CT Permit Practice Test 3

All 20 questions in test 3

Every question below comes from the Connecticut 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. When may you continue past a school bus with flashing red lights traveling toward you?

   1. When you are within 100 feet of the bus
   2. Whenever the opposite lane is clear
   3. When a median or other physical barrier separates the roadways
   4. Only when the bus driver waves you through
   Show answer

   When a median or other physical barrier separates the roadways. The school-bus stopping duty has a narrow exception. A driver approaching a bus from the opposite direction need not stop when a median or another physical barrier separates the roadways. A clear opposing lane, a short distance, or a wave from the driver does not replace that condition. Without a barrier, the red lights require stopping even if the bus is on the other side. After the lights stop, still watch for children and wait until the roadway is clear before moving.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of Way at Intersections

2. 2. How should you respond to a pedestrian-crossing warning sign?

   
   1. Watch for people in your path and be prepared to slow or stop
   2. Accelerate so pedestrians have less time in the road
   3. Assume pedestrians must wait for every vehicle
   4. Use the sign as permission to park near the crossing
   Show answer

   Watch for people in your path and be prepared to slow or stop. A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING warning tells you that people may cross your path. Reduce speed when needed and be ready to stop, especially where sight lines are limited. The warning does not authorize acceleration, parking, or ignoring a person who is already crossing. A downward arrow plaque may mark the precise crosswalk location, but the surrounding area still deserves a careful scan. Cover the brake and look toward sidewalks, refuge areas, and both edges of the roadway.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, School and Guide Signs

3. 3. What does the shape of an arrow on a turn or curve warning sign tell a driver?

   
   1. The exact speed limit for the roadway
   2. What to expect ahead
   3. Whether the road is reserved for buses
   4. Whether the next intersection has a traffic signal
   Show answer

   What to expect ahead. Warning signs placed before turns and curves use the arrow shape to show the kind of change a driver should anticipate ahead. That information helps the driver choose a safe speed before entering the bend and continue scanning through the turn. The sign does not set the legal speed limit, reserve a lane for buses, or promise a traffic signal at the next intersection. Read the arrow as a preview of the roadway shape, then adjust speed and steering smoothly before the curve begins.

4. 4. What driving adjustment is called for by the skidding-car warning?

   
   1. Follow more closely so other vehicles cannot spray your windshield
   2. Maintain speed and brake sharply if the pavement shines
   3. Move onto the shoulder whenever the road is wet
   4. Reduce speed, avoid hard braking or sudden direction changes, and increase following distance
   Show answer

   Reduce speed, avoid hard braking or sudden direction changes, and increase following distance. SLIPPERY WHEN WET warns that wet pavement reduces traction. Reduce speed, avoid hard braking and sudden steering, and leave more distance from the vehicle ahead. Maintaining speed with a sharp brake application can trigger a skid, while the shoulder is not a routine solution and close following removes needed reaction space. Use the warning as a cue to make every control input gradual, then continue those habits on other wet roads as well.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, School and Guide Signs

5. 5. How close to a stop sign may you park in Connecticut?

   1. No closer than 10 feet
   2. No closer than 50 feet
   3. Right beside it
   4. No closer than 25 feet
   Show answer

   No closer than 25 feet. Connecticut prohibits parking within 25 feet of a stop sign, and the same 25 feet applies to a pedestrian safety zone. Ten feet is the Connecticut hydrant distance, 50 feet is not a Connecticut parking rule, and parking right beside the sign hides it from other drivers. The no parking list also bans parking in an intersection, on a crosswalk or sidewalk, on railroad tracks, and in a bike lane.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of Way at Intersections

6. 6. At a HAWK pedestrian signal, what does a flashing yellow indication tell motorists?

   1. The driver has an unrestricted green-light movement
   2. The crossing is closed and vehicles must reverse
   3. A pedestrian has activated the signal
   4. The signal is about to deactivate and vehicles may ignore pedestrians
   Show answer

   A pedestrian has activated the signal. At a HAWK signal, flashing yellow means a pedestrian has activated the crossing. It is an alert that the pedestrian phase has begun, not permission to ignore the crossing or reverse traffic. The manual separately describes solid yellow as the signal changing and flashing red as the approach to deactivation. A driver should remain alert and follow the later signal indications, stopping when required as the pedestrian crosses. The key cue is that flashing yellow announces an activated pedestrian request.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic Lights, Arrows and HAWK Signals

7. 7. What is the proper response to a steady yellow traffic light?

   1. Stop in the intersection even after entering it
   2. Accelerate regardless of the distance to the intersection
   3. Reverse to the previous intersection
   4. Stop if it is safe to do so
   Show answer

   Stop if it is safe to do so. A steady yellow light warns that the signal is about to become red. The driver should stop when that can be done safely. If the vehicle is already in the intersection, the manual says to continue through rather than stop there. Accelerating as a routine response encourages risky entries, and reversing creates a new hazard. The visual cue is a decision point: brake smoothly if stopping is safe, otherwise clear the intersection carefully.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic Lights, Arrows and HAWK Signals

8. 8. What does a steady red HAWK signal require of motorists?

   1. Stop while pedestrians are in the crosswalk
   2. Proceed slowly without stopping if the lane is clear
   3. Yield only to pedestrians approaching from the right
   4. Use the horn to tell pedestrians to hurry
   Show answer

   Stop while pedestrians are in the crosswalk. The steady red HAWK phase means pedestrians are in the crosswalk, so motorists must stop. A clear lane does not override the pedestrian movement, and the rule is not limited to people approaching from one side. Sounding the horn is not a substitute for stopping. The HAWK sequence then moves to flashing red, when drivers must stop but may proceed once pedestrians have cleared the crosswalk. Remain stopped while pedestrians occupy the crossing and wait for the permitted movement.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic Lights, Arrows and HAWK Signals

9. 9. What steering position does the manual recommend?

   1. Hold the wheel loosely with both hands
   2. Release the wheel so the vehicle can correct itself
   3. Use one hand at the bottom of the wheel
   4. Place both hands on opposite sides of the steering wheel
   Show answer

   Place both hands on opposite sides of the steering wheel. The manual recommends placing both hands on opposite sides of the steering wheel. It gives the example of the left hand between 8 and 10 o'clock and the right hand between 2 and 4 o'clock. That position supports comfortable, controlled steering, especially on higher-speed roads. Releasing the wheel removes the driver's ability to correct direction, while one hand or a loose grip provides less control than the stated placement. Keep both hands ready and make smooth steering changes when the roadway requires them.

   Study this in the handbook: Space Cushion and Following Distance

10. 10. Where does Connecticut law forbid placing a rear-facing child seat?

    1. In any back seat
    2. In a pickup truck with a back seat
    3. In the front seat of a vehicle with a working passenger side airbag
    4. Behind the driver's seat
    Show answer

    In the front seat of a vehicle with a working passenger side airbag. Connecticut law prohibits placing a rear-facing child restraint system in the front seat of a vehicle that has a functional passenger side airbag. The rule is tied to the working airbag in front of that seat, not to the type of vehicle, so a pickup's back seat is not barred by this rule. A back seat, including the spot behind the driver, is not covered by this prohibition. Connecticut also requires child restraint systems to have a five point harness.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat Belts, Child Seats and Phone Laws

11. 11. What is the usual purpose of a green highway guide sign?

    1. To direct you to roads, distances, and specific exits
    2. To warn about a slippery pavement condition
    3. To prohibit a U-turn
    4. To identify a medical service
    Show answer

    To direct you to roads, distances, and specific exits. Green guide signs help drivers navigate. They can identify where you are, which way to go, the distance to a destination, and specific exits. They do not carry the general warning function of yellow signs, the prohibition function of a red slash, or the service function of blue signs. Read the wording early enough to choose the proper lane and exit without a last-second movement. The green background is a navigation cue: use it to plan direction and distance, not to interpret a hazard or command.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, School and Guide Signs

12. 12. After pulling over for an approaching emergency vehicle, how long must you remain stopped?

    1. Until the traffic light turns green
    2. Until the emergency vehicle has passed, unless directed otherwise
    3. For exactly ten seconds
    4. Until another driver begins moving
    Show answer

    Until the emergency vehicle has passed, unless directed otherwise. The stop continues until the emergency vehicle has passed, unless a state or local police officer or firefighter gives a different direction. A traffic signal, a timer, or another motorist's movement does not decide when you may move. Before stopping, pull over to the right edge of the road or as near to the right as possible, and if you are in an intersection, drive through it first. Watch the emergency vehicle and the roadway around it, and resume only after it has passed and the way is clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of Way at Intersections

13. 13. An ice cream truck ahead is displaying flashing lights and has its stop arm and crossing arm out. How close to the truck may you stop?

    1. Right behind its bumper
    2. No closer than 50 feet
    3. No closer than 10 feet from its front or back
    4. You do not need to stop
    Show answer

    No closer than 10 feet from its front or back. Connecticut law requires drivers approaching or overtaking an ice cream truck that shows flashing lights and extends its stop signal arm and crossing arm to stop at least 10 feet from the front or back of the truck. Stopping at the bumper is too close, 50 feet is not the rule, and you must stop. After stopping, you may pass at a reasonable speed of up to 5 mph while yielding to pedestrians going to or from the truck.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of Way at Intersections

14. 14. A 19 year old who has never held a license anywhere applies for a Connecticut license. What course must this applicant take?

    1. No course, because adults are exempt from driver education
    2. An 8 hour course on safe driving practices
    3. A 30 hour classroom course
    4. A 4 hour defensive driving course
    Show answer

    An 8 hour course on safe driving practices. Applicants 18 or older who have never held a Connecticut license and do not hold a valid license from another state must take an 8 hour safe driving practices course and bring the certificate. Adults are therefore not fully exempt. The 30 hour classroom program is for teens in a driving school or high school program, and a 4 hour defensive course is not the requirement. Adult applicants must also hold a learner's permit for at least 90 days before the road test.

    Study this in the handbook: The Learner's Permit and License Tests

15. 15. When should you dim your high beams for an oncoming vehicle in Connecticut?

    1. Only when the other driver flashes you
    2. Within about 50 feet
    3. Within about one block of the oncoming vehicle
    4. Only on highways
    Show answer

    Within about one block of the oncoming vehicle. Connecticut tells drivers to dim high beams whenever they come within about a one block distance of an oncoming vehicle. Waiting for the other driver to flash you, or until 50 feet away, leaves them blinded too long, and the rule applies on every road, not just highways. Switch to low beams as well when following another vehicle or driving in heavy traffic, and in fog or hard rain or snow, where high beam light reflects back as glare.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights, Horn and Turn Signals

16. 16. How long can a truck and its tow vehicle be in Connecticut, and how much clear road may passing it take?

    1. As long as 65 feet, needing more than half a mile of clear road
    2. About 30 feet, needing 500 feet
    3. About 100 feet, needing one mile
    4. There is no limit
    Show answer

    As long as 65 feet, needing more than half a mile of clear road. A truck and its tow vehicle may be as long as 65 feet, and it may take you more than half a mile of clear road to pass. Trucks need nearly twice the time and room to stop as cars, so avoid pulling in front of one where traffic may slow. When passing, look for the entire front of the truck in your mirror before pulling in.

    Study this in the handbook: Motorcycles, Trucks and Slow Vehicles

17. 17. Why should a Connecticut driver slow down on gravel or dirt roads?

    1. Gravel roads have lower speed limits by law
    2. Dust reduces the engine's power
    3. Tires wear faster
    4. Traction is lower, so stopping takes longer and skidding in turns is easier
    Show answer

    Traction is lower, so stopping takes longer and skidding in turns is easier. You do not have as much traction on gravel or dirt roads as on concrete or asphalt, so when driving on gravel or dirt you must slow down; it takes much longer to stop and it is much easier to skid when turning. The manual also notes that grip depends on the type and condition of both the tires and the road surface, so keep tires in good condition with the pressure listed in the owner's manual.

    Study this in the handbook: Slippery Roads, Hydroplaning and Curves

18. 18. For a driver under 21 whose DUI test result is .02 percent or higher, what IID period does the manual list after reinstatement?

    1. At least one year
    2. At least six months
    3. No IID is required
    4. Permanent revocation
    Show answer

    At least one year. Connecticut's zero-tolerance rule applies to a driver under 21 with a measurable alcohol level of .02 percent or higher. The manual lists a suspension of at least 45 days and requires an ignition interlock device after reinstatement for at least one year, with a longer period possible for prior offenses. Six months belongs to the general failed-test rule, so it is not the figure in this under-21 passage. A refusal and a later conviction can involve different provisions, but neither changes the one-year minimum stated here.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, Testing and DUI Suspensions

19. 19. Which activity is expressly listed as an exception to Connecticut's teen passenger and curfew restrictions?

    1. Driving to a shopping center
    2. Responding to or returning from an emergency call as an active volunteer emergency service member
    3. Attending a friend's birthday party
    4. Driving after earning honor-roll grades
    Show answer

    Responding to or returning from an emergency call as an active volunteer emergency service member. The exception is tied to active emergency service duties. The manual names active members of volunteer fire, ambulance, and emergency medical service organizations who are responding to or returning from an emergency call or carrying out duties as active members. A shopping trip, social event, or academic achievement is unrelated to that listed purpose. The word active matters, since a person who once volunteered but is not performing an active duty would not meet the condition described in the passage.

    Study this in the handbook: Teen Training, Passengers and Curfew

20. 20. After a DUI arrest, what kinds of testing may be requested?

    1. Only a vision test
    2. A blood, breath, or urine test
    3. Only a vehicle inspection
    4. No test may be requested
    Show answer

    A blood, breath, or urine test. After a DUI arrest, the manual says the driver may be asked to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test. These are chemical test options used to show blood alcohol content, not a vision exam or vehicle inspection. The phrase may be asked describes the request after arrest, while separate rules address the consequences of failing or refusing. Remember the three sample types as the identifying detail for this procedure.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, Testing and DUI Suspensions