MI Permit Practice Test 18

All 20 questions in test 18

Every question below comes from the Michigan 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. Why can a recumbent bicycle or handcycle be difficult for a Michigan driver to see?

   1. Their low profiles can make them difficult to see
   2. Their narrow width makes them blend into ordinary traffic
   3. Their slower speed makes them hard for drivers to notice
   4. Their tall orange flags can hide them from approaching drivers
   Show answer

   Their low profiles can make them difficult to see. Michigan’s manual explains that three-wheeled recumbent bicycles and super-recumbent handcycles can be difficult to see because they ride with low profiles. It does not identify narrow width or slower speed as the reason. The tall orange flags mentioned in the manual are used for additional visibility, so they would not hide the cycle from approaching drivers. A driver scanning only at the height of an ordinary bicycle or motorcycle could miss a low-riding cycle.

   Study this in the handbook: Trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles

2. 2. You park on a hill in Michigan where there is no curb. How should you turn the front wheels?

   1. So it rolls toward the nearest driveway
   2. So it rolls straight downhill
   3. So it rolls into traffic
   4. So it rolls away from traffic
   Show answer

   So it rolls away from traffic. Where there is no curb, Michigan says to turn the front wheels so the vehicle will not roll into traffic. Without a curb to catch a tire, the wheels themselves must aim the car toward the shoulder or another safe edge if it moves. Aiming the wheels into traffic, straight downhill, or toward a driveway all send a rolling car where people are driving or walking. Set the parking brake and leave the vehicle in gear or park as well. On a slope with only a shoulder, look at where the front of the car would travel before you walk away.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings

3. 3. At what age does Michigan's Graduated Driver Licensing program end?

   1. When the teen turns 16
   2. When the teen turns 17
   3. When the teen turns 18
   4. When the teen turns 21
   Show answer

   When the teen turns 18. Michigan's Graduated Driver Licensing program ends when a teen turns 18. The program has three licensing levels, and driving privileges increase as the teen gains experience and confidence. Turning 16 is associated with eligibility for the Level 2 Intermediate License, while turning 17 is the minimum age for a Level 3 Full License. Age 21 is not the point at which GDL ends. The program's endpoint is separate from the rules that may apply to a driver after licensing.

   Study this in the handbook: Graduated Driver Licensing for teens

4. 4. When is the Graduated Driver Licensing requirement waived for a teen moving to Michigan?

   1. When the teen owns and registers a vehicle in Michigan
   2. With a valid out-of-state license held over one year
   3. After completing a required health class in ninth grade
   4. When a parent works for the Secretary of State
   Show answer

   With a valid out-of-state license held over one year. Michigan waives the Graduated Driver Licensing requirement for a teen who has held a valid license from another state for more than one year. A license held for one year or less does not meet the stated condition. The rule concerns the length of valid out-of-state licensing, not vehicle ownership, a school class, or a parent's job. A teen who does not qualify under this waiver must complete Michigan's GDL requirements before receiving the appropriate license.

   Study this in the handbook: Permits, tests, probation and renewal

5. 5. A bicyclist moves left within the lane, looks back, or begins to lean. What may this indicate?

   1. The rider is likely planning to turn
   2. The rider must stop immediately in the lane
   3. The rider is required to leave the roadway
   4. The rider is signaling that passing is prohibited for all traffic
   Show answer

   The rider is likely planning to turn. A rider's movement can communicate an intended turn. The manual says that moving to the left or right side of the lane, turning to check for traffic, or beginning to lean or tilt the vehicle makes it likely the rider is planning to turn. Those signs do not require an immediate stop, force the rider off the road, or prohibit every other vehicle from passing. Treat the movement as a warning to wait, observe the rider, and avoid turning across the rider's path.

   Study this in the handbook: Trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles

6. 6. What minimum Segment 2 supervised-driving log must accompany a Michigan applicant?

   1. At least 30 hours, including at least 2 hours at night
   2. At least 50 hours, including at least 10 hours at night
   3. At least 20 hours, all during daylight
   4. At least 6 hours, including 2 hours on a freeway
   Show answer

   At least 30 hours, including at least 2 hours at night. Segment 2 requires a log showing at least 30 hours of supervised driving, with a minimum of two nighttime hours, under the parent, guardian, or designated adult. The 50-hour and 10-night-hour combination belongs to the driving skills test and Level 1 progression, not Segment 2 enrollment. The six-hour figure describes classroom instruction. Match the log requirement to the stage named in the question.

   Study this in the handbook: Graduated Driver Licensing for teens

7. 7. How do intersection crashes compare with crashes elsewhere on Michigan roads?

   1. They cause fewer injuries than parking lot crashes
   2. They happen only during rush hour traffic
   3. They involve only drivers turning left
   4. They cause more fatal and serious injuries than other road parts
   Show answer

   They cause more fatal and serious injuries than other road parts. Crashes at intersections cause more traffic fatalities and serious injuries than crashes on any other portion of the road in Michigan. Crossing paths, turning vehicles, walkers, and signals all compete in one small space. Approach by scanning cross traffic, other users, signals, markings, and hidden corners, and stay ready for someone to ignore a control device. When you cannot predict another driver, let them go first rather than claiming the right of way into danger.

   Study this in the handbook: Aggressive driving, intersections and freeways

8. 8. Why must drivers use extra care around Michigan school buses and school zones?

   1. Children may dart into the street from around parked vehicles
   2. Buses always travel faster than other traffic
   3. School zones have no marked crosswalks nearby
   4. Children cross only when a guard is present
   Show answer

   Children may dart into the street from around parked vehicles. Children near buses and school zones can dart into the street or step out from behind parked vehicles without warning. That unpredictability demands slower speeds and constant scanning of curbs, driveways, and the far side of the bus. Stop at least twenty feet back when red overhead lights flash and stay stopped until they go off or the bus moves. Yellow hazard lights mean caution, while yellow overhead lights mean prepare to stop.

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, Move Over and school buses

9. 9. Why should every Michigan driver try to merge smoothly into traffic?

   1. Smooth merging earns the right of way by law
   2. Smooth merging allows higher entry speeds
   3. Smooth merging removes the need to signal
   4. Failing to merge smoothly disrupts the flow of traffic
   Show answer

   Failing to merge smoothly disrupts the flow of traffic. A clumsy merge breaks the rhythm of traffic and forces braking waves behind you, whether entering a freeway or turning between roads. Match speed on the acceleration lane, signal, scan mirrors and glance over your shoulder, then take a genuine gap. Freeway traffic holds the right of way, so never assume others will make room for you. When someone else merges poorly, ease off and grant space rather than defending a few feet of pavement.

   Study this in the handbook: Aggressive driving, intersections and freeways

10. 10. When the yellow light or yellow arrow is lit on a Michigan signal, what must you do?

    1. Speed up to clear the intersection quickly.
    2. Stop unless already in the intersection or unable to stop safely.
    3. Turn immediately before the red appears.
    4. Ignore it when turning left from a side street.
    Show answer

    Stop unless already in the intersection or unable to stop safely.. A steady yellow light or yellow arrow warns that the signal is about to change to red. Stop unless already in the intersection or unable to stop safely. Speeding up is not required, a yellow signal is not an immediate turn instruction, and turning from a side street does not remove the stop condition. If already in the intersection, complete the turn with caution after checking that traffic is clear. The rule's exceptions are having entered already or being unable to stop safely.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and traffic signals

11. 11. How much passing space for bicyclists do some Michigan cities require under stricter local laws?

    1. Two feet between vehicle and bicyclist
    2. Four feet between vehicle and bicyclist
    3. Five feet between vehicle and bicyclist
    4. Six feet between vehicle and bicyclist
    Show answer

    Five feet between vehicle and bicyclist. Some Michigan cities set a stricter five-foot passing distance for bicyclists, wider than the statewide three-foot floor. Two feet might clear a mirror on a calm day, yet a gust or pothole can erase it instantly. When a city posts or enforces the wider rule, give that full space or change lanes entirely. Extra room costs seconds and protects a rider who has no metal shell around them.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles

12. 12. Why should a driver make extra allowances for elderly pedestrians and people with disabilities at Michigan crossings?

    1. They are allowed to cross against the signal
    2. They may need more time to cross a street
    3. They always have a guide with them
    4. They must use only mid-block crosswalks
    Show answer

    They may need more time to cross a street. Older walkers, young children, and people with disabilities may need extra moments to finish crossing. A signal changing does not erase their right to complete the trip safely, so keep waiting even when your lane looks open beyond them. Rushing or edging forward pressures people who cannot hurry. Hold your stop, watch for a second person following behind, and proceed only when the crossing is fully empty.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles

13. 13. How does Michigan say most skids begin on slippery pavement?

    1. From driving too slowly on straight roads
    2. From turning too quickly or stopping suddenly
    3. From using low beams in falling snow
    4. From holding the steering wheel with both hands
    Show answer

    From turning too quickly or stopping suddenly. Most skids start when a driver turns too sharply or brakes suddenly on slick pavement. Tires already near their grip limit cannot obey an abrupt command, so the vehicle slides instead of turning or stopping. Gentle inputs made early preserve what traction remains. Slow down gradually before curves, test the brakes lightly to feel the surface, and leave far more room than you need on dry roads.

    Study this in the handbook: Bad weather, stopping distance and night driving

14. 14. How many points does Michigan assess for speeding 10 mph or less over the posted limit in a work zone?

    1. Two points, because the margin is small
    2. Five points, because work zones double the points
    3. Four points, because any work zone adds a point
    4. Three points, the standard work zone assessment
    Show answer

    Three points, the standard work zone assessment. Michigan's point schedule for work zone speeding starts at three points when the driver is 10 mph or less above the posted limit. The schedule then moves to four points for 11 through 15 over and five points above that. A two-point result belongs to less serious violations, and no work zone rule automatically adds a point or doubles the point total. The separate work zone penalty is doubled fines, not doubled points. When you see orange signs, treat the posted number as a hard ceiling and slow before the first barrel so the speed is already legal at the work zone entrance.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

15. 15. What practical steps does Michigan advise when someone you know has been drinking insists on driving?

    1. Let the person drive slowly on side streets
    2. Follow behind the person to watch for trouble
    3. Take away the keys and offer a place to sleep
    4. Give the person coffee and wait ten minutes
    Show answer

    Take away the keys and offer a place to sleep. When a drinker insists on driving, take the keys when possible and offer a place to sleep until sobriety returns. Coffee, showers, exercise, and fresh air cannot rush that process, since only time lowers alcohol in the body. A slow route home still exposes everyone to slowed reactions and blurred judgment. Arranging a taxi, transit ride, or designated driver ahead of the gathering avoids the confrontation entirely in most cases.

    Study this in the handbook: Your driving record, points and implied consent

16. 16. A pedestrian in Michigan wants to cross in the middle of a block. What does the law allow?

    1. Crossing only when no vehicles are in sight
    2. Crossing at an intersection but nowhere else
    3. Crossing only at a signal-controlled intersection
    4. Crossing even when a marked crosswalk is nearby
    Show answer

    Crossing even when a marked crosswalk is nearby. Michigan allows pedestrians to cross in the middle of a block even if a crosswalk is nearby. Crossing is not limited to intersections or signal-controlled locations, and an empty roadway is not the condition stated by the rule. “Crossing at an intersection but nowhere else” is wrong because the manual expressly permits a midblock crossing. “Crossing only at a signal-controlled intersection” is wrong because a signal is not required. “Crossing only when no vehicles are in sight” adds a condition the manual does not give. Drivers must still take precautions and yield to people crossing.

    Study this in the handbook: Trucks, pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles

17. 17. On a standard Michigan traffic signal, where is the red light located?

    1. At the bottom of the signal
    2. On the left side of the signal
    3. At the top of the signal
    4. In the center of the signal
    Show answer

    At the top of the signal. Michigan places the red light at the top of a standard traffic signal, with yellow below it and green at the bottom. The fixed order lets a driver identify the active color by position as well as by hue, which helps in glare or when a signal is partly obscured. The red light does not sit at the bottom, on the left side, or in the center of the housing. The cue is to glance at the top of the signal first when approaching an unfamiliar intersection, then confirm the color before entering.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and traffic signals

18. 18. What does a double solid white line between two lanes moving in the same direction mean?

    1. You may cross it to pass when it is safe
    2. You may drive on either side of it, but crossing it is prohibited
    3. It separates traffic moving in opposite directions
    4. It marks a lane reserved for bicycles
    Show answer

    You may drive on either side of it, but crossing it is prohibited. A double solid white line shows a travel path where traffic in the same direction may drive on both sides, but crossing the line is prohibited. Michigan's instruction is simple: do not cross double solid white lines. Lines that separate opposite directions are yellow, not white. A single solid white line also discourages lane changes and marks places such as sharp curves and freeway acceleration and deceleration lanes, but the double line must never be crossed. Bicycle lanes are labeled with special pavement markings and signs.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and traffic signals

19. 19. A railroad crossbuck has a plaque displaying the number 3. What does the warning identify?

    1. A railroad crossing with three train tracks ahead
    2. A passenger station with three platforms ahead
    3. A bridge carrying three train lines over the road
    4. A railroad crossing with one train track ahead
    Show answer

    A railroad crossing with three train tracks ahead. The number plaque on this crossbuck identifies a railroad crossing consisting of three train tracks. It does not describe a passenger station, a bridge carrying trains over the roadway, or a single-track crossing. Multiple tracks require a driver to look for a second train after the first one passes, because the first train can hide it. Slow down and be ready to stop as the crossing approaches, then make sure every track is clear before proceeding.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic sign shapes and colors

20. 20. How must a Michigan child be secured inside a child-restraint system?

    1. By any method that keeps the child seated safely
    2. By the lap belt alone in the rear seat
    3. Following manufacturer instructions and federal standards
    4. By an adult holding the child firmly in place
    Show answer

    Following manufacturer instructions and federal standards. Secure the child exactly as the restraint and vehicle makers direct, under federal safety standards. Improvised tightening or holding a child on a lap defeats the engineering that spreads crash forces safely. Never buckle two people into one belt, and never lift a child from the seat to nurse while moving. Children under four belong in a rear seat when one exists, and rear-facing seats need a deactivated front air bag if placed up front.

    Study this in the handbook: Phones, seat belts and child passengers