MI Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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. A 19-year-old Michigan driver refuses a Preliminary Breath Test at the roadside. How many points does that refusal carry?

   1. Zero, because the test is voluntary
   2. Two points
   3. Four points
   4. Six points
   Show answer

   Two points. For a driver younger than 21, refusing the Preliminary Breath Test is a two-point violation. It sits in the same group as six to 10 mph over the limit and an open alcohol container. Six points apply to refusing the chemical alcohol test, a separate test from the roadside one. Four points apply to actually driving under 21 with any bodily alcohol content. Calling the refusal free of consequences is wrong, since the point chart lists it.

2. 2. A Michigan driver collects 12 points within two years. What does the Secretary of State require?

   1. An automatic lifetime revocation
   2. Nothing, because points expire after 12 months
   3. A driver assessment reexamination
   4. Only a letter from the insurance company
   Show answer

   A driver assessment reexamination. Twelve or more points within a two-year period, or six or more one-point violations in that time, triggers a driver assessment reexamination. At that meeting an analyst can restrict, suspend or revoke the license, but revocation is not automatic for life. Points stay on the record for two years from the date of conviction, not 12 months. Insurance company points are a separate system and do not satisfy the state requirement.

3. 3. Unless posted otherwise, what is the speed limit in a Michigan platted subdivision or condominium complex?

   1. 15 mph
   2. 35 mph
   3. 25 mph
   4. 45 mph
   Show answer

   25 mph. Michigan's standard limit in platted subdivisions and condominium complexes is 25 mph. Fifteen mph is the limit for mobile home parks and some municipal parks. Thirty-five mph is not a default in the Michigan Vehicle Code summary, and 45 mph is the posted work zone limit. Drivers should still watch for posted signs in school and hospital zones and near parks, where limits vary.

4. 4. If your vehicle begins hydroplaning on a wet road, which condition can contribute to the loss of control?

   1. Worn tires or low tire pressure
   2. A properly adjusted rearview mirror
   3. A full fuel tank and working turn signals
   4. A clean windshield and dry brakes
   Show answer

   Worn tires or low tire pressure. Hydroplaning occurs when the tires ride on top of water instead of maintaining dependable contact with the pavement. Michigan identifies worn tires, low tire pressure, and excessive speed as contributors. The condition is not caused by a clean windshield, a mirror adjustment, or a full tank. If it begins, ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt steering or braking while the tires regain traction. The useful warning cue is a wet roadway combined with worn tread, underinflation, or speed that is too high for the water present.

5. 5. If this sign is facing you, what traffic problem are you in?

   
   1. A temporary construction detour
   2. A lane reserved for trucks
   3. A lane of oncoming traffic
   4. A road where passing is encouraged
   Show answer

   A lane of oncoming traffic. WRONG WAY warns that your vehicle has entered a lane used by oncoming traffic. The safest response is to avoid continuing into the conflict, pull over when possible, and get out by the safest and quickest route. A truck-only lane or construction detour would require a different sign and different instructions. Passing is especially dangerous here because the central problem is the direction of traffic itself. Treat the message as urgent, check carefully, and do not make a sudden turn across moving vehicles.

6. 6. What does Michigan's Basic Speed Law require when the posted limit is higher than conditions safely permit?

   1. Drive exactly at the posted limit in every condition
   2. Drive at a careful and prudent speed, possibly below the posted limit
   3. Use the freeway speed even on a local street
   4. Match the speed of the fastest nearby vehicle
   Show answer

   Drive at a careful and prudent speed, possibly below the posted limit. Michigan's Basic Speed Law requires a careful and prudent speed that lets the driver stop within the clear distance ahead. A posted limit is a ceiling, not a promise that the same speed is safe during rain, ice, darkness, congestion, or limited visibility. Matching a fast vehicle can compound the danger, and a freeway figure has no automatic authority on another road. Scan ahead, judge traction and visibility, and reduce speed before the hazard becomes immediate. The cue is clear distance: if you cannot stop within what you see, slow down.

7. 7. What must you do when a stopped emergency vehicle is on the shoulder and traffic conditions allow a lane change?

   
   1. Stop beside it and wait for a signal
   2. Pass it on the shoulder at the same speed
   3. Turn off your headlights and continue normally
   4. Move over one lane away from it
   Show answer

   Move over one lane away from it. Michigan's move-over rule calls for changing lanes away from a stopped emergency vehicle when traffic and conditions make that possible. The maneuver still requires a safe gap and an appropriate signal. If changing lanes cannot be done, the driver must slow at least 10 mph below the posted limit and leave as much space as possible. Stopping beside the vehicle or using the shoulder as a passing lane increases exposure for responders. See the vehicle early, check mirrors, create room, and pass with caution.

8. 8. Who must take a Michigan motorcycle rider education course?

   1. All riders regardless of age
   2. Only riders over 50
   3. Teens ages 16 to 17, and adults who fail the motorcycle skills test twice
   4. No one, the course is optional for everyone
   Show answer

   Teens ages 16 to 17, and adults who fail the motorcycle skills test twice. To earn a motorcycle endorsement you complete a rider education course or pass the written knowledge and skills tests, and the course is required for teens ages 16 to 17 and for adults who fail the motorcycle skills test twice. A restricted three wheel endorsement is available after a three wheel skills test. A chauffeur's license also requires age 16.

9. 9. If you cannot stop safely on a yellow light, what should you avoid doing?

   1. Checking the crosswalk before continuing
   2. Continuing cautiously when a safe stop is impossible
   3. Speeding up to get through the intersection
   4. Watching for vehicles entering from the side
   Show answer

   Speeding up to get through the intersection. When a yellow light appears, a driver should stop if stopping can be done safely. If the vehicle is too close or conditions make a safe stop impossible, Michigan says not to speed up; continue through the intersection cautiously instead. Speeding up is the unsafe action to avoid, while checking the crosswalk and watching for side traffic remain prudent. Do not reverse into a following vehicle to manufacture a stop. The cue is yellow demands a safety judgment, never a rush to beat the red.

10. 10. What should a driver do when approaching a YIELD sign?

    1. Slow down, check for traffic, and be prepared to stop
    2. Stop only after entering the intersection
    3. Accelerate so other traffic must yield
    4. Proceed without checking if the lane appears open
    Show answer

    Slow down, check for traffic, and be prepared to stop. A yield sign calls for a controlled approach: reduce speed, look for conflicting traffic, and be ready to stop. Accelerating would make it harder to give way, while stopping after entering the intersection could place the vehicle in the path of traffic or pedestrians. An apparently open lane still requires a check because another road user may be approaching from a less visible direction. Yielding is not an automatic full stop every time, but it is also not permission to continue without observation. Use the sign as a prompt to slow early, scan the conflict area, and stop if the situation requires it.

11. 11. Who has the right of way while traveling inside a Michigan roundabout?

    1. Vehicles waiting to enter
    2. Vehicles in the roundabout
    3. The vehicle approaching fastest
    4. Vehicles stopped on the shoulder
    Show answer

    Vehicles in the roundabout. Vehicles already in a Michigan roundabout have the right of way over vehicles waiting to enter. Entering traffic must slow at the yield line, look left, and merge only when a suitable gap appears. The approaching vehicle’s speed does not create priority, and a shoulder stop has no bearing on circulation. Once inside, keep right of the center island and avoid stopping unless necessary to prevent a collision or another danger. This sequence prevents an entering vehicle from cutting across the established counterclockwise flow.

12. 12. Unless posted otherwise, what maximum and minimum speeds does Michigan summarize for freeways?

    1. 65 mph maximum and 45 mph minimum
    2. 55 mph maximum and 35 mph minimum
    3. 75 mph maximum and 60 mph minimum
    4. 70 mph maximum and 55 mph minimum
    Show answer

    70 mph maximum and 55 mph minimum. For freeways unless signs say otherwise, Michigan summarizes a 70 mph maximum and a 55 mph minimum. The maximum is a ceiling, not a speed every driver must maintain, and the minimum does not excuse driving faster than conditions safely allow. The 65 mph figure belongs to school buses and trucks on a freeway posted at 70 mph, so it is not the general pair for passenger vehicles. Check the posted sign first, then account for weather, traffic, visibility, and pavement. The Basic Speed Law can require a speed below the posted maximum when conditions make that prudent.

13. 13. If another driver tailgates you while you are using the left lane to pass, what is the safest response when possible?

    1. Move back into the right-hand lane and let the faster traffic move ahead
    2. Brake sharply so the other driver must stop
    3. Stay in the left lane and match the tailgater's speed
    4. Race the other driver to the next intersection
    Show answer

    Move back into the right-hand lane and let the faster traffic move ahead. Michigan's manual treats tailgating as an aggressive-driver behavior and advises moving back into the right-hand lane when it is safe, allowing faster traffic to move ahead. That gives the impatient driver space and reduces the chance of a risky passing maneuver around you. Sudden braking could cause a rear-end crash. Matching speed keeps the conflict beside or behind you, and racing adds another dangerous decision. The cue is to create separation, avoid proving a point, and let the aggressive vehicle get in front where you can see it.

14. 14. How many vehicle deer crashes happen in Michigan each year, and what does the average one cost?

    1. About 500, averaging $200
    2. About 5,000, averaging $10,000
    3. About 1 million, averaging $50
    4. About 60,000, averaging $2,100 in damage and $130 million statewide
    Show answer

    About 60,000, averaging $2,100 in damage and $130 million statewide. About 60,000 vehicle deer crashes happen in Michigan each year, officials suspect as many as half go unreported, and the average crash results in $2,100 in damage, usually to the front end, for an estimated $130 million statewide. If you hit a deer, report it to local police, the county sheriff or the state police. Brake firmly and do not swerve.

15. 15. How far from a stop sign, traffic light or flashing beacon must a Michigan driver stay when parking?

    1. At least 30 feet
    2. At least 10 feet
    3. At least 15 feet
    4. At least 50 feet
    Show answer

    At least 30 feet. Parking within 30 feet of a stop sign, traffic light or flashing beacon, including a warning sign, is prohibited. A parked car closer than that can hide the sign or signal from approaching drivers. Fifteen feet is the hydrant distance and 50 feet is the railroad crossing distance, so those belong to other items on the list. Ten feet is far too close under any Michigan rule.

16. 16. How many deaths a year does NHTSA attribute to distracted driving, according to the Michigan manual?

    1. About 100
    2. At least 3,400
    3. About 50,000
    4. About 1,000
    Show answer

    At least 3,400. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates at least 3,400 deaths annually from distracted driving crashes in which drivers lost focus due to manual, visual or cognitive distractions. Michigan's general cell phone law prohibits all drivers from using a handheld phone, and Kelsey's Law bars GDL Level 1 and 2 teens from non emergency calls even hands free. Preset the radio and playlist before driving.

17. 17. What does a red octagonal STOP sign require before a driver proceeds?

    1. A rolling slowdown if no vehicle is visible
    2. A stop only when a police officer is present
    3. A lane change around the sign
    4. A complete stop and yielding to traffic and pedestrians
    Show answer

    A complete stop and yielding to traffic and pedestrians. The STOP sign requires a complete stop, followed by yielding to traffic and pedestrians before proceeding. A rolling slowdown does not satisfy that command, even when the intersection appears empty. Police presence is not required, and going around the sign changes the path without removing the obligation. Stop at the marked line, crosswalk, or appropriate point, then check all directions and continue only when the way is safe.

18. 18. What does a Michigan traffic sign's color communicate?

    
    1. The age of the pavement
    2. The vehicle's legal weight
    3. The distance to the nearest fuel station
    4. Meaning
    Show answer

    Meaning. Michigan teaches that a traffic sign’s color carries meaning, so color helps a driver interpret the message before reading every word or symbol. Yellow is used for caution or a general warning, while green gives directions and blue identifies service or hospitality information. The choices about vehicle weight, fuel distance, and pavement age describe information color does not encode in this sign system. Use the color as an initial clue, then confirm the specific instruction from the sign’s wording, shape, or symbol. The yellow sign shown should prompt extra attention for a warning condition.

19. 19. What should you do when a steady yellow traffic light appears before you enter an intersection?

    1. Accelerate so the light cannot turn red first
    2. Stop, unless stopping cannot be done safely
    3. Continue at the same speed without checking traffic
    4. Reverse to the last intersection
    Show answer

    Stop, unless stopping cannot be done safely. A steady yellow signal warns that the light is about to turn red, so the normal response is to stop. If an abrupt stop would be unsafe because you are already too close, continue cautiously through the intersection without increasing speed. Accelerating turns a warning into a rushed maneuver, while reversing creates a new hazard. Look at your distance and speed, then choose the safe stopping response before the signal changes.

20. 20. What must a driver generally pay after being convicted of a Michigan traffic violation?

    1. Certain court fines and costs
    2. No charge if points are assessed
    3. A mandatory fuel tax
    4. Only a vehicle registration fee
    Show answer

    Certain court fines and costs. A traffic conviction creates a financial obligation in addition to any point entry on the driving record. Michigan says the driver must pay certain court fines and costs, while points may be posted separately. The registration fee choice concerns keeping a vehicle legally registered, not the ordinary consequence named here. The no-charge choice incorrectly treats points as a substitute for court costs. When reviewing a ticket, separate the court payment from later record consequences, since one does not cancel the other. The exact amount can depend on the violation and court handling, but the general payment requirement remains part of the conviction process.