MT Permit Practice Test 22

All 20 questions in test 22

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. Where may an open alcoholic beverage container be kept in a camper or motor home under Montana law?

   1. In the driver's door pocket
   2. On the dashboard while the vehicle is parked
   3. In an unlocked glove compartment
   4. In the living quarters of the camper
   Show answer

   In the living quarters of the camper. Montana allows open containers to be stored within the living quarters of a camper, travel trailer, or motor home. The driver's door pocket, the dashboard, and an unlocked glove compartment are all within reach of the driver and do not qualify. The glove compartment exception requires it to be locked. The cue is to separate the driving area from the living area: keep the container behind the living quarters boundary, not in the cab where the driver sits.

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

2. 2. How does Montana law classify bicycles using the roadway?

   1. Bicycles are vehicles governed by traffic laws that reasonably apply
   2. Bicycles count as pedestrians on every roadway
   3. Bicycles are unregulated devices outside traffic law
   4. Bicycles rank below farm equipment for road rights
   Show answer

   Bicycles are vehicles governed by traffic laws that reasonably apply. Montana treats bicycles as vehicles, governed by the same traffic laws that reasonably apply to their operation. Counting riders as pedestrians would push them onto sidewalks and crosswalk rules unsuited to wheeled travel. Calling them unregulated erases duties like signaling and lane discipline that riders actually carry. Ranking them below farm equipment invents a hierarchy no statute draws. For drivers, the mental shift is simple: a bicycle in the lane is traffic, owed lane space, signals read seriously, and passing room like any slower vehicle.

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

3. 3. Flashing lights warn of a train at a crossing with two tracks. When may a driver start across?

   1. After the near track is clear, even if the lights still flash.
   2. When the train on the far track sounds its horn.
   3. After every track is clear and the flashing lights have stopped.
   4. As soon as the vehicle ahead starts moving.
   Show answer

   After every track is clear and the flashing lights have stopped.. Flashing lights mean a train is coming, so the driver must remain stopped. At a crossing with more than one track, every track must be clear before the vehicle starts across, and the lights must no longer be flashing. Clearing only the near track can hide a second train. A horn does not give permission to cross, and the vehicle ahead may have moved without checking every track. Check both tracks before proceeding.

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

4. 4. A low clearance sign is posted at an overpass. When must a driver not proceed?

   1. Whenever the vehicle carries any cargo at all
   2. Only when a flagger waves the vehicle down
   3. When the posted clearance is missed at night
   4. If the vehicle is too tall to pass under the overpass
   Show answer

   If the vehicle is too tall to pass under the overpass. A low clearance warning means the overpass opening is limited, and a vehicle too tall to pass under must not proceed. Carrying cargo alone says nothing about total height, since a low load on a short vehicle clears easily. No flagger is required to make a fixed structure warning binding. Missing the sign at night is a scanning failure, not the condition that bars entry. The safe cue happens blocks earlier: know the vehicle height in feet, read the clearance plaque, and reroute while a side street still offers escape.

5. 5. Vehicles traveling inside a Montana funeral procession must keep which lights operating?

   1. Only parking lights along the route
   2. Headlights and taillights stay lit
   3. High beams on every vehicle in line
   4. Interior dome lights inside each car
   Show answer

   Headlights and taillights stay lit. Every vehicle in a Montana funeral procession must run with all headlights and taillights illuminated, marking the line as one connected unit for other drivers. Parking lights alone give a weak signal of the procession's extent. High beams glare into mirrors ahead and into oncoming eyes. Dome lights help nobody outside the car. Full lamps front and rear, plus flashing signals on first and last vehicles, fence the procession visually.

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

6. 6. Why should dark glasses or tinted contact lenses be avoided at night?

   1. They cut too much light that a driver needs to see clearly.
   2. They improve night vision because glare is reduced.
   3. They are fine at night if the road is well lit.
   4. They blur traffic signs but do not affect general visibility.
   Show answer

   They cut too much light that a driver needs to see clearly.. Dark glasses and tinted contact lenses remove light that a driver needs during night driving. They may seem to reduce glare, but the loss of available light can hide pedestrians, lane edges, and other hazards. Good street lighting does not remove the light blocked by the lenses, and the effect is not limited to traffic signs. Use clear corrective lenses at night and slow down when visibility is reduced rather than trading one visual problem for another.

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

7. 7. Another driver suddenly needs to change lanes into your path. What should you do?

   1. Slow down and let the driver merge.
   2. Accelerate to close the gap before the driver moves.
   3. Hold your speed and block the lane.
   4. Sound the horn and force the driver back.
   Show answer

   Slow down and let the driver merge.. Montana advises a driver to slow down and let another driver merge when that driver suddenly needs to change lanes. Accelerating to close the gap removes the space the other vehicle needs. Holding speed to block the lane turns a developing problem into a conflict, and sounding the horn does not give permission to force the other driver back. The safer response creates room and keeps traffic moving. Watch the merging vehicle, ease off the accelerator, and allow it to enter when the movement can be completed safely.

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

8. 8. Another vehicle is about to strike yours from behind and the road ahead is open. What may help?

   1. Braking hard and holding position
   2. Speeding up to get out of danger
   3. Shifting into reverse quickly
   4. Turning sharply into the next lane blindly
   Show answer

   Speeding up to get out of danger. When a hit approaches from behind or the side and open road waits ahead, speeding up can carry you clear of the impact zone. Braking hard plants your car exactly where the striking vehicle aims, and a blind swerve trades one collision for another. Check the space ahead with a fast glance, accelerate firmly into it, then slow again once the threat passes and traffic around you settles.

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

9. 9. When a collision looks unavoidable, what three broad options does a driver still have?

   1. Stop, turn, or speed up.
   2. Honk, flash headlights, or signal a lane change.
   3. Ease off, look away, or wait for the danger to pass.
   4. Reverse, sound the horn, or wait for the other driver.
   Show answer

   Stop, turn, or speed up.. The manual identifies three broad collision-avoidance options: stop, turn, or speed up. The driver should choose the movement that reduces the immediate danger and can be made safely. A horn, headlight flash, or turn signal may communicate, but those actions do not move the vehicle out of the path. Looking away or waiting gives up useful reaction time, and reversing or relying on the other driver is not one of the three listed options. Keep control and act on the available escape path.

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

10. 10. You can see only 400 feet ahead on a dry road with good tires and brakes. Which statement is true?

    1. At 30 mph, stopping requires more than 400 feet.
    2. At 50 mph, seeing 400 feet guarantees a safe stop.
    3. At 50 mph, 400 feet may not be enough to stop.
    4. At 60 mph, 400 feet is enough to stop.
    Show answer

    At 50 mph, 400 feet may not be enough to stop.. Montana's stopping-distance example says that at 50 mph, good tires, dry pavement, and about 400 feet can be needed to react to something seen and bring the vehicle to a stop. The manual warns that a driver who cannot see 400 feet ahead may not be driving safely at 50 mph. At 30 mph, stopping requires about 200 feet, so a claim of more than 400 feet reverses the manual's figure. The claim that seeing 400 feet guarantees a safe stop at 50 mph promises more than the manual does; it gives a warning rather than a guarantee. The claim that 60 mph can be stopped within 400 feet also promises too much, because that speed is not supported by the passage. The key is the manual's wording that 400 feet may not provide a safe margin at 50 mph.

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

11. 11. What does a red curb marking mean in Montana?

    1. Parking is allowed for up to 15 minutes
    2. Stop only to pick up or unload passengers
    3. Stop only long enough to load or unload while staying with the car
    4. Do not stop, stand, or park
    Show answer

    Do not stop, stand, or park. A red curb is the strictest of Montana's colored curb markings: no stopping, standing, or parking. White marks a place to stop only while picking up or unloading passengers, and yellow allows a stop long enough to load or unload as long as the driver stays with the car. A 15 minute parking allowance is not part of the color code. The cue is simple: treat red paint at the curb like a fire lane and keep moving past it.

12. 12. At a driver exam station, when may a teenager obtain a learner license at age 15?

    1. After successfully completing a state-approved traffic education program.
    2. After holding a learner license for six consecutive months.
    3. After turning 16 without taking driver education.
    4. After receiving a first-year restricted license.
    Show answer

    After successfully completing a state-approved traffic education program.. At a driver exam station, a teenager may obtain a learner license at age 15 after successfully completing an approved traffic education program. A six-month holding period applies before moving from a learner license to a later license stage, not before obtaining the learner license. Age 16 is the route for a teenager without traffic education, and a first-year restricted license comes after the learner stage. The important distinction is age 15 plus approved education.

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

13. 13. A pedestrian reaches a roundabout crossing. Where must the pedestrian cross?

    1. Across the central island for the shortest route
    2. At the designated crosswalks around the roundabout
    3. Between circulating vehicles whenever a gap appears
    4. Along the truck apron at the edge of the island
    Show answer

    At the designated crosswalks around the roundabout. Roundabout walking routes are the designated crosswalks, never a shortcut across the central island. Crossing between circulating cars at random places puts a pedestrian where drivers focus on merging traffic. The truck apron is a paved surface for trailer wheels, not a footpath. Drivers watch for people at the marked crossings on entry and exit legs, so those spots give a walker the best chance of being seen. Stay on them.

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

14. 14. What does a Side Road warning sign with an angled side road show?

    1. A four-way intersection with cross traffic ahead
    2. A side road enters the highway at an angle ahead
    3. The main road turns sharply to the right ahead
    4. A divided highway ends and traffic merges together
    Show answer

    A side road enters the highway at an angle ahead. This warning shows a side road ahead that enters the highway at an angle, so a driver should watch for vehicles coming in from that slanted approach. It is not a four-way crossroad, where traffic can cross from both sides. The main road itself does not turn sharply, and no divided highway is ending. Vehicles on an angled side road can be hard to judge, so slow slightly and scan the entrance before reaching it.

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

15. 15. On a controlled access highway, another driver is entering from a ramp beside you. What should you do when possible?

    1. Speed up to close the gap ahead
    2. Flash lights so the driver waits
    3. Move left so the driver can enter
    4. Stop on the highway to wave them in
    Show answer

    Move left so the driver can enter. When a driver is entering a controlled access highway, traffic already on the road should move left whenever possible so the entering vehicle can merge safely. Closing the gap at speed forces a dangerous squeeze at the ramp end. Light flashes carry no clear instruction to merge. Stopping on a high speed road invites rear end collisions. A calm lane change left costs seconds and prevents the classic ramp side swipe.

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

16. 16. Friends plan an evening involving alcohol. Which arrangement does the manual suggest for getting everyone home?

    1. Agree one person will not drink and rotate that role
    2. The lightest drinker drives everyone
    3. Everyone stops drinking one hour before leaving
    4. The host keeps car keys until midnight
    Show answer

    Agree one person will not drink and rotate that role. Groups can agree ahead of time that one person will not drink alcohol and can rotate that designated driver role among friends. The lightest drinker still carries alcohol that dulls judgment and reflexes. Stopping an hour early leaves earlier drinks active in the body. Holding keys until midnight sets a clock rule unrelated to sobriety. Decide the sober driver before anyone pours, and honor the rotation every outing.

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

17. 17. Which action should be avoided while crossing railroad tracks?

    1. Keeping both hands on the steering wheel
    2. Looking up and down the tracks before crossing
    3. Entering in a lower gear selected before crossing
    4. Shifting gears while on the tracks
    Show answer

    Shifting gears while on the tracks. Shifting gears on the tracks risks a stall that strands the vehicle directly in a train path, so drivers cross in one steady gear. Both hands on the wheel steady the crossing over uneven rail beds. Looking along the tracks remains a core habit before any crossing. A lower gear chosen before entry on a grade is preparation, not mid crossing shifting. The drill is set early: pick the gear on approach, roll through without pausing, and clear the far side fully.

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

18. 18. What does the washboard effect on a gravel road do to a vehicle?

    1. It smooths steering by packing loose stones flat
    2. It improves braking by roughening the surface
    3. A series of potholes affects steering and vehicle control
    4. It only creates dust on dry days without changing vehicle handling
    Show answer

    A series of potholes affects steering and vehicle control. Washboard gravel forms a series of potholes that batter tires in rapid rhythm, shaking steering and loosening vehicle control. Packed stones never smooth the ride; the corrugation is the problem itself. Braking grows longer and less predictable on loose surfaces, not shorter. Dust does accompany dry gravel, yet handling changes arrive with or without a dust cloud. The response is measured: slow well before the corrugated stretch, loosen the death grip on the wheel, and let the suspension work without sudden steering corrections.

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

19. 19. A street has a curb where you must park along it. How close to the curb should you stop?

    1. At least three feet from the curb is fine.
    2. Park as close to the curb as you can.
    3. Two feet from the curb leaves enough room for traffic.
    4. Touching the curb is required for every parked vehicle.
    Show answer

    Park as close to the curb as you can.. When a curb is available, the manual says to park as close to it as you can. Leaving three feet or two feet between the vehicle and curb puts more of the vehicle into the travel area than necessary. The rule does not require scraping or touching the curb, which can damage tires and wheels. Approach slowly, finish parallel to the curb, and leave the smallest practical gap while keeping the vehicle controlled.

20. 20. Most crashes between parallel parked cars and moving street traffic are caused by what?

    1. Parked cars rolling away from the curb
    2. Street drivers traveling far above the posted limit beside parked cars
    3. Carelessness of the driver pulling away from the curb
    4. Confusing curb color markings at night
    Show answer

    Carelessness of the driver pulling away from the curb. Carelessness by the driver pulling away from the curb causes most crashes with parallel parked cars, usually a launch into traffic without a proper gap check. Rolling parked cars happen but rank far behind driver error at departure. Street speed plays a role in severity, yet the collision pattern starts with the merging vehicle. Curb colors regulate parking choice, not the moment of pulling out. Before leaving any curb space, the routine is mirror, signal, shoulder check, and a patient wait for a real opening.

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