HI Permit Practice Test 13

All 20 questions in test 13

Every question below comes from the Hawaii 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. Which place is covered by Hawaii's 100-foot limit on passing?

   1. A narrow bridge, viaduct, or tunnel
   2. A marked crosswalk in the middle of a block
   3. A driveway on the right side of the road
   4. A parking lane beside a curb
   Show answer

   A narrow bridge, viaduct, or tunnel. The 100-foot no-passing rule covers intersections, railroad crossings and any posted narrow bridge, viaduct or tunnel. These are places where the roadway narrows or where a car can appear from a side path, so a pass would squeeze two vehicles into space meant for one. A midblock crosswalk, a driveway and a parking lane each call for caution, but they are not part of this particular distance rule. Look for the posted warning and keep your lane until the structure is behind you.

   Study this in the handbook: Driving on the right and passing laws

2. 2. A driver has taken LSD or cocaine. What does the Hawaii manual say about operating a vehicle?

   1. Drive only on quiet side streets
   2. Drive only with a passenger who is sober
   3. The person must not try to drive
   4. Drive below 25 mph until the effect fades
   Show answer

   The person must not try to drive. After describing LSD, heroin and cocaine, the manual states that anyone under the influence of such drugs must not try to operate a motor vehicle. There is no side-street exception, no sober-passenger permit and no special low speed that makes the trip acceptable. The drugs can leave a driver unaware of surroundings, and a passenger cannot take over the controls in time to prevent a crash. Call a ride, wait until the effect has fully passed, or use public transportation. If you are already out, leave the car where it is.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and the law

3. 3. Before taking a new medicine, what does the Hawaii manual say a driver should do?

   1. Take it with coffee to stay awake
   2. Ask a doctor about effects on driving
   3. Test it on a quiet road before you drive in traffic
   4. Wait until the first dose wears off
   Show answer

   Ask a doctor about effects on driving. The manual says to ask a doctor about any possible effects the medicine might have on driving ability before taking it. A quiet-road test is a risky experiment because a delayed reaction or a wave of drowsiness may not appear until traffic demands a fast response. Coffee does not remove a drug's sedative effect, and waiting until a dose wears off defeats the purpose of taking it. Ask about drowsiness, dizziness and interactions with alcohol, and follow the answer before you get behind the wheel.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and the law

4. 4. Another driver is passing you on a two-lane Hawaii road. What does the manual say about your speed?

   1. Speed up a little so the pass ends sooner
   2. It is unlawful to increase your speed
   3. Slow down by at least ten mph
   4. Match the speed of the passing car
   Show answer

   It is unlawful to increase your speed. The manual states plainly that increasing speed while another vehicle is passing you is unlawful. The passing driver has already committed to a maneuver in the oncoming lane and is judging the gap by your current speed. If you accelerate, that gap shrinks and the passer may be trapped. Holding a steady speed and staying to the right gives the other driver room to finish. Slowing abruptly or matching their speed also changes the picture they are working with.

   Study this in the handbook: Driving on the right and passing laws

5. 5. What does the manual say about windshield washers?

   1. They work only with the engine off
   2. They are optional on older cars
   3. Keep the reservoir filled and check the operation frequently
   4. They replace the need for properly working wipers
   Show answer

   Keep the reservoir filled and check the operation frequently. Windshield washers let you clean the windshield while driving, and the manual says to keep the reservoir filled and check their operation frequently. A empty reservoir leaves you unable to clear bugs, salt spray or mud splash at highway speed, which is exactly when clear vision matters. The engine-off condition, an age-based exemption and a washer-only setup are not what the manual describes; wipers and washers work together. Check the nozzles and fluid level when you check the wiper blades.

   Study this in the handbook: Vehicle equipment, inspection and registration

6. 6. You realize you are headed the wrong way on a Hawaii freeway. What does the manual say to do?

   1. Leave at the next exit and come back the other way
   2. Make a U turn through a gap in the divider
   3. Back up along the shoulder to the last ramp
   4. Cross the divider where it is low
   Show answer

   Leave at the next exit and come back the other way. If you must proceed in the opposite direction, the manual says to go to the next exit, leave the freeway and re-enter in the opposite direction. Never cross the center divider of a freeway, never turn around on a freeway and never back up on a freeway. A gap, a low barrier section or a shoulder backup all put a reversing or crossing car into high-speed traffic that has no reason to expect it. The extra miles of the exit-and-return loop are the safe price of fixing the mistake.

   Study this in the handbook: Following distance, turns and freeways

7. 7. You are towing another vehicle. What spacing does the manual say to leave ahead of you?

   1. Half the normal gap, since the tow lengthens your stop
   2. A gap sized to the tow rope or bar
   3. No extra space beyond the usual two seconds
   4. Enough space ahead for an overtaking vehicle to occupy safely
   Show answer

   Enough space ahead for an overtaking vehicle to occupy safely. When towing another vehicle, the manual says to leave enough space ahead of your vehicle to allow an overtaking vehicle to occupy the space safely. A combination is longer and slower to stop, so a shrunken gap is exactly backwards, and the tow rope's length has nothing to do with traffic spacing. The point is courtesy as well as safety: a passer who commits to your gap needs room to complete the move. Leave more room than usual, and let impatient drivers get by without a fight.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and railroad crossings

8. 8. An overhead lane-control signal shows a green arrow above your lane. What does it tell you?

   1. You may use that lane
   2. The lane closes ahead
   3. Exit the lane at once
   4. The lane is for buses only
   Show answer

   You may use that lane. On lane-control signals, a green arrow means you may use that lane. These overhead signals switch lanes open and closed to match traffic flow, work zones or incidents, so read the one directly above your lane. A closure or hazard would be shown by a different display, such as a yellow X or a red X, and bus restrictions come from signs and markings rather than this signal. If the arrow shows green, the lane is open; if the display changes, move safely at the first chance.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and lane control signals

9. 9. What action does Hawaii require at a red light?

   1. Stop at the stop line, or before the crosswalk or intersection when no line exists
   2. Slow to walking speed and continue
   3. Stop only if a pedestrian is present
   4. Stop after entering the intersection
   Show answer

   Stop at the stop line, or before the crosswalk or intersection when no line exists. A red light requires a complete stop at the stop line. If there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk, and if neither marking exists, stop before entering the intersection. A rolling approach is not enough, and waiting until after entering defeats the purpose of the control. After stopping, Hawaii permits certain turns only with the required yielding and unless a sign prohibits them. Use the painted line or the nearest protected boundary as your stopping reference.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and lane control signals

10. 10. You are about to strike another car and your wheels are sliding. What does the manual direct?

    1. Jam the brakes and hold the wheel straight
    2. Apply and release the brakes rapidly as you steer clear
    3. Shift to reverse to shorten the stop
    4. Pull the parking brake with full force
    Show answer

    Apply and release the brakes rapidly as you steer clear. A hard brake application can make wheels slide, and once the wheels slide you no longer control the vehicle. If you are in danger of striking something, the manual says not to jam the brakes and slide the wheels, but instead to apply and release the brakes rapidly while steering the vehicle toward a clear area, off the road if necessary, avoiding people, trees, poles and substantial objects. Reverse and a full-force parking brake add chaos, not control. Pump, steer, escape.

11. 11. Where must stops to load or unload passengers or cargo be made?

    1. In any traffic lane at low speed
    2. At the nearest intersection corner, in the crosswalk
    3. In a designated space or loading zone
    4. On the shoulder of any street
    Show answer

    In a designated space or loading zone. Stops made to load or unload passengers or cargo, or to converse with other drivers or pedestrians, must be made in a designated parking space, loading zone or other place out of a traffic lane. A lane stop at low speed is still a lane stop, and a crosswalk is exactly where pedestrians expect to be unobstructed. The shoulder is not a general loading area on every street. Find the legal space first, then make the pickup or delivery.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, turns and freeways

12. 12. You are about to open your car door next to moving traffic that includes bicyclists. What does the manual say?

    1. Open the door quickly so it is open for less time
    2. Open the door without looking if your mirrors are set
    3. Sound the horn before opening the door
    4. Look first, because opening the door unexpectedly is a violation
    Show answer

    Look first, because opening the door unexpectedly is a violation. Opening a car door unexpectedly so as to create a hazard for moving traffic, including bicyclists, is a traffic violation. A rider beside your car has almost no room to dodge a door that swings out without warning. Opening quickly shortens the time the door is open but removes the look that prevents the swing in the first place. Mirrors alone leave a blind angle beside the rear door, and a horn note does not clear the space the door will occupy. Look along the lane, wait for a gap, and open only when the door will not cross a moving path.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and school buses

13. 13. A stranger stops to help at your Hawaii breakdown. What does the manual advise?

    1. Get out and inspect the stranger's car
    2. Remain locked in the car until you are sure of their intentions
    3. Hand over your keys so they can check the engine
    4. Accept a ride without asking questions
    Show answer

    Remain locked in the car until you are sure of their intentions. The manual says to be cautious about those who offer help, to remain locked in the vehicle until you are sure of their intentions, and to ask that police be notified if you are in doubt. A breakdown leaves you focused on the car and away from the road, which is exactly when a stranger can take advantage. Inspecting their car, handing over keys or accepting a ride removes your control. Stay inside, use your phone to call for help and let a trusted service or officer arrive.

    Study this in the handbook: Blowouts, brake failure, skids and fires

14. 14. You are passing a large truck moving near maximum speed. What should you expect?

    1. A steady stream of warm air
    2. A strong wind gust that can push your car
    3. A reduction in road noise
    4. The truck will slow down for you
    Show answer

    A strong wind gust that can push your car. The manual warns that large fast-moving vehicles create wind gusts strong enough to change the direction of a smaller car. The effect can appear as you approach the cab or the trailer, so keep both hands on the wheel and be ready for a push to one side. Warm air, quiet, or an expectation that the truck will slow are not reliable. Pass steadily, leave room and make any steering correction small. If you tow a trailer, the gust can be stronger.

15. 15. Besides circulating cars, whom must you yield to when entering or exiting a Hawaii roundabout?

    1. Pedestrians and bicyclists
    2. Only vehicles larger than yours
    3. Only cars that are already signaling
    4. No one, once you have entered
    Show answer

    Pedestrians and bicyclists. The manual tells drivers to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists as they enter and exit a roundabout. Someone on foot or a bike may be crossing the approach or the exit lane, where a driver watching only for cars can miss them. Vehicle size does not create priority, a signal from another car does not decide the pedestrian's right of way, and entering the circle does not end the duty to yield at the exit. Slow before the crosswalk, scan both directions and wait for a clear path before you cross it.

    Study this in the handbook: Backing, entering traffic, lanes and parking

16. 16. What does the manual say about knowing where your destination is?

    1. A rough idea is fine; signs will guide you
    2. A navigation app removes any need to check
    3. Ask someone after you arrive in the area
    4. Know the exact location; check a map before you start
    Show answer

    Know the exact location; check a map before you start. Under destination location, the manual says you should know the exact location of your destination and not start with only a hazy idea of where you are going; if the destination is in an unfamiliar area, check the location on a map before you start. A rough idea produces last-second lane dives, an app does not replace knowing where you are headed, and asking after arrival means wandering streets you cannot read. Fix the endpoint first, then drive the route with attention to spare.

17. 17. Which colors does Hawaii use on guide and information signs?

    1. Red and white
    2. Orange and yellow
    3. Black and white
    4. Green, blue and brown
    Show answer

    Green, blue and brown. The manual assigns the colors green, blue and brown to guide and information signs, which appear mostly in rectangular shapes. Red belongs to stop and prohibitive signing, orange warns of road work, yellow carries general warnings, and black and white indicate a required action. Knowing the color families lets you read a sign's purpose at a glance before you can parse its words: green for directions and distances, blue for motorist services, brown for recreation and cultural points. The wrong pairs mix regulatory and warning colors into the guide family.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign colors, shapes and regulatory signs

18. 18. What do solid white stop lines at intersections and crosswalks tell a Hawaii driver?

    1. Where parking begins
    2. Where turns may start
    3. The exact place at which to stop
    4. The edge of a bike lane
    Show answer

    The exact place at which to stop. Stop lines remove guesswork in Hawaii: the solid white line painted across the traffic lanes marks the exact place at which to stop. It is not a parking boundary, a turn start marker or a bike lane edge. Halting with the bumper on that line keeps the crosswalk clear for people on foot. Creeping past it pushes your hood into the crossing path. When you approach a controlled intersection, aim for the line first. Only after stopping there should you edge forward for a better view.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrian safety

19. 19. Why must Hawaii occupants still rely on seat belts even when air bags are present?

    1. Air bags work only below 10 mph
    2. Air bags replace belts on the first impact only by design
    3. Belts are needed to inflate the bags
    4. The bags deflate immediately, so belts protect in later impacts
    Show answer

    The bags deflate immediately, so belts protect in later impacts. Air bags inflate and then deflate immediately, so Hawaii occupants must rely on belts for protection if subsequent impacts occur. A crash often involves more than one strike, a second vehicle, a pole or a roll, and the bag is already spent after the first. Bags do not need belts to inflate, and their usefulness is not capped at parking lot speeds. Belts hold you in position for the bag and keep working afterward. Buckle every trip, even with a full set of air bags around the cabin.

    Study this in the handbook: Vehicle equipment, inspection and registration

20. 20. What should a Hawaii driver know before starting a trip to an unfamiliar destination?

    1. Only the first turn
    2. A hazy general direction is enough
    3. The exact location of the destination
    4. Nothing; signs will guide every turn
    Show answer

    The exact location of the destination. Trip preparation in Hawaii starts with certainty: know the exact location of your destination and do not start with only a hazy idea of where you are going. Vague routing leads to late lane changes, sudden stops to read signs and attention split between road and navigation. A single first turn leaves the rest to improvisation. Study the route before departure, note the final streets and a landmark, and save the address in your phone. Driving then becomes execution of a plan instead of searching while moving.