MO Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the Missouri 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 can a Missouri driver measure a safe following distance in ordinary conditions?

   
   1. Stay one car length behind at every speed
   2. Use the three second rule with a roadside object
   3. Follow close enough to read the lead vehicle's plate
   4. Use a one second gap when traffic is moving
   Show answer

   Use the three second rule with a roadside object. The three second rule gives a practical way to judge space behind another vehicle. Pick a fixed object near the road, begin counting as the vehicle ahead passes it, and make sure your vehicle does not reach that object before the count ends. A single car length changes meaning with speed, while following close enough to read a plate removes useful reaction room. Increase the gap when weather, visibility, traffic, or vehicle condition makes stopping more difficult.

2. 2. Where must a driver stop when a sign or signal requires a stop?

   1. Past the crosswalk so the front bumper is visible
   2. Beside the traffic sign regardless of pavement markings
   3. Only before the intersection when pedestrians are present
   4. Before the stop line or, if there is one, the crosswalk
   Show answer

   Before the stop line or, if there is one, the crosswalk. Missouri places the stopping point before the stop line or, when a stop line is absent, before the crosswalk. Stopping beyond the crosswalk can block pedestrians and places the vehicle farther into the conflict area. The sign's physical location is not automatically the stopping point, and pedestrians are not the condition that activates this placement rule. Approach early enough to brake smoothly, keep the crosswalk open, and use the marked line as the primary reference.

3. 3. How far before a designated stop do a Missouri school bus's amber warning lights begin flashing?

   1. 100 feet before the stop
   2. At the stop only
   3. 500 feet before the stop
   4. One mile before the stop
   Show answer

   500 feet before the stop. The amber lights are the bus driver's countdown. Missouri buses start flashing them 500 feet before a designated stop so drivers behind and ahead can slow before the red lights and stop arm come out. One hundred feet would leave almost no time at highway speed, and a mile would be so early that drivers would stop paying attention. The lights do not wait for the stop itself; that is the red phase. When you see amber on a bus, assume children are about to cross and prepare to stop.

4. 4. How should a driver treat a completely dark or malfunctioning traffic signal?

   1. As an uncontrolled intersection with no stopping rule
   2. As a green light for the major road
   3. As a four-way stop
   4. As a yield sign for every approach
   Show answer

   As a four-way stop. Missouri treats dark or nonworking traffic signals as a four-way stop. Each approach must be handled as a stop-controlled movement, with drivers checking other vehicles and pedestrians before proceeding. Treating the dark signal as permission to continue gives one approach an advantage the manual does not provide. Slow early, stop at the appropriate point, and proceed only after yielding according to the four-way-stop sequence. This response applies even when the outage appears temporary.

5. 5. What does a steady red arrow mean for a driver waiting to turn left?

   1. Turn if the driver has already slowed down
   2. Turn after yielding to vehicles in the opposite direction
   3. Proceed straight through the intersection
   4. Stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or before the intersection
   Show answer

   Stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or before the intersection. A steady red arrow prohibits the indicated turn until the signal changes to green or a flashing yellow arrow. The vehicle must stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or before the intersection. It is not enough to yield, and slowing without stopping leaves the driver facing a red indication. The visual cue is the solid arrow pointing into the intended movement: hold position, monitor the signal, and move only when a permitted indication appears. Pedestrian movement still requires attention when the turn becomes available.

6. 6. Who does Missouri law bar from reading, writing, or sending a text message while driving?

   1. Any person
   2. Only drivers under 21
   3. Only commercial drivers
   4. Only drivers with an instruction permit
   Show answer

   Any person. Because text messaging requires visual, manual and cognitive attention, the guide calls it by far the highest risk distraction, and it is against the law for any person to read, write or send a text message or electronic message while driving. The ban is not limited by age or license type. Other distractions the guide lists include navigation systems and MP3 players, which also pull attention from the road.

7. 7. What road pattern does this warning symbol tell a driver to expect?

   
   1. Two turns in opposite directions, with the second possibly sharper
   2. A straight road with a lower speed limit ahead
   3. A bridge that narrows traffic to one direction
   4. A single lane ending at a railroad crossing
   Show answer

   Two turns in opposite directions, with the second possibly sharper. Missouri's reverse-turn warning identifies two turns that go in opposite directions. The second turn may be sharper than the first, so the driver should approach the sequence with controlled speed and attention to the roadway ahead. This is not a railroad, lane-ending, speed-limit, or bridge message. The practical cue is to expect a changing steering path rather than one isolated bend. Reduce speed before the first turn and be ready for the second one to demand more control.

8. 8. What does the SPEED LIMIT sign establish in Missouri?

   
   1. A speed that is always safe even on slippery pavement
   2. The maximum speed allowed by law, subject to conditions
   3. A recommended speed that may be exceeded when traffic is light
   4. The minimum speed for every road in the state
   Show answer

   The maximum speed allowed by law, subject to conditions. A speed limit is the legal maximum in ideal conditions, not a promise that the posted number is safe in every situation. Hills, curves, slippery roads, limited sight distance, pedestrians, bicyclists, and slow vehicles can require a lower speed. The sign does not create a general minimum for every road, and light traffic does not authorize exceeding it. Use the posted number as an upper boundary, then reduce speed whenever weather, visibility, or roadway conditions make that necessary. The white regulatory sign sets a limit, while the driver still has to judge conditions.

9. 9. What movement is prohibited by the crossed left-turn arrow?

   
   1. A left turn
   2. Passing a slow vehicle in the left lane
   3. Going straight through an intersection
   4. A U-turn only at a railroad crossing
   Show answer

   A left turn. The crossed arrow depicts a left turn, so the restriction is aimed at that movement. A no-left-turn sign does not automatically prohibit U-turns, passing, or proceeding straight, although other signs or markings may control those actions elsewhere. The manual identifies no-left-turn and no-U-turn as examples of red-slash regulatory messages, which means the pictured symbol must be read precisely. When this sign appears, choose another permitted direction and check for lane arrows or signal indications before moving through the intersection.

10. 10. For a driver age 21 or older operating a noncommercial vehicle in Missouri, what is the lowest BAC covered by the general alcohol per se threshold?

    1. 0.02% or more
    2. 0.04% or more
    3. 0.08% or more
    4. 0.12% or more
    Show answer

    0.08% or more. Missouri identifies 0.08% BAC or more as illegal for an ordinary adult driver. The lower 0.04% threshold applies to commercial vehicle drivers, while 0.02% applies when the driver is under 21. The number is a legal limit, not a promise that lower alcohol levels are safe or acceptable for every person. Treat any drinking before driving as a reason to arrange another ride, rather than trying to estimate a personal margin.

11. 11. Which situation permits an intermediate license holder to drive alone between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.?

    1. A school activity, job, or emergency
    2. A social visit with a same-age friend
    3. A full tank of fuel
    4. A trip made only on residential streets
    Show answer

    A school activity, job, or emergency. The intermediate-license curfew has narrow exceptions. A driver may travel during the 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. period for a school activity, job, or emergency. A licensed driver who is at least 21 may also accompany the driver, but an ordinary social trip does not qualify by itself. A useful planning cue is to identify the purpose before starting the late-night drive and carry the required license.

12. 12. Under Missouri minor-in-possession rules, what does consuming alcohol count as?

    1. A driving test waiver
    2. Possession of alcohol
    3. A traffic signal violation
    4. No offense unless the person was driving
    Show answer

    Possession of alcohol. For a person older than 15 and younger than 21, Missouri says consumption of alcohol constitutes possession. That means an underage person can face the MIP process even when the issue is described as drinking rather than holding a container. Driving is not required for this rule, and it is unrelated to a test waiver or traffic signal. The practical cue is that consumption itself counts, so do not treat an empty container as protection.

13. 13. A driver entering a main road from a driveway, alley, or roadside must:

    
    1. Enter immediately if the driver used a turn signal
    2. Yield only to vehicles coming from the left
    3. Stop on the sidewalk and wait there
    4. Yield to vehicles already on the main road
    Show answer

    Yield to vehicles already on the main road. Traffic leaving a driveway, alley, or roadside is entering an established flow, so it must yield to vehicles already on the main road. A turn signal communicates intention but does not create a gap or priority. Looking only left can miss a vehicle approaching from the other direction, and stopping on a sidewalk would interfere with pedestrians. Stop before the crossing point, check both directions, and enter only after the roadway is clear. The edge of the main road is the cue to yield.

14. 14. When entering a Missouri highway through an acceleration lane, what should the driver generally do?

    
    1. Stop at the lane's end even when traffic is moving freely
    2. Increase speed to match highway traffic and merge through an opening
    3. Enter at a much lower speed than highway traffic
    4. Force into traffic because highway drivers must always stop
    Show answer

    Increase speed to match highway traffic and merge through an opening. An acceleration lane gives an entering driver room to build speed until it matches traffic on the highway. The driver should signal, find an opening, and merge smoothly rather than stopping at the end under ordinary conditions. Highway traffic should provide room, but an entering vehicle still must yield and must not force its way in. Use the lane for acceleration, then merge only when the gap is adequate.

15. 15. What license action does Missouri list for a second DWI or BAC offense within a five year period?

    1. A ten year license denial
    2. A five year license revocation
    3. A one year license revocation
    4. A 30 day suspension
    Show answer

    A one year license revocation. Missouri lists a one year license revocation for a second offense within a five year period. The five year figure is associated with a license denial in the chart, not the revocation length, and the ten year denial belongs to a third or subsequent offense. A 30 day suspension is not the listed response for this repeat DWI or BAC situation. The useful memory hook is offense count plus time window: second within five years produces one year of revocation.

16. 16. What is the eligible age for a Missouri instruction permit?

    1. 17
    2. 14
    3. 16
    4. 15
    Show answer

    15. A Missouri instruction permit begins the graduated licensing process at age 15. The age 16 option describes the usual minimum age for the intermediate step, not the initial permit. The permit is a learning stage, so the driver must also meet the examination and supervision requirements before driving. Remember the sequence as permit first, intermediate next, and full under 21 license after that. When a question asks when a young driver can start the program, look for 15 rather than the age attached to the next license stage.

17. 17. Under normal conditions, what is the minimum speed on a Missouri interstate highway?

    1. 25 mph
    2. 40 mph
    3. 55 mph
    4. There is no minimum
    Show answer

    40 mph. Interstates depend on everyone traveling at roughly the same pace. Missouri therefore sets a floor of 40 mph in normal conditions, and a vehicle unable to hold that speed should use another road. Twenty five is the default city limit, fifty five is a common maximum on lettered roads, and the idea of no minimum is wrong because a slow vehicle in a 70 mph flow forces constant braking and lane changes behind it. In snow or heavy rain the minimum no longer applies, because conditions rather than the sign set the safe speed.

18. 18. What must a driver outside an organized funeral procession avoid doing while the procession is moving?

    1. Yielding at intersections
    2. Watching for emergency vehicles
    3. Waiting until the procession has passed
    4. Driving between vehicles in the procession
    Show answer

    Driving between vehicles in the procession. Vehicles outside an organized funeral procession must not drive between the procession vehicles while they are moving. Cutting through the line can separate family members, create unexpected conflicts at intersections, and disrupt a group that has special right of way. Waiting behind the procession is the predictable choice. Do not join it to gain priority, and do not pass unless a passing lane is specifically provided. A continuous line of vehicles using flashing emergency lights is the cue to stay out.

19. 19. In Missouri's point table of state law violations, how many points does a speeding conviction carry?

    1. 3 points
    2. 1 point
    3. 5 points
    4. 12 points
    Show answer

    3 points. The Missouri table of state law violations lists speeding at 3 points, careless and imprudent driving at 4, failing to stop for a school bus at 5, and a felony involving a vehicle, license misrepresentation, or driving on a suspended or revoked license at 12. The guide notes a speeding conviction can bring two or three points depending on whether the court was municipal, county or state level, and the table shows the state law value. One point and five points are not the speeding values.

20. 20. What must a Missouri driver's record show to move from an intermediate license to a full under-21 license at 18?

    1. No traffic convictions in the last 30 days
    2. At least one year without a crash, even if not at fault
    3. No alcohol-related offenses or traffic convictions in the last 12 months
    4. Nothing, the upgrade is automatic at 18
    Show answer

    No alcohol-related offenses or traffic convictions in the last 12 months. A full under-21 license at 18 requires a valid intermediate license, no suspension, revocation or denial at the time of application, and no alcohol-related offenses or traffic convictions in the last 12 months. The driver also passes vision and road sign tests. Thirty days is too short, a no-crash rule is not the stated test, and the upgrade is not automatic.