MT Permit Practice Test 3

All 20 questions in test 3

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 may lines and symbols on Montana roadways tell drivers?

   1. That every marked line may be crossed without checking traffic
   2. When they may pass or change lanes and which lanes to use for turns
   3. That shoulders are always travel lanes during congestion
   4. That all traffic must stop at every painted line
   Show answer

   When they may pass or change lanes and which lanes to use for turns. Roadway lines and symbols divide lanes, show when passing or changing lanes may be allowed, identify turn lanes, define pedestrian walkways, and mark where a driver must stop for a sign or signal. They do not make every line crossable or turn a shoulder into a travel lane. Read the marking together with the sign, signal, and traffic around you. A painted line provides guidance, but a lane change still requires a safe opportunity.

2. 2. What is one stated exception to the Montana first-year restricted license nighttime driving ban?

   1. Taking an optional late-night shopping trip
   2. A trip to any social event after midnight
   3. Driving for entertainment when a friend calls
   4. Travel to or from school, church, or work
   Show answer

   Travel to or from school, church, or work. Montana lists travel to and from school, church, or work among the limited exceptions to the 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. restriction. The other choices describe personal convenience or entertainment, which the manual does not identify as exceptions. This is a condition question: the destination and purpose matter, not simply whether the driver feels capable or has a passenger along.

3. 3. What roadway situation does the yellow crossroad warning sign identify?

   
   1. A four-way intersection with possible cross traffic
   2. A location where all turning movements are prohibited
   3. A school bus stop with children loading
   4. A divided highway that is ending
   Show answer

   A four-way intersection with possible cross traffic. The crossroad sign announces a four-way intersection and warns you to watch for traffic entering from the sides. A prohibition sign would carry a required action, and a school bus stop has its own warning symbol. The divided-highway choice describes a change in roadway separation, not crossing traffic. Ease off the accelerator, check both sides, and be ready to yield as you approach the intersection.

4. 4. How should you respond when this STOP AHEAD warning appears?

   
   1. Ignore it unless cross traffic is visible
   2. Stop immediately where the warning sign stands
   3. Accelerate to pass the upcoming stop sign before others arrive
   4. Begin slowing because a stop sign is ahead
   Show answer

   Begin slowing because a stop sign is ahead. STOP AHEAD is advance notice of a stop sign, so the driver should begin slowing and prepare for the required stop at the upcoming intersection. The warning sign itself is not the stop location, making an immediate stop beside it unnecessary unless conditions demand one. Accelerating to beat other traffic undermines the warning, and cross traffic does not determine whether the stop sign must be obeyed. Ease off the accelerator, identify the stop line or crosswalk, and arrive with enough control to stop completely before entering the intersection.

5. 5. What is the maximum speed for driving in a Montana roundabout?

   1. 25 mph unless a sign says otherwise
   2. 15 mph or less
   3. 35 mph on the circular roadway
   4. The posted speed for the road before entering
   Show answer

   15 mph or less. Montana describes roundabouts as low speed circular intersections and directs drivers to travel at 15 mph or less. A driver should reduce speed before entry, look left for circulating traffic, and yield to vehicles already inside. The road’s approach speed does not automatically carry into the circle, so selecting the ordinary posted limit would be unsafe. The practical cue is the center island and curved path: slow before the yield line, keep control, and continue around until the desired exit.

6. 6. How far into the lane do bicyclists often ride, and why, according to the Montana manual?

   1. On the shoulder only
   2. In the exact center, to block traffic
   3. About 18 to 24 inches, to discourage a dangerous in lane pass
   4. At least 5 feet from the curb by law
   Show answer

   About 18 to 24 inches, to discourage a dangerous in lane pass. Many bicyclists ride further into the lane, approximately 18 to 24 inches, to discourage motorists from attempting a dangerous in lane pass. A rider that far out is not being rude; the position keeps cars from squeezing by. Change lanes to pass when possible, and remember bicycle spoke reflectors must sit within 3 inches of the rim so drivers can see them at night.

7. 7. What color combination identifies Montana warning signs?

   1. Orange and black
   2. White and blue
   3. Green and white
   4. Black and yellow
   Show answer

   Black and yellow. Montana warning signs use black and yellow to call attention to dangerous conditions ahead. Their usual diamond shape reinforces the warning function, although the railroad crossing ahead sign is an exception because it is round. The white and blue choice describes neither the manual's warning colors nor its typical shape. Orange and black belong more closely to work-zone devices, while green and white are commonly associated with guide information. When visibility is poor, look for both color and shape, then reduce speed and prepare for the hazard the sign announces.

8. 8. A Montana warning sign shows a right curve with a safe speed indication below it. What does that speed represent?

   
   1. A suggested safe speed for the curve
   2. The maximum legal speed until the next speed sign
   3. The minimum speed required on the curve
   4. The speed allowed only when passing
   Show answer

   A suggested safe speed for the curve. The number beneath this curve warning is guidance for handling the bend, not a new posted maximum. The manual describes it as a suggested safe speed, so a driver should consider that recommendation along with weather, pavement, traffic, and visibility. Choosing the legal-limit option is risky because a posted limit may still be too fast for a sharp turn or poor conditions. A useful cue is the sign's pairing: the diamond warns about the curve, while the small number helps you approach it conservatively. Slow before the bend and remain prepared to reduce speed further.

9. 9. About how long does sending or reading a text take a driver's eyes off the road, and what does that equal at 55 mph?

   1. About 5 seconds, like driving the length of a football field blindfolded
   2. About 1 second, like driving one car length
   3. About 10 seconds, like driving one mile
   4. About 2 seconds, like crossing one intersection
   Show answer

   About 5 seconds, like driving the length of a football field blindfolded. Texting combines manual, visual, and cognitive distraction, which is why the manual calls it the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds, and at 55 mph that is like driving the length of an entire football field blindfolded. One or two seconds understates the time, and 10 seconds and a mile overstate it. Pull over and stop before handling a phone.

10. 10. What must a Montana driver do before driving with a damaged windshield that blocks the view?

    1. Cover the damaged area with paper
    2. Have the windshield repaired or replaced before driving
    3. Drive only below 15 mph
    4. Use high beams to see around it
    Show answer

    Have the windshield repaired or replaced before driving. A damaged windshield can obstruct the driver’s view and can break more easily in a minor collision or when struck. Montana therefore calls for the windshield to be repaired or replaced before driving. Paper over the damage, a low speed, or high beams cannot restore the glass or make the blocked view safe. Treat windshield condition as a vehicle safety issue, not a cosmetic problem. Inspect the glass before starting, especially after an impact or when a crack spreads across the driver’s sightline.

11. 11. What share of crashes with a hospitalized or killed person involved a drowsy driver, according to a AAA study in the Montana manual?

    1. 1 percent of each
    2. 50 percent of each
    3. 13 percent of hospitalization crashes and 21 percent of fatal crashes
    4. 90 percent of fatal crashes
    Show answer

    13 percent of hospitalization crashes and 21 percent of fatal crashes. A recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study showed 13 percent of crashes in which a person was hospitalized and 21 percent of crashes in which a person was killed involved a drowsy driver. Fatigue slows reaction time and judgment like alcohol. Stop and rest at the first signs of drowsiness, and never rely on coffee or open windows, which do not restore alertness.

12. 12. Why should a driver reduce speed on pavement marked slippery when wet?

    1. The roadway will always be closed during rainfall
    2. The marking means the lane is reserved for emergency vehicles
    3. The sign authorizes a driver to brake harder than usual
    4. Wet pavement can be unusually slick and demands smoother control
    Show answer

    Wet pavement can be unusually slick and demands smoother control. The slippery-when-wet warning identifies pavement that becomes unusually slick after rain. The safe response is to reduce speed, avoid hard braking or sudden direction changes, and leave more space ahead. It does not reserve the lane, encourage aggressive braking, or announce a closure. A useful cue is to make every steering and braking input gradual as soon as the road surface is wet.

13. 13. While making a left turn at an intersection, which traffic must the driver yield to?

    
    1. Oncoming cars traveling straight ahead
    2. Only vehicles that arrive after the turning car
    3. Vehicles parked along the opposite curb only
    4. No traffic if the turn signal has been activated
    Show answer

    Oncoming cars traveling straight ahead. A left-turning vehicle crosses the path of oncoming traffic, so the driver must yield to an oncoming car going straight ahead. Signaling communicates intent but does not grant priority or make the opposing lane disappear. The arrival-order choice is unsafe because an approaching vehicle already has a direct path. Parked cars are not the central right-of-way conflict described by this rule. Wait until the oncoming lane and pedestrian path are clear, then complete the turn. The practical cue is turning left means crossing traffic, so yield before crossing.

14. 14. At a steady red signal with no stop line, where should a driver stop?

    1. Beside the signal pole regardless of the roadway layout
    2. Past the crosswalk so the front tires reach the intersection
    3. Before the nearest crosswalk, or before the intersection if there is no crosswalk
    4. Only at the curb if pedestrians are present
    Show answer

    Before the nearest crosswalk, or before the intersection if there is no crosswalk. The stopping location follows a clear order. Stop before the pavement stop line when one exists. If there is no line, stop before entering the nearest crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection. Rolling past the crosswalk can put the vehicle in a pedestrian's path, while a signal pole is not the prescribed reference point. The curb option makes stopping depend on pedestrians when the red signal applies regardless. Scan for the first applicable boundary and keep the vehicle behind it.

15. 15. What happens when a Montana teen breaks a first-year restricted license restriction for a second time?

    1. Another 20 to 60 hours of community service
    2. The teen's driver license is suspended for six months
    3. The license is revoked until age 21
    4. The teen must restart the 50 hour practice log
    Show answer

    The teen's driver license is suspended for six months. The second offense is where Montana moves from community service to losing the license: the teen's driver license is suspended for six months. Community service of 20 to 60 hours is the first offense penalty, so repeating it misstates the escalation. The manual does not revoke the license until age 21 for a restriction violation, and it does not make the teen restart the supervised practice hours. Remember the two steps: service hours the first time, a six month suspension the second time.

16. 16. A Montana driver gets a license at age 17. When does that license expire?

    1. Eight years after it was issued
    2. On the driver's 18th birthday
    3. Four years after it was issued
    4. On the driver's 21st birthday
    Show answer

    On the driver's 21st birthday. Montana ties the expiration of a license issued to anyone under 21 to the 21st birthday, not to a fixed number of years. The eight year term applies to drivers between 21 and 75, and the four year term applies to drivers 75 and older, so neither fits a 17 year old. The 18th birthday can end the first-year restrictions, but the license itself stays valid until age 21, when the driver renews into an adult term.

17. 17. A person whose license is suspended in another state applies for a Montana license. What does the manual say?

    1. Montana issues a restricted license for work travel only
    2. Montana issues a license once the applicant passes all three tests
    3. The person cannot apply for, be issued, or keep a Montana license while suspended or revoked elsewhere
    4. Montana ignores suspensions from other states
    Show answer

    The person cannot apply for, be issued, or keep a Montana license while suspended or revoked elsewhere. Montana will not let a driver escape a suspension by changing states. A person cannot apply for, be issued, or retain a Montana driver license while suspended or revoked in any other state or jurisdiction. Passing the vision, written, and road tests does not override that bar, and the manual describes no work travel license for this situation. The same rule appears in the GDL section and the renewal section, which shows how central it is. Resolve the other state's suspension first.

18. 18. What information does Montana's Report A Drunk Driver program ask a caller to give?

    1. The caller's name, address, and driver license number
    2. A description of the vehicle and its direction of travel; the caller's name is not required
    3. The suspected driver's name and blood alcohol level
    4. A photo of the suspected driver taken while driving
    Show answer

    A description of the vehicle and its direction of travel; the caller's name is not required. Citizens who suspect someone of driving while intoxicated are asked to call local law enforcement or the Montana Highway Patrol and describe the vehicle and the direction it is traveling. The caller does not have to give a name, so the choice demanding the caller's personal details is wrong. Nobody expects a caller to know the other driver's name or BAC, and photographing a driver while you are driving adds a dangerous distraction. The toll free number is 1-800-525-5555.

19. 19. Within how many days of a reportable Montana crash must the accident report be filed?

    1. 24 hours
    2. 5 days
    3. 10 days
    4. 30 days
    Show answer

    10 days. The manual sets a 10 day deadline to file the accident report after a reportable crash, such as one where someone is injured or killed. Twenty four hours and five days are shorter than the stated deadline, and thirty days is too late. Report forms are available at law enforcement agencies and from most insurance agents. If the driver is injured and cannot complete the report, someone else can file it for the driver, so an injury does not cancel the duty to report.

20. 20. When may a Montana driver on a two-lane road exceed the speed limit by 10 mph?

    1. To overtake and pass another vehicle and return safely to the right lane
    2. Whenever traffic is light
    3. Only while descending a hill
    4. Whenever the driver is running late
    Show answer

    To overtake and pass another vehicle and return safely to the right lane. The manual describes a narrow passing exception on a two-lane road: a vehicle may exceed the speed limit by 10 mph to overtake another vehicle and return safely to the right lane. Light traffic or being late does not create that permission. Even during a pass, the driver must make sure the maneuver can be completed safely and must return to the proper lane.