HI Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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. How often must an ordinary passenger vehicle driven on Hawaii public highways pass a Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection?

   1. Every six months
   2. At least once a year
   3. Every two years
   4. Only when the vehicle is sold
   Show answer

   At least once a year. Hawaii requires an official Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection, also called a safety inspection, at least once a year for motor vehicles on public highways. Every six months is the schedule for ambulances, not ordinary cars. Two years is the gap allowed only for a new vehicle after its initial inspection when first sold. Inspection is not tied to selling the car, and a current certificate is needed before a vehicle can be registered.

2. 2. Under current Hawaii law, how must a driver restrain a child who is 4 years old but not yet 10?

   1. In a harnessed child restraint or booster seat, unless the child is at least 7 and over 4 feet 9 inches in a lap and shoulder belt
   2. In a rear-facing seat only, until the child turns 10
   3. With an adult lap belt alone, at any height
   4. No special restraint once the child turns 4
   Show answer

   In a harnessed child restraint or booster seat, unless the child is at least 7 and over 4 feet 9 inches in a lap and shoulder belt. Hawaii Revised Statutes section 291-11.5 now covers children under ten. A child from age four up to ten must ride in a harnessed child passenger restraint or a booster seat. The only relief is for a child who is at least seven and taller than four feet nine inches, who may use a lap and shoulder belt that fits correctly. Rear-facing seats are required only under age two, and a lap belt alone never satisfies the rule. The older handbook figure of under four and under eight no longer reflects the statute.

3. 3. What does the arrow on this ONE WAY sign tell the driver?

   
   1. Turn in that direction only after stopping at a red light
   2. Travel on the street only in the arrow’s direction
   3. Use the right lane only for passing
   4. Expect two-way traffic around the next corner
   Show answer

   Travel on the street only in the arrow’s direction. The arrow identifies the only direction of travel permitted on the one-way street. Hawaii’s roadway rule says drivers must follow the direction shown by posted traffic signs. The sign does not create a special right-on-red rule, assign a passing lane, or predict two-way traffic. Before entering, compare the arrow with your intended path; once on the street, keep moving in that direction and watch for lane-use instructions. A wrong-way entry is dangerous because opposing traffic may not expect a vehicle to appear.

4. 4. How often must a Hawaii driver appear in person before the examiner of drivers to renew a license?

   1. Never, every renewal can be done by mail
   2. Every renewal, because mail renewal is not allowed
   3. Only when the driver changes address
   4. Every other renewal, because renewal by mail is allowed only once in a row
   Show answer

   Every other renewal, because renewal by mail is allowed only once in a row. The manual lets you renew your license once by mail, but you must present yourself before the examiner of drivers every other renewal. That means mail renewals cannot be repeated indefinitely. It also means mail renewal is allowed, so appearing every single time is not required. An address change is not what triggers the in person renewal. A vision test must be passed before any renewal.

5. 5. When is a driver prohibited from using the left half of the roadway?

   1. When approaching the top of a hill or traveling on a curve
   2. Whenever the road has a single lane in each direction
   3. Only when following a slow vehicle
   4. Whenever the weather is clear
   Show answer

   When approaching the top of a hill or traveling on a curve. A hill crest or curve can hide opposing traffic, so the manual prohibits driving on the left half when approaching the top of a hill or while on a curve. The rule is not triggered by every two lane road, by following a slow vehicle, or by clear weather. Visibility and the risk of an unseen vehicle control the restriction. Keep to the right through the blind portion and wait for a lawful passing opportunity with enough sight distance.

6. 6. How old must you be before applying for a Hawaii license class that is larger than the class 3 driver's license?

   1. At least 16
   2. At least 18
   3. At least 21
   4. At least 25
   Show answer

   At least 21. Hawaii requires other license classes for certain larger vehicles, and the manual says you must be at least 21 years old before applying for any of them. Sixteen is the minimum age for a provisional license, and 18 is the age when the provisional stage no longer applies, so neither opens the larger classes. Twenty five is not a threshold in the manual. Each larger class or endorsement also requires its own special tests.

7. 7. What must a driver do before passing a school bus whose flashing lights are operating?

   
   1. Pass if the driver cannot see children
   2. Move onto the shoulder and pass slowly
   3. Wait, because passing the bus on the same roadway is prohibited
   4. Pass after sounding the horn twice
   Show answer

   Wait, because passing the bus on the same roadway is prohibited. The Hawaii manual lists an operating school bus warning system among the no-passing conditions. A driver must wait rather than use the shoulder, rely on a horn, or judge the rule by the absence of visible children. The shoulder choice is especially dangerous because it adds a path where pedestrians may be present. Treat the flashing lamps as the controlling cue, hold your position behind the bus, and continue only after the bus warning has ended and the roadway is safe.

8. 8. What is the purpose of a stop line at an intersection?

   1. It identifies a railroad track
   2. It marks the lane where passing is encouraged
   3. It shows where pedestrians must wait
   4. It marks the exact place to stop
   Show answer

   It marks the exact place to stop. A stop line is a solid white line painted across traffic lanes at an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk. It gives the driver a precise stopping point, keeping the vehicle behind the crossing area and preserving visibility for people and other traffic. It is not a passing guide, a pedestrian waiting boundary, or a railroad marking. When a signal or sign requires a stop, bring the front of the vehicle to the line without crossing it.

9. 9. When children are present near a marked School Crossing, what speed rule applies?

   1. Continue at the posted maximum because the sign is advisory
   2. Reduce speed below the posted general limit
   3. Stop only when a crossing guard enters the lane
   4. Increase speed to clear the crossing quickly
   Show answer

   Reduce speed below the posted general limit. Hawaii requires a reduced speed near schools and playgrounds and at locations marked with a School Crossing sign when children are present. The rule is more protective than simply obeying the ordinary posted maximum. A warning sign is not permission to maintain speed, and the manual does not make a crossing guard’s physical presence the trigger. The practical cue is the combination of the School Crossing sign and visible children: ease off the accelerator early, scan both sides, and be prepared for a child to enter the roadway.

10. 10. At an intersection, what special right of way applies to a funeral procession?

    1. Other drivers must yield to the procession
    2. The procession must yield to all cross traffic
    3. Only the lead vehicle receives priority
    4. The procession has priority only with a police escort
    Show answer

    Other drivers must yield to the procession. Hawaii recognizes a funeral procession as a group that receives special treatment at intersections. Other drivers must yield rather than cut between vehicles or treat each member as an unrelated arrival. Limiting priority to the lead car would break up the procession, and the manual does not make a police escort the condition in this rule. The safest visual cue is a connected line of vehicles moving together: wait for the entire procession to clear before proceeding.

11. 11. What does a turn signal communicate to other highway users?

    1. The driver's intention, but not a right to make the movement
    2. An automatic right-of-way over all nearby traffic
    3. That other drivers must stop immediately
    4. That the maneuver is safe without a check
    Show answer

    The driver's intention, but not a right to make the movement. A turn signal communicates an intended movement, but it does not give the driver the right to make that movement. The driver remains responsible for checking traffic and completing the turn or lane change safely without interfering with others. The automatic priority choice turns a warning into a privilege that Hawaii's rule does not grant. Other drivers are not required to stop immediately, and a signal never replaces a safety check. Signal in advance, observe the surrounding traffic, and proceed only after the space and path are clear.

12. 12. What is a two-way left-turn channelization lane used for?

    
    1. Driving straight through when the regular lane is crowded
    2. Passing slower traffic in either direction
    3. Left-turn maneuvers only
    4. Parking while waiting for a gap
    Show answer

    Left-turn maneuvers only. The center lane formed by yellow solid and dashed lines is shared by traffic from either direction for left-turn maneuvers only. It is not a passing lane, a shortcut for straight travel or a parking space. Enter it when preparing for a lawful left turn, remain alert for vehicles approaching from the opposite direction, and leave it for the intended turn. The passing choice is especially risky because drivers from both directions may use the lane. The arrows and yellow lines provide the cue that this narrow center area has a single purpose.

13. 13. When may a Hawaii provisional licensee drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. under the ordinary nighttime rule?

    1. When accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian
    2. Whenever the licensee has no passengers
    3. Whenever the road is dry and well lit
    4. Only after holding the provisional license for six months
    Show answer

    When accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian. The ordinary nighttime permission requires accompaniment by a licensed parent or guardian. Empty seats, good weather, and street lighting do not create a general solo-driving exception. Six months is a separate holding period tied to applying for a driver license, not a blanket authorization for nighttime driving before that period ends. A provisional driver should check the clock first, then identify the required licensed family supervisor. Employment and school-authorized travel are listed separately as exceptions, so they should not be silently assumed here.

14. 14. What must a minor under 18 provide before entering Hawaii’s graduated licensing program?

    1. Consent from any adult neighbor
    2. Parental consent from each living parent or legal guardian, unless married or emancipated
    3. Only a school principal’s signature
    4. No consent when the applicant has passed the vision test
    Show answer

    Parental consent from each living parent or legal guardian, unless married or emancipated. A person younger than 18 must provide parental consent from each living parent or legal guardian unless the person is married or emancipated. One unrelated adult’s signature is not the stated substitute, and school approval does not replace legal consent. Passing a vision test addresses one examination but does not remove the family-consent condition. The practical document check is to identify every living parent or legal guardian whose consent is required and then check whether one of the listed exceptions applies before submitting the application.

15. 15. Two opposing arrows on a yellow warning sign indicate that traffic moves:

    
    1. Only on the shoulder during daylight
    2. Only toward the nearest intersection
    3. In one direction on separated lanes
    4. In both directions on the roadway
    Show answer

    In both directions on the roadway. Opposing arrows signal that vehicles may travel toward one another, so the driver should expect oncoming traffic and remain in the proper lane. A one-way roadway would not be described by arrows pointing in opposite directions. The intersection choice is too narrow, and daylight does not change the roadway's direction pattern. Keep right of the centerline, watch approaching vehicles, and use extra care before crossing any line to turn or pass.

16. 16. Which age group has the fewest crashes in Hawaii's statistics?

    1. Drivers under 20
    2. Drivers over 75
    3. Drivers about 50 to 54 years of age
    4. Drivers 25 to 30
    Show answer

    Drivers about 50 to 54 years of age. Hawaii's crash statistics show the youngest drivers, under age 20, have about twice as many crashes as expected for their numbers, crashes then decline with age until about 50 to 54, the group with the least crashes, and starting at age 55 crashes occur more frequently again. Drivers over 75 have more crashes but still fewer than drivers under 25.

17. 17. How does Hawaii treat a driver's refusal to submit to a requested BAC test in the administrative process?

    1. It carries no administrative consequence
    2. It is treated like a test result of .08 percent or more
    3. It automatically restores full driving privileges
    4. It is treated like a result below .02 percent
    Show answer

    It is treated like a test result of .08 percent or more. The manual places refusal in the same administrative category as a BAC result of .08 percent or more. That means refusing is not a way to avoid the temporary permit process or related consequences. The no consequence option ignores Hawaii's implied consent framework, and a below .02 result is unrelated to a refusal. The practical cue is simple: a lawful request still matters when the driver declines, so refusal should be understood as its own triggering event.

18. 18. How long must a Hawaii driver under 18 hold a provisional license before a class 3 license?

    1. 30 days
    2. One year
    3. Two years
    4. At least 6 months
    Show answer

    At least 6 months. If you are under age 18 you must operate on a provisional license for at least 6 months before being eligible for a class 3 driver's license, after first holding an instruction permit for 180 days. The provisional license limits late night driving to 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. only with a licensed parent or guardian, with exceptions for work and school, and limits passengers under 18.

19. 19. If two vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, which vehicle generally has priority?

    1. The vehicle that signals first
    2. The vehicle on the left
    3. The vehicle with the larger engine
    4. The vehicle on the right
    Show answer

    The vehicle on the right. When vehicles arrive simultaneously, Hawaii's general priority rule gives way to the vehicle on the right. Engine size does not create right of way, and using a turn signal communicates an intended movement without deciding who proceeds first. The vehicle on the left should wait and allow the right side vehicle to move. A good scan habit is to check both sides whenever arrival timing is close, then yield rather than accelerate to claim the space.

20. 20. If a fire starts in your vehicle, what should you do first?

    1. Drive to a safe area, stop, switch off the ignition, and get everyone away
    2. Open the hood immediately and pour water onto the engine
    3. Keep driving until the fuel tank is empty
    4. Leave everyone inside while you search the trunk for tools
    Show answer

    Drive to a safe area, stop, switch off the ignition, and get everyone away. A vehicle fire calls for distance from traffic and from poisonous smoke. Move to a safe area, stop, turn off the ignition and electrical switches, then get every occupant out and away from the vehicle. Opening a hot hood can expose you to flames, and water is not appropriate for gasoline, oil or electrical fires. Continuing to drive increases exposure and can worsen the danger. Leaving passengers inside while gathering equipment ignores the manual's priority of evacuation. If a fire is large, seek assistance rather than attempting to extinguish it yourself.