MS Permit Practice Test 24

All 20 questions in test 24

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. A school bus has stopped with its red lights flashing. What must happen before you may proceed?

   1. The last child in the group reaches the curb
   2. Children clear, the bus moves, and its lights and sign stop
   3. The driver in the lane ahead begins moving
   4. The bus driver waves you past from the window
   Show answer

   Children clear, the bus moves, and its lights and sign stop. The stop does not end when the children reach the curb or when the bus driver waves. The manual requires the driver to remain stopped until the children have crossed the roadway, the bus has resumed motion, its red lights no longer flash, and its stop sign is retracted. The curb option ends the stop too early, the leading-car option treats another driver's movement as permission, and the wave option substitutes a hand gesture for the legal conditions. Watch the bus itself: movement, dark red lights, and a folded stop sign are the signals that the roadway is clear.

   Study this in the handbook: School Buses and Pedestrians

2. 2. You park facing uphill on a street with a curb. Which way should the front wheels point?

   1. Sharply to the right
   2. Straight ahead
   3. Toward the curb
   4. Sharply to the left
   Show answer

   Sharply to the left. For an uphill parking position with a curb, Mississippi directs the driver to turn the wheels sharply to the left. That setting lets the curb help stop the vehicle if it rolls backward. Turning sharply right is used for a downhill position or an uphill position without a curb. Straight wheels do not provide that curb protection. The phrase toward the curb is not enough because the manual specifies a sharp left turn, which points the wheels away from the curb.

   Study this in the handbook: Parking Rules

3. 3. What must happen to decorations near a Mississippi license plate?

   1. Emblems may cover one numeral if the county shows
   2. Hitches may cover the tag center during towing trips
   3. Decorations are unrestricted if the tag frame is chrome
   4. They must not obscure any letter or numeral on the tag
   Show answer

   They must not obscure any letter or numeral on the tag. Trailer hitches, tag emblems, and decorations must leave every letter and numeral of the license plate fully visible at all times. Covering one numeral still obscures identification, and towing with a hitch over the tag is named in the rule itself. After installing any accessory, step back and read the whole tag aloud. A clear plate keeps every letter and numeral readable to enforcement and other drivers.

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

4. 4. What three actions finish parking a vehicle in general?

   1. Gear in park or low, parking brake set firmly, ignition turned off
   2. Gear in neutral, brake released, engine left idling
   3. Gear in drive, brake tapped once, lights left burning
   4. Reverse gear held, brake off, ignition still running
   Show answer

   Gear in park or low, parking brake set firmly, ignition turned off. Finishing a park means park or low gear engaged, parking brake set firmly, and ignition off so the car cannot creep or roll. Neutral with brake released invites rolling on any grade, and leaving the engine running in drive defeats every safeguard listed here. Run the trio in order before opening the door, every single time you park. The three closing actions secure the vehicle and remove the ignition as a hazard.

   Study this in the handbook: Parking Rules

5. 5. How does the manual say a 40 mph wall impact compares?

   1. It matches driving off a four-story building in force
   2. It matches dropping from a one-story roof in force
   3. It matches a slow parking lot tap in force
   4. It matches falling from a ten-story tower in force
   Show answer

   It matches driving off a four-story building in force. At forty miles per hour, a stone wall strike equals driving off a four-story building, showing how speed multiplies crash energy. One story understates the fall badly, and a slow parking lot tap ignores that crash energy grows sharply as speed rises. Picture that building height at every forty mile per hour stretch of urban roadway. The four-story comparison shows why forty miles per hour can produce severe impact.

   Study this in the handbook: Mississippi Speed Limits

6. 6. What does a two-headed arrow pointing straight and left allow?

   1. Turn right or continue straight from that lane
   2. Make a U-turn or continue straight past it
   3. Continue straight or turn left from that lane
   4. Turn left only, with straight travel prohibited
   Show answer

   Continue straight or turn left from that lane. A straight-plus-left arrow offers either path from that lane, letting drivers choose without a late lane change at the corner. Right turns are not drawn on that arrow, and left-only reading discards the straight option painted beside it. Decide early anyway; drifting between choices confuses drivers in lanes beside you. Straight or left are the two movements shown by the arrow.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement Markings and Lanes

7. 7. Gates and flashing lights guard a railroad crossing and a train is passing. When may you proceed?

   1. When all tracks are clear, gates raised, and lights stopped
   2. As soon as the train clears your lane
   3. When drivers behind you begin honking
   4. After counting ten seconds from the last rail car
   Show answer

   When all tracks are clear, gates raised, and lights stopped. At a gated crossing a driver must remain stopped until the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing. The train clearing one lane does not end the signal cycle, and a second movement may still be coming on another track. Honking from behind and counting seconds from the last car both substitute impatience for the signal state. Wait for the raised gates, check that the lights have stopped, and look both ways before rolling across the rails.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad Crossings

8. 8. A driver receives a Regular Learner's Permit at age fifteen and one-half. At what age may that driver be eligible for a Regular Driver's License?

   1. Fifteen and one-half
   2. Sixteen
   3. Seventeen
   4. Sixteen and one-half
   Show answer

   Sixteen and one-half. Mississippi's license section gives a special age example for a driver who receives a Learner's Permit at fifteen and one-half. That driver becomes eligible for a Regular Driver's License at sixteen and one-half, assuming the other licensing requirements are met. The one-year permit period still controls the timing, so the driver does not qualify immediately at fifteen and one-half or at sixteen. Seventeen is the age at which a person may apply directly without relying on this earlier permit example.

   Study this in the handbook: Learner's Permits and the Regular License

9. 9. What should the front seat area be kept clear of while driving?

   1. Objects that can fall during sudden movement of the vehicle
   2. Maps and registration papers stored inside a closed glovebox
   3. Passengers who need to ride in the front seating row
   4. Any item weighing less than one pound in total weight
   Show answer

   Objects that can fall during sudden movement of the vehicle. The front seat stays clear of loose objects that can tumble during sudden movement and distract or obstruct the driver controls. A closed glovebox already secures papers safely, and front passengers are legitimate occupants, not loose hazards rolling under pedals. Stow bags behind the seat; a sliding bottle near pedals is an emergency. A loose object can become a dangerous projectile when the vehicle moves suddenly.

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

10. 10. Which blood alcohol level triggers regular DUI penalties for drivers of any age?

    1. A blood alcohol content of .02% or higher for any driver
    2. A blood alcohol content of .10% for drivers under age 21
    3. Any detectable amount for drivers over age sixty-five
    4. A blood alcohol content of .08% or higher for any driver
    Show answer

    A blood alcohol content of .08% or higher for any driver. Regular DUI penalties apply at a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher for drivers of any age in Mississippi. The .02 figure belongs to under-twenty-one zero tolerance, and .10 for younger drivers swaps the thresholds between the two tables. Remember the pair together: .08 general, .02 for drivers under twenty-one years old. The .08 threshold is the general DUI level, regardless of the driver's age.

    Study this in the handbook: DUI and Implied Consent

11. 11. What happens if you brake suddenly while your vehicle is skidding?

    1. The tires regain traction faster
    2. The steering becomes easier to control
    3. The vehicle straightens out sooner
    4. The skid gets worse
    Show answer

    The skid gets worse. A skid already means the tires have more demand than grip. Sudden braking adds another demand and can make the slide worse, so the manual warns against it. The traction option assumes that locking or dragging the brakes restores grip, the steering option expects better control from a heavier braking input, and the straightening option imagines an effect the manual does not promise. Ease off the accelerator, steer in the direction of the skid when there is room, and avoid the clutch while you are trying to stop the slide.

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

12. 12. If your vehicle runs off the pavement, what should you do before returning to the roadway?

    1. Use the brakes lightly
    2. Accelerate to regain the pavement
    3. Turn sharply back onto the road
    4. Apply the parking brake firmly
    Show answer

    Use the brakes lightly. Dropping a wheel off the pavement can pull the car toward the shoulder, and a sharp correction can send it across the road. The manual advises using the brakes lightly before returning to the roadway, which keeps the tires from grabbing abruptly when they climb back onto the asphalt. The acceleration option adds speed just when control is limited, the sharp-turn option is the overcorrection that causes many shoulder crashes, and the parking-brake option can lock the rear wheels. Slow down gently, hold the wheel steady, and re-enter only when the lane is clear.

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

13. 13. While waiting to turn left at an intersection, how should your wheels point?

    1. Turned right toward the curb for extra safety margin
    2. Turned left so you can dart out without steering
    3. Straight ahead while you wait close to the center line
    4. Alternating left and right as cross traffic passes by
    Show answer

    Straight ahead while you wait close to the center line. Waiting for a left turn, stay near the center line with wheels straight so a rear hit pushes you forward, not into oncoming lanes. Wheels pre-turned left aim your car at opposing traffic if struck, and angled right wheels misalign your eventual turn path. Keep your foot firm on the brake and the wheel centered until the gap truly opens. Straight wheels reduce the chance that a rear impact sends the car into opposing traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Signals, Lanes and Passing

14. 14. Two vehicles facing each other both signal for a left turn. How should they complete the turn?

    1. Each turns right of the other, passing front to front
    2. Each turns left of the other, left lane to left lane
    3. The smaller vehicle turns first while the other waits
    4. Both turn from the right lane into any open lane
    Show answer

    Each turns left of the other, left lane to left lane. When two drivers face each other and both intend to turn left, each passes to the left of the other and finishes in the left lane of the road being entered. Turning right of the other would put the two paths into conflict at the center of the intersection. The size of the vehicle has nothing to do with the order, and a right-lane start ignores the requirement to leave from the left lane. Keep the steering arc tight and aim for the left lane before completing the turn.

15. 15. A sign at a red traffic signal says NO TURN ON RED. What must a driver do?

    1. Stop, then turn right when the way is clear
    2. Turn right only after yielding to pedestrians
    3. Wait for the green light before turning right
    4. Treat the red light as a flashing red signal
    Show answer

    Wait for the green light before turning right. A NO TURN ON RED sign removes the usual right-turn exception. Even after a complete stop and a clear check for traffic, the driver must wait for the signal to turn green before making the right turn. The stop-and-turn option describes the normal right-on-red rule that this sign overrides, the yield-only option skips the required stop and ignores the prohibition, and the flashing-red option changes the signal into a different control. Watch for the sign beside the signal head, and do not let a driver behind you pressure you into turning against it.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and Warning Signs

16. 16. What maximum speed does Mississippi set for passenger cars on the Natchez Trace Parkway?

    1. 45 mph
    2. 60 mph
    3. 50 mph
    4. 70 mph
    Show answer

    50 mph. Mississippi's passenger-car table lists 50 mph for the Natchez Trace Parkway. The 60 mph option is not a row in the table: four-lane state and U.S. highways are 65 mph, while the Parkway is 50. The 45 mph figure belongs to inclement weather or bad visibility for trucks and truck-trailer combinations, not passenger cars on this road. Interstate passenger cars may be listed at 70 mph, but that does not change the Parkway limit. Match the road named in the question to its own row.

    Study this in the handbook: Mississippi Speed Limits

17. 17. How much of the steering wheel should separate your two hands?

    1. At least one third of the wheel should separate the hands
    2. Hands should nearly touch at the top of the wheel
    3. Hands belong together at the bottom spoke of the wheel
    4. One hand suffices when traffic moves at city speed
    Show answer

    At least one third of the wheel should separate the hands. Two hands on the wheel need at least one third of its circumference between them, positioned near nine and three for balanced control. Hands together at top or bottom cannot counter a sudden pull, and one-handed city driving fails exactly when a child darts out. Wide hands turn a swerve into a controlled correction instead of a spin. Spacing the hands by at least one third gives the driver a stable grip.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat Belts, Child Seats and Distractions

18. 18. How should a driver respond to reckless drivers nearby?

    1. Match their speed to observe their driving closely
    2. Get out of their way if it is possible to do so
    3. Block their path so they are forced to slow down
    4. Follow them to report every maneuver in real time
    Show answer

    Get out of their way if it is possible to do so. Reckless drivers are best handled by getting out of their way when possible, trading pride and position for distance from danger. Blocking or shadowing a reckless driver inserts your car into their next mistake, multiplying the vehicles involved in any crash. Change lanes, let them go, and reclaim a calm space around your car. Leaving a reckless driver clear is safer than competing for space with that driver.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat Belts, Child Seats and Distractions

19. 19. Why may passing a large vehicle be easier on an upgrade?

    1. The large vehicle gains speed from momentum uphill
    2. The large vehicle often loses speed on the climb
    3. Trucks must use the shoulder on upgrades
    4. Your vehicle gains extra power on upgrades
    Show answer

    The large vehicle often loses speed on the climb. A large vehicle often loses speed while climbing an upgrade, which can make passing it easier than on level ground. Momentum works the other way for the truck, since gravity pulls against the climb rather than adding speed as it does downhill. Trucks are not sent to the shoulder on upgrades, and your own vehicle gains no extra power from the grade. Even with that advantage, pass only in a legal zone with clear sight distance and room to finish the maneuver.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicycles and Large Vehicles

20. 20. You have just had an argument and feel angry. What is the safe choice?

    1. Drive slowly with windows down until anger passes
    2. Drive only on familiar streets near your home area
    3. Let someone else drive while emotions run high
    4. Keep driving but grip the wheel with extra force
    Show answer

    Let someone else drive while emotions run high. Argument, worry, illness, anger, fear, or grief all qualify as reasons to hand driving to someone else until you recover. Slow angry driving still carries divided attention, and familiar streets breed the complacency that emotional distraction exploits most. Swap seats without debate; pride is not a safety device in any vehicle. Someone else driving removes the immediate risk created by strong emotions.

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