MN Permit Practice Test 22

All 20 questions in test 22

Every question below comes from the Minnesota 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. Two large trucks enter a multi-lane roundabout side by side at the same time. Which driver must yield?

   1. The driver on the left side
   2. The driver of the longer truck
   3. The one who reached the circle first
   4. The driver on the right side
   Show answer

   The driver on the right side. In a multi-lane roundabout, when two large vehicles approach and drive through at the same time, the driver on the right must yield to the vehicle on the left. That driver reduces speed or stops if necessary. Large vehicles, meaning those longer than 40 feet or wider than 10 feet, and any combination vehicle, may deviate from the lane as needed to get through the roundabout while being cautious of other traffic. Length alone does not decide who yields.

   Study this in the handbook: Signaling, turns, roundabouts and U turns

2. 2. When are deer most active on Minnesota roads?

   1. Around midday
   2. During afternoon rush hour
   3. Only in winter months
   4. From dusk to dawn
   Show answer

   From dusk to dawn. Deer are most active from dusk to dawn, so be especially alert at those times. At night, scan the sides of the road for the reflection of your headlights in a deer's eyes, and slow down if you see one. Deer can cross anywhere, at any time, and sometimes wander into towns or cities. Midday and afternoon rush hour are not their peak times, and the risk is not limited to winter.

   Study this in the handbook: Blowouts, brake failure and other vehicle emergencies

3. 3. White lines separate two lanes. What do they tell you about the traffic on each side?

   1. It moves in opposite directions
   2. It moves in the same direction
   3. One side is a parking lane
   4. One lane is for buses only
   Show answer

   It moves in the same direction. In Minnesota, white lines separate lanes of traffic going the same direction, while yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions. Dashed white lines mean you may change lanes, and solid white lines mean you should not. Mixing up white and yellow is a classic error that can lead a driver into oncoming traffic. Parking and bus lanes have their own signs and markings, such as a diamond symbol.

   Study this in the handbook: Lines and lane markings

4. 4. When should you use your horn, according to Minnesota's manual?

   1. To help avoid a crash
   2. To announce you have arrived
   3. To hurry a slow driver ahead
   4. Whenever a light turns green
   Show answer

   To help avoid a crash. Your vehicle must have a working horn, and Minnesota says to use it to avoid a crash. The manual also says not to honk unnecessarily or to announce your arrival. Honking to hurry another driver or the moment a light changes adds noise and can startle people, including pedestrians and bicyclists. Bells, sirens, and whistles are not horns and may only be used by emergency vehicles.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights, special lights and required equipment

5. 5. You begin to feel tired on a long drive with a passenger in the car. What does the manual suggest?

   1. Turn up the radio and keep driving
   2. Take a stay-awake pill and continue
   3. Ask your passenger to take over driving
   4. Open every window and drive faster to arrive sooner
   Show answer

   Ask your passenger to take over driving. When you begin to feel tired, Minnesota suggests several steps. If you have passengers, talk to stay alert, and ask someone else to drive when you begin to feel tired. If you are alone, listen to the radio or sing aloud. The manual warns that these tips do not have a lasting effect and says not to rely on stay-awake drugs. The only cure for fatigue is rest, so a tired driver should hand over the wheel or stop.

   Study this in the handbook: Distraction, aggression, winter driving and skids

6. 6. How much following distance should you leave behind a motorcycle?

   1. Less, since motorcycles stop quickly
   2. The same as for a car, or more
   3. Half of what you use for a car
   4. Exactly one car length at any speed
   Show answer

   The same as for a car, or more. Your following distance behind a motorcycle should be the same as, or greater than, the distance you keep behind other vehicles. Riders may have trouble controlling the bike, which can cause weaving, so give them room to maneuver. Following closer because a motorcycle is small is a dangerous mistake, since a motorcycle can stop very quickly. A fixed car length does not adjust for speed; use the three-second rule or more.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycles

7. 7. Right after a crash, why does Minnesota tell you to turn off the ignition?

   1. To save the battery
   2. To stop the airbags firing again
   3. To reduce the risk of fire
   4. So police can read the odometer
   Show answer

   To reduce the risk of fire. After a crash, stop, move out of the driving lane onto the shoulder if you can, and turn off the ignition to reduce the risk of fire. Damaged fuel lines or electrical parts can spark a fire while the engine runs. Saving the battery and the odometer reading have nothing to do with it. Airbags do not fire again because the key is on. Next, warn other drivers with hazard lights, flares, or a flashlight.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats, airbags and window rules

8. 8. Lane signs before a multilane roundabout show arrows for each lane. You plan to turn left. Which lane should you use?

   1. The right lane only
   2. The left lane only
   3. Either lane
   4. The lane with less traffic
   Show answer

   The left lane only. Before a multilane roundabout, get into the correct lane well ahead of time, using the signs that show which lanes serve which turns. In Minnesota's example, a right turn uses only the right lane and a left turn uses only the left lane, while going straight may be allowed from either lane. Choosing a lane because it looks less crowded can put you in a lane that must exit before you want to. Lane changes inside the roundabout are not allowed.

9. 9. What should you check before going ahead when you see this sign?

   
   1. That your brakes are working
   2. That your tires are inflated
   3. That your headlights are on
   4. That your fuel tank is half full
   Show answer

   That your brakes are working. The steep hill sign warns that the road ahead goes steeply downhill. Minnesota says to make sure your brakes are in working order before you proceed. On a long downgrade, speed builds even when your foot is off the gas, so check your speedometer often and do not coast in neutral. Tire pressure, headlights, and fuel matter for other reasons, but brakes are what the sign is about.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, school, construction and guide signs

10. 10. You pass this sign on a divided highway. What changes after it?

    
    1. Oncoming traffic is no longer behind a median
    2. A new lane is added on the right side
    3. The road becomes a one-way road
    4. The speed limit rises to 65 mph
    Show answer

    Oncoming traffic is no longer behind a median. The Divided Highway Ends sign warns that the divided road ends ahead, and two-way traffic will no longer be separated by a center island. Oncoming vehicles will be just across the center line, so keep to the right and watch for passing rules marked on the pavement. The sign does not add a lane, make the road one-way, or change the speed limit; separate signs show those changes.

11. 11. At night on a rural road, you are following another car about 150 feet back. Which headlights should you use?

    1. High beams, since you are behind it
    2. Parking lights only
    3. Fog lights with high beams
    4. Low beams
    Show answer

    Low beams. Your headlights must stay on low beam when you are following another vehicle at a distance of 200 feet or less, and when you are within 1,000 feet of an oncoming vehicle. At 150 feet, high beams would shine into the other driver's mirrors and blind them. Parking lights do not light the road or make you visible enough. Fog lights are not a substitute for the low beam rule.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, night driving and freeways

12. 12. Railroad gates start to come down as you approach a crossing. Where should you stop?

    1. At least 10 feet from the gate
    2. Right against the gate arm
    3. Past the gate, before the rails
    4. Anywhere, as long as you stop
    Show answer

    At least 10 feet from the gate. When crossing lights or gates are activated, do not cross the tracks. Stop at least 10 feet from the nearest rail or gate. That keeps your car clear of the lowering arm and of the train, which can be wider than the rails. Stopping against the gate or past it is too close, and driving around a lowering gate is extremely dangerous. Wait until the gates rise and the lights stop flashing.

    Study this in the handbook: Commercial vehicles, railroad crossings and work zones

13. 13. Your car is touching a downed power line and catches fire, so you must get out. How should you leave?

    1. Step out normally and run
    2. Hold on to the door frame as you climb down and out
    3. Crawl out on your hands and knees
    4. Jump clear with feet together, then shuffle away
    Show answer

    Jump clear with feet together, then shuffle away. If you must leave a car that is in contact with power lines, jump from the vehicle with both feet together so you do not touch the car and the ground at the same time. Then shuffle your feet on the ground as you move away. Running, crawling, or holding the door while stepping down can let electricity pass through your body. Assume every wire and piece of equipment is electrified.

    Study this in the handbook: Blowouts, brake failure and other vehicle emergencies

14. 14. In Minnesota, what is the speed limit in an alley when no sign shows a different limit?

    1. 15 mph
    2. 10 mph
    3. 20 mph
    4. 5 mph
    Show answer

    10 mph. Minnesota sets a 10 mph limit for alleys under ideal conditions unless a sign says otherwise. Alleys are narrow, have little room to see people stepping out from garages or yards, and often have cars backing into them. A 15 or 20 mph figure is a common guess borrowed from school zones or parking lots, but neither is the alley number in state law. Five mph is slower than the law requires, although you may need to creep that slowly when your view is blocked.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the basic speed law

15. 15. Besides the roof pillars, what can create a temporary blind spot for a driver?

    1. Driving with windows rolled down
    2. Turning on the rear defroster
    3. Using cruise control on a highway
    4. A dirty windshield or glaring lights
    Show answer

    A dirty windshield or glaring lights. Your vehicle's design and the position of its roof pillars set where your permanent blind spots are. The manual adds that a dirty windshield or glaring lights can create temporary blind spots as well. Keeping the glass clean inside and out and adjusting for glare helps you see people and cars you would otherwise miss. Open windows, a rear defroster, and cruise control do not block your view, though cruise control has its own risks on slippery roads.

    Study this in the handbook: Signaling, turns, roundabouts and U turns

16. 16. You must back out of a driveway onto a public road. Where should you back into?

    1. The far lane, so you face the right way
    2. The nearest lane, then drive forward
    3. The center turn lane, if there is one
    4. The shoulder, then reverse along it
    Show answer

    The nearest lane, then drive forward. When you have to back out of a driveway onto a public road, back into the nearest lane and then drive forward from there. Backing across lanes into the far lane keeps you in reverse longer, across more traffic, with a poor view. A center turn lane is for left turns, not for backing. Reversing along the shoulder is also unsafe. Never back into or across lanes of traffic unless you are sure it is safe to do so.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, backing up and parking

17. 17. You are parked on the side of a busy street. What must you do before opening your door?

    1. Open it slowly so others notice it
    2. Signal left, then open it
    3. Check that it is safe and won't block traffic
    4. Open it fast to limit the time it blocks
    Show answer

    Check that it is safe and won't block traffic. Minnesota says not to open any door on a stopped or parked vehicle until you have checked that it is safe and will not interfere with other traffic. Look for cars, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians coming up beside you. Opening slowly or quickly does not help if a bicyclist is already there. A turn signal does not warn anyone that a door is about to open. Also, do not leave the door on the traffic side open longer than needed to load or unload.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, backing up and parking

18. 18. You park facing uphill next to a curb. Which way should your front wheels be turned?

    1. Toward the curb
    2. Straight ahead
    3. Away from the curb
    4. Toward the shoulder
    Show answer

    Away from the curb. When the front of your car points uphill and there is a curb, turn the wheels away from the curb. If the car starts to roll backward, the back of the front tire catches against the curb and stops it. Turning the wheels toward the curb is correct when facing downhill, or uphill when there is no curb, so it is the most common mix-up. Leaving the wheels straight gives no protection at all if the brake slips.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, backing up and parking

19. 19. Police lights come on behind you as you are crossing a long bridge with no shoulder. What should you do?

    1. Signal and pull over once you are off the bridge
    2. Stop right away in your lane
    3. Stop on the bridge at the curb
    4. Speed up to leave the officer behind
    Show answer

    Signal and pull over once you are off the bridge. When emergency lights appear behind you, stay calm, slow down, signal, and pull to the right shoulder as soon as it is safe. Minnesota says to avoid stopping on a bridge, on a curve, or in a traffic lane, because other drivers may hit you or the officer. Signaling shows the officer you are cooperating while you look for a safe spot past the bridge. Speeding up is never the answer.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, the Move Over Law and traffic stops

20. 20. You are leaving a parking lot onto a street. A person is walking on the sidewalk across the exit. What must you do?

    1. Go first; the walker can wait
    2. Honk and roll across the sidewalk
    3. Stop and yield to the pedestrian and traffic
    4. Stop only if a car is coming
    Show answer

    Stop and yield to the pedestrian and traffic. When you enter a public road from a private road, driveway, or parking lot, you must stop and yield to pedestrians and traffic. A person on the sidewalk across the exit has the right of way, so stop before the sidewalk and wait for them to pass. Then check for traffic before pulling out. Honking and rolling forward pressures the walker, and the duty to stop is not limited to times when cars are coming.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and yielding