KY Permit Practice Test 10

All 20 questions in test 10

Every question below comes from the Kentucky 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 school bus is stopped on a two-lane road to load or unload passengers. What must approaching drivers do?

   
   1. Continue if the opposite lane appears empty
   2. Pass slowly if no child is visible
   3. Stop only when traveling behind the bus
   4. Stop and remain stopped until people are clear and the bus moves
   Show answer

   Stop and remain stopped until people are clear and the bus moves. A stopped school bus loading or unloading passengers requires a complete stop. Remain stopped until all people are clear of the roadway and the bus is moving. Visibility of children does not cancel the protection, and an empty opposite lane does not authorize passing on a two-lane road. The behind-only choice overlooks that traffic approaching from either direction can endanger passengers. Watch for the bus’s stop arm and signal lights, brake before reaching it, and wait through the entire loading event. The cue is stopped bus plus passenger activity.

2. 2. Why must speed be reduced on a wet roadway?

   1. Rain affects only vehicles with worn tires
   2. The posted limit automatically becomes a minimum speed in rain
   3. Wet pavement improves braking, so speed should be increased
   4. Slippery conditions can reduce tire grip and cause a skid or hydroplane
   Show answer

   Slippery conditions can reduce tire grip and cause a skid or hydroplane. Water reduces the tires’ contact and grip, increasing the chance of a skid or hydroplaning. A posted number does not guarantee that speed is suitable for current pavement conditions, and wet roads do not improve braking. The worn-tire choice is too narrow because even a properly maintained vehicle must adapt to water. Ease off the accelerator before the vehicle loses traction, and avoid abrupt braking or steering. A strong cue is visible water on the roadway: adjust speed early, while the tires still respond normally.

3. 3. A yellow signal is illuminated as you near an intersection. Which action follows the manual’s rule?

   1. Stop if you can do so safely
   2. Enter quickly because yellow guarantees the intersection remains open
   3. Stop in the middle of the intersection to wait for green
   4. Turn left without checking opposing traffic
   Show answer

   Stop if you can do so safely. The yellow phase means red is approaching, so the planned response is a safe stop. A driver should not accelerate into the changing signal, and stopping within the intersection creates a hazard rather than a legal waiting place. A left turn also remains subject to traffic and right-of-way conditions. Check your stopping distance and traffic behind you, then brake smoothly when there is room to do so. A helpful memory aid is that yellow closes the entry opportunity and asks whether stopping can be done safely.

4. 4. In about what share of fatal crashes are alcohol and other impairing drugs involved, according to the Kentucky manual?

   1. About 5 percent
   2. Approximately 40 percent
   3. About 90 percent
   4. About 15 percent
   Show answer

   Approximately 40 percent. Alcohol and other impairing drugs are involved in approximately 40 percent of all traffic crashes in which someone is killed each year, and thousands of people die nationally in alcohol related collisions. Kentucky applies zero tolerance to drivers under 21, and a refusal to take the breath, blood or urine test can be used against you in court as evidence of DUI.

5. 5. When approaching an authorized emergency vehicle stopped on the roadside, what lane change should you make if conditions permit?

   
   1. Stop in the lane next to the emergency vehicle
   2. Move onto the shoulder beside the emergency vehicle
   3. Change into a lane that is not next to the emergency vehicle
   4. Pass without changing lanes if your speed is low
   Show answer

   Change into a lane that is not next to the emergency vehicle. Kentucky drivers should slow and yield by changing into a lane that is not next to the stopped authorized emergency vehicle whenever safety and traffic conditions permit. The shoulder is not a substitute lane and may be where responders or equipment are working. Remaining beside the vehicle exposes people to passing traffic. If a lane change would be unsafe, slow down and continue cautiously at a safe speed for conditions. Look early, signal, and create lateral space.

6. 6. What does a downward-pointing red and white triangular sign tell a driver to do?

   1. Stop and wait for a green signal at every intersection
   2. Slow down and let right-of-way traffic cross before entering
   3. Speed up to merge ahead of traffic already in the roadway
   4. Follow the sign to a nearby hospital or service station
   Show answer

   Slow down and let right-of-way traffic cross before entering. This triangle is the yield sign, which requires a slower approach and allows vehicles and pedestrians that have priority to clear the intersection before the driver enters. It does not impose an automatic stop at every intersection, so the signal choice adds a condition not stated. Accelerating would make yielding harder, and hospitals or service stations are identified by guide signs. Use the sign as an instruction to look, judge the crossing traffic, and stop only if needed to give that traffic priority.

7. 7. What does the Kentucky manual suggest doing before a short nap to fight fatigue?

   1. Consume caffeine first to get the benefits of both
   2. Turn up the radio
   3. Drink water only
   4. Exercise vigorously
   Show answer

   Consume caffeine first to get the benefits of both. The manual suggests consuming caffeine before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both, since caffeine takes time to work and the nap fills that gap. Pull off at the next exit or rest area for a 15 to 20 minute nap or sleep for the night, avoid driving late at night, and remember that plenty of rest beforehand is the best cure.

8. 8. Which farm drivers are exempt from Kentucky's commercial license requirement?

   1. Drivers of rented farm trucks anywhere in the state
   2. All drivers of trucks over 26,001 pounds
   3. Any driver hauling livestock
   4. Drivers of vehicles used exclusively in farm to market transportation, owned and operated by the farmer, within 150 miles of the point of origin
   Show answer

   Drivers of vehicles used exclusively in farm to market transportation, owned and operated by the farmer, within 150 miles of the point of origin. A driver of vehicles used exclusively in farm to market agricultural transportation, owned and operated by the farmer or the farmer's employees and used within 150 miles of the point of origin, does not need a commercial license, nor do operators of recreational vehicles not used for commerce. Outside those limits, the vehicle's weight and cargo determine the license class.

9. 9. What may be placed on a Kentucky windshield?

   1. Only certificates or papers required by law and sun screening material along a strip at the top
   2. Tint film over the whole glass
   3. Signs advertising a business
   4. Any sticker below the mirror
   Show answer

   Only certificates or papers required by law and sun screening material along a strip at the top. It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle with any sign, sun screening material, product or covering on the windshield; only certificates or papers required by law and sun screening material along a strip at the top of the windshield are acceptable. The driver's view must be unobstructed, and a windshield wiper is required on the driver's side. The examiner inspects the windshield before the road test.

10. 10. When turning, what does the manual tell a driver to search for?

    1. Only vehicles directly behind the car
    2. Traffic controls, pedestrians, and other vehicles at all corners
    3. Only the lane line at the exit of the turn
    4. Only pedestrians after the turn is complete
    Show answer

    Traffic controls, pedestrians, and other vehicles at all corners. Before and during a turn, the driver should search all corners for traffic controls, pedestrians, other vehicles, and similar hazards, then signal the intention. Looking only behind misses conflicts at the sides and ahead. Focusing on one lane line or waiting until the turn is over delays the search until it is too late to respond. Slow to an appropriate speed, keep the intended path in view, and check each corner so the turn is guided by what is actually around the vehicle.

11. 11. Who may direct a stopped driver to move before an emergency vehicle has passed?

    1. Any driver waiting behind
    2. A police officer or firefighter
    3. A passenger in the stopped vehicle
    4. A nearby pedestrian
    Show answer

    A police officer or firefighter. Kentucky allows a stopped driver to move before the emergency vehicle has passed only when directed by a police officer or a firefighter. A waiting driver, passenger, or pedestrian does not have the authority described in this rule. Otherwise, remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed and keep clear of the intersection. Watch for authorized directions while maintaining awareness of the emergency scene. The key cue is the identity of the person giving the instruction, not convenience or pressure from surrounding traffic.

12. 12. At an intersection, what must a driver do at a flashing red light?

    1. Treat it as a green light if cross traffic is absent
    2. Slow briefly and continue without stopping
    3. Come to a full stop, then proceed only when the way is clear
    4. Stop only when a pedestrian is visible
    Show answer

    Come to a full stop, then proceed only when the way is clear. Kentucky treats a flashing red light as a stop requirement. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop, check for vehicles and pedestrians, and continue only after the intersection is clear. Merely slowing does not satisfy the rule, and a flashing red indication never becomes green because cross traffic happens to be absent. Waiting for a pedestrian is also too narrow because vehicles can approach from any direction. The reliable cue is red plus flashing: stop fully first, then make a cautious decision about proceeding.

13. 13. Before entering a Kentucky roundabout, which direction should traffic move around the center island?

    1. Straight across the island
    2. Clockwise
    3. Counterclockwise
    4. In whichever direction the first vehicle chooses
    Show answer

    Counterclockwise. Kentucky directs drivers to enter a roundabout in a counterclockwise direction. Clockwise travel would oppose the designed circulation, and vehicles do not cross the raised center island or choose a direction independently. Reduce speed, yield to traffic already in the circle, select the appropriate exit, signal intent, and then leave the circle. The strongest visual cue is the raised center island: follow the circulating roadway around it counterclockwise rather than cutting across the middle.

14. 14. What minimum score must an applicant earn to pass Kentucky's written driver test?

    1. 70%
    2. 80%
    3. 75%
    4. 90%
    Show answer

    80%. Applicants need at least 80 percent to pass the written test. The 70 percent and 75 percent options set lower thresholds, while 90 percent demands more than the manual requires. The test covers driving rules, regulations, procedures, and highway signs, so studying the manual is the preparation cue. An applicant who cannot read English may receive an oral test under the stated process, but the passing percentage remains the minimum score given here.

15. 15. A Kentucky driver transporting a child 40 inches tall or less must use:

    1. A child restraint system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards
    2. An adult lap belt without any child restraint
    3. A booster seat only when the child is over 57 inches tall
    4. No restraint if the trip is on a city street
    Show answer

    A child restraint system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards. Kentucky requires a child who is 40 inches in height or less to be properly secured in a child restraint system that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. An adult belt alone does not satisfy that specific requirement, and a booster seat is addressed for a different height and age range. The rule applies on roadways, streets, and highways, so a city trip is not exempt. Measure the child’s height before travel and use the approved restraint correctly rather than choosing equipment based only on the trip length.

16. 16. At the pictured STOP sign, where must you stop when a stop line or crosswalk is present?

    
    1. Only at the edge of the roadway if another vehicle is visible
    2. After entering the intersection so the rear bumper clears traffic
    3. Behind the stop line or crosswalk, then yield to crossing traffic and pedestrians
    4. Before the sign, even when that blocks the crosswalk
    Show answer

    Behind the stop line or crosswalk, then yield to crossing traffic and pedestrians. The octagonal red sign requires a stop behind the stop line or crosswalk when one is present. After stopping, yield to crossing vehicles and pedestrians in every direction before proceeding. Stopping inside the intersection gives up the protected stopping position, and waiting for another vehicle is not a condition attached to the sign. Stopping before the sign can also place the vehicle where it blocks the crosswalk. Scan for the line first, then stop and check all directions.

17. 17. What action does the pictured downward-pointing YIELD sign require before entering?

    
    1. Enter without checking because the sign applies only to trucks
    2. Stop every time, even when no traffic is present
    3. Accelerate so crossing traffic must wait
    4. Slow down and allow right-of-way traffic to cross first
    Show answer

    Slow down and allow right-of-way traffic to cross first. A Kentucky yield sign tells the driver to slow down and allow traffic with the right of way to cross before entering. It does not impose an automatic stop in every empty-road situation, although stopping may be necessary when traffic or pedestrians require it. Accelerating reverses the intended priority and increases conflict. The sign applies to the approaching driver regardless of vehicle type. Reduce speed early, identify who has priority, and stop if that is needed to yield safely.

18. 18. A Kentucky license expired more than 5 years ago. What must the driver do?

    1. Renew with no testing
    2. Pay a late fee only
    3. Take only a vision test
    4. Start over as a new driver
    Show answer

    Start over as a new driver. No testing is required for a person whose credential expired less than 5 years ago, but any driver whose credential is expired more than 5 years must start over as a new driver. So renewing with no testing applies only under the 5 year mark. A late fee or a vision test alone does not replace the full process. Kentucky licenses run four or eight years, with eight years available only for new standard licenses and REAL IDs.

19. 19. A Kentucky applicant fails the road skills test. How long must they wait to try again?

    1. The next business day
    2. 30 days
    3. At least one week from the date of the failure
    4. Six months
    Show answer

    At least one week from the date of the failure. If you fail the Kentucky road skills test, you must wait at least one week from the date of the failure before attempting it again, and you are encouraged to practice in that time. The next business day is too soon. Thirty days and six months are longer than the rule. Remember that you cannot drive yourself to the test unless a licensed driver 21 or older is in the front passenger seat.

20. 20. A Kentucky permit holder under 18 gets a moving violation. How does that affect the intermediate license?

    1. It adds at least 180 days from the date of the violation before applying
    2. Nothing, as long as the fine is paid
    3. It adds 30 days
    4. The permit is upgraded early
    Show answer

    It adds at least 180 days from the date of the violation before applying. Violations of the permit restrictions, moving violations under KRS 189, and DUI violations under KRS 189A are not allowed for permit holders under 18. If one occurs, it adds an additional minimum of one hundred eighty days from the date of the violation before the driver may apply for an intermediate license. Paying the fine does not avoid this. Thirty days understates it, and a violation never speeds up licensing.