MA Permit Practice Test 21

All 20 questions in test 21

Every question below comes from the Massachusetts 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. 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
   Show answer

   Only if there is enough room for you to drive through safely. You may enter an intersection or drive across a crosswalk only if there is enough room to drive through safely. Blocking an intersection is illegal, and blocking vehicles or pedestrians causes traffic jams and violates traffic law. A green light or another vehicle entering does not remove the need to check that your vehicle can clear. A green light does not permit entering when no room waits beyond the intersection.

   Study this in the handbook: Signaling, lane use and highway driving

2. 2. After passing a bicycle on your right in Massachusetts, when may you return to the right?

   1. Not until you have safely passed the overtaken bicycle
   2. As soon as your front bumper is ahead of the bicycle
   3. Immediately, if you signal first
   4. After 100 feet in every case
   Show answer

   Not until you have safely passed the overtaken bicycle. The manual calls the mistake cutting off the bicycle. When you pass a bike that is on your right and traveling your way, you may not move back to the right until you have safely cleared it, which means the whole bicycle is behind you with room to spare. Being bumper ahead is not clear, a signal does not create space, and a fixed footage is not the standard. A right turn just after passing a cyclist is the same hazard and needs the same patience.

3. 3. What do bicycle signals show, and what happens for bicyclists when the bicycle signal is green?

   1. Arrows only, and bicyclists must still wait for cars
   2. Flashing white lights, and cars go first
   3. Steady red, yellow, and green bicycle symbols; on green, bicyclists can go through busy intersections while motor vehicles are stopped
   4. Green means bicyclists must walk their bikes
   Show answer

   Steady red, yellow, and green bicycle symbols; on green, bicyclists can go through busy intersections while motor vehicles are stopped. Bicycle signals speak directly to riders with their own symbols. They display as steady red, yellow, and green bicycle symbols rather than round vehicle lights or arrows. When the signal is green, bicyclists can go through busy intersections while motor vehicles are stopped, which protects riders from turning vehicles. Arrows only misdescribes the symbol set, and waiting for cars wastes the protected phase. Flashing white lights belong to no part of this device. Walking the bike on green discards the very movement the green bicycle symbol authorizes. Drivers should expect riders to proceed on that green.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and pedestrian signals

4. 4. In a Massachusetts work zone, a police officer or flagger directs traffic against what a sign or signal shows. Whose directions control?

   1. You must obey the traffic officer directions, even when they overrule signs, signals, or pavement markings
   2. The sign always controls over a person
   3. The newest pavement marking controls
   4. Each driver chooses whichever seems safer
   Show answer

   You must obey the traffic officer directions, even when they overrule signs, signals, or pavement markings. When approaching a work zone, reduce speed and watch surrounding traffic and hazards. Follow the directions of a police officer or civil flagger who is present. You must obey a traffic officer’s directions even when they overrule signs, signals, or pavement markings. Uniform officer direction, not individual choice, moves traffic through safely. Officer directions overrule signs when the two conflict in a work zone.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and work zones

5. 5. Under the Massachusetts rules for drivers 18 and older, when may a driver use a handheld mobile device while stationary?

   1. Only if the vehicle is stationary and not located in a public travel lane; never at red lights or stop signs
   2. At any red light or stop sign
   3. Whenever traffic is stopped for any reason
   4. In a travel lane if hazard lights are on
   Show answer

   Only if the vehicle is stationary and not located in a public travel lane; never at red lights or stop signs. For drivers 18 and older, handheld device use is allowed only when the vehicle is stationary and outside a public travel lane. It is not allowed at red lights or stop signs. Do not stop on the side of a busy road or highway to use a mobile electronic device. Red lights and stop signs are expressly excluded, even though the vehicle is stopped.

   Study this in the handbook: Hands free law and distracted driving

6. 6. A green bicycle box is painted before a crosswalk at a red light. Where must drivers stop?

   1. Inside the box if no bicyclist is present
   2. On the crosswalk beyond the box
   3. Behind the bicycle box, even when it is empty, waiting for a green light
   4. In the box only when turning right
   Show answer

   Behind the bicycle box, even when it is empty, waiting for a green light. Bicycle boxes reserve intersection space so riders can position visibly for turns and straight travel. Drivers must stop behind the bicycle box, even when the box is empty, and wait for a green light. Entering an empty box treats reservation as conditional on current occupancy, which defeats its purpose when a rider arrives late. The crosswalk beyond must also stay clear for people on foot. Right turns gain no special entry permission. Paint discipline is simple: the green box belongs to bicycles at the stop phase, so the car nose belongs behind its rear edge.

7. 7. A vehicle ahead has stopped or is turning, at an intersection or elsewhere. Why should you avoid passing it?

   1. Stopped vehicles always wave followers around
   2. It may be stopped for another vehicle, a person, or an animal that you cannot see
   3. The stopped driver takes legal charge of your lane
   4. Passing stopped vehicles saves fuel on hills
   Show answer

   It may be stopped for another vehicle, a person, or an animal that you cannot see. Do not pass vehicles that are stopped or turning, at intersections or elsewhere. They may be stopped for another vehicle, a person, or an animal that you cannot see. The stated reason is that the vehicle may be stopped for a vehicle, person, or animal you cannot see. Fuel use on hills has nothing to do with hidden hazards ahead. No automatic wave of permission comes from a stopped vehicle.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing, school buses and the move over law

8. 8. Hitting a windshield at 30 mph is compared to what fall in Massachusetts safety guidance?

   1. Falling from a first story roof
   2. Falling from the third story of a building and hitting the pavement
   3. Falling from a second story balcony
   4. Stepping off a curb at walking speed
   Show answer

   Falling from the third story of a building and hitting the pavement. The manual compares hitting the windshield at 30 mph to falling from the third story of a building and hitting the pavement. Safety belts help stop you from hitting the windshield, dashboard, or other hard parts of the vehicle in a crash. A curb step involves walking speed, not the force of a 30 mph windshield strike. A first story fall understates the windshield impact described at 30 mph.

9. 9. What is the fastest speed allowed when driving a moped in Massachusetts?

   1. 20 mph
   2. 30 mph
   3. 25 mph
   4. 40 mph
   Show answer

   25 mph. Massachusetts caps moped operation at 25 mph even though the machine definition allows a maximum speed of 30 mph or lower with a small motor and automatic transmission. That gap between classification and road use traps riders who treat 30 mph as permission to travel that fast. A version allowing 30 mph fails because it borrows the definition ceiling and ignores the stricter riding limit. Lower two wheeled limits nearby, such as 20 mph for motorized scooters, also do not govern mopeds. Keep the speedometer needle at or below 25 whenever the moped moves.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and mopeds

10. 10. A visitor driving in Massachusetts on a license from another country violates Section 10. What penalty applies to a first offense?

    1. A fine of $100
    2. A fine of $500
    3. A warning with no fine
    4. A fine of $1,000
    Show answer

    A fine of $500. A violation of Section 10 is a criminal violation. A first offense is subject to a $500 fine. One hundred dollars understates the penalty; a first Section 10 offense carries a $500 fine. One thousand dollars doubles the stated amount; the fine for a first offense is $500. A warning alone is not the consequence; the violation is criminal and fined $500. The cited passage states the point directly: violation of Section 10 is a criminal violation and a first offense is subject to a fine of $500.

    Study this in the handbook: The learner's permit and permit exam

11. 11. Which speed and road limits apply to a motorized scooter in Massachusetts?

    1. Do not drive faster than 20 mph, and do not drive on limited access or express state highways
    2. Drive up to 35 mph on any road, day or night
    3. Drive up to 20 mph only on express highways
    4. No speed limit applies if a helmet is worn
    Show answer

    Do not drive faster than 20 mph, and do not drive on limited access or express state highways. Motorized scooter riders must not drive faster than 20 mph or use limited-access or express state highways. Riders need a valid license or permit, must wear a helmet meeting or exceeding the US DOT standard, stay to the right, signal before stopping or turning, carry no passengers, and not ride after sunset or before sunrise. A 35 mph speed exceeds the speed limit; permission to use any road would conflict with the highway restriction.

12. 12. On dry, level pavement with brakes and tires working, what total stopping distance does Massachusetts give for 30 mph?

    1. About 75 feet
    2. About 90 feet
    3. About 160 feet
    4. About 104 feet
    Show answer

    About 104 feet. With working brakes and tires on dry, level pavement, the manual gives a total stopping distance of about 104 feet at 30 mph. This includes reacting to a hazard, applying the brakes, and stopping. The manual cautions that actual stopping distances vary with road, weather, and vehicle conditions. One hundred sixty feet overstates the 30 mph total, which is about 104 feet. Seventy five feet understates the total stopping distance given for 30 mph.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping distance, headlights, night and bad weather

13. 13. How far may side and rear window tinting go on a Massachusetts passenger vehicle, and what does state law say about the windshield?

    1. Side and rear windows may be darkened up to 35 percent, and tinting the windshield is illegal
    2. Side and rear windows may be darkened up to 50 percent, and light windshield tint is allowed
    3. Any window may be darkened without limit as long as mirrors are fitted
    4. Only the rear window may be tinted, and only up to 20 percent
    Show answer

    Side and rear windows may be darkened up to 35 percent, and tinting the windshield is illegal. Massachusetts allows glass tinting on passenger vehicles only within a stated limit. Side and rear windows may be darkened up to 35 percent, while putting tint on the windshield is illegal. A 50 percent figure overstates what the law permits for side glass, and it wrongly suggests the windshield may be tinted lightly. Unlimited tinting with mirrors fitted is never offered as an option, and limiting tint to the rear window at 20 percent invents both a narrower scope and a different percentage. Check the 35 percent ceiling and keep the windshield clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and safe following distance

14. 14. Without RMV approval, how many different applicants may one sponsor accompany for Massachusetts road tests within one year?

    1. One applicant
    2. Five applicants
    3. No limit applies
    4. Three applicants
    Show answer

    Three applicants. Without approval from the RMV Road Test Program, an operator may not sponsor more than three different applicants within one year. A Class D road test sponsor must be at least 21, have at least one year of driving experience, and hold a valid license from their home state. Foreign driver’s license holders are not eligible to sponsor. Five applicants exceeds the limit that applies without RMV approval.

    Study this in the handbook: The road test

15. 15. What is the standard Massachusetts fee for a duplicate or amended license when no fee exemption applies?

    1. 10 dollars, only at renewal
    2. 50 dollars, the same as a Class D issue fee
    3. No charge for amendments
    4. 25 dollars for a change that results in reissuance of a license
    Show answer

    25 dollars for a change that results in reissuance of a license. Card changes carry their own flat price. Massachusetts charges 25 dollars for a duplicate or amended license, described as the fee for any change that results in the reissuance of a license. Ten dollars understates the charge and wrongly ties it to renewal. Fifty dollars matches the Class D or Class M issue and renew fee, a different transaction. This is the standard fee; exceptions include a free Veteran-indicator duplicate when the license is not eligible for renewal and license transactions for qualifying disabled veterans. Separate prices frame the system: the learner permit exam costs 30 dollars, the road test costs 35 dollars, and Class D licenses cost 50 dollars.

    Study this in the handbook: The learner's permit and permit exam

16. 16. A center lane on a two-way road is marked as a common left-turn lane for traffic from both directions. How may you use it?

    1. As an extra travel lane when traffic slows
    2. Only for turning; you may not travel in a center turning lane
    3. As a passing lane around stopped buses
    4. As parking while waiting for a passenger
    Show answer

    Only for turning; you may not travel in a center turning lane. On some two-way roads, a center lane is marked as a common left-turn lane for vehicles traveling in both directions. You may not travel in a center turning lane. Waiting for a passenger is parking, not the turning use allowed here. Slow traffic does not convert a turning refuge into a travel lane. Passing around buses counts as travel, which the center lane bars.

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, right of way and rotaries

17. 17. In a multi lane rotary approached from a multi lane road, with no signs directing otherwise, how should you make a three quarter turn or U turn?

    1. Enter from the right lane and stay outside
    2. Enter from the left and exit onto the left lane
    3. Stop inside the rotary to change lanes
    4. Enter from the left lane, travel through the middle or inner lane, and exit onto the right lane
    Show answer

    Enter from the left lane, travel through the middle or inner lane, and exit onto the right lane. With a multi-lane approach and no signs directing otherwise, enter from the left lane for a three-quarter turn or U-turn in a multi-lane rotary. Travel through the middle or inner lane and exit onto the right lane. Do not stop in the rotary. If you miss your exit, check traffic and go around again if it is safe. Right lane entry serves quarter turns and straight travel, not three quarter turns.

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, right of way and rotaries

18. 18. A road test vehicle is registered outside Massachusetts. What insurance proof must the examiner see?

    1. A verbal promise that a policy exists back home
    2. Coverage of $10,000 and $20,000 for bodily injury plus $5,000 for property damage
    3. Any policy card, regardless of the limits printed on it
    4. Coverage equal to $25,000 and $50,000 for bodily injury plus $30,000 for property damage
    Show answer

    Coverage equal to $25,000 and $50,000 for bodily injury plus $30,000 for property damage. For an out-of-state road test vehicle, show the examiner proof of insurance equal to Massachusetts minimum limits: $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $30,000 for property damage. A policy or certificate listing the coverage limits serves as proof. Those smaller bodily injury and property figures fall below the Massachusetts minimum limits required for the test vehicle. A card with limits below the Massachusetts floors fails, because the coverage itself must equal the required minimums.

    Study this in the handbook: The road test

19. 19. What does the Massachusetts Implied Consent Law require of every licensed driver in the state?

    1. Agreement to carry proof of insurance at all times
    2. Agreement to attend a hearing within ten business days
    3. Agreement to consent to a breathalyzer or blood test in certain cases
    4. Agreement to install an ignition interlock after any arrest
    Show answer

    Agreement to consent to a breathalyzer or blood test in certain cases. Under the Massachusetts Implied Consent Law, every licensed driver in the state must agree to consent to a breathalyzer or blood test in certain cases. If an officer believes you are operating under the influence of alcohol, the officer may ask for a breathalyzer or blood test if you have been arrested. Ten business days concerns a hearings officer decision, not consent to a chemical test.

    Study this in the handbook: Operating under the influence and chemical tests

20. 20. Your brakes fail and your vehicle does not have antilock brakes. What should you do with the brake pedal?

    1. Press the pedal once and hold it down without releasing
    2. Pump the pedal only because antilock brakes require pumping
    3. Pump the brake pedal several times rapidly to build up brake fluid pressure
    4. Ignore the pedal and steer onto grass immediately
    Show answer

    Pump the brake pedal several times rapidly to build up brake fluid pressure. If your vehicle does not have antilock brakes, pump the brake pedal several times rapidly to build brake fluid pressure. Do not pump antilock brakes. If pumping does not work, downshift and gently apply the parking brake, holding its release in case the vehicle starts to skid. For brake failure without antilock brakes, the manual directs rapid repeated pumping to build brake fluid pressure.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, skids, brake failure and breakdowns