IN Permit Practice Test 8

All 20 questions in test 8

Every question below comes from the Indiana 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. What is the Indiana speed limit for trucks with a declared gross vehicle weight above 26,000 pounds on a rural interstate?

   1. 65 mph
   2. 55 mph
   3. 60 mph
   4. 70 mph
   Show answer

   65 mph. On rural interstates, trucks with a declared gross vehicle weight greater than 26,000 pounds may not exceed 65 mph or the posted limit, while passenger vehicles may go 70 mph. Sixty is the rural divided state highway limit, and 55 is the urban interstate limit. Car drivers should expect heavy trucks to travel slower than surrounding traffic on these roads.

2. 2. How long is an Indiana driver's license valid for a driver younger than 75?

   1. Six years
   2. Two years
   3. Four years
   4. Eight years
   Show answer

   Six years. An Indiana driver's license is valid for six years for drivers under 75, three years for drivers 75 through 84, and two years for drivers 85 and older. Four years is the validity of a commercial driver's license. Two years is the term for the oldest drivers, and eight years is not an Indiana term. U.S. citizens can renew up to 24 months before expiration.

3. 3. Near a school, which speed limit should a driver follow when a school-zone sign shows a lower number?

   1. The ordinary rural limit
   2. The highest limit posted anywhere on the route
   3. The lower posted school-zone limit
   4. The advisory speed only after dark
   Show answer

   The lower posted school-zone limit. When driving near a school, Indiana requires drivers to slow to the lower speed limit posted for the school zone. The normal rural number does not override a special school-zone posting, and a higher number from another part of the route has no authority at this location. An advisory speed after dark is not the rule described here. Some school-zone limits operate during common school hours or while beacons flash, and local authorities may set lower limits when children are present. Look for the active school-zone posting and obey its lower figure.

4. 4. What does Indiana law say about using a telecommunications device while driving?

   1. It is allowed only for drivers over 21
   2. It is allowed at any speed below 25 mph
   3. It is specifically prohibited while operating a motor vehicle
   4. It is allowed if the call is under one minute
   Show answer

   It is specifically prohibited while operating a motor vehicle. Indiana names the device itself in the statute: using a telecommunications device while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited, with only the narrow hands free and emergency exceptions the law spells out. There is no low speed allowance, no age based permission, and no short call exception. The rule exists because a phone pulls both eyes and attention off the road, and the manual treats it as one of the most common causes of serious crashes among new drivers. Mount the phone, use hands free, or wait until you are parked.

5. 5. About how far does an average car at 55 mph need to stop, according to Indiana's manual?

   1. About 50 feet
   2. About 1,000 feet
   3. About 400 feet
   4. Approximately 130 to 140 feet, about half a football field
   Show answer

   Approximately 130 to 140 feet, about half a football field. The average passenger car traveling at 55 miles per hour can stop in approximately 130 to 140 feet, or about half the length of a football field. A fully loaded tractor trailer with hot brakes may take more than 400 feet, longer than the whole field. That gap is why you should never make a sudden lane change or stop in front of a tractor trailer.

6. 6. When may a driver cross a solid yellow line on a two-way road?

   1. Whenever the vehicle is traveling below 25 mph
   2. Generally only to make a turn
   3. Only after turning on hazard lights
   4. For passing whenever the road appears empty
   Show answer

   Generally only to make a turn. Indiana's lane-marking guidance says a driver should not cross a solid yellow line except to turn. Passing across it is prohibited even when the road appears empty, and low speed or hazard lights do not create permission. The marking separates opposing traffic, so crossing it for an ordinary pass creates a conflict with vehicles coming the other way. Read the line on the driver's side before deciding whether a passing maneuver is legal.

7. 7. During the first 180 days of an Indiana probationary license, which person may ride with the driver without another accompanying adult?

   1. Any friend from school
   2. The driver's spouse
   3. A neighbor with a valid license
   4. A coworker of any age
   Show answer

   The driver's spouse. Indiana generally bars passengers during the first 180 days of a probationary license, but the manual specifically allows the driver's spouse without another accompanying individual. The same family exception includes a child, stepchild, sibling, or step or half-sibling. A school friend, coworker, or neighbor does not qualify merely because of that relationship or because the person may hold a license. Identify a listed family relationship before relying on the exception.

8. 8. After the first 180 days, during which weekend hours may an Indiana probationary driver under 18 not drive without an exception?

   1. Saturday and Sunday between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
   2. Saturday and Sunday after 10 p.m.
   3. Friday and Saturday after 11 p.m.
   4. There are no weekend limits
   Show answer

   Saturday and Sunday between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.. On Saturday and Sunday, a probationary driver under 18 who is past the first 180 days may not drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Ten p.m. applies only during the first 180 days, every night. The 11 p.m. rule covers Sunday through Thursday, not the weekend. Weekday mornings before 5 a.m. are also off limits. Work, school, religious events and a qualified adult are exceptions.

9. 9. After failing an Indiana driving skills exam, how long must the applicant wait to retest?

   1. The next business day
   2. Seven days
   3. 30 days
   4. Six months
   Show answer

   Seven days. After a failed driving skills exam, the applicant must wait seven days before retaking it. The next business day rule applies to the knowledge exam, not the skills exam. After a third failed skills exam while holding a learner's permit, the wait grows to two months from the last failure. Thirty days and six months are not Indiana waiting periods.

10. 10. What should a driver do if a vehicle's wheels drift onto the shoulder?

    1. Stay on the shoulder, ease off the gas, and return gradually after slowing
    2. Brake hard and turn sharply toward traffic
    3. Accelerate along the shoulder until the pavement widens
    4. Jerk the steering wheel back immediately
    Show answer

    Stay on the shoulder, ease off the gas, and return gradually after slowing. Indiana warns that an immediate return from the shoulder can throw a vehicle off balance. The safer sequence is to remain along the shoulder, ease up on the gas pedal, slow down, and then guide the vehicle back onto the roadway gradually. A sharp steering correction or hard braking can create a sudden change in traction, while acceleration increases the distance traveled before control is reestablished. Keep both hands steady, look for a safe reentry point, and make the transition only after speed has dropped.

11. 11. If a vehicle begins to lose traction and the rear wheels slide sideways, what should the driver do first?

    1. Ease off the gas pedal
    2. Turn sharply away from the skid
    3. Pump the accelerator repeatedly
    4. Steer as far as possible in one motion
    Show answer

    Ease off the gas pedal. When traction is lost or the rear wheels slide sideways, easing off the gas pedal helps reduce the force driving the skid. A fast turn away from the skid can cause a spin, and steering too far creates the same risk. Pumping the accelerator adds power instead of calming the vehicle. After traction returns, straighten the vehicle and proceed slowly. The first cue is to release the accelerator smoothly, then make controlled steering inputs rather than a sudden correction.

12. 12. When should a driver use low headlight beams near another vehicle at night?

    1. Whenever traveling below 35 miles per hour
    2. Only within 50 feet of an oncoming vehicle
    3. Only when following within 500 feet
    4. Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or within 200 feet behind one
    Show answer

    Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or within 200 feet behind one. Indiana specifies two night-driving distances for lower beams. Use them when approaching within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and when following within 200 feet of the rear of another vehicle. The 50-foot choice waits too long, while the 500-foot following distance reverses the manual's figures. Vehicle speed does not determine these beam-change thresholds. Watch the roadway ahead and behind, dim early enough to avoid glare, and restore higher beams only when the required distance from other traffic is clear.

13. 13. What violation class applies when a driver fails to follow Indiana's amber-light parked-vehicle Move Over requirement?

    1. Class A infraction
    2. Class C misdemeanor
    3. Level 6 felony
    4. Class B infraction
    Show answer

    Class B infraction. Failing to follow the Move Over requirement for an authorized parked vehicle with amber flashing lights is a Class B infraction. The driver should change lanes away from the vehicle when possible; if that cannot be done, the driver must slow to 10 miles per hour below the posted limit and proceed cautiously. A Class A infraction is tied to the emergency-vehicle rule described separately, while the misdemeanor and felony choices do not match this amber-light parked-vehicle violation.

14. 14. A school bus displays flashing red lights and extends its stop arm on a two-way road. What should nearby drivers do?

    
    1. Pass slowly if no child is visible in the roadway
    2. Continue if traveling toward the bus because only following traffic stops
    3. Stop before reaching the bus and wait until the stop warning ends
    4. Stop only after the bus driver waves to traffic
    Show answer

    Stop before reaching the bus and wait until the stop warning ends. Flashing red lights and an extended stop arm mean the school bus has stopped for loading or unloading, so nearby drivers must stop. A driver cannot substitute a visual check for children, a slow pass, or a wave from the bus operator. On an ordinary two-way road without a dividing barrier or unimproved median, the duty applies to traffic approaching from both directions. The cue is the bus's red-light and stop-arm combination. Remain stopped until the warning is canceled and the roadway is safe.

15. 15. Which vehicles are especially affected by strong winds?

    1. Low sports cars only
    2. High-profile vehicles such as vans and sport utility vehicles
    3. Motorcycles only when parked
    4. Vehicles with manual transmissions only
    Show answer

    High-profile vehicles such as vans and sport utility vehicles. The manual singles out high-profile vehicles because their larger exposed sides can be affected more strongly by wind. A low sports car is not the only vehicle that can encounter a gust, and transmission type does not determine the vehicle’s exposed profile. A parked motorcycle is not the driving situation described. In strong wind, watch conditions and adjust conservatively. The quick recognition cue is vehicle height and broad side area, especially with vans and sport utility vehicles.

16. 16. What do orange traffic signs warn drivers about?

    
    1. A permanent speed limit on a state highway
    2. A nearby hospital or fuel service
    3. Temporary traffic conditions from construction or maintenance
    4. A recreational site or state park
    Show answer

    Temporary traffic conditions from construction or maintenance. Orange signs warn about temporary traffic conditions, especially those created by highway construction and maintenance. A driver seeing orange should expect changed lanes, workers, equipment, or other short-term hazards and follow any posted directions. A permanent speed limit is a regulatory message, services are shown with blue signs, and parks use brown signs. The tempting permanent-speed choice misses the temporary nature of the color. Slow down, watch for workers and channelizing devices, and obey the instructions on the orange sign as the work area approaches.

17. 17. What do blue traffic signs display?

    
    1. Warnings about a series of curves
    2. Rules prohibiting turns and parking
    3. Directions to recreational and cultural sites
    4. Road services and information
    Show answer

    Road services and information. Blue signs provide road service information, such as amenities available at an upcoming exit. They help a driver locate support or facilities rather than impose a movement rule. Yellow signs warn about roadway conditions, white signs carry regulations, and brown signs identify recreational or cultural interests. If a blue service sign is visible, read the symbols or words and decide whether the indicated facility meets your needs. Do not interpret the blue background as permission to ignore lane markings, speed limits, or other traffic controls.

18. 18. What restraint does Indiana law require for passengers younger than eight years of age?

    1. A lap belt only
    2. An adult passenger's arms
    3. A child restraint system such as a car seat or booster seat
    4. No restraint in the back seat
    Show answer

    A child restraint system such as a car seat or booster seat. Passengers younger than eight must be properly secured in a child restraint system, such as a child car seat or booster seat. A lap belt alone is not the manual's stated child restraint requirement, and holding a child in an adult's arms is not a substitute for a secured system. Seating position does not erase the rule. The age cue is under eight, and the equipment cue is an approved child restraint rather than an improvised arrangement inside the vehicle.

19. 19. At an Indiana roundabout, which traffic has priority when a vehicle is approaching the circular roadway?

    
    1. Traffic entering from the right-hand approach
    2. Traffic already circulating in the roundabout
    3. The largest vehicle approaching the entry
    4. The vehicle that signals first
    Show answer

    Traffic already circulating in the roundabout. Indiana requires incoming traffic to yield to traffic already circulating in a roundabout. The approach direction does not override that yield, and signaling first does not create priority. Vehicle size is irrelevant to the rule. The useful driving cue is to slow before the entry, look into the circulating lane, and wait for a safe opening rather than expecting circulating drivers to stop for an entering vehicle.

20. 20. Which activity is specifically prohibited while driving in Indiana unless the telecommunications device is hands free or used to contact 911?

    1. Adjusting a vehicle mirror
    2. Listening to a radio broadcast
    3. Checking the fuel gauge
    4. Using a cell phone
    Show answer

    Using a cell phone. Indiana specifically prohibits using a telecommunications device while operating a motor vehicle, with exceptions for hands free communication or a bona fide 911 emergency. Using a cell phone is therefore the activity covered by the rule. Mirror adjustment, radio listening, and reading the fuel gauge are not the telecommunications conduct described in this passage, although any distraction can still be unsafe. The cue is device use while operating, not whether the vehicle is moving quickly or the message seems brief.