MD Permit Practice Test 21

All 20 questions in test 21

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. A solid yellow line runs along one edge of a Maryland one-way road or ramp. What does it mark?

   1. The right edge of the road
   2. The left edge of the road
   3. The spot where traffic must stop
   4. A lane where passing is allowed
   Show answer

   The left edge of the road. A single solid yellow line marks the left edge of divided highways, one-way roads, and ramps. A divided highway has a guardrail, a strip of land, or another barrier between the two directions of traffic. White lines mark the right edge instead, so yellow on the left and white on the right helps you stay oriented. A yellow edge line is not a stop line or a sign that passing is allowed.

   Study this in the handbook: Lines and pavement markings

2. 2. You cannot stop yawning and keep having trouble holding your head up on a long Maryland drive. What do these signs suggest?

   1. You are only bored and can safely keep driving
   2. You need more fresh air and nothing else
   3. You are drowsy and should take action
   4. You are showing normal tiredness that passes by itself
   Show answer

   You are drowsy and should take action. Maryland lists danger signs that may mean you are drowsy and should take action to stay safe. They include your eyes closing or going out of focus, trouble keeping your head up, and not being able to stop yawning. Yawning and a drooping head fit that list. The manual's advice for a tired or sleepy driver is to rest or change drivers, because being tired dulls your mind and slows your reactions.

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

3. 3. Halfway through a Maryland intersection, you realize you are in the wrong lane for the turn you wanted. What should you do?

   1. Change lanes quickly while still in the intersection
   2. Stop where you are and wait for a gap
   3. Continue in your lane and change course later
   4. Turn from your lane across the other lane
   Show answer

   Continue in your lane and change course later. Maryland's lane rules say not to switch lanes until you determine it is safe, and not to drift across lane lines or make lane changes when in an intersection. If you discover the mistake partway through, keep going in your lane and fix your route after you clear the intersection. Stopping inside it blocks cross traffic, and turning across another lane cuts in front of a driver who expects you to keep your path. Choose your lane before reaching the intersection next time.

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

4. 4. As you approach a traffic circle in Maryland, how should you position and pace your vehicle before the entry point?

   1. Reduce speed and keep to the right of the central island
   2. Maintain highway speed and aim left of the island
   3. Stop in the entry lane even when the circle is empty
   4. Enter from the left side of the island to shorten the loop
   Show answer

   Reduce speed and keep to the right of the central island. Approaching a circle calls for lower speed and a path that stays on the correct side of the central island. Slowing early gives time to read entry signs, watch for people crossing near the entry, and judge gaps in circulating traffic. Keeping right of the island places the vehicle in the intended circulation direction. Stopping is only needed when traffic or people require it, so a clear and empty circle can be entered smoothly without a needless halt.

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

5. 5. Someone presses the button at a Maryland crosswalk signal, and the light facing you begins flashing yellow. What should you do?

   1. Speed up to clear the crossing before it turns red
   2. Stop at once and wait for walkers before moving
   3. Slow down, since the signal is about to stop traffic
   4. Keep your speed until a walker steps into the street
   Show answer

   Slow down, since the signal is about to stop traffic. A crosswalk signal is activated when a pedestrian pushes a button on a pole at the side of the road. It first tells drivers to stop and then tells pedestrians to cross. A flashing yellow light facing drivers means slow down. It is followed by solid yellow, which means get ready to stop, and then by solid red. Speeding up to beat the change, or holding speed because nobody has stepped out yet, works against that sequence and leaves less room to stop.

6. 6. Why should you give large trucks extra room at Maryland intersections?

   1. They must stop at every intersection
   2. They make wide turns and need more space than cars
   3. They always turn from the far left lane
   4. They are not able to use turn signals
   Show answer

   They make wide turns and need more space than cars. Maryland tells drivers to watch for turning trucks, because trucks make wide turns at intersections and need more space than cars. Before a right turn, a large truck will often move left first, which can look like a lane change. Trying to pass on its right can be risky, and you could end up caught between the turning truck and the curb. Wait to see whether the truck is turning before you pass, and stop behind the stop line so turning trucks have room.

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

7. 7. You have passed a motorcyclist on a Maryland road. When may you move back into the rider's lane?

   1. As soon as your front bumper is ahead of the bike
   2. When you can see the motorcycle's headlight in your mirror
   3. After you have traveled one car length past it
   4. When the rider waves for you to come back over
   Show answer

   When you can see the motorcycle's headlight in your mirror. When passing a motorcycle, Maryland says to leave plenty of space, because wind gusts and drafts from a passing vehicle can affect it. Once you are past, wait until the motorcycle's headlight shows in your rear-view mirror, and only then move back into the lane. Pulling in once your bumper clears the bike or after a fixed distance can leave the rider too little room. A wave from the rider is not the test; the headlight in your mirror is.

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

8. 8. Your Maryland exit is coming up, and the quickest way to reach it is to cut in just ahead of a loaded tractor-trailer. Why should you not do that?

   1. A loaded truck can take a football field's length to stop
   2. Trucks speed up when cars cut in front of them
   3. Trucks are not allowed to slow down on highways
   4. Your car is heavier than most loaded trucks
   Show answer

   A loaded truck can take a football field's length to stop. Maryland says never cut in front of a truck. A fully loaded truck may weigh over 80,000 pounds and need about a football field's length to stop, compared with roughly 2,000 pounds for most cars. If you cut in and then slow for your exit, the truck may not be able to stop in time. Plan your exit early by moving to the right lane well before you reach it, and let the truck go by or stay behind it.

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

9. 9. During a pass in Maryland, when may the passing driver move back into the original lane?

   1. When both headlights of the passed vehicle show in the mirror
   2. When the front bumper first clears the nose of the passed vehicle
   3. When the passed vehicle sounds its horn once
   4. When the center line changes from solid to broken
   Show answer

   When both headlights of the passed vehicle show in the mirror. Cutting back too early squeezes the vehicle that was just passed. Waiting until both of its headlights show in the rear-view mirror proves enough forward space has opened for a smooth return. A cleared front bumper alone can still leave the rear of the passing vehicle close ahead, a horn gives no distance measure, and a change in center paint does not judge the gap behind. Holding the passing lane until the mirror shows both lights protects the passed driver from braking suddenly.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing rules and parking

10. 10. In Maryland, what does BAC measure?

    1. The number of drinks consumed in one hour
    2. The amount of alcohol in your blood
    3. The strength of the drinks you consumed
    4. How quickly your body removes alcohol
    Show answer

    The amount of alcohol in your blood. BAC is a measurement of how much alcohol is present in the blood. It is not a count of drinks, and it does not describe the strength of any single drink. Two drivers who drank the same amount can register different readings. Food, body traits, rest, mood, and medicines can all change the result. Because the reading reflects what is circulating in the body, officers and courts use it to judge whether a driver may be unsafe behind the wheel.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and driving

11. 11. You see the pictured warning sign on a Maryland street. What should you expect?

    
    1. A school bus may be stopping ahead
    2. A trail for horses crosses ahead
    3. Sidewalk repairs are underway ahead
    4. People on foot may be crossing ahead
    Show answer

    People on foot may be crossing ahead. The Pedestrian Crossing sign warns that people on foot may be crossing the road ahead. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at street crossings, and when there is no traffic signal you must stop for pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Slow down, watch both sides of the road, and be especially alert for people who are deaf, blind, or mobility impaired, who may need extra time to cross. You may not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.

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

12. 12. Your car is disabled on a Maryland highway, and everyone has moved behind the guardrail away from the road. Which way should you face while you wait?

    1. Away from traffic to avoid headlight glare
    2. Any direction, since the guardrail protects you
    3. Toward your car to keep an eye on it
    4. Toward oncoming traffic, staying alert
    Show answer

    Toward oncoming traffic, staying alert. If it is not safe to stay in a disabled vehicle, Maryland says to pick the safest time for everyone to get out, move quickly away from the road, and get behind an embankment, traffic barrier, or guardrail, moving to higher ground if possible. Stay away from the disabled vehicle itself. While waiting, face oncoming traffic and remain alert in case a vehicle veers into your path. Turning away from traffic removes your chance to react if a car leaves the road.

13. 13. You are behind a slow truck on a two-lane Maryland road when you see a pennant-shaped sign beside the road. What should you do?

    1. Pass now before the zone gets any longer
    2. Stay behind the truck and do not pass
    3. Pass only if the truck driver signals you
    4. Honk and pass on the right shoulder
    Show answer

    Stay behind the truck and do not pass. The pennant-shaped sign marks the start of a no passing zone, and the instruction that goes with it is simple: do not pass other vehicles. Seeing it while you are behind a slow truck means you must stay behind until the zone ends and passing is both allowed and safe. A signal from the truck driver does not change the sign, and the shoulder is never a place to pass. If you must follow a slow vehicle for a while, emergency flashers help warn drivers behind you.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

14. 14. You are driving around a Maryland traffic circle, and a car is waiting at one of the entries. Who has the right-of-way?

    1. The waiting car, since it is already at a yield line
    2. The car that is on the other's right
    3. Whichever driver turns on a signal first
    4. You, because traffic in the circle goes first
    Show answer

    You, because traffic in the circle goes first. Roads that lead to traffic circles have yield signs, and drivers entering must always yield to traffic already in the circle. While you are circulating, the waiting driver is the one who yields and waits for a gap. Signaling first or being on the right does not change that. Even so, keep watching entering vehicles in case a driver pulls out anyway, and watch for vehicles leaving the circle and people crossing near the exits.

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

15. 15. Traffic in your Maryland lane is crawling. The lane beside you is wide open, but a red X is lit above it. What should you do?

    1. Stay out of that lane while the red X is lit
    2. Use the open lane briefly to pass the slow traffic
    3. Use the open lane if you keep your speed low
    4. Move over only when no headlights face you
    Show answer

    Stay out of that lane while the red X is lit. Lane use signals hang over reversible lanes to show which direction each lane is open to at that time of day. You must never drive in a lane under a red X signal. An empty lane under a red X may be set for traffic coming the other way, so entering it, even briefly or slowly, risks meeting that traffic head-on. A green arrow over a lane would mean you may drive in it. Stay in your own lane until a signal opens another one to you.

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

16. 16. What is the leading cause of rear-end crashes in Maryland?

    1. Using headlights during the day
    2. Signaling too early before a turn
    3. Following too closely
    4. Using cruise control on dry roads
    Show answer

    Following too closely. Maryland's manual says most rear-end crashes are caused by following too closely, so always keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one ahead. The MVA recommends a minimum following distance of 3 to 4 seconds under ideal conditions, and more behind vehicles that stop often or on wet, snowy, or icy roads. Daytime headlights, early signals, and cruise control on dry roads are not named as the cause. Check your gap by counting seconds as the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object.

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

17. 17. Your fuel is low on a Maryland highway. Which sign color tells you about gas and food at upcoming exits?

    1. Brown
    2. Green
    3. Orange
    4. Blue
    Show answer

    Blue. Blue signs identify services such as food, gas, and rest areas, so a driver who needs fuel should watch for blue signs before the exits. Green signs give destinations, distances, and directions, brown signs point to recreation and cultural interest areas, and orange signs warn of construction and maintenance work. Service signs can show symbols for gas, food, lodging, or a hospital. Spotting the color early gives you time to move right and plan the exit instead of braking hard at the last moment.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

18. 18. Approaching a Maryland work zone, you see flashing blue lights while driving a little over the posted limit. What do the lights tell you?

    1. The workers have gone home for the day
    2. The work zone speed limit is not in force
    3. Highway maintenance vehicles are merging ahead
    4. Speed cameras are active, so keep to the posted limit
    Show answer

    Speed cameras are active, so keep to the posted limit. In Maryland work zones, flashing blue lights mean the speed cameras are active. Speeding fines may be much higher in work zones, and higher still if workers are present. Flashing amber or yellow lights mean workers are present, and flashing green lights mark highway maintenance vehicles. Blue does not mean the work is finished or the limit has been lifted, so slow down to the posted speed.

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

19. 19. You are merging onto a Maryland interstate from an entrance ramp. What is the acceleration lane for?

    1. Matching the speed of traffic already on the interstate
    2. Stopping to check for a gap before entering
    3. Letting highway traffic slow down for you
    4. Parking briefly if the merge looks difficult
    Show answer

    Matching the speed of traffic already on the interstate. The acceleration lane gives a merging driver room to reach the pace of traffic before joining it, so the merge happens with little speed difference. Entering far below the flow forces highway drivers into hard braking and sudden lane changes. Use the ramp and lane to build speed smoothly, match a gap, and blend in. Crossing the solid lines that separate ramp from highway cuts that process short. Check mirrors, match the gap, and merge without forcing others to brake sharply.

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

20. 20. On a Maryland road with several lanes and only a painted center line, a school bus stops on the opposite side with its red lights flashing. What must you do?

    1. Keep going, since the bus is on the other side
    2. Slow down and pass if no children are visible
    3. Stop at least 20 feet from the front of the bus
    4. Stop only if you are in the lane next to the curb
    Show answer

    Stop at least 20 feet from the front of the bus. Maryland's school bus exception is narrow: on a multiple lane road divided by a physical barrier, you do not stop for a bus on the other side of the barrier. A painted center line is not a physical barrier, so the exception does not apply here. A driver approaching from the front must stop at least 20 feet from the front of the bus and stay stopped until the bus moves or turns off its flashing red lights. Every approaching lane stops, not just the lane next to the curb.

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