MD Permit Practice Test 5

All 20 questions in test 5

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 information does a yellow traffic sign generally give a driver?

   1. A final legal ruling that replaces traffic signals
   2. A required service stop for fuel or food
   3. A destination distance and route direction
   4. A general warning about conditions or hazards ahead
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   A general warning about conditions or hazards ahead. Yellow is Maryland's general warning color. It tells the driver to anticipate a condition or hazard ahead and be ready to adjust speed, lane position, or attention. Blue signs point to services, green signs provide destinations and directions, and regulatory instructions use other sign conventions. A yellow sign does not cancel a traffic signal or require a fuel stop. When yellow appears, scan farther ahead than usual and prepare for the roadway feature shown by the symbol or words.

2. 2. Which parking maneuvers are required on the Maryland driving test, and in what size space?

   1. Pull in parking, back in parking and a three point turn, in a 10 by 20 foot space with the turn in a 16 by 20 foot space
   2. Only a three point turn
   3. Parallel parking in a 25 foot space
   4. Only parallel parking
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   Pull in parking, back in parking and a three point turn, in a 10 by 20 foot space with the turn in a 16 by 20 foot space. Parallel parking is no longer required on the Maryland driving test, though it is taught in the driver education course. You must successfully perform pull in parking, back in parking and a three point turn. The parking is done in a 10 by 20 foot space and the turn in a 16 by 20 foot space. The maneuvers demonstrate control of the vehicle at low speed.

3. 3. Where does the Maryland manual say children under 13 should ride?

   1. In the front seat with the air bag on
   2. Anywhere, as long as they are belted
   3. Buckled up in a rear seat, in a child safety seat or with a seat belt
   4. In the front seat if over 4 feet 9 inches
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   Buckled up in a rear seat, in a child safety seat or with a seat belt. Children under age 13 should ride buckled up in a rear seat, in a child safety seat or with a seat belt. Children in a rear facing seat must never ride in the front of a vehicle with a passenger air bag. The back seat keeps children away from the force of a front air bag and is the safest position in most crashes.

4. 4. What minimum following distance does the MVA recommend under ideal driving conditions?

   
   1. Three to four seconds
   2. Two seconds
   3. One second
   4. Ten feet at every speed
   Show answer

   Three to four seconds. The MVA recommends at least three to four seconds behind the vehicle ahead when conditions are ideal. This time-based method remains useful as speed changes because it measures space through a reference point rather than a fixed number of feet. The one-second choice leaves little time to notice and react if traffic brakes. On wet roads, or behind a bus or delivery van that stops often, increase the interval beyond the baseline. Pick a bridge, sign, or mile marker and count after the lead vehicle passes it.

5. 5. At a Maryland yield sign, which action is required?

   1. Speed up to enter before other traffic
   2. Stop for exactly five seconds every time
   3. Slow down, look both ways, and yield before proceeding safely
   4. Ignore pedestrians if vehicles are absent
   Show answer

   Slow down, look both ways, and yield before proceeding safely. A yield sign calls for a controlled approach rather than a mandatory stop of a fixed duration. The driver slows, checks left and right, and gives way to pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles. The five-second choice invents a timing rule, while the option about ignoring pedestrians omits people who may have priority. Use the sign as a cue to assess the whole intersection, then continue only after the traffic and crossing path are safe. Stopping may still be necessary when the gap is not adequate.

6. 6. How far before an oncoming vehicle must a Maryland driver change from high beams to low beams?

   1. At least 100 feet
   2. At least 300 feet
   3. At least 500 feet
   4. Only after the vehicles pass
   Show answer

   At least 500 feet. When an oncoming vehicle is approaching, the driver must switch from high beams to low beams at least 500 feet before reaching that vehicle. Waiting until the vehicles pass can glare the other driver and reduce safety. The 300-foot figure applies to following a vehicle in front of you, so first identify whether the traffic is approaching or traveling in the same direction.

7. 7. In and before a Maryland work zone, what do flashing green lights identify?

   1. Highway maintenance vehicles or service equipment
   2. A signal that you may speed up
   3. Active speed cameras
   4. The end of the work zone
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   Highway maintenance vehicles or service equipment. Flashing green lights may be found on highway maintenance vehicles or service equipment in and before work zones. Green in this setting is not permission to speed up, so obey the work zone limit. Active speed cameras are marked by flashing blue lights, and an active work zone with workers present is shown by flashing amber or yellow lights. Green lights also do not announce the end of the work zone.

8. 8. For a learner under age 25, how many supervised practice hours are required, and how many must be at night?

   1. 14 total hours, including at least 3 at night
   2. 60 total hours, including at least 10 at night
   3. 45 total hours, including at least 5 at night
   4. 20 total hours, with no nighttime requirement
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   60 total hours, including at least 10 at night. Applicants younger than 25 must complete at least 60 supervised practice hours, with at least 10 of those hours during the period beginning 30 minutes before sunset and ending 30 minutes after sunrise. The 14-hour and 3-night-hour figures apply to applicants age 25 and older. Keep the Practice and Skills Log as the running record, and count nighttime practice within the required total rather than adding it separately.

9. 9. During the first 151 days, when may an under-18 Maryland provisional licensee carry a non-family passenger under 18?

   1. Whenever the passenger has written permission from a parent
   2. Only during daylight hours without any exception
   3. When a qualified supervising driver is also present
   4. After the licensee has driven 500 miles
   Show answer

   When a qualified supervising driver is also present. For the first 151 days, an under-18 provisional licensee cannot drive unsupervised with an under-18 passenger who is not immediate family. A qualified supervising driver in the vehicle creates the stated exception. A parent note, daylight, or a mileage total does not replace that condition. The practical check is to identify both ages, the family relationship, and whether supervision is actually present.

10. 10. When may a Maryland driver be required to take a drug or alcohol test?

    1. Only after a crash involving property damage
    2. Only if the driver volunteers the request
    3. Only after a judge issues a written warrant
    4. Whenever a law enforcement officer asks after driving or attempting to drive on a covered road or public-use property
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    Whenever a law enforcement officer asks after driving or attempting to drive on a covered road or public-use property. Maryland's implied-consent rule means that driving or attempting to drive on a road or private property used by the public carries agreement to take a drug or alcohol test when a law enforcement officer asks. A crash, warrant, or voluntary request is not the trigger stated here. The cue is the combination of driving and an officer's request on a covered roadway or public-use property.

11. 11. What does the pictured red sign communicate?

    
    1. The road is one-way in your direction
    2. Parking is permitted for five minutes
    3. A railroad crossing is ahead
    4. Do not enter
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    Do not enter. The manual identifies red as a sign color used for stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way messages. A Do Not Enter sign therefore prohibits entering the roadway or ramp from that approach. It is not permission to park, a railroad warning, or confirmation that traffic travels toward you in your direction. If the sign is facing your approach, look for a legal route around the restriction rather than crossing past it. Red is the quick color cue, and the words or symbol identify the specific prohibition.

12. 12. Which steering response is recommended if a vehicle begins to skid?

    1. Steer hard in the opposite direction
    2. Steer in the direction of the skid
    3. Close your eyes and hold the wheel rigidly
    4. Turn toward the nearest lane without releasing the pedals
    Show answer

    Steer in the direction of the skid. When a vehicle starts sliding, steering in the direction of the skid helps the driver work with the vehicle's movement and regain control. Also release the accelerator or brake pedal being used, look where the vehicle should go, and wait to brake until the tires have traction again. A hard turn in the opposite direction can produce another slide or a spin. Keeping pedal pressure while changing direction ignores the loss of grip. Smooth inputs give the tires a chance to reconnect with the road surface.

13. 13. A 17 year old Maryland Provisional License holder wants to drive alone at 12:30 a.m. For which trip is that allowed?

    1. Driving a friend home from a movie
    2. Driving home from a job
    3. Driving to a late restaurant with family members
    4. Driving to a party that ends at 1:00 a.m.
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    Driving home from a job. Provisional License holders under 18 may drive unsupervised between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. only for listed purposes: going to, from or during a job, to or from an organized volunteer program, to or from an official school activity, or to or from an athletic event or training session they take part in. A trip home from work fits. Movies, restaurants and parties are social trips that are not on the list, so they need a qualified supervising driver in that window.

14. 14. Two drivers reach an intersection at the same time. Which driver must yield?

    1. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
    2. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
    3. The driver going straight yields to the turning driver
    4. The driver in the smaller vehicle yields
    Show answer

    The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. When two vehicles arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. This rule helps resolve a tie without relying on vehicle size, speed, or a guess about who intends to move first. The same right-side principle appears at a four-way intersection with stop signs. Slow down, check both directions, and identify which vehicle is on your right before entering.

15. 15. What is the minimum age to receive a full Maryland Driver's License, the last stage of the graduated system?

    1. 17
    2. 18
    3. 16 and a half
    4. 21
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    18. A Driver's License is the final stage of Maryland's Graduated Licensing System, and one requirement is being at least 18 years of age. The driver must also have held a Provisional License for at least 18 months with no moving violation convictions or probation before judgment in the past 18 months. Seventeen and sixteen and a half are too young for this stage. Twenty-one is the minimum age for a supervising driver, not for a full license.

16. 16. What is the youngest age at which a Maryland applicant under 25 can get a Learner's Instructional Permit?

    1. 15 years exactly
    2. 16 years and 6 months
    3. 16 years exactly
    4. 15 years and 9 months
    Show answer

    15 years and 9 months. Maryland lets an applicant younger than 25 apply for the learner's permit once the applicant is at least 15 years and 9 months old. A 15 year old who has not reached that extra nine months is too young. Sixteen years and 6 months is the minimum age for a Type 2 permit, which is a different permit for people who already hold a license. An applicant under 18 also needs a parent or legal guardian to co-sign, and one under 16 needs a school attendance form.

17. 17. What should a driver constantly check while driving?

    1. Where vehicles are in front, behind, and next to the vehicle
    2. Only the vehicle directly ahead
    3. Only the speedometer and fuel gauge
    4. Only the lane to the left
    Show answer

    Where vehicles are in front, behind, and next to the vehicle. The manual tells drivers to remain alert and constantly check where other vehicles are in front, behind, and next to them. That broad scan helps reveal a vehicle entering a blind spot, a queue forming ahead, or a driver approaching too quickly from behind. Looking only forward leaves important information out of the driving picture. The dashboard cannot show surrounding traffic, and checking one side alone misses risks on the other side. Make the mirror checks part of the normal visual cycle, while continuing to watch the roadway ahead.

18. 18. What do double solid yellow lines mean on a Maryland two-way road?

    
    1. Passing is permitted for traffic traveling in either direction
    2. Passing is prohibited in both directions
    3. Only trucks may cross to pass
    4. The lane is reserved for bicycles
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    Passing is prohibited in both directions. Double solid yellow lines separate opposing traffic where passing is not allowed in either direction. They do not mean the roadway is closed, and they do not create a special truck or bicycle lane. A left turn across the lines can still be allowed, such as turning into a driveway, but crossing to overtake another vehicle is barred. Treat the paired solid lines as a no-passing message and wait for a lawful opening rather than entering opposing traffic.

19. 19. What does the five-sided sign in the image warn you about?

    
    1. A railroad crossing ahead
    2. A recreational area entrance
    3. A school zone or school crossing
    4. A mandatory truck route
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    A school zone or school crossing. The pentagon is the shape used for school zones and school crossings. Seeing this sign means slow down, watch carefully for children, and follow any school-area traffic control devices or posted speed restrictions. It does not identify recreation, rail crossings, or truck routes. The manual assigns other shapes to those messages, including a round sign for railroad warnings and a trapezoid for recreation and cultural areas. The five-sided outline is therefore a strong visual cue to increase attention around students.

20. 20. What should drivers do to reduce the possibility of aggressive driving incidents?

    1. Ignore traffic laws when another driver is aggressive
    2. Compete with drivers who are moving too slowly
    3. Follow an impatient driver closely to discourage passing
    4. Respect and cooperate with other people using the road
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    Respect and cooperate with other people using the road. Maryland advises drivers to respect and cooperate with everyone using the road as one way to reduce aggressive-driving incidents. That means keeping your own conduct calm, lawful, and predictable instead of turning delays or disagreements into a contest. Competing with slower drivers raises conflict, and following closely removes the space needed to respond safely. Ignoring traffic laws creates additional danger rather than resolving it. Allow extra travel time, stay patient, signal intentions, and leave room when another driver behaves aggressively.