MT Permit Practice Test 12

All 20 questions in test 12

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. An animal being passed looks scared and begins to shy. What should the driver do?

   1. Accelerate past before the animal reacts
   2. Pull the vehicle to the side and stop
   3. Honk steadily to assert the vehicle's position
   4. Crowd closer so the animal sees the vehicle clearly
   Show answer

   Pull the vehicle to the side and stop. A frightened animal near the roadway calls for pulling to the side and stopping until the danger settles. Accelerating past bets the vehicle clears before hooves move, a gamble against startled muscle. Steady honking pours noise into the exact fear driving the behavior. Crowding closer shrinks the animal's escape space and raises panic. Stillness works in the driver's favor: a stopped, quiet vehicle reads as scenery, letting the handler calm the animal and wave traffic onward when the path is safe.

   Study this in the handbook: Following distance, merging and passing

2. 2. Warning signals show a train approaching a crossing. What is the closest a driver may stop to the nearest rail?

   1. Not less than 5 feet from the rail
   2. Stop at least 15 feet from the rail
   3. Not less than 50 feet from the rail
   4. Close enough to touch the first rail
   Show answer

   Stop at least 15 feet from the rail. When signals, gates, stop signs, or watchmen warn of a train, drivers must stop as close as practicable but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail. Five feet leaves the vehicle inside the swept path of a wide train. Fifty feet overstates the minimum and can block side traffic needlessly. Touching the rail places the car on the track itself. Stop behind the line, look both ways, and wait for every track to clear.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, roundabouts and railroad crossings

3. 3. How should a driver handle speed when approaching a curve on a Montana road?

   1. Slow down before entering, avoiding braking inside the curve
   2. Brake firmly midway through to tighten the turn
   3. Hold speed and steer harder if tires complain
   4. Accelerate gently at entry to settle the vehicle
   Show answer

   Slow down before entering, avoiding braking inside the curve. Entering a bend already slowed keeps tires gripping, while braking mid curve can break traction and start a skid. Firm midway braking sounds controlled, yet it loads the tires exactly when steering also demands grip. Holding pace and cranking the wheel asks rubber to do two jobs beyond its limit. Adding power at entry pushes the vehicle outward. The cue is simple roadcraft: finish slowing on the straight, look through the bend, then roll on smoothly once the exit opens.

   Study this in the handbook: Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance

4. 4. A driver is convicted a second time of driving without valid liability insurance. How long are the license plates and registration suspended?

   1. For 180 days after the second conviction
   2. For 30 days after the second conviction
   3. For 90 days after the second conviction
   4. For 10 days after the second conviction
   Show answer

   For 90 days after the second conviction. A second conviction for driving without valid liability insurance brings suspension of the license plates and registration for 90 days. The 180 day period applies to a third or later offense, so it overstates this penalty. Thirty days understates the suspension, and 10 days matches the possible jail term in the same passage rather than the plate suspension. Keep coverage in force, since a second lapse costs both money and the use of the vehicle.

   Study this in the handbook: Your Montana license, renewal and insurance

5. 5. Which pedestrian action at a curb does Montana law forbid even though drivers must yield in crosswalks?

   1. Stepping off the curb into a vehicle path
   2. Crossing at an intersection crosswalk
   3. Waiting on the curb for a WALK signal
   4. Carrying a bright light at night
   Show answer

   Stepping off the curb into a vehicle path. No pedestrian may leave a curb and walk into the path of a vehicle, even though drivers must yield inside crosswalks. Stepping suddenly in front of a moving car leaves the driver no distance to stop. Crossing at marked intersections and waiting for a WALK signal both follow the rules. Carrying a light at night improves visibility and is encouraged. Drivers stay alert, yet pedestrians share the duty to enter the road safely.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits, passing and turning

6. 6. Another vehicle is about to hit you from behind and there is open room ahead. What response may help?

   1. Brake hard so the following driver notices your vehicle sooner.
   2. Stop completely in the lane and wait for the other driver.
   3. Swerve onto the shoulder without checking what is beside you.
   4. Speed up to get out of danger, then slow down afterward.
   Show answer

   Speed up to get out of danger, then slow down afterward.. Speeding up is one collision avoidance option when a vehicle is about to strike you from behind or the side and clear room exists ahead. Braking hard or stopping in the lane removes the space the other driver needs, while an unchecked shoulder swerve can create a second crash. Once the threat is behind you, slow back down. The useful cue is the combination of a rear or side threat and enough open road in front to escape it.

   Study this in the handbook: Crashes, emergency vehicles and traffic stops

7. 7. What does the Montana manual say about running a vehicle engine in a closed garage?

   1. It is safe if a window is open
   2. It only matters in winter
   3. It is safe if the engine is tuned
   4. It can cause death in a very short time
   Show answer

   It can cause death in a very short time. Exhaust fumes contain toxic gases, and the manual warns that a leaky exhaust can cause death in a very short time. It also says never run the motor in a garage and never sit in a car with the motor running without opening a window. An open window, a tuned engine, or mild weather does not make a closed garage safe. The cue is to move the vehicle outside before letting it idle and to fix any exhaust leak you can hear.

   Study this in the handbook: Required lights and equipment

8. 8. As a general rule, where must bicyclists ride on a Montana roadway?

   1. As far to the right as practical on the road
   2. In the center of the lane at all times
   3. On the left side, facing oncoming traffic
   4. Beside each other across the whole lane
   Show answer

   As far to the right as practical on the road. Bicyclists are required by law to ride as far to the right as practical on the roadway. Exceptions let a rider leave that position to pass another vehicle, prepare for a left turn, or avoid a condition that makes the right side unsafe. Riding in the center at all times and facing traffic from the left do not state the general rule. Two riders across a whole lane also goes beyond the allowed cases. Drivers should still pass only with safe room.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses, funerals and bicycles

9. 9. How does the alcohol content of microbrews and craft beers compare with a regular commercial beer?

   1. They usually contain less alcohol than a regular commercial beer.
   2. A craft beer has the same alcohol as every commercial serving.
   3. They often contain more alcohol than a 12-ounce commercial beer.
   4. They count as half of a standard drink.
   Show answer

   They often contain more alcohol than a 12-ounce commercial beer.. Montana uses a 12-ounce commercial beer as one reference drink, but warns that microbrews and craft beers often contain more alcohol. That makes A wrong because they are not usually weaker. B is too broad because commercial servings do not all have identical strength. D is also wrong because a craft beer is not automatically half a standard drink. Its actual size and alcohol content determine how much it represents. The word often signals a common warning, not a promise that every craft beer has the same strength.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and the law

10. 10. At night, within what distance must a driver be able to stop using headlights?

    1. About 100 feet
    2. About 800 feet
    3. About 400 feet
    4. Whatever distance the posted speed requires
    Show answer

    About 400 feet. At night, a driver must be able to stop within the distance revealed by the headlights, which the Montana manual gives as about 400 feet. A 100 foot estimate understates the visible stopping distance, while 800 feet promises more sight distance than the headlights provide. The posted speed does not decide how far ahead the driver can see. Keep the speed low enough that the vehicle can stop within the lighted roadway rather than beyond the edge of visibility.

    Study this in the handbook: Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance

11. 11. After entering a single-lane roundabout, what passing move is prohibited?

    1. Passing a vehicle that stopped before the entry line
    2. Overtaking another vehicle inside the roundabout
    3. Passing a parked vehicle on the street after exiting
    4. Overtaking a bicycle on the approach road before entry
    Show answer

    Overtaking another vehicle inside the roundabout. Inside a single-lane roundabout there is only one circulating path, and overtaking another vehicle there is never allowed. Moves made before entry or after exit happen on ordinary roadway and follow normal passing rules, so they are separate from the ban inside the circle. A vehicle halted at the entry has not yet joined circulation. Keep one steady line around the island, hold a low speed, and exit in turn.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, roundabouts and railroad crossings

12. 12. When may a driver legally drive on a sidewalk in Montana?

    1. To pass a vehicle that is stopped in traffic
    2. Only to cross the sidewalk, not travel along it
    3. Whenever the sidewalk is wide and empty of people
    4. To park closer to the entrance of a building
    Show answer

    Only to cross the sidewalk, not travel along it. Driving on a sidewalk is illegal except to cross it, for example when entering or leaving a driveway, alley, or parking lot. Traveling along a sidewalk to pass stopped traffic puts people on foot at direct risk. An empty sidewalk is still reserved for pedestrians, and parking convenience does not create an exception. Cross slowly, yield to anyone walking there, and get the vehicle fully off the sidewalk as soon as the crossing is complete.

    Study this in the handbook: Who yields at intersections

13. 13. In a shopping center lot, which parking space choice makes leaving safer?

    1. A space backing directly onto the main lot road
    2. A tight space between two large sport utility vehicles
    3. A space the vehicle can drive through, exiting forward
    4. The end space closest to a blind building corner
    Show answer

    A space the vehicle can drive through, exiting forward. Choosing a drive through space lets the vehicle leave facing forward, with a clear view of shoppers and carts. Backing onto the main lot road reverses into the busiest flow blind. Squeezing between tall vehicles hides children until the last moment. Hugging a blind corner hides crossing foot traffic behind the wall. While entering the lot, scan one row deeper for paired empty spaces; the extra ten seconds of walking buys a forward exit.

    Study this in the handbook: Scanning, blind spots and signaling

14. 14. What three jobs do signs, signals, and road markings do for drivers?

    1. They inform, warn, and regulate drivers on the road.
    2. They inform drivers and warn them, but do not regulate traffic.
    3. They regulate traffic and repair pavement when roads wear.
    4. They warn of hazards only after a driver has violated a rule.
    Show answer

    They inform, warn, and regulate drivers on the road.. Highway signs, signals, and markings give drivers information, warn about conditions, and regulate traffic. They can tell a driver what is ahead, identify a hazard, or require a particular movement. They do not stop regulating traffic after giving a warning, repair pavement, or wait until a violation has occurred before warning someone. Read each device as guidance for the driver's next safe decision, not as a record of what another driver has already done.

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

15. 15. When leaving a main road by an exit ramp, when should a driver slow down?

    1. Well before signaling, while still in the through lane
    2. As soon as the exit sign first comes into view
    3. Only after the vehicle has passed the exit gore
    4. After moving onto the exit ramp itself
    Show answer

    After moving onto the exit ramp itself. Through traffic should keep its pace while still on the main road, with slowing saved for the exit ramp. Braking early in a through lane surprises following drivers and disrupts flow. Slowing at the first sign is also far too soon on a long approach. Waiting until past the exit point misses the ramp entirely. Signal, move onto the ramp, and only then reduce speed for its curve or stop.

16. 16. What does the Montana manual say a driver should do with the transmission when parking?

    1. Leave a manual in gear or an automatic in park
    2. Leave every vehicle in neutral
    3. Leave a manual in neutral and an automatic in drive
    4. Shift to reverse regardless of transmission type
    Show answer

    Leave a manual in gear or an automatic in park. The manual directs the driver to set the parking brake and leave a manual transmission in gear or an automatic transmission in park. Neutral lets a vehicle roll, and leaving an automatic in drive works against the parking brake. Reverse is not the universal choice; the transmission type decides. The cue is to set the brake first, then match the gear to the transmission so the vehicle has two independent holds.

17. 17. What does Montana's third graduated licensing step provide?

    1. It starts another six-month instruction-permit period.
    2. It keeps the first-year nighttime restriction permanently.
    3. It limits the teenager to one unrelated passenger.
    4. It gives the teenager a full-privilege driver license.
    Show answer

    It gives the teenager a full-privilege driver license.. The third graduated licensing step is the full-privilege stage. The first step is supervised instruction, and the second is the first-year restricted license with limits on nighttime driving and passengers. Those first-year limits do not continue permanently after the teenager reaches Step 3. A new permit period and a one-passenger cap belong to earlier stages, not the full-privilege license. The stage change is the cue that the graduated restrictions have ended.

    Study this in the handbook: Learner license and the teen GDL steps

18. 18. Which description matches a flagger in a Montana highway work zone?

    1. A blue vest or jacket with a white flag or paddle.
    2. An ordinary shirt with a vehicle horn and no paddle.
    3. A yellow vest or jacket with a green signal light.
    4. An orange vest or jacket with a red flag or stop/slow paddle.
    Show answer

    An orange vest or jacket with a red flag or stop/slow paddle.. Work-zone flaggers wear orange vests, shirts, or jackets and use red flags or stop and slow paddles to direct traffic. The clothing and signaling tools help drivers identify the person who is controlling movement through the work area. A blue or yellow vest, a vehicle horn, or a green traffic signal is not the flagger description in the manual. Slow down, look for the flagger's instruction, and follow the displayed stop or slow command.

19. 19. If heavy rain, snow, or fog limits visibility to about 200 feet, how fast may a driver safely travel?

    1. The posted limit, regardless of what can be seen
    2. No faster than 30 mph
    3. At least 50 mph to clear the weather quickly
    4. Any speed below 70 mph if headlights are on
    Show answer

    No faster than 30 mph. The manual says that when heavy rain, a snowstorm, or thick fog limits visibility to about 200 feet, a driver cannot safely travel faster than 30 mph. Headlights improve visibility to others but do not make an unsafe speed acceptable. The posted limit and a high-speed escape strategy ignore sight distance. If the downpour prevents safe driving at all, pull off in a safe place and wait for conditions to improve.

    Study this in the handbook: Adjusting speed for roads, weather and sight distance

20. 20. What can many prescription drugs, including medical marijuana, do to a driver?

    1. Improve judgment while making vision less clear
    2. Affect reflexes, judgment, vision, and alertness
    3. Remove the effects of alcohol taken with them
    4. Make a driver alert for a long, steady period
    Show answer

    Affect reflexes, judgment, vision, and alertness. Many prescription drugs, including medical marijuana, can affect reflexes, judgment, vision, and alertness in ways similar to alcohol. They do not improve judgment, and they do not cancel alcohol taken with them. A drug that seems to sharpen alertness for a short time can later leave a driver nervous, dizzy, or unable to concentrate. Read the label before driving, ask a doctor or pharmacist when unsure, and never mix alcohol with other drugs.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and the law