Printable MA Permit Practice Test

1. What does a solid green turn arrow mean for a Massachusetts driver?

1. You may go straight only
2. You must stop and wait for a circular green
3. Turns are prohibited
4. You can make a protected turn in the direction of the arrow

2. How close may a Massachusetts driver follow an emergency vehicle responding to an alarm?

1. No closer than 100 feet
2. No closer than 500 feet
3. No closer than 800 feet
4. No closer than 300 feet

3. According to the Massachusetts manual, how do rain and wet roads affect driving?

1. They only affect visibility, not traction
2. They make it harder to start, stop, and turn
3. They shorten stopping distance because tires grip better
4. They have no effect below 30 mph

4. In the Massachusetts sign color code, what are fluorescent pink signs used for?

1. Electronic toll collection
2. Incident management
3. School zones
4. Scenic routes

5. How much instruction on the driver education curriculum must a parent or guardian of a Massachusetts JOL applicant take?

1. Thirty minutes
2. Six hours
3. Two hours
4. Twelve hours

6. You break down on an undivided Massachusetts highway. Besides 10 feet and 100 feet behind your vehicle, where should a warning triangle or LED flare go?

1. On the roof of your vehicle
2. 500 feet behind your vehicle
3. 100 feet in front of your vehicle
4. Nowhere else; two devices are enough

7. A vehicle is driving toward you head on in your lane. What does the Massachusetts manual tell you to do first?

1. Steer left into the oncoming lane
2. Flash your high beams and stay in your lane
3. Slow down and pull to the right
4. Stop in the middle of the road

8. In which direction does traffic travel in a Massachusetts rotary?

1. Counter-clockwise
2. Clockwise
3. Either direction, depending on the exit
4. Straight through the center

9. According to the Massachusetts manual, what do roundabouts reduce the need for?

1. Changing lanes
2. Yielding to pedestrians
3. Using turn signals
4. Slowing down

10. According to the Massachusetts manual, can you be ticketed for driving 40 mph in a heavy rainstorm on a highway posted at 50 mph?

1. No, because you are under the posted limit
2. Only if you are also following too closely
3. Yes, for driving too fast for conditions
4. Only on a divided highway

11. Who runs the Safe Driver Insurance Plan, and what drives the premium under it?

1. The Merit Rating Board runs it, and premiums follow the driving record
2. Each town clerk runs it, and premiums follow vehicle color
3. The RMV runs it, and premiums follow annual mileage only
4. Private agents run it jointly, and premiums ignore crashes

12. What does the ban on parking in a traffic lane next to a row of parked vehicles describe?

1. Double parking in a live traffic lane
2. Angle parking at a marked curb
3. Parking overnight in a rest area
4. Backing into a legal curb space

13. As you enter a highway from a ramp, who has the right-of-way?

1. The entering vehicle in every case
2. Drivers already traveling on the highway
3. Whichever driver signals first
4. The driver whose lane is ending

14. What does Massachusetts law say about wearing headphones while driving, and what is allowed for a driver who is 18 or older?

1. Headphones are allowed in both ears below 35 mph
2. Any wireless headset is allowed because it has no cord
3. Wearing headphones or any headset that restricts attention while driving is illegal, though a driver 18 or older may use one earplug with a cell phone
4. Drivers under 18 may wear headphones, but older drivers may not

15. You are turning at a Massachusetts intersection while a bicyclist rides straight through it. Who must yield?

1. The bicyclist must yield to your turning vehicle
2. Whoever reaches the intersection second goes next
3. You must yield to the bicyclist going straight
4. Neither road user, since both may proceed together

16. Where may a low speed vehicle be driven in Massachusetts?

1. On any road posted up to forty miles per hour, including limited access highways
2. On limited access highways whenever traffic is light
3. Not on a limited access or express state highway, and not on any road with a speed limit faster than thirty miles per hour
4. Only on streets posted at twenty miles per hour or less

17. After stopping at flashing railroad-crossing lights and a lowered gate, when may you continue?

1. When the gate rises and the lights stop flashing
2. As soon as the last visible railcar passes
3. When the gate begins to rise, even if lights still flash
4. After waiting one minute without seeing a train

18. When may you drive across an unprotected fire hose?

1. Only when directed by a firefighter or public safety official
2. Whenever no water is flowing through it
3. Whenever your vehicle can clear it slowly
4. After the fire engine has left the intersection

19. A driver passes the vision screening only while wearing glasses. What restriction lands on the license?

1. Corrective lenses, code letter B, worn whenever driving
2. Daylight driving only, with no lens requirement
3. A mechanical aid restriction for adaptive equipment
4. No restriction, since screening staff saw the glasses

20. Which signal should you use when ready to exit a Massachusetts rotary?

1. The right turn signal
2. The left turn signal
3. Both emergency flashers
4. No signal inside a rotary

21. When may you enter a Massachusetts intersection or drive across a crosswalk?

1. Whenever your light is green, even if the far side is full
2. Only if there is enough room for you to drive through safely
3. Whenever the vehicle ahead has entered
4. Only during daylight hours

22. Your gas pedal sticks while driving in Massachusetts. What does the manual say to do first?

1. Turn off the ignition immediately
2. Put the car in neutral and press the brake pedal to slow down
3. Pull the parking brake hard
4. Open the door and jump out

23. How wide are Massachusetts bicycle lanes, and when may motor vehicles drive in them?

1. Five feet wide, and motor vehicles may drive in them only when turning on or off the road
2. Three feet wide, whenever traffic is heavy
3. Eight feet wide, for parking at night
4. Five feet wide, for passing slow vehicles

24. A nearby pedestrian cannot hear your car approaching. Even though you hold the right of way, what is the safer course?

1. Keep your speed, since the right of way is yours
2. Yield anyway, because yielding beats creating an unsafe condition
3. Honk repeatedly until the person turns around
4. Pass at once before the person steps out

25. At night in Massachusetts, from how far away must your license plate number be visible?

1. From 40 feet
2. From 50 feet
3. From 60 feet
4. From 100 feet