ID Permit Practice Test 14

All 20 questions in test 14

Every question below comes from the Idaho 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. A 16 year old holds an Idaho driver license. When does that license expire?

   1. On the last day of the month it was issued
   2. Thirty days after the 18th birthday
   3. On the 19th birthday at midnight
   4. Five days after the 18th birthday
   Show answer

   Five days after the 18th birthday. Licenses held by drivers who are 15 to 17 years old carry the marking for under 18 status, and that license expires five days after the holder turns 18. The short window after the birthday lets a young driver renew into an adult credential without a long lapse. Waiting a full month would leave the driver using an expired license. Mark the week after the 18th birthday for renewal and bring the current license with you.

   Study this in the handbook: Expiration, renewal, extensions and address changes

2. 2. Where should children younger than thirteen ride?

   1. In the front seat with a belt only
   2. Wherever they can see the road best
   3. In the middle seat of any row available
   4. In the back seat
   Show answer

   In the back seat. Children younger than thirteen should ride in the back seat. The rear position puts distance between a child and the dashboard, windshield, and the force of a deploying front passenger airbag. Picking "In the front seat with a belt only" would seat a belted child up front, ignoring the back seat guidance written for under thirteens. Make back seat seating the automatic family rule until the thirteenth birthday has passed.

   Study this in the handbook: Required equipment, seat belts and child seats

3. 3. On a horizontal traffic light, where is the red light located?

   1. On the far right side of the signal
   2. On the far left side of the signal
   3. In the middle between yellow and green
   4. At the bottom below the green light
   Show answer

   On the far left side of the signal. Horizontal signals read in a fixed order across the housing. Red sits on the far left, yellow sits in the middle, and green sits on the far right. Vertical signals stack the same colors with red at the top instead. Picking "On the far right side of the signal" would place red where green belongs on a horizontal light. On an unfamiliar horizontal signal, read left to right as red, yellow, green before deciding whether to stop or proceed.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals

4. 4. When must an Idaho driver stop at a railroad crossing?

   1. When the crossing has no gates or lights
   2. When a train is coming or signals, gates, or a watchman warn
   3. When the vehicle ahead slows below 25 miles per hour in your lane
   4. When the driver sees a crossbuck beside the tracks
   Show answer

   When a train is coming or signals, gates, or a watchman warn. A stop is required when a train is coming or when wigwag signals, flashing lights, gates, or a watchman indicate that a train is approaching. A crossbuck identifies the crossing but does not by itself order every driver to stop. A crossing without gates or lights still requires care, yet the absence of equipment is not the trigger in this rule. The speed of the vehicle ahead is unrelated. Look and listen both ways, and stay stopped until you are certain no train is coming.

   Study this in the handbook: Yielding to pedestrians and funeral processions

5. 5. How far behind an active snowplow truck should you remain when driving in Idaho winter conditions?

   1. One car length for every 10 miles per hour of speed
   2. Four car lengths for every 10 miles per hour of speed
   3. Two car lengths behind for every 10 miles per hour of speed
   4. A fixed distance of 50 feet regardless of travel speed
   Show answer

   Two car lengths behind for every 10 miles per hour of speed. Snowplow operators have restricted visibility and disperse sand, salt, and heavy snow plumes that can blind following motorists and shatter windshields. Idaho recommends maintaining a following distance of at least two car lengths behind snowplows for every 10 miles per hour you travel. At 30 miles per hour, that means staying back at least six car lengths. Tailgating leaves no stopping room if the heavy plow strikes a buried snowdrift or stops suddenly, putting you directly in the sand spray zone.

   Study this in the handbook: Mountains, open range and winter driving

6. 6. What should you do immediately if one of your vehicle tires blows out while driving in Idaho?

   1. Brake hard and steer toward the nearest ditch
   2. Grip the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle headed straight
   3. Turn on high beams and accelerate to maintain momentum
   4. Shift into reverse to bring the vehicle to an instant halt
   Show answer

   Grip the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle headed straight. A tire blowout causes a sudden pull toward the side of the blown tire, tempting drivers to slam on the brakes in panic. Stomping on the brake pedal during a blowout destabilizes the vehicle and can cause a rollover. Idaho guidelines direct you to hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands and keep the car tracking straight ahead. Ease your foot gently off the gas pedal, and only apply the brakes smoothly after regaining full control, before pulling safely onto the shoulder.

   Study this in the handbook: Skids, emergency braking and car trouble

7. 7. What driving related effects do opioids cause?

   1. Heightened alertness for long night drives
   2. Faster thinking with no physical effects
   3. Only a mild effect on appetite alone
   4. Drowsiness plus impaired memory and thinking
   Show answer

   Drowsiness plus impaired memory and thinking. Opioids cause drowsiness and impair memory and thinking skills. A driver in that state may miss signs, forget developing hazards, and react slowly when traffic demands a quick decision. Picking "Heightened alertness for long night drives" would describe heightened alertness, which reverses the sedating effect that makes opioid driving dangerous. If a pain medication makes your eyelids heavy, the driving day is over until the effect fully passes.

   Study this in the handbook: DUI limits, penalties and test refusal

8. 8. Passing is prohibited within 100 feet of which place when the view is blocked?

   1. A driveway entrance on a straight open road
   2. A wide shoulder with clear sight lines ahead
   3. A bridge or tunnel ahead of your vehicle
   4. A straight stretch with dashed lane markings
   Show answer

   A bridge or tunnel ahead of your vehicle. Idaho bars passing near several tight places. The list includes a bridge or tunnel within one hundred feet when the view is obstructed, alongside intersections, railroad crossings, hills, and curves that hide oncoming traffic. A blocked view near concrete and rails leaves no escape room. Picking "A driveway entrance on a straight open road" would name a spot with open sight lines that this blocked view rule does not list. If you cannot see through the span, stay in line until sight returns.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing and slow vehicles

9. 9. When is passing prohibited because of a stopped school bus?

   1. Passing is prohibited when a bus is parked with no passengers nearby.
   2. Passing is prohibited when a bus is moving slowly through traffic.
   3. Passing is prohibited only when the bus is stopped inside a marked school zone.
   4. Passing is prohibited when a school bus is stopped to load or unload passengers.
   Show answer

   Passing is prohibited when a school bus is stopped to load or unload passengers.. Idaho lists a stopped school bus loading or unloading passengers as a no-passing situation. The restriction is tied to the bus's activity, not simply to a school-zone sign or the bus being slow. A bus parked with no loading activity does not match the stated condition, and a moving bus is not stopped to load or unload. The rule also does not limit the no-passing condition to a marked school zone. When the bus is stopped for passengers, do not pass it.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing and slow vehicles

10. 10. Your license has a lens restriction. What happens if you drive without lenses?

    1. You may be cited and suspended
    2. Nothing if the drive is short and local
    3. Only a warning for the first two offenses
    4. Your license gains a second restriction only
    Show answer

    You may be cited and suspended. Wearing glasses or contacts during vision screening places a lens restriction on the license. Driving without them afterward can bring a citation and suspension of driving privileges, not just a roadside warning. Picking "Nothing if the drive is short and local" would excuse short local trips, while the restriction follows every operation of a motor vehicle. Keep a spare pair of glasses in the car so a lost contact never tempts a restricted drive.

    Study this in the handbook: The vision, knowledge and skills tests

11. 11. Under Idaho law, when may a vehicle remain in the extreme left lane of a highway?

    1. When it is not impeding other traffic that is moving at a lawful speed
    2. Whenever it is traveling at or below the posted speed limit on that road
    3. Whenever the right lane happens to be moving more slowly
    4. At any time, because the left lane is a normal travel lane
    Show answer

    When it is not impeding other traffic that is moving at a lawful speed. The left lane rule turns on whether other traffic is being held up, not on the number shown on the speed sign by itself. A vehicle may not remain in the extreme left lane for a period that impedes traffic traveling at a lawful rate of speed, so a driver who is dawdling below the flow can break the rule even while pointing at the limit. Lawful traffic means traffic moving within the limit, and it is that traffic the rule protects. When vehicles close in behind you, move right and let them pass.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping at red lights and pedestrian beacons

12. 12. When your vehicle begins to skid on a slick Idaho road, what should you do first?

    1. Pump the brake pedal vigorously
    2. Slam down hard on the brakes
    3. Take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid
    4. Turn the steering wheel sharply in the opposite direction
    Show answer

    Take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid. When a skid begins, stomping on the brakes or jerking the wheel breaks whatever remaining traction your tires have with the road surface. Idaho instructs drivers not to panic and never hit the brake pedal. Immediately ease your foot off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction the rear of the car is sliding. Turning against the skid causes a secondary spin in the reverse direction. Keeping your eyes focused on your intended travel path helps you guide the vehicle back under control.

    Study this in the handbook: Skids, emergency braking and car trouble

13. 13. When parallel parking along a public street in Idaho, what is the maximum allowable distance from the curb?

    1. Within 18 inches of the curb
    2. Within 24 inches of the curb
    3. Within 12 inches of the curb
    4. Within 30 inches of the curb
    Show answer

    Within 18 inches of the curb. Under Idaho rules of the road, vehicles parked on a public street must stand parallel to the edge of the roadway and within 18 inches of the curb. Vehicles must also face in the same direction as the flow of traffic on that side of the street. Parking 24 or 30 inches out encroaches into the active travel lane, obstructing moving cars and cyclists. While parking closer than 18 inches is encouraged, standing farther out can result in a traffic citation or towing.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, parking and backing

14. 14. When starting from a curb or changing lanes, how long must you signal first?

    1. Two seconds or 25 feet before moving
    2. Only while your vehicle is already moving
    3. Five seconds or 100 feet before moving
    4. Ten seconds or 500 feet before moving
    Show answer

    Five seconds or 100 feet before moving. Idaho expects a signal for five seconds or 100 feet before you start from a curb, pull into a parking space, or change lanes. That warning gives nearby drivers and pedestrians time to adjust before your vehicle moves. Picking "Two seconds or 25 feet before moving" would cut the warning to a fraction of what nearby traffic needs to notice your intention and react safely. Count the signal beats as you glance over your shoulder, and let the full five seconds pass before steering.

    Study this in the handbook: Defensive driving, distractions and fatigue

15. 15. Turning right on red, what may an Idaho bicyclist do?

    1. The bicyclist may turn without fully stopping after yielding.
    2. The bicyclist may turn before checking for vehicles in the intersection.
    3. The bicyclist must stop and wait for a green light.
    4. The bicyclist must dismount and walk through the turn.
    Show answer

    The bicyclist may turn without fully stopping after yielding.. Idaho permits a bicyclist to turn right on red without coming to a complete stop. The rider still must yield to vehicles already in the intersection or close enough to be a potential hazard. Entering before checking and yielding removes that required protection. Waiting for a green light adds a condition the handbook does not require, and dismounting is not part of the rule. Beside a red light, a driver should expect the rider to slow, check the intersection, and turn only after yielding.

    Study this in the handbook: Right hooks, motorcycles and large vehicles

16. 16. What may happen to an unattended vehicle left on the traveled part of a highway?

    1. It may stay there for up to twenty four hours
    2. It receives a warning note for the owner
    3. It may be towed away immediately
    4. It may be pushed onto the median strip
    Show answer

    It may be towed away immediately. An unattended vehicle sitting on the traveled portion of a highway is a danger to public safety at any hour. Such vehicles are subject to immediate removal by towing rather than a grace period on the pavement. Picking "It may stay there for up to twenty four hours" would leave a stopped vehicle in a live lane for a full day while traffic approaches at highway speed. If your car dies in a lane, get occupants to safety and arrange removal at once instead of leaving it.

    Study this in the handbook: Defensive driving, distractions and fatigue

17. 17. A motorcycle ahead shows a flashing signal. Before turning in front of it, what must you confirm?

    1. That it is turning, not continuing straight
    2. That its rider has seen your vehicle clearly
    3. That no cars are behind the motorcycle
    4. That the signal has flashed at least twice
    Show answer

    That it is turning, not continuing straight. Most motorcycle signals do not cancel automatically, and riders sometimes forget to switch them off. A flashing signal may not mean a turn is coming, so confirm the motorcycle is actually turning before crossing its path. Picking "That its rider has seen your vehicle clearly" would make eye contact the deciding test while the rider may still be traveling straight toward you. Watch the front wheel and lean angle, not only the blinker, before committing to your turn.

    Study this in the handbook: Right hooks, motorcycles and large vehicles

18. 18. How does an arm signal communicate slowing or stopping?

    1. Arm and hand extended upward out the window
    2. Arm held straight out at shoulder height
    3. Hand waved forward and back repeatedly
    4. Arm and hand extended downward out the window
    Show answer

    Arm and hand extended downward out the window. The slow or stop arm signal points the arm and hand downward out the driver window. It substitutes for brake lights when signals fail, warning following drivers that your vehicle is about to lose speed. Picking "Arm and hand extended upward out the window" would raise the arm upward, which signals a right turn and tells followers the opposite of your plan. Palm toward the drivers behind you and fingers toward the pavement whenever you use the manual stop signal.

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, signals and U turns

19. 19. How are permanent and temporary barricade colors different?

    1. Permanent orange, temporary red and white
    2. Permanent red and white, temporary orange and white
    3. Both types are always yellow and black
    4. Temporary barricades use blue and white
    Show answer

    Permanent red and white, temporary orange and white. Barricades are red and white when permanent and orange and white when temporary, yet the instruction to drivers is identical either way. Color tells you how long the closure lasts, not whether to obey it. Picking "Permanent orange, temporary red and white" would reverse the two color schemes and misread a temporary work closure as a permanent one. Whatever the stripe color, stop at the barricade line and look for the authorized route around.

    Study this in the handbook: Guide signs and barricades

20. 20. In winter conditions, when should you abandon your car?

    1. Whenever the engine stops running once
    2. Only when it is absolutely necessary
    3. As soon as snow begins to accumulate
    4. After waiting ten minutes without help
    Show answer

    Only when it is absolutely necessary. Abandoning a car in winter is a last resort. A vehicle left in the roadway should be moved as far off the road as possible because hidden or buried cars endanger snow removal crews and their equipment. Picking "Whenever the engine stops running once" would tie leaving the car to a single stall, even when occupants remain safe and visible inside it. If you must leave, push the car well clear, note its location, and move yourself away from traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Mountains, open range and winter driving