MT Permit Practice Test 16

All 20 questions in test 16

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. What should a driver assume about a specialty mixed drink at a bar?

   1. It counts as half a normal drink for driving purposes
   2. Its alcohol leaves the body faster than beer alcohol
   3. It is safe to drive after one specialty drink always
   4. It can equal several normal drinks in alcohol content
   Show answer

   It can equal several normal drinks in alcohol content. Specialty drinks can hold more alcohol and act like several normal drinks taken together. Counting one as half a drink badly underestimates impairment. Safety after a single specialty pour cannot be promised, since its strength may match multiple servings. Alcohol from a mixed drink also leaves the body at the same slow pace as alcohol from beer. Treat an unknown specialty drink as multiple drinks and arrange another ride.

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

2. 2. Driving much slower than surrounding traffic on a Montana road creates what risk?

   1. It guarantees a speeding ticket
   2. It removes any need to signal
   3. It can be just as risky as speeding
   4. It gives following drivers more room
   Show answer

   It can be just as risky as speeding. Going much slower than other vehicles can be just as risky as speeding because traffic piles up behind and drivers keep passing in frustration. A ticket punishes speed above the limit, not a cautious pace by itself. Signaling duties stay the same at any speed. If vehicles stack up behind you, pull aside where safe and let the line clear, then rejoin at traffic pace.

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

3. 3. Turning off a high speed two lane roadway with traffic following, how should braking be handled?

   1. Slow down far in advance gradually
   2. Brake only after the turn begins
   3. Coast without any brake signal
   4. Tap brakes and reduce speed quickly but safely
   Show answer

   Tap brakes and reduce speed quickly but safely. Leaving a high speed two lane road, a driver should avoid slowing too early with traffic behind, then tap the brakes and reduce speed quickly but safely for the turn. Crawling far in advance stacks vehicles into a rear end chain. Braking after the turn starts carries highway speed into a sharp curve. Coasting without brake lights hides the slowdown. Brake lights first, firm speed cut second, then steer through.

4. 4. A driver becomes sleepy during a trip. What does Montana advise?

   1. Open a window and continue until becoming alert
   2. Stop and sleep for a few hours before continuing
   3. Drink coffee and keep driving without a break
   4. Turn up the radio and keep driving
   Show answer

   Stop and sleep for a few hours before continuing. Montana says never to drive when sleepy. The safer choice is to stop and sleep for a few hours rather than gamble on staying awake. Opening a window or drinking coffee may make a driver feel temporarily different, but neither replaces sleep or makes continued driving safe. Turning up the radio does not remove the danger of falling asleep. If another rested driver is available, switching drivers can also help, but a sleepy person should not continue behind the wheel.

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

5. 5. A Montana driver finds a curb space in front of a private driveway. What does the manual say about parking there?

   1. It is allowed for up to 15 minutes
   2. It is allowed if the driveway belongs to the driver
   3. It is allowed if the vehicle stays unlocked
   4. It is prohibited because it blocks the driveway
   Show answer

   It is prohibited because it blocks the driveway. Montana prohibits parking that blocks a driveway, alley, private road, or a curb section lowered for sidewalk access. The rule does not turn on who owns the driveway or how short the stop is, and leaving the car unlocked changes nothing. The cue is the curb cut: a dip in the curb usually marks an entrance that must stay clear for vehicles, wheelchairs, and strollers.

6. 6. How often does the Montana manual suggest stopping on a long trip to avoid fatigue?

   1. Every 30 minutes
   2. Every four hours
   3. Every two hours or so
   4. Only when a rest area appears
   Show answer

   Every two hours or so. The manual's fatigue advice is to take breaks and stop every two hours or so, or whenever you need to. A 30 minute interval is more frequent than the guide, while four hours is too long and waiting for a rest area may postpone the break too far. The cue is to pair the stop with a short walk, fresh air, and a drink, because a few minutes away from the wheel can restore alertness before drowsiness becomes dangerous.

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

7. 7. A yellow warning sign shows a road that splits left and right with no road ahead. What should the driver expect?

   1. The driver cannot go straight and must turn
   2. A side road enters from the right at an angle
   3. The road widens into three lanes going straight
   4. A bridge ahead narrows but still allows passing
   Show answer

   The driver cannot go straight and must turn. That warning describes a T intersection, where the road ends and traffic must turn either left or right. Going straight is not an option, so a driver should slow and choose a turn direction early. The road does not widen into straight lanes, and no angled side road is entering. A narrow bridge is a different warning with its own sign. Signal for the turn you choose and check cross traffic before leaving the stop or yield point.

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

8. 8. A group plans an evening out where drinks will be served. What arrangement does Montana suggest?

   1. Everyone drinks lightly and the steadiest person drives
   2. The host drives because the host knows the roads
   3. Whoever drank earliest in the evening drives home
   4. Go with two or more people and agree that one of you will not drink alcohol
   Show answer

   Go with two or more people and agree that one of you will not drink alcohol. Heading out with at least two people lets the group name one person who skips alcohol entirely and handles the driving. Letting the steadiest drinker take the wheel still puts an impaired driver in charge of everyone aboard. Familiar roads do not restore judgment or reaction time for a host who has been drinking. Starting drinks early also fails, since alcohol lingers in the body for hours afterward. Settle the driving assignment before anyone orders a first round.

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

9. 9. Your vehicle has a two-part safety belt system with lap and shoulder belts. How should it be worn?

   1. Wear only the lap belt on short, slow trips
   2. Wear only the shoulder belt on longer trips
   3. Wear both the lap belt and the shoulder belt
   4. Leave both belts loose so movement stays easy
   Show answer

   Wear both the lap belt and the shoulder belt. If a vehicle has a two-part safety belt system, the driver and passengers should wear both the lap belt and the shoulder belt. Wearing either part alone greatly reduces protection. With an automatic shoulder belt, the lap belt should still be buckled, since a rider could otherwise slide out of the belt in a collision. Short trips and low speeds are not exceptions, because the belt works only when both parts hold the rider in place. Take the second needed to buckle both parts before moving.

   Study this in the handbook: Required lights and equipment

10. 10. A driver is angry or excited before a trip. What does the Montana manual advise?

    1. Give yourself time to cool off and stay off the road until calm.
    2. Drive slowly while concentrating harder on traffic.
    3. Take a short walk, then drive while still angry.
    4. Let a passenger watch traffic while you continue driving.
    Show answer

    Give yourself time to cool off and stay off the road until calm.. Strong emotions can reduce concentration and make safe driving harder. When angry or excited, the manual advises giving yourself time to cool off and staying off the road until you have calmed down. Driving slowly does not remove the distraction, and a short walk is useful only if the driver actually becomes calm before driving. A passenger cannot take over the driver's attention or vehicle control. Wait until your mind is steady enough for the driving task.

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

11. 11. As alcohol in the body increases, which driving judgments become harder?

    1. Judging distances, speeds, and movement of other vehicles
    2. Reading the fuel gauge, odometer, and dashboard warning lights
    3. Judging which exit leads toward a destination across town
    4. Judging whether rain is likely to stop later in the evening
    Show answer

    Judging distances, speeds, and movement of other vehicles. Rising alcohol makes judging distances, speeds, and the movement of other vehicles progressively harder, striking the core skills behind gaps, merges, and braking. Dashboard gauges remain readable long after road judgment degrades, which is why impairment feels deceptive. Choosing an exit across town is route planning done before a gap must be measured. Guessing when rain may stop does not measure a closing vehicle either. A telling roadside cue is the shrinking margin: intersections feel tighter, passes start later, and surprises multiply.

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

12. 12. How is a reserved lane commonly marked for special vehicles?

    1. A yellow diamond beside the lane or painted on its surface.
    2. A white diamond beside the lane or painted on its surface.
    3. A bicycle symbol inside a solid white lane boundary.
    4. A red circle beside the lane or painted on its surface.
    Show answer

    A white diamond beside the lane or painted on its surface.. A reserved lane has a sign stating its special use and often has a white diamond at the roadside or painted on the road. A yellow diamond is a warning-sign shape and a bicycle symbol points to a bicycle facility rather than the general reserved-lane marking described here. A red circle is used for prohibitions, not this lane designation. Read the words on the reserved-lane sign as well as the pavement marking before entering.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane lines and pavement markings

13. 13. Pumping the pedal and the parking brake both fail to stop a car with dead brakes. What remains?

    1. Turn the wheel sharply from side to side
    2. Shift into reverse while still moving fast
    3. Shift down and roll to a safe stop
    4. Open the door and drag one foot outside
    Show answer

    Shift down and roll to a safe stop. When pumping and the parking brake cannot stop a vehicle with failed brakes, shifting to lower gears lets engine resistance scrub speed while the driver hunts a safe place to roll to a stop. Sawing the wheel invites a spin or rollover. Reverse at speed can destroy gearing and lock wheels. A foot out the door cannot brake a moving car. Downshift step by step, aim uphill or onto soft ground, and keep the car off the road afterward.

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

14. 14. On dry pavement with good tires and brakes, about how far does it take a Montana driver to stop from 30 mph?

    1. About 50 feet
    2. About 100 feet
    3. About 200 feet
    4. About 400 feet
    Show answer

    About 200 feet. Under the manual's stated conditions, a 30 mph stop can take about 200 feet, nearly half a city block. That estimate is the stopping distance in the manual's comparison, so it should not be increased by adding a separate reaction distance. Fifty or 100 feet understates the space, while 400 feet is the manual's estimate for 50 mph. A useful cue is to compare the visible road with half a block before assuming 30 mph leaves room to stop.

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

15. 15. A Montana driver wants to park directly across from a friend's house on a two-way street. What does the manual say about parking on the wrong side of the street?

    1. It is allowed if the driver stays in the vehicle
    2. It is allowed for no more than 15 minutes
    3. It is allowed only during daylight hours
    4. It is prohibited
    Show answer

    It is prohibited. Montana's no parking list includes parking on the wrong side of the street, so crossing the center line to face against traffic is not a legal shortcut to a space. Staying in the vehicle, a 15 minute limit, or daylight do not create an exception. Double parking on the road side of another vehicle is separately prohibited. The cue is the direction the car faces: on a two-way street, park with traffic on the right hand curb, then walk back to the destination.

16. 16. During parallel parking, after reversing until the front of the vehicle is even with the front door of the parked car, what comes next?

    1. Turn the wheel sharply right and keep reversing slowly.
    2. Keep the wheels straight and continue reversing.
    3. Turn the wheel sharply left toward traffic.
    4. Shift to drive and pull forward into the space.
    Show answer

    Turn the wheel sharply right and keep reversing slowly.. At the front-door alignment point, the manual directs the driver to turn the wheel sharply right and continue reversing slowly until the vehicle reaches about a 45 degree angle. Keeping the wheels straight does not bring the vehicle toward the curb. Turning left points the vehicle toward traffic, and shifting to drive abandons the reversing maneuver. Use the parked car's front door as the visual landmark for beginning the inward turn.

17. 17. A person rides a bicycle inside a designated bicycle lane. What must motorists do?

    1. Honk until the rider moves
    2. Yield the right-of-way to the bicycle rider
    3. Pass within the same lane closely
    4. Treat the lane as a parking lane
    Show answer

    Yield the right-of-way to the bicycle rider. Motorists must yield the right of way to a person riding a bicycle within a designated bicycle lane, treating the rider as lawful traffic in a reserved space. Honking pressures the rider without changing legal priority. Passing closely inside the lane squeezes the bicycle toward the curb. Parking in the lane forces riders into faster traffic. Change lanes fully or wait behind; the painted lane assigns that strip of road to bicycles.

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

18. 18. How closely should a driver in a funeral procession follow the vehicle ahead?

    1. Leave enough room for two cars to merge into line
    2. Follow the vehicle ahead as closely as possible
    3. Keep at least five seconds of following distance kept
    4. Match the wide gap normally used on open highways
    Show answer

    Follow the vehicle ahead as closely as possible. A driver in a funeral procession must follow the preceding vehicle as closely as possible. Ordinary spacing rules that require room for another vehicle to enter do not apply to procession vehicles, so deliberately leaving a two car gap or a five second cushion breaks the line and invites other drivers to cut in. Highway following gaps serve a different setting. Keeping the procession compact preserves its recognized right of way, while each driver still owes reasonable care toward other vehicles and pedestrians nearby.

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

19. 19. A reserved lane is signed Bicycle. Which users is that lane reserved for?

    1. Bicycles using the roadway in that area
    2. Buses stopping for passengers along the route
    3. Vehicles carrying more than one person
    4. Motorcycles traveling in the same direction
    Show answer

    Bicycles using the roadway in that area. A lane signed Bicycle is reserved for bicycles, just as a Transit or Bus sign reserves a lane for buses. High occupancy lanes use HOV signs and state how many people must be in the vehicle. Motorcycles do not gain use of a bicycle lane by traveling the same way. Drivers should stay out of the reserved lane, watch for riders when crossing it to turn, and give riders room when passing in an adjoining lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane lines and pavement markings

20. 20. What does Montana right-of-way law actually do for a driver?

    1. It grants the first driver a legal right to proceed
    2. It says who must yield; it gives nobody the right-of-way
    3. It lets the larger vehicle claim the right-of-way
    4. It gives the right-of-way to whoever honks first
    Show answer

    It says who must yield; it gives nobody the right-of-way. Right-of-way rules only assign the duty to yield; they never hand any driver a guaranteed right to go. Believing the law grants you a protected turn invites the classic crash where both drivers feel entitled and neither slows. Even when others owe you the yield, keep covering the brake and scanning for the one person who missed the sign, because avoiding a collision beats being legally correct inside a wrecked car.

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