MD Permit Practice Test 20

All 20 questions in test 20

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 nearing tracks in Maryland and a train is approaching. Why is extra caution needed there?

   1. Trains steer around vehicles that are on the tracks
   2. Trains cannot stop quickly, so drivers must use extra caution
   3. Trains always slow down before reaching a road crossing
   4. Crossing gates will push a stopped vehicle clear of the tracks
   Show answer

   Trains cannot stop quickly, so drivers must use extra caution. A train needs a very long distance to stop, far more than a car or truck needs on a road. Because of that, a driver cannot count on an approaching train slowing down or stopping in time to avoid a vehicle on the tracks. The safer approach is to treat every crossing as active, look carefully in both directions, and stay clear until there is room to cross fully. Waiting for gates or signals alone is not enough, since a train may arrive faster than it appears.

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

2. 2. You start moving on a snow-covered street. How can you learn how stopping will feel in Maryland?

   1. Accelerate to normal speed then brake hard once quickly
   2. Test brakes only after reaching a busy intersection area
   3. Pump the horn and rely on other drivers to yield first
   4. Start very slowly and test brakes gently to judge stopping ability
   Show answer

   Start very slowly and test brakes gently to judge stopping ability. Early gentle testing reveals grip while speed and consequences stay low. A slow start avoids wheel spin that polishes snow into ice. Light brake taps show whether the car slows straight or begins to slide. Waiting until an intersection removes room to recover from surprises. Reaching normal speed before testing turns a lesson into an emergency. Horn use tells others nothing about your traction. Test on a clear stretch, widen following space, and begin slowing far earlier than dry pavement would require at turns and crossings.

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

3. 3. After a single drink, which abilities can already change?

   1. Vision, simple movements, and reaction time
   2. Only your night vision on dark roads
   3. Hearing alone, with movement unchanged
   4. Only your memory of road signs
   Show answer

   Vision, simple movements, and reaction time. One drink can be enough to change basic driving skills. Vision may blur or narrow, simple movements can become less steady, and responses to hazards may slow. Each change raises crash risk, especially when several appear together. A driver may still feel alert while these losses are already present. That gap between feeling capable and actually performing well is what makes early impairment easy to miss. Waiting, eating, or drinking coffee does not restore the lost skills on demand.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and driving

4. 4. A sign marks the center lane of a Maryland road as a two-way left turn lane. Which drivers may enter that lane?

   1. Only drivers from your direction about to turn left
   2. Drivers who plan to turn right soon
   3. Drivers who want to pass a slow vehicle
   4. Drivers from either direction about to turn left
   Show answer

   Drivers from either direction about to turn left. Maryland's two-way left turn sign means vehicles traveling in either direction can use the center lane to turn left. Because drivers coming toward you may enter the same lane, watch for an opposing driver who is also preparing to turn. The lane is not a passing lane or a place to wait for a right turn. The pavement markings for these lanes have solid lines on the outside and broken lines on the inside, which shows where you may enter the lane.

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

5. 5. You see a round sign ahead on a Maryland road. What is it warning you about?

   1. A school crossing is ahead
   2. A divided road is ahead
   3. A traffic circle is ahead
   4. A railroad crossing is ahead
   Show answer

   A railroad crossing is ahead. Round signs appear in only one setting on Maryland roads, which makes the shape a fast early alert. The warning arrives before the tracks themselves, giving a driver time to slow down, look for flashing lights or gates, and listen for a train. A driver should never count on seeing a train in time without that early preparation. School crossings use a five-sided shape, while divided roads and traffic circles use their own diamond warning signs, so the round outline points to tracks instead.

   Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

6. 6. On a Maryland street with two lanes going your way, the car in the lane beside you stops at a crosswalk. You cannot see why. What should you do?

   1. Stop too, since you may not pass a car stopped there
   2. Keep going, since your own lane is clear
   3. Change lanes behind it and then continue
   4. Honk so the stopped driver moves on
   Show answer

   Stop too, since you may not pass a car stopped there. Maryland says you may not pass any vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk. The car beside you may be stopped for a pedestrian you cannot see, who could step into your lane next. Stop as well and wait until the crosswalk is clear before moving. When there is no traffic signal, drivers must stop for pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, so another driver's stop at a crosswalk is a strong clue that someone is crossing.

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

7. 7. Why should you stop behind the stop line at a Maryland intersection instead of pulling past it?

   1. The signal sensor only works if you are past it
   2. Your car could block trucks turning from the cross street
   3. Passing the line gives you a better head start
   4. Stop lines matter only when police are present
   Show answer

   Your car could block trucks turning from the cross street. Many intersections are marked with stop lines. If you stop past the stop line, your vehicle could be in the way of trucks turning from a cross street, since trucks make wide turns and need more space than cars. The stop line also shows where a vehicle must stop for a STOP sign or red traffic signal. Pulling past it for a quicker start or a better view takes space that turning vehicles and people in the crosswalk need.

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

8. 8. You see the pictured warning sign with a curved arrow on a Maryland road. What should you do?

   
   1. Get ready to exit to the right
   2. Slow down for a curve in the road ahead
   3. Speed up to keep momentum in the bend
   4. Expect a traffic circle at the next corner
   Show answer

   Slow down for a curve in the road ahead. The Road Curves sign warns that the road bends ahead. Warning signs alert you to special conditions or hazards, and you may have to slow down, so be ready to take appropriate action. Maryland lists sharp curves or hills where it is hard to see among the conditions that call for reduced speed, and driving too fast reduces your ability to handle curves. Slow before the curve rather than in it. Traffic circles have their own sign with circling arrows.

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

9. 9. Why should you avoid following a bicycle closely in Maryland?

   1. Small road hazards can force a rider to swerve or slow suddenly
   2. Bicycles always travel faster than cars in traffic
   3. Riders cannot hear a vehicle behind them
   4. Following closely helps a rider keep balance
   Show answer

   Small road hazards can force a rider to swerve or slow suddenly. A bicycle reacts sharply to small hazards that a car barely notices, such as glass, holes, or debris. A rider may swerve or change speed without warning to avoid such a spot, and a close follower has no time to respond. Leaving extra room protects both of you when that sudden move happens. The same space also keeps your vehicle from pressuring a rider into the edge of the road.

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

10. 10. In Maryland, passing on the right side can be acceptable when the vehicle ahead is doing what?

    1. Stopping briefly at the curb to drop off a passenger
    2. Signaling that it will turn right ahead
    3. Driving at exactly the posted speed limit
    4. About to make a left turn at the intersection
    Show answer

    About to make a left turn at the intersection. The usual passing side is the left, because drivers expect faster traffic there. A right-side pass fits a narrow case where the vehicle ahead is turning left and leaves usable road space on its right, and the pass still has to be safe and stay on the road. A passenger stop, steady limit driving, or a right-turn signal does not open the same space and can place the passing vehicle where the other driver is about to move. Waiting for the left turn to clear keeps the pass predictable.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing rules and parking

11. 11. Rain is falling on a Maryland road. Which steering and speed habit helps you keep control?

    1. Avoid jerking the steering wheel or quickly changing speed
    2. Make quick lane changes before water builds up ahead
    3. Speed up briefly to clear standing water on the road
    4. Use sharp steering inputs to test how much grip remains
    Show answer

    Avoid jerking the steering wheel or quickly changing speed. Wet pavement reduces the grip between tires and road, so sudden inputs can break traction before a driver has time to recover. Smooth steering and gradual speed changes keep tires loaded evenly and lower the chance of a skid or a slide on standing water. Drivers should also leave much more following space than on dry roads, slow down for more reaction time, keep tires in good condition, and avoid slamming the brakes. If the vehicle lacks anti-lock brakes, pumping them helps prevent skidding on wet pavement.

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

12. 12. Your car stalls on Maryland railroad tracks. You look both ways and see no train. What should you do?

    1. Get out and move away from the tracks right away
    2. Stay inside and keep trying to restart the engine
    3. Stay in the car with hazard lights on until help comes
    4. Stand on the tracks to wave down any train
    Show answer

    Get out and move away from the tracks right away. Maryland's instruction for any emergency on or near a railroad crossing is to leave the vehicle and move away from the tracks. Not seeing a train does not make it safe to stay, because trains can come from either direction and may be closer and traveling faster than they appear. Once everyone is clear, report the emergency using the information on the blue and white Emergency Notification System sign at the crossing. Trains cannot stop quickly, so never stay on the tracks.

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

13. 13. Heavy rain is falling on a Maryland road signed at 40 mph. What does the signed number tell you about how fast you may legally go?

    1. It is the lowest speed you must keep in rain
    2. The highest lawful speed for that road in perfect conditions
    3. It adds 10 mph of allowance when traffic is light
    4. It is only a suggestion that drivers may ignore
    Show answer

    The highest lawful speed for that road in perfect conditions. A posted limit marks the top lawful speed for a road when conditions are perfect. Rain, standing water, spray, and reduced visibility all argue for going slower than the sign. The number never becomes a floor that a driver must reach, and it never grants extra room above the stated value. A sound habit is to treat the sign as a ceiling, then lower speed further until stopping and steering feel fully controlled for the weather.

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

14. 14. The center line on a two-lane Maryland road is broken, but you are nearing the top of a hill and cannot see what is coming. May you pass the slow car ahead?

    1. Yes, because a broken center line allows it
    2. Yes, if you sound your horn before you pull out
    3. No, not where a hilltop blocks your view ahead
    4. Yes, if the car ahead is below the speed limit
    Show answer

    No, not where a hilltop blocks your view ahead. A broken yellow center line allows careful passing in either direction, but other limits still apply. You may not pass when approaching the top of a hill or on a curve where you cannot clearly see ahead, and a broken line does not override that rule. Before any pass, estimate the time and space needed and be sure you can pass without getting in the way of another vehicle. A horn or a slow driver ahead does not give you the view you need to judge that space.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing rules and parking

15. 15. White solid lines on the road show where people on foot cross. What do those lines tell drivers in Maryland?

    1. Where vehicles may queue across the junction
    2. Where parking lanes begin beside the curb
    3. The marked crossing place for walkers
    4. Where bicycles must stop for red lights
    Show answer

    The marked crossing place for walkers. Crossing areas are marked so drivers can predict where people on foot will enter the roadway. White solid lines outline that space and may have extra lines between them or in place of them. Expecting people there supports earlier slowing and a stop position that stays clear of the crossing. The marking does not create a waiting area for vehicles, and it should never be treated as part of the travel lane. Scanning both curbs before reaching the lines gives crossing people time to be seen and to finish safely.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

16. 16. At 2 a.m., the signal at a quiet Maryland intersection is flashing yellow toward you. Do you have to stop?

    1. Yes, stop fully as at a stop sign
    2. Yes, wait for the signal to turn green
    3. No, keep your speed since it is late
    4. No, slow down and proceed with caution
    Show answer

    No, slow down and proceed with caution. A flashing yellow signal means you must slow down and proceed with caution. It does not require a full stop, which is what a flashing red signal calls for. Late hours and empty streets do not let you ignore it, so reduce speed, scan the cross streets and crosswalks, and be ready to stop if a vehicle or person appears. Waiting for a green light is not required at a flashing yellow signal; slowing and watching carefully is.

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

17. 17. How should your gap to the vehicle ahead change after dark in Maryland?

    1. Shrink it so your lights reach the vehicle ahead
    2. Keep it identical to your daytime gap
    3. Give the vehicle ahead extra room
    4. Close up so the driver ahead notices you sooner
    Show answer

    Give the vehicle ahead extra room. Darkness limits how far you can see and how well you can judge what the vehicle ahead is doing. A larger gap buys time if that vehicle brakes hard for something you have not seen yet. Shrinking the gap for light or attention makes a sudden stop harder to survive. Holding a daytime gap ignores the extra uncertainty of night travel. Build the added room early on unlit roads, near glare, and wherever hazards can appear beyond the reach of your lights during night driving.

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

18. 18. At night in Maryland, why is judging traffic around you harder than in daylight?

    1. Streetlights remove the need to judge distance at night
    2. Other vehicles travel faster after dark on every road
    3. It is harder to judge how far away vehicles are and how fast they move
    4. Headlights make nearby vehicles look farther away than they are in daylight hours
    Show answer

    It is harder to judge how far away vehicles are and how fast they move. After dark, a driver can see only as far as headlights reach, and depth cues that help in daylight become weaker. That makes it harder to tell how far away another vehicle is and how fast it is moving, which affects gap choices, turns, and passing decisions. Adding following space at night gives more time if the vehicle ahead stops quickly. Drivers should also avoid staring into oncoming lights and instead look ahead or slightly toward the right edge of the lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

19. 19. Why should you avoid moving in front of a truck or bus too soon after passing it in Maryland?

    1. Truck drivers are not allowed to brake suddenly
    2. It needs nearly twice a car's time and room to stop
    3. Trucks speed up as soon as they are passed
    4. Buses must stop often and cannot change lanes
    Show answer

    It needs nearly twice a car's time and room to stop. Maryland's front no-zone rule is not to move in front of a truck or bus too soon after passing it, because truck and bus drivers need almost twice as much time and room to stop as cars. Look for both of the truck's headlights in your rear-view mirror before you pull in front, and then do not slow down. Fully loaded trucks can weigh more than 80,000 pounds, so a truck close behind you has little chance to stop if you brake.

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

20. 20. In light rain on a Maryland road, you notice you are only about two seconds behind a motorcycle. What should you do?

    1. Stay at two seconds since the rider is slow
    2. Close up so the rider can see you
    3. Drop back to at least 3 to 4 seconds
    4. Pass the rider within the same lane
    Show answer

    Drop back to at least 3 to 4 seconds. Maryland says not to tailgate a motorcycle and to leave at least a 3 to 4-second following distance behind one. Motorcycles may need to slow for hazards like gravel, wet roads, or railroad crossings that do not affect cars the same way, and riders often slow without their brake lights coming on. Two seconds is under that minimum, and rain gives even more reason for room. Never share a lane with a motorcycle, even to pass it.

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