MS Permit Practice Test 8

All 20 questions in test 8

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. How may a Mississippi learner's permit be used?

   1. For unsupervised driving after midnight
   2. Only with a licensed driver
   3. Only on interstate highways
   4. For vehicle registration without driving
   Show answer

   Only with a licensed driver. A learner's permit may be used only when a licensed driver is present. It is not permission for unsupervised late-night travel, and it has no special limitation to interstate highways. Vehicle registration is a separate administrative matter and does not describe permitted driving. The supervising person must be a licensed driver, and the permit is intended to support practice under that supervision. Use the phrase only with as the cue: the permit creates a supervised driving privilege, not the same unrestricted privilege as a regular license.

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

2. 2. What should a driver expect at a pedestrian crossing warning sign?

   
   1. Pedestrians may be crossing and have the right-of-way at intersections
   2. Pedestrians are prohibited from entering any marked crosswalk
   3. Only school buses may stop near the crossing
   4. The sidewalk is closed and vehicles may use it
   Show answer

   Pedestrians may be crossing and have the right-of-way at intersections. The pedestrian crossing warning means people may be crossing, and the manual reminds drivers that pedestrians have the right-of-way at intersections whether the crosswalk is marked or not. The other choices reverse that protection or introduce unrelated restrictions. Approach slowly enough to see someone entering from either side, yield, and keep the vehicle out of the crossing while people pass. A painted line is not the only place the duty applies. The practical cue is person first: scan the full intersection, not just the pavement markings directly in front of the hood.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and Warning Signs

3. 3. What does the yellow plus-shaped warning sign announce?

   
   1. A hospital entrance on the left
   2. An intersection or crossroads ahead
   3. A section where all turning is forbidden
   4. A divided highway that has just ended
   Show answer

   An intersection or crossroads ahead. The plus-shaped yellow sign identifies an intersection or crossroads ahead. It gives advance notice that traffic may enter from another direction, so check both sides, control your speed, and be prepared to yield. A hospital sign provides service information, a turn restriction is regulatory, and a divided-highway change has its own warning symbol. The useful cue is the crossing shape: expect another road to intersect your path soon.

4. 4. Which mirror rule applies when a truck body blocks the driver's view behind?

   1. A rear-view mirror is forbidden
   2. Two inside rear-view mirrors are required
   3. An outside rear-view mirror is required
   4. No mirror is permitted on a truck
   Show answer

   An outside rear-view mirror is required. Mississippi recommends a rear view mirror but does not require one for an ordinary vehicle. A different rule applies when a truck body blocks the driver's view of the road behind: an outside rear view mirror is required by law. The two inside mirrors choice invents a two mirror requirement, and the choice saying a rear view mirror is forbidden reverses the rule. Saying no mirror is permitted on a truck would leave a blocked rear view unaddressed. Before driving a truck, check whether its body prevents a useful view behind and make sure the required outside mirror is present.

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

5. 5. What equipment must a vehicle have for safe driving in poor weather?

   1. Windshield wipers that work
   2. A blue auxiliary light on the front
   3. A siren that can be heard from 500 feet
   4. A rearview mirror on every passenger car
   Show answer

   Windshield wipers that work. The manual specifically requires working windshield wipers for safe driving under poor weather conditions. Wipers help maintain a usable view when rain or other moisture reaches the windshield. A blue auxiliary light and a siren are not the equipment the manual names for poor weather; flashing red or blue lights and sirens are described for emergency vehicles. Mississippi does recommend a rearview mirror, but it does not generally require one on every passenger car. Inspect the blades before driving into weather that can obscure vision.

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

6. 6. What does Mississippi law require a driver to have in the vehicle, or show on a phone, as proof of liability coverage?

   1. The vehicle title
   2. A receipt from the last emissions test
   3. The insurance card for that vehicle
   4. A copy of the full policy contract
   Show answer

   The insurance card for that vehicle. Mississippi Code section 63-15-4 requires the insurer to issue an insurance card for each vehicle, and failing to have that card in the vehicle, or to display it electronically on a phone, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine. Officers check for the card at roadblocks and traffic stops. The state also runs an electronic verification system, and an officer who confirms coverage through it will not cite a driver who simply forgot the card. Keep the current card in the glove box or on your phone.

7. 7. What should a driver do when a steady yellow light appears while approaching?

   1. Treat the light as permission to turn without yielding
   2. Accelerate so the vehicle enters before red
   3. Slow down and prepare to stop
   4. Stop only after entering the intersection
   Show answer

   Slow down and prepare to stop. A steady yellow signal warns that the light will soon turn red. The manual tells the driver to slow down and prepare to stop, so the color is not extra time to accelerate and gives no permission to turn without yielding. Stopping only after entering the intersection leaves the vehicle in the path of crossing traffic and pedestrians. Check the distance to the stop line as the light changes, brake smoothly, and be ready to stop before the intersection when the red follows.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic Signals and Arrows

8. 8. After pulling into a parallel parking space, what does the Mississippi manual advise about getting out of and unloading the vehicle?

   1. Leave the door open while backing into the travel lane
   2. Open the street-side door first so traffic can see you
   3. Unload from whichever side is closest to moving traffic
   4. Use extreme care on the street side and unload from the curb side
   Show answer

   Use extreme care on the street side and unload from the curb side. The manual separates safe vehicle exit from the later maneuver out of the space. It advises extreme care when using the street side and tells drivers to unload from the curb side. The other choices place a person beside moving traffic or leave a door as an obstruction. Before moving the car, look for traffic and pedestrians, then signal and yield while entering the lane.

   Study this in the handbook: Parking Rules

9. 9. The Mississippi manual says posted speed limits are intended for what conditions?

   1. Any condition, because a posted number never needs adjustment
   2. Nighttime conditions only, because daytime traffic is unrestricted
   3. Only dry pavement with no traffic nearby
   4. Ideal conditions, with slower driving required when weather, visibility, traffic, or road design demands it
   Show answer

   Ideal conditions, with slower driving required when weather, visibility, traffic, or road design demands it. Posted limits are benchmarks for ideal conditions, not permission to keep the same speed through every hazard. The manual directs drivers to reduce speed on curves, near intersections, narrow or twisting roads, congestion, poor weather, and limited visibility. The choice “Any condition, because a posted number never needs adjustment” ignores that instruction. Use the sign and roadway situation together: a lower posted limit controls, while bad conditions may require going slower still.

   Study this in the handbook: Mississippi Speed Limits

10. 10. What kind of information is usually shown by a vertical rectangle sign?

    1. Regulatory information such as a speed limit
    2. A general warning about a curve or intersection
    3. A destination distance to a nearby town
    4. A public recreation or scenic attraction
    Show answer

    Regulatory information such as a speed limit. A vertical rectangle is usually used for regulatory signs, including speed limits and other rules that control roadway use. It tells drivers what is required or prohibited rather than merely describing a hazard. A diamond handles warnings, destination information belongs to guide signs, and scenic guidance uses brown. The shape is a useful first clue, but read the wording or symbol to identify the specific restriction before acting.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign Shapes and Colors

11. 11. At 50 mph, what following space does the manual recommend as a basic guide?

    1. A distance of one-half a car length in heavy traffic
    2. One car length, regardless of speed
    3. Two car lengths only when the road is wet
    4. At least five car lengths behind the vehicle ahead
    Show answer

    At least five car lengths behind the vehicle ahead. The manual ties a basic following interval to speed: allow at least one car length for every ten miles per hour. At 50 mph, that produces five car lengths, giving time and room to react if the vehicle ahead changes speed suddenly. One fixed car length ignores speed, and the wet-road option understates the space needed in a normal condition. Use the estimate as a starting point, then increase it for poor weather, a large vehicle, or limited visibility.

    Study this in the handbook: Following Distance and Stopping

12. 12. What does a broken white pavement line allow a driver to do?

    1. Treat both sides of the line as a single turn-only lane
    2. Pass across opposing traffic without checking for hazards
    3. Stop in the lane to wait for a green arrow
    4. Change lanes when the movement can be made safely
    Show answer

    Change lanes when the movement can be made safely. A broken white line separates lanes moving in the same direction, so a driver may cross it to change lanes when the maneuver is safe. It does not authorize passing into opposing traffic, which is governed by yellow center markings. Stopping to await a signal and treating the line as a turn-only marking also misread its purpose. Check mirrors and the blind spot, signal, and move only after the adjacent lane is clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement Markings and Lanes

13. 13. What roadway configuration creates the divided-highway exception to the school-bus stopping rule?

    1. A highway with four or more lanes and at least two lanes traveling in opposite directions
    2. Any two-lane road with a painted center line
    3. A residential street where children are not visible
    4. A highway with one lane in each direction and a shoulder
    Show answer

    A highway with four or more lanes and at least two lanes traveling in opposite directions. Mississippi describes a divided-highway exception when the highway has four or more lanes and at least two lanes of travel in opposite directions. The roadway design, rather than the presence of a shoulder or the number of children nearby, establishes the exception. A two-lane road does not meet the stated configuration, and one lane in each direction is not a divided highway with two opposing travel lanes. Identify the lane arrangement first. Drivers moving in the same direction as the bus still stop, while opposite-direction drivers may continue on their separated side under this condition.

    Study this in the handbook: School Buses and Pedestrians

14. 14. What do the standard shapes and colors of traffic signs communicate?

    1. They are selected only to make signs decorative
    2. Each one has a specific meaning for roadway guidance
    3. They indicate the driver's license class required nearby
    4. They replace the need to read any sign message
    Show answer

    Each one has a specific meaning for roadway guidance. The manual explains that traffic signs use standard shapes and colors, with each one carrying a specific meaning. Decorative design is not the purpose, and a sign's appearance does not identify a driver's license class. Recognizing a shape or color also does not eliminate the need to read the wording or symbol. Use the visual pattern as an early clue, then confirm the complete message before acting. That habit helps distinguish a warning, regulation, service notice, or other roadway instruction.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign Shapes and Colors

15. 15. A vehicle carrying explosives approaches a railroad crossing. What is required?

    1. Stop 50 to 10 feet from the outer rail and check both directions
    2. Cross without stopping if no warning lights are flashing
    3. Stop only when a train is visible on the nearest track
    4. Drive around a lowered gate after checking the rearview mirror
    Show answer

    Stop 50 to 10 feet from the outer rail and check both directions. Vehicles carrying explosives or flammable liquids are among the classes that must stop at every railroad crossing, regardless of whether lights are operating or a train can be seen. The required stopping range is 50 to 10 feet from the outer rail, followed by a check in both directions. Waiting for a visible train is too late, and a lowered gate must never be bypassed. Treat the cargo as the trigger for the mandatory stop.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad Crossings

16. 16. For a driver under 21, what BAC reaches Mississippi's zero-tolerance threshold?

    1. .01% exactly, but not any higher reading
    2. .08% or more only, with no lower threshold
    3. .10% or more, regardless of the driver's age
    4. .02% or more, when the reading is below .08%
    Show answer

    .02% or more, when the reading is below .08%. Mississippi treats a driver under 21 as under the influence for zero-tolerance purposes at a blood alcohol content of .02% or more, provided the reading is less than .08%. The .08% figure is the regular DUI threshold described for drivers of any age, so using it alone overlooks the stricter underage rule. The cue is the driver's age: check that first, then distinguish zero-tolerance penalties from regular DUI treatment.

    Study this in the handbook: DUI and Implied Consent

17. 17. What happens to a Mississippi driver's license for refusing a breath or chemical test?

    1. Nothing, refusal is a right
    2. A $25 fine
    3. An administrative suspension of 90 days
    4. A lifetime revocation
    Show answer

    An administrative suspension of 90 days. Under implied consent, operating a vehicle in Mississippi means you consent to testing for intoxicating substances, and your license will be administratively suspended for 90 days for refusing the breath or chemical test. If you are also convicted of a first offense DUI, the 90 day refusal suspension is added to the original penalty. Refusing does not avoid the charge.

    Study this in the handbook: DUI and Implied Consent

18. 18. When a traffic officer is directing vehicles, whose directions must drivers follow?

    1. Only the posted signs
    2. Only the lane arrows
    3. The traffic officer's directions
    4. The directions of the nearest driver
    Show answer

    The traffic officer's directions. Drivers must follow a traffic officer's directions when the officer is directing traffic. The manual places that instruction above ordinary reliance on signs and signals, because the officer is actively managing the situation. Posted signs and lane arrows may still help, but they cannot replace the officer's command at that moment. Watch the officer's hands and signals, respond promptly, and continue following the direction given until normal control resumes. Another driver's gesture or assumption has no authority over the intersection.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic Signals and Arrows

19. 19. How old must a person be to get a Mississippi license to drive a school bus?

    1. 18
    2. 21
    3. 19
    4. 25
    Show answer

    21. Mississippi sets 21 as the minimum age for a license to drive a school bus. Eighteen and 19 are too young under this rule, and 25 is not the Mississippi threshold. The manual's speed table separately sets 45 mph as the maximum speed for a school bus, and other drivers must stop at least 10 feet from a school bus whose red lights are flashing or whose stop sign is extended. Keep the 21 year license age separate from the 17 year age at which a new applicant may apply directly for a regular license.

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

20. 20. After serving a sentence for a third DUI in Mississippi, what license may the person hold on release, and for how long?

    1. A full license right away
    2. Only an interlock-restricted license for three years
    3. A hardship license for 30 days
    4. A learner's permit for one year
    Show answer

    Only an interlock-restricted license for three years. For a third or subsequent DUI, the license is suspended for the full period of the sentence. On release from incarceration, the person is eligible only for an interlock-restricted license, and that restriction lasts three years. A full license is not restored immediately, and the manual does not describe a 30 day hardship license or a return to a learner's permit. Zero Tolerance third offenses carry the same three year interlock restriction.

    Study this in the handbook: DUI and Implied Consent