MO Permit Practice Test 20

All 20 questions in test 20

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. Your windshield wipers fail in a heavy downpour on a Missouri road, and you cannot see ahead. What should you do first?

   1. Stop at once in your lane
   2. Speed up to reach the next exit
   3. Roll down the window and look around
   4. Lean close to the windshield and keep going
   Show answer

   Roll down the window and look around. Missouri's blocked vision steps apply when your hood flies open, your windshield wipers fail, or anything else blocks your view. Roll down the window so you can look around whatever is blocking your view, turn on your emergency flashers, and pull your vehicle off the road. Stopping in your lane or pressing on toward an exit both leave you driving or sitting blind in traffic.

   Study this in the handbook: Brake failure, blowouts and other emergencies

2. 2. How should a lap and shoulder belt be worn, according to the Missouri guide?

   1. Lap belt across the stomach, shoulder belt under the arm
   2. Lap belt loose for comfort, shoulder belt behind the back
   3. Lap belt only, since the shoulder belt is optional
   4. Lap belt low on the hips, shoulder belt across the chest
   Show answer

   Lap belt low on the hips, shoulder belt across the chest. Missouri says seat belts should be worn with the lap belt low and snug across the hips and the shoulder belt across the chest. A shoulder belt should never be placed under the arm or behind the back. If your vehicle has a two-part system, wear both the lap belt and the shoulder belt. The guide also says to wear your belt even when the vehicle has air bags.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and following distance

3. 3. Under Missouri's electronic device law, which of these is prohibited while the vehicle is moving?

   1. Talking hands-free through the car's Bluetooth
   2. Following GPS directions from a mounted phone
   3. Holding or propping a phone with any body part
   4. Listening to a podcast through the car speakers
   Show answer

   Holding or propping a phone with any body part. Missouri's law on electronic communication devices prohibits drivers, while the vehicle is in motion, from physically holding or supporting a cellphone with any part of their body. Tucking a phone between your shoulder and ear counts as supporting it. The law also bars typing, sending, or reading text messages, recording or broadcasting video, and watching videos. Hands-free voice calls, voice-to-text, GPS navigation, and music or podcasts are allowed.

   Study this in the handbook: Phones, distractions, fatigue and road rage

4. 4. You stop at a red light at a Missouri intersection and want to turn right, but a No Right Turn On Red sign is posted. What must you do?

   1. Wait until the light turns green
   2. Turn after a full stop if the way is clear
   3. Turn if no pedestrians are in the crosswalk
   4. Turn slowly without stopping
   Show answer

   Wait until the light turns green. Missouri allows a right turn on a red light after a complete stop when the way is clear of pedestrians and traffic. The exception is a posted No Right Turn On Red sign, which means you must not turn right on red at that intersection. Wait for the signal to turn green, then yield to any pedestrians and traffic still in the intersection before turning.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights, arrows and officers

5. 5. At a Missouri school crossing, a student traffic patrol member signals you to stop. What must you do?

   1. Slow down, then continue if no child is in the road yet
   2. Stop only if a police officer is also present
   3. Ignore it, since students cannot direct traffic
   4. Stop and yield to the children as the patrol signals
   Show answer

   Stop and yield to the children as the patrol signals. Children near schools can run into the road without looking, so Missouri asks drivers to be extra careful near schools, playgrounds, and parks. At a school crossing staffed by a traffic patrol, stop and yield whenever a patrol member signals you to do so. The patrol member's signal is enough, even if no police officer is present and even if you do not yet see a child in the street.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles and trucks

6. 6. You just started a new allergy medicine and are not sure it is safe to drive on it. What does the Missouri guide tell you to do?

   1. Take a smaller dose before driving and see how you feel
   2. Drive only in daylight until you know how it affects you
   3. Check with your physician or pharmacist and read the label
   4. Ask a friend who has used the same medicine before
   Show answer

   Check with your physician or pharmacist and read the label. The guide says all medications, prescription and over-the-counter, are potentially dangerous for driving and can impair it even when taken as directed. Medicines for colds and allergies can make you drowsy. It is your responsibility to know the effects of what you take. If you are not sure, check with your physician or pharmacist and read the warning label. A drug that may cause drowsiness or dizziness is one you should not take before driving.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol limits and DWI penalties

7. 7. On a Missouri highway with two lanes in each direction, which is a valid reason to drive in the left lane?

   1. You are driving at the full speed limit on a long trip
   2. You want to avoid bumpy pavement in the right lane
   3. You want to stay away from trucks at all times
   4. You are passing slower traffic in the right lane
   Show answer

   You are passing slower traffic in the right lane. On Missouri highways with four or more lanes, drivers keep to the right except in three situations: passing slower traffic, making room so another driver can enter safely, or getting ready for a legal left turn. Traveling at the speed limit does not turn the left lane into a cruising lane. On a highway with one lane each way, drive in the right lane and cross the center line only to pass when it is allowed.

   Study this in the handbook: Highway driving, merging and breakdowns

8. 8. A Missouri 9-year-old weighs 85 pounds and is 4 feet 11 inches tall. What does the law allow?

   1. A full child restraint system and nothing else
   2. A seat belt or booster seat that fits
   3. No restraint, since the child is over 8
   4. A rear-facing seat in the front
   Show answer

   A seat belt or booster seat that fits. Missouri law says children at least eight years old, at least 80 pounds, or more than 4 feet 9 inches tall must be secured by a vehicle safety belt or booster seat appropriate for that child. A nine-year-old who weighs 85 pounds and is 4 feet 11 inches meets those thresholds, so a properly fitted belt or booster is allowed. Being over eight never means riding unrestrained.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and following distance

9. 9. You are on a Missouri on-ramp, and highway traffic is moving at 65 mph. What should you do in the acceleration lane?

   1. Stop at the end and wait for an empty highway
   2. Merge right away at 30 mph and let cars slow
   3. Speed up to match traffic, then merge
   4. Drive along the shoulder until a gap appears
   Show answer

   Speed up to match traffic, then merge. Missouri says to use the ramp and acceleration lane to increase your speed to match the speed of vehicles on the highway. Watch for an opening, turn on your signal, and pull smoothly into traffic. Do not stop at the end of the acceleration lane unless traffic is very heavy and you have to. Merging far below highway speed forces others to brake suddenly.

   Study this in the handbook: Highway driving, merging and breakdowns

10. 10. Missouri uses this warning sign for a bend with what recommended speed?

    
    1. Above 45 mph
    2. 30 mph or less
    3. Exactly 50 mph
    4. Any speed up to the limit
    Show answer

    30 mph or less. Missouri uses the turn sign, a sharp right-angle arrow, to warn of a sharp turn or a turn where the recommended maximum speed is 30 mph or less. A gentler bend uses the curve sign, which warns that the recommended speed is less than the posted limit. Both often carry an advisory speed plate, so read it and slow down before you reach the bend.

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by shape and color

11. 11. On a Missouri interstate with two lanes in your direction, you are in the right lane when you see a police car stopped on the right shoulder with red and blue lights on. The left lane is clear. What should you do?

    1. Stay in your lane and keep the same speed
    2. Stop behind the police car on the shoulder
    3. Change to the left lane, since it is clear
    4. Honk to let the officer know you are passing
    Show answer

    Change to the left lane, since it is clear. Missouri's Move Over law says that when you approach a stationary emergency vehicle with red or red and blue lights on a road with at least four lanes and two or more going your way, you must proceed with caution and, if it is safe, change into a lane not adjacent to the stopped vehicle. With the left lane clear, move over. If changing lanes were unsafe, you would slow to a safe speed instead.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way at intersections and roundabouts

12. 12. It snowed overnight in Missouri, and you only need to drive two blocks. How much snow and ice must you clear from your windows first?

    1. All of it, from every window, before you go
    2. Just a patch on the windshield in front of you
    3. Only the windshield; side windows can wait
    4. None, if you drive slowly with your flashers on
    Show answer

    All of it, from every window, before you go. Missouri's winter advice says to clean all snow and ice off your windows, headlights, and taillights, and to check that the wipers and defroster work. No matter how far you are going, never start driving until all the snow and ice is off your windows. A small peephole or a clear windshield alone leaves you unable to see around the car, and flashers do not make up for poor vision.

    Study this in the handbook: Night driving, rain, snow, fog and skids

13. 13. You see this round yellow sign on a Missouri road. What should you do?

    
    1. Stop completely every time, even with no train
    2. Slow down, look for a train, and be ready to stop
    3. Speed up to cross before a train arrives
    4. Turn on your hazard lights and keep going
    Show answer

    Slow down, look for a train, and be ready to stop. The round yellow advance warning sign tells you that you are nearing a railroad crossing in Missouri. The guide says that when you see railroad signs, slow down, look for a train, and be ready to stop. A stop is required if the red lights are flashing or the gate is down. Never try to beat a train across the tracks.

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by shape and color

14. 14. You see an object marker at the edge of your lane on a Missouri road. What does the guide say this sign wants you to do?

    1. Stay within the marked travel lane
    2. Stop and wait for a flagger to wave you by
    3. Drive on the shoulder to keep clear of the object
    4. Speed up and pass the object before others arrive
    Show answer

    Stay within the marked travel lane. Object markers notify drivers of objects in the roadway or very close to the edge of the roadway. The guide says the sign emphasizes the need to not stray outside of the marked travel lane. So the right response is to keep your vehicle inside your lane as you pass the marked object, rather than stopping for a flagger, using the shoulder, or racing by it.

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by shape and color

15. 15. According to the Missouri guide's speed table, what is the maximum speed on a rural expressway when no other limit is posted?

    1. 65 mph
    2. 55 mph
    3. 60 mph
    4. 75 mph
    Show answer

    65 mph. Missouri's guide gives a table of maximum speeds to use unless posted limits direct otherwise. Rural expressways are listed at 65 mph. Interstates, freeways, and expressways inside urbanized areas are listed at 60 mph, other non-urban roads at 60 mph, and lettered roads at 55 mph. The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission can set limits higher or lower for safety, so posted signs take priority.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and minimum speeds

16. 16. A train has just passed a Missouri crossing that has two sets of tracks, and the red lights are still flashing. What should you do?

    1. Cross at once, since the train has passed
    2. Wait for the lights to stop before you look
    3. Back up to let the gate fully reset
    4. Look for a second train before you cross
    Show answer

    Look for a second train before you cross. Missouri warns that the red lights at a crossing may continue to flash after a train has gone by. When there are two or more tracks, look for a second train before you cross, since another one may be approaching on the other track. The end of the first train does not mean the crossing is clear. Stay stopped while the lights or gate tell you to, and cross only when it is safe.

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs by shape and color

17. 17. How does the Missouri guide compare a very tired driver to an intoxicated driver?

    1. A tired driver is far safer, since no alcohol is involved
    2. A tired driver can be as dangerous as a drunk one
    3. A tired driver is only dangerous after midnight
    4. They cannot be compared, because fatigue is legal
    Show answer

    A tired driver can be as dangerous as a drunk one. Missouri's guide says tired drivers are a great danger to themselves and other drivers and can be as dangerous as intoxicated drivers. Fatigue makes it harder to decide and react, and a driver may fall asleep at the wheel. When you feel sleepy, pull off at the nearest rest stop or service area, and if you are really sleepy, take a nap. Being sober does not make a drowsy driver safe.

    Study this in the handbook: Highway driving, merging and breakdowns

18. 18. A tractor-trailer ahead of you on a Missouri street drifts to the left with its right turn signal blinking. What is most likely happening?

    1. The driver forgot to cancel an old signal
    2. It is swinging left to begin a wide right turn
    3. It is moving over so you can pass on the right
    4. It is preparing to pull onto the left shoulder
    Show answer

    It is swinging left to begin a wide right turn. Because of their size, large trucks may swing out to the left as the first step in making a right turn. A gap opening on the truck's right side is not an invitation to pass, because the trailer will sweep back across that space during the turn. Missouri tells drivers following a tractor-trailer to watch its turn signals before trying to pass. Stay back until the turn is finished.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles and trucks

19. 19. You are driving on a two-lane, one-way street in Missouri when a school bus ahead stops with red lights flashing and its stop arm out. What must you do?

    1. Pass carefully in the other lane, since all traffic goes one way
    2. Slow to 10 mph and continue past the bus
    3. Stop only if children are crossing in front
    4. Stop before you reach the bus and stay stopped
    Show answer

    Stop before you reach the bus and stay stopped. Missouri lists a two-lane road that is a one-way street as one of the places where drivers must stop for a school bus showing alternate flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. Having a second lane going the same way does not make passing allowed. Stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the bus moves or the driver signals you to go. Children may cross or walk beside the bus at any moment.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way at intersections and roundabouts

20. 20. Why should you avoid swinging wide to the left before making a right turn?

    1. Drivers behind may think you are turning left and pass on your right
    2. It makes the turn take longer and slows down cross traffic
    3. It is only allowed for trucks, and a car gets a ticket for it
    4. It makes pedestrians think you are stopping for them
    Show answer

    Drivers behind may think you are turning left and pass on your right. Missouri warns against swinging wide to the left before a right turn. A driver behind you may read the move as a lane change or a left turn and try to pass on your right, exactly where you are about to turn. Swinging wide as you finish the turn is also risky, because drivers in the far lane will not expect you there. Keep the turn tight and predictable so others can read it.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, turning and signaling