MD Permit Practice Test 13

All 20 questions in test 13

Every question below comes from the Maryland 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. You are turning right into a Maryland driveway, and your path crosses a bike lane where a bicyclist is approaching from behind. What should you do?

   1. Let the rider pass, then cross the bike lane
   2. Stop in the bike lane until the rider stops
   3. Honk so the rider moves out of the bike lane
   4. Turn first, since the rider can slow down
   Show answer

   Let the rider pass, then cross the bike lane. When you enter or cross a bike lane or shoulder, Maryland says you must yield the right-of-way to bicyclists riding in them. A driveway turn across a bike lane is that kind of crossing, so let the rider go by first, then complete the turn. Never make a right turn from a through lane immediately after passing a bike in a bike lane, and do not stop in the bike lane to wait. Check your mirror and blind spot before turning.

   Study this in the handbook: Trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds

2. 2. You have just passed a bicyclist on a Maryland road with at least 3 feet of space. When should you return to your lane?

   1. Right after your front bumper passes the bike
   2. When the rider rings a bell to signal you
   3. After the rider moves onto the sidewalk
   4. When you can see the bicycle in your mirror
   Show answer

   When you can see the bicycle in your mirror. After you pass a bicyclist with at least 3 feet of space, Maryland says to make sure you see the bicycle in your rear-view mirror before returning to your lane. Cutting back as soon as your bumper clears the bike can squeeze the rider, who may swerve or change speed to avoid a road hazard you cannot see. The rider does not need to signal you or leave the road. Pass a bicycle the way you would pass any slow-moving vehicle, with patience.

   Study this in the handbook: Trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds

3. 3. You see the pictured warning sign, an arrow bent sharply at a right angle, on a Maryland road. What does it warn you about?

   
   1. A right turn is required at the next street
   2. Right turns are prohibited ahead
   3. A one-way street to the right
   4. A sharp right turn in the road ahead
   Show answer

   A sharp right turn in the road ahead. Diamond-shaped warning signs tell you about special conditions or hazards ahead, and you may have to slow down. The Sharp Right Turn sign warns that the road itself bends sharply to the right. Reduce speed before the turn, since sharp curves where it is hard to see are a condition that calls for slower speed in Maryland. A yellow diamond warns rather than orders, so it is not a required-turn or no-turn sign, and one-way streets are marked with black One Way signs.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, warning and guide signs

4. 4. You see the pictured warning sign as you approach a Maryland intersection. What does it warn you about?

   
   1. A U-turn area is ahead at the island
   2. A detour around a closed block is ahead
   3. A traffic circle or roundabout is ahead
   4. A one-way loop road is ahead
   Show answer

   A traffic circle or roundabout is ahead. This yellow sign warns that a traffic circle, also called a roundabout, is ahead. Roads that lead to traffic circles have yield signs, and drivers must always yield to traffic already in the circle. As you approach, reduce your speed, keep to the right of the island, watch for people in the crosswalk, and wait for a gap. If the circle has no traffic in it, you do not need to wait. The circling arrows do not mark a U-turn area or a detour.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, warning and guide signs

5. 5. Rain is heavy enough that your wipers are running in Maryland. What lighting duty applies?

   1. Turn on headlights while the wipers are in use
   2. Use only parking lights whenever the wipers are running
   3. Keep lights off so wipers work faster
   4. Use hazard flashers for the whole trip
   Show answer

   Turn on headlights while the wipers are in use. Rain dims the scene and throws spray that hides vehicle outlines. Lights on while wipers run help you see lane edges and help others spot you through the murk. Parking lights are too weak for that job. Wiper speed has nothing to do with light use, and hazard flashers for a whole moving trip confuse drivers about whether you are stopped. Pair lights with slower speed and a bigger gap whenever weather turns rough enough to need wipers on Maryland roads.

   Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

6. 6. You are turning left on a green light in Maryland when a bicyclist comes straight toward you through the intersection. What should you do?

   1. Turn quickly before the bicyclist arrives
   2. Wait and let the bicyclist pass first
   3. Turn and expect the rider to stop
   4. Wave the rider onto the sidewalk
   Show answer

   Wait and let the bicyclist pass first. Bicyclists have the right-of-way when a motor vehicle is making a turn, so you must yield to them. A rider coming straight through the intersection while you turn left is in that situation, and Maryland also says not to turn left immediately in front of a bicycle. Experienced riders can travel as fast as 35 mph and may be closer than you think. Wait for the rider to clear, then complete the turn when the way is open.

   Study this in the handbook: Trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds

7. 7. A fire engine using its siren and flashing lights is moving slowly in the right lane ahead of you on a Maryland highway. The left lane is open. May you pass it?

   1. Yes, since the left lane is open and clear
   2. Yes, if you flash your headlights first
   3. No, unless it stops or an officer tells you to pass
   4. Yes, if you stay under the speed limit
   Show answer

   No, unless it stops or an officer tells you to pass. A police car, ambulance, or fire engine using its siren and flashing lights has the right-of-way. If you are going in the same direction as an emergency vehicle using its signals, you may not pass it unless it stops or a police officer tells you to pass it. An open lane, a headlight flash, or staying under the speed limit does not change that. Stay back, give the fire engine room, and be ready to move to the edge of the road and stop if it needs to get by.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, emergency vehicles and school buses

8. 8. Snow is falling and you approach an intersection where you will turn. When should slowing begin?

   1. Long before you reach the intersection or turn
   2. Only once your front wheels enter the turn
   3. After straightening out on the new street
   4. At the last moment, using firm braking
   Show answer

   Long before you reach the intersection or turn. On snow, braking and turning compete for the little grip available, so speed needs to come off early and gradually. Beginning the slowdown well ahead of an intersection lets the vehicle arrive slow enough to turn without sliding wide. Testing the brakes gently after starting out reveals how much grip the surface offers. Smooth, early inputs are the pattern that winter surfaces reward. Leave extra space ahead as well, since the vehicle in front may slide while stopping.

   Study this in the handbook: Bad weather, skids and hydroplaning

9. 9. A cooler sits just behind the driver within easy arm reach. Is it inside the covered area in Maryland?

   1. No, only areas forward of the driver count
   2. No, a lid on the cooler removes it from the area
   3. Yes, any place easily reached from a seated position counts
   4. Yes, but only when the vehicle is moving
   Show answer

   Yes, any place easily reached from a seated position counts. Reach decides the boundary here. Any spot the driver or passengers can easily reach from where they sit belongs to the passenger area. A cooler within arm range behind the driver clearly qualifies, lid or not. Movement of the vehicle does not change the classification either. The rule focuses on access: alcohol close enough to grab is alcohol within the covered zone. Placing containers beyond easy reach, such as in a trunk, is the practical way to respect that boundary.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and driving

10. 10. You are passing a large truck going the same direction on a Maryland highway. How should you make the pass?

    1. Pass slowly and ride beside the cab for a while
    2. Honk and stay even with the trailer until it moves
    3. Pass on the right, where the driver sees best
    4. Pass quickly so you can keep seeing around you
    Show answer

    Pass quickly so you can keep seeing around you. When passing a truck going in the same direction, Maryland says to pass quickly so you can continue to see what is happening around you. Riding beside the truck keeps you in its side blind spots, and on the right that blind spot runs the length of the trailer and extends three lanes. Passing any truck on the right can be risky. After you pass, move back into the truck's lane only when you can see both of its headlights in your rear-view mirror.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, emergency vehicles and school buses

11. 11. Your vehicle is skidding in Maryland and grip is just returning. When should you press the brake?

    1. At the first sign of the skid, as hard as possible
    2. Only after you have traction again and tires grip the road
    3. Before releasing the gas pedal, to hold the vehicle still
    4. While steering sharply away from the skid direction
    Show answer

    Only after you have traction again and tires grip the road. Braking while tires are sliding does little to slow a vehicle, because sliding tires have lost the grip that braking depends on. The first steps are to release whichever pedal is in use, steer in the direction of the skid, and look where the vehicle should go. Once tires grip the road again, gentle braking can help slow the vehicle in a controlled way. If rear wheels lose traction, slowly pressing the gas may also help, which shows why pedal timing matters during recovery.

    Study this in the handbook: Bad weather, skids and hydroplaning

12. 12. A large truck ahead of you begins backing up in Maryland. What must you never do?

    1. Cross behind the backing truck
    2. Slow down and give it room
    3. Wait until the truck finishes
    4. Watch for the truck to stop
    Show answer

    Cross behind the backing truck. A backing truck driver has no rear view mirror view of the path behind the trailer, so a vehicle or person crossing there may stay invisible. Maryland warns never to cross behind a backing truck, since many people are hurt that way each year. Stopping well back and waiting until the movement ends keeps you in places the driver can see. Patience here costs seconds, while slipping behind removes the driver only chance to avoid you.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, emergency vehicles and school buses

13. 13. On a Maryland highway, double solid white lines separate your lane from the lane that leads to your exit. What should you do?

    1. Cross the double white lines quickly to make the exit
    2. Cross if you signal early and the other lane is clear
    3. Stay in your lane, since lane changes are not allowed there
    4. Straddle the lines until a gap opens beside you
    Show answer

    Stay in your lane, since lane changes are not allowed there. Double solid white lines separate lanes going the same direction and mean you are not allowed to change lanes across them. A turn signal or an empty lane beside you does not change that, and straddling the lines is not a way around the rule. If the lines began before you moved over, keep going in your lane and find another way to reach your destination. Plan lane changes earlier, while the line is broken, so you are in the correct lane before the double lines start.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

14. 14. You are driving at night on a Maryland road without streetlights and another vehicle approaches. When must you switch to the dimmer setting?

    1. Only after the other driver dims first
    2. When the other vehicle is right beside you
    3. Only if the other vehicle flashes its lights
    4. At least 500 feet before meeting oncoming traffic
    Show answer

    At least 500 feet before meeting oncoming traffic. Dimming early protects the vision of drivers approaching you, and their clear sight helps keep both vehicles safely positioned. Waiting for the other driver to dim first, waiting until you are beside each other, or waiting for a flash signal all leave bright light in their eyes far too long. A clear distance rule removes guesswork on dark roads. Use the brighter setting where it helps you see on unlit roads, then switch down with generous room before meeting traffic at night.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

15. 15. You are driving as part of a funeral procession in Maryland. Which lights should your vehicle show so others recognize the procession?

    1. Parking lights and the interior dome light
    2. Only the turn signal for the lead direction
    3. Headlights together with flashing hazard lights
    4. High beams alone, even in daylight
    Show answer

    Headlights together with flashing hazard lights. Vehicles traveling together in a procession need a clear visual signal so surrounding drivers recognize the group and give it room. Headlights combined with flashing hazard lights mark each vehicle as part of that group rather than an ordinary single car. Parking lights, a dome light, or a lone turn signal do not send the same message and can be missed or misunderstood. Switch both sets of lights on before joining the line and keep them on throughout.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroads, work zones, roundabouts, highways and processions

16. 16. You are driving alone in Maryland. A lane ahead has a High Occupancy Vehicles sign marked for two or more people. May you use that lane?

    1. Yes, if that lane is moving faster than yours
    2. No, you need the number of people shown on the sign
    3. Yes, if you leave it before the next exit
    4. Yes, during hours when traffic is light
    Show answer

    No, you need the number of people shown on the sign. A High Occupancy Vehicles lane is limited to vehicles carrying at least the number of people marked on its sign. A driver traveling alone does not meet a sign marked for two or more, so the lane is not available, no matter how fast it moves or how briefly you plan to use it. The sign sets the requirement, and light traffic is not an exception the rule gives. Stay in a general lane and leave the HOV lane to vehicles with enough people.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, warning and guide signs

17. 17. A large truck is backing up in a Maryland parking area, and you want to get to the other side of it. What should you do?

    1. Cross right behind it while the driver looks ahead
    2. Honk once and then go behind it
    3. Cross behind it if the driver has seen you
    4. Never cross behind it while it is backing up
    Show answer

    Never cross behind it while it is backing up. Maryland says never to cross behind a truck that is backing up. The manual notes that hundreds of people are killed or injured each year by ignoring trucks that are backing up. A truck driver may not see a vehicle or person behind the truck, and a honk or a quick dash does not make the move safe. Wait until the truck has finished backing, or go around well clear of it.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, emergency vehicles and school buses

18. 18. Darkness and rain make lane edges hard to follow. What visual reference helps you stay oriented in Maryland guidance?

    1. Follow the center line closely and ignore edge markings in low light
    2. Use edge lines or the right side of the road as a guide
    3. Watch only the taillights ahead and match their path exactly
    4. Aim for reflective signs and leave the lane lines behind
    Show answer

    Use edge lines or the right side of the road as a guide. Edge markings give a steady reference when glare, rain, or darkness hides the wider scene. The right-side line shows where pavement ends and helps you hold position without drifting toward opposing traffic. Yellow markings belong on your left, while white edge lines mark the right boundary. Following taillights alone copies errors of another driver and hides your own lane position. Signs appear too briefly to steer by. Combine edge guidance with slower speed, wider following space, and frequent mirror checks until visibility improves.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

19. 19. One train has just passed on the nearest track. Before starting across, what should you do in Maryland?

    1. Look both ways and confirm tracks are clear
    2. Start at once while the gates are still rising
    3. Follow the vehicle ahead without a separate check
    4. Assume the far track stays empty after one train
    Show answer

    Look both ways and confirm tracks are clear. After a train passes, Maryland says to look both ways before starting over the tracks and always make sure the tracks are clear before crossing, because another train may be coming on another track. Starting while the gates are still rising skips that check, and following the vehicle ahead without looking yourself means relying on someone else's view. Trains can come from either direction and may be closer and traveling faster than they appear, so treat every track as active until you have seen it is clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Bad weather, skids and hydroplaning

20. 20. Cones, barrels, and changed paint mark your lane through road work. What should you do with them in Maryland?

    1. Follow the old permanent lines instead
    2. Watch for temporary devices guiding the way
    3. Move cones aside if your lane looks blocked
    4. Treat barrels as parking guides beside the lane
    Show answer

    Watch for temporary devices guiding the way. Road work replaces the normal pattern with a temporary one. Signs, cones, barrels, signals, and temporary markings show the safe path through closures, shifts, and narrowed lanes. Following the old permanent paint can lead into a closed area or toward equipment. Moving a device destroys the guidance for every driver who follows. Watching for the temporary pattern early, and matching speed to it, helps the whole line of traffic pass workers and machinery with fewer sudden corrections or stops inside the zone.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroads, work zones, roundabouts, highways and processions