HI Permit Practice Test 23

All 20 questions in test 23

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. In the dim light before sunrise and after sunset, what does the manual say to do with your head lamps?

   1. Keep them off until full darkness
   2. Use high beams for maximum reach
   3. Turn them on low beam so others can see you
   4. Flash them once every minute
   Show answer

   Turn them on low beam so others can see you. For a short period before the sun rises and after it sets, there is not enough light to see objects clearly, a condition made worse by clouds. During that time the manual says to turn the head lamps on low beam so others can see you. The point is being seen as much as seeing: high beams dazzle other drivers in half-light, waiting for full darkness leaves you invisible during the riskiest minutes, and flashing is not a lighting mode. Low beam at dusk and dawn is the habit.

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

2. 2. A school crossing guard signals you to stop. What does the manual require?

   1. Proceed if no children are visible
   2. Sound the horn and continue slowly
   3. Yield only to children already crossing
   4. Stop upon the guard's signal
   Show answer

   Stop upon the guard's signal. Near schools, parks, playgrounds and residential areas the manual tells drivers to be especially watchful for children, and to stop upon the signal of any school crossing guard. The guard's signal controls the crossing whether or not you can see children at that moment, because the guard sees the whole picture you cannot. Honking and creeping past defies the person directing traffic, and waiting for a child to appear before yielding reverses the duty. Stop when signaled, and move only when released.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrian safety

3. 3. How does Hawaii describe bursts of speed followed by heavy braking?

   1. As skillful driving that saves time
   2. As both wasteful and dangerous
   3. As a way to keep brakes healthy
   4. As harmless when traffic is slow
   Show answer

   As both wasteful and dangerous. Hawaii describes bursts of speed followed by heavy braking as both wasteful and dangerous. The pattern throws away fuel and speed while creating abrupt changes that can surprise people behind the vehicle. It is not a sign of skill, a brake-maintenance method, or a harmless habit in slow traffic. Calling the pattern skillful adds a claimed benefit that the manual rejects, and calling it a brake-maintenance method or harmless in slow traffic changes the safety judgment. The passage pairs smooth, steady driving with better control, so rapid acceleration followed by hard braking is the opposite pattern.

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

4. 4. You are driving faster than surrounding traffic. What does the manual advise about signaling distance?

   1. Signal for a shorter distance to avoid confusing others
   2. Signal for a greater distance at higher speeds
   3. Keep the signal distance the same at any speed
   4. Signal only after you begin the maneuver
   Show answer

   Signal for a greater distance at higher speeds. Signals must be given for at least 100 feet before you change lanes, turn or stop, and the manual adds that it is advisable to signal for a greater distance when driving at higher speeds. Faster traffic covers ground quickly, so others need earlier warning to react. Shorter signals, a fixed distance at all speeds and signaling after the maneuver starts all strip away the reaction time the rule exists to create. At freeway pace, start your signal well before you expect anyone to need it.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and railroad crossings

5. 5. A highway is divided by a barrier or an unpaved space. When may you drive across it?

   1. Wherever the opposite side is clearly visible
   2. At any point where the barrier is low
   3. At an opening or paved surface the signs allow
   4. Anywhere, provided you cross at a right angle
   Show answer

   At an opening or paved surface the signs allow. On a highway divided by a barrier or an unpaved space, you must not drive across or through the barrier or space except where an opening or paved surface is provided and signs do not prohibit it. Visibility, barrier height and crossing angle do not create a legal or safe crossing; a median is there to keep opposing flows apart. If you miss your turn, continue to the next opening or exit and come back. Crossing a divided highway anywhere else risks a head-on meeting.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and railroad crossings

6. 6. Mid-trip you need to check a map or written directions. What does the manual direct?

   1. Read them at the next red light
   2. Have a passenger hold them up beside you
   3. Glide slowly while glancing down at them
   4. Pull over in a safe place first
   Show answer

   Pull over in a safe place first. If you need to read a map or directions, the manual says to pull over to the side of the road in a safe place and stop until you are ready to give your complete attention to driving. Reading at a red light still splits your focus during the signal interval, a passenger holding a map keeps your eyes off the road, and slow glancing down is exactly the distraction the section warns against. Park it, sort the route, then resume with the route fixed in your head.

   Study this in the handbook: Attitude, age and distraction

7. 7. You must back into a Hawaii roadway when traffic is clear. Which lane should you back into?

   1. The lane nearest the edge of the roadway
   2. The innermost through lane
   3. Either lane, if the road looks empty
   4. The center lane, to split the difference
   Show answer

   The lane nearest the edge of the roadway. The manual says to back into the lane nearest the edge of the roadway when traffic is clear. Backing across two or more lanes multiplies the distance you cannot see and the time you spend exposed to cross traffic. The innermost or center lanes put a reversing car across the paths of faster vehicles, and a road that looks empty can change in seconds. Enter the closest lane first, straighten out, then signal and change lanes normally if your route needs you farther left.

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

8. 8. In moderate or heavy traffic, why does the manual warn against passing to gain a few car lengths on a two or three lane road?

   1. Passing is banned whenever traffic is heavy
   2. The car ahead will accelerate to block you
   3. Turn signals fail in dense traffic
   4. It uses a lane meant for oncoming traffic
   Show answer

   It uses a lane meant for oncoming traffic. Passing on a two or three lane road is hazardous because the maneuver may require a lane built for traffic moving in the opposite direction. Improper procedures there can cause a head on collision. Gaining only a few car lengths in moderate or heavy traffic does not repay that exposure, which is why pointless passes in a queue are discouraged. Passing is not banned simply because traffic is heavy, other drivers are not predicted to block you, and signals do not fail in dense traffic. Wait for a clear opposing lane and a real need to pass.

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

9. 9. A car is pulling out of a parallel parking space as you drive past. Who carries the chief responsibility for avoiding a collision?

   1. The driver leaving the parking space
   2. The driver passing the space
   3. Whichever vehicle is going faster
   4. The driver in the nearest through lane
   Show answer

   The driver leaving the parking space. The manual puts the chief responsibility for avoiding a collision on the driver who is leaving a parking space. That driver is backing or pulling into live traffic and must look, signal and yield before moving. A passing driver should still stay alert, but speed, lane position and right of way do not shift the primary duty away from the person entering the roadway. Expect a reversing car to appear from between parked vehicles, and give it room rather than forcing the issue.

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

10. 10. What shape is the reflective emblem required on a slow-moving vehicle in Hawaii?

    1. A square
    2. A circle
    3. A triangle
    4. A diamond
    Show answer

    A triangle. The slow-moving vehicle emblem is a reflective triangle, 18 inches or about 46 centimeters on each side, mounted on the rear of the vehicle. The shape is deliberate: a triangle is easy to recognize at a distance and does not copy the rectangular or diamond signs used for other messages. A square, circle or diamond would not carry the same warning. When you see the triangle, expect a tractor, a construction vehicle or another slow unit and begin planning a safe pass with plenty of room.

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

11. 11. According to the Hawaii manual, where should pedestrians cross a street?

    1. At any point where they have a clear view
    2. Between parked cars in the middle of a block
    3. Diagonally across an intersection without using a crosswalk
    4. At a crosswalk
    Show answer

    At a crosswalk. Hawaii tells pedestrians to cross only at crosswalks and identifies jaywalking as illegal. A clear view does not make a midblock crossing lawful, and moving between parked cars can hide a pedestrian from drivers. Crossing diagonally through an intersection without using a crosswalk is also not the designated crossing method. The rule points to the crosswalk rather than any convenient opening in the street. Pedestrians must also obey traffic laws and signals while crossing.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrian safety

12. 12. A driver drinks a medicine that contains alcohol. How does the manual treat that alcohol?

    1. It does not count because it is medicine
    2. It counts only if the dose is large enough to taste
    3. It counts the same as alcohol from a beverage
    4. It counts only for drivers under 21
    Show answer

    It counts the same as alcohol from a beverage. The manual says the problem includes anyone who drives after consuming alcohol, even when the alcohol is contained in medicine. A liquid cold remedy or cough syrup can add alcohol to the blood just as a drink does, and the label may not make the amount obvious. A small dose is not automatically harmless, and the rule is not limited to drivers under 21. Check the label for alcohol content, account for it when deciding whether to drive, and ask a pharmacist for an alcohol-free alternative when one exists.

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

13. 13. When a driver enters a marked lane, what must happen before changing to another lane?

    1. Change lanes whenever the turn signal is on
    2. Check that the change can be made safely
    3. Move first, then check for vehicles
    4. Cross any lane line if the driver is in a hurry
    Show answer

    Check that the change can be made safely. On a roadway marked with traffic lanes, the driver must remain entirely within the marked lane and check that a lane change can be made safely before moving. A turn signal communicates an intention, but it does not make an unsafe gap safe. Checking after beginning the maneuver is too late, and urgency does not remove the lane rule. Use a repeatable cue: mirror check, blind-spot check, signal, then move only after the target lane is clear. Keep the vehicle centered until that sequence is complete.

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

14. 14. What condition must all Hawaii vehicle mirrors be kept in?

    1. Folded on highways
    2. Clean and firmly attached
    3. Removed in rain
    4. Adjusted only by a mechanic
    Show answer

    Clean and firmly attached. Mirrors earn their keep only when you can see through them and they stay put: Hawaii requires all mirrors to be maintained clean and firmly attached. A folded or missing mirror erases the rear view that lane changes depend on. Rain is when mirrors matter most, not a reason to remove them. Drivers can and should adjust mirrors themselves before driving. Add mirrors to your walk around check. A quick wipe and a firm tug confirm both clarity and mounting before you back out of any space.

15. 15. You see a car coming toward you in your lane. What does the manual say to do first to alert that driver?

    1. Flash your lights and honk the horn
    2. Stop in your lane and wait for the driver to correct
    3. Speed up to clear the conflict point quickly
    4. Turn off your headlights to signal danger
    Show answer

    Flash your lights and honk the horn. If you observe an oncoming vehicle in your traffic lane, the manual's first listed responses are to flash your lights and honk the horn, because the other driver may be asleep, distracted or unaware of the error. Stopping in the lane leaves you a target, accelerating shrinks the closing distance, and dark headlights hide rather than warn you. After the alert, the manual says to quickly slow and steer right out of the lane. Sound and light first, then move yourself out of the path.

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

16. 16. You suspect a fire in your vehicle and have stopped in a safe area clear of traffic. What should you do with the switches?

    1. Turn the ignition and all other electrical switches off
    2. Leave the ignition on so the fan keeps running
    3. Turn off only the headlights and radio
    4. Keep the hazard flashers on and the engine running
    Show answer

    Turn the ignition and all other electrical switches off. When fire occurs or is suspected, stop in a safe area clear of traffic and turn the ignition switch and all other electrical switches off. Cutting power removes a source of heat and sparks while you get occupants out and away from the vehicle. Leaving the ignition on for a fan keeps current flowing through possibly damaged wiring. Turning off only lights and the radio leaves the ignition live, and an engine left running with flashers on keeps fuel and power feeding the problem. Switch everything off, then move people clear.

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

17. 17. What do large flashing or sequencing arrow panels do in a Hawaii work zone?

    1. Time the traffic signal cycle
    2. Mark the end of the work day
    3. Guide drivers into certain lanes and warn that the road ahead is closed
    4. Record traffic speeds for the road crew's daily report
    Show answer

    Guide drivers into certain lanes and warn that the road ahead is closed. Large flashing or sequencing arrow panels may be used in work zones both day and night to guide drivers into certain traffic lanes and to inform them that the part of the road or street ahead is closed. The moving arrow display points the way traffic should shift. Signals timing, work schedules and speed recording are not the panel's job. When you see one, obey the arrow early, merge at the gap the panel indicates, and expect workers or equipment just past the closure.

18. 18. You are riding a bicycle slower than normal traffic on a two-way road. Where should you ride?

    1. As close to the right edge as practicable
    2. In the center of the lane at all times
    3. As close to the left edge as practicable
    4. In the lane used by oncoming traffic
    Show answer

    As close to the right edge as practicable. A bicyclist traveling below the normal speed of traffic should ride as close to the right edge as practicable. That placement leaves room for faster traffic and keeps the bicycle predictable on a two-way road. The center of the lane is not required at all times, and the left edge or oncoming lane puts the rider where opposing vehicles travel. Riding in the lane used by oncoming traffic describes the wrong side of the roadway rather than a safe position. The manual's cue is simple: slower bicycle traffic stays near the right edge unless another road condition requires a different position.

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

19. 19. What does the Hawaii manual identify as the major cause of most crashes?

    1. Following too closely
    2. Driving with underinflated tires
    3. Failing to signal a turn
    4. Driving too fast for conditions
    Show answer

    Driving too fast for conditions. The manual states that excessive speed for conditions is the major cause of most crashes. That phrase covers driving faster than the posted limit and driving at the limit when rain, darkness, traffic or a curve makes that speed unsafe. Tailgating, missed signals and bad tires contribute to crashes, but they are not the cause the manual singles out. Read the road and the weather first, then choose a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed rules

20. 20. A motorcycle ahead has its turn signal on. Why should you not rely on it?

    1. Motorcycle signals are always brighter
    2. They may not cancel automatically
    3. They work only during daylight
    4. They signal a turn more slowly than car signals
    Show answer

    They may not cancel automatically. Motorcycle turn signals may remain on after a turn because they do not automatically shut off, and riders can forget to cancel them. A light that is still flashing therefore may not show the rider's next maneuver. Brightness, daylight operation, and a slower flash rate are not the reason given in the manual. The slower flash rate claim talks about flash rate, not whether the signal has been canceled. Treat the signal as information to check against the motorcycle's position and movement rather than as proof that a turn is about to begin.