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. Why might downshifting fail to help at high speed in an automatic transmission vehicle, according to the Hawaii manual?

   1. At 60 mph and above most automatic transmissions will not downshift until speed is reduced
   2. Downshifting is illegal
   3. Automatics have no lower gears
   4. The engine will stall
   Show answer

   At 60 mph and above most automatic transmissions will not downshift until speed is reduced. Downshifting to slow the vehicle works at normal speeds by moving the selector to the next lower position, but at high speeds of 60 mph and above most automatic transmissions will not downshift, so you must first reduce speed to allow the downshift. If the brakes fail, pump the pedal, use the parking brake gradually, and steer to a safe place.

2. 2. What do double solid yellow centerlines generally mean?

   
   1. Passing is required in both directions
   2. Passing is prohibited in both directions
   3. Only trucks may cross them
   4. They separate lanes traveling the same direction
   Show answer

   Passing is prohibited in both directions. Double solid yellow lines mark the center of a roadway where passing is prohibited in both directions. They are not same-direction lane dividers, and they do not create a special passing privilege for trucks. The restriction still allows a narrowly defined crossing for a left turn into or from an alley, private road, or driveway. Read the centerline before attempting a maneuver, and distinguish a permitted turn crossing from an unlawful pass.

3. 3. After making a permitted right turn at a red light, to whom must the driver yield?

   1. Only when a police officer waves the driver through
   2. Whenever the driver slows without stopping
   3. Unless a sign prohibits the turn, after yielding to pedestrians and vehicles
   4. Before checking for pedestrians if the cross street is clear
   Show answer

   Unless a sign prohibits the turn, after yielding to pedestrians and vehicles. Hawaii permits a right turn after stopping at a red light unless a sign prohibits it, but the turning driver must yield to all pedestrians and vehicles. Slowing without a complete stop fails the signal requirement. A police officer's direction is not the ordinary condition for this permitted turn, and a clear cross street does not eliminate the duty to check for people crossing. First stop at the required location, then scan the crosswalk and traffic lanes before turning. The visible red signal remains a stop command, not permission to roll through.

4. 4. At a stop sign with no stop line, where must the driver stop first?

   1. Before crossing any marked or unmarked crosswalk
   2. With the front bumper in the intersection
   3. After passing the nearest crosswalk
   4. Only when another vehicle is approaching
   Show answer

   Before crossing any marked or unmarked crosswalk. A stop sign requires a complete stop, and the first stopping point is the stop line when one is present. If no line exists, stop before entering a marked or unmarked crosswalk. The vehicle may need to move ahead slowly for a second stop when the first position blocks the view, but it must not begin by entering the intersection. Waiting only for visible traffic also misses the sign's independent command.

5. 5. On an open road with two lanes in your direction and free-flowing traffic, which lane should you normally use?

   1. The left lane, regardless of speed
   2. The right lane, using the left lane for passing or entering traffic
   3. Either lane while continually changing lanes
   4. The shoulder whenever the right lane is occupied
   Show answer

   The right lane, using the left lane for passing or entering traffic. With two lanes traveling in the same direction on an open road, the manual directs a driver to use the right lane when traffic is free flowing. The left lane is available for passing or for vehicles entering from the right. Choosing the left lane regardless of speed ignores that division of use. Continual lane changes create conflicts, and the shoulder is not a substitute travel lane. Keep a steady pace in the right lane, move left for a specific passing or merging reason, and return when the maneuver is complete.

6. 6. How should speed change when a driver encounters worsening winter road conditions?

   1. Use high speed and hard braking to test the surface
   2. Maintain the posted limit regardless of traction
   3. Increase speed to keep the tires from touching ice
   4. Drive at a reduced speed and use the clear, dry portions when possible
   Show answer

   Drive at a reduced speed and use the clear, dry portions when possible. Snow and ice reduce the margin for steering and stopping, so the manual recommends a reduced speed and using clear, dry pavement where possible. A posted limit is a maximum under lawful conditions, not a promise that the same pace is safe on a slick surface. Speeding or testing traction with hard braking can produce a slide. Keep extra distance, watch for shiny areas, and use gentle controls as conditions change.

7. 7. Where does Hawaii require reduced speed limits according to the manual?

   1. On every road after sunset
   2. Only on rural highways
   3. Only in parking lots
   4. On streets near schools and playgrounds
   Show answer

   On streets near schools and playgrounds. The manual identifies streets near schools and playgrounds as places where reduced speed limits are required. The rule is location based, not limited to rural highways, parking lots, or nighttime driving. Sunset alone does not activate this particular requirement. The strongest cue is the surrounding land use: when children may be entering, crossing, or playing near the roadway, expect a reduced posting and prepare to slow before reaching the activity area.

8. 8. You bring a vehicle registered in another state to Hawaii in your own name. What is the longest period a Hawaii permit (temporary registration) can cover?

   1. Twelve months
   2. 30 days
   3. 90 days
   4. Two years
   Show answer

   Twelve months. A vehicle registered in another state may get a Hawaii permit, or temporary registration, that lets it be driven up to its out of state expiration date. Under no circumstances will the permit exceed a twelve month period. Thirty and 90 days are shorter than that cap, and two years is longer than any permit allowed. When the permit expires, the owner must register the vehicle with the county where they reside, unless they are a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

9. 9. May a Hawaii applicant take the category 3 driver performance test in an autocycle?

   1. Yes, any registered vehicle may be used
   2. Yes, as long as it has a current safety inspection
   3. No, even though a category 3 license allows driving one, an autocycle cannot be used for the test
   4. Only if the applicant already holds a class 2 motorcycle license
   Show answer

   No, even though a category 3 license allows driving one, an autocycle cannot be used for the test. Hawaii lets a category 3 license holder drive an autocycle, but the manual says an autocycle may not be used for the category 3 performance test. Registration and a current safety inspection are required for the test vehicle, yet they do not make an autocycle acceptable. Holding a class 2 motorcycle license does not create an exception. Bring a regular vehicle in safe operating condition for the test.

10. 10. At a T-intersection, which vehicle must yield to traffic on the protected route?

    
    1. The vehicle carrying more passengers
    2. The vehicle already traveling on the through road
    3. The vehicle that signals first
    4. The vehicle leaving the road that ends
    Show answer

    The vehicle leaving the road that ends. At a T-intersection, the road that ends is controlled by the through road. A driver emerging from the ending road must stop or yield as needed and allow traffic on the protected route to pass. Being the first to signal does not create priority, and passenger count has no role in this right-of-way rule. The through-road choice identifies the traffic that is protected, not the driver who must wait. As you approach the junction, recognize that your lane ends, check both directions, and enter only when the path is clear.

11. 11. 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. These rules keep emergency signals meaningful and control noise. Equipment violations are cited on inspection and during traffic stops, so remove any aftermarket device that breaks the rule.

12. 12. At about what speed may partial hydroplaning begin?

    1. 15 miles per hour
    2. 25 miles per hour
    3. 65 miles per hour
    4. 35 miles per hour
    Show answer

    35 miles per hour. The manual places the possible beginning of partial hydroplaning at 35 miles per hour, with the extent increasing as speed and standing water increase. The lower figures understate the point identified in the text, while 65 miles per hour ignores that loss of contact can develop earlier. Hydroplaning removes braking, steering, and acceleration control, so reduce speed before water accumulates. Check tire tread and inflation too, since worn or underinflated tires can hydroplane at lower speeds.

13. 13. What roadway hazard does this railroad crossbuck identify?

    
    1. A work-zone lane shift
    2. A hospital entrance where stopping is prohibited
    3. A railroad crossing requiring attention to trains and crossing markings
    4. A pedestrian-only safety island
    Show answer

    A railroad crossing requiring attention to trains and crossing markings. The crossbuck identifies a railroad crossing, where train movement takes priority over a vehicle. Hawaii’s manual also describes railroad crossing pavement markings, including a large X, two R’s, a no-passing centerline, and a white stop line. The sign is not a hospital, work-zone, or pedestrian-island marker. Approach with a clear view, obey any signals or gates, and be prepared to stop before the crossing. The useful cue is the X-shaped railroad symbol paired with the crossing pavement markings.

14. 14. What do Hawaii warning signs tell drivers to do?

    
    1. Prepare to take safe and proper action
    2. Assume the road is closed immediately
    3. Follow the sign only when traffic is heavy
    4. Treat the sign as a parking instruction
    Show answer

    Prepare to take safe and proper action. Hawaii describes warning signs as notices of dangers that exist or may be found on or near the road. Drivers should be prepared to take safe and proper action when they see one. That may mean slowing, watching for a crossing, steering around a developing condition, or following another posted instruction. A warning sign does not automatically close the road, depend on heavy traffic, or establish a parking rule. The useful habit is to identify the symbol, look beyond the sign for the hazard, and choose a controlled response early.

15. 15. A school bus is stopped on a highway with alternating red lamps flashing. Which traffic must stop?

    
    1. Only vehicles directly behind the bus
    2. Only vehicles traveling toward the front of the bus
    3. Vehicles on the same highway in the bus lane and adjacent lanes
    4. No vehicle if the driver can see no children
    Show answer

    Vehicles on the same highway in the bus lane and adjacent lanes. The stopping duty reaches vehicles on the same highway in the lane occupied by the bus and every lane next to that lane. It is not limited to the car immediately behind the bus, and seeing no children does not cancel the requirement. Opposite direction traffic is excused only when it is traveling on a divided highway, which is a narrower condition than an ordinary two way road. Treat flashing alternating red lamps as a command to stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until motion resumes or the lamps go out.

16. 16. What does orange on a Hawaii traffic sign warn you about?

    1. Road work or an unusual condition near a work area
    2. A hospital, lodging or other driver service
    3. A maximum speed that applies at all times
    4. A route marker for a scenic destination
    Show answer

    Road work or an unusual condition near a work area. Orange is reserved for warnings concerning road work. An orange sign may be rectangular or diamond shaped and tells you that conditions near a construction or maintenance area may be unusual or dangerous. Services and destinations use guide colors, while a maximum speed is shown by a regulatory sign. A route marker is also guide information rather than a work warning. At an orange sign, reduce speed, expect workers or shifted lanes, and follow temporary directions. The color is the early cue that the normal roadway pattern may change ahead.

17. 17. Hawaii prohibits parking where your vehicle would leave less than how much of the street's width for moving traffic?

    1. 5 feet
    2. 10 feet
    3. 20 feet
    4. 30 feet
    Show answer

    10 feet. Parking is prohibited at any place where less than 10 feet of the width of the street would remain for the free movement of traffic. Five feet is below that minimum, so parking that leaves only 5 feet is illegal. Twenty and 30 feet are not the figure the manual uses. The same parking list also forbids parking more than 12 inches from the curb and double parking.

18. 18. A Hawaii driver refuses a requested alcohol test. Can the driver still be charged with driving under the influence?

    1. No, refusing the test ends any DUI charge
    2. Yes, the driver may still be charged with driving under the influence
    3. Only if a second officer saw the driving
    4. Only if the driver is under 21
    Show answer

    Yes, the driver may still be charged with driving under the influence. The manual says a driver may be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol even though he refuses the test. Refusal therefore does not end the case; it adds the risk of losing the license through administrative revocation, since a refusal leads to the license being taken away with a 30 day temporary permit. No second witness is required. The rule is not limited to drivers under 21. The test can also help, because it can prove that you are not under the influence.

19. 19. According to the Hawaii manual, what is the most a fine can be for each violation of the motor vehicle insurance law?

    1. $500
    2. $1,000
    3. $5,000
    4. $10,000
    Show answer

    $5,000. Each violation of Hawaii's motor vehicle insurance law is a separate offense subject to a fine not to exceed $5,000 or thirty days imprisonment, license suspension, forfeiture of the registration certificate, or any combination of these. Five hundred dollars and $1,000 are below the stated maximum, and $1,000 is the figure the manual gives for the school bus law. Ten thousand dollars is above the maximum and is the per person amount of basic personal injury protection benefits.

20. 20. When should a driver use hazard warning signals according to the manual?

    1. Whenever the vehicle is moving in rain
    2. To warn others that a vehicle is in a hazardous position on the roadway
    3. To signal a routine lane change
    4. Whenever the driver wants priority in traffic
    Show answer

    To warn others that a vehicle is in a hazardous position on the roadway. Hazard warning signals are intended to warn other drivers that a vehicle is in a hazardous position on the roadway. The manual specifically says this signal should never be used while the vehicle is moving, so rain, a routine lane change, and a desire for priority are not proper reasons. A driver should first place the vehicle in a safe position when possible, then use the four-way flash to make the hazard visible. The key cue is the vehicle's dangerous position, not ordinary weather or a planned maneuver.