DE Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the Delaware 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 must a driver do while proceeding in the direction of a steady green arrow?

   1. Yield to all pedestrians and vehicles already lawfully in the intersection
   2. Ignore people in the crosswalk because the arrow grants absolute priority
   3. Wait for the arrow to become a circular green signal
   4. Back away from the intersection before turning
   Show answer

   Yield to all pedestrians and vehicles already lawfully in the intersection. A steady green arrow permits movement in the arrow's direction, but Delaware still requires the driver to yield to all pedestrians and vehicles already lawfully in the intersection. The arrow is not absolute priority, and waiting for a circular green misunderstands its purpose. Before moving, scan the crosswalk and intersection, then continue in the indicated direction only after people and vehicles already there are accommodated.

2. 2. What speed should a driver use when approaching a Delaware roundabout?

   1. Exactly 5 mph in every roundabout
   2. The posted highway speed until entering the circle
   3. About 10 to 15 mph after staying right of the splitter island
   4. At least 25 mph to keep traffic moving
   Show answer

   About 10 to 15 mph after staying right of the splitter island. The Delaware roundabout procedure calls for staying to the right of the splitter island and slowing to 10 to 15 mph on approach. The posted-highway-speed choice ignores the intersection's traffic-calming design, while fixed speeds of 5 or 25 mph are not the stated range. At that reduced pace, look for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles already circulating. The cue is the splitter island and circular layout: slow before entry, yield appropriately, and keep scanning through the curve.

3. 3. What should a Delaware driver do before turning right or changing lanes?

   1. Use the turn signals before the maneuver
   2. Turn first and signal afterward
   3. Use hazard lights instead of a turn signal
   4. Signal only if another vehicle is beside you
   Show answer

   Use the turn signals before the maneuver. Delaware's driver guidance says to use turn signals before changing lanes or turning right. Signaling first gives nearby road users time to anticipate the movement and decide whether they need to slow or yield. Turning before signaling reverses that order, while hazard lights do not identify the direction of a planned maneuver. Another vehicle does not need to be beside you before signaling. Make the signal part of the preparation, then check mirrors, blind spots, and the path before steering. The useful cue is simple: signal before the vehicle changes position or direction.

4. 4. How close to the curb or edge must a Delaware driver park parallel on a two-way highway?

   
   1. Within 3 feet
   2. Within 12 inches
   3. Within 24 inches only on a one-way street
   4. As far from the curb as the driver prefers
   Show answer

   Within 12 inches. Parallel parking on a two-way highway requires the vehicle to be parallel to and within 12 inches of the curb or edge. A three-foot gap leaves the vehicle too far into the roadway, and the rule is not limited to one-way streets. Choosing any distance would ignore the safety and space requirement. The cue is the curb beside the parking space: align the vehicle, finish within one foot, set the brake, and check that it is not obstructing moving traffic.

5. 5. During the second six months of a Delaware Level One permit, a teen drives with no supervisor in the car. How many passengers may ride?

   1. Any number of immediate family members
   2. None
   3. Two passengers under 21
   4. Only one other passenger
   Show answer

   Only one other passenger. In the second six month period, when no supervisor is present, only one other passenger in addition to the driver can be in the vehicle. The immediate family exception applies only when the adult supervisor is in the car, so it does not open the door to extra family riders on an unsupervised trip. Zero passengers is stricter than the rule, and two passengers under 21 is not permitted.

6. 6. What happens when a Delaware driver's calculated points reach 14?

   1. A 2-month suspension that can be avoided by paying a fee
   2. An advisory letter
   3. A mandatory 4-month license suspension
   4. Nothing until 20 points
   Show answer

   A mandatory 4-month license suspension. At 14 calculated points Delaware imposes a mandatory 4-month license suspension, and to be reinstated the driver must have completed a behavior modification/attitudinal driving course within the previous two years. Suspensions then grow by two months per two point step: 6 months at 16, 8 at 18, 10 at 20, and 12 at 22. An advisory letter is the 8 point step, and no fee avoids the suspension.

7. 7. What does the five-sided yellow sign shown here warn drivers about?

   
   1. A school or school crossing
   2. A public park entrance
   3. An adult pedestrian crossing
   4. A highway service area
   Show answer

   A school or school crossing. The five-sided black-on-yellow shape is reserved for school and school-crossing warnings. As you approach, slow down, watch for children, and stop if necessary. A park entrance or service area uses a different type of information sign, and the adult-crossing choice misses the special school warning conveyed by the pentagon. Fluorescent yellow-green versions may also appear, so rely on the shape and child-related symbol rather than shade alone. The practical cue is to expect unpredictable movement near the crossing and keep enough control to stop promptly.

8. 8. What does the sharp-turn warning advise a driver to do?

   
   1. Stop and reverse before the turn
   2. Maintain the posted speed without adjustment
   3. Change lanes into oncoming traffic
   4. Reduce speed
   Show answer

   Reduce speed. The sharp-turn symbol warns that the roadway changes direction abruptly and specifically pairs that warning with reducing speed. Maintaining speed ignores the sign's safety instruction. Moving into oncoming traffic is never a response to a turn warning, and reversing is not a normal maneuver at the bend. The cue is the tight arrow shape: slow before the turn, stay in the lane, and keep enough control to follow the roadway without braking or steering suddenly at the sharpest point.

9. 9. What should you do if icy conditions make a posted minimum speed unsafe?

   1. Drive at the minimum with hazard lights to compensate
   2. Keep the minimum speed regardless of traction
   3. Drive slower than the minimum as conditions require
   4. Accelerate above the minimum to spend less time on the ice
   Show answer

   Drive slower than the minimum as conditions require. A posted minimum speed normally must be obeyed, but Delaware makes an exception when weather or other conditions make that speed unsafe. Ice can require a much slower pace because braking and steering depend on the available tire grip. Hazard lights cannot restore traction or make the posted minimum safe. Look for a shiny road surface and other signs of freezing, reduce speed smoothly, and allow enough room to respond without sudden braking or steering.

10. 10. Which document proves completion of the required Delaware driver education course for a Level One Learner's Permit?

    1. A Delaware Driver Education Certificate, also called the Blue/White Certificate
    2. A receipt for a private defensive driving class
    3. A signed statement from any licensed adult
    4. A road test appointment confirmation
    Show answer

    A Delaware Driver Education Certificate, also called the Blue/White Certificate. A Level One applicant must present the Delaware Driver Education Certificate, commonly called the Blue/White Certificate, to show completion of a certified Delaware course. A private defensive driving receipt does not establish the required driver education credential. An adult's statement and a road test appointment address different matters and cannot substitute for the certificate. The useful document cue is the certificate's distinctive Blue/White name, which separates it from general traffic safety coursework.

11. 11. When must a Delaware driver yield to a pedestrian crossing at a sidewalk or driveway?

    1. Only when the pedestrian is carrying a sign
    2. Only when a police officer is present
    3. When crossing a sidewalk while entering or exiting a driveway, alley, or parking lot
    4. Never, because the sidewalk is not a roadway
    Show answer

    When crossing a sidewalk while entering or exiting a driveway, alley, or parking lot. A driver crossing a sidewalk while entering or leaving a driveway, alley, or parking lot must yield to pedestrians. The manual also says driving on a sidewalk is illegal except to cross it, so the crossing must be brief and controlled. Police presence or a pedestrian's sign is not a condition of the duty. Calling the sidewalk irrelevant reverses the rule. The useful cue is to stop the vehicle's path before the sidewalk, look for people, and cross only after yielding, including when the entrance appears quiet at first glance.

12. 12. What penalties does Delaware list for a fifth DUI offense?

    1. A $500 fine
    2. A misdemeanor with 30 days
    3. A Class E felony with a fine up to $10,000 and three to five years in prison, plus 60 months license loss
    4. A one year suspension
    Show answer

    A Class E felony with a fine up to $10,000 and three to five years in prison, plus 60 months license loss. A fifth DUI offense is a Class E felony carrying a fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment of not less than three years nor more than five years, with loss of license for 60 months. A third offense is a Class G felony with up to $5,000 and one to two years, and fourth and sixth offenses also carry 60 month license losses. The penalties escalate with every conviction.

13. 13. When must Delaware headlights be on because of weather?

    1. Only during snow, never during rain
    2. Only after sunset
    3. Only when fog reduces visibility below 100 feet
    4. Whenever windshield wipers are in use due to inclement weather
    Show answer

    Whenever windshield wipers are in use due to inclement weather. Delaware's equipment rule connects headlights to windshield wiper use when the wipers are operating because of inclement weather. The rule is not limited to darkness, a measured visibility distance, or snow alone. The best driving cue is simple: if weather requires the wipers, turn on the headlights as well. This makes the vehicle easier for others to see during rain or another qualifying condition. The choices based on sunset or a fixed distance add limits that are not in the manual's stated requirement.

14. 14. What is the purpose of a five-sided black-on-yellow warning sign?

    1. It marks a highway rail intersection
    2. It warns of a school or school crossing
    3. It announces a mandatory speed limit
    4. It identifies a recreational facility
    Show answer

    It warns of a school or school crossing. Delaware reserves the five-sided black-on-yellow sign for schools and school crossings. When it appears, drivers should reduce speed, watch for children, and be ready to stop. The round yellow sign with an X and RR letters serves as the advance warning for a highway rail intersection, so the choice “It marks a highway rail intersection” describes a different sign. Speed limits use regulatory signs, while recreational facilities use other guide or information signs. The pentagon is the recognition cue: expect children near the roadway and give yourself time to react.

15. 15. What is the Delaware fine for a first offense of operating an uninsured vehicle?

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

    $1,500 to $2,000. Operating an uninsured vehicle in Delaware brings a fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $2,000. For each later offense within three years, the fine rises to $3,000 to $4,000, which is why that choice is the repeat offense amount. Providing false proof of insurance adds a $500 fine and/or 30 days in jail. The $100 figure is the DMV's audit penalty for 1 to 30 days of lapsed coverage, a separate administrative charge.

16. 16. What kind of roadway information does this black and white ONE WAY sign provide?

    
    1. The hours when parking is allowed
    2. The minimum speed for the roadway
    3. A restriction on pedestrian crossings
    4. The permitted direction of traffic
    Show answer

    The permitted direction of traffic. The ONE WAY sign communicates a traffic-direction rule for the roadway. It tells a driver that travel must follow the indicated direction, rather than allowing movement either way. The sign does not set a minimum speed, regulate pedestrian crossings, or establish parking hours. Before entering, compare the arrow with your intended movement and choose another route if the directions conflict. A useful habit is to read the arrow as applying to the street ahead, not merely to the turn being made at the current corner.

17. 17. What DMV license loss does Delaware list for a seventh or greater DUI conviction?

    1. 12 months
    2. 60 months
    3. 24 months
    4. The remainder of the driver's lifetime
    Show answer

    60 months. A seventh or greater DUI conviction carries a 60-month loss of license by the Delaware DMV. Twelve and 24 months are shorter periods associated with other penalty categories, not this highest listed offense grouping. The manual does not state an automatic lifetime DMV loss for this entry, although the court classification and sanctions are also severe. The cue is the repeated five-year figure, which equals 60 months.

18. 18. What court fine range is listed for a first DUI offense in Delaware?

    1. $100 to $300
    2. $500 to $1,500
    3. $750 to $2,500
    4. $5,000 to $15,000
    Show answer

    $500 to $1,500. The first-offense court sanction includes a fine from $500 to $1,500, along with possible imprisonment of up to 12 months. The $100 to $300 range is associated with a different driving offense, and $750 to $2,500 is listed for a second DUI offense. The largest range is not the first-offense court figure. The cue is the word court: this question asks about the fine sanction, separate from DMV license loss.

19. 19. Two Delaware vehicles reach a four-way stop at the same time. After both stop completely, which vehicle proceeds first?

    
    1. The vehicle that entered the intersection without stopping
    2. The vehicle on the left
    3. The vehicle with the larger engine
    4. The vehicle on the right
    Show answer

    The vehicle on the right. When vehicles arrive together at a four-way stop, Delaware gives priority to the vehicle on the right after a complete stop. The left-side vehicle must wait, even if its driver believes the lane is wider or the vehicle is moving faster. A larger engine creates no priority, and entering without stopping violates the stop requirement. The useful cue is simultaneous arrival: identify the vehicle to your right, let it go, then proceed only when the intersection is clear.

20. 20. What should a Delaware motorcyclist remember about turn signals?

    1. They always cancel after five seconds
    2. They may not cancel automatically
    3. They work only when the motorcycle is stopped
    4. They should be replaced by hand signals in every turn
    Show answer

    They may not cancel automatically. Turn signals on most motorcycles are not automatically self-canceling, so a rider may forget to switch one off after completing a maneuver. A blinking signal can mislead another driver about whether the motorcycle will turn or continue straight. The signal does not operate only while stopped, and the manual does not require replacing it with a hand signal for every turn. Before turning in front of a motorcycle, confirm the rider's actual path instead of trusting the indicator alone. The cue is a blinking signal that remains on after the bike has straightened.