MT Permit Practice Test 21

All 20 questions in test 21

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. Nine out of ten crashes are traced to what cause?

   1. Errors in human judgment
   2. Mechanical failure of brakes, tires, or steering systems
   3. Unmarked hazards left in the roadway overnight
   4. Sudden weather changes on mountain passes
   Show answer

   Errors in human judgment. Nine out of ten crashes grow out of errors in human judgment, the choices drivers make about speed, gaps, attention, and risk. Blaming brake, tire, or steering failure credits machinery for wrecks that usually begin with a person misreading the road. Unmarked hazards do appear, yet drivers still choose how fast to meet them. Mountain weather changes quickly, but judgment decides whether travel continues into it. The humbling cue is personal: after any near miss, audit the decision made ten seconds earlier before blaming the vehicle.

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

2. 2. At 55 mph, how large a gap in oncoming traffic does a passing driver need?

   1. About a 10 second gap in oncoming traffic
   2. About a 4 second gap in oncoming traffic
   3. About a 6 second gap in oncoming traffic
   4. About a 15 second gap in oncoming traffic
   Show answer

   About a 10 second gap in oncoming traffic. Passing at 55 mph consumes about ten seconds, covering more than 800 feet, so oncoming traffic must offer a gap of that full size plus sight distance to match. A four second opening vanishes while your car still sits in the opposing lane beside the vehicle being passed. Count the oncoming headlights against roadside poles; if the count feels rushed, stay put, since an aborted pass begun hopefully ends badly.

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

3. 3. Where should a driver park whenever a designated parking area exists?

   1. On the roadway shoulder for a faster exit
   2. In the designated area if at all possible
   3. Across the lot entrance to save walking
   4. On the grass beside the designated area
   Show answer

   In the designated area if at all possible. A designated parking area beats improvising on shoulders, entrances, or grass whenever such an area exists. Shoulder parking puts doors and children beside moving traffic, and blocking a lot entrance traps everyone behind you. Designated spaces organize bumpers, sight lines, and pedestrian paths in ways a roadside guess cannot. Take the extra thirty seconds to reach a marked space; the walk is shorter than the argument after a sideswipe.

4. 4. When backing, how should a driver position the body to see behind the vehicle?

   1. Rely only on the rearview mirror and both side mirrors together for the whole maneuver
   2. Turn the head slightly toward the passenger mirror
   3. Back quickly so mirrors stay accurate
   4. Place the right arm on the seat back and look through the rear window
   Show answer

   Place the right arm on the seat back and look through the rear window. Turning around with the right arm braced on the seat back gives a direct view through the rear window that mirrors cannot supply. Mirrors alone hide the zone immediately behind the bumper where children and low objects sit. A slight head turn toward one mirror narrows vision to a single slice. Backing quickly shrinks the time available to spot anything at all. The posture feels old fashioned because it works: body twisted, eyes out the back glass, vehicle creeping slowly.

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

5. 5. Why should a Montana driver scan to the sides while driving?

   1. To notice vehicles, pedestrians, or animals that may enter the path.
   2. To replace looking ahead with side checks.
   3. To choose a passing lane without checking traffic.
   4. To focus on road edges instead of approaching traffic.
   Show answer

   To notice vehicles, pedestrians, or animals that may enter the path.. Montana says to scan the sides because vehicles, pedestrians, or animals may cross or enter the driver's path at any time. The habit is especially important at intersections and railroad crossings, where a hazard may approach from outside the forward view. Side scanning does not replace looking ahead, checking mirrors, or judging a passing lane. A driver should use it as one part of a broad visual search, especially before entering a crossing or intersection.

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

6. 6. On a multiple lane highway, when may an outside driver pass a funeral procession on its right side?

   1. Whenever the right lane sits empty
   2. Only at speeds below 25 mph
   3. Never under any traffic condition
   4. Only if procession uses far left lane
   Show answer

   Only if procession uses far left lane. An outside driver may pass a funeral procession on its right side only when the procession occupies the farthest left lane of a multiple lane highway. An empty right lane alone does not grant permission while the procession travels elsewhere. Speed below 25 mph sets no condition in the rule. Saying never overlooks the far left lane exception. Stay behind or pass on the left with care, and never cut through the line.

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

7. 7. How are regulatory signs generally designed so drivers can recognize them?

   1. Diamond shaped with black symbols on yellow
   2. Round with red lettering on white
   3. Rectangular with black words or symbols on white
   4. Rectangular with white words on green
   Show answer

   Rectangular with black words or symbols on white. Montana's manual describes regulatory signs as rectangles with black words or symbols on white backgrounds, such as signs setting speeds or other required actions. A yellow diamond warns about a condition ahead. The round shape is associated with the railroad crossing warning sign, not the general regulatory design described here. White words on green use a guide sign color scheme rather than the white rectangle described for Montana regulatory signs. Focus on the sign's basic shape and background before reading its command.

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

8. 8. What spare item should a driver who wears glasses keep in the vehicle?

   1. An extra pair of glasses in case the regular pair breaks
   2. A tinted visor to wear over broken glasses lenses
   3. A magnifying glass for reading the dashboard dials
   4. Spare contact solution without any backup lenses
   Show answer

   An extra pair of glasses in case the regular pair breaks. An extra pair of glasses in the vehicle lets a driver keep seeing clearly if the regular pair breaks or goes missing. A tinted visor cannot replace corrective lenses and may darken the view. A magnifier helps read a page at rest, not the road ahead while moving. Solution without lenses offers nothing to wear. Drivers whose license requires lenses also risk a ticket when driving without them.

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

9. 9. Who holds the right-of-way when a person leads, rides, or drives an animal along the road?

   1. The faster motor vehicle approaching from behind
   2. The animal and the person handling it
   3. Whichever party reaches the narrow section first
   4. Motor vehicles during daylight, animals after dark
   Show answer

   The animal and the person handling it. A person leading, riding, or driving an animal holds the right-of-way, and motorists must slow or stop as the situation demands. Letting the faster vehicle claim priority invites a spooked animal into the bumper. First arrival at a narrow section ignores how unpredictably livestock move. Splitting rights by daylight invents a schedule animals cannot read. Upon spotting hooves on asphalt, lift off the accelerator early, give a wide berth, and let the handler wave traffic past when the animal settles.

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

10. 10. Stopping from 60 mph takes how much more distance than stopping from 30 mph, according to the Montana manual?

    1. About the same distance
    2. About twice the distance
    3. About five times the distance
    4. Over three times the distance
    Show answer

    Over three times the distance. The manual states that stopping at 60 mph does not take twice the distance needed at 30 mph, but over three times the distance. Doing the arithmetic as a simple doubling is the error the manual specifically warns against. Five times is too high, and the same distance is plainly impossible at double the speed. The cue is that crash energy climbs much faster than the number on the speedometer, so a small increase in speed can demand a much longer stopping zone.

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

11. 11. How effective is Montana's Report A Drunk Driver program, according to the manual's statistics?

    1. Almost no reports lead to contact
    2. Reports are not investigated
    3. Every report leads to an arrest
    4. Officers contact 37 percent of reported drivers, and 71 percent of those contacted are arrested
    Show answer

    Officers contact 37 percent of reported drivers, and 71 percent of those contacted are arrested. Current statistics show that law enforcement officials are able to make contact with 37 percent of those suspected of driving under the influence, and of those contacted, 71 percent are arrested for drunk driving. Two drinking drivers are arrested each day in Montana as a direct result of the program. If you suspect someone is driving while intoxicated, call toll free 1-800-525-5555 with a description of the vehicle and its direction of travel.

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

12. 12. A pedestrian is in the opposite half of a crosswalk and a Montana driver wants to turn right. What does the manual allow?

    1. The driver must wait until the pedestrian reaches the far curb
    2. The driver may turn right only after sounding the horn
    3. The driver may turn right if the pedestrian is not in danger
    4. The driver may never turn right while a pedestrian is in the crosswalk
    Show answer

    The driver may turn right if the pedestrian is not in danger. When a vehicle is stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk, the driver may make a right turn if the pedestrian is in the opposite half of the roadway and is not in danger. Waiting for the far curb is stricter than the manual requires, and a horn does not create a safe path. A blanket ban on turning while anyone is in the crosswalk is also too broad. The cue is the pedestrian's position and direction: if the path is clear and the walker is not threatened, the turn may proceed.

    Study this in the handbook: Who yields at intersections

13. 13. Studies of drivers who use marijuana link that use with which vision problem?

    1. Sharper vision when facing bright headlights
    2. Faster recovery after a bright light passes
    3. More trouble adjusting to glare from lights
    4. Better side vision at dusk and after dark
    Show answer

    More trouble adjusting to glare from lights. People who use marijuana make more mistakes, have slower reflexes, and have more trouble adjusting to glare than other drivers. Glare recovery becomes harder rather than faster, and night brightness is a problem instead of an advantage. Side vision is not improved by the drug. A driver blinded longer by oncoming lights has less time to spot lane edges, animals, or people near the road, so the safe choice is not to drive after using it.

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

14. 14. How long is a Montana motorcycle learner license valid?

    1. For six months from the date it is issued
    2. For two years from the date it is issued
    3. Until the holder reaches 21 years of age
    4. For one year from the date it is issued
    Show answer

    For one year from the date it is issued. A Montana motorcycle learner license is valid for one year. During that year the rider must keep the license in immediate possession and ride under the close supervision of a licensed driver who holds a motorcycle endorsement. Six months is the period a young driver uses a learner license before moving on, not this motorcycle permit period. Two years and an age based ending do not match the stated term. Plan supervised practice well inside the year.

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

15. 15. The engine dies while driving. What should the driver expect from the brakes?

    1. They fail completely as soon as engine power is lost on the road
    2. They lock automatically until the engine restarts
    3. They still work, but may need very hard pedal pressure
    4. They work normally with no change in effort
    Show answer

    They still work, but may need very hard pedal pressure. Losing engine power leaves brakes functional, though the pedal may demand very hard pressure without vacuum assist while the driver steers off the roadway. Complete brake failure is a separate emergency with its own pumping drill. Automatic locking would strand the vehicle in traffic rather than help it stop. Normal effort understates the heavy pedal most drivers meet after a stall. Plant both hands on the wheel, press the pedal like standing on it, and let the vehicle roll toward the shoulder.

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

16. 16. No green arrow lights up for your left turn across traffic. How is that turn treated?

    1. Turning traffic is unprotected and must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
    2. Turning traffic gains protection after waiting ten seconds
    3. Oncoming traffic must yield to the first turning driver
    4. Pedestrians must wait until all turning cars finish
    Show answer

    Turning traffic is unprotected and must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Without a green arrow, left and right turning movements stay unprotected, so turning drivers yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians. Waiting ten seconds earns no shield; the gap itself must be judged safe before the wheel turns. Watch the far crosswalk and the nearest oncoming lane together, and let two or three cars pass rather than darting, since a patient pause beats meeting a headlight in your door.

17. 17. Besides color, what does the shape of a traffic sign help a driver do?

    1. Estimate the distance to the next town
    2. Identify the sign and what action it requires
    3. Judge the speed of cross traffic nearby
    4. Find the sign again after dark only
    Show answer

    Identify the sign and what action it requires. Sign shapes carry meaning of their own, helping a driver recognize a device and the action it demands before the words become readable. An octagon orders a stop from a block away, while a diamond warns, long before lettering resolves through rain or dusk. Distance and cross traffic speed come from your own scanning, never from sheet metal geometry, so learn the silhouettes until recognition feels instant at highway speed.

18. 18. At what age may a person legally buy or consume alcohol in Montana?

    1. 18 years old, matching military enlistment age
    2. 19 years old with a parent present
    3. 21 years of age or older
    4. 16 years old at private gatherings only
    Show answer

    21 years of age or older. Buying or consuming alcohol requires reaching 21 years of age in Montana, with no parental presence exception at a bar or store. Eighteen confuses enlistment eligibility with alcohol law. Nineteen with a parent present invents a supervised drinking tier Montana does not grant. Sixteen at private gatherings stretches home customs into a legal permission that does not exist. The practical cue for hosts is blunt: check identification at the door, because the drinker's age, not the setting, controls legality.

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

19. 19. A white curb in Montana marks a place where a driver may do what?

    1. Park for as long as the driver wishes
    2. Stop only to pick up or unload passengers
    3. Stop only while staying with the car to load cargo
    4. Park from 8 am to 6 pm
    Show answer

    Stop only to pick up or unload passengers. White paint at a Montana curb sets aside a spot for stopping only to pick up or unload passengers. It is not a parking space, so leaving the vehicle there goes beyond what the color allows. Yellow is the marking that lets a driver stop long enough to load or unload while staying with the car, which is a different condition. No hour range turns white into a parking zone. Read the curb color before pulling in, and plan to keep the stop brief.

20. 20. At a railroad crossing with gates, the lights are flashing and the gates are down. When may you go?

    1. As soon as the train has passed
    2. Only after the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing
    3. When you can see no train in either direction
    4. After waiting one full minute
    Show answer

    Only after the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing. Gates are used with flashing light signals at some crossings. Stop when the lights begin to flash, before the gates lower across your lane, and remain stopped until the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing. Going as soon as one train passes is risky, because on crossings with more than one track you must make sure all tracks are clear. The manual's general rule is never to try to beat a train across the tracks.

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