MD Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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 Maryland provisional driver under 18 is convicted of a fourth moving violation. What happens?

   1. The license is revoked and all licensing tests must be passed again
   2. A 30-day suspension
   3. A driver improvement program only
   4. A 90-day restriction to school driving
   Show answer

   The license is revoked and all licensing tests must be passed again. Maryland's ladder for provisional drivers under 18 ends in revocation. A fourth or later offense results in the license being revoked, and the driver must pass all licensing tests to get it back. A 30-day suspension belongs to the second offense, the improvement program alone to the first offense, and a limited work and school restriction is part of the second and third offense penalties. These MVA penalties come in addition to whatever a court imposes.

2. 2. When passing a bicyclist in Maryland, how much space must you leave between your vehicle and the bicycle?

   1. At least 1 foot
   2. At least 20 feet
   3. At least 3 feet
   4. At least 6 inches, if you slow down
   Show answer

   At least 3 feet. Maryland's rule is to give bikes at least 3 feet when passing. Treat a bicyclist like any slow-moving vehicle: slow down, wait until oncoming traffic is clear, then leave at least 3 feet. The rule applies whether the bicycle is in a bike lane, on the shoulder, or in the same lane as your car, and you should see the bicycle in your rear-view mirror before moving back. One foot or six inches is far too close. Twenty feet is the school bus stopping distance.

3. 3. What does a third moving violation bring for a Maryland provisional driver under 18?

   1. A 180 day suspension, a young driver improvement program, and a 180 day employment and education restriction
   2. A written warning
   3. A 30 day suspension
   4. A $110 fine only
   Show answer

   A 180 day suspension, a young driver improvement program, and a 180 day employment and education restriction. A third offense for an under 18 provisional driver results in a 180 day suspension of the license, required attendance at a driver improvement program for young drivers, and an employment and education only restriction for 180 days. A fourth or later offense can bring revocation. The first offense requires the improvement program and the second a 30 day suspension with a 90 day restriction.

4. 4. On which public roads may Maryland mopeds and scooters be ridden?

   1. Only roads with a posted maximum of 25 mph
   2. Roads with a posted maximum speed limit of 50 mph or less
   3. Any road, including one posted above 50 mph
   4. Only roads without painted lane markings
   Show answer

   Roads with a posted maximum speed limit of 50 mph or less. Maryland permits mopeds and scooters on roads whose posted maximum speed limit is 50 mph or less. The limit is tied to the posted maximum, not to whether lane markings are present or to a lower 25 mph threshold. A road posted above 50 mph falls outside the manual's stated permission, so check the sign before entering it on a moped or scooter.

5. 5. What share of crashes does the Maryland manual say advanced driver assistance systems prevent when used properly?

   1. 5 percent
   2. 40 percent
   3. 100 percent
   4. None, they are only for comfort
   Show answer

   40 percent. Advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, are vehicle technologies that make driving safer, and when used properly they prevent 40 percent of crashes. They have limits and may not work in rain, snow, fog, on hills or around curves, and they respond differently from one vehicle to another. Keep the software up to date and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The driver remains responsible.

6. 6. What do orange traffic signs warn drivers about in Maryland?

   1. One-way street directions
   2. Hospital and medical services
   3. Recreation and cultural sites
   4. Construction and maintenance work areas
   Show answer

   Construction and maintenance work areas. Orange is the color assigned to construction and maintenance work area warnings. It tells a driver to expect temporary conditions, such as lane shifts, closures, workers, equipment, or changed traffic patterns. Blue identifies services, brown identifies recreation and cultural interest areas, and black is used for one-way signs and changeable messages. Treat an orange sign as an early warning to reduce distractions, obey temporary controls, and prepare for conditions that may change as you approach rather than assuming the normal roadway layout continues.

7. 7. You are in an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches using its siren and flashing lights. What should you do?

   1. Turn around and drive against traffic to clear a path
   2. Stop where you are in the intersection immediately
   3. Follow the emergency vehicle through the intersection
   4. Move toward the edge, stay out of intersections, and remain stopped until it passes
   Show answer

   Move toward the edge, stay out of intersections, and remain stopped until it passes. Emergency vehicles using their signals have priority, but a driver should not create a blockage by stopping in the intersection. Move as close as possible to the road edge, keep out of the intersection, and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed. Stopping in the middle would obstruct its route. Following it could place you in danger, and driving against traffic introduces a separate collision risk. If you are already committed to the intersection, clear it safely first, then take the required position at the edge and wait.

8. 8. What should a driver be ready to do after seeing a warning sign?

   
   1. Assume the road remains unchanged
   2. Pass immediately before the condition begins
   3. Take appropriate action, including slowing when needed
   4. Stop regardless of the roadway
   Show answer

   Take appropriate action, including slowing when needed. Maryland says warning signs provide advance notice of conditions that may not be readily apparent. Because of that warning, a driver should be ready to take appropriate action and may need to slow down. Passing immediately, assuming nothing has changed, or stopping regardless of the roadway does not match the guidance. Scan beyond the sign, identify the curve, crossing, merge, or other hazard, and choose a speed that preserves control. The purpose of the warning is to give the driver time to prepare before the condition is reached.

9. 9. When may a driver turn into the opposite direction lane after a U-turn?

   1. Before checking for oncoming traffic
   2. Immediately after signaling
   3. Only when the next signal is green
   4. When the way is clear
   Show answer

   When the way is clear. Maryland directs a driver completing a U-turn to wait until the way is clear before turning into the outside or right-hand lane traveling in the opposite direction. Signaling and stopping are also required steps, but they do not make the turn safe when traffic is approaching. A green signal alone does not remove the need to check the roadway. Look for vehicles coming toward you, yield as required, and enter the opposite direction lane only after the path is clear.

10. 10. What is the purpose of a crosswalk signal?

    1. It replaces every stop sign at nearby intersections
    2. It gives vehicles priority over pedestrians who have started crossing
    3. It stops vehicle traffic so pedestrians can cross safely
    4. It permits drivers to pass a vehicle stopped at the crosswalk
    Show answer

    It stops vehicle traffic so pedestrians can cross safely. A crosswalk signal is designed to stop traffic so pedestrians can cross the road safely. Drivers must follow the signal and watch for people using the crossing. It does not give vehicles priority over pedestrians who have started crossing, it does not allow passing a vehicle stopped at the crosswalk, and it does not replace every other traffic control device nearby. The cue is the pedestrian crossing itself: stop as directed, keep the crossing clear, and resume only when the signal and roadway permit.

11. 11. You approach a stopped service vehicle with warning lights, but traffic prevents a safe lane change. What must you do?

    1. Maintain your current speed and lane
    2. Stop in the travel lane immediately
    3. Slow down to a safe speed and be ready to stop
    4. Pass on the shoulder without reducing speed
    Show answer

    Slow down to a safe speed and be ready to stop. Maryland requires a driver approaching a stopped, standing, or parked vehicle with flashing lights to move into a lane that is not immediately next to it when that can be done safely. If traffic, weather, road conditions, or pedestrians make that maneuver unsafe or impossible, the fallback is to slow to a safe speed and prepare to stop. Maintaining speed ignores the hazard, while using the shoulder can create another conflict. A useful roadside cue is simple: move away when you can; otherwise reduce speed early and leave room to stop.

12. 12. What can happen when a driver under 21 is stopped after drinking alcohol?

    1. The driver may continue driving if a passenger is sober
    2. There is no license consequence until BAC reaches 0.08
    3. The driver receives only a warning for a first stop
    4. The driver's license may be suspended or revoked
    Show answer

    The driver's license may be suspended or revoked. For a person younger than 21, drinking any alcohol is against the law. If law enforcement stops that driver after drinking, the manual says the license will be suspended or revoked, and the driver may also face an alcohol restriction violation. The 0.08 figure is not a safe harbor for someone under 21. The age cue is decisive: the under-21 rule begins with any alcohol, not a particular BAC number.

13. 13. What happens when a vehicle hydroplanes?

    1. The vehicle skids because the driver brakes after traction is lost
    2. The tires keep normal contact but the steering becomes heavier
    3. The tires lose contact with the road after the vehicle rides on a sheet of water
    4. The tires grip the wet surface more firmly as speed rises
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    The tires lose contact with the road after the vehicle rides on a sheet of water. Hydroplaning occurs when increasing speed and road water leave a vehicle riding on a sheet of water, causing the tires to lose contact with the road. That loss can remove some or all steering and braking control. The tires do not keep normal contact, and they do not grip more firmly as speed rises; more speed makes the problem worse. A skid caused by braking after traction is lost is a result the driver can trigger, not the definition of hydroplaning. In wet conditions, lower speed and sound tires reduce the risk.

14. 14. What is Maryland's rule on headsets, earphones and earplugs while driving?

    1. You may not drive with them in both ears, though hearing aids are allowed
    2. They are allowed at low volume
    3. They are allowed on highways only
    4. They are banned entirely, including hearing aids
    Show answer

    You may not drive with them in both ears, though hearing aids are allowed. You may not drive with earplugs, headsets or earphones in both ears. Hearing aid devices are allowed. The rule keeps at least one ear open for sirens, horns and train warnings. Maryland also bans hand held cell phone use, including texting, while driving, so audio through one earpiece is the only lawful arrangement for calls, and even that divides attention.

15. 15. A police officer directs you to stop while your traffic signal is green. Which instruction controls?

    1. A flashing red arrow
    2. The green signal
    3. A school crossing guard’s direction
    4. The officer’s direction
    Show answer

    The officer’s direction. A uniformed police officer or other authorized emergency personnel may direct traffic differently from the regular signal. Drivers must follow that direction, so the officer's stop controls even while the signal displays green. Continuing because the light is green would disregard the person managing the immediate traffic condition. The vehicle behind you has no authority to change the rule, and a nearby sign does not override the officer either. Watch for the officer's position and hand signals, then proceed only when the officer releases your movement or normal control resumes.

16. 16. What can excessive speed increase in a crash?

    1. The force and impact
    2. The driver’s available reaction time
    3. The accuracy of distance judgments
    4. The ability to handle curves
    Show answer

    The force and impact. Maryland says speeding increases the force and impact in a crash, making serious injuries and deaths more likely. It does not increase reaction time, improve distance judgments, or make curves easier to handle. In fact, the manual says excessive speed decreases the ability to recognize and react to hazards and reduces control around curves and obstacles. Use the posted limit as a maximum under ideal conditions, then slow further when traffic, weather, or road design creates risk. The cue is simple: more speed means more force when something goes wrong.

17. 17. What kind of information can the main background color of a traffic sign indicate?

    
    1. The driver’s license class required
    2. The type of information on the sign
    3. The vehicle’s fuel type
    4. The road’s pavement thickness
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    The type of information on the sign. Maryland explains that the main background color of a traffic sign can quickly tell you what kind of information it has. Red communicates stop, yield, do not enter, or wrong way. Yellow gives a general warning, orange identifies construction and maintenance work areas, and green provides destinations, distances, and directions. The sign color is not a license or vehicle classification. Build the habit of reading color before the wording and symbol, because that first cue helps you anticipate whether the sign regulates, warns, guides, or identifies a service.

18. 18. For a driver age 21 or older operating a noncommercial vehicle in Maryland, what is the lowest BAC covered by the general alcohol per se threshold?

    1. .04 or higher
    2. .08 or higher
    3. .06 or higher
    4. .10 or higher
    Show answer

    .08 or higher. Maryland considers a driver to be under the influence of alcohol at a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. The lower numbers in the choices are not the threshold stated for this classification, and .10 is above the listed threshold rather than the point at which it begins. Remember that the threshold does not make lower alcohol levels safe or free from other consequences.

19. 19. How many questions are on Maryland's knowledge test, and how much time is provided?

    1. 25 questions in 20 minutes
    2. 20 questions in 15 minutes
    3. 15 questions in 10 minutes
    4. 30 questions in 30 minutes
    Show answer

    25 questions in 20 minutes. The Maryland knowledge test contains 25 questions and gives the applicant 20 minutes. The other pairs change either the question count, the time limit, or both. A useful study cue is to remember this as a compact timed test, not an open-ended examination. The manual also directs applicants to study all of its information because the test covers the material presented there. Budget the available minutes across the entire test instead of lingering on one item.

20. 20. Which person qualifies as a Maryland supervising driver for a learner's permit holder?

    1. A driver age 18 with one year of licensing
    2. A driver age 21 or older licensed for the same class for at least three years
    3. Any passenger who has completed driver education
    4. A parent of any age seated in another vehicle
    Show answer

    A driver age 21 or older licensed for the same class for at least three years. A supervising driver must be at least 21 and must have held a Maryland or other-state license for the same class of vehicle for at least three years. The person must be beside the learner unless the vehicle is a motorcycle. Age alone, driver education, or a parent traveling separately is insufficient. Verify age, licensing duration, vehicle class, and seating position together.