KY Permit Practice Test 4

All 20 questions in test 4

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. Where should most of a trailer’s cargo weight be placed for stability?

   1. All cargo behind the axle
   2. About 60 percent in back and 40 percent in front
   3. Exactly half at each end
   4. About 60 percent in front and 40 percent in back
   Show answer

   About 60 percent in front and 40 percent in back. The manual recommends placing about 60 percent of a trailer’s cargo weight in the front, nearest the towing vehicle, and 40 percent in the back. Front loading reduces the possibility of sway, so shifting the heavier share rearward creates the wrong balance. An exact half-and-half split is also not the stated recommendation. Before driving, put heavy items low and forward, then secure the load so it cannot shift during travel.

2. 2. What does the online version of Kentucky's graduated licensing course cost?

   1. $12.50, while the classroom version is free
   2. $50
   3. Both versions are free
   4. $100
   Show answer

   $12.50, while the classroom version is free. Kentucky's July 2026 driver manual lists the acceptable ways to complete graduated licensing training: the classroom version is free for Kentucky drivers, the online version now costs $12.50, and a high school driver education course or a private course at an approved driver training school also qualifies. Earlier editions listed the online course at $11, so that figure is out of date. Completing one of these programs is required before a young driver can move to the full, unrestricted license. Choose the format that fits the family schedule, and keep proof of completion for the licensing appointment.

3. 3. What must a Kentucky driver convicted of DUI complete before driving privileges can be reinstated?

   1. Only a new vision test
   2. Only State Traffic School
   3. Nothing beyond the suspension period
   4. An assessment and an approved alcohol education or treatment program
   Show answer

   An assessment and an approved alcohol education or treatment program. Every offender convicted of DUI must be assessed in a program licensed by the Cabinet for Human Resources and then attend an approved alcohol education or treatment program. Satisfactory completion is required before reinstatement, and the driver pays the program fees. The license is reissued after the suspension period ends, the reinstatement fee is paid, and a completion notice is filed. A vision test or State Traffic School does not substitute.

4. 4. A Kentucky driver 18 or older reaches 12 points for the first time and fails to appear at the hearing. How long is the suspension?

   1. One year
   2. Two years
   3. Six months
   4. 30 days
   Show answer

   Six months. When a driver 18 or older reaches 12 points, or a driver under 18 reaches 7, the Transportation Cabinet holds a hearing. Failing to appear results in a suspension of six months for the first such accumulation of twelve points, one year for the second, and two years for any later accumulation within the two year period. Thirty days is not in the schedule.

5. 5. What kind of instruction is identified by an octagonal traffic sign?

   1. A route direction to a city or town
   2. A warning about a possible hazard ahead
   3. A stop instruction
   4. A permission to change lanes
   Show answer

   A stop instruction. The octagonal shape is reserved for stop signs. That shape lets a driver recognize the required instruction even before the lettering is readable. Warning signs are generally yellow diamonds, while route and destination information belongs to guide signs. A lane-change permission is not conveyed by the octagon. On approach, identify the shape, prepare to stop behind the line or crosswalk, and then yield to crossing traffic and pedestrians after stopping. Shape recognition is especially useful in poor visibility.

6. 6. How far before an intersection turn should a driver signal?

   1. 25 feet
   2. 100 feet
   3. Only after entering the intersection
   4. Only when another vehicle is directly behind
   Show answer

   100 feet. Kentucky's turning guidance calls for a signal 100 feet before an intersection turn. That advance notice gives pedestrians and other drivers time to understand the intended movement and adjust. Waiting until the intersection is reached gives too little warning. The manual does not set the distance at 25 feet, and the duty is not limited to situations where a vehicle happens to be behind you. Signal early, maintain the signal through the maneuver, and cancel it afterward.

7. 7. What maximum speed may the secretary of transportation authorize on specific Kentucky highways?

   1. 60 mph
   2. 70 mph
   3. 65 mph
   4. 75 mph
   Show answer

   70 mph. The manual permits the secretary of transportation to increase the speed limit on specific highways to 70 mph. That authority does not make every Kentucky road a 70 mph roadway. The 60 mph and 75 mph choices give unsupported alternatives, and 65 mph is the ordinary unposted figure for interstates and parkways rather than the authorized increase described here. Look for both conditions: a specific highway and an authorized change, then obey any posted sign governing the segment you are using.

8. 8. When does an escorted funeral procession have the right of way at a Kentucky intersection?

   1. When led by an escort vehicle displaying flashing yellow, red, or blue lights
   2. Only after every other driver waves it through
   3. Only when the procession has a green signal
   4. Whenever its lead vehicle uses hazard lights
   Show answer

   When led by an escort vehicle displaying flashing yellow, red, or blue lights. An escorted funeral procession may proceed through an intersection when an escort vehicle leads it with flashing yellow, red, or blue lights. A green signal is not the condition that defines this special procession rule, and hazard lights alone are not the stated escort display. Other drivers should recognize the procession as a coordinated group and avoid entering its path. The visual cue is the escort vehicle and its specified flashing colors, followed by the line of funeral vehicles moving through together.

9. 9. What kinds of information can traffic signs provide to a driver?

   
   1. Only the names of nearby businesses
   2. Traffic rules, hazards, roadway directions, and service locations
   3. Only the legal speed for the roadway
   4. Only directions from a police officer
   Show answer

   Traffic rules, hazards, roadway directions, and service locations. Traffic signs can communicate rules, hazards, roadway location, roadway directions, and the location of services. That broad range is why a driver should read both the sign’s design and its wording instead of assuming every sign gives a command. The business-only choice is too narrow, and speed limits or police directions are only particular categories of road information. As you approach any sign, scan its shape, color, symbols, and words, then adjust position or speed to the message it conveys.

10. 10. When is a stop not required for a school bus stopped in the opposite direction?

    1. Whenever the bus is more than 100 feet away from your vehicle
    2. On a highway of four or more lanes divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median
    3. On any highway with four or more lanes, even with no median or barrier
    4. Only when the bus has no children aboard and its lights are off
    Show answer

    On a highway of four or more lanes divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median. Kentucky amended KRS 189.370 effective July 15, 2026. Drivers approaching a stopped school or church bus from any direction must stop, and the only exception is for traffic coming from the opposite direction on a highway of four or more lanes divided by an elevated barrier or an unpaved median. Lane count alone no longer excuses a stop, so an undivided four lane road, or one split only by painted lines or a center turn lane, still requires opposing traffic to stop. Distance from the bus and whether children appear to be aboard do not create an exception. Check the stop arm, the lights, and the physical divider before continuing.

11. 11. How may an ATV cross a two lane public highway in Kentucky?

    1. Anywhere, at any angle
    2. ATVs may never cross public highways
    3. Only on the shoulder for up to five miles
    4. At as close to a 90 degree angle as practical, traveling no more than two tenths of a mile on the highway
    Show answer

    At as close to a 90 degree angle as practical, traveling no more than two tenths of a mile on the highway. A person may operate an ATV on a two lane public highway only to cross it, at as close to a 90 degree angle as is practical and safe, and may not travel on the highway for more than two tenths of a mile. Farm or agricultural use allows limited additional highway operation. Riders should still wear helmets and follow local ordinances.

12. 12. Who may increase the speed limit of specific Kentucky highways to 70 mph?

    1. The driver who uses the highway most often
    2. The secretary of transportation
    3. The county clerk for the county where the highway is located
    4. A business owner whose property borders the highway
    Show answer

    The secretary of transportation. Kentucky allows the secretary of transportation to increase the speed limit of specific highways to 70 mph. That authority concerns selected highways, so it does not make 70 mph the automatic limit everywhere. A driver's familiarity, a county clerk, or a neighboring business owner cannot change the posted legal limit through personal choice. Before relying on a higher number, look for an official sign on that highway. The useful cue is the named authority and the word specific: this is a limited administrative increase, not a blanket rule for every Kentucky road.

13. 13. What point level can get a Kentucky driver under 18 suspended during the permit or intermediate phase?

    1. More than six points
    2. More than twelve points
    3. More than two points
    4. Any single point
    Show answer

    More than six points. The graduated licensing section warns that a driver under the age of 18 who accumulates more than six points may have the driving privilege suspended. The point system itself sets 7 points in two years for drivers under 18 and 12 points for drivers 18 or older as the hearing trigger. Twelve is the adult figure. Two points and a single point are not thresholds in the manual.

14. 14. For a driver age 21 or older operating a noncommercial vehicle in Kentucky, what is the lowest BAC covered by the general alcohol per se threshold?

    1. 0.08 or above
    2. 0.02 or above for every driver
    3. 0.15 or above only
    4. 0.10 or above
    Show answer

    0.08 or above. Kentucky’s manual says a person violates the DUI law when operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or above. The 0.02 figure applies to drivers under 21, not every driver. The 0.15 figure is listed as an aggravating circumstance within two hours of stopping operation, so it is not the general concentration threshold. Keep the distinction clear: a lower reading can still accompany an impaired-driving violation when evidence supports it.

15. 15. How many people are injured each year in work zone crashes, according to the Kentucky manual?

    1. About 5,000
    2. About 500
    3. Approximately 40,000
    4. About 1 million
    Show answer

    Approximately 40,000. Approximately 40,000 people per year are injured as a result of motor vehicle crashes in work zones, which have become increasingly dangerous for workers and drivers. Reduce speed, increase following distance, watch the traffic around you and be prepared to stop, and use extreme caution at night whether or not workers are present. Flaggers may direct traffic with a sign or flag.

16. 16. What does a yellow traffic light indicate?

    1. The signal is changing directly to a flashing green
    2. The signal guarantees a protected left turn
    3. The signal permits traffic to stop in the intersection
    4. The signal is about to turn red
    Show answer

    The signal is about to turn red. A yellow traffic light warns that the signal is about to turn red. It is not a promise of a protected left turn and does not permit a driver to stop in the intersection. The flashing-green option describes a signal behavior not stated in this rule. If you can stop safely, stop before the line; if you are already clearing the intersection, continue out of it. The visual cue is yellow as a transition warning, so decide early rather than accelerating to beat the red.

17. 17. What kind of situation can a warning sign identify ahead?

    
    1. A legal exemption from traffic rules
    2. A guaranteed green signal at the next intersection
    3. A required route to the nearest hospital
    4. A hazard or special roadway situation
    Show answer

    A hazard or special roadway situation. A warning sign may identify a hazard or another special situation on the roadway ahead. Its job is to give advance notice so the driver can look, slow, and prepare for a safe response. It does not guarantee a signal change, provide a hospital route, or excuse the driver from traffic laws. Keep scanning after the sign, because the actual condition may be around a curve, beyond a crest, or near an intersection where more time and space are needed.

18. 18. If a vehicle breaks down on a highway, what should the driver do first to make it visible to others?

    1. Stop just beyond a hill so approaching drivers cannot see the vehicle
    2. Leave the vehicle in the travel lane with no lights showing
    3. Pull completely off the road if possible and turn on the emergency flashers
    4. Turn off all lights and wait inside without warning other road users
    Show answer

    Pull completely off the road if possible and turn on the emergency flashers. A disabled vehicle should be removed from the roadway completely when possible, and its emergency flashers should be turned on to show that it is disabled. The other choices hide the vehicle or leave it where moving traffic may strike it. The manual also advises choosing a place visible from a distance, lifting the hood, and using flares behind the vehicle when available. The immediate cue is visibility: get right and off the road, then signal the problem.

19. 19. Which locations may be identified by a guide sign?

    1. Hospitals, service stations, restaurants, and hotels
    2. Only temporary lane closures during storms
    3. The exact distance a vehicle needs to stop
    4. The identity of the driver in the next lane
    Show answer

    Hospitals, service stations, restaurants, and hotels. Guide signs can help motorists find hospitals, service stations, restaurants, and hotels. This is location and service information, not a temporary lane-control instruction or a calculation of stopping distance. It also cannot identify another driver. Brown, blue, and green square or rectangular signs commonly carry guide information. Notice the sign early, select a safe lane and speed for the upcoming destination, and avoid abrupt movement across traffic when the service or point of interest is reached.

20. 20. What must entering traffic do at a Kentucky roundabout?

    
    1. Enter first because circulating traffic must yield
    2. Claim the center by stopping inside the circle
    3. Yield to vehicles already circulating
    4. Travel clockwise around the center island
    Show answer

    Yield to vehicles already circulating. At a roundabout, vehicles already circulating have priority over vehicles approaching the entrance. Entering traffic should slow down, yield to the traffic in the circle, travel counterclockwise, and proceed to the appropriate exit. Stopping in the circle obstructs the flow, and entering first reverses the required yielding relationship. Clockwise travel is also contrary to the design. Reduce speed before the entry, identify a safe gap, yield, then maintain the counterclockwise path until signaling for the selected exit.