MN Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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. About how fast does the body eliminate alcohol, according to the Minnesota manual?

   1. About three drinks per hour
   2. About one drink per hour
   3. Faster after coffee or a cold shower
   4. About one drink every 15 minutes
   Show answer

   About one drink per hour. The only way to reduce alcohol concentration is to wait. The manual says alcohol is generally eliminated at about one drink per hour, with the liver removing 95 percent by oxidation and the rest leaving through breathing, sweating and urination. Coffee, exercise and cold showers do not speed up oxidation. Three drinks per hour and one every 15 minutes both overstate how fast the body works.

2. 2. When may a driver exceed a 55 mph posted limit by up to 10 mph under Minnesota's speed rule?

   1. While lawfully passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway
   2. Whenever the road is empty
   3. When merging onto any freeway
   4. Whenever the driver is late
   Show answer

   While lawfully passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway. Minnesota permits the 10 mph increase only while lawfully passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway whose speed limit is 55 mph or higher. An empty road, a freeway merge, or a driver's schedule does not satisfy those conditions. The allowance is narrow and does not turn the posted limit into a general target above the sign. Confirm the highway has two lanes and that the pass itself is lawful before applying this exception.

3. 3. When may a Minnesota driver use hand and arm signals instead of the vehicle's turn signals?

   1. At night whenever the road has streetlights
   2. During daylight hours, when the hand signal can be seen
   3. Only while driving on a freeway
   4. Any time the vehicle's signal bulbs work
   Show answer

   During daylight hours, when the hand signal can be seen. Minnesota permits hand and arm signals during daylight, either in addition to or instead of the vehicle's turn signals. The permission has limits: hand signals should not be used at night or when the vehicle blocks other drivers from seeing the driver’s hand. Streetlights do not change the night restriction, and the rule is not limited to freeways. A working signal bulb does not make hand signals universally acceptable. Use the vehicle signal whenever practical, and reserve a visible arm signal for a daylight situation in which other road users can actually see it.

4. 4. Which format does Minnesota use for questions on the Class D written test?

   1. Essay responses and oral interviews
   2. Multiple choice and true-or-false
   3. Driving demonstrations only
   4. Fill-in-the-blank questions only
   Show answer

   Multiple choice and true-or-false. Minnesota describes the Class D written test as using multiple choice and true-or-false questions. It assesses knowledge of Minnesota traffic laws and road signs, so it is not an essay, oral-interview, or driving-demonstration-only assessment. The paper or computer option changes how the test is delivered, not the question formats identified here. Study each rule closely enough to recognize both a selected answer and a true or false statement.

5. 5. How should a driver respond to a flashing red traffic light in Minnesota?

   1. Use it as permission to turn without checking
   2. Treat it as a yield sign without stopping
   3. Continue if the cross street appears empty
   4. Treat it as a stop sign
   Show answer

   Treat it as a stop sign. A flashing red traffic light must be treated as a stop sign. That means the driver stops and then applies the ordinary right-of-way rules before proceeding. A yield-only response skips the required stop, while an empty-looking cross street does not cancel the signal. The signal also does not grant an unchecked turn. Make a complete stop at the proper point, scan for traffic and pedestrians, and continue only when the intersection is clear under the applicable priority rule.

6. 6. A regulatory sign tells a driver to do what?

   1. To identify a scenic attraction without imposing a rule
   2. To direct drivers to follow a traffic law
   3. To warn only of weather that may occur later in the day
   4. To show the color of the pavement ahead
   Show answer

   To direct drivers to follow a traffic law. Regulatory signs direct drivers to obey particular traffic laws, such as stopping, yielding, keeping a specified speed, or avoiding a prohibited movement. Ignoring one can lead to a citation and fine, so the sign communicates an enforceable requirement rather than general travel information. Scenic attractions use different guidance signs, weather warnings are not the defining purpose of regulatory signs, and pavement color is not their role. The cue is the sign's command: identify what action or restriction it sets, then follow it even when traffic appears light.

7. 7. What should a driver maintain between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead?

   1. A safe following distance
   2. A fixed distance of exactly one car length at every speed
   3. No gap when traffic is moving below the speed limit
   4. A position beside the other vehicle's rear wheel
   Show answer

   A safe following distance. Minnesota requires a driver to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. The gap must give the driver time and space to react if the lead vehicle slows or stops, so a single car length cannot be safe at every speed or in every condition. Eliminating the gap in slow traffic removes that reaction space, and driving beside a rear wheel is a lane-position tactic rather than following distance. Use the cue of changing risk: increase the space when speed, weather, traffic, or road surface makes stopping harder.

8. 8. If a brake pedal suddenly sinks all the way to the floor, what should the driver try first?

   1. Switch off the ignition before touching the brakes again
   2. Turn the steering wheel sharply toward the nearest lane
   3. Pump the pedal to build pressure
   4. Press the accelerator to restore hydraulic pressure
   Show answer

   Pump the pedal to build pressure. A pedal that drops to the floor can indicate sudden brake failure. The first response is to pump the pedal in an attempt to rebuild pressure. If that fails, the manual advises slowly applying the emergency or parking brake, because a sudden application can start a skid. Turning sharply or pressing the accelerator does not restore braking control, and shutting off the ignition is not the initial response described here. The practical cue is a pedal with no pressure: pump it, stay composed, and use the remaining slowing options gradually while seeking a safe place to stop.

9. 9. What nighttime restriction applies during the first six months of a Minnesota provisional license?

   1. No driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless an exception applies
   2. No driving from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in every circumstance
   3. No driving from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. only on weekends
   4. No driving after sunset until sunrise
   Show answer

   No driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless an exception applies. During the first six months, a provisional driver must not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. unless one of the listed exceptions applies. Those exceptions include a licensed driver at least 25 years old, travel between home and work, certain school events, and employment. The choices “No driving from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in every circumstance” and “No driving from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. only on weekends” change the clock, while the choice “No driving after sunset until sunrise” replaces the fixed curfew with a daylight rule. Check the purpose of the trip and who is supervising before driving during the restricted hours. The important cue is the midnight to 5 a.m. window, not merely darkness outside.

10. 10. If the broken yellow line is on your side and the solid yellow line is opposite, when may you pass?

    
    1. Only when the other direction is also marked with dashes
    2. Never, because any yellow line forbids passing
    3. Only after crossing into the opposite lane without checking
    4. When passing is otherwise safe and legal
    Show answer

    When passing is otherwise safe and legal. Mixed yellow lines give different instructions to the two directions. A broken line on your side permits passing when the maneuver is safe and legal, while the solid line facing the other direction prohibits that traffic from passing. You still need adequate sight distance, room, and no separate restriction before moving around another vehicle. The presence of a yellow line alone does not answer the question; identify which marking is beside your lane. Check mirrors and oncoming traffic before using the permission represented by the broken line.

11. 11. Within how long after a school bus stop-arm violation may a Minnesota officer with probable cause arrest the driver?

    1. Within four hours
    2. Only at the moment of the violation
    3. Within 30 days
    4. Within 24 hours
    Show answer

    Within four hours. Minnesota lets a law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe you illegally passed a school bus arrest you within four hours of the violation, so an officer does not need to catch you on the spot. Thirty days and 24 hours are not the stated window. The penalty on conviction is a fine of at least $500 and loss of driving privileges. On a divided roadway, traffic across the divider does not need to stop.

12. 12. A Minnesota provisional license holder has the license revoked for an alcohol violation. When can a license be regained?

    1. After 30 days, regardless of age
    2. At age 21
    3. After passing a new written test the next day
    4. At age 18 or the end of the withdrawal period, whichever is longer
    Show answer

    At age 18 or the end of the withdrawal period, whichever is longer. For a provisional license holder whose privilege is revoked because of a crash-related moving violation or an alcohol or controlled substance violation, Vanessa's Law says the license cannot be regained until age 18 or until the withdrawal period is over, whichever is longer. Thirty days ignores both conditions. Age 21 is not the rule. A written test is part of reinstatement, but passing it does not shorten the wait.

13. 13. To upgrade from a Minnesota provisional license before 18, how long must the provisional license have been held?

    1. 12 consecutive months with no alcohol, drug or crash-related convictions
    2. Six months with no convictions at all
    3. Two years
    4. 90 days
    Show answer

    12 consecutive months with no alcohol, drug or crash-related convictions. The under 21 Class D license requires being at least 18, or holding a provisional license for 12 consecutive months with no convictions for alcohol violations, controlled substance violations or crash-related moving violations. The driver also may not have more than one conviction for a moving violation that is not crash-related. Six months is the permit holding time. Two years is how long the provisional license stays valid, not the upgrade point. Ninety days is from Vanessa's Law.

14. 14. When a school zone warning sign is present, what should a driver be prepared to do?

    1. Stop only if a crossing guard is holding a sign
    2. Accelerate before children reach the crosswalk
    3. Watch for children and be prepared to stop
    4. Treat the area as a railroad crossing
    Show answer

    Watch for children and be prepared to stop. The school zone warning tells drivers to watch for children and be prepared to stop. The warning does not invite acceleration, and a crossing guard is not required before a driver needs to respond to children or a crosswalk. A railroad crossing has different warnings and hazards. The pentagon shape and yellow or fluorescent yellow-green color help identify the school-related warning, but the important driving response is active scanning and readiness to stop. Reduce speed as needed, look for young pedestrians near the roadway, and yield when the crossing rules require it.

15. 15. At about what weight does a Minnesota child outgrow a forward facing car seat?

    1. 20 pounds
    2. Typically 40 to 60 pounds, depending on the manufacturer
    3. Weight does not matter, only age
    4. 100 pounds
    Show answer

    Typically 40 to 60 pounds, depending on the manufacturer. Children older than 2 who exceed the rear facing limit must sit in a forward facing car seat until they reach its height or weight limit, typically 40 to 60 pounds depending on the manufacturer. A child from 4 to 9 who is too tall or heavy for the car seat must use a booster secured with a safety belt, and all children under 13 ride in the back when available.

16. 16. What should you anticipate at the intersection shown by this plus-shaped warning sign?

    
    1. A railroad crossing with a second track
    2. A hospital entrance with priority access
    3. An intersection ahead where you should prepare to yield
    4. A location where all turning is prohibited
    Show answer

    An intersection ahead where you should prepare to yield. The crossroad warning announces an intersection ahead. Prepare to yield because traffic may enter from the crossing roadway, and do not assume your route has priority. A hospital is identified by a service sign, a second railroad track is shown by a supplemental sign below a crossbuck, and the symbol does not prohibit every turn. As you approach, scan both sides, ease off the accelerator, and identify who has the right of way before entering the intersection.

17. 17. What practice helps a driver maintain a safe distance behind another vehicle in ideal conditions?

    1. Wait until the lead vehicle brakes before choosing space
    2. Keep one car length regardless of speed or weather
    3. Match the lead vehicle's bumper distance exactly
    4. Use the three-second rule with a fixed roadside reference point
    Show answer

    Use the three-second rule with a fixed roadside reference point. The three-second rule gives the driver a time-based way to judge space. Select a fixed object beside the road, begin counting when the vehicle ahead passes it, and check whether your vehicle reaches that object before the count ends. Arriving too soon means you are following too closely, so gradually reduce speed. A single car length changes meaning with speed and does not account for conditions. Braking only after the lead vehicle brakes leaves no cushion for perception and reaction.

18. 18. When emergency lights appear behind you, where should you pull over if it can be done safely?

    1. Onto a bridge or around a curve
    2. Into the center of the roadway
    3. To the right shoulder as soon as possible
    4. Directly in front of the emergency vehicle
    Show answer

    To the right shoulder as soon as possible. When emergency lights are behind the vehicle, Minnesota advises slowing down, activating the turn signal, and pulling to the right shoulder as soon as safely possible. A driver on a multilane road who is closer to the left shoulder may use that side if there is a full lane available for parking. Avoid stopping on a bridge, curve, or in a traffic lane because those locations restrict visibility and emergency access. The goal is a visible, stable position outside the moving path. Signal early, check the shoulder, and stop only where the vehicle can remain clear of traffic.

19. 19. What action is prohibited inside a Minnesota roundabout?

    1. Changing lanes
    2. Yielding to vehicles already circulating
    3. Following the lane selected before entry
    4. Exiting when the driver's route is reached
    Show answer

    Changing lanes. Once inside a Minnesota roundabout, a driver must not stop, pass, or change lanes. Lane selection belongs before entry, especially in a multilane roundabout where signs indicate which lane serves each movement. Yield to vehicles already circulating, enter only after traffic from the left has cleared, and continue around to the appropriate exit. Changing lanes within the circle can cut across another vehicle’s path and defeats the predictable design. Choose the lane early, hold it through the roundabout, and signal as needed when leaving so the next driver understands the exit movement.

20. 20. Which kind of sign is shown, and what must a driver do with it?

    
    1. A brown recreation sign that marks a park
    2. A green guide sign that is optional
    3. A regulatory sign that must be obeyed
    4. An orange construction sign that applies only to trucks
    Show answer

    A regulatory sign that must be obeyed. The pictured movement restriction is a regulatory instruction. Minnesota describes regulatory signs as directions tied to traffic laws, so a driver must obey the prohibition even when traffic is light or the maneuver looks harmless. The green choice confuses guidance with a legal command, brown signs point to historic or recreational locations, and orange signs manage construction areas. Before turning, scan for a red restriction symbol and compare it with the movement you intend to make. If the symbol covers that movement, choose another legal path.