MD Permit Practice Test 24

All 20 questions in test 24

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 have stopped at a red light in Maryland and plan a permitted right turn. A bicyclist is coming from your left along the cross street. What should you do?

   1. Turn now, because bicycles must yield to cars
   2. Let the bicyclist pass, then turn when it is clear
   3. Turn quickly before the bicyclist reaches you
   4. Sound your horn so the bicyclist slows down
   Show answer

   Let the bicyclist pass, then turn when it is clear. Turning on red after a complete stop is allowed only when no sign prohibits it, and the turning driver must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and all other traffic. A bicyclist on the cross street is part of that traffic, since bicycles are vehicles under Maryland law. Wait for the rider to pass, check again for people in the crosswalk, and then turn. Rushing ahead of the rider or using the horn pushes your duty onto someone who has the right to go first.

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

2. 2. You see the pictured warning sign on a Maryland highway. What is ahead?

   
   1. A hospital at the next exit
   2. A railroad crossing with gates
   3. A four-lane divided highway
   4. An intersection with a crossing road
   Show answer

   An intersection with a crossing road. The Intersection warning sign, shown with a plus-shaped symbol, tells you that a road crosses yours ahead. Slow down, watch for vehicles entering or crossing from either side, and be ready to yield. Maryland's warning signs show other road layouts with different symbols, such as a T intersection or a side road entering. Hospital and other service signs are blue, and railroad crossings use a round warning sign and a crossbuck.

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

3. 3. A motorcyclist starts to pass you on a Maryland highway. What should you do?

   1. Keep your speed steady and let the rider finish
   2. Move toward the rider to close the gap
   3. Brake hard so the rider gets by quickly
   4. Speed up so the rider passes faster
   Show answer

   Keep your speed steady and let the rider finish. If a motorcyclist is passing you, Maryland says to simply maintain your speed and allow the rider to complete the pass. Speeding up, drifting toward the rider, or braking hard changes the space the rider planned for. The same idea applies to any vehicle passing you: you must yield and not increase your speed. Leave the rider room in the lane, since motorcyclists move around within a lane to avoid hazards and are allowed to use the whole lane.

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

4. 4. You are driving in fog in Maryland and see the taillights of another vehicle ahead. What should you do?

   1. Follow the taillights closely to stay on course
   2. Switch to high beams for a longer view
   3. Reduce your speed even more and be ready to stop
   4. Keep your speed steady since the lights mark the road
   Show answer

   Reduce your speed even more and be ready to stop. In fog, Maryland says to reduce your normal driving speed. When you see headlights or another vehicle's taillights ahead, reduce your speed even more and be prepared to stop quickly. Following closely leaves no room if the vehicle stops, and the manual says to use low beam headlights only in fog. Holding your speed steady ignores how little distance you can see.

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

5. 5. What kind of sign gives traffic laws that drivers must obey in Maryland?

   1. Warning signs
   2. Guide signs
   3. Service signs
   4. Regulatory signs
   Show answer

   Regulatory signs. Maryland groups signs by the job each one does for drivers. One group covers traffic laws, and drivers have to follow what those signs direct. Stop, yield, speed limit, and turn restriction signs all belong to that law-based group. Warning signs alert drivers to conditions ahead, guide signs help with directions and destinations, and service signs point out businesses near exits. Knowing which group a sign belongs to helps a driver decide whether the message is a legal direction or helpful information.

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

6. 6. A flashing red signal faces you in Maryland. No stop line is painted, but a crosswalk is marked. Where must you stop?

   1. Past the crosswalk, inside the intersection
   2. Nowhere, unless other traffic is approaching
   3. Before the crosswalk, outside the intersection
   4. On the crosswalk itself, so you can see
   Show answer

   Before the crosswalk, outside the intersection. A flashing red signal works much like a stop sign at an intersection. The driver stops fully, then yields to all other traffic and pedestrians before moving ahead when the way is clear. Stopping position follows a set order when markings are missing, moving from the stop line back to the crosswalk and then to the intersection edge. Rolling past the crosswalk puts pedestrians at risk, and stopping only when traffic appears ignores the full stop that flashing red always requires in Maryland.

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

7. 7. The light turns yellow when you are so near the junction that braking hard would be unsafe. What should you do in Maryland?

   1. Stop inside the intersection and wait
   2. Speed up sharply to beat the red
   3. Back up behind the stop line
   4. Continue carefully through the intersection
   Show answer

   Continue carefully through the intersection. Yellow warns that red is coming and gives time to stop safely where that is possible. It also lets vehicles already inside finish clearing before cross traffic starts. A driver who is too close to stop without harsh braking should keep going with care rather than halting in the middle. That exception depends on distance and safety, not on wanting to save time. Where a safe stop is possible, braking is expected, and entering late creates risk for people crossing and for drivers waiting to move.

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

8. 8. Under Maryland law, how may an adult driver use a cell phone while driving?

   1. Only hands-free, never holding it
   2. Holding it for calls but not for texting
   3. Holding it if the car is under 25 mph
   4. Any way, as long as both eyes stay forward
   Show answer

   Only hands-free, never holding it. Maryland makes it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone, including texting, while driving, which means you cannot use the phone while holding it. Calls are allowed only hands-free, and even then the phone should be used as little as possible. Maryland suggests using it only in emergencies, letting a passenger make calls, letting voicemail answer, and keeping conversations short. Drivers under 18 may not use a phone at all while driving, even hands-free, except for a 911 emergency call.

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

9. 9. Which item counts as an open container in Maryland?

   1. A sealed bottle in its store packaging
   2. An open can, bottle, or other container or package
   3. A closed flask in a locked glove box
   4. An unopened six-pack with all bottles present
   Show answer

   An open can, bottle, or other container or package. Maryland defines the term broadly. Any open can qualifies, and so does any open bottle. The definition also reaches other types of containers and packages once they are open. A sealed bottle in store packaging stays outside the definition because nothing has been opened. A complete unopened six-pack is likewise different from one with bottles opened or missing. Drivers should look at whether a container has been opened at all, not at how much liquid remains inside it.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and driving

10. 10. You are towing a heavy trailer on a Maryland interstate and can only go 50 mph while traffic moves at 65 mph. Which lane should you use?

    1. The left lane, so faster cars see you
    2. The right lane whenever possible
    3. The center lane to stay out of the way
    4. The shoulder with your flashers on
    Show answer

    The right lane whenever possible. If you are driving slower than the speed of traffic on the highway, Maryland says you must drive in the right lane whenever possible. That leaves the other lanes for faster vehicles to pass. A slow vehicle in the left or center lane forces others to work around it, and the shoulder is only for a disabled vehicle or another emergency, never for travel. Driving much slower than other traffic also encourages others to constantly pass you, which increases the chances of a crash.

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

11. 11. You wait in a Maryland left-turn lane with a steady green arrow, but a pedestrian is still crossing in your path. What must you do?

    1. Yield to the pedestrian, then turn with caution
    2. Turn first because the arrow gives you the right-of-way
    3. Honk so the pedestrian hurries across
    4. Wait for a full green circle before turning
    Show answer

    Yield to the pedestrian, then turn with caution. A steady green arrow lets you proceed with caution in the arrow's direction, but you must yield to all pedestrians and vehicles already in the intersection. A person still crossing has to be allowed to finish before you turn. The arrow does not give you the right-of-way over them. Honking does not make the crossing safe, and you do not need a full green circle to use the arrow once the way is clear.

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

12. 12. You are driving along the through road at a Maryland T intersection. A car is stopped on the side road that ends at your road. Who has the right-of-way?

    1. You, because you are already on the through road
    2. The car on the side road, because it stopped first
    3. Whichever driver plans to turn left
    4. The driver of the larger vehicle, since it needs room
    Show answer

    You, because you are already on the through road. At a T intersection, the driver who stops on the road that ends must yield the right-of-way to drivers already on the through road. Being on the through road puts you in that position, even if the other car stopped first. Vehicle size and turning direction do not change the order. Still, never assume you automatically have the right-of-way. Watch the stopped car in case it pulls out, and be ready to slow down.

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

13. 13. Which situation justifies stopping on the shoulder of a Maryland interstate?

    1. You missed your exit and want to check directions
    2. You want to make a phone call away from traffic noise
    3. Your vehicle is disabled or you have another emergency
    4. A passenger wants to stretch during a long drive
    Show answer

    Your vehicle is disabled or you have another emergency. The shoulder borders high-speed lanes, so it serves only genuine need: a vehicle that cannot continue or another real emergency. Stopping there for directions, calls, or rest breaks keeps you beside fast traffic far longer than the errand is worth, and reentering the flow adds fresh risk. Exits and rest areas handle routine stops safely. Save the shoulder for the day the vehicle gives you no choice. If passengers need relief, the next exit offers it without the roadside danger.

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

14. 14. After a snowy day in Maryland, which spots may turn icy again overnight?

    1. Only shaded driveways away from the main road
    2. Ramps and bridges, plus plowed roads with melted snow patches
    3. Only roads that were never plowed during the storm
    4. Straight flat roads with heavy daytime traffic flow
    Show answer

    Ramps and bridges, plus plowed roads with melted snow patches. Maryland warns that ramps and bridges freeze before roads. Plowed roads bring a second risk: they may refreeze at night or have icy patches from snow that melted during the day. A thin layer of ice on blacktop can be very hard or impossible to see, so a road that looks clear after sunset can still be slick. Every winter road may be different depending on sun, shade, and salt, so watch ahead for danger spots, slow down, and leave more space.

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

15. 15. You are heading to a park in Maryland and watching for directions. Which sign color points to recreation and cultural interest areas?

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

    Brown. Brown signs identify recreation and cultural interest areas, so a driver looking for a park should watch for brown signs. Blue signs mark services like food, gas, and rest areas, green signs give destinations, distances, and directions, and yellow signs give a general warning of what to expect ahead. The trapezoid shape is also tied to recreation and cultural interest areas and National Forest routes, so the shape and the color can point you the same way as you look for the turn.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

16. 16. Bright lights from opposite traffic make it hard to see at night in Maryland. Where should you direct your gaze?

    1. Directly into the brightest light to adapt faster
    2. At the dashboard until the vehicle passes
    3. Toward the center line for the whole approach
    4. Toward the road ahead, slightly right
    Show answer

    Toward the road ahead, slightly right. Glare steals the contrast you need to see lane edges, pedestrians, and debris. Shifting your view toward the road ahead and slightly right lets you use the lane edge as a guide while the bright vehicle passes. Staring into the light worsens the problem, and looking at the dashboard abandons the road entirely. Watching the center line pulls you toward opposing traffic. Slow slightly, hold a steady course, and let your vision recover before judging gaps or turning across other lanes.

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

17. 17. A steady red arrow points in the direction you want to go in Maryland. What must you do?

    1. Stop fully and remain stopped while the arrow is red
    2. Slow down and turn with extra caution at the corner
    3. Proceed through if no pedestrians are crossing nearby
    4. Turn after yielding to traffic, without stopping first
    Show answer

    Stop fully and remain stopped while the arrow is red. An arrow signal controls movement in the direction it points, apart from the round signals beside it. While that arrow stays red, drivers headed its way hold a full stop before the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection, whichever comes first. The wait lasts as long as the arrow remains red, even if the road looks empty. Slowing, yielding without stopping, or checking only for pedestrians all treat the red arrow like a weaker signal than it is. Holding position keeps turning traffic out of crossing paths until permission changes.

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

18. 18. When slowing is required beside a stopped vehicle with flashing lights, which set of factors should set your speed in Maryland?

    1. Posted limit, lane width, and distance to the next exit
    2. Road width, parking rules, and time of day only
    3. Weather, road conditions, traffic, and pedestrians
    4. Vehicle age, cargo weight, and fuel level combined
    Show answer

    Weather, road conditions, traffic, and pedestrians. Passing a stopped vehicle with flashing lights calls for a speed chosen from what is happening around you. Wet pavement, poor light, heavy traffic, and people on foot all shrink your margin to react. A posted number cannot capture those changing risks. Lane width and exit distance matter less than grip, flow, and people nearby. Vehicle age and cargo details do not set a safe passing speed. Ease off early, scan for doors opening or people stepping out, and be ready to stop.

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

19. 19. You drive well below the pace of other traffic on a clear Maryland road. What problem can that create?

    1. Other drivers rarely notice a slower vehicle
    2. It makes the trip smoother for drivers behind you
    3. It has no effect on vehicles traveling behind you
    4. Others keep passing you, which raises the chance of a crash
    Show answer

    Others keep passing you, which raises the chance of a crash. Maryland's manual says it is safest to drive at the same speed that most traffic is moving, up to the maximum speed limit. Driving at a speed lower than other traffic encourages other vehicles to constantly pass you, and that increases the chances of a crash. A slow vehicle is not unnoticed by others, it does not make the trip smoother for those behind, and it does affect them. If you must drive slower than highway traffic, use the right lane whenever possible.

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

20. 20. How does the Maryland manual say not getting enough sleep changes your driving?

    1. It sharpens your focus but slows your turns
    2. It matters only on trips of several hours
    3. It slows reaction time, lowers awareness, and impairs judgment
    4. It dulls your vision but leaves your judgment alone
    Show answer

    It slows reaction time, lowers awareness, and impairs judgment. Maryland compares sleepiness to drugs and alcohol. It slows your reaction time, decreases your awareness, and impairs your judgment, which can significantly raise your chance of a crash. The effect is not limited to very long trips, and it does not leave judgment untouched. Being tired does not sharpen anything. If you become tired or sleepy while driving, the manual says it is best to rest or change drivers.

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