FL Permit Practice Test 8

All 20 questions in test 8

Every question below comes from the Florida 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 spacing rule applies when a vehicle is following another truck or vehicle towing another vehicle?

   1. It must stay at least 300 feet back, with listed exceptions
   2. It may follow within 50 feet everywhere
   3. It must remain exactly one car length behind
   4. It must stay 1,000 feet back in every situation
   Show answer

   It must stay at least 300 feet back, with listed exceptions. A truck or a vehicle towing another vehicle may not follow within 300 feet of another truck or vehicle in tow. The handbook gives exceptions for overtaking and passing and for travel within cities or towns, so the rule is not an absolute 300 foot separation in every setting. Fifty feet and one car length are too short for the stated special spacing rule. One thousand feet exaggerates it. Watch for the vehicle type ahead, maintain the required room, and do not use the rule as an excuse to pass unsafely.

2. 2. When parking beside a curb on a public road, how close should the right wheels be?

   1. Within 36 inches of the curb
   2. Within 12 inches of the curb or side of the roadway
   3. Touching the curb with both tires
   4. At least six feet from the curb
   Show answer

   Within 12 inches of the curb or side of the roadway. Florida instructs drivers to park on the right side of the road, parallel to the curb in the direction of traffic, with the right wheels within 12 inches of the curb or roadway side. Thirty six inches leaves the vehicle too far out, touching the curb can damage the tires or wheel, and six feet is not a curbside parking position. Set the parking brake, secure the transmission, and check surrounding traffic before opening a door or pulling away. The cue is close and parallel, not angled or distant.

3. 3. What should a driver do before pulling away from a parked position?

   1. Make sure the roadway is clear, signal, and yield to traffic
   2. Open the door into traffic to check the lane
   3. Back into the roadway without signaling
   4. Pull out immediately because parked vehicles have priority
   Show answer

   Make sure the roadway is clear, signal, and yield to traffic. Florida requires a driver leaving a parked position to make sure the roadway is clear, give the proper turn signal, and yield to other traffic before pulling away from the curb. A parked vehicle does not have priority over moving traffic. Opening a door into the lane can endanger bicyclists and passing vehicles, while backing without signaling gives other road users no useful warning. Check mirrors and blind spots, signal early, and enter the lane only after the path is safe.

4. 4. What driving behavior is also against Florida law?

   1. Driving so slowly that normal traffic is blocked or delayed
   2. Driving below the limit during a heavy storm
   3. Reducing speed before a sharp curve
   4. Keeping right so others can pass
   Show answer

   Driving so slowly that normal traffic is blocked or delayed. Florida warns that driving too slowly can also violate the law when it blocks or delays traffic moving at normal, safe speeds. Driving below the posted limit during a storm can be appropriate, and reducing speed for a curve improves control. Keeping right helps faster traffic pass safely. The problem is not choosing a cautious speed; it is creating an unnecessary obstruction. Watch the flow behind you, keep right when moving slower, and choose a pace that remains safe without forcing a line of vehicles to brake or pass dangerously.

5. 5. What should a driver do with headlights and wipers in low visibility?

   1. Use parking lights instead of headlights
   2. Use high beams to reflect light through fog
   3. Turn off wipers so the windshield stays dry
   4. Turn on headlights and use wipers or defrosters as needed
   Show answer

   Turn on headlights and use wipers or defrosters as needed. Florida requires headlights in low visibility and recommends wipers and defrosters for maximum visibility. Parking lights are not a substitute, and high beams reflect from fog and can make sight worse. Turning off wipers removes a tool for clearing moisture from the windshield. Use low beams, reduce speed, follow the road edge or lane lines as guides, and leave extra space. The practical cue is that poor visibility calls for more information and less speed, not brighter glare or fewer lights.

6. 6. After stopping at a red light, when may a driver turn right?

   1. Only after a green arrow appears
   2. Whenever the light is red, without stopping
   3. When no NO TURN ON RED sign is present and the way is clear
   4. Only when a vehicle behind signals permission
   Show answer

   When no NO TURN ON RED sign is present and the way is clear. A right turn on red is permitted only after the driver stops and confirms that there is no NO TURN ON RED sign and the way is clear. Rolling through the red skips the required stop. Waiting for a green arrow is not always necessary, but a driver must obey a posted prohibition when one exists. A following vehicle cannot authorize the movement. Check the crosswalk, yield to pedestrians and cross traffic, and turn only when the intersection can be entered without conflict.

7. 7. What do Florida interstate mile markers indicate?

   1. The legal speed limit for the next county
   2. The number of lanes available at the next interchange
   3. The distance to the nearest service station
   4. The driver's location on an interstate and the matching exit number
   Show answer

   The driver's location on an interstate and the matching exit number. Florida interstate mile markers indicate your location on the interstate and match the exit numbers. They help a driver identify position and connect that position with a numbered interchange. They do not set the speed limit, count lanes, or promise a nearby service station. Use the marker with route signs and your planned exit so you can prepare early for a lane change. Reading the number as a location reference is especially useful when reporting where help is needed or confirming progress along the highway.

8. 8. When emergency lights appear behind a driver, what should the driver and passengers do?

   1. Leave the vehicle immediately without direction
   2. Turn off all lights and continue driving
   3. Stay calm and cooperate
   4. Argue with the approaching officer
   Show answer

   Stay calm and cooperate. Florida advises the driver and passengers to stay calm and cooperate when emergency lights appear behind the vehicle. Leaving without direction can create danger near traffic, and turning off lights or continuing to drive ignores the need to respond safely. Arguing does not help the stop. Activate the turn signal, pull to the side as soon as it is safe, turn off the engine and audio devices, and keep hands visible. The cue is calm cooperation followed by a controlled stop, not sudden movement or confrontation.

9. 9. Where must a driver stop in relation to a stop line?

   1. Before any part of the vehicle crosses the line
   2. After the crosswalk so the driver can see better
   3. Only when another vehicle is approaching
   4. With the front bumper resting on the line
   Show answer

   Before any part of the vehicle crosses the line. A white stop line marks where a driver must stop for a stop sign or red light. The vehicle must stop before any part crosses that line. Resting on the line can put the vehicle into the crossing area, and stopping beyond the crosswalk can endanger pedestrians. The requirement does not depend on seeing another vehicle. Approach under control, stop at the line, then check the intersection and crosswalk before proceeding when permitted. If no line exists, use the handbook’s alternate stopping location near the crosswalk or intersection.

10. 10. What does a Roundabout Circle warning sign tell a Florida driver to prepare for?

    1. Stop before the circle in every case
    2. Slow down and possibly yield to traffic already in the roundabout
    3. Drive clockwise around the circle
    4. Speed up to merge ahead of circulating traffic
    Show answer

    Slow down and possibly yield to traffic already in the roundabout. The Roundabout Circle sign provides advance notice of a roundabout ahead. Prepare to slow down and possibly yield to traffic in the roundabout, because vehicles already circulating have the right of way. Entry is a yield rather than a mandatory stop, and traffic moves counterclockwise. The nearby Divided Highway Ahead and Divided Highway Ends signs warn of a median beginning and of two way traffic returning 350 to 500 feet ahead.

11. 11. What should a driver do when a drawbridge signal shows yellow and the light is about to turn red?

    1. Accelerate onto the bridge before the signal changes
    2. Continue without slowing because yellow always permits passage
    3. Turn around immediately in the travel lane
    4. Stop if it can be done safely
    Show answer

    Stop if it can be done safely. A yellow drawbridge signal warns that the light is about to turn red and the bridge is about to start operating. A driver should stop when it is safe to do so, allowing the bridge controls to close the roadway without creating a collision. Accelerating onto the bridge treats the warning as permission to rush into a changing hazard. Yellow does not guarantee that passage remains available, and turning around in the travel lane creates a separate danger. Slow down early, check the space behind you, and stop at the marked line when safe.

12. 12. A pedestrian is already in a crosswalk when the raised hand begins flashing. What action is required?

    1. Stand still until the hand becomes a walking person
    2. Turn around immediately
    3. Finish crossing quickly
    4. Start a new crossing from the nearest curb
    Show answer

    Finish crossing quickly. A person who has entered the crosswalk may complete the crossing when the raised hand starts flashing. The signal change warns people who have not begun to cross that they should stay out of the crosswalk. Turning around or standing in traffic creates a less predictable movement, while starting over would add unnecessary exposure. Once in the roadway, keep moving promptly and watch for turning vehicles while reaching the opposite side.

13. 13. When a pedestrian countdown begins and the hand symbol is flashing, who may enter the crosswalk?

    1. Anyone who can reach the other side before zero
    2. Only people accompanied by an adult
    3. Drivers turning across the crosswalk
    4. Only pedestrians already in the crosswalk
    Show answer

    Only pedestrians already in the crosswalk. The flashing hand phase means a person who has not entered should not begin crossing. People already in the crosswalk should continue to a safe landing, but a new entrant may be caught in the roadway when the solid hand appears. A countdown is not a race to beat zero, and an adult escort does not change the signal. Drivers still must watch the crosswalk and yield when pedestrians are present, especially during a turn.

14. 14. Why should you avoid following a commercial motor vehicle too closely?

    1. The truck is required to stop at every intersection
    2. You may be hidden in its rear blind spot
    3. The truck must reverse if you are behind it
    4. You lose the right to use the passing lane
    Show answer

    You may be hidden in its rear blind spot. A large commercial vehicle has a rear blind spot, so a driver tucked behind it may disappear from the truck operator's view. That position also leaves too little time to react if the truck stops unexpectedly. The vehicle is not required to stop at every intersection, and following closely does not force it to reverse or remove your lawful passing options. Increase the gap until you can see the truck's mirrors and have room to respond to sudden braking or debris.

15. 15. When passing a motorcycle, which condition calls for more than the usual following space?

    1. A clean, dry road with no traffic
    2. A motorcycle traveling in the opposite direction
    3. A straight roadway with a clear shoulder
    4. Gusty winds or wet roads
    Show answer

    Gusty winds or wet roads. The handbook calls for a larger buffer around a motorcyclist when conditions can make control or stopping more difficult, including gusty winds and wet or icy pavement. A dry, open road does not create that particular need, and an oncoming motorcycle is not a reason to follow it. Keep the motorcycle in view, avoid crowding its lane, and add space whenever weather, potholes, gravel, or tracks could change its path or braking distance.

16. 16. How far before a turn must a driver give a turn signal?

    1. At least 100 feet
    2. At least 25 feet
    3. Only after entering the intersection
    4. Exactly 500 feet
    Show answer

    At least 100 feet. Florida requires a driver to signal at least 100 feet before making a turn. That advance notice gives nearby drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians time to understand the planned movement. Signaling only after entering the intersection is too late, while 25 feet does not meet the stated minimum and 500 feet is not the rule. Activate the signal before the final approach, maintain a safe speed, and cancel it after completing the turn so it does not mislead others.

17. 17. What is a defensive-driving response when another driver approaches from behind and may change lanes aggressively?

    1. Accelerate to prevent the other driver from passing
    2. Block the adjacent lane deliberately
    3. Anticipate the other driver’s move and adjust appropriately
    4. Ignore the mirrors until the driver is beside you
    Show answer

    Anticipate the other driver’s move and adjust appropriately. Florida’s defensive-driving guidance says to anticipate what another driver might do and make appropriate adjustments. When a vehicle approaches from behind aggressively, a safer response is to create space, avoid competing for the same lane, and be ready to brake if necessary. Accelerating to block a pass can intensify the conflict, and deliberately occupying another lane is unsafe. Ignoring the mirrors removes useful warning time. Stay calm, monitor the approaching vehicle, and leave an escape path so a sudden lane change does not trap you.

18. 18. If an animal is standing near the roadway, what should you do?

    1. Accelerate to pass before it moves
    2. Slow down because it may bolt or change direction
    3. Swerve into oncoming traffic
    4. Sound the horn continuously while maintaining speed
    Show answer

    Slow down because it may bolt or change direction. An animal near the road can suddenly enter the travel lane or reverse direction, so reducing speed gives you more time to react. Accelerating reduces that margin, and swerving into oncoming traffic can create a more serious crash than striking the animal. A continuous horn is not a substitute for control. Scan the roadside, stay in your lane when possible, and use gentle braking while watching for movement from the animal or from traffic around you.

19. 19. What right of way must motorists give a funeral procession?

    1. Enter between its vehicles when traffic is stopped
    2. Yield to the procession
    3. Pass its lead vehicle before it reaches an intersection
    4. Require each vehicle to stop at every signal
    Show answer

    Yield to the procession. Motorists must yield to a funeral procession. Once its lead vehicle enters an intersection, the vehicles following it may continue through despite traffic control devices. Entering the line, passing the lead vehicle, or forcing each vehicle to stop would break the procession and create a conflict with people who are proceeding together. Slow down, wait outside the procession, and allow the entire group to clear before moving through the intersection.

20. 20. If a crash cannot be avoided, which impact is preferable to a collision with an oncoming vehicle?

    1. Swerving into opposing traffic
    2. Skidding off the roadway
    3. Hitting a stationary object
    4. Turning across a pedestrian path
    Show answer

    Hitting a stationary object. When a collision cannot be avoided, the handbook advises choosing a stationary object instead of a vehicle moving toward you. An oncoming vehicle combines the speed of both vehicles and can produce a severe head-on crash. Swerving into opposing traffic is therefore a poor escape choice, and intentionally leaving the road or crossing a pedestrian path introduces additional hazards. Stay calm, keep control, and use the safest available path while avoiding a more dangerous moving conflict.