KY Permit Practice Test 7

All 20 questions in test 7

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. At what breath alcohol level does a Kentucky ignition interlock device stop the vehicle from being operated?

   1. Above .02
   2. Above .08
   3. Above .15
   4. Above .04
   Show answer

   Above .02. The ignition interlock device prevents a driver from operating the vehicle if the driver's breath-alcohol concentration exceeds .02. That matches the zero tolerance level for drivers under 21. Point zero eight is the adult DUI line, .15 is the aggravated level, and .04 is not the setting in the manual. The court may order an interlock installed on the violator's vehicle.

   Study this in the handbook: Implied consent and DUI penalties

2. 2. Where must a driver stop when a stop line appears before a crosswalk?

   1. At the stop line before reaching the crosswalk
   2. On the crosswalk so the front bumper is visible
   3. Past the crosswalk near the intersection center
   4. At the nearest driveway beyond the intersection
   Show answer

   At the stop line before reaching the crosswalk. When a sign or signal requires a stop and a stop line comes before the crosswalk, the stop line must be obeyed first. Stopping on or beyond the crosswalk can block the pedestrian area and place the vehicle farther into the conflict zone. The driveway choice has no role in the stopping rule. Scan for the line before reaching the crossing, stop behind it, and remain alert for pedestrians, including at intersections where the crosswalk may not be visibly painted.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings, crosswalks and lane use

3. 3. After yielding to an emergency vehicle, when may a driver leave the stopped position?

   1. Only after every nearby vehicle starts moving
   2. As soon as the siren becomes quieter
   3. After following the emergency vehicle for 500 feet
   4. After the emergency vehicle passes, unless a police officer or firefighter directs movement sooner
   Show answer

   After the emergency vehicle passes, unless a police officer or firefighter directs movement sooner. A driver must remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed. The manual allows an earlier move only when a police officer or firefighter directs the driver to move. A quieter siren does not establish a safe release, following for 500 feet is unlawful as a separate rule, and waiting for every nearby vehicle adds a condition the manual does not require. Watch the emergency vehicle, keep the intersection clear, and resume only after it passes or an authorized official gives direction.

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles and school buses

4. 4. What does an orange work-zone sign warn drivers about?

   1. A permanent interstate route designation
   2. A hospital entrance and ambulance parking
   3. Construction, maintenance, or emergency operations ahead
   4. A recreational area with no roadway changes
   Show answer

   Construction, maintenance, or emergency operations ahead. Orange work zone signs alert drivers to construction, maintenance, or emergency operations and warn that people may be working on or near the roadway. They can precede reduced speed, detours, slow moving equipment, or a poor or suddenly changing road surface. A hospital, route designation, or recreational area sign serves a different information purpose. Reduce speed as soon as the work zone cue appears, avoid tailgating, and be ready for a sudden stop. Kentucky law allows fines to be doubled in a highway work zone when signs say so and at least one worker is present.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings

5. 5. Why should a driver search well beyond the area directly illuminated by the headlights at night?

   1. To find dark shapes or hazards before they enter the headlight beams
   2. To make the headlights shine farther by increasing engine speed
   3. To avoid checking the roadway immediately ahead of the vehicle
   4. To identify only vehicles traveling in the opposite direction
   Show answer

   To find dark shapes or hazards before they enter the headlight beams. Looking beyond the headlight beams helps reveal dark shapes on the roadway before they are close enough to become an immediate emergency. The choice “To make the headlights shine farther by increasing engine speed” wrongly suggests engine speed changes headlight reach. The choice “To avoid checking the roadway immediately ahead of the vehicle” removes the nearby scan that every driver still needs, while the choice “To identify only vehicles traveling in the opposite direction” limits the search to oncoming traffic. At night, keep your eyes moving through the visible road and farther into the darkness, because an object may appear only after it enters the light.

   Study this in the handbook: Adjusting to darkness, curves and wet roads

6. 6. When a vehicle begins to skid in a straight line and has anti-lock brakes, what should the driver do?

   1. Accelerate firmly to restore traction
   2. Pump the brakes rapidly until the vehicle stops
   3. Turn the steering wheel sharply toward the shoulder
   4. Release the accelerator and apply consistent brake pressure
   Show answer

   Release the accelerator and apply consistent brake pressure. A straight-line skid in a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes calls for releasing the accelerator and applying consistent pressure to the brake pedal while looking toward the intended path. Pumping the brakes is the procedure described for a vehicle without anti-lock brakes, so that choice reverses the manual's equipment-specific guidance. Sharp steering can worsen the loss of control, and acceleration adds power while the tires are already struggling to grip the roadway. Keep the eyes aimed where the vehicle should go, hold steady brake pressure, and make smooth steering corrections as traction returns.

   Study this in the handbook: Skids, pavement drop offs and collisions

7. 7. When a driver begins feeling tired during a trip, the manual recommends:

   1. Using a phone conversation as a substitute for rest
   2. Opening a window and continuing until the destination
   3. Driving faster to shorten the remaining trip
   4. Stopping at the next exit or rest area for a short nap or sleep
   Show answer

   Stopping at the next exit or rest area for a short nap or sleep. The safest response to growing fatigue is to stop driving. Kentucky advises pulling off at the next exit or rest area for a 15 to 20 minute nap or finding a place to sleep for the night. Fresh air, speed, and conversation do not restore the alertness needed for reliable decisions, and using a phone adds another distraction. The concrete cue is the feeling of becoming tired, not the moment the driver actually nods off. Act early, leave the roadway safely, and resume only when rested enough to control the vehicle.

   Study this in the handbook: Fatigue, distraction and emotions

8. 8. The skidding-car warning sign should prompt a driver to:

   
   1. Increase speed to cross the slick area quickly
   2. Brake sharply as soon as the tires lose grip
   3. Reduce speed when rain, snow, sleet, or ice appears
   4. Turn rapidly before the road surface changes
   Show answer

   Reduce speed when rain, snow, sleet, or ice appears. A slippery-road warning calls for early speed reduction, especially when precipitation begins. Kentucky explains that tires grip less effectively on a slippery roadway, which lengthens stopping distance and makes turning without a skid more difficult. Sharp braking is a poor response because it can worsen the loss of traction. Accelerating through the area and making a rapid turn add forces the tires may not handle. The concrete cue is the first sign of rain, snow, sleet, or ice: ease off promptly and leave extra room to stop.

   Study this in the handbook: Kentucky speed limits

9. 9. 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.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

10. 10. If a vehicle begins skidding sideways, which way should the driver turn the steering wheel?

    1. Opposite the direction of the rear skid
    2. In the direction the back of the vehicle is skidding
    3. Straight toward the nearest lane line
    4. Toward the vehicle's parked position before the skid
    Show answer

    In the direction the back of the vehicle is skidding. During a sideways skid, steering in the direction the rear of the vehicle is moving helps the front line up with the back. As the vehicle begins to straighten, the driver must turn the wheel back to prevent a skid in the opposite direction. The opposite-steering choice can create overcorrection, and aiming for a lane line or a former parked position has no connection to the vehicle's actual movement. Watch the intended path, make measured corrections, and continue adjusting left or right until control is fully recovered.

    Study this in the handbook: Skids, pavement drop offs and collisions

11. 11. What does a green arrow pointed upward authorize?

    1. Turn left from any lane
    2. Travel straight ahead when in the proper lane
    3. Enter the intersection against cross traffic
    4. Proceed only after a complete stop
    Show answer

    Travel straight ahead when in the proper lane. An upward green arrow indicates movement straight ahead, provided the driver is in the proper lane. It is not a universal permission to turn left, and it does not erase the need to follow lane placement or other traffic controls. The stop-first option describes a different signal situation, such as a red light or right turn on red. Treat the arrow as a lane-specific direction: confirm that your vehicle is under the signal governing the intended lane, then continue straight when the path is clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and arrows

12. 12. For a second or greater DUI offense within ten years, how can refusing a breath or urine test affect mandatory jail time?

    1. It cuts the minimum sentence in half
    2. It removes all mandatory jail time
    3. The minimum sentence can be twice as long
    4. It affects only vehicle insurance
    Show answer

    The minimum sentence can be twice as long. Refusal of a breath or urine test is listed as an aggravating circumstance when the driver has a second or greater DUI offense within ten years. In that situation, the mandatory minimum jail sentence is twice as long as the minimum imposed when the driver submits to the tests. Refusal does not erase custody time or merely change insurance. The key conditions are repeat status, the ten-year period, and the type of test refused.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, other drugs and the BAC limits

13. 13. What is the unposted Kentucky speed limit in a business or residential district?

    1. 25 mph
    2. 35 mph
    3. 45 mph
    4. 55 mph
    Show answer

    35 mph. Kentucky's listed unposted speed limit for a business or residential district is 35 mph. The 25 mph and 45 mph choices do not match the manual's category table, and 55 mph is assigned to other state highways. A posted sign can change the applicable limit, so first identify the district and then check the roadway signs. The useful memory cue is the category pairing: business and residential districts share the 35 mph default in this Kentucky rule.

    Study this in the handbook: Kentucky speed limits

14. 14. You buy a car or bring one into Kentucky from another state. Within how many days must you apply for registration?

    1. Forty-five days
    2. Fifteen days
    3. Thirty days
    4. Ten days
    Show answer

    Fifteen days. A person who purchases a motor vehicle, or brings one into Kentucky from another state, must apply for registration within fifteen days. Forty-five days is how far ahead the owner is notified by mail before a registration expires. Thirty days and ten days are not the registration rule, though ten days is the deadline for a duplicate license after an address change. There is no grace period for renewing registration.

    Study this in the handbook: Renewal, registration and insurance

15. 15. How must a Kentucky driver respond to a blind pedestrian carrying a visible white cane or accompanied by an assistance dog?

    1. Honk to tell the pedestrian to wait
    2. Yield only at a marked crosswalk
    3. Yield the right of way
    4. Proceed if the traffic light is green
    Show answer

    Yield the right of way. Kentucky requires drivers to yield to a blind pedestrian identified by a clearly visible white cane or an assistance dog. The duty is not limited to painted crosswalks, and a green signal does not cancel the need to yield. Honking can startle the pedestrian and does not communicate a safe path. Slow as you approach, watch for the cane or dog, and leave the person room to cross. The white cane and assistance dog are recognition cues for this special protection.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians and blind pedestrians

16. 16. What shape is used for the advance warning sign before a highway-railroad grade crossing?

    1. Blue rectangular service sign
    2. White octagonal sign
    3. Red and white downward triangle
    4. Round yellow sign
    Show answer

    Round yellow sign. The railroad advance warning is a round yellow sign with a black X and the letters RR. It appears before the crossing and tells the driver to slow, look, listen, and be ready to stop. An octagon signals a stop command, the downward triangle signals yield, and blue service panels identify facilities rather than rail crossings. Once the round sign is recognized, begin searching for tracks and trains well before the crossing. The cue is the circular yellow RR symbol, which means prepare rather than proceed casually.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings

17. 17. When does a Kentucky license expire for a driver 21 or older, and how early can it be renewed?

    1. One year after issue
    2. On the birthday itself, renewable one week early
    3. 31 days after the driver's birthday, renewable up to six months early
    4. 90 days after the 21st birthday
    Show answer

    31 days after the driver's birthday, renewable up to six months early. For drivers age 21 and older, the license expires 31 days after the driver's birthday and may be renewed up to six months before the expiration date. A driver under 21 has a license that expires 90 days after the 21st birthday. No testing is required for a credential expired less than five years; beyond that, the tests must be retaken.

    Study this in the handbook: Renewal, registration and insurance

18. 18. What happens to a Kentucky permit holder's 180 day permit period during a No Pass No Drive suspension?

    1. No credit is earned toward the 180 days while suspended
    2. The period is cut in half
    3. The permit is canceled permanently
    4. The clock keeps running
    Show answer

    No credit is earned toward the 180 days while suspended. A permit holder who is suspended for not complying with the No Pass No Drive Law, KRS 159.051, receives no credit toward the 180 day permit period while that suspension lasts. Those days simply do not count, so the period is not cut in half, the permit is not canceled permanently, and the clock does not keep running. Applicants under 18 must bring a school compliance verification form issued by their school when applying for a permit. Permit holders under 18 also may not drive between midnight and 6 a.m. unless they can demonstrate good cause.

    Study this in the handbook: The learner's permit phase for teens

19. 19. How many unrelated passengers under 20 may a Kentucky permit holder carry?

    1. None
    2. 1 (one)
    3. 2 (two)
    4. 3 (three)
    Show answer

    1 (one). Kentucky limits a permit holder to 1 (one) unrelated person under 20 years of age as a passenger, and the permit holder must always drive with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat. None is stricter than the rule. Two and three unrelated young passengers exceed it. The same one unrelated passenger limit continues on the intermediate license while the driver is under 18.

    Study this in the handbook: The learner's permit phase for teens

20. 20. You change your address in Kentucky. How soon must you get a duplicate license?

    1. Within 10 days
    2. Within 30 days
    3. Within 60 days
    4. At your next renewal
    Show answer

    Within 10 days. If you change your address or name for any reason in Kentucky, you must obtain a duplicate license within 10 days, and a police officer may cite you for not updating it. Thirty and 60 days are longer than the rule. Waiting until renewal could mean years with a wrong address. The duplicate can be requested by mail or at any Driver Licensing Regional Office.

    Study this in the handbook: Renewal, registration and insurance