Only if the victim's life is in danger. The handbook's Good Samaritan guidance says to move a victim only if the victim's life is in danger. Moving an injured person unnecessarily can make injuries worse, so wait for trained help unless there is an immediate threat. Call for help and stay with the person unless something such as fire or traffic puts the person's life in immediate danger.

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

5. 5. Your stop sign has no stop line, but a crosswalk is painted across the road. Where do you stop?

   1. In the middle of the crosswalk so you can see
   2. Past the crosswalk, at the edge of the intersection
   3. Before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection
   4. Only after you have entered to see both ways
   Show answer

   Before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. The handbook says you must stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where you have a view of approaching traffic. Stop signs mean you must come to a complete stop, and here the marked crosswalk with no stop line is the case the handbook covers.

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

6. 6. A white sign at a corner states a parking rule for that block. What kind of sign is it, and what does it communicate?

   1. A warning sign that describes a hazard ahead on the roadway
   2. A guide sign that gives directions and mileage to destinations nearby
   3. A regulatory sign, which tells the laws that apply at that spot
   4. A service sign that directs drivers to facilities on the route
   Show answer

   A regulatory sign, which tells the laws that apply at that spot. The handbook says regulatory signs tell you of laws and regulations that apply at a location. A parking rule for a block is a law that applies at that spot. Read the sign carefully and obey the rule shown for that block, since regulatory signs are law and apply at the location where they are posted. If you are unsure what a regulatory sign requires, slow down and read it carefully before you park or turn, because a regulatory sign carries the force of law at the place where it is posted.

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

7. 7. Your turn signals fail on a night drive home. How do you warn drivers behind you about each turn?

   1. Use hand signals, finishing each one before the turn begins
   2. Rely on your brake lights alone to show each turn
   3. Open the window and shout each direction you are going
   4. Skip signaling until the lights are repaired at a shop
   Show answer

   Use hand signals, finishing each one before the turn begins. The handbook says that if your vehicle's turn signals do not work, you must use hand signals. Give the signal in advance and finish it before you start the turn. Give hand signals in time for the drivers behind you to react, and have the lights repaired as soon as possible because hand signals are harder to see at night.

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

8. 8. A flashing yellow light guards a Colorado intersection. What is it telling you?

   1. It means stop fully, just as at a stop sign
   2. It warns of a hazard, so slow down and use caution
   3. It means speed up to clear the hazard zone
   4. It means the crossing is uncontrolled and is open to all
   Show answer

   It warns of a hazard, so slow down and use caution. The handbook says a flashing yellow light is a warning of a hazard. Slow down and proceed with caution. This means caution without a requirement to stop, so slow down and look around, then continue through the intersection when it is safe. Unlike a flashing red light, it does not require a stop, so you may continue once you have slowed down, checked for hazards, and confirmed that the way is clear in every direction around the intersection.

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

9. 9. From where should a Colorado driver start a right turn?

   1. From the left side of the lane for a wider swing
   2. From the rightmost part of the lane, close to the curb
   3. From the center turn lane whenever one is present in the road
   4. From any lane after sounding the horn once first
   Show answer

   From the rightmost part of the lane, close to the curb. The handbook says that when turning right you should turn from the rightmost part of your lane and as close to the curb as possible. Starting at the right keeps the turn tight and prevents you from swinging into a neighboring lane. The handbook lists wide turns among the errors to avoid, so the correct starting position is the right edge of the right lane, not the left.

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

10. 10. How can a driver often recognize a blind or deaf-blind pedestrian?

    1. By a yellow vest worn over street clothes
    2. By a blue sign they carry
    3. By shoes that flash when the person walks
    4. By a white cane or a guide dog
    Show answer

    By a white cane or a guide dog. The handbook explains that most blind or deaf-blind people are easily recognized by the white cane they carry and/or by their guide dog. When you see either one, expect that the pedestrian may not see or hear you, and be ready to yield. Seeing a cane or a guide dog is a signal to give extra time and space, and never to rush the person or assume the person has noticed you.

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

11. 11. When turning or entering an intersection, what scanning order helps?

    1. Look left, right, and then left again
    2. Look right, then glance down at the dashboard before you go
    3. Check only the direction that traffic is flowing from
    4. Scan once, but only after you have entered the intersection
    Show answer

    Look left, right, and then left again. The handbook says to always look left, right and then left again when turning, driving through or entering an intersection. Checking left first and again last covers the lane that is closest to you and is the first to reach you. A final look to the left matters because vehicles from that side are the closest threat when you begin to move through an intersection.

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

12. 12. What does defensive driving do for a driver?

    1. It removes the need to obey the posted speed limits
    2. It shifts the blame onto another driver after a crash
    3. It allows faster travel than normal in heavy traffic
    4. It protects you and others from unsafe and unexpected situations
    Show answer

    It protects you and others from unsafe and unexpected situations. The handbook says defensive driving protects you and others from unsafe and unexpected driving situations. It means expecting other drivers to make mistakes and keeping enough space and attention to avoid a crash. Making room for other drivers' mistakes, rather than relying on being in the right, is the heart of defensive driving. Practice it on every trip: scan ahead, keep your distance, expect the unexpected, and leave yourself an escape route. These habits make your driving safer even when others make mistakes.

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

13. 13. A 34-year-old Colorado driver is tested after a stop and reads 0.09 percent. Which charge does that level support by itself?

    1. DWAI only, at any level of alcohol in the blood
    2. DUI per se, since the BAC is greater than 0.08 percent
    3. No charge at all, unless the driver was involved in a crash
    4. A charge only if the reading is above 0.15 percent
    Show answer

    DUI per se, since the BAC is greater than 0.08 percent. The handbook says a driver may be convicted of DUI per se if the driver's BAC is greater than 0.08 percent. A reading of 0.09 is above that line. The 0.08 percent figure is a legal line for the per se offense, but impairment can lead to a charge even below that figure. Because 0.09 is greater than 0.08 percent, the driver can be convicted of DUI per se on the reading alone, without any other evidence of impaired driving behavior.

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

14. 14. Your light is steady green with no arrow, and you want to turn left across traffic. How do you proceed?

    1. Turn at once, since green means the turn is protected
    2. Yield to traffic and pedestrians, then turn when it is clear
    3. Enter the intersection and wait there with wheels turned left
    4. Turn quickly before the oncoming traffic gets any closer
    Show answer

    Yield to traffic and pedestrians, then turn when it is clear. The handbook says that after yielding to any vehicle or pedestrian within the intersection or adjacent crosswalk, you may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign prohibits such turns. On a plain green light, a left turn must yield. After you have yielded to the vehicles and pedestrians already in the intersection or the adjacent crosswalk, you may turn, but you never have a protected turn without a green arrow.

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

15. 15. You are driving on a narrow, winding mountain road with blind curves in Colorado, and no speed sign is posted. What default limit applies?

    1. 20 mph
    2. 25 mph
    3. 30 mph
    4. 40 mph
    Show answer

    20 mph. Unless otherwise posted, the handbook gives 20 mph as the Colorado limit on narrow, winding mountain highways and blind curves. Other unposted limits in the same list cover business districts, residence districts and open mountain highways. The 20 mph limit reflects the short sight distance and the narrow road, so slow down even if no sign is posted, and give yourself time to stop.

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

16. 16. What is a freeway deceleration lane for?

    1. It lets you pass slower traffic just before the exit
    2. It gives trucks a place to stop for a rest period
    3. It lets you slow down before you reach the exit ramp
    4. It is the place where you wait for a gap to merge
    Show answer

    It lets you slow down before you reach the exit ramp. The handbook says that when exiting the freeway, you use the deceleration lane, which is designed to let you slow down before you reach the exit ramp. Move into it and then reduce your speed, so you are not slowing on the through lanes. Leaving the through lanes before you slow down gives you more room, and it prevents following drivers from being surprised by your braking.

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

17. 17. Brake pumping and the parking brake both fail. What remains to try?

    1. Keep driving slowly until you reach the next town
    2. Turn the engine off while you are still going at highway speed
    3. Steer into a ditch at full speed to stop the car
    4. Shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to stop
    Show answer

    Shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to stop. If pumping the brake and using the parking brake do not work, the handbook says to shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to slow to a stop. Moving to a lower gear uses engine braking to slow the vehicle, and finding a safe spot to stop keeps others out of danger while you do so. Do this early, before the vehicle gains speed, and stay in control.

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

18. 18. Where is passing another vehicle usually done?

    1. On the right side of every two-lane road
    2. On the shoulder whenever the lane looks narrow
    3. On either side, depending on the driver's choice
    4. On the left side of the vehicle ahead
    Show answer

    On the left side of the vehicle ahead. The handbook says that typically you should pass on the left. You are allowed to pass on the right only on one way streets and on roadways with two or more lanes of travel in each direction. Passing on the left puts you in the lane where drivers expect faster traffic, and the right is limited to the few cases the handbook lists.

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

19. 19. Before leaving a parked vehicle, what two steps finish the parking job?

    1. Set the emergency brake and remove the ignition key
    2. Leave the engine running and lock all of the doors behind you
    3. Put the hazard lights on and keep the key inside
    4. Open a window and leave the headlights burning
    Show answer

    Set the emergency brake and remove the ignition key. The handbook tells drivers to set the emergency brake and remember to remove the ignition key when leaving the vehicle. These two steps stop the vehicle from rolling and keep it from being started or driven by someone else. Doing both steps every time you park on a slope is a simple habit that prevents a parked vehicle from rolling into the road or being taken.

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

20. 20. At a busy Colorado intersection you are about to turn left. What should you look for besides oncoming cars?

    1. Only larger trucks that could block your view of the road
    2. Drivers waiting behind you who also plan to turn left
    3. Pedestrians and smaller vehicles such as bicyclists and motorcyclists
    4. Parked vehicles along the curb on the far side of the road
    Show answer

    Pedestrians and smaller vehicles such as bicyclists and motorcyclists. The handbook says crashes are very common during left turns, because drivers must see, judge and navigate oncoming traffic and pedestrians who are also moving through the intersection. It tells you to always look for pedestrians and other smaller oncoming vehicles such as bicyclists and motorcyclists, and to take time to properly judge their speed and distance before turning left. It also says to wait at the stop line or crosswalk until there is a gap in oncoming traffic large enough to complete the turn safely.

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