ID Permit Practice Test 25

All 20 questions in test 25

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. In Idaho, a vehicle in the right lane stops at an intersection for a pedestrian. You are in the left lane. What should you do?

   1. Pass the stopped vehicle carefully
   2. Sound the horn and continue through
   3. Move into the right lane to get a better view of the crossing
   4. Stop and wait for the pedestrian to finish crossing
   Show answer

   Stop and wait for the pedestrian to finish crossing. When one vehicle stops for a pedestrian, the driver in the next lane must not pass. The stopped car can hide the person from your view, and a pass can put you into the crossing at the wrong moment. Wait until the pedestrian has finished and the way is clear, then proceed. Sounding the horn does not create a gap, and changing into the right lane puts you behind a vehicle that is already yielding. Treat the stopped car as a signal that someone may be in the crosswalk.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, children, horses and bicyclists

2. 2. During rush hour on a freeway, why should you avoid staying in the right lane?

   1. Because the right lane closes at every exit
   2. To make room for trucks to pass on the right
   3. To leave room for drivers entering the freeway
   4. Because right lane speed limits are lower then
   Show answer

   To leave room for drivers entering the freeway. Heavy rush hour traffic brings a steady stream of vehicles entering from ramps. Staying out of the right lane when you can gives those entering drivers space to merge instead of braking at the end of short ramps. Picking "Because the right lane closes at every exit" would suggest the lane disappears, yet ramps and exits remain open and drivers still need that space to join traffic. Approaching a busy interchange in the center lane, watch ramps on your right and preserve the opening merging drivers need.

3. 3. When must points appear on your record for course based reduction?

   1. Within a year after finishing the course
   2. Before you complete the reduction course
   3. Only after a second violation is added
   4. Before the citation is issued by police
   Show answer

   Before you complete the reduction course. Eligibility for point reduction requires the points to already be on the driving record before the course is completed. Taking a course in advance cannot bank credit against violations that have not happened yet. Picking "Within a year after finishing the course" would let a course taken after the fact reach backward, while Idaho requires points posted first. Wait until the violation points show on your record, then enroll so the reduction can attach to them.

   Study this in the handbook: Points, suspensions and reinstatement

4. 4. Making a right turn at an intersection, what must you yield to first?

   1. Pedestrians and vehicles holding right of way
   2. Only vehicles approaching from your left
   3. Vehicles waiting to turn left from a side street
   4. No one after your signal has been shown
   Show answer

   Pedestrians and vehicles holding right of way. A right turn begins from the right lane close to the curb and still requires yielding to pedestrians and vehicles that hold the right of way. Signaling announces the turn but never grants priority over crosswalks. Picking "Only vehicles approaching from your left" would limit your yielding to left side vehicles and miss a pedestrian stepping off the near corner. Sweep the crosswalk, the curb side bicycle space, and cross traffic in that order before rolling right.

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

5. 5. How does an ignition interlock device let a vehicle start?

   1. The driver enters a numeric code first
   2. A passenger confirms the driver identity
   3. The driver provides a breath sample first
   4. The vehicle starts after a ten minute wait
   Show answer

   The driver provides a breath sample first. An ignition interlock connects the ignition to a breath test. The driver must provide a breath sample before the vehicle will start, and a sample at or above the preset alcohol level prevents starting entirely. Picking "The driver enters a numeric code first" would replace the breath test with a code, which a driver could share or enter after drinking. Picture the car asking for proof of sobriety before the key works, every single time it starts.

   Study this in the handbook: Points, suspensions and reinstatement

6. 6. What is the harshest DUI consequence named for CDL drivers?

   1. Lifetime loss of commercial driving privileges
   2. A warning for the first offense only
   3. Loss of the standard license for a week
   4. A fine without any license consequence
   Show answer

   Lifetime loss of commercial driving privileges. Commercial drivers face enhanced DUI penalties in Idaho, reaching as far as lifetime loss of CDL privileges. A commercial career can end entirely over an offense that also carries ordinary criminal penalties. Picking "A warning for the first offense only" would reduce the outcome to a warning, hiding the career ending penalty Idaho reserves for CDL holders. Professional drivers should treat any drinking before duty as risking the license their livelihood needs.

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles and the move over law

7. 7. While backing, how should your body be positioned to see?

   1. Face forward and use mirrors exclusively
   2. Arm on passenger seat, look over shoulder
   3. Turn only your eyes toward the side mirror
   4. Lean out the driver window while reversing
   Show answer

   Arm on passenger seat, look over shoulder. Proper backing posture puts the right arm on the back of the passenger seat and turns the head over the shoulder to look directly through the rear window. Mirrors alone narrow the view too much for reversing. Picking "Face forward and use mirrors exclusively" would keep the driver facing forward, trusting mirrors that miss objects low and close behind. Twist your torso before the vehicle rolls and keep that direct rear view until fully stopped.

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

8. 8. In a diverging diamond interchange, what unusual traffic pattern occurs?

   1. Traffic stays on the right side throughout the interchange.
   2. Opposing traffic crosses at signals on each side of the bridge or overpass.
   3. Left turns require a full U-turn before entering the highway.
   4. Ramps merge without signals throughout the interchange.
   Show answer

   Opposing traffic crosses at signals on each side of the bridge or overpass.. A diverging diamond interchange temporarily channels traffic to the left side of the highway, and opposing traffic crosses at signals on each side of the bridge or overpass. Traffic therefore does not stay on the right throughout. The interchange does not turn left movements into full U-turns, and the handbook specifically describes signals where opposing traffic crosses. Lane lines, raised islands, and signals guide drivers through the unusual crossover pattern, so follow those controls rather than treating the interchange like an ordinary ramp merge.

9. 9. After a special passing maneuver, what must you do with your speed?

   1. Reduce to the posted limit promptly
   2. Keep the passing speed for one more mile
   3. Slow to ten below the posted limit
   4. Match the speed of the vehicle you passed
   Show answer

   Reduce to the posted limit promptly. Idaho special passing allowance ends with the pass itself. The driver must return to the right hand lane and reduce speed to the posted limit as soon as practicable, ending the temporary exceedance. Picking "Keep the passing speed for one more mile" would stretch the allowance a full extra mile beyond the vehicle that justified the maneuver. As soon as the passed vehicle is in your mirror, lift off and settle back to the posted number.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing and slow vehicles

10. 10. What condition must a vehicle muffler be in under Idaho law?

    1. Removed if the vehicle is driven daytime
    2. Working well, preventing loud noise
    3. Fitted with a cutout for extra sound
    4. Polished visibly at annual inspections
    Show answer

    Working well, preventing loud noise. Every motor vehicle needs a muffler in good working order that prevents loud or unusual noise. A muffler cutout or bypass that amplifies exhaust noise is equipment Idaho does not allow on the road. Removing the muffler for daytime driving would delete the required equipment entirely, leaving nothing to quiet the exhaust at any hour. A sudden roar from underneath means repair the muffler before a stop turns it into a ticket.

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

11. 11. Who is responsible when an Idaho vehicle is mechanically unsafe?

    1. The driver must correct the problem before operating the vehicle.
    2. The county must repair the vehicle before it can be driven.
    3. The owner may drive it until an annual inspection finds the defect.
    4. A repair is optional if the vehicle still starts.
    Show answer

    The driver must correct the problem before operating the vehicle.. Idaho law does not allow a person to drive a mechanically unsafe vehicle. The driver is responsible for correcting a needed repair, missing vital equipment, or another danger before operating it. Responsibility does not shift to the county, and an annual inspection is not permission to keep using an unsafe vehicle. A vehicle that starts can still have a dangerous defect, so starting the engine does not make repair optional. Correct the problem before driving, whether the danger involves equipment, a needed repair, or another unsafe condition.

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

12. 12. How much following distance should you allow behind a motorcycle?

    1. About one second of following distance
    2. Exactly three car lengths at any speed
    3. More than three seconds of following distance
    4. More than ten seconds at all times
    Show answer

    More than three seconds of following distance. Following a motorcycle calls for more than three seconds of distance. Riders can stop or swerve quickly for surface hazards that barely affect cars, and extra space gives both drivers time to react in an emergency. Picking "About one second of following distance" would close the gap to one second, leaving almost no response time if the rider brakes for gravel. Pick a fixed roadside marker, count past three after the rider passes it, and ease off if you arrive early.

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

13. 13. A bicyclist rides ahead as you prepare a right turn. How do you avoid a right hook crash?

    1. Accelerate past and turn sharply in front
    2. Turn from the left lane across the rider
    3. Slow and stay behind until the rider passes your turn
    4. Honk so the rider moves onto the sidewalk
    Show answer

    Slow and stay behind until the rider passes your turn. The right hook crash happens when a driver passes a bicyclist and turns across the rider path. Slowing and remaining behind until the rider passes the turn point keeps your vehicle out of that closing angle. Picking "Accelerate past and turn sharply in front" would create the exact crash pattern named, cutting across the rider line with little room to stop. If your turn is near and a rider is ahead, lift off the gas and let the corner clear before steering.

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

14. 14. What does a doghouse signal most commonly indicate?

    1. A railroad crossing just ahead
    2. Pedestrian only crossing phases
    3. Truck restrictions on the next block
    4. Protected left turns
    Show answer

    Protected left turns. The doghouse signal arrangement is most commonly used to indicate protected left turns. Its extra lenses let the intersection hold through traffic while granting turning drivers a phase of their own. Picking "A railroad crossing just ahead" would assign the housing to railroad warnings, which use crossbucks and flashing red lights instead. When a doghouse governs your turn lane, watch its arrow lenses for the protected phase to begin.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals

15. 15. Once a vehicle is fully hydroplaning, which controls stop working effectively?

    1. Only the steering loses any real effect
    2. Braking, accelerating, and turning all lose effect
    3. Only the brake pedal loses its effect
    4. You can still brake normally if you press firmly
    Show answer

    Braking, accelerating, and turning all lose effect. A hydroplaning tire rides on water instead of pavement, so braking, accelerating, and turning inputs no longer grip the road. Steering or stomping pedals in that moment can start a skid once contact returns unevenly. Picking "Only the steering loses any real effect" would narrow the loss to steering alone and invite a hard brake application while the tires still float. If the wheel suddenly feels light, hold a steady line, ease off speed, and wait for grip to return.

    Study this in the handbook: Night, fog, rain and flash floods

16. 16. When should cruise control be switched off for safety?

    1. Only when traffic is moving below 25 mph
    2. Whenever you drive longer than one hour
    3. Only on roads without a posted limit
    4. When the road surface is wet or icy
    Show answer

    When the road surface is wet or icy. Cruise control holds a set speed without sensing slick pavement. On wet or icy roads that steady throttle can keep wheels spinning or delay the speed reduction a driver needs when grip suddenly changes. Limiting the rule to traffic below 25 miles per hour would tie cruise use to traffic speed, while the danger is the road surface under the tires right now. At the first sign of standing water or frost shine, cancel cruise and manage the pedal yourself.

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

17. 17. When must a vehicle brake lights switch on?

    1. When the parking brake handle is pulled up
    2. When the vehicle slows on engine braking
    3. When the foot brake is applied
    4. When headlights are turned on at sunset
    Show answer

    When the foot brake is applied. Brake lights are a signal, not decoration. They must be designed to come on when the driver applies the foot brake, giving following traffic an immediate warning that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Pulling the parking brake handle is a separate control for holding a stopped vehicle, and it is not the switch the rule names for warning traffic behind you. Test brake lights against a garage wall at night and watch for instant response to the pedal.

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

18. 18. How old must an applicant be to take Idaho knowledge and skills tests?

    1. Fourteen and a half years or older for both tests
    2. Sixteen years or older for both of the tests
    3. Seventeen years or older without any exception
    4. Fifteen years or older
    Show answer

    Fifteen years or older. Applicants must be fifteen years of age or older to take the Idaho knowledge and skills tests. Younger teens may hold training permits for instruction, but the licensing tests themselves start at fifteen. Picking "Fourteen and a half years or older for both tests" would borrow the fourteen and a half training permit age and apply it to the licensing tests. Separate permit ages from test ages on your timeline; fifteen is the testing threshold.

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

19. 19. A small animal suddenly appears in your lane. What should you avoid doing?

    1. Dodging it unless you are sure the move is safe
    2. Maintaining control of your vehicle
    3. Considering your own safety first
    4. Watching for other animals nearby
    Show answer

    Dodging it unless you are sure the move is safe. Small animals dart into the road faster than a driver can plan around them. Idaho puts driver safety first: do not dodge a small animal unless the move is certainly safe, and keep control before, during, and after any contact. Large game calls for a different response, slowing down with caution because herds travel together. Picking "Maintaining control of your vehicle" would avoid the very control the guidance demands. Keep hands steady and eyes forward rather than swerving into another lane.

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

20. 20. When making a left turn at an intersection, who must an Idaho driver yield to?

    1. The driver must yield only to vehicles behind the turning vehicle.
    2. The driver must yield only to vehicles turning right from the other road.
    3. The driver must yield to no one when the signal is green.
    4. The driver must yield to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles.
    Show answer

    The driver must yield to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles.. Idaho's left-turn rule requires yielding to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles in the intersection unless a traffic-control device directs otherwise. Vehicles behind the turning driver are not the people and traffic named in this duty. The duty is not limited to vehicles turning right, and a green signal does not guarantee that the path is clear. Before turning left, check the crosswalk and opposing traffic, then turn when the path is safe. The yield applies to the conflicts in the intersection, not just to the signal color.

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