MS Permit Practice Test 15

All 20 questions in test 15

Every question below comes from the Mississippi 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. Why must stereo headphones never be worn while driving?

   1. Headphones and loud audio can block whistles and sirens
   2. Headphones are allowed if only one ear is covered
   3. Loud audio is harmless if the windows are closed
   4. Sirens are visible, so hearing them is not required
   Show answer

   Headphones and loud audio can block whistles and sirens. The manual warns that headphones and loud audio can prevent a driver from hearing warning signals such as whistles and sirens. Covering only one ear does not make the practice safe, because the driver can still lose the sound's direction and urgency. Closed windows do not remove the need to hear outside warnings. Sirens are audible warnings, not merely visible signals, so a driver must be able to detect them while operating the vehicle.

   Study this in the handbook: Night Driving, Rain and Skids

2. 2. What should a driver never do while driving across railroad tracks?

   1. Look both directions before entering the crossing area
   2. Check for a second train after the first one passes
   3. Stop before the tracks when signals begin flashing
   4. Shift gears while crossing the tracks with the vehicle
   Show answer

   Shift gears while crossing the tracks with the vehicle. Crossing tracks is no place to shift gears; a missed shift can stall the vehicle directly in the train path. Looking both ways and checking for second trains are required habits, and stopping for flashing signals is mandatory, not forbidden. Select a gear that carries you fully across before your front bumper reaches rails. A gear change on the rails can interrupt control when the vehicle needs steady motion.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad Crossings

3. 3. An emblem marks a slow-moving vehicle. At what speed do such vehicles travel?

   1. Fifteen miles per hour or less near farm entrances
   2. Thirty-five miles per hour or less in rural areas
   3. Twenty-five miles per hour or less on the roadway
   4. Any speed, provided the emblem stays visible at night
   Show answer

   Twenty-five miles per hour or less on the roadway. The slow-moving vehicle emblem identifies machines traveling twenty-five miles per hour or less, warning of a large speed gap. Thirty-five raises the class beyond its definition, and fifteen narrows it to farm entrances the emblem never mentions. Seeing that emblem, lift off early; closing speed builds faster than it feels. The slow-moving emblem is reserved for vehicles traveling no faster than twenty-five miles per hour.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and Warning Signs

4. 4. After a breakdown on the interstate, where should the vehicle go?

   1. Onto the median shoulder beside the leftmost lane
   2. Stopped in the right lane with doors locked shut
   3. Across to the left shoulder, directly facing the full flow of oncoming traffic
   4. Off the pavement onto the extreme right shoulder, as far right as practical
   Show answer

   Off the pavement onto the extreme right shoulder, as far right as practical. Breakdowns and accidents on the interstate end off the pavement on the extreme right shoulder, as far right as practical conditions allow. The left median shoulder sits beside the fastest lane, and remaining in a travel lane invites a high speed secondary collision. Coast right early while momentum remains; a dead engine steers harder later. The extreme right shoulder keeps a disabled vehicle out of the active lanes.

   Study this in the handbook: Following Distance and Stopping

5. 5. On a one-way street, from which lane should you generally turn?

   1. The lane farthest from the curb for a wider swing
   2. The center lane regardless of turn direction chosen
   3. Any lane, provided you signal after starting the turn
   4. The lane nearest the curb on the side of the turn
   Show answer

   The lane nearest the curb on the side of the turn. One-way street turns start from the lane nearest the curb for that direction, unless markings or signs allow additional turn lanes. Farthest lane starts sweep across other lanes, and any-lane turning with a late signal leaves parallel traffic no time to react. Move curb-side early on the one-way street, then watch for wrong way signs before turning. The curb-side lane matches the direction of the turn on a one-way street.

6. 6. After starting to leave a parallel parking space, what should the driver do before entering the travel lane?

   1. Flash the high beams
   2. Sound the horn twice
   3. Turn on the signal
   4. Open the driver door
   Show answer

   Turn on the signal. The manual directs a driver leaving a parallel space to use the turn signal before entering the travel lane, so following traffic knows the car is about to move. High beams and a horn are not substitutes for a turn signal and can startle other drivers. Opening the driver door into the lane creates a new hazard instead of announcing the move. Check the mirror and blind spot, signal early, and merge only after oncoming traffic has room to react.

   Study this in the handbook: Parking Rules

7. 7. How does the Mississippi manual describe marijuana's effect on a driver?

   1. It improves concentration on long trips
   2. It has no effect below the legal alcohol limit
   3. It mainly affects hearing rather than sight
   4. It slows reflexes and impairs judgment
   Show answer

   It slows reflexes and impairs judgment. Marijuana is treated as an impairing drug in its own right, not as something that becomes safe when alcohol is absent. The manual says it slows a person's reflexes and impairs judgment, the same two capacities alcohol attacks, and it adds that driving under marijuana's influence is both dangerous and illegal. The concentration option claims the opposite of the handbook's warning, while the alcohol-limit option invents a threshold that does not apply to marijuana. A driver who has used marijuana should hand over the keys and wait, since reaction time and decisions remain affected.

   Study this in the handbook: DUI and Implied Consent

8. 8. An uninsured Mississippi driver caused a crash and must now file an SR-22 proof of insurance. How long must it stay in effect?

   1. Three years from the date of the accident
   2. Six months
   3. One year from the conviction
   4. Until the next license renewal
   Show answer

   Three years from the date of the accident. An at-fault driver who had no liability insurance must buy insurance and file an SR-22 that shows the required minimum coverage, comes from an insurer licensed in Mississippi, and remains in effect for three years from the date of the accident. Six months and one year are too short, and the period is not tied to license renewal. Separately, after a crash with death, injury, or at least $1,000 damage, proof of ability to pay is due within 60 days.

   Study this in the handbook: Accidents, Breakdowns and Insurance

9. 9. In what weather may you pass another vehicle?

   1. In light rain, if your windshield wipers are on
   2. Only in good weather, never in rain or sleet
   3. In sleet, if you reduce speed by ten miles per hour
   4. In any weather, if the passing lane is clear
   Show answer

   Only in good weather, never in rain or sleet. Passing needs a clear view, a clear lane, and time to get past and back without rushing. Rain and sleet cut sight distance, wet the pavement, and lengthen the space needed to finish the move, so passing belongs in good weather and is barred in rain or sleet. Wipers running or a slower speed do not restore the dry grip and sight lines the maneuver assumes. If weather turns wet while you travel, stay in lane, add following room, and wait for dry conditions before overtaking anyone.

   Study this in the handbook: Signals, Lanes and Passing

10. 10. When should a driver accelerate gently, and when is that rule relaxed?

    1. Accelerate gently except when entering high-speed lanes or passing
    2. Accelerate hard at every start to reach cruise sooner
    3. Gentle acceleration applies only inside city limits daily
    4. Brisk acceleration is required even in residential areas
    Show answer

    Accelerate gently except when entering high-speed lanes or passing. Gentle acceleration is the economy rule, relaxed only when entering high-speed traffic lanes or passing, where brisk pace is safety. Hard starts everywhere burn the two extra miles per gallon jerky driving costs, and city-only reading misses highway cruising waste. Ease away from stops; save firm throttle for merges and passes. Firm acceleration is reserved for entering faster traffic or passing.

11. 11. As a driver, what general duty applies around pedestrians?

    1. Pedestrians must yield whenever your vehicle is larger
    2. Maintain your speed so pedestrians can judge your path and their crossing time
    3. Keep your vehicle under control and be prepared to yield to those on foot
    4. Sound the horn at every pedestrian near the roadway
    Show answer

    Keep your vehicle under control and be prepared to yield to those on foot. Around pedestrians, the vehicle stays under control with the driver prepared to yield, because people on foot have no protective structure. Vehicle size grants no priority over walkers, and maintaining speed to aid judging removes your ability to stop when judging fails. Cover the brake near every walker; readiness is the duty, not just reaction. Control and readiness to yield protect pedestrians when their paths meet the roadway.

    Study this in the handbook: School Buses and Pedestrians

12. 12. When you meet a large vehicle coming from the opposite direction, what does wind turbulence do?

    1. It pulls both vehicles toward each other
    2. It has no effect once the vehicles are side by side
    3. It pushes both vehicles into the same shoulder
    4. It pushes the vehicles apart rather than pulling them together
    Show answer

    It pushes the vehicles apart rather than pulling them together. Wind turbulence from meeting a large vehicle pushes the vehicles apart. It does not pull the smaller vehicle toward the truck, and it does not disappear while the vehicles pass each other. The turbulence also does not send both vehicles into one shoulder. Keeping as far right as possible and controlling the steering helps reduce the chance of a sideswipe while the wind blast passes.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicycles and Large Vehicles

13. 13. Which of these places is listed as prohibited for parking in Mississippi?

    1. In a marked parking lot
    2. On a sidewalk
    3. On a gravel shoulder
    4. In a legal curbside space
    Show answer

    On a sidewalk. Mississippi's prohibited parking list includes sidewalks, because a vehicle there forces pedestrians into the roadway. A marked lot, a gravel shoulder and a legal curbside space are all places where parking can be allowed, so none of them belongs on the list. The distinction is whether the surface is intended for vehicles or for people on foot. When you leave the car, check that no wheel or bumper blocks a sidewalk or ramp.

    Study this in the handbook: Parking Rules

14. 14. When should a Mississippi driver switch on the turn signal lights?

    1. Each time a turn, lane change, pass, or entry or exit from parallel parking is planned
    2. When other traffic is close enough behind you to see the lamps blink clearly
    3. When turning at intersections that have a traffic signal and marked crosswalks
    4. Only after another driver waves you through
    Show answer

    Each time a turn, lane change, pass, or entry or exit from parallel parking is planned. Mississippi tells drivers to use signal lights each time they intend to turn, change lanes, pass, or enter or exit a parallel parking space. The duty is not limited to signalized intersections, and it does not begin only when another vehicle is close enough to see the lamp. A driver should not wait for permission from another motorist before signaling. The listed maneuvers are the events that call for the signal, including a planned pass and a parking-space movement.

    Study this in the handbook: Signals, Lanes and Passing

15. 15. A Mississippi driver lends his license to a friend, who uses it fraudulently. What may the Commissioner do?

    1. Order a new vision test within thirty days
    2. Suspend the license without a preliminary hearing
    3. Add a fee to the next license renewal
    4. Issue a warning and take no other action
    Show answer

    Suspend the license without a preliminary hearing. Allowing someone else to use a license fraudulently is listed as a ground for suspension without a preliminary hearing. The manual does not name a new vision test, a renewal fee, or a warning without further action as the response to that conduct. The license holder's decision to lend the license does not transfer the consequence to the friend alone. The listed action is a suspension of the driver's license under the Commissioner's authority.

    Study this in the handbook: Zero Tolerance, Revocation and Reinstatement

16. 16. When does the Mississippi manual say high beams are appropriate?

    1. On any road after the sun goes down
    2. In open country with no other cars near
    3. Whenever the driver is following another car
    4. In fog, to cut through the moisture
    Show answer

    In open country with no other cars near. High beams are reserved for open country driving when no other vehicles are close enough to be blinded. The manual also says speed should be lower than in daylight even with the high beams on, because the extra reach does not turn night into day. The any-road option ignores the glare risk to oncoming and leading drivers, the following option puts the beam directly into another driver's mirrors, and the fog option is backwards since high beams bounce off moisture and reduce visibility. Dim early when a car appears, and use low beams in traffic, on lit streets, and in fog.

    Study this in the handbook: Night Driving, Rain and Skids

17. 17. Which set of conditions does Mississippi require for a vehicle's tires?

    1. Proper inflation, good tread, and no cuts or decay
    2. High pressure, smooth tread, and flexible sidewalls
    3. Low pressure, deep tread, and visible cords
    4. Any tread depth, as long as the tires hold air
    Show answer

    Proper inflation, good tread, and no cuts or decay. The tire rule combines three checks: correct inflation, enough tread, and freedom from breaks, cuts, and decay. Inflation should match the pressure listed in the owner's manual or on the driver's side door jamb, not the maximum printed on the sidewall. The high-pressure option treats a hard tire as an improvement, the low-pressure option ignores the damage that underinflation causes, and the any-tread option drops the traction requirement entirely. Check pressure monthly and before long trips, and look closely at the grooves and sidewalls for damage that air pressure alone will not reveal.

    Study this in the handbook: Required Equipment, Tags and Tint

18. 18. Which circumstance is listed as a ground for suspending a license without a preliminary hearing?

    1. Driving only inside one county for a year
    2. Changing cars during the license term
    3. Being a habitually reckless or negligent driver
    4. Moving to a new address in Mississippi
    Show answer

    Being a habitually reckless or negligent driver. Mississippi lists being a habitually reckless or negligent driver as a ground for suspension without a preliminary hearing. The rule concerns a driver's conduct and record, not the county where the person drives, a change of vehicle, or a change of address. Those three events do not appear in the listed suspension grounds. The repeated reckless or negligent driving pattern is the circumstance that matches the manual.

    Study this in the handbook: Zero Tolerance, Revocation and Reinstatement

19. 19. A pedestrian signal is flashing. What must a pedestrian who has not started crossing do?

    1. Start crossing if traffic appears light
    2. Remain at the curb
    3. Cross quickly before the signal changes again
    4. Leave the curb only if the pedestrian is a child
    Show answer

    Remain at the curb. When the pedestrian sign is flashing, a person who has not started crossing must not leave the curb. Light traffic does not change that instruction, and the flashing phase is not a command to hurry into the roadway. The manual separately says that pedestrians who started crossing before the sign changed to flashing should continue. The curb restriction applies to a new crossing during the flashing indication.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic Signals and Arrows

20. 20. Why may an oversized vehicle take longer to stop than a car?

    1. Its driver sits lower than a car driver
    2. Its brakes are designed to be weaker
    3. An average tractor-trailer weighs about 80,000 pounds
    4. Its trailer must be unhooked before braking
    Show answer

    An average tractor-trailer weighs about 80,000 pounds. An average tractor-trailer weighs approximately 80,000 pounds, and oversized vehicles may take longer to stop than a car. That mass is why following a large vehicle too closely is so unforgiving: the truck ahead needs more road to shed speed, and your own stopping room shrinks behind it. Sitting height, weaker brakes by design, and unhooking a trailer are not the reasons given. Leave extra space ahead of and behind heavy vehicles so both drivers keep a working margin.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicycles and Large Vehicles