LA Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the Louisiana 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 does a steady yellow traffic light mean when you are already in the intersection?

   1. You may continue safely through the intersection
   2. You must reverse out of the intersection
   3. You must stop immediately in the crossing path
   4. You may turn in any direction without yielding
   Show answer

   You may continue safely through the intersection. Yellow normally warns that the signal is about to turn red, so a driver approaching the stop bar should slow and stop when that can be done safely. The situation changes once the vehicle is already in the intersection. The guide allows that driver to continue safely through rather than stopping in the middle of the crossing. Reversing is unpredictable, and the signal does not remove the duty to yield during a turn. Clear the intersection smoothly, watching for people and vehicles, then wait for the next legal movement.

2. 2. How many people die each day waiting for an organ, according to the Louisiana guide?

   1. 1
   2. 100
   3. 18, with a name added to the national list every 13 minutes
   4. None since 2010
   Show answer

   18, with a name added to the national list every 13 minutes. Nearly 117,000 patients are waiting for a life saving transplant, over 1,800 of them in Louisiana, every day 18 people die waiting for an organ, and every 13 minutes another name is added to the national waiting list. Registering as a donor on your license is a simple way to help. The decision can be changed at any time, and the guide devotes a page to the program.

3. 3. When an emergency vehicle is approaching, where should you wait?

   
   1. In the nearest intersection
   2. On the left shoulder facing traffic
   3. At the right edge of the roadway, clear of intersections
   4. Immediately beside the emergency vehicle
   Show answer

   At the right edge of the roadway, clear of intersections. The roadside position matters as much as stopping. Drivers should pull to the right edge of the roadway, clear of intersections, and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has gone by. Waiting in an intersection can obstruct cross traffic and the responding vehicle, while the left shoulder may put the driver in the emergency vehicle's path. Do not move again merely because the first vehicle has passed. Look and listen for other responders before reentering the lane, then resume only when the route is clear.

4. 4. Why should a driver avoid passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk?

   1. The stopped vehicle may be hiding a pedestrian
   2. The stopped vehicle always has a mechanical failure
   3. Passing is allowed only when the crosswalk has a traffic signal
   4. A driver must pass before the pedestrian reaches the curb
   Show answer

   The stopped vehicle may be hiding a pedestrian. The guide warns that a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk can block the next driver's view of a pedestrian. Passing it may put the passing driver directly into the pedestrian's path without enough sight distance to stop. The stopped vehicle does not need to have a mechanical problem, and a signal does not make a blind pass safe. Approach cautiously, prepare to stop, and wait until the crossing area is visible and clear. The practical cue is an occupied lane beside a crosswalk, especially when the stopped vehicle hides what is ahead.

5. 5. How often did a crash, serious injury and fatality occur in Louisiana in 2018, according to the guide?

   1. A crash every hour
   2. A crash every 3 minutes, a serious injury every 7 minutes, and a fatality every 11 hours and 22 minutes
   3. A crash every day
   4. A fatality every week
   Show answer

   A crash every 3 minutes, a serious injury every 7 minutes, and a fatality every 11 hours and 22 minutes. In 2018 a crash in Louisiana occurred every 3 minutes, a serious injury every 7 minutes, and a fatality every 11 hours and 22 minutes. Fatalities, injuries and property damage from crashes cost the average licensed Louisiana driver $2,899.77 that year. The four leading causes of fatalities include lack of seat belt use, speed, impairment and distraction, and each is within a driver's control.

6. 6. How far from a stopped school bus must a driver stop when it is loading or unloading children?

   
   1. At least 10 feet
   2. At least 5 feet
   3. At least 30 feet
   4. At least 100 feet
   Show answer

   At least 30 feet. A stopped school bus loading or unloading children requires a stop at least thirty feet away. The distance gives children and the bus a protected area and prevents a moving vehicle from passing too close. Five or ten feet leaves very little room for a child who steps into the roadway, while one hundred feet is not the stated stopping distance. Watch for the bus's flashing red lights and stop signs, remain stopped, and wait until the bus moves and the area has been checked before continuing.

7. 7. Which vehicle is specifically listed as one that must stop at a railroad crossing?

   1. A pickup truck carrying groceries
   2. A passenger car carrying one adult
   3. A motorcycle with its headlight on
   4. A school bus
   Show answer

   A school bus. The guide identifies school buses as vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings, along with vehicles carrying passengers for hire, trucks, and vehicles carrying explosives or flammable liquids. The ordinary passenger car and grocery-carrying pickup choices do not match that listed category merely because they are approaching tracks. Drivers should watch for these required stops and never pass unless passing is legal, the view is clear, and conditions are safe. The cue is the vehicle's special operating or cargo category, not simply its presence near rails.

8. 8. What type of information does the yellow diamond sign in the picture provide?

   
   1. A warning about an approaching roadway condition
   2. A rule requiring a particular parking duration
   3. A direction to a city or airport
   4. A notice that a service station is available
   Show answer

   A warning about an approaching roadway condition. The pictured divided highway symbol is displayed in the yellow diamond warning family. The manual says these signs advise drivers of approaching conditions such as curves, side roads, and traffic flow. A driver should stay alert for the median or other roadway change and follow the lane markings through it. Parking rules are regulatory, directions to cities and airports are guide information, and services use a different sign purpose. The shape is the useful advance cue: a diamond means prepare for a condition ahead rather than follow a destination or parking instruction.

9. 9. How should a driver classify the sharp-turn sign shown in the picture?

   
   1. As a warning of an approaching roadway condition
   2. As a guide sign for airport distances
   3. As a regulatory sign setting a parking fee
   4. As a service sign for emergency telephones
   Show answer

   As a warning of an approaching roadway condition. The sharp right turn symbol appears on a yellow diamond warning sign. In the manual, diamond signs warn of approaching hazards and conditions, and yellow versions can identify curves and changes in traffic flow. That warning gives the driver time to reduce speed and position the vehicle before the turn. It is not a guide sign, parking regulation, or traveler service notice. Scan the lane path, check for traffic beyond the bend, and steer smoothly. The diamond shape signals preparation before the exact turn is reached.

10. 10. What must a driver do when pedestrians are in a marked or unmarked crosswalk?

    
    1. Sound the horn and pass in front of them
    2. Continue if the pedestrians are walking slowly
    3. Yield only at a traffic signal
    4. Stop and yield to the pedestrians
    Show answer

    Stop and yield to the pedestrians. Pedestrians in crosswalks have the right of way over motor vehicles, and the guide says drivers must stop for them. The rule applies to crosswalks even when they are located in the middle of a block, so a traffic signal is not required. Walking speed does not remove the pedestrian's priority, and a horn does not authorize passing in front. The cue is the crosswalk itself: scan it early, stop, and wait until the path is clear.

11. 11. How can a driver apply the three-second following rule?

    
    1. Keep exactly three car lengths behind at every speed
    2. Count three seconds after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object
    3. Count three seconds before the vehicle ahead reaches an object
    4. Follow one second behind when the pavement is dry
    Show answer

    Count three seconds after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object. Choose a fixed object such as a sign, pole, or tree. When the vehicle ahead passes it, count three seconds. If your car reaches the checkpoint sooner, you are too close and should drop back. Car lengths vary with vehicle size and speed, so that shortcut is unreliable. Use four seconds in bad weather or on wet pavement, then repeat the count after creating more space.

12. 12. What should a driver do when visibility ahead is blocked by a curve, hill, or vehicle?

    1. Maintain speed because the obstruction hides danger
    2. Slow down and be ready to adjust the path of travel
    3. Move immediately into the opposing lane
    4. Use the shoulder as a normal passing lane
    Show answer

    Slow down and be ready to adjust the path of travel. A blocked view removes the time needed to react to a hazard, so the guide calls for slowing down and preparing to adjust the path. Maintaining speed treats unseen roadway conditions as harmless. Moving into opposing traffic or using the shoulder adds a new danger and is not a visibility solution. Reduce speed before the curve or hill, keep the vehicle in its lane, and scan for a safe path as the view opens. The concrete cue is limited sight distance, which requires more preparation before the hazard becomes visible.

13. 13. How many reckless driving convictions within 12 months can cost a Louisiana driver the license?

    1. Two
    2. Five
    3. One
    4. Three
    Show answer

    Three. Three convictions of reckless driving committed within a 12-month period are on Louisiana's list of grounds for losing the driving privilege. One or two convictions in that time do not trigger this ground, and five is more than needed. Reckless driving itself is a crime punishable by a fine and jail. Other grounds include DWI, refusing an alcohol test, and failing to stop for a school bus.

14. 14. What does orange usually mean on a roadway sign?

    1. A recreational or cultural destination
    2. A hospital or medical service
    3. A permanent speed restriction
    4. A construction zone or temporary traffic control
    Show answer

    A construction zone or temporary traffic control. Orange is the basic color for temporary traffic control and construction signs. It tells the driver to expect workers, machinery, barricades, lane changes, or unusual roadway conditions and to be ready to slow or stop. Blue service signs identify places such as hospitals, while green and brown guide signs point toward routes or recreational destinations. A permanent speed restriction is shown by a regulatory sign. When orange appears, look beyond the sign for work-zone devices and changing traffic patterns.

15. 15. What maximum prison term does Louisiana law set for a fourth DWI conviction?

    1. 5 years
    2. 30 years
    3. 6 months
    4. 10 years
    Show answer

    30 years. Louisiana Revised Statute 14:98.4 sets a fourth or later DWI at a $5,000 fine and imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for not less than ten years nor more than thirty years, so the maximum is 30 years. Two years of that sentence must be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension. Ten years is the minimum, not the maximum. Five years is the top of the third conviction range, and six months is the most jail for a first or second conviction.

16. 16. When the broken yellow line is on your side beside a solid yellow line, what may you do?

    
    1. Never cross for any reason
    2. Cross only to park on the opposite shoulder
    3. Cross to pass when it is safe
    4. Use the line as a travel lane
    Show answer

    Cross to pass when it is safe. A broken yellow line on your side indicates that passing may be permitted when the roadway is clear and the maneuver is safe. The solid line on the other side restricts that opposing direction, so drivers must read which marking is beside their lane. Never-cross wording is too broad, and the line is not a lane for ordinary travel or a special parking guide. Check sight distance, traffic, and other restrictions before crossing, then return to the proper side promptly.

17. 17. What kinds of information do traffic signs provide?

    1. Only vehicle ownership and registration dates
    2. Only fuel prices and restaurant menus
    3. Only weather forecasts and emergency broadcasts
    4. Traffic rules, hazards, roadway location, directions, and services
    Show answer

    Traffic rules, hazards, roadway location, directions, and services. The guide explains that traffic signs communicate several kinds of roadway information, including traffic rules, hazards, roadway location, roadway directions, and the location of roadway services. Drivers should use the sign's shape, color, symbols, and words to understand the category and respond in time. A sign is not limited to commercial menus, weather reports, or registration records. Scan ahead for the sign, identify what kind of information it gives, and adjust speed, lane position, or route choice as the message requires.

18. 18. Under Louisiana R.S. 32:61, what maximum applies on an interstate or controlled-access highway unless a different speed zone has been established?

    1. 70 mph
    2. 45 mph
    3. 35 mph
    4. 55 mph
    Show answer

    70 mph. Louisiana's statutory maximum is 70 mph on interstate and controlled-access highways, subject to established speed zones. The ordinary highway baseline is 55 mph, while a multilane divided highway with partial or no access control has a 65 mph maximum. The road classification matters: 70 mph is not the default for every road in the state. Follow the applicable signs and reduce speed whenever traffic, weather, or visibility makes the maximum unsafe.

19. 19. According to the Louisiana guide, about how long does the body take to remove one normal drink from circulation?

    1. About three hours
    2. About fifteen minutes
    3. About one hour
    4. Only after a full night's sleep
    Show answer

    About one hour. The guide says the body takes about an hour to get rid of one normal drink from the circulatory system. That is an approximate processing statement, not a promise that a person will be safe or unimpaired after waiting exactly one hour. The shorter fifteen-minute choice understates the time, while three hours and a full night's sleep are not the guide's stated interval for one drink. Alcohol affects judgment and skill, and individual effects vary. The reliable driving cue is to arrange a sober ride instead of trying to calculate a safe departure time from drink count alone.

20. 20. How many non-family passengers under 21 may an intermediate licensee transport between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.?

    1. No more than two
    2. No more than one
    3. No more than three
    4. Any number if all wear seat belts
    Show answer

    No more than one. During the 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. period, an intermediate licensee may not transport more than one passenger under 21 who is not an immediate-family member. The rule is a passenger cap, not a permission to carry two or three young non-family passengers after buckling them in. Immediate family is treated differently by the wording, so classify the passenger before counting. Also remember that this evening restriction is distinct from the 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. driving curfew, which concerns whether the licensee may drive at all without an accompanying qualified person.