MT Permit Practice Test 10

All 20 questions in test 10

Every question below comes from the Montana 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. When may a Montana driver use the left side of the centerline on a two-lane road?

   1. Whenever the road appears empty behind the vehicle
   2. Whenever the driver wants to avoid a rough shoulder
   3. Only while approaching a hill
   4. When overtaking and passing another vehicle safely
   Show answer

   When overtaking and passing another vehicle safely. On a two-lane road, Montana permits crossing left of the centerline for overtaking and passing another vehicle when the maneuver can be done safely. A rough shoulder, a hill, or an empty view behind does not create permission by itself. The driver must still evaluate oncoming traffic, sight distance, markings, and the space needed to return right. Passing is a planned maneuver, not a general lane preference.

2. 2. What hazard does this five-sided school sign identify?

   
   1. A park where stopping is prohibited at all times
   2. A hospital zone where emergency vehicles have priority
   3. A school ahead, requiring slower driving and careful attention to children
   4. A railroad crossing with a pedestrian-only track
   Show answer

   A school ahead, requiring slower driving and careful attention to children. The school warning sign means a school is ahead. The manual pairs that warning with slowing down and watching for children at all times, not merely during a narrow school-hour window. The other choices describe unrelated locations and restrictions. Children may be walking, bicycling, or crossing near the school, so the driver should scan the roadside, control speed, and be prepared to stop. The five-sided shape is a quick visual cue that distinguishes school warnings from the diamond-shaped warnings used for many other hazards.

3. 3. On a Montana road with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction, which lane should a driver normally use?

   1. The left lane, except when turning
   2. The right lane except when preparing for a left turn
   3. The center lane unless traffic is heavy
   4. The right lane, except to pass
   Show answer

   The right lane, except to pass. Montana directs drivers on roads with three or more lanes going the same way to stay in the right lane except when passing. The center lane can be used when much traffic is entering, but it is not the normal choice in every situation. The left lane is for passing or a specific maneuver, and a shoulder is not a regular travel lane. Look ahead for entering traffic and change lanes smoothly when needed.

4. 4. How much total distance does it take to react and stop from 50 mph, according to the Montana manual?

   1. About 50 feet
   2. About 1,600 feet
   3. About 100 feet
   4. About 400 feet with good tires, brakes and dry pavement
   Show answer

   About 400 feet with good tires, brakes and dry pavement. With good tires and brakes on dry pavement, at 50 mph it can take about 400 feet to react to something you see and bring the vehicle to a stop, so if you cannot see 400 feet ahead you may not be driving safely at 50. At night that matches the roughly 400 feet your headlights reach, and passing needs over 1,600 feet of clear road.

5. 5. How should you respond to a flashing yellow signal?

   1. Treat it exactly like a flashing red signal
   2. Stop fully and wait for a green indication
   3. Proceed with caution, usually after slowing down
   4. Accelerate so you clear the intersection quickly
   Show answer

   Proceed with caution, usually after slowing down. A flashing yellow signal permits movement but calls for caution, and Montana notes that it usually means slowing down. It is not the same as a flashing red, which requires a complete stop. The driver still needs to scan for vehicles, pedestrians, and changing conditions before entering. The useful habit is to lift off the accelerator and cover the brake as the signal comes into view, then proceed only after confirming that the intersection can be crossed safely.

6. 6. Which drivers have the highest crash rate per mile after drivers under 24, according to the Montana manual?

   1. Drivers 30 to 40
   2. Drivers 65 and over
   3. Drivers 45 to 55
   4. Commercial drivers
   Show answer

   Drivers 65 and over. Aging affects vision, hearing and reaction time, which is one reason the accident rate of drivers 65 and over, in terms of miles traveled, is exceeded only by the rate of drivers under 24 years old. Montana may require a re exam recommendation, medical evaluation or eye examination report when a driver's ability comes into question, using the forms listed in the manual.

7. 7. What does a red circle with a red slash over a symbol mean in Montana?

   
   1. The road is reserved for the symbol shown
   2. The action shown is recommended in the next block
   3. The action shown by the symbol is prohibited
   4. The symbol identifies a service area ahead
   Show answer

   The action shown by the symbol is prohibited. A red circle and slash is a prohibition marker. Montana explains that the driver must not do whatever the black arrow or symbol depicts. The sign does not recommend the movement, reserve the road for it, or identify a service. Read the underlying symbol first, then apply the slash to that action. For example, a crossed U turn symbol means do not turn around there. The quick visual cue is red around the symbol with a diagonal bar: the pictured maneuver is forbidden.

8. 8. At a school crossing where children are present, what does Montana require drivers to do?

   1. Maintain the ordinary highway speed unless a guard enters the road
   2. Slow down and watch for children at all times
   3. Stop only after a child steps into the lane
   4. Use the horn continuously while passing the crossing
   Show answer

   Slow down and watch for children at all times. The school crossing warning tells drivers that children may be using the roadway, so the manual directs them to slow down and watch for children at all times. A crossing guard is not required before the driver becomes cautious, and waiting for a child to enter the lane is too late. Honking does not replace observation or speed control. The safest mental marker is the combination of a school location and limited child visibility: reduce speed early, search both sides, and be ready to stop for a pedestrian.

9. 9. Your vehicle breaks down on a highway. What is the first priority if possible?

   1. Stand in the travel lane to wave at approaching drivers
   2. Move the vehicle off the road and away from traffic
   3. Leave the vehicle in place and begin changing a tire
   4. Park just beyond a hill so the vehicle is easier to see
   Show answer

   Move the vehicle off the road and away from traffic. When a vehicle becomes disabled, the safest first move is to get it off the roadway and away from traffic if that can be done. Once stopped safely, emergency flashers can make the problem visible and a warning device can alert approaching drivers. Standing in a lane exposes the driver to a secondary collision, while a hilltop or curve hides the disabled vehicle from others. Think in this order: escape moving traffic, make the vehicle visible, and seek help from a safe position.

10. 10. An emergency vehicle approaches with a siren and flashing red or blue light. What must you do?

    1. Stop in the intersection immediately, even if blocking cross traffic
    2. Continue at normal speed while watching it in the mirror
    3. Pull to the right, stop, and remain stopped until it has passed
    4. Move left and maintain speed so it can pass on the shoulder
    Show answer

    Pull to the right, stop, and remain stopped until it has passed. Montana requires drivers to yield to an emergency vehicle using a siren or air horn with a flashing red or blue light. Pull as near to the right edge as possible, stop, and remain stopped until the vehicle passes. If you are already in an intersection, clear it first, then pull over safely. Stopping in the intersection can obstruct the responder, and moving left may place your vehicle in its path. The cue is the combination of audible and visual emergency signals, followed by a deliberate right-side stop.

11. 11. What is the youngest age at which a Montana teen can hold a learner license, and what condition applies?

    1. 14, as long as a parent signs the consent form
    2. 14 and a half, if the teen is taking or has finished a state-approved traffic education program
    3. 15, after finishing any online driver education course
    4. 16, because no learner license is issued before 16
    Show answer

    14 and a half, if the teen is taking or has finished a state-approved traffic education program. Montana lets a teen get a learner license as early as 14 and a half, but only while participating in or after completing a state-approved traffic education program. Parent consent is required for anyone under 18, yet it does not lower the age to 14 by itself. The 15 year route also depends on an approved course, and online courses are not approved, so an online class does not qualify. Sixteen is the age for a learner license without traffic education, not the earliest possible age.

12. 12. You are pulling from an alley onto a main road. What must you do before joining traffic?

    
    1. Use the shoulder until traffic clears
    2. Accelerate into the first available gap without stopping
    3. Expect main-road traffic to yield
    4. Stop and yield to vehicles already on the main roadway
    Show answer

    Stop and yield to vehicles already on the main roadway. The vehicle coming from a lesser access point is entering an established roadway, so it must stop and yield to traffic already there. This requirement covers driveways, alleys, and roadside entrances. Accelerating through a gap is not a substitute for the required stop, and main-road drivers do not automatically yield. The shoulder is not a waiting lane. Scan both directions, stop where you can see, and enter only after the roadway is safe.

13. 13. A Montana applicant pays for a license and begins testing. How many tries does the receipt allow to pass all required exams?

    1. Three attempts within one year
    2. Unlimited attempts for one year
    3. One attempt, then a new fee
    4. Two attempts within six months
    Show answer

    Three attempts within one year. A Montana driver license receipt is valid for one year, and for applicants who are testing it covers three attempts within that year to pass every required exam. Unlimited tries overstates it, while one attempt or two attempts in six months understate it. Receipts are not renewable. If the applicant does not finish the licensing process within the year, the applicant must reapply and start over, so plan study time before booking tests.

14. 14. Which Montana license applicants must register with the Selective Service?

    1. Young men at least 15 and not older than 26
    2. All applicants over 18
    3. Only commercial drivers
    4. Only applicants born outside the U.S.
    Show answer

    Young men at least 15 and not older than 26. Young men who are at least 15 years old and not older than 26 are required to register with the Selective Service in compliance with the federal Military Selective Service Act, and Montana forwards the necessary information when they apply for a license or ID. The requirement is separate from voter registration and organ donor registration offered at the same time.

15. 15. What happens to traffic fines in a Montana highway work zone?

    1. They are the same as anywhere else
    2. They are doubled
    3. They are waived if no workers are present
    4. They are tripled only at night
    Show answer

    They are doubled. Montana doubles traffic fines in work zones, and exceeding the posted work zone speed is a violation. There is no single statewide work zone speed limit; the transportation department, a local authority, a utility, or a contractor sets the limit for each zone. The manual gives no exception for zones without visible workers and no night only tripling. Driving in a way that endangers people or property, or purposely striking a traffic control device, can also bring a reckless endangerment charge.

16. 16. A Montana police officer asks a driver to take a blood alcohol test. What can happen if the driver refuses?

    1. The driver can lose the driver license
    2. Nothing, because the test is voluntary
    3. The driver gets a warning if no crash occurred
    4. The officer must release the driver immediately
    Show answer

    The driver can lose the driver license. Montana's manual is direct: if a police officer asks you to take a test, you must do so, and you can lose your driver license if you refuse a BAC test. Treating the test as voluntary is the mistake that costs drivers their license. There is no warning only exception for refusals without a crash, and a refusal does not force the officer to let the driver go. The test is usually a breath, blood, or urine test that measures blood alcohol concentration.

17. 17. How does Montana's Three-Second Rule help a driver judge following distance?

    
    1. It checks whether the vehicle reaches a reference point before three seconds pass
    2. It requires exactly three car lengths at every speed
    3. It applies only when traveling below 25 mph
    4. It measures the distance from the rear bumper to the curb
    Show answer

    It checks whether the vehicle reaches a reference point before three seconds pass. The Three-Second Rule uses time rather than a fixed number of car lengths. Watch the vehicle ahead pass a stationary object, then count until your vehicle reaches that same point. Arriving before the count is complete means the gap is too short, so drop back and check again. The method works at any speed and gives a practical cue when traffic flow changes.

18. 18. What action is required by Montana's eight sided STOP sign?

    1. Continue if the cross street appears empty
    2. Reduce speed and yield without stopping
    3. Stop only when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk
    4. Make a complete stop before entering the intersection
    Show answer

    Make a complete stop before entering the intersection. The octagonal shape identifies a STOP sign, and the required action is a complete stop before entering the intersection. If a crosswalk is present, the stop must occur before entering that crosswalk. After stopping, the driver yields to traffic close enough to be an immediate hazard. Merely slowing is the rule associated with a yield sign, not this shape. Use the eight sides as the quick visual cue, then stop at the line or at the proper point before the crossing.

19. 19. What is the purpose of a shared center lane marked with alternating left-turn arrows?

    1. Left turns, and permitted U-turns, for traffic in either direction
    2. Passing slower vehicles in either direction
    3. Straight travel through the intersection
    4. Parking while waiting for a turn
    Show answer

    Left turns, and permitted U-turns, for traffic in either direction. The shared center lane is a two-way turning space, not a travel lane for overtaking or cruising. Montana reserves it for left turns and for U-turns where those turns are permitted. The alternating arrows show that drivers from both directions may use the lane, so enter carefully and yield to an opposing user already there. Do not treat the center lane as a shortcut for straight travel or as temporary parking.

20. 20. What is the closest a Montana driver may park to a stop sign?

    1. 15 feet
    2. 20 feet
    3. 30 feet
    4. 50 feet
    Show answer

    30 feet. Montana bars parking within 30 feet of a traffic signal, stop sign, or yield sign, because a parked car there can hide the sign from approaching drivers. Fifteen feet is the fire hydrant rule, 20 feet is the rule for a crosswalk or sidewalk at an intersection, and 50 feet is the railroad crossing rule. Mixing up these distances is a common test mistake, so learn each one together with the object it protects.