HI Permit Practice Test 20

All 20 questions in test 20

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 parking spot does the Hawaii manual warn against?

   1. A space just beyond a curve or the crest of a hill
   2. A marked space in front of a store
   3. A level pullout with clear sight lines
   4. A space beside a curb in a residential area
   Show answer

   A space just beyond a curve or the crest of a hill. The manual warns against parking in hidden locations such as just beyond a curve or the crest of a hill. Those are the places where an approaching driver has the least time to see a stopped car, and where a car pulling out has the least view of traffic. A marked store space, a level pullout and an ordinary residential curb can all be legal when signs allow them. Visibility, not convenience, is the test the manual applies.

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

2. 2. As you approach a Hawaii roundabout, where should you look for traffic already in the circle?

   1. Over your right shoulder
   2. To the left
   3. Only in the rear-view mirror
   4. Straight ahead past the island
   Show answer

   To the left. The manual says to look to the left for traffic and yield to traffic, including bicyclists, already in the roundabout. In Hawaii the circle runs counterclockwise, so vehicles that will cross your path come from the left. Checking only the rear-view mirror leaves the approach lane unseen, looking over the right shoulder turns your attention away from the conflict, and staring past the island misses cars beside you. Glance left as you near the yield line, then look right for pedestrians before you enter.

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

3. 3. How does the manual tell a driver to signal a turn when leaving a Hawaii roundabout?

   1. Use the left signal as you enter
   2. Use the hazard lights
   3. Use the right signal to exit
   4. Use no signal inside the circle
   Show answer

   Use the right signal to exit. A driver leaving a roundabout should use the right turn signal to exit. That signal tells drivers waiting at the next approach that you are leaving the circle rather than continuing around, so they can judge whether to enter. The left signal is used for a left turn elsewhere, hazard lights mean a problem, and staying dark forces others to guess your path. Signal early enough to be seen before the exit, then check your mirror and blind spot for a cyclist or pedestrian as you leave.

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

4. 4. How does the manual compare night vision with daylight vision?

   1. No one sees as well at night as in daylight
   2. Night vision is sharper with practice
   3. Vision stays the same around the clock
   4. Only older drivers lose night acuity
   Show answer

   No one sees as well at night as in daylight. Under night driving, the manual states plainly that no one can see as well at night as in daylight, and it adds that a driver's exposure to alternating light and darkness prevents the best seeing ability at night. Practice does not sharpen the eye's physics, the change around the clock is real, and age is not the dividing line the manual draws. Because everyone's vision degrades after dark, speed choice and head lamp use matter more at night, and scanning must slow to match what the eyes can actually resolve.

   Study this in the handbook: Rain, fog and night driving

5. 5. An intersection ahead has a bike lane on your right. What does the manual say about making your right turn?

   1. Merge into the bike lane before turning
   2. Straddle the bike lane as you turn
   3. Wave cyclists around before you turn
   4. Do not drive in the bike lane
   Show answer

   Do not drive in the bike lane. When making a right turn at an intersection, the manual says do not drive in the bike lane. The lane belongs to cyclists, and a car entering it can cut off a rider approaching at speed. Merging into it, straddling it or waving riders on are not the procedure the manual describes. Make the turn from the travel lane, yield to any cyclist already in the lane or crossing it, and check your mirror and blind spot through the whole maneuver.

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

6. 6. A car is coming toward you in your lane. What does the manual tell you to do?

   1. Steer left into the oncoming lane
   2. Slow down and steer right into a clear area
   3. Hold your lane and flash your lights only
   4. Speed up to pass before it arrives
   Show answer

   Slow down and steer right into a clear area. When an oncoming vehicle is in your lane, the manual says to flash your lights and honk, then quickly slow and steer to the right out of the lane into any clear area. It adds in capital letters not to enter the oncoming traffic lane, because the other driver may recover at the last moment. Holding your lane leaves the crash to the other driver, and speeding up shortens the time to react. Aim for open space off the right side and avoid solid objects and pedestrians.

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

7. 7. A REDUCED SPEED AHEAD sign appears on a Hawaii road. When does the lower limit begin?

   1. Immediately at the warning sign
   2. Five hundred feet past the sign
   3. At the next speed limit sign
   4. Only while workers are present
   Show answer

   At the next speed limit sign. The reduced speed ahead sign is an advance warning. It tells you to start slowing, but the new limit takes effect at the next speed limit sign. Braking only when you reach that sign may be too late if the reason for the lower limit, such as a work zone or a sharp curve, begins before it. The sign does not create a temporary limit that depends on workers being visible. Ease off the accelerator as soon as you see the warning so you arrive at the new sign already at the lower speed.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic device types, warning, guide and work zone signs

8. 8. Before passing on a hill or curve, how much clear distance ahead does the Hawaii manual say you need?

   1. At least 100 feet
   2. At least 300 feet
   3. At least 500 feet
   4. About 700 to 1,000 feet
   Show answer

   About 700 to 1,000 feet. The manual sets the needed view at 700 to 1,000 feet, or roughly 213 to 305 meters, on a hill or curve. That distance is the room an oncoming car needs to appear and for you to complete the pass without forcing either driver to brake. A 100, 300 or 500 foot gap can look open because the road bends or rises beyond it, and a car can arrive in that hidden stretch. Stay behind the line until the whole passing zone is visible.

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

9. 9. What does the manual say causes over two-thirds of car and motorcycle crashes?

   1. A car driver turning in front of the motorcyclist
   2. A motorcycle passing on the right shoulder
   3. A car following too far behind the motorcycle
   4. A motorcycle with a loud exhaust pipe
   Show answer

   A car driver turning in front of the motorcyclist. The manual reports that over two-thirds of car and motorcycle crashes result from a car driver turning in front of the motorcyclist. The driver looks, sees no car, and turns across the rider's path because the narrow profile is easy to miss. Passing on the right, following too far back or a loud exhaust are not the cause the manual identifies. Before a left turn or a turn into a driveway, look again specifically for a motorcycle and judge its speed before you move.

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

10. 10. A pedestrian arrives at a signal that has been green for a long time. What does the Hawaii manual advise?

    1. Cross quickly before the light changes
    2. Cross only if a car stops for them
    3. Use the crosswalk and wave cars through
    4. Wait for the green on the next cycle
    Show answer

    Wait for the green on the next cycle. A green light that has been showing for some time is about to change, so the manual says to wait for the green on the next cycle rather than start across. A pedestrian who steps off late can be caught in the intersection when drivers get their green and stop looking for walkers. Hurrying, waiting for one car to stop or waving traffic through does not change the timing. Press the button if there is one, watch the pedestrian signal, and begin only when it gives you a fresh walk indication.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrian safety

11. 11. According to the Hawaii manual, what causes the problem after a person drinks alcohol?

    1. The type of drink, such as beer or whiskey
    2. How quickly the drink is swallowed
    3. The amount of alcohol that enters the blood
    4. Whether the drink is mixed with water
    Show answer

    The amount of alcohol that enters the blood. Hawaii's manual identifies the amount of alcohol entering the blood as the source of the problem, regardless of whether the beverage is beer, wine, whiskey, or another alcoholic drink. That makes the beverage category an unreliable basis for judging the risk. The amount swallowed and absorbed is the fact being tested, not whether water was added or how the drink was served. The choice about drink type confuses the name of the beverage with the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. The swallowing-speed choice describes timing, and the water choice describes dilution, but neither changes the manual's stated cause.

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

12. 12. When a yellow light is displayed, which action follows the manual's warning?

    1. Stop in the crosswalk to reserve a turn
    2. Speed up so the vehicle reaches the center first
    3. Treat the signal exactly like a green light
    4. Avoid entering the intersection while the yellow is shown
    Show answer

    Avoid entering the intersection while the yellow is shown. A yellow light means the red light is going to be shown immediately thereafter, so the manual tells drivers to avoid entering the intersection while the yellow is shown. Deliberately accelerating to get through first, treating yellow as an extended green, or stopping in the crosswalk all create an unsafe result. Keep the stopping area clear, check surrounding traffic, and make the decision before reaching the intersection. The manual adds in capitals that you must not enter the intersection after the red light is shown, so the yellow is a warning to finish the approach carefully, not a countdown invitation.

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

13. 13. Which Hawaii license class is required to operate a motorcycle on Hawaii highways?

    1. Class 1 license
    2. Class 3 license
    3. Class 4 license
    4. Class 2 license
    Show answer

    Class 2 license. Motorcycles sit in class 2 under Hawaii licensing, separate from both mopeds and cars. Class 1 belongs to mopeds, so using it for a motorcycle understates the machine involved. Class 3 authorizes ordinary passenger vehicles, not two wheeled motorcycles. Class 4 points toward heavier vehicle categories rather than a motorcycle. Before a first ride on the highway, confirm the card in your wallet actually reads class 2. Borrowing a bike on a car license alone leaves you unlicensed for that vehicle type.

    Study this in the handbook: The instruction permit

14. 14. When should the brake warning lamp go out in a Hawaii vehicle?

    1. When the parking brake is released
    2. When the engine warms up
    3. After the first full stop
    4. It should stay on as a reminder
    Show answer

    When the parking brake is released. The brake warning lamp in Hawaii tracks the parking brake: it should go out when the parking brake is released. Driving with the lamp lit means either the brake is still partly engaged or the brake system reports a problem. Engine warmth and first stops have no connection to that circuit. A permanent reminder role would train drivers to ignore a genuine brake warning. Before moving off, release the brake fully and confirm the lamp dies. If it stays lit with the lever down, treat it as a brake fault.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat belts and children

15. 15. A yellow X lane signal is flashing over a Hawaii lane. When may that lane be used?

    1. Only when preparing to turn left
    2. For through travel at any time
    3. For parking while waiting
    4. Never under any condition
    Show answer

    Only when preparing to turn left. A flashing yellow X in Hawaii reserves the lane for one purpose: you may use it only when preparing to turn left. Through travel in that lane risks meeting opposing traffic when control flips. Parking there blocks the turn pocket entirely. Saying the lane is never usable overstates the rule, since the left turn exception is explicit. Enter the lane close to your turn, signal, and complete the movement promptly. Lingering mid block under a flashing X invites the very conflict the signal manages.

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

16. 16. Barricades, drums, cones and tubes guide you through a work zone at night. What is often fitted to them?

    1. Reflective license plates facing traffic
    2. White flags that wave in the wind
    3. Flashing or steady burn lights
    4. Blue lamps that mark the work area edge
    Show answer

    Flashing or steady burn lights. Channelizing devices such as barricades, vertical panels, drums, cones and tubes are often equipped at night with flashing or steady burn lights. Those lamps keep the line of the work zone visible after dark so drivers can follow the intended path without guessing between devices. License plates play no part in guiding traffic, white flags belong to other warnings and would be hard to see at night, and blue lamps are not the fitting described for these devices. Follow the lighted line at reduced speed and stay inside the guided path.

17. 17. What does the manual say to do with eating, phone calls, grooming and other personal tasks?

    1. Do them at red lights to save time
    2. Plan ahead and take care of them before you start driving
    3. Hand them to a front-seat passenger while moving
    4. Save them for low-speed streets
    Show answer

    Plan ahead and take care of them before you start driving. The manual lists eating, drinking, phone calls, writing, reading, smoking, grooming, changing music, hunting for things, talking with passengers and dealing with children or pets among the distractions to avoid, and its instruction is to plan ahead and take care of these things before you start driving. Red lights are not task windows, because intersections are among the busiest conflict points, and a passenger or a slow street does not restore the attention driving demands. Finish the personal business first, then drive with your whole mind on the road.

    Study this in the handbook: Attitude, age and distraction

18. 18. Who should perform general vehicle care and maintenance in Hawaii guidance?

    1. Only the dealer
    2. You or an experienced mechanic, regularly
    3. Only a state inspector
    4. No one until a warning light appears
    Show answer

    You or an experienced mechanic, regularly. Hawaii guidance assigns upkeep to the owner with professional backup: general care and maintenance should be performed regularly by you or by an experienced mechanic. Waiting for a warning light means running parts to failure. Dealers are one option, not the sole provider, and state inspectors check condition yearly rather than maintaining the car. Regular attention to fluids, tires, brakes and lights catches small faults early. Keep a simple monthly routine at home and book shop visits for work beyond your tools or skill.

19. 19. How should a Hawaii driver choose a safe speed?

    1. Use the fastest speed other traffic is using
    2. Stay at the posted maximum regardless of conditions
    3. Choose a safe, appropriate speed for the area
    4. Match the vehicle ahead even when conditions change
    Show answer

    Choose a safe, appropriate speed for the area. Hawaii requires a safe, appropriate speed based on the area being driven in, along with traffic, road condition, pedestrians, weather, and light. The posted maximum is an upper limit, not a command to use that speed in every condition. Copying the fastest traffic or the vehicle ahead gives another driver control of your judgment and may be unsafe. Choosing a safe, appropriate speed captures the manual's area-based rule without treating the limit as a target. A safe speed can be lower than the posted number when the surroundings require it.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed rules

20. 20. What does the Hawaii manual say indicates a partial brake failure?

    1. A drop in the fuel gauge reading
    2. A warning light on the instrument panel
    3. A loud clunk from the rear axle
    4. A sudden rise in engine temperature
    Show answer

    A warning light on the instrument panel. Total brake failure is very unlikely on modern passenger cars because the service brake system is built so that partial braking is almost always possible. A partial failure shows up as reduced braking ability and is indicated by a warning light on the instrument panel. Fuel gauge readings, rear-axle clunks and engine temperature have nothing to do with the brake circuit. If braking feels weak and that lamp is lit, treat the car as having limited brakes: slow down, stay off fast roads and have the system inspected before driving on.

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