MT Permit Practice Test 6

All 20 questions in test 6

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. In a reversible lane, what does a green arrow displayed above the lane tell you?

   1. The lane is closed to all traffic
   2. The lane is reserved for buses
   3. The lane is changing and must be vacated
   4. The lane may be used in the direction shown
   Show answer

   The lane may be used in the direction shown. Reversible lanes change direction at different times, so drivers must read the overhead indication before entering. Montana describes a green arrow as permission to use the lane beneath it. A bus reservation is a separate control, and a changing-lane warning uses a steady yellow X. A red X closes the lane, so it is not interchangeable with the green arrow. Check the display again if conditions or lane controls change.

2. 2. What may a Montana driver carry instead of flares as emergency warning equipment?

   1. Nothing, flares are mandatory
   2. A single flashlight
   3. A white flag
   4. Three emergency reflective triangles meeting USDOT Safety Standard 125
   Show answer

   Three emergency reflective triangles meeting USDOT Safety Standard 125. As an alternative to the flares or lanterns otherwise required, three emergency reflective triangles conforming to USDOT Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 125 may be carried. All warning devices must be visible from at least 600 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night. Place them behind a disabled vehicle so approaching drivers have time to slow and move over, farther back on a hill or curve.

3. 3. If a pedestrian is already in a crosswalk when the DON'T WALK signal begins flashing, what should happen?

   1. The pedestrian must turn around and return to the curb
   2. The pedestrian should continue crossing the street
   3. The pedestrian should stop in the travel lane
   4. The pedestrian may begin a second crossing immediately
   Show answer

   The pedestrian should continue crossing the street. The flashing DON'T WALK display tells a person who has not started to wait, but it does not strand someone already in the crosswalk. That pedestrian should continue crossing the street and clear the roadway. Turning back can prolong exposure to traffic, and stopping in a lane creates an avoidable obstruction. Beginning another crossing is unrelated to the signal's instruction. Drivers should remain alert for people finishing their crossing. The visual cue is location matters: at the curb, wait; already in the crosswalk, finish safely.

4. 4. After clearing an intersection for an approaching emergency vehicle, what should a Montana driver do?

   1. Continue through the next several intersections
   2. Pull to the right and remain stopped until the vehicle passes
   3. Stop immediately where the vehicle is blocking traffic
   4. Follow the emergency vehicle to keep the route clear
   Show answer

   Pull to the right and remain stopped until the vehicle passes. After clearing an intersection, the driver should pull to the right and remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed. Continuing through several intersections delays the emergency response, and stopping where traffic is blocked creates another hazard. Following the emergency vehicle is not required and can interfere with its path. The sequence is simple: clear the intersection if necessary, move right, then stay stopped.

5. 5. What does Montana's winding-road warning sign tell a driver to expect?

   
   1. The road ahead winds through a series of turns or curves
   2. A bridge too narrow for two vehicles to meet
   3. Loose gravel covering the highway ahead
   4. A steep hill requiring an immediate stop
   Show answer

   The road ahead winds through a series of turns or curves. The winding-road sign warns of a series of turns or curves rather than one isolated bend. The narrow-bridge choice describes a different warning, while loose gravel concerns the road surface and a steep hill concerns grade. Treat the sign as advance notice that the roadway keeps changing direction. Slow before entering the sequence, then maintain a speed that lets you steer smoothly around each curve.

6. 6. What do traffic signals control at some Montana intersections and midblock crosswalks?

   1. Drivers of vehicles and pedestrians
   2. Only pedestrians crossing at marked locations
   3. Only vehicles traveling on major highways
   4. Road workers directing traffic in construction zones
   Show answer

   Drivers of vehicles and pedestrians. Montana uses traffic signals to control both vehicle drivers and pedestrians at some intersections and midblock crosswalks. The signal assigns right of way and organizes movement where traffic is busy. It is not limited to pedestrians, major highways, or construction workers. The pictured sign should prompt attention to the signal ahead, but the signal itself is what controls movement when you reach the intersection or crosswalk.

7. 7. When a railroad crossing's flashing lights begin, what must the driver do?

   1. Stop only if the crossing has more than one track
   2. Slow down, look both ways, and cross before the gate lowers
   3. Drive around the gate if no train is visible
   4. Stop and wait until every track is clear before crossing
   Show answer

   Stop and wait until every track is clear before crossing. Flashing railroad crossing lights mean a train is coming, so the driver must stop. If the crossing has more than one track, every track must be clear before starting across. A driver may not race a gate, drive around it, or treat an unseen train as permission to continue. Stop at the required distance, remain alert for a second train, and cross only when the signals are no longer warning and the route is open.

8. 8. Where is this railroad crossbuck used, and what extra information may appear below it?

   
   1. At school crossings; a lower sign lists the crossing guard's name
   2. Only at private driveways; a lower sign gives the speed limit
   3. At public crossings; a lower sign may state the number of tracks
   4. Only after a train has passed; a lower sign announces a detour
   Show answer

   At public crossings; a lower sign may state the number of tracks. The railroad crossbuck identifies a public railroad crossing, and a supplementary sign below it can show how many tracks cross the roadway. The sign is not limited to private driveways or school areas, and it does not wait for a train to pass before applying. A driver should approach prepared to stop if a train is coming, while checking every track represented at the crossing. The extra track count matters because a clear first track does not necessarily mean the entire crossing is clear.

9. 9. Until about what height does the Montana manual recommend booster seats for older children?

   1. About 4 feet 9 inches tall
   2. About 4 feet tall
   3. About 5 feet 6 inches tall
   4. About 3 feet 6 inches tall
   Show answer

   About 4 feet 9 inches tall. Children up to age 6 and 60 pounds must ride in a child safety seat under Montana law. After that, the manual recommends booster seats until the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt fits properly, which usually happens when a child is about 4 feet 9 inches tall. Four feet and three and a half feet are too short for an adult belt to fit well, and waiting until 5 feet 6 inches goes beyond the manual's guidance. Children under 13 should ride in back.

10. 10. When may a Montana driver turn around on a roadway?

    1. When there is an unobstructed view of 500 feet in both directions and no vehicles are approaching
    2. Whenever no police officer is in sight
    3. When the driver can see 100 feet ahead
    4. On a curve or hill where traffic is moving slowly
    Show answer

    When there is an unobstructed view of 500 feet in both directions and no vehicles are approaching. Montana allows turning around on a roadway only where the driver has 500 feet of unobstructed view in both directions, almost two average city blocks, and no vehicles are approaching. One hundred feet of view ahead is not enough, and turning near a curve or hill is both illegal and dangerous. Whether police are nearby has nothing to do with the rule. Many city ordinances also ban U-turns in the middle of a block, and some ban them entirely.

11. 11. What is the earliest a Montana driver can renew a license before it expires?

    1. Three months before expiration
    2. Nine months before expiration
    3. Six months before expiration
    4. Twelve months before expiration
    Show answer

    Six months before expiration. Montana allows renewal up to six months before the expiration date. Three months is the grace period after expiration, during which a driver can still renew without retesting, so it describes the other side of the window. Nine or twelve months early is outside the allowed period. An expired license is not valid for driving, even during the grace period, and a license more than three months expired means reapplying as a new driver and passing all applicable tests.

12. 12. What is distinctive about the shape of a Montana STOP sign?

    1. It is the only eight-sided traffic sign
    2. It is the only round warning sign
    3. It is a five-sided school warning sign
    4. It is a rectangular guide sign
    Show answer

    It is the only eight-sided traffic sign. The STOP sign is identified by its eight-sided shape, which makes it recognizable even when visibility is poor. A round sign belongs to the railroad-crossing warning category, while a five-sided shape is associated with school-related warnings in standard sign systems. A rectangle describes many regulatory or guide signs, not the unique STOP outline. Shape recognition helps a driver respond before every word is readable.

13. 13. When a large animal appears near a Montana roadway, what should the driver do?

    1. Swerve sharply toward the other lane
    2. Slow down and be prepared to stop
    3. Accelerate so the animal cannot reach the road
    4. Honk continuously and maintain speed
    Show answer

    Slow down and be prepared to stop. The manual recommends slowing down and preparing to stop when an animal is seen. A sharp swerve can send the vehicle into oncoming traffic or a ditch, and acceleration does not make an unpredictable animal safer. Continuous horn use with unchanged speed ignores the need to create time and space. If stopping or avoiding is impossible, keeping control is safer than making a sudden steering move.

14. 14. How long may a Montana driver with the military exemption drive on that license after leaving the service?

    1. Indefinitely
    2. One year
    3. Up to 90 days after honorable separation
    4. 10 days
    Show answer

    Up to 90 days after honorable separation. Those who have the military exemption may drive on that license for up to 90 days after honorable separation from the military. A driver also has a grace period of 3 months after the expiration date, or 90 days after honorable discharge, to renew and avoid the penalty of retesting. Renewal after that window means taking the tests again, so renew before the 90 days run out.

15. 15. How many deaths and injuries per year result from animal crashes, according to the CDC figures in the Montana manual?

    1. About 10 deaths and 100 injuries
    2. About 200 deaths and 26,000 injuries
    3. Almost none
    4. About 5,000 deaths
    Show answer

    About 200 deaths and 26,000 injuries. Crashes involving direct hits or swerving to avoid an animal result in about 200 deaths and 26,000 injuries per year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swerving is often worse than the hit, so brake firmly, stay in your lane and steer straight. Deer, elk and livestock are most active at dawn and dusk on Montana highways.

16. 16. What administrative fee applies to Montana motor vehicle transactions since January 1, 2018?

    1. A flat $10 fee
    2. A 3 percent administrative fee
    3. No fee
    4. A 10 percent fee
    Show answer

    A 3 percent administrative fee. Starting January 1, 2018, a 3 percent administrative fee is added to all Montana MVD products and services, on top of the listed license, permit and endorsement fees, which are subject to change. Over 80 forms and manuals are available free on the MVD forms website, and the fee section of the manual lists the exact charges for each transaction.

17. 17. What should a Montana driver do before driving when snow and ice cover the windows?

    1. Clear the windshield but leave side windows covered
    2. Clear only the driver’s side window
    3. Remove the snow and ice from all windows
    4. Use the defroster while driving until visibility returns
    Show answer

    Remove the snow and ice from all windows. Snow and ice must be removed from all windows before driving so the driver has a clear view of the road. Cleaning only the driver’s side still leaves important blind areas, and a defroster used while moving delays the required visibility check. A partially cleared windshield is not enough. Before releasing the brake, clear every window and make sure the wipers can handle moisture that remains. This check also helps reveal pedestrians, cyclists, lane markings, and vehicles approaching from either side.

18. 18. During the first six months of a Montana teen’s supervised instruction permit, how much night driving practice is required?

    1. At least 5 hours
    2. No night driving is required
    3. At least 20 hours
    4. At least 10 hours
    Show answer

    At least 10 hours. The supervised practice requirement is at least 50 total hours, including 10 hours at night, during a minimum six month period. The ten hour figure is a portion of the total, not an optional suggestion, and five hours is insufficient. A helpful study cue is to pair the numbers: 50 total hours, 10 nighttime hours, and six months of practice.

19. 19. What following interval does Montana's Three-Second Rule use at any speed?

    
    1. Ten seconds only on interstate highways
    2. Exactly one second behind the vehicle ahead
    3. A distance of three vehicle lengths
    4. At least three seconds between reaching the same fixed point
    Show answer

    At least three seconds between reaching the same fixed point. The Three-Second Rule is a time-based check that works at any speed. Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed object, count one-one-thousand through three-one-thousand, and make sure your vehicle does not reach that object before the count ends. One second leaves too little reaction and braking time. Vehicle lengths change with car size and speed, so they are not the manual's measure. Ten seconds is associated with passing at 55 mph, not ordinary following. Pick a sign or pole and count rather than guessing by appearance.

20. 20. What share of Montana traffic fatalities are alcohol related, according to the manual?

    1. About 5 percent
    2. About 90 percent
    3. 50 percent, with over 2,100 injuries a year from drinking drivers
    4. About 15 percent
    Show answer

    50 percent, with over 2,100 injuries a year from drinking drivers. In Montana, 50 percent of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related, and over 2,100 injuries a year result from a drinking or drunk driver; nationally over 23,000 deaths a year are directly caused by drinking drivers. The Report A Drunk Driver program, started in 1981, lets anyone call 1-800-525-5555 toll free to report a suspected impaired driver with a location and vehicle description.