MD Permit Practice Test 18

All 20 questions in test 18

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. What do trapezoid-shaped signs point drivers to in Maryland?

   1. School zones and school crossings marked by five-sided signs
   2. Construction and maintenance work areas shown on orange warning signs
   3. Recreation and cultural interest areas and National Forest routes
   4. Services such as food, gas, lodging, and rest areas nearby
   Show answer

   Recreation and cultural interest areas and National Forest routes. Sign shapes give Maryland drivers a fast first clue before they read any words. The trapezoid is tied to recreation and cultural interest areas, and it also marks National Forest routes. That link helps a driver looking for parks or similar destinations recognize the right guide information early. School areas use a five-sided shape, construction areas use orange signs, and service information uses blue signs. Matching the trapezoid to recreation keeps those separate shape and color systems from being mixed together during the drive.

   Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

2. 2. You are approaching a Maryland railroad crossing. What should you keep in mind about any train you see?

   1. It only comes from the direction of the signal
   2. It slows down when it sees a car near the tracks
   3. It always sounds a horn well before the crossing
   4. It may be closer and faster than it appears
   Show answer

   It may be closer and faster than it appears. Maryland tells drivers to look for a train at any time at a railroad crossing. Trains can come from either direction, and they may be closer and traveling faster than they appear. Because trains cannot stop quickly, a driver who misjudges a train's distance has no room for error. Look both ways and cross only when you can get completely over the tracks with room for your vehicle on the other side. Never assume a train will slow down for a vehicle near the tracks.

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

3. 3. Where a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line run side by side down the center of a Maryland road, which drivers may pass?

   1. Drivers on the solid-line side only
   2. Drivers on the broken-line side, with care
   3. Drivers in both directions, with care
   4. No drivers in either direction
   Show answer

   Drivers on the broken-line side, with care. This marking is used on two-way roads where passing is permitted in only one direction. Drivers whose side has the broken line may pass with care, while drivers on the solid-line side may not. Passing in both directions is what a single broken yellow center line allows, and double solid yellow lines bar passing in both directions. Before passing from the broken-line side, estimate the time and space needed and use your turn signal first.

   Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

4. 4. How should you scan the road ahead to spot risks early in Maryland?

   1. Fix your eyes on the vehicle directly ahead
   2. Look well ahead, ready to change pace or lanes
   3. Watch only the lane markings beside your vehicle
   4. Check mirrors only when traffic slows down
   Show answer

   Look well ahead, ready to change pace or lanes. Maryland calls it defensive driving when you search ahead and stay ready to change speed or change lanes, which lets you drive more safely and gives you time to identify risks. Constantly observing your surroundings, including the front, sides, and rear of your vehicle, helps you see problems that may require a change. Fixing your eyes on the vehicle directly ahead, watching only the lane markings, or checking mirrors only when traffic slows leaves gaps in what you notice.

   Study this in the handbook: Defensive driving and who goes first

5. 5. Why is black ice on a Maryland blacktop road so dangerous?

   1. It forms only on bridges when the sun is bright
   2. It makes tires grip harder than usual
   3. It can be very hard or impossible to see
   4. It appears only after heavy snowfall
   Show answer

   It can be very hard or impossible to see. A thin layer of ice on blacktop roads can be very hard or impossible to see, and this is sometimes called black ice. It is caused by ice or snow melting and refreezing, and it can cause a crash if you are not aware of the danger. A road can look clear while still being icy, so slow down in winter weather and watch ahead for danger spots. Ramps and bridges freeze before roads, and plowed roads may refreeze at night.

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

6. 6. You catch up to a horse-drawn vehicle traveling well below traffic speed on a Maryland road with limited sight distance. What should you do?

   1. Pass at once before a curve hides traffic
   2. Adjust speed and position; pass when safe
   3. Follow closely so others can pass you both
   4. Sound your horn and pass on the shoulder
   Show answer

   Adjust speed and position; pass when safe. Slow equipment and animal-drawn traffic move at speeds that close gaps quickly, so adjusting your pace and lane position early keeps the encounter controlled. Passing waits until sight distance and traffic make it safe, even if that means following for a while. Crowding, rushing before a curve, or using the shoulder adds risk for you and for the slower driver. Calm positioning also signals your intentions to drivers behind you.

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

7. 7. Icy patches cover a Maryland road signed at 50 mph. Which speed choice fits Maryland law for these conditions?

   1. Stay at 50 mph because the sign requires it
   2. Speed up briefly to get past the icy stretch
   3. Drive below 50 mph as conditions require, and never above it
   4. Match any faster driver to keep traffic moving
   Show answer

   Drive below 50 mph as conditions require, and never above it. Maryland law expects speed to fit existing and possible hazards, so ice is a clear reason to travel below the signed value. Going above the limit stays unlawful no matter how confident a driver feels. Matching a faster vehicle only imports someone else's risk. The safer pattern is to ease off early, leave extra room ahead, and keep steering and braking inputs gentle until grip returns. Gentle inputs and patience carry a vehicle through slick stretches far better than hurry ever will.

   Study this in the handbook: Defensive driving and who goes first

8. 8. Fog is thick on a dark Maryland road, so you switch to high beams to see farther. Is that the right choice?

   1. Yes, high beams cut through fog best
   2. Yes, if no vehicles are coming toward you
   3. No, use low beams only, plus fog lights if equipped
   4. No, turn off all lights and use flashers
   Show answer

   No, use low beams only, plus fog lights if equipped. In fog, Maryland says to use low beam headlights only, and fog lights if you have them. High beams are meant for roads without streetlights, but fog is one of the conditions where low beams are the rule, even when no one is coming toward you. Also reduce your normal speed, slow even more when you see headlights or taillights ahead, and if the fog is too thick to drive safely, pull completely off the road and turn on your emergency flashers.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights, night driving and fog

9. 9. You and a car approaching from your left reach an unmarked Maryland intersection at the same moment. Who should yield?

   1. You, because the other car is on your left
   2. The driver on your left, who must yield to you
   3. Whoever is driving the larger vehicle
   4. Whoever is going straight instead of turning left
   Show answer

   The driver on your left, who must yield to you. When two drivers arrive at an intersection at the same time, Maryland's rule is to yield the right-of-way to the driver on your right. Seen from the other car's position, you are the driver on its right, so that driver should yield to you. Vehicle size and going straight do not change this order. Still, never assume you automatically have the right-of-way; watch the other car and be ready to stop if it keeps coming.

   Study this in the handbook: Defensive driving and who goes first

10. 10. You are driving in a Maryland reversible lane when the overhead signal changes from a green arrow to a steady yellow X. What should you do?

    1. Stay in the lane until a red X appears
    2. Stop in the lane right where you are
    3. Move out of the lane as soon as you safely can
    4. Use the lane only to turn left from now on
    Show answer

    Move out of the lane as soon as you safely can. Lane use signals control reversible lanes, which carry traffic in different directions at different times of day. A steady yellow X means you should move out of the lane as soon as you safely can, so signal and merge into an open lane. Waiting for the red X or stopping in the lane leaves you in a lane that is about to close to you. A flashing yellow X, not a steady one, is the signal that allows left turns from the lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, arrows and lane use lights

11. 11. Which sign shape warns Maryland drivers of a school zone or marks a school crossing?

    1. Pennant, pointing to the right
    2. Octagon, with eight sides
    3. Diamond, standing on one point
    4. Pentagon, with five sides
    Show answer

    Pentagon, with five sides. The pentagon, a five-sided shape, warns of school zones and marks school crossings. Seeing that outline tells you to slow down and watch for children before you can read the sign. The pennant marks the start of a no-passing zone, the octagon always means stop, and the diamond warns of special conditions or hazards ahead. School, pedestrian, and bicycle signs also use a fluorescent yellow-green color, which makes the five-sided outline easier to spot near schools.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

12. 12. You see the pictured warning sign on a Maryland road. What condition is ahead?

    
    1. A truck crossing
    2. A lane ending
    3. A slippery road
    4. A steep hill
    Show answer

    A steep hill. This yellow diamond is the Steep Hill warning sign, which shows a truck on a downward slope. It tells you a steep grade is ahead that might not be obvious until you reach it, so check your speed before the grade begins and keep it under control on the way down. Maryland's warning signs also include Truck Crossing, Slippery When Wet, and Lane Ends, each with its own symbol, so read the whole picture rather than reacting to the truck shape alone.

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

13. 13. Your signal is green in Maryland, but a funeral procession is crossing in front of you. What must you do?

    1. Slip through a gap between procession vehicles
    2. Wait until the whole procession has passed
    3. Follow the last car you can see, even if more come
    4. Use the green signal to pass through before it ends
    Show answer

    Wait until the whole procession has passed. A green signal normally permits entry, yet a crossing procession changes the order at that moment. Vehicles in the group travel together, and other drivers wait until the full group has passed. The only exception is moving forward in a way that never crosses the path of the procession. Slipping through a gap splits the group and can meet a vehicle you did not expect. Wait, watch for the true end of the line, then proceed on your green if it still shows.

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

14. 14. The car ahead passes a road sign and you start counting. On a dry, clear day, you reach the sign at two one thousand. What does that tell you?

    1. You are following too closely and should drop back
    2. You are at a safe distance for good conditions
    3. You are farther back than you need to be
    4. Your gap is fine because the road is dry
    Show answer

    You are following too closely and should drop back. To check your following distance, pick a reference point such as a sign, and start counting when the car ahead passes it. If you reach 3 one thousand or more before your car reaches the object, you are at least 3 seconds behind and traveling at a safe distance. Reaching it at two means your gap is under the minimum of 3 to 4 seconds that the MVA recommends for ideal conditions, so ease off and let the gap grow.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, stopping distance and turns

15. 15. In reduced visibility in Maryland, where should yellow markings sit relative to your vehicle?

    1. Yellow markings should never be on your right side
    2. Yellow markings should stay under the right tires
    3. Yellow markings belong on whichever side is brighter
    4. Yellow markings mark the right edge of every road
    Show answer

    Yellow markings should never be on your right side. Yellow lines divide traffic moving in opposite directions and mark the left edge of the road, so they belong on a driver left side at all times. Finding yellow on the right means the vehicle is on the wrong side of that division. White markings instead mark the right edge and divide lanes moving the same way. In darkness, fog, rain, or snow, using the edge lines or the right side of the road as a guide helps a driver stay positioned when views shrink.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

16. 16. Double broken yellow lines in Maryland mark the edges of which kind of lane?

    1. A lane kept empty for emergency parking
    2. A lane where parking is allowed against both curbs at night
    3. A lane used only by buses at all hours
    4. A reversible lane whose flow changes at different times
    Show answer

    A reversible lane whose flow changes at different times. Some lanes carry traffic one way during one part of the day and the opposite way later, and broken double yellow lines border that kind of lane. A driver may enter or leave it only as signs and signals permit at that time. It is not an emergency parking strip, not a permanent bus lane, and not a parking lane. Reading the signals before using it matters, because the same pavement can serve opposing flows at different hours of the same day.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

17. 17. Rain begins to fall while you follow a car on a Maryland road at the gap you keep on dry pavement. What should you do?

    1. Leave much more space than on a dry road
    2. Keep the same gap because your tires grip normally
    3. Close the gap so no other car can pull in
    4. Switch to a gap of exactly one car length
    Show answer

    Leave much more space than on a dry road. Maryland says the space needed between you and the car ahead is much greater on wet roads than on dry roads, and even more when the road is covered with snow or ice. Rain reduces traction, so it takes longer to stop. Keeping the dry gap or closing it leaves too little room, and one car length is not a reliable measure at road speed. Also reduce your speed so you have more time to react.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights, night driving and fog

18. 18. On which Maryland roads should drivers generally not expect to find bicyclists?

    1. Interstate highways and tolled bridges or tunnels
    2. Busy city streets lined with parked cars
    3. Rural two-lane roads that have no shoulders
    4. Neighborhood roads near schools and parks
    Show answer

    Interstate highways and tolled bridges or tunnels. Maryland tells drivers to expect bicyclists on all types of roads except interstate highways and bridges and tunnels with tolls. Riders may also be at intersections and traffic circles, in all kinds of weather, and at all times of the day and night. Rural roads without shoulders, city streets with parked cars, and neighborhood roads are all places a bicyclist may ride, sometimes in the center of the travel lane. Watch for riders everywhere else you drive.

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

19. 19. Your BAC is below 0.08 but an officer observes poor coordination. What is the risk in Maryland?

    1. No risk until the reading reaches the limit
    2. Only a warning with no possible charges
    3. Risk exists only after a crash occurs
    4. Impairment below the limit can still bring criminal charges
    Show answer

    Impairment below the limit can still bring criminal charges. A reading below .08 does not clear a driver who shows real impairment. Judgment and physical coordination can falter at a much lower BAC, and that faltering can lead to criminal charges. An officer watching unsteady movements is seeing exactly the kind of loss the rule addresses. The limit marks one clear threshold, not a safe zone beneath it. Any driver who has been drinking and feels even slightly off should treat driving as off the table.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and driving

20. 20. Rain has left standing water across a highway and traffic is moving fast. What habits lower the chance of tires riding on water?

    1. Keep tires in good condition and slow down on wet roads
    2. Raise speed so tires cut through deeper water quickly
    3. Use worn tires and follow traffic closely through heavy spray
    4. Brake firmly and steer sharply around every puddle
    Show answer

    Keep tires in good condition and slow down on wet roads. As your vehicle speed increases and the amount of water on the road increases, you can end up riding on a sheet of water, which is called hydroplaning. To prevent it, Maryland says to keep your tires in good condition and lower your speed on wet roads. Speeding up does the opposite of what prevents hydroplaning. Worn tires work against the advice to keep tires in good condition, and following closely on wet roads ignores the need for much more space. Hard braking and jerking the wheel can cause a skid.

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