MD Permit Practice Test 19

All 20 questions in test 19

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. Even when the rules seem to give you priority at a crossing in Maryland, how should you treat that priority?

   1. Never assume it is automatic; judge each situation
   2. Assume everyone will notice you and honor it
   3. Enter without slowing whenever the rules favor you
   4. Use your horn to claim it before entering
   Show answer

   Never assume it is automatic; judge each situation. Priority rules assign who should wait, but they cannot force another person to behave correctly. A driver who treats priority as automatic may enter while someone else is still moving, distracted, or unable to stop. The safer habit is to read the actual scene every time: scan all approaches, watch for people already moving, and be ready to slow or stop. Rules guide expectations, yet observation decides whether entering is truly safe at that moment.

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

2. 2. Orange signs start appearing along your route in Maryland. Besides marking a work area, what do they tell you to do?

   1. Plan for a toll plaza and have payment ready ahead
   2. Expect a hospital or other emergency service at the next exit
   3. Watch for a school crossing and children walking nearby
   4. Pay close attention and be ready for unexpected conditions
   Show answer

   Pay close attention and be ready for unexpected conditions. Orange is the color Maryland uses for work zones. When orange signs appear, the message goes beyond naming a work area: drivers should pay close attention and be prepared for unexpected driving conditions ahead. Work zones can bring lane shifts, narrow lanes, closures, detours, uneven pavement, and slow equipment merging back into traffic. Services such as hospitals use blue signs, and school crossings use fluorescent yellow-green, so neither message comes from orange. Slow down and watch for workers and the temporary devices guiding you through.

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

3. 3. A vehicle ahead in Maryland displays the pictured sign on its back. What speed does the sign warn you it may be traveling?

   
   1. 45 miles per hour or less
   2. 35 miles per hour or less
   3. Exactly 15 miles per hour
   4. 25 miles per hour or less
   Show answer

   25 miles per hour or less. Farm vehicles, horse-drawn vehicles, and bicycles can travel far more slowly than surrounding traffic on Maryland roads. Some carry the triangular sign on the back to warn following drivers that their speed may be very low, at or below the figure tied to that sign. A driver who reads the warning early can ease off speed, change position if needed, and pass only when it is safe. Waiting behind such a vehicle may call for emergency flashers to warn faster traffic approaching from behind.

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

4. 4. You are stuck behind a slow farm tractor about 60 feet before a Maryland railroad crossing. The road looks clear. May you pass now?

   1. Yes, if you finish before reaching the tracks
   2. No, passing is not allowed within 100 feet of a crossing
   3. Yes, because farm tractors may always be passed
   4. Yes, if no crossing signals are flashing
   Show answer

   No, passing is not allowed within 100 feet of a crossing. Maryland does not allow passing when crossing or within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad grade crossing. At 60 feet from the tracks you are inside that zone, so you must stay behind the tractor even if the road looks clear and no signals are flashing. Slow-moving vehicles should be passed only when it is safe to do so, and if you must follow one while waiting, emergency flashers help warn drivers behind you. Wait until you are well past the crossing.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing rules and parking

5. 5. A Maryland road bends sharply over a hill and the pavement looks slick. What speed adjustment is expected there?

   1. Hold the signed speed because hills cancel out slick pavement
   2. Slow down because sight is limited and grip may be poor
   3. Speed up to get past the bend before conditions change
   4. Keep pace with the vehicle ahead whatever it does
   Show answer

   Slow down because sight is limited and grip may be poor. A sharp bend over a hill hides what lies beyond the crest, and a slick surface cuts the grip available for braking or turning. Slowing early gives more time to spot a stopped vehicle, an animal, or debris and to react without a hard input. Entering at the signed speed assumes perfect sight and grip that the road is not offering. Ease off before the curve, not during it. Look well ahead and scan for anything that might step or roll into your path.

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

6. 6. How should a group arrange the trip home before going out in Maryland?

   1. Pick the driver after seeing who feels best
   2. Rely on whoever drank the least to drive
   3. Take turns driving on different legs of the trip
   4. Plan a safe way home and designate a sober driver
   Show answer

   Plan a safe way home and designate a sober driver. A safe trip home gets arranged before the outing begins. The group picks a sober driver in advance and commits to that choice for the whole evening. Choosing afterward invites the group to pick whoever merely feels best, which is unreliable after drinking. Rotating drivers spreads impairment across the trip instead of removing it. Least drunk is still drunk, with judgment and coordination already reduced. An advance plan with a named sober driver removes every one of those gambles.

   Study this in the handbook: Aggressive, distracted and drowsy driving

7. 7. You are braking on an icy Maryland street when the car begins to slide. What is the first step to regain control?

   1. Press the brake harder and hold it all the way down
   2. Pull the parking brake to stop sooner
   3. Shift into neutral and press the gas
   4. Ease off the brake pedal you are pressing
   Show answer

   Ease off the brake pedal you are pressing. If your vehicle begins to skid, Maryland's first rule is to release the accelerator or the brake pedal, whichever one you are using, to regain control. When the slide starts while you are braking, that means easing off the brake. Then steer in the direction you are skidding and look where you want to go. Press the brake again only after the tires are gripping the road. Pressing harder, pulling the parking brake, or adding gas in neutral is not part of those steps.

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

8. 8. On which Maryland road can passing on the right be acceptable when it is safe and stays on the road?

   1. A narrow two-lane road with soft gravel shoulders on both sides
   2. A one-lane road passing through a town center
   3. An unobstructed road with two or more same-direction lanes
   4. A curved road with a solid yellow center line
   Show answer

   An unobstructed road with two or more same-direction lanes. A right-side pass needs room that a narrow road cannot give. On a clear road with two or more lanes moving the same way, a driver can move right and pass while staying fully on the roadway, as long as no median strip, sign, or other blockage is in the way. Soft shoulders on a narrow road are not travel lanes, a single lane leaves no passing space, and a curve with a solid yellow center line restricts passing itself. Using the extra same-direction lane keeps the pass on pavement and in view.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing rules and parking

9. 9. Your car has lane keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking. How does the Maryland manual say you should treat these systems?

   1. Let them steer and brake on highways
   2. Do not rely on them to fully run the car
   3. Trust them most in rain, snow, and thick fog
   4. Turn them off, since they cause crashes
   Show answer

   Do not rely on them to fully run the car. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, and blind spot warning help save lives and prevent injuries. Still, Maryland says not to rely on ADAS to fully operate your vehicle, because you are responsible for its safe operation at all times. The technology has limitations and may not work properly in rain, snow, fog, on hills, and around curves. Keep checking traffic with your mirrors and cameras yourself, and stay focused and in control.

10. 10. You have entered the exit lane from a Maryland interstate. What pace should you reach for the ramp itself?

    1. Keep highway pace until the ramp straightens out
    2. The pace of trucks climbing the ramp
    3. Slow to the posted ramp speed limit
    4. A stop at the start of every ramp
    Show answer

    Slow to the posted ramp speed limit. When exiting a Maryland interstate, move to the right lane well before your exit and start slowing down as soon as you enter the deceleration lane. The deceleration lane leads to the exit ramp and gives you time to slow to a safe speed, and you should continue slowing to the posted speed limit for the exit ramp. Keeping highway speed onto the ramp, matching other vehicles, or stopping at the start of the ramp does not follow that guidance.

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

11. 11. Fluorescent pink signs appear ahead on a Maryland highway. What should you expect?

    1. A school zone with children crossing
    2. A scenic recreation area exit
    3. An emergency traffic incident ahead
    4. A toll plaza with cash lanes
    Show answer

    An emergency traffic incident ahead. Fluorescent pink is the color Maryland uses for emergency traffic incidents. Pink signs mark an incident scene, so expect slowing traffic, lane changes, emergency vehicles, and people near the road. Fluorescent yellow-green marks school, pedestrian, and bicycle signs, and brown marks recreation areas, so neither fits pink. Slow down, follow the directions given by signs and responders, and be ready to move over or stop when you reach the scene.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

12. 12. You are stopped in a Maryland left-turn lane under a steady red arrow. The oncoming lanes are completely empty. What should you do?

    1. Turn left now, since no traffic is coming
    2. Stay stopped until the arrow is no longer red
    3. Turn after a short wait if no walkers appear
    4. Creep into the intersection to be ready to turn
    Show answer

    Stay stopped until the arrow is no longer red. A steady red arrow controls the movement it points to. A driver who wants to go that way comes to a complete stop before the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection and remains stopped as long as the arrow is red. Empty oncoming lanes do not change that, because the arrow, not the traffic you can see, decides when the turn may begin. Creeping forward puts your vehicle where cross traffic expects a clear path. Wait for the arrow to change before you turn.

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

13. 13. Your vehicle is traveling within a funeral procession in Maryland with its required lights showing, and the group reaches a red signal. What may your vehicle do?

    1. Continue through the red signal as part of the procession
    2. Stop and wait for green while the others go on
    3. Leave the procession and use a side street instead
    4. Turn off the hazard lights and stop at the line
    Show answer

    Continue through the red signal as part of the procession. A procession travels as a connected group, and Maryland allows its vehicles to stay together through a red signal while their identifying lights are showing. Breaking the line at every red light would scatter the group and confuse other drivers about where it ends. The permission belongs to vehicles genuinely within the procession with lights on, not to unrelated drivers who join late. Other traffic still needs care, so proceed with the group at its pace and stay alert at each crossing.

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

14. 14. The gates are down and the lights are flashing at a Maryland railroad crossing, but no train has appeared after a long wait. What should you do?

    1. Drive around the gates if the tracks look clear
    2. Keep waiting until the gates rise and the lights stop
    3. Squeeze past the end of the gate arm slowly
    4. Cross slowly while sounding your horn
    Show answer

    Keep waiting until the gates rise and the lights stop. The road is temporarily closed whenever crossing gates are down or warning lights are flashing. Drivers must stop and wait until the gates go up and the lights stop flashing, however long that takes. Trains can come from either direction and may be closer and traveling faster than they appear, so tracks that look empty are not proof that crossing is safe. If a crossing seems to be malfunctioning, report it using the information on the blue and white Emergency Notification System sign.

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

15. 15. An ordinary passenger car with its hazard lights flashing is stopped on the shoulder of a Maryland highway. Does the Move Over Law apply?

    1. No, it covers police and emergency vehicles
    2. No, it covers only tow trucks working a crash
    3. Only when a person is standing outside the car
    4. Yes, it covers any stopped vehicle with lights flashing
    Show answer

    Yes, it covers any stopped vehicle with lights flashing. Maryland's Move Over Law requires drivers to move over when approaching any vehicle that is stopped, standing, or parked on a road with its lights flashing. That includes a disabled passenger car with hazard lights, not just police cars, ambulances, and tow trucks. Move to a lane that is not right next to the stopped vehicle when it is safe. If you cannot move over, slow down to a safe speed, considering the weather, road conditions, traffic, and pedestrians.

    Study this in the handbook: Crashes, traffic stops and the Move Over Law

16. 16. Driving in fog at night in Maryland, you notice the yellow line is on your right side. What does that tell you?

    1. You are on the wrong side of the road
    2. You are correctly in the right-hand lane
    3. You are on a one-way road going the right way
    4. You are in a lane reserved for turning
    Show answer

    You are on the wrong side of the road. Yellow pavement markings divide traffic going in opposite directions and mark the left edge of the road, so they should always be on your left side and never on your right. Seeing yellow on your right means you have moved into lanes meant for opposing traffic. Move back so the yellow is on your left as soon as it is safe. In low visibility, the lines on the edge of the road or the right side of the road make a useful guide, and white markings show the right edge.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

17. 17. Why is driving close behind a large truck in Maryland especially dangerous?

    1. The driver cannot see you, and you have no escape if it stops
    2. Trucks always brake harder than cars do
    3. Exhaust from the truck hides your brake lights
    4. Trucks are required to drive below the limit
    Show answer

    The driver cannot see you, and you have no escape if it stops. Maryland's rear no-zone warning is to avoid tailgating trucks and buses. Unlike cars, they have huge blind spots directly behind them, so the truck or bus driver cannot see your car back there. If the truck or bus suddenly slows down or stops, you have no place to go. Following farther back keeps you visible and gives you room to stop. Remember that if you cannot see a truck's mirrors, the truck driver cannot see you.

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

18. 18. Your rear wheels lose traction on a slick Maryland road. Which pedal action may help?

    1. Press the brake hard until the rear wheels stop sliding
    2. Shift into neutral and coast until the vehicle stops
    3. Slowly accelerating may help if your back wheels lose traction
    4. Press the gas quickly to spin the rear wheels free
    Show answer

    Slowly accelerating may help if your back wheels lose traction. Different wheels losing grip call for different pedal timing. When rear wheels slide, a slow and gentle press on the gas can help settle the vehicle, while hard braking or a sudden jab at the gas can deepen the slide. In any skid, the driver should release whichever pedal is in use, steer in the direction of the skid, and look where the vehicle should go. Braking belongs after tires grip again, and smooth inputs matter most on wet, snowy, or icy pavement.

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

19. 19. You see the letters RxR painted on the pavement of your lane in Maryland. What is the marking warning you about?

    1. A reduced speed zone ahead
    2. A road work area ahead
    3. A railroad crossing ahead
    4. A lane reserved for trucks
    Show answer

    A railroad crossing ahead. Maryland lists word and symbol markings that include SCHOOL and RxR. The RxR marking warns that you are approaching a railroad crossing, while SCHOOL warns of a school area. Slow down and look for a train, because trains cannot stop quickly and may be closer and faster than they appear. The marking does not mean a speed change, road work, or a truck lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

20. 20. Another car is passing you on a two-lane Maryland road. Which reaction breaks Maryland's rule?

    1. Speeding up as it pulls alongside
    2. Easing off slightly so it can get by
    3. Keeping your speed steady
    4. Staying in your own lane
    Show answer

    Speeding up as it pulls alongside. When another vehicle is passing you, Maryland says you must yield to it and not increase your speed. Speeding up as it pulls alongside is exactly what the rule forbids. Holding a steady speed, easing off slightly, and staying in your lane all let the pass finish safely. The passing driver, for their part, should see both of your headlights in the rear-view mirror before moving back into your lane, so give them the room to do that.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing rules and parking