CO Permit Practice Test 4

All 20 questions in test 4

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. With low beams and fog lights on in Colorado, when must you dim them for an oncoming vehicle?

   1. Before coming within 200 feet
   2. Before coming within 1,000 feet
   3. Before coming within 500 feet of the oncoming vehicle
   4. Only if the other driver flashes high beams
   Show answer

   Before coming within 500 feet of the oncoming vehicle. If you are driving with low beam lights and fog lights on, you must dim them before coming within 500 feet of any oncoming vehicle so the other driver is not blinded. Two hundred feet is the distance for using low beams when following a vehicle. One thousand feet is the visibility distance that requires headlights. Waiting for the other driver to flash high beams is not part of the rule.

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

2. 2. Where are Colorado bicycle and pedestrian crossing signs used?

   
   1. At vehicle inspection stations along the highway
   2. In places where pedestrians are prohibited from crossing
   3. Where both bicyclists and pedestrians might cross the roadway
   4. Where the road becomes bicycle-only
   Show answer

   Where both bicyclists and pedestrians might cross the roadway. Colorado uses bicycle and pedestrian crossing signs where both bicyclists and pedestrians might cross the roadway, including an intersection with a shared use path. The sign warns the driver to look for people entering the crossing area, not to exclude them. It does not designate an inspection station or turn the roadway into a bicycle-only route. Slow before the crossing, check around parked vehicles and other sight obstructions, and be ready to yield when a person is present. The prohibition choice gives the sign exactly the opposite meaning.

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

3. 3. What can happen if a driver fails to obey a regulatory sign?

   
   1. The driver may ignore it if traffic is light
   2. The sign becomes advisory only
   3. The rule applies only at night
   4. It is a traffic violation
   Show answer

   It is a traffic violation. Regulatory signs communicate laws and regulations that apply at a location, and failure to obey them is a traffic violation. Their black or red symbols on a white background help distinguish them from warning, guide, and service signs, but the legal effect is the key point. Light traffic does not make a regulatory sign optional, and the rule does not disappear at night. Read the sign before entering the controlled area and comply with its instruction unless another lawful control changes the movement.

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

4. 4. A transit bus is signaling to pull into your traffic lane, and the yield sign on its rear is lit. What should you do?

   1. Speed up to pass before the bus can enter the lane
   2. Yield the right-of-way and let the bus enter
   3. Pull alongside the bus to block it until you pass
   4. Keep your speed, because the bus must wait for a gap
   Show answer

   Yield the right-of-way and let the bus enter. When a transit bus signals to merge into traffic and the yield sign on its back is lit, Colorado requires you to yield. Let the bus pull into the lane ahead of you. Racing past to beat it, pulling alongside to block it, or holding your speed while expecting it to find its own gap all ignore the rule. Treat the lit yield sign on the rear of the bus as your signal to slow down and let it in.

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

5. 5. In winter, which parts of the road can be icy even when the rest of the pavement is not?

   1. Overpasses, bridges, shaded areas and snow-packed spots
   2. Sunny stretches that face south at midday
   3. Freshly plowed lanes in the middle of the highway
   4. Straight, level sections with heavy traffic
   Show answer

   Overpasses, bridges, shaded areas and snow-packed spots. Ice does not form evenly. Colorado warns that overpasses, bridges, shaded areas, and snow-packed parts of the road can stay icy while other pavement looks clear. Sunny stretches, plowed lanes, and busy straight sections are not on that list. Snowy roads are also most hazardous when the snow or ice begins to melt. Ease off the gas before a bridge or a shaded curve in cold weather, and remember that a slippery road takes longer to stop on.

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

6. 6. If a road has only one lane on your side near a stopped emergency vehicle, how should you pass?

   1. Maintain the posted speed without changing position
   2. Slow to a safe speed and use care and caution
   3. Stop beside the vehicle and wait for a green light
   4. Use the shoulder at full speed
   Show answer

   Slow to a safe speed and use care and caution. When a lane change is impossible because the road has only one lane on your side, the handbook directs the driver to slow to a safe speed and use care and caution while passing. Maintaining full speed ignores the hazard, and the shoulder is not a substitute for a safe legal lane. A complete stop is not the routine instruction either. Check whether a lane change is truly available, then reduce speed and give the stopped vehicle a wide safety margin.

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

7. 7. Does a green traffic signal eliminate a driver's duty to yield in Colorado?

   1. Yes, a green light always grants priority
   2. Only on rural highways
   3. Yes, unless a cyclist is present
   4. No, the driver may still need to yield
   Show answer

   No, the driver may still need to yield. A green signal does not give anyone an unlimited claim to proceed. Colorado requires a driver to yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers already in the intersection being approached. The choice “Yes, a green light always grants priority” mistakes a signal for absolute priority, and the rural option invents a location exception. Before moving on green, scan the intersection and crosswalk, check for road users already committed to the path, and be prepared to wait.

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

8. 8. What fine range does Colorado list for a first DWAI for a driver 21 or older?

   1. $600 to $1,000
   2. $600 to $1,500
   3. $200 to $500
   4. $50 to $100
   Show answer

   $200 to $500. For a first Driving While Ability Impaired conviction, the handbook's table lists a fine of $200 to $500, with 8 points, 2 to 180 days in jail and 24 to 48 hours of public service. The $600 to $1,000 range belongs to a first DUI, and $600 to $1,500 to second and later convictions. Fifty to one hundred dollars is not in the table. DWAI applies when a driver is impaired to the slightest degree.

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

9. 9. After a Colorado driver under 18 has held a license for 1 year, how many passengers may ride along?

   1. Only one passenger under 21
   2. Three passengers at most
   3. As many as there are seat belts in the vehicle
   4. None without a parent
   Show answer

   As many as there are seat belts in the vehicle. After 1 year, a Colorado driver under 18 may carry as many passengers as there are seat belts in the vehicle. The one passenger limit belongs to months six through twelve, and the no passengers rule to the first six months. Colorado sets no three passenger cap. The seat belt count also ties into a separate law: the number of passengers in a vehicle driven by someone under 18 must not exceed the number of seat belts.

   Study this in the handbook: Passenger limits and curfew for young drivers

10. 10. Unless otherwise marked, how close may a Colorado driver park to a traffic signal, stop sign, or railroad crossing?

    1. Within 30 feet is prohibited
    2. Within 5 feet is prohibited
    3. Within 15 feet is prohibited for all three locations
    4. Parking is allowed beside each one if hazard lights are on
    Show answer

    Within 30 feet is prohibited. Colorado lists a 30-foot no-parking distance for a traffic signal, stop sign, or railroad crossing. The same parking section separately gives a 15-foot distance for a fire hydrant, which is why that number should not be substituted for these three locations. Hazard lights do not authorize parking in a prohibited place, and five feet is far too close. Before leaving a vehicle, scan for nearby controls, crossings, hydrants, driveways, and other restricted areas rather than relying on warning lights.

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

11. 11. Colorado’s Move Over Law protects which group besides emergency and maintenance personnel?

    1. Vehicles carrying hazardous materials
    2. Drivers of passenger buses
    3. Only people crossing at school zones
    4. Tow truck drivers and you
    Show answer

    Tow truck drivers and you. The Move Over Law is broader than police, fire, and maintenance vehicles. The handbook says it also protects tow truck drivers and ordinary drivers. That is why a vehicle with flashing hazards on a highway deserves a lane change when safe, or a significant speed reduction when moving over is not possible. The flashing hazards are the cue to create space.

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

12. 12. If the brake pedal stops slowing the vehicle, what should a Colorado driver try first?

    1. Take the foot off the accelerator and pump the brake pedal
    2. Pull the parking brake hard and lock the rear wheels
    3. Turn off the ignition and coast without steering
    4. Continue driving until the brakes cool down
    Show answer

    Take the foot off the accelerator and pump the brake pedal. For brake failure, Colorado advises removing the foot from the accelerator and pumping the brake pedal several times. That pumping may rebuild enough pressure to stop. If it does not, apply the parking brake slowly, because locking the rear wheels can produce a skid. Lower gears can help after those steps, but the vehicle must be brought off the roadway and should not be driven without functioning brakes. Shutting off the ignition or coasting removes useful control rather than restoring braking.

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

13. 13. You stop behind another vehicle in traffic. How can you tell you have left an adequate distance?

    1. Your front bumper is within one foot of its rear bumper
    2. You can see its rear wheels touching the ground
    3. You can read the dealer name on its rear window
    4. Your hood lines up with its tail lights
    Show answer

    You can see its rear wheels touching the ground. Colorado gives a simple check for spacing when stopped: if you can see the rear wheels of the vehicle in front of you touching the ground, you are at an adequate distance. Stopping within a foot of its bumper is far too close, and reading lettering or lining up with tail lights does not measure the gap the handbook describes. Drive test examiners score this as part of stopping, along with coming to a complete stop and not rolling over the stop line or crosswalk.

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

14. 14. With solid and broken yellow lines, when may a driver pass?

    1. Only after crossing both lines and using the shoulder
    2. Whenever the solid yellow line is on the driver's side
    3. When the broken yellow line is on the driver's side and the maneuver is safe
    4. At any time before the broken lines become solid
    Show answer

    When the broken yellow line is on the driver's side and the maneuver is safe. For a solid-and-broken yellow combination, the line on your side controls. A driver may pass when the broken line is on that side and the maneuver is safe. If the solid line is on your side, passing is prohibited. The driver must also return before the broken lines become solid, so beginning a pass is not permission to remain in the opposing lane. Check visibility, traffic, and available space before crossing, then complete the maneuver within the marked window.

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

15. 15. A white sign with black letters says PASS 3 FT MIN. What clearance does it remind drivers to give bicyclists?

    1. At least 12 inches
    2. At least 3 feet
    3. At least 10 feet
    4. Only enough room to avoid touching handlebars
    Show answer

    At least 3 feet. The PASS 3 FT MIN sign points to Colorado's bicyclist passing clearance. When passing bicyclists, including those in a bike lane, a driver must give a minimum of three feet from the outermost part of the vehicle or any attachments, such as mirrors, and the rule applies even where no sign is posted. Twelve inches is the parallel parking distance from the curb, not a passing clearance, and 10 feet is not the stated minimum. If you cannot give three feet, slow down and stay behind the bicyclist until it is safe to pass.

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

16. 16. What do Colorado regulatory signs usually look like?

    1. Blue or brown with white symbols
    2. Black or red on a white background
    3. Orange with black letters only in rural areas
    4. Green with mileage numbers and route arrows
    Show answer

    Black or red on a white background. Regulatory signs communicate laws that apply at that location and are normally black or red on white. Blue and brown point drivers toward services or recreation, while green guide signs handle route and distance information. When the sign uses a red or black message on a white background, read it as a rule you must obey, such as a turn restriction or speed control.

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

17. 17. On which roads may a Colorado driver pass another vehicle on the right?

    1. One-way streets and roads with two or more lanes each way
    2. Any two-lane road where the shoulder is paved
    3. Any road where the vehicle ahead is turning left slowly
    4. Only rural highways posted above 55 mph
    Show answer

    One-way streets and roads with two or more lanes each way. Passing normally happens on the left. Colorado allows passing on the right only on one-way streets and on roads that have two or more travel lanes in each direction. A paved shoulder does not make a two-lane road eligible, because passing by driving on the shoulder or off the pavement is not allowed. Speed limits do not change the rule either. Before passing on the right on a multi-lane road, check your mirrors and blind spot, since drivers ahead may not expect you there.

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

18. 18. You are driving on a rural Colorado road and watching for your turn. What does the handbook say to expect from the signs on rural roads?

    1. They are always placed well ahead of turns, so you can follow them closely
    2. They replace the need to watch for blind driveways and side streets
    3. They are easier to see than city signs because there is less in the way
    4. Guide signs may be inadequate, and some may be hidden by trees or bushes
    Show answer

    Guide signs may be inadequate, and some may be hidden by trees or bushes. Colorado calls rural highways the most dangerous roads, with the highest fatality rate per mile driven of any roads in the U.S. One reason is that rural roads may not have adequate guide signs, and some signs might be hidden by trees or bushes. Do not count on a sign to announce every turn or hazard. Plan your route, slow down when you are unsure, and scan for blind driveways, T-intersections, and side streets hidden by trees, crops, and bushes. Expect sharp curves, steep hills, and dips as well.

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

19. 19. For a Colorado driver age 21 or older, which BAC is identified as DUI per se?

    1. 0.02%
    2. 0.04%
    3. 0.08%
    4. 0.05%
    Show answer

    0.08%. For drivers age 21 and older, the handbook identifies DUI per se at a BAC greater than 0.08 percent. The 0.05 percent figure is associated with the first DWAI table entry, while 0.04 percent is the threshold noted for a CDL driver. A BAC number does not excuse unsafe behavior at a lower level, since impairment can also be established through driving conduct and observed symptoms. Separate the per se threshold from every other alcohol rule.

    Study this in the handbook: DUI, DWAI and how alcohol works

20. 20. What does Colorado require when no different speed is posted?

    1. Follow the default speed limit for the road or district
    2. Always drive 10 mph below the posted limit
    3. Use the rural interstate limit on every road
    4. Choose any speed that feels comfortable
    Show answer

    Follow the default speed limit for the road or district. Colorado provides default speed limits for different road settings when no other limit is posted. A driver must identify the road or district and then apply the stated default, while also slowing for weather, traffic, visibility, or hazards. Driving 10 mph below every posted limit is not the rule, and a rural interstate limit does not apply to every road. Comfort alone is not a legal measure. Look for a posted sign first, then use the handbook category and conditions to select a safe speed.

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