MI Permit Practice Test 19

All 20 questions in test 19

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. What is prohibited while a Michigan vehicle is moving with a young child inside?

   1. Reading a map in the front passenger seat
   2. Giving a child a drink from a sealed cup
   3. Playing music for children in the rear seat
   4. Removing a child from a car seat to nurse while moving
   Show answer

   Removing a child from a car seat to nurse while moving. Taking a child out of a car seat to nurse while the vehicle moves is prohibited in Michigan. A crying infant tempts a parent to unbuckle just briefly, yet even a low-speed crash can tear a held child from adult arms. Stop in a safe place first, then feed and resettle the child in the restraint. Insist every child buckles before the engine starts, and replace any safety seat after it has been in a crash.

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

2. 2. What does a Michigan Wrong Way sign tell a driver who sees it facing them?

   1. The road ahead is closed for repairs
   2. You have entered a lane of oncoming traffic
   3. Trucks must leave at the next exit ramp
   4. Parking is prohibited along the next block
   Show answer

   You have entered a lane of oncoming traffic. A Wrong Way sign means you have entered a lane carrying traffic toward you, often a freeway ramp taken backwards. The instruction is urgent: get out the safest and quickest way possible before opposing vehicles arrive at speed. A Do Not Enter sign tries to stop the mistake earlier at the ramp mouth. Once you see Wrong Way, avoid continuing in the lane or trying to turn around in traffic; leave by the safest route available.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic sign shapes and colors

3. 3. On a five-section signal, the plain green light is lit without an arrow. When may you turn?

   1. Right away, because green always protects the turn
   2. When oncoming traffic has cleared the intersection
   3. After the yellow arrow begins flashing at the signal
   4. Plain green signals forbid turning at intersections
   Show answer

   When oncoming traffic has cleared the intersection. A plain green light on the doghouse signal lets you turn only after oncoming traffic has cleared. The protected phase ended when the green arrow went dark, a distinction many drivers miss. Yield also to people in the crosswalk while you wait, wheels straight, inside the intersection. If the signal cycles to red while you wait, complete the turn carefully once conflicting traffic stops, rather than freezing in the junction.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and traffic signals

4. 4. What is an entrance ramp designed to let Michigan freeway traffic do?

   1. Stop before entering the freeway lanes
   2. Reduce to walking speed before joining freeway traffic
   3. Enter and merge with freeway traffic
   4. Cross into the opposite direction of the freeway
   Show answer

   Enter and merge with freeway traffic. An entrance ramp lets traffic enter the freeway and usually leads to an acceleration lane where the driver can build speed to match freeway traffic. It is not a stopping area, a place to slow to walking speed, or a route to the opposite direction. Signal, check mirrors and the shoulder, choose a safe gap, and yield to vehicles already on the freeway. The merging driver must adjust speed and position to join the through traffic safely.

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

5. 5. A pedestrian using a white cane is crossing a Michigan street ahead of you. What does the law require?

   1. Pass on the left after sounding your horn
   2. Continue if you have a green light
   3. Stop or yield the right of way
   4. Wave the pedestrian back to the curb
   Show answer

   Stop or yield the right of way. A pedestrian using a white cane or a guide dog has a legal right to cross, and Michigan requires drivers to stop or yield the right of way. Passing on the left after a horn blast endangers someone who may not see the car, and a green light does not cancel the duty. Waving the person back to the curb is both confusing and unsafe. The cane and the dog are cues that the pedestrian may not detect your vehicle by sight, so stop well back from the crosswalk, stay quiet, and wait until the crossing is complete.

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

6. 6. How does marijuana impair a Michigan driver's judgment according to the manual?

   1. It mainly reduces hearing at intersections
   2. It causes drivers to overestimate following distance
   3. It affects only night driving ability
   4. It distorts the perception of time, space and speed
   Show answer

   It distorts the perception of time, space and speed. Michigan warns that marijuana distorts a driver's perception of time, space and speed, which makes gaps and closing rates hard to judge. The problem is not limited to hearing, nighttime driving, or a tendency to leave too much following distance; the drug changes how the driver reads the road itself. That is why a driver can feel capable while making poor decisions. The cue is to separate the question of legality from the question of fitness: even where marijuana is legal, do not drive until the effect has worn off, and arrange a sober ride before using it.

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

7. 7. How should a Michigan driver treat an unmarked median crossover at a Michigan Left?

   1. As a pedestrian crossing only
   2. As a two-lane crossover
   3. As a lane closed to U-turns
   4. As a single-lane crossover
   Show answer

   As a single-lane crossover. Michigan's rule for an unmarked median crossover is to treat it as a single-lane crossover, even if the pavement looks wide enough for two vehicles. The extra width is there for tractor trailers and recreational vehicles that need a larger turning radius, not for side-by-side turns. Assuming two lanes can put you into another driver's path, and calling the crossover closed or pedestrian-only ignores its purpose. Approach it as one vehicle at a time, wait behind the vehicle ahead, and complete the U-turn without crowding the curb.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and traffic signals

8. 8. A construction worker in a Michigan work zone waves you forward while a portable signal shows red. What should you do?

   1. Wait for the portable signal to turn green
   2. Follow the worker's direction
   3. Proceed only after the car ahead moves
   4. Sound your horn and wait for the signal
   Show answer

   Follow the worker's direction. Construction workers may direct traffic in a Michigan work zone, and their hand signals override an existing traffic control device. A flagger waving you through is telling you that the path is clear despite what the portable light shows, so waiting for green would ignore the person managing the site. Following the car ahead is not the same as following the flagger, and honking does not resolve the conflict. Treat the worker as the authority on the spot, proceed at a walking pace, and keep watching for equipment or crew members who may step into your path.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and work zones

9. 9. What can happen if a driver turns the ignition to the lock position while the vehicle is moving?

   1. The steering can lock and the driver can lose control
   2. The vehicle automatically shifts into a safer lower gear
   3. The headlights become brighter without affecting steering
   4. The brakes begin applying until the vehicle stops
   Show answer

   The steering can lock and the driver can lose control. Turning the ignition to the lock position while the vehicle is moving can lock the steering. If the driver then tries to turn the steering wheel, control of the vehicle can be lost. The action does not automatically select a lower gear, brighten the headlights, or apply the brakes. Keep the ignition out of the lock position while moving and use the vehicle's normal controls to slow or stop. The steering-lock hazard is the reason the manual treats this as a serious risk.

10. 10. Another driver tailgates you on a Michigan road. What is the safer response?

    1. Brake suddenly to teach the driver a lesson
    2. Pull over and let the tailgating driver pass
    3. Speed up until the gap behind you grows
    4. Flash your brake lights repeatedly at the driver
    Show answer

    Pull over and let the tailgating driver pass. Let a tailgater go by rather than defending your space with the brake pedal. Having that impatient driver ahead of you, where you can watch them, beats carrying them on your rear bumper. Sudden braking can trigger the crash you fear, and speeding only raises the stakes. Move aside where it is safe, keep your pace steady, and rebuild your following room once they are gone.

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

11. 11. What tells drivers that both lanes of a multi-lane Michigan Left crossover may be used to turn?

    1. A police officer waving from the median
    2. Pavement arrows, ONLY lettering and white solid lines
    3. Two green arrows on a traffic signal head
    4. A yellow flag placed on the median crossover
    Show answer

    Pavement arrows, ONLY lettering and white solid lines. Arrows, ONLY lettering, and white solid lines on the pavement show that both crossover lanes may turn at a multi-lane Michigan Left. Without those markings, treat any crossover as single-lane, even when the opening looks wide enough for two cars. That width often exists for tractor trailers needing a broad swing. Single file patience prevents side-by-side drivers from hiding each other from opposing traffic at the crossover.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and traffic signals

12. 12. What can happen if you respond to an aggressive driver in the same aggressive way?

    1. The other driver must yield by law
    2. Nothing, because intent matters more than action
    3. It can escalate into road rage and an assault
    4. The police will cite only the first driver
    Show answer

    It can escalate into road rage and an assault. Matching aggression can push a traffic dispute into road rage, where a driver uses a weapon or the vehicle itself to assault the other person. Proving you were right holds no value beside injuries neither party can undo. Slow down, give an ill-advised merger room, and keep your gestures and horn out of the argument. If that driver crashes ahead, stop a safe distance back, wait for police, and report what you witnessed.

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

13. 13. When parallel parking in Michigan, how far should your vehicle be from the car parked directly ahead before you begin backing up?

    1. About 6 to 12 inches
    2. About 10 to 15 feet
    3. About 1 to 2 feet
    4. About 2 to 5 feet
    Show answer

    About 2 to 5 feet. Michigan teaches parallel parking in a set sequence. Pull alongside the car parked directly ahead of the open space so that 2 to 5 feet separate the two vehicles, then brake, shift into reverse and back slowly while checking mirrors. Six to twelve inches is the final gap allowed between your tires and the curb once the car is parked, not the starting gap beside the other car. One to two feet leaves too little room to swing the nose in, while 10 to 15 feet leaves your vehicle out in the traffic lane and too far from the space. Use the other car's rear bumper as your reference before turning the wheel.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings

14. 14. You are driving inside a Michigan roundabout and traffic is flowing around the circle. When should you stop inside the roundabout?

    1. Whenever a vehicle waits at the next entry point
    2. Whenever a large truck needs extra room beside you
    3. Only when stopping is the sole way to avoid a collision or other danger
    4. At every exit to check for pedestrians before leaving
    Show answer

    Only when stopping is the sole way to avoid a collision or other danger. Inside a roundabout, keep moving to the right of the center island and do not stop unless stopping is the only way to avoid a collision or other danger. Stopping for every waiting entry vehicle, nearby truck or exit breaks the circulating flow and can cause a rear-end crash behind you. Choose your lane before entering, give large vehicles room without passing beside them, watch for people crossing at entries and exits, and signal your exit. If an emergency vehicle approaches, leave at the nearest exit and pull over outside the circle.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way, pedestrians and roundabouts

15. 15. A Michigan driver gets a flat tire on a busy road. What does the manual advise?

    1. Stop in the travel lane and change the tire beside passing traffic
    2. Walk along the freeway to find a phone
    3. Leave the car and hitchhike for help
    4. Drive slowly to a service station or well-lighted lot
    Show answer

    Drive slowly to a service station or well-lighted lot. Michigan advises against getting out to fix a flat tire. Instead, try to drive slowly to a service station or a store with a well-lighted parking lot and telephone for service. Stopping in the travel lane puts you beside fast-moving traffic, and walking along a freeway is both dangerous and illegal. Hitchhiking is not a safe plan either. If the tire will not hold enough air to move, pull as far off the road as possible, turn on the hazard flashers, and stay belted inside until help arrives.

16. 16. What license action does Michigan require after a drug conviction, even when the offense did not involve driving?

    1. The driver's license is suspended
    2. No action unless the person was driving during the offense
    3. Points are added but the license remains fully valid
    4. A restricted license is issued with no suspension period
    Show answer

    The driver's license is suspended. Michigan requires a driver's license suspension for a drug conviction even when the person was not driving at the time of the offense. Possession, manufacture or distribution can also lead to suspension, so the penalty is tied to the drug conviction itself rather than to a crash or traffic stop. That surprises applicants who assume licensing consequences only follow road offenses. Court fines, record entries and reinstatement steps are separate matters. Do not drive during a suspension, because added violations can extend the loss of driving privileges.

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

17. 17. When setting cruise control on a Michigan road, what speed does the manual recommend?

    1. At or below the posted speed limit
    2. Exactly 5 mph above the posted speed limit
    3. At the speed of traffic, even above the posted limit
    4. At a fixed 55 mph regardless of the posted speed limit
    Show answer

    At or below the posted speed limit. The manual says to set cruise control at or below the posted speed limit. That rules out the five-mph increase in B and the above-limit traffic setting in C. It also gives no universal 55-mph setting, so D is wrong when the posted limit is different. Cruise control is best suited to rural roads with little traffic, and the manual cautions against using it when conditions make constant resetting necessary. If the sign says 45 mph, the cruise-control setting cannot be 50 or 55 mph.

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

18. 18. Where is cruise control best suited for use, under Michigan guidance?

    1. In heavy traffic near many entrance ramps
    2. On slippery roads covered with rain or ice
    3. In rural areas where there is not much traffic
    4. While towing the heaviest loads you own
    Show answer

    In rural areas where there is not much traffic. Cruise control fits rural driving with light traffic, where steady speed saves fuel without constant resetting. Busy ramps and slick pavement demand frequent human speed changes that the system cannot judge. Towing heavy loads also argues against it, since many manufacturers advise against that use. Set it at or below the posted limit, stay ready to brake, and remember that tapping the accelerator does not cancel the setting.

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

19. 19. What must a teen present to enter driver education Segment 2 in Michigan?

    1. A log of at least 30 supervised hours including 2 at night
    2. A log of at least 50 supervised hours including 10 at night
    3. A passed driving skills test certificate first
    4. A Level 2 license application signed by a judge
    Show answer

    A log of at least 30 supervised hours including 2 at night. Segment 2 entry requires a driving log showing at least thirty supervised hours, including a minimum of two hours at night, with a parent, guardian, or designated adult. The larger fifty-hour total with ten night hours comes later, before the driving skills test, which makes the two figures easy to swap. You must also have held the Level 1 license for at least three consecutive months before Segment 2.

    Study this in the handbook: Graduated Driver Licensing for teens

20. 20. How many moving-violation convictions within three years can a first-time applicant have and still apply for a Michigan license?

    1. No more than one conviction in three years
    2. Up to three convictions in three years
    3. Up to five convictions in three years
    4. Any number if fines were paid on time
    Show answer

    No more than one conviction in three years. A first-time applicant may carry no more than one moving-violation conviction from the three years before applying. Two or more convictions in that window, for someone never licensed anywhere, blocks issuance entirely. Paying fines on time does not soften the count, since the rule looks at convictions themselves. Check your record before applying, and allow time to pass if a second conviction still sits inside the window.

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