HI Permit Practice Test 5

All 20 questions in test 5

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. At night, the headlights of an oncoming vehicle are too bright for you. What does the Hawaii manual tell you to do?

   1. Flash your high beams once, then look toward the right edge of the road
   2. Switch to your high beams until the other driver dims theirs
   3. Look straight into the lights so you can judge the other car's distance
   4. Flash your high beams repeatedly, then look toward the center line
   Show answer

   Flash your high beams once, then look toward the right edge of the road. Among Hawaii's night driving precautions, the manual says that if the lights of an approaching vehicle are too bright, flash your high beams once and look at the right edge of the road, using lane markings or reflectors as a guide. Staying on high beam to answer the other driver is wrong, because the same list says not to use high beams when approaching or following other vehicles. Looking into the lights or toward the center line is not the advice; the manual points your eyes to the right edge of the road. Flashing again and again is not the rule either, because the manual says to flash once. The manual also says to slow down so you can stop within the distance you can see ahead.

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

2. 2. According to the Hawaii manual, what is the most common cause of skidding?

   1. Oil left on the road when rain first falls
   2. Tires inflated below the proper pressure
   3. Excessive speed for the road and traffic conditions
   4. Braking gently on a gravel surface
   Show answer

   Excessive speed for the road and traffic conditions. Hawaii's manual says most skidding is caused by sudden changes in direction or speed, and that excessive speed for existing road and traffic conditions is the most common cause. It adds that extra care is needed on wet, slippery or gravel covered road surfaces. Oil on the road during the first rain and underinflated tires do raise the danger, but neither is named as the leading cause. Gentle braking is the opposite of the sudden changes the manual warns about. If a skid does start, take immediate smooth corrective action: ease off the accelerator, avoid the brakes and turn the wheel in the direction the rear is skidding.

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

3. 3. What action is prohibited by the red-circle sign shown here?

   
   1. Turning toward a marked public parking area
   2. Parking only during daylight hours
   3. Driving through a school zone at low speed
   4. Entering the restricted roadway or movement
   Show answer

   Entering the restricted roadway or movement. Hawaii classifies red-circle exclusion signs as signs that restrict or prohibit vehicles, vehicle movements, or some other activity. The DO NOT ENTER sign pictured in the manual among these exclusion signs therefore bars entry into the roadway it faces. It is not a parking-hours notice, a school-zone instruction, or a direction toward public parking. The immediate driving cue is the red circle and the words: do not drive past the sign into that roadway. Find a lawful route instead of treating the sign as a suggestion to proceed slowly.

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

4. 4. Since what year have all vehicles been equipped with electric turn, stop and hazard signals, according to the Hawaii manual?

   1. 1950
   2. 1980
   3. 2000
   4. 1968
   Show answer

   1968. Electric stop signals have been standard for more than 50 years, most vehicles built since the early 1950s have electric turn signals, and since 1968 all vehicles have been equipped with electric turn, stop and hazard warning four way flash signals. Stop lamps operate automatically with the service brake, and all these signals must be kept in working order, with hand signals used only if they fail.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and railroad crossings

5. 5. Hawaii's no passing rules include a school bus. When does that rule forbid passing it?

   
   1. Only inside a posted school zone
   2. When a child is visible near the bus or crossing the road
   3. When the bus is on the same roadway with its flashing lights operating
   4. When the bus is parked at a bus stop with its engine off
   Show answer

   When the bus is on the same roadway with its flashing lights operating. Hawaii's no passing rules list a school bus on the same roadway with its flashing lights operating as a situation where you must not pass. The trigger is the bus and its operating lights, not a posted school zone or whether you can see a child. When the bus is stopped with alternating red lamps flashing, the manual's school bus law also requires drivers in the lane occupied by the bus and in all adjacent lanes to stop before reaching it, and to wait until the bus resumes motion or the red lamps are turned off.

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

6. 6. When driving at night, how should you choose your speed?

   1. Drive at the posted limit, because headlights light the road
   2. Slow enough that you can stop within the distance you can see ahead
   3. About 10 mph below the posted limit at all times
   4. Fast enough to keep pace with the vehicle in front of you
   Show answer

   Slow enough that you can stop within the distance you can see ahead. No one can see as well at night as in daylight, and moving between light and darkness keeps a driver from reaching their best seeing ability. Hawaii's night driving precautions tell you to reduce your speed so that you can stop within the distance you can see ahead. A posted limit is a maximum, so driving right at it can be too fast when your headlights show only a short stretch of road. The manual sets no fixed number of miles per hour below the limit. Also keep the windshield clean, make sure all lamps work, and do not use high beams when approaching or following other vehicles.

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

7. 7. When does Hawaii's manual say to replace tires?

   1. When tread is under 1/2 inch
   2. Every two years regardless
   3. When tread is less than 1/16 inch
   4. Only after a blowout
   Show answer

   When tread is less than 1/16 inch. Replace tires that have less than 1/16 inch of tread, and check that the vehicle does not pull to either side under braking; a simple brake test is to apply the brakes rather hard at 4 to 8 mph in a safe place. Proper inflation extends tire life and improves handling, and the manual says good tread depth helps prevent hydroplaning, which can begin at 35 mph, because worn or bald tires hydroplane at lower speeds.

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

8. 8. A person is convicted of drunk driving while unlicensed. For how long can that person not be licensed in Hawaii?

   1. Six months after the conviction
   2. Two years after the conviction
   3. One year after the conviction
   4. Four years after the conviction
   Show answer

   Two years after the conviction. Hawaii lists drunk driving while unlicensed among the reasons a person cannot be licensed, and the bar lasts for a period of two years after the conviction. Six months and one year are shorter than the stated period. Four years is longer than the period the manual sets. The rule means an unlicensed drunk driver cannot simply apply for a license right after the case ends.

9. 9. Which of these situations prevents a person from being licensed to drive in Hawaii?

   1. Having a vehicle registered in a different county
   2. Having held an instruction permit for 180 days
   3. Needing corrective lenses to drive
   4. Having outstanding traffic citations
   Show answer

   Having outstanding traffic citations. The manual's list of who cannot be licensed includes anyone who has outstanding traffic citations, so unpaid or unresolved tickets must be cleared first. Where a vehicle is registered is a registration matter and is not on that list. Holding an instruction permit for 180 days is a requirement a young applicant must meet, not a reason for refusal. Needing corrective lenses is handled as a restriction printed on the license, not a bar to licensing.

10. 10. Hawaii prohibits driving on the left half of the roadway when you are within what distance of an intersection or railroad crossing?

    1. 50 feet
    2. 100 feet
    3. 200 feet
    4. 500 feet
    Show answer

    100 feet. You must not drive on the left half of the roadway when approaching within 100 feet of, or passing through, an intersection or railroad crossing. The same 100 foot distance applies near a bridge or tunnel when you cannot see oncoming vehicles. Fifty feet is too short, while 200 and 500 feet are not the distances the manual gives. Cross traffic and trains can appear suddenly at these places, so passing there is dangerous.

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

11. 11. Which headlights should a driver use when driving in fog?

    1. Low beam headlamps
    2. High beam headlamps
    3. Parking lamps only
    4. No lights until the fog clears
    Show answer

    Low beam headlamps. Fog reflects high beam light back toward the driver and can also reduce the approaching driver's ability to see. For that reason, the manual directs a driver who must continue in fog to sharply reduce speed and use low beam headlamps. High beams make the visual problem worse, while parking lamps alone or no lights do not provide the required illumination and visibility. If sight distance becomes extremely short, the safer response is to leave the pavement completely and stop with hazard signals on.

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

12. 12. What does this rectangular DO NOT PASS sign require on a two or three lane road?

    
    1. Pass only on the right shoulder
    2. Pass when no oncoming vehicle is in sight
    3. Do not pass another vehicle where the sign is posted
    4. Pass vehicles moving below the speed limit
    Show answer

    Do not pass another vehicle where the sign is posted. Hawaii describes DO NOT PASS signs as rectangular signs marking locations where you must not pass on two or three lane roads, and the manual states in capitals that you must not pass another vehicle where these signs are posted. An empty oncoming lane does not create an exception, a slow vehicle ahead does not either, and the shoulder is not a passing lane, because you may not drive off the pavement to pass. Stay behind the vehicle ahead; the manual says a PASS WITH CARE sign marks the end of a no passing zone.

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

13. 13. Which category of traffic device tells a driver that an action is required and failure may bring a penalty?

    1. Decorative roadside markers
    2. Warning devices
    3. Guide and information signs
    4. Regulatory devices
    Show answer

    Regulatory devices. Regulatory devices establish commands or restrictions, such as stopping, traveling in a direction, or limiting speed. Ignoring one can bring a penalty because the device requires action. Warning devices describe hazards, while guide and information signs help with navigation or trip information. Decorative markers have no role in the manual's three categories. On a test question, look for the phrase action required: that points to the regulatory category rather than a caution or destination message.

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

14. 14. If an emergency vehicle is directly behind you in heavy traffic, what should you do?

    1. Stop immediately in the lane
    2. Keep moving slowly until you can get out of the way
    3. Race ahead of the emergency vehicle
    4. Turn around and follow it
    Show answer

    Keep moving slowly until you can get out of the way. Heavy traffic may prevent an immediate move to the side. In that setting, Hawaii instructs the driver to keep moving slowly until an opening allows the vehicle to leave the emergency vehicle's path. Stopping immediately in the lane can trap the responder behind you, while racing or turning around creates additional hazards. Keep scanning for a safe escape space, signal your movement when useful, and clear the route without abrupt braking or a risky maneuver.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles

15. 15. How far before a turn or lane change must a driver generally signal?

    1. Only after beginning the maneuver
    2. At least 10 feet
    3. At least 100 feet
    4. Only when another vehicle is nearby
    Show answer

    At least 100 feet. Hawaii requires a turn signal for at least 100 feet before every turn or lane change. Signaling after the maneuver begins gives other road users too little time to understand the plan, and waiting for another vehicle is not the rule. The signal communicates intent but does not grant the right to move, so the driver must still check and yield as needed. Activate it early, maintain it through the maneuver, and confirm the path is clear before changing direction.

    Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and railroad crossings

16. 16. The vehicle ahead of you has stopped to let a pedestrian cross the street. What does Hawaii law say?

    1. Do not pass the stopped vehicle
    2. Pass on the left if the lane is clear
    3. Pass slowly while sounding your horn
    4. Pass on the right if the pedestrian is on the left side
    Show answer

    Do not pass the stopped vehicle. The manual lists passing a vehicle stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross as prohibited by law. The rule covers passing on either side of the stopped vehicle, so neither the left nor the right side is an exception. A clear adjacent lane does not create an exception, and sounding the horn does not make passing lawful. Stop and wait until the pedestrian has finished crossing.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrian safety

17. 17. What does a Hawaii Pass With Care sign look like, and what does it mark?

    1. A yellow pennant marking the start of a no passing zone
    2. A rectangular black and white sign marking the end of a no passing zone
    3. A red circle with a slash
    4. A green guide sign
    Show answer

    A rectangular black and white sign marking the end of a no passing zone. Hawaii's manual describes PASS WITH CARE signs as rectangular black and white signs that indicate the end of a no passing zone. The yellow pennant on the left side of the road is the NO PASSING ZONE sign, and it points to the beginning of the zone instead. A red circle with a slash is an exclusion sign, and green belongs to guide and information signs. The end of a no passing zone does not mean it is safe to pass; the manual says it means there is increased visibility ahead, so still confirm a clear, safe gap before moving left.

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

18. 18. What should a driver do if a vehicle cannot keep up with traffic?

    1. Stop immediately in the lane
    2. Stay in the left lane to make others pass on the shoulder
    3. Increase speed beyond the posted limit
    4. Move as far to the right as possible
    Show answer

    Move as far to the right as possible. A driver who cannot keep up with traffic should move as far to the right as possible. This reduces conflicts with faster vehicles and gives other traffic a clearer path around the slower vehicle. Remaining in the left lane makes passing harder, while speeding beyond the posted limit creates a new hazard and violates the speed control. Stopping in the travel lane is dangerous unless an emergency requires it. Watch the flow behind you, maintain a safe speed for the conditions, and use the right side to minimize interference when your vehicle is slower.

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

19. 19. What is the smallest following interval the Hawaii manual says you should ever have behind the vehicle ahead?

    1. Two seconds
    2. One second
    3. Half a second
    4. One car length at any speed
    Show answer

    Two seconds. To check your interval, note when the vehicle ahead passes a marker and count one thousand one, one thousand two. If you reach two before your vehicle reaches the marker, you have at least a two second interval, and the manual says you should never have less. One second and half a second are shorter than that minimum. A fixed car length is not the measure the manual uses; it counts seconds past a marker.

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

20. 20. At a stop sign leading onto a protected route, what must the driver do?

    1. Stop and yield to all traffic on the protected route
    2. Proceed without stopping if the route looks clear
    3. Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
    4. Enter first if you signal before the stop line
    Show answer

    Stop and yield to all traffic on the protected route. In Hawaii's right of way diagrams, a driver facing a stop sign where the road meets a protected route must stop and then yield to all traffic on that protected route. The stop is required even when the route looks clear, and yielding only to vehicles from the left ignores traffic coming from the other direction. Signaling before the stop line does not create priority or replace the stop. Come to a complete stop at the line, check both directions, and enter or cross only when the gap is safe, because traffic already on the protected route goes first.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and roundabouts