MI Permit Practice Test 4

All 20 questions in test 4

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. Unless posted otherwise, what is the speed limit on a Michigan highway that is not a designated freeway?

   1. 45 mph
   2. 65 mph
   3. 70 mph
   4. 55 mph
   Show answer

   55 mph. Unless another limit is posted, Michigan streets that are not designated freeways, and all highways, default to 55 mph. Seventy mph is the freeway maximum, and 65 mph is the cap for school buses and trucks on a 70 mph freeway. Forty-five mph is the posted work zone limit. The Basic Speed Law still requires a slower speed whenever weather, traffic or road conditions make 55 unsafe.

2. 2. What is the required response when an emergency vehicle approaches with flashing red or blue lights and a siren?

   
   1. Continue straight because the emergency vehicle can pass anywhere
   2. Move close to the right edge, clear the intersection, and stop
   3. Turn left across traffic to create a wider gap
   4. Stop immediately in the middle of the intersection
   Show answer

   Move close to the right edge, clear the intersection, and stop. The driver should move as close as possible to the right edge or curb, get clear of the intersection, and stop until the emergency vehicle passes or an officer signals that movement may resume. Continuing straight can block the response path, and stopping in the intersection leaves the vehicle where cross traffic and the emergency vehicle may need to travel. A sudden left turn across traffic creates a new conflict instead of clearing one. Check mirrors, signal the move when possible, and keep the vehicle stopped until the response has passed. More than one emergency vehicle may be following, so do not move at the first opening.

3. 3. How many Michiganders are registered organ donors, according to the manual?

   1. Fewer than half
   2. About 100,000
   3. About 1 million
   4. A majority, 4.6 million
   Show answer

   A majority, 4.6 million. A majority of Michiganders, 4.6 million, are registered organ donors. Up to 2,500 patients in Michigan and over 100,000 nationally are waiting for a transplant, most major religions support donation, there is no cost to the donor's family, and donation is considered only after every effort to save the patient's life. You can sign up when applying in person or online.

4. 4. Which turn is prohibited at the location shown?

   
   1. A right turn
   2. A U-turn at a railroad crossing
   3. A turn into a marked parking space
   4. A left turn from a center lane
   Show answer

   A right turn. The crossed right-pointing arrow prohibits right turns at the posted location, including a right turn that a driver might otherwise consider on red. It does not automatically ban a left turn, a U-turn, or pulling into a marked parking space. Those actions may have their own signs or rules elsewhere. Identify the arrow’s direction before moving from the lane, and wait for a route that allows you to continue without making the pictured turn. The sign regulates the specific movement it displays.

5. 5. For an adult age 21 or older, what amount of marijuana may Michigan law allow the person to transport?

   1. 5 ounces or less
   2. 2.5 ounces or less
   3. Only 15 grams total
   4. Any amount if sealed
   Show answer

   2.5 ounces or less. The manual says a person who is 21 or older may transport 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana. The separate 15 gram figure applies to how much of that amount may be marijuana concentrate, so it is not the total transport allowance. Sealing the material does not turn an unlimited quantity into a permitted one. This possession rule also does not authorize impaired driving. Before traveling, keep the amount within the stated limit and remember that operating a vehicle under the influence remains prohibited regardless of whether the marijuana was lawfully possessed.

6. 6. While traveling in a Michigan roundabout, where should a driver keep the vehicle relative to the center island?

   1. To the right of the center island
   2. To the left of the center island
   3. On the center island
   4. Outside the roundabout on the shoulder
   Show answer

   To the right of the center island. A vehicle entering a roundabout must give way to traffic already approaching from the left, including a bicyclist or pedestrian who is present. The layout sends circulating traffic counterclockwise around the center island, so scanning left is the useful first check. Choosing traffic from the right reverses the direction described for Michigan roundabouts. Do not treat the yield line as permission to enter immediately; slow down, look left, and wait for a suitable opening. Once inside, remain to the right of the island and follow the circular flow.

7. 7. At a steady red traffic signal in Michigan, where should you stop?

   1. Past the crosswalk so the front bumper is visible
   2. On the shoulder before the signal
   3. In the intersection if cross traffic has stopped
   4. Behind the crosswalk or stop line
   Show answer

   Behind the crosswalk or stop line. A red signal requires a stop, and the vehicle should remain behind the crosswalk or marked stop line. Stopping past the crosswalk can put the vehicle in the pedestrian path and may block people who are crossing. Entering the intersection merely because cross traffic appears stopped is also unsafe because another road user may still be approaching. The shoulder is not the normal stopping position for a signal. Look for the marked line first; if there is a crosswalk, keep it clear. Remain stopped until the signal permits movement and the intersection can be entered safely.

8. 8. What following distance does Michigan recommend as a general rule on dry or wet pavement?

   
   1. One second at every speed
   2. Two seconds, regardless of weather
   3. Three to four seconds, increased in faster or adverse conditions
   4. Exactly ten car lengths in every vehicle
   Show answer

   Three to four seconds, increased in faster or adverse conditions. The manual recommends a three to four-second following distance as a general rule on dry or wet pavement. It also says to increase that space when speeds rise or conditions become adverse, reaching six seconds or more if necessary. A fixed one-second or two-second gap leaves too little time to perceive and respond to a hazard. Ten car lengths is not a dependable measure because vehicle size and speed vary. Use a stationary roadside point to count your interval, then add time when traction or visibility worsens.

9. 9. When may a Michigan child under 4 ride in the front seat?

   1. Only when all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4
   2. Whenever the child is in a car seat
   3. Never
   4. When the air bag is turned off
   Show answer

   Only when all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4. Children younger than age 4 must be positioned in a rear seat if the vehicle has one; only if all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4 may the child be placed in a child restraint in the front seat, and a rear facing seat may never go in front of an active air bag. Leaving a child in a vehicle is lawful only under the supervision of someone 13 or older.

10. 10. What does Michigan say about the color of a traffic sign?

    
    1. Its color identifies the nearest town
    2. Its color sets the vehicle’s tire pressure
    3. Its color carries meaning
    4. Its color tells drivers the sign’s installation date
    Show answer

    Its color carries meaning. Michigan says that a traffic sign’s color carries meaning. Color is one part of the sign’s message, alongside its shape, wording, and symbol. The color does not identify the nearest town, set tire pressure, or reveal when the sign was installed. Use color as an initial cue, then read the rest of the sign and respond to the rule or warning shown. For example, the manual associates red with stop or prohibited actions, green with directions and guidance, and yellow with caution or a general warning.

11. 11. Under Michigan's Basic Speed Law, how should a driver choose speed?

    1. Drive at a careful and prudent speed that permits stopping within the clear distance ahead
    2. Always drive exactly at the posted limit
    3. Drive five mph below the limit in every condition
    4. Match the speed of the fastest nearby vehicle
    Show answer

    Drive at a careful and prudent speed that permits stopping within the clear distance ahead. The Basic Speed Law calls for a careful and prudent speed that always allows the driver to stop within the clear distance ahead. The posted limit is an upper boundary, not a promise that conditions make that speed safe. A fixed five-mph reduction may still be too fast in poor visibility, and traffic speed does not set the legal standard. Scan ahead and reduce speed when conditions shorten stopping distance.

12. 12. What does a red upraised hand or the words DONT WALK mean at a pedestrian signal?

    1. Cross quickly before vehicles receive a green light
    2. Cross only after looking over your shoulder
    3. Cross if the nearest lane appears empty
    4. Do not cross the roadway
    Show answer

    Do not cross the roadway. The red upraised hand and the words DONT WALK both tell a pedestrian not to cross the roadway. An empty-looking lane does not cancel the signal because traffic can approach from another direction or turn across the crossing. The signal also does not authorize a rushed crossing before vehicles change phases. Looking over a shoulder is a useful awareness habit, but it cannot turn a prohibited movement into a permitted one. Wait for the walking person symbol or WALK indication before starting, and continue yielding to traffic as needed.

13. 13. A Michigan teen holds a Level 2 Intermediate License. During which hours is driving prohibited unless an exception applies?

    1. Between midnight and 6 a.m.
    2. Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
    3. Between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
    4. Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
    Show answer

    Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.. Level 2 drivers may not drive from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The exceptions are narrow: a parent, guardian or designated licensed adult age 21 or older rides along, or the teen is driving for work, to or from work, or to or from an authorized activity. Midnight, 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. start times come from other states or other license stages and are not the Michigan curfew. A trip home from a friend's house at 10:30 p.m. with no adult aboard is not covered by any exception.

14. 14. What does a yield sign require a driver to do before entering the path of crossing traffic?

    1. Stop for exactly five seconds at the sign
    2. Accelerate to claim the intersection first
    3. Slow down and let vehicles crossing your path go by
    4. Yield only when a signal is also present
    Show answer

    Slow down and let vehicles crossing your path go by. A yield sign tells the driver to give the right of way to vehicles crossing the intended path. Slowing down creates time to assess the opening, and stopping may be necessary if traffic is present. The sign does not prescribe a five-second pause or reward acceleration into the intersection. A separate traffic signal is not needed for the yield command to apply. Look left, right, and ahead before entering.

15. 15. What can happen when a driver fails to obey the Move Over requirement for a stopped emergency vehicle?

    1. There is no penalty unless the driver hits the vehicle
    2. The offense can become a felony if emergency personnel are injured or killed
    3. The violation is always treated as a parking ticket
    4. Only a warning may be issued in every case
    Show answer

    The offense can become a felony if emergency personnel are injured or killed. Failure to obey the emergency-vehicle rule is serious. The manual describes a civil infraction when an authorized emergency vehicle is involved, but says the charge becomes a felony if emergency personnel are injured or killed. A collision is not the only event that can establish a violation, and the rule is not merely a parking matter. Slow down, move over when conditions allow, and preserve as much space as possible when you pass.

16. 16. When is it illegal to use or flash high-beam headlights for an oncoming vehicle?

    1. Only within 50 feet of the oncoming vehicle
    2. Only after the other driver flashes first
    3. Never, because high beams are always permitted
    4. Within 500 feet of the oncoming vehicle
    Show answer

    Within 500 feet of the oncoming vehicle. Michigan prohibits using or flashing high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. The purpose is to prevent glare that can blind the approaching driver, so waiting for the other driver to react is too late. Fifty feet is not the stated threshold, and high beams are not always permitted merely because the road is dark. Dim early, keep the vehicle under control, and use low beams as the vehicles approach each other. The cue is a generous 500-foot buffer, not a last-second change.

17. 17. What should a driver do when approaching children near a school-zone crosswalk?

    1. Use the horn to make children leave the crosswalk
    2. Keep the posted speed and assume children will wait
    3. Yield and be especially cautious because children may dart into the street
    4. Pass a stopped vehicle that is yielding to the children
    Show answer

    Yield and be especially cautious because children may dart into the street. Drivers must yield to children near or in a school-zone crosswalk when school is in session and should be especially cautious because children may unexpectedly dart into the street. Maintaining speed assumes behavior that the manual warns you not to assume. A horn is not a substitute for yielding, and passing a vehicle stopped for a child can put you into the child's path. Slow early, scan around parked vehicles, and wait until the crossing is clear.

18. 18. How does Michigan's Basic Speed Law apply when weather or another condition makes the posted speed unsafe?

    1. You must drive more slowly when conditions require it
    2. The rule applies only on freeways
    3. You may exceed the limit to maintain traffic flow
    4. The posted limit guarantees a safe speed in every condition
    Show answer

    You must drive more slowly when conditions require it. Michigan's Basic Speed Law requires a careful and prudent speed that allows the driver to stop within the clear distance ahead. That can mean traveling below the posted limit when rain, ice, fog, traffic, or another condition reduces safety. A posted number is a ceiling, not a promise that the roadway is safe at that speed. Do not exceed it to keep pace with traffic. Let visibility and stopping room set the practical speed.

19. 19. An emergency vehicle with red and blue lights and a siren approaches. Where should you stop?

    
    1. As close as possible to the right edge, clear of the intersection
    2. On the left shoulder, facing traffic
    3. In the center of the intersection until the vehicle passes
    4. On the nearest railroad track if the shoulder is blocked
    Show answer

    As close as possible to the right edge, clear of the intersection. Michigan requires an immediate move toward the right edge or curb, followed by a stop that leaves the intersection open. Stopping in the middle of the intersection can obstruct the responding unit and create a second hazard. The left shoulder is not the normal refuge because it may place your vehicle in the path of opposing traffic. Before moving, signal and check the space beside you, then remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed or an officer signals that you may proceed. The practical cue is simple: right side, clear intersection, full stop.

20. 20. Michigan's driver manual still describes a six-month license suspension for a drug conviction even when the person was not driving. What is the current status of that automatic suspension law, MCL 257.319e?

    1. It still applies, with a six-month suspension for a first conviction
    2. It was repealed by 2020 Public Act 376, effective October 1, 2021
    3. It now applies only to drivers under 21
    4. It was expanded to a two-year suspension
    Show answer

    It was repealed by 2020 Public Act 376, effective October 1, 2021. MCL 257.319e, which required the Secretary of State to suspend a license automatically after certain convictions, including drug offenses unrelated to driving, was repealed by 2020 Public Act 376 effective October 1, 2021. The manual text describing six-month and one-year suspensions reflects the old law. Drug-impaired driving is still a separate offense under Michigan's operating while intoxicated law, with license sanctions and six points.