IL Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the Illinois 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. During the Illinois permit phase, how many passengers may ride with a teen driver?

   1. Any number, as long as an adult supervises
   2. One in the front seat and no more than the number of safety belts in the back seat
   3. None at all
   4. Two in the front seat and three in the back
   Show answer

   One in the front seat and no more than the number of safety belts in the back seat. In the Illinois permit phase, passengers are limited to one in the front seat and no more than the number of safety belts in the back seat. An adult's presence does not lift the limit, and a permit driver is not barred from all passengers. Two people in the front is never allowed. After the first 12 months of licensing, the same front seat and safety belt limits apply to the Initial Licensing Phase.

2. 2. Who is exempt from the Illinois ban on drinking alcohol in a vehicle?

   1. Passengers in chartered buses for nonschool purposes, motor homes, and limousines
   2. Passengers in any car when the driver is sober
   3. Drivers stopped at a red light
   4. Passengers over 65
   Show answer

   Passengers in chartered buses for nonschool purposes, motor homes, and limousines. In Illinois it is illegal for anyone to drink alcohol in a vehicle, and both the driver and passengers can be cited. The exemption covers passengers on chartered buses used for nonschool purposes, motor homes, mini motor homes, and limousines. A sober driver does not make passenger drinking legal in an ordinary car. Being stopped at a light does not change the rule, and age is not an exemption. An opened container is also illegal in the passenger area.

3. 3. At a railroad crossing, what must a driver do when the flashing lights begin?

   1. Stop and remain stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing
   2. Continue if the crossing appears clear from the driver's lane
   3. Drive around a lowered gate before it reaches the pavement
   4. Stop only if a horn can be heard
   Show answer

   Stop and remain stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing. Flashing railroad crossing lights are a command to stop, not a suggestion based on whether a train is immediately visible. Illinois says to remain stopped until the train has passed and the lights have stopped flashing. Visual clearance or the absence of a horn does not cancel the warning. Going around a lowering gate is especially dangerous because the train may be hidden by distance, weather, or another obstruction. Stop before the crossing, keep clear of the tracks, and wait for the complete signal sequence to end.

4. 4. How should a driver treat an intersection when its traffic signals are not working?

   1. As a green light unless another vehicle is visible
   2. As a flashing yellow signal with no required stop
   3. As an all-way stop, coming to a complete stop and yielding before entering
   4. By driving around the signal without entering the intersection
   Show answer

   As an all-way stop, coming to a complete stop and yielding before entering. A failed traffic signal does not create an uncontrolled intersection. Illinois directs drivers to treat the location as an all-way stop, make a complete stop, then look and yield before entering. Assuming green or proceeding as though the light were flashing yellow skips the required stop. The useful cue is simple: dark or nonworking signals call for a full stop at every approach unless law enforcement gives a different direction.

5. 5. How long is an Illinois license valid for drivers ages 81 to 86, and for drivers 87 and older?

   1. Eight years for both
   2. Four years for both
   3. One year for both
   4. Two years for ages 81 to 86, with annual renewal at 87 and older
   Show answer

   Two years for ages 81 to 86, with annual renewal at 87 and older. Drivers ages 81 to 86 receive a license valid for two years, and drivers 87 and older must renew annually. Drivers 87 and older, including those turning 87 at renewal, must also take a driving exam. Every driver takes the written exam every eight years unless they have no traffic convictions. Renewal notices arrive about 90 days before expiration and list the documents and tests needed.

6. 6. What should a driver do if a vehicle enters a flooded roadway or viaduct?

   1. Enter slowly after checking only the near edge
   2. Stop in the deepest section and wait for the water to recede
   3. Follow the vehicle ahead because its tires show the water depth
   4. Avoid driving through it, turn around, and find another route
   Show answer

   Avoid driving through it, turn around, and find another route. Floodwater hides both depth and current, so a driver cannot reliably judge whether the vehicle can cross. Illinois advises not driving through a flooded roadway or viaduct. Turn around and use another route instead. Following another vehicle provides no dependable measurement, and entering slowly can still lead to loss of control or a stalled engine. Waiting in the deepest section places the vehicle and occupants in the water's path. Treat standing water as a route closure whenever a safe alternative is available.

7. 7. What should an Illinois driver do when light rain begins to make the roadway slippery?

   1. Keep cruise control on and follow more closely
   2. Turn off cruise control and increase following distance
   3. Brake hard repeatedly to dry the tires
   4. Accelerate to pass through the wet area quickly
   Show answer

   Turn off cruise control and increase following distance. Light rain can make the road slippery because water mixes with dust, oil, and leaves. Illinois advises turning off cruise control and increasing following distance as soon as those conditions begin. Following closely removes reaction time, while repeated hard braking and sudden acceleration can reduce control. The manual also recommends extra care on curves and turns and slower speeds to avoid hydroplaning. Use the first wet sheen as the cue to make these adjustments. Do not wait until the roadway looks heavily flooded or the vehicle begins to slide before responding.

8. 8. Where does the Illinois manual specifically tell drivers to slow down?

   1. Only on straight roads with a clear view
   2. At intersections, curves, hilltops, and narrow winding roadways
   3. Only after passing the top of a hill
   4. Only when a police officer is present
   Show answer

   At intersections, curves, hilltops, and narrow winding roadways. The handbook names four places that demand extra caution and reduced speed: an approaching or crossing intersection, a curve, the top of a hill, and a narrow winding roadway. The straight-road choice reverses the warning, while waiting until after a hilltop is too late because the crest can hide hazards. This is a condition-based instruction, not a rule triggered only by police presence. Look ahead for limited sight distance and reduce speed before entering each listed area.

9. 9. Where should a driver go when an Illinois KEEP RIGHT sign points around an obstruction?

   
   1. To the side indicated by the arrow, around the traffic island, median, or obstruction
   2. Into the opposing lane whenever that lane is empty
   3. To the left of the obstruction regardless of the arrow
   4. Only onto the shoulder, even when a lane is open
   Show answer

   To the side indicated by the arrow, around the traffic island, median, or obstruction. The KEEP RIGHT sign tells drivers where to travel when a traffic island, median, or other obstruction occupies the middle of the roadway. The arrow identifies the side to use, so a driver should guide the vehicle around the obstruction on that indicated side. An empty opposing lane does not make it lawful to use the wrong side, and the left-side choice ignores the sign. The shoulder is not the default route either. Slow enough to position safely, watch surrounding traffic, and follow the arrow through the narrowed area.

10. 10. What cellphone rule applies to an Illinois driver under age 19?

    1. Only texting is prohibited; hands-free calls are always allowed
    2. Hands-free use is required but otherwise unrestricted
    3. All wireless or cellphone use while driving is prohibited, including hands-free use, subject to an emergency exception
    4. Cellphone use is allowed if the vehicle is moving below 15 mph
    Show answer

    All wireless or cellphone use while driving is prohibited, including hands-free use, subject to an emergency exception. Illinois prohibits any wireless or cellphone use while driving for a driver under 19, including hands-free use. The manual allows an exception for an emergency contact with law enforcement, a health care provider, or emergency services. The texting-only answer narrows the ban too far, and the hands-free answer reverses the rule by treating hands-free use as generally permitted. Vehicle speed does not create a listed exception. Age is the first cue, then remember that hands-free technology does not remove the under-19 prohibition.

11. 11. An Illinois driver is convicted of driving without the required insurance. What follows?

    1. At least a three month loss of privileges and a $100 reinstatement fee, with no driving permit
    2. A warning for a first offense
    3. A one year suspension with a work permit
    4. Only a $25 fine
    Show answer

    At least a three month loss of privileges and a $100 reinstatement fee, with no driving permit. A mandatory insurance conviction in Illinois costs the driver's privileges for at least three months, requires a $100 reinstatement fee, and no driving permit is available during that time. A warning understates it. A one year suspension with a work permit changes both the length and the permit rule. A $25 fine alone is not the penalty. Three or more insurance violations also require filing proof of financial responsibility.

12. 12. When passing on an Illinois two-lane road, before getting within what distance of an oncoming vehicle must you return to your lane?

    1. 50 feet
    2. 100 feet
    3. 1,000 feet
    4. 200 feet
    Show answer

    200 feet. Illinois requires a passing driver to be back in the lane before getting within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and not to cut back until the whole passed vehicle shows in the rearview mirror. Fifty and 100 feet are too close to oncoming traffic. One thousand feet is not the rule. The driver being passed must not speed up until you finish, and flashing turn signals as a courtesy pass signal is illegal.

13. 13. If a driver enters an intersection while the light is green to make a left turn, what may the driver do if the light turns red?

    1. Reverse out of the intersection immediately
    2. Stop in the intersection until the light turns green again
    3. Yield to traffic behind the vehicle before turning
    4. Finish the turn after checking that the path is clear
    Show answer

    Finish the turn after checking that the path is clear. A driver who entered the intersection on a green light may complete the left turn even if the signal changes to red. The key is that the vehicle is already in the intersection, not that a red light generally permits entering it. Reversing can create a collision, and waiting for another green signal leaves the vehicle exposed in the intersection. Traffic behind the turning vehicle does not control the maneuver. Enter only when the path is clear, keep the turn controlled, and finish safely when the signal changes.

14. 14. If the brake pedal suddenly sinks to the floor, what should the driver do first?

    1. Pump the pedal to build pressure
    2. Shift immediately into reverse
    3. Turn off the ignition while moving
    4. Steer toward oncoming traffic
    Show answer

    Pump the pedal to build pressure. A pedal that sinks to the floor signals possible brake failure. Illinois advises pumping the pedal to build pressure. If that does not work, use the emergency or parking brake, and shift to a lower gear to slow the vehicle. Turning off the ignition can interfere with steering or other systems, while reverse gear and oncoming traffic create additional hazards. Keep control of the vehicle, warn other road users if possible, and move toward a safe stopping place as speed decreases.

15. 15. When is a right turn on a red light permitted in Illinois?

    
    1. Only after the light has been red for one full minute
    2. Whenever the intersection appears empty, without stopping
    3. After a complete stop and yielding, unless a sign prohibits the turn
    4. Only when turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street
    Show answer

    After a complete stop and yielding, unless a sign prohibits the turn. Illinois allows a right turn at a red light unless a sign prohibits it, but the driver must first make a complete stop and yield the right of way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. An empty-looking intersection does not remove the stop requirement. There is no one-minute waiting period, and the one-way-to-one-way condition belongs to the separate left-turn exception. Scan the crosswalk and both traffic approaches after stopping, then turn only when the movement will not interfere with another road user.

16. 16. What does a lane reduction warning require an Illinois driver to anticipate?

    
    1. A new lane that permits passing on the shoulder
    2. A reduction in lanes and the need to change lanes or let traffic merge
    3. A permanent stop at the end of the roadway
    4. A rule that all vehicles must move to the left immediately
    Show answer

    A reduction in lanes and the need to change lanes or let traffic merge. Reduction in Lanes signs warn that the number of lanes in the direction of travel will decrease. The change may be temporary or permanent, so drivers should be prepared to change lanes or allow other vehicles to merge. The shoulder is not created as a passing lane, and the warning does not mean the roadway ends at a stop. Moving left immediately is too rigid because the open lane and surrounding traffic determine the safe maneuver. When traffic is congested, Illinois describes alternating turns at the reduction point as a zipper merge.

17. 17. What should an Illinois driver prepare to do at a MERGING LANES sign?

    
    1. Block the adjacent lane so no vehicle can enter it
    2. Stop on the ramp until all traffic has left the highway
    3. Change lanes or allow other traffic to merge into the lane
    4. Use the shoulder as the permanent travel lane
    Show answer

    Change lanes or allow other traffic to merge into the lane. A MERGING LANES sign means two lanes traveling in the same direction will soon become one. Drivers should be ready either to change lanes or to allow other traffic to merge into their lane. Blocking the adjacent lane defeats the safety purpose of the warning, and stopping on a ramp is not the general instruction. The shoulder is not a substitute travel lane. Adjust speed and position early, check mirrors and blind spots, and cooperate with nearby drivers so the two streams form one orderly lane without a sudden conflict.

18. 18. An orange sign in Illinois usually warns of what kind of roadway condition?

    1. A park or recreation area
    2. Construction or maintenance activity
    3. Services available along the roadway
    4. A traffic incident caused by a natural disaster
    Show answer

    Construction or maintenance activity. Orange signs are warning signs commonly placed in construction or maintenance zones. They alert you to possible dangers created by work projects, so reduce speed, watch for workers and equipment, and prepare for changed lanes or other temporary conditions. Brown is used for parks and recreation, and blue identifies services along the roadway. Pink may alert drivers to an unplanned traffic incident such as a crash or natural disaster. The useful driving cue is the orange color paired with a work-zone setting: expect the roadway pattern to change and follow the temporary signs, cones, or barricades that control your path.

19. 19. Under what conditions does Illinois say the three-second rule also applies to vehicle speed?

    1. Only on a wet road during heavy rain
    2. Only on an icy road during winter weather
    3. On a good road and during good weather conditions
    4. Only in a work zone with reduced speed limits
    Show answer

    On a good road and during good weather conditions. Illinois says the three-second rule also applies to vehicle speed when the road is good and the weather is good. That condition describes the baseline setting for the rule, not heavy rain, ice, or a work zone. Separately, the rule helps a driver judge following distance by counting after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object. Poor road or weather conditions require an even larger gap, so the wet-road choice reverses the manual’s condition. Use the road surface and weather first, then extend the interval whenever either one reduces traction or visibility.

20. 20. A driver refuses a breath test in Illinois and is later found guilty of DUI. What cost may the driver have to pay?

    1. Up to $50
    2. Up to $5,000
    3. Nothing, since the driver refused
    4. Up to $500 for the cost of blood tests
    Show answer

    Up to $500 for the cost of blood tests. If a driver refuses a breath test, or an officer believes a blood test may show drugs, the driver can be held financially liable for up to $500 of the blood test costs if found guilty of DUI. Fifty dollars understates it, and $5,000 overstates it. Refusing does not avoid the cost; it is one of the situations that triggers it. Refusal also brings its own one year suspension for a first offender.