HI Permit Practice Test 22

All 20 questions in test 22

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. You cannot keep up with traffic on a Hawaii road. What does the manual tell you to do?

   1. Pull off the road and let the traffic pass
   2. Speed up until you match the car ahead
   3. Turn on your hazards and stay in your lane
   4. Move left and slow down gradually
   Show answer

   Pull off the road and let the traffic pass. A driver who cannot keep up is told to leave the roadway and let the other traffic pass, or to choose another route. Crawling along below the flow forces everyone behind to brake and creates the rear-end collisions that follow a speed mismatch. Speeding up beyond your comfort or the limit is not the remedy, and hazard lights do not make a slow car safe in a live lane. Use a turnout, a side street or a different road until you can travel at the normal pace.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed rules

2. 2. What does Hawaii law say about driving through a pedestrian safety zone?

   1. It is allowed when the zone is empty
   2. It is allowed below ten mph
   3. It is prohibited
   4. It is allowed when a guard waves you through
   Show answer

   It is prohibited. Driving through a pedestrian safety zone is prohibited by law. These zones are set aside for people on foot, often near schools or crossings, and a car entering one puts them at direct risk even if the space looks clear at that moment. An empty zone, a low speed or a wave from a guard does not create an exception. Route around the zone and use the normal travel lane. If a guard signals you to stop, stop and wait for the pedestrians to finish crossing.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrian safety

3. 3. You are entering a public road from a Hawaii farmyard. What must you do?

   1. Stop and yield to traffic on the road
   2. Merge quickly so you do not block the entrance
   3. Sound your horn and drive out
   4. Yield only when a sign tells you to
   Show answer

   Stop and yield to traffic on the road. A driver entering a public street or road from an alley, driveway or farmyard must stop and yield. The traffic already on the road has the right of way, and the person coming from a private area has the better view of the entrance, so that driver waits. A quick merge, a horn blast or the absence of a sign does not change the duty. Stop where you can see both directions, then pull out only when the road is clear enough that no one has to brake for you.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of way and roundabouts

4. 4. What is the purpose of crosswalk lines?

   1. They mark where pedestrians may safely cross the road or street
   2. They mark a lane reserved for passing traffic
   3. They mark where drivers may park beside the roadway
   4. They mark a lane reserved for left turns
   Show answer

   They mark where pedestrians may safely cross the road or street. Crosswalk lines identify a place where pedestrians can safely cross a road or street. The manual also says they supplement signs warning drivers that pedestrians may be crossing there. They do not create a passing lane, parking space, or left-turn lane. When you see those lines, watch for people in or approaching the crosswalk and be prepared to stop for pedestrians. The marking is a pedestrian crossing cue, not a lane-use instruction for vehicles.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrian safety

5. 5. What does the Hawaii manual say about backing across or into a roadway?

   1. It is allowed at signalized corners
   2. It is allowed after sounding the horn
   3. It is the fastest way to turn around
   4. Avoid it whenever possible
   Show answer

   Avoid it whenever possible. The manual lists backing across or into a roadway among the maneuvers to avoid whenever possible. Reversing into live traffic moves your car against the normal flow and gives approaching drivers little time to react. Use a driveway, a parking lot or a roundabout loop to change direction instead of backing into the street. A signalized corner does not make backing safe, a horn blast clears nothing, and a turn made by backing is slow and exposed, not quick.

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

6. 6. Which equipment is prohibited on a Hawaii vehicle that is not an authorized emergency vehicle?

   1. A bell, exhaust whistle or siren, a front red or blue light, and a muffler cutout or bypass
   2. Fog lights
   3. A backup camera
   4. A roof rack
   Show answer

   A bell, exhaust whistle or siren, a front red or blue light, and a muffler cutout or bypass. Vehicles other than authorized emergency vehicles may not have a red light showing to the front or a blue light visible outside the vehicle, a bell, exhaust whistle or siren, or a muffler cutout, bypass, or muffler louder than original equipment. The bell, whistle, siren and front red or blue light are allowed only on authorized emergency vehicles. If an ordinary vehicle carries any of these items, remove them before driving it on the highway; fog lights, cameras and roof racks are not on the list.

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

7. 7. How does the manual describe air bags in relation to safety belts?

   1. A replacement for belts on long trips
   2. Protection only for rear-seat passengers
   3. Supplemental occupant protection for a first impact
   4. A substitute for child restraints
   Show answer

   Supplemental occupant protection for a first impact. The manual describes air bags as supplemental occupant protection for a first impact. Because the bags deflate immediately, occupants must rely on the belts for protection if subsequent impacts occur, which is why the belts do the continuous work and the bag adds one cushioned moment. The manual also advises replacing deployed bags so you maintain maximum occupant protection. Belts are never optional because a bag is present, rear seats are not the air bag's focus, and no bag substitutes for a child restraint.

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

8. 8. Your vehicle's turn signals are not operating. What does the Hawaii manual require?

   1. Use hand signals
   2. Drive only during daylight hours
   3. Flash the hazard lights for every turn
   4. Use the brake lights alone for turns
   Show answer

   Use hand signals. Hand signals must be used when the vehicle turn signals are not operating. Signaling is how other road users predict your path, and a failed signal lamp does not remove that duty. Daylight-only driving is not a substitute the manual offers, hazard flashers announce a problem rather than a turn, and brake lights show slowing but not an intended turn. Learn the basic hand signals for left turns, right turns and stopping so you can use them the moment a lamp fails.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and railroad crossings

9. 9. What standard does the manual set for how closely you may follow another vehicle?

   1. No closer than one car length per ten mph
   2. No closer than three seconds in every situation
   3. Not closer than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions
   4. Whatever gap keeps the lead car's mirrors in view
   Show answer

   Not closer than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions. When following another vehicle, you must not follow closer than is reasonable and prudent for the speed, traffic, road and weather conditions. The standard flexes with conditions: a gap that is fine on a dry freeway is reckless in rain, in fog or behind a truck. Fixed formulas like a car length per ten mph or a blanket three-second rule are not what the manual states, and mirror visibility is not the test. Judge the gap by what it would take to stop safely if the car ahead braked hard.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and railroad crossings

10. 10. Which bad habit does the manual call out for drivers heading home after work?

    1. Racing a train to the crossing
    2. Having drinks before driving home from work
    3. Skipping the seat belt on short trips around town
    4. Tailgating to keep the queue moving
    Show answer

    Having drinks before driving home from work. The manual's list of bad habits includes having one or more alcoholic drinks prior to driving home from work, with the excuse usually given as wanting to miss the traffic. The excuse does not change the arithmetic: impairment plus commuting traffic is a classic crash recipe. Railroad racing, seat belt skipping and tailgating are bad habits too, but the after-work drink is the one the manual names with its own excuse attached. If the day ends with a drink, the drive home needs a different driver.

    Study this in the handbook: Attitude, age and distraction

11. 11. On a one-way roadway, what controls the direction you may drive?

    1. Whatever direction has fewer vehicles
    2. The flow of parked cars along the curb
    3. The direction nearest your destination
    4. The direction the posted traffic signs indicate
    Show answer

    The direction the posted traffic signs indicate. On a one-way roadway you must drive only in the direction indicated by the posted traffic signs. One-way rules exist because opposing flow in a single-direction street creates head-on conflicts that signs are posted to prevent. Traffic volume, the direction parked cars face and your destination's convenience do not set the legal direction of travel. Check the signs at every turn onto an unfamiliar downtown street, because a wrong-way entry on a one-way road is one of the fastest ways to meet traffic head-on.

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

12. 12. In congested Hawaii traffic, how should speed and lane changes be handled?

    1. Weave to whichever lane moves a few feet faster at each moment
    2. Maintain steady speed with traffic flow and keep lane changes to a minimum
    3. Stop and restart sharply to create gaps for other drivers nearby
    4. Change lanes often so surrounding drivers stay alert to your presence
    Show answer

    Maintain steady speed with traffic flow and keep lane changes to a minimum. Congestion rewards steadiness in Hawaii: maintain a steady speed with the flow of traffic and keep lane changes to a minimum. Each lane hop risks a sideswipe for a gain measured in feet. Sharp stop and start cycles waste fuel and invite rear end strikes. Frequent changes make your path unpredictable rather than keeping others alert. Pick a lane that suits your next turn, hold a smooth pace with space ahead, and let the jam breathe. Arriving calm two minutes later beats a fender contact that costs an hour.

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

13. 13. Where should a Hawaii defensive driver devote special attention on the road ahead?

    1. Only the next ten feet
    2. On the vehicle immediately in front
    3. At roadside signs only
    4. At a considerable distance ahead of the vehicle
    Show answer

    At a considerable distance ahead of the vehicle. Hawaii defensive driving pushes vision outward: special attention should be devoted to conditions at a considerable distance ahead of your vehicle. Distant brake lights, merging trucks and crossing pedestrians give you time to plan rather than react. Staring at the next ten feet or at the bumper ahead surrenders that planning time. Signs matter, yet they are only one part of the far picture. Lift your eyes to the horizon on every straight stretch. Early knowledge converts hard braking into gentle speed trims that keep everyone comfortable.

    Study this in the handbook: Attitude, age and distraction

14. 14. You are riding a bicycle behind slower traffic. What does the manual tell you about passing on the right?

    1. Pass on the right whenever the shoulder is clear
    2. Do not pass vehicles on the right
    3. Pass on the right only at night with a headlight
    4. Pass on the right after ringing a bell or calling out
    Show answer

    Do not pass vehicles on the right. A bicyclist should not pass vehicles on the right. Drivers may not expect or see a bicycle coming up on that side, and a driver who turns right will cross the bicyclist path without warning. A clear shoulder does not make the move expected, a headlight at night does not put you where drivers are looking, and a bell or call does not guarantee the driver has seen you. Take your place in line, wait for a safe gap on the left, and pass where drivers check for traffic.

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

15. 15. A driver wants to wash a car and display it for sale on a Hawaii public road. What does the manual say?

    1. The car may be washed there but not displayed
    2. The car may be displayed for up to one day
    3. Both washing and displaying for sale are prohibited
    4. Either is allowed if the car stays off the travel lane
    Show answer

    Both washing and displaying for sale are prohibited. The manual prohibits using a public road to repair a vehicle except in an emergency, to wash it, or to display it for sale. Moving the car off the travel lane does not turn the shoulder or curb into a sales lot, and there is no one-day display exception. Washing a car in the street sends soap and water into drains and puts the driver in traffic. Use private property for cleaning or selling a vehicle, and call for help if a breakdown needs repair beside the road.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed rules

16. 16. A trailer begins to fishtail. What does the manual say can cause that?

    1. Too much weight on the hitch
    2. Too little weight on the hitch
    3. New tires on the trailer
    4. Chains crossed under the tongue
    Show answer

    Too little weight on the hitch. The manual says if the weight on the hitch is too small, the trailer will fishtail. The tongue needs enough downward load to keep the trailer tracking behind the car; when it is light, small steering inputs can start a side-to-side swing that grows. Too much hitch weight causes a different problem, difficulty steering the tow vehicle. New tires or crossed chains are not the cause the manual names. If sway starts, ease off the accelerator and slow gradually rather than braking hard.

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

17. 17. What does the manual say about carrying passengers in a trailer?

    1. They may ride if they sit on a secured seat
    2. They must not ride in trailers
    3. They may ride in a house trailer only
    4. They may ride for short distances at low speed
    Show answer

    They must not ride in trailers. The manual says you should not permit passengers to ride in trailers, and riding in house trailers is prohibited. A trailer has no crash protection, its hitch can fail and a passenger can be thrown into traffic or crushed in a rollover. A secured seat, a short trip or a low speed does not change those risks, and the house trailer exception does not exist. Passengers belong in the towing vehicle with a seat belt. If gear needs to travel in the trailer, secure it and leave people out.

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

18. 18. In the context of brake trouble, how does the Hawaii manual describe downshifting?

    1. A normal way to save fuel on downgrades
    2. Something to avoid because it strains the engine
    3. An emergency way to slow the vehicle when brakes fail
    4. A method for building speed before a pass
    Show answer

    An emergency way to slow the vehicle when brakes fail. The manual describes downshifting as an emergency procedure to slow the vehicle in case of a partial or complete brake failure. Dropping to a lower gear uses engine braking to take load off the failed service brakes. It is not framed as a fuel-saving habit, it is not forbidden as harmful to the engine, and it certainly does not build speed for a pass. If your brakes weaken or fail, get off the accelerator, downshift and let the engine help you scrub speed while you work the other stops in the procedure.

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

19. 19. A wheel comes off your vehicle and you stop using the blowout procedure. What does the manual say about the car afterward?

    1. You can drive home slowly on the rim
    2. The vehicle must be towed
    3. The wheel can be remounted at the roadside
    4. Only the lug nuts need retightening
    Show answer

    The vehicle must be towed. Loss of a wheel is uncommon, but when it happens you use the same corrective procedure as for a tire blowout, and a total or partial brake failure is likely because the wheel is gone. Once stopped, you will be unable to move the vehicle; it must be towed. Driving on the rim, remounting the wheel roadside or just tightening lug nuts are not options the manual offers. Stay with the car off the roadway, warn traffic, and arrange a tow.

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

20. 20. After stopping at a Hawaii stop sign where traffic cannot be seen, what should the driver do?

    1. Proceed quickly through the blind area
    2. Honk and continue without stopping again
    3. Back up and take another street
    4. Creep ahead and stop again where traffic is visible
    Show answer

    Creep ahead and stop again where traffic is visible. Limited sight distance at a Hawaii stop sign calls for a second stop: move ahead slowly and stop again where you can see approaching traffic. The first stop satisfies the sign; the second stop satisfies your eyes. Charging through blind defeats both duties. Honking warns others but gives you no information about gaps. Another street avoids the problem rather than solving it. Creep forward only until sight lines open, brake again, and scan left, right and left once more before committing to cross or turn.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed rules