NH Permit Practice Test 18

All 20 questions in test 18

Every question below comes from the New Hampshire 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. At an intersection in New Hampshire, how must a driver treat a bicyclist crossing the path?

   1. Yield like for walkers and vehicles
   2. Bicyclists must always yield to cars
   3. Honk until the rider stops
   4. Pass closely to clear quickly
   Show answer

   Yield like for walkers and vehicles. Bicyclists at intersections earn the same yield a driver gives pedestrians and other vehicles. Horn pressure intended to freeze a rider can startle a swerve into your path instead. Slow, let the cyclist clear, then turn. Children on sidewalk bikes may dart onto the road, so intersections near schools and homes deserve a slower roll and a second look along both sidewalks before committing.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians and bicyclists

2. 2. Why might a motorcyclist slow or change direction in rain, wind, dust, or fog in New Hampshire?

   1. Such weather improves their vision
   2. Rider vision suffers, roads glare
   3. Riders must stop in any rain
   4. Cars face identical effects, exactly so
   Show answer

   Rider vision suffers, roads glare. Weather strikes an exposed rider's eyes directly, and wet pavement throws glare that is especially hard at night. Cars share some of this behind glass and wipers, never all of it. Expect slower, wandering lines from motorcycles in bad weather and grant room accordingly. A rider squinting through a wet visor deserves the same four seconds as on a clear day, plus forgiveness for every wobble.

   Study this in the handbook: Motorcycles, large trucks and slow vehicles

3. 3. May a New Hampshire driver share a lane side by side with a motorcycle?

   1. Yes, on wide lanes only
   2. Whenever the rider waves you in
   3. Yes, below 25 mph
   4. No, the full lane belongs to it
   Show answer

   No, the full lane belongs to it. A motorcycle owns its whole lane like any vehicle, and squeezing beside it steals the rider's escape space for potholes and wind gusts. Wide lanes change nothing in the entitlement. Most bikes are about two feet wide and hide easily in blind spots, another reason to keep lanes separate. Pass a motorcycle exactly as you pass a car: full lane change, generous gap, no lingering alongside.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians and bicyclists

4. 4. Why do intersection stop lines matter for large vehicles in New Hampshire?

   1. Room for big vehicles to swing turns
   2. They show trucks where to stop for deliveries
   3. They mark the start of the crosswalk
   4. They set the legal speed through the turn
   Show answer

   Room for big vehicles to swing turns. Stop lines hold cars farther back so trucks and buses can swing through their turning radius without climbing curbs or clipping bumpers. They do not create delivery stops, mark where a crosswalk starts, or set a legal turning speed. Rolling past the line to peek steals exactly that borrowed space. Always stop behind the painted line, even when no truck is visible yet. The rig turning toward you from the side street is counting on the space you are tempted to occupy.

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, Sherrill's Law and traffic stops

5. 5. Once a New Hampshire railroad crossing is clear, how should a driver cross the tracks?

   1. Slowly, stopping midway to look
   2. In the lowest gear at walking pace
   3. Quickly, without stopping on the tracks
   4. Only after stepping out to check the rails
   Show answer

   Quickly, without stopping on the tracks. Look both ways, then cross quickly without stopping, keeping the vehicle moving until it clears the rails completely. Stopping midway to look parks the car in the most dangerous spot on the road. A train needs a long distance to stop and cannot swerve, so time spent on the steel is time at risk. Commit only when the far side has room for your whole vehicle, then drive through in one smooth motion.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, guide, work zone and railroad signs

6. 6. When backing, what should a driver do with the rearward view until the vehicle stops?

   1. Use the camera as the primary view behind the vehicle.
   2. Continue looking to the rear until fully stopped.
   3. Watch only the left side mirror.
   4. Look straight ahead over the hood.
   Show answer

   Continue looking to the rear until fully stopped.. When backing, the driver should use the rear view, side mirrors, head checks, and any camera as supporting information, but should continue looking to the rear until the vehicle stops. A camera display can show the area behind the vehicle, yet the manual says drivers should not depend on warning technology alone. Looking only at one mirror leaves blind areas, and looking over the hood faces away from the vehicle's path. The important action is to keep the rearward view while moving backward, not to substitute a screen or a single mirror.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane changes, passing, backing and road conditions

7. 7. A New Hampshire driver cruises well under a car length behind the vehicle ahead on a clear day. How does state guidance treat that gap?

   1. Perfectly legal if the horn works well
   2. A violation punishable by a fine
   3. Allowed below 30 mph
   4. Fine only after a crash
   Show answer

   A violation punishable by a fine. Following more closely than is reasonable and prudent breaks the law and can draw a fine, even on a dry road with light traffic. Treating a working horn as permission misses the point, since a horn cannot create stopping room that the gap lacks. Four seconds of following distance is the working standard, counted against a fixed roadside point. If the count finishes before one thousand four, ease off the accelerator, let the gap grow, then count again at the next pole or sign.

   Study this in the handbook: Signals, headlights, horn and stopping distance

8. 8. Around which road users should a New Hampshire driver provide extra stopping and side space?

   1. Only other cars waiting at traffic lights
   2. Trucks parked along the highway shoulders
   3. Walkers, riders, playing kids, joggers
   4. Only emergency response vehicles passing
   Show answer

   Walkers, riders, playing kids, joggers. People outside cars move unpredictably, so crosswalk pedestrians, bicyclists, playing children, and joggers all earn deliberate space. Limiting courtesy to cars at lights ignores the curb where a child can sprint from between parked bumpers. Provide stopping room at crosswalks and lateral room along the road edge. Slow where driveways and ball fields line the street, and treat every gap between parked cars as a door about to open.

   Study this in the handbook: Visual search and following distance

9. 9. A regulatory sign shows a symbol inside a red circle with a red slash. What does that marking mean?

   1. The action shown by the symbol is prohibited
   2. The action is allowed only for local traffic
   3. The action is required at the next intersection
   4. The sign is a warning about a hazard ahead
   Show answer

   The action shown by the symbol is prohibited. Regulatory signs tell drivers about specific laws for traffic direction, lane use, turning, speed, parking, and other special situations. Some carry a red circle with a red slash over a symbol, and that marking prohibits the action the symbol shows. It does not limit the ban to local traffic, require the action ahead, or act as a general hazard warning. When the slashed symbol matches a turn or movement you planned, treat the movement as banned at that place and choose a lawful alternative.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, guide, work zone and railroad signs

10. 10. A newcomer to New Hampshire applies for a different license class than the one held out of state. What must be completed?

    1. Only a vision test
    2. A second road test a year later
    3. Nothing beyond paying the application fee
    4. Written and road tests for that class
    Show answer

    Written and road tests for that class. Changing class means passing the written test and the road test built for the requested class of vehicle. Vision only suffices when keeping the same privileges on a valid license. Fees never substitute for demonstrating control of a heavier or different vehicle. Choose the class by the vehicle you will actually drive, then prepare for its specific test rather than coasting on the old credential.

    Study this in the handbook: Youth Operator license, restrictions and renewal

11. 11. A driver can operate a vehicle only with hand controls. Which license restriction applies?

    1. Corrective lenses are required while driving.
    2. A mechanical aid is required while driving.
    3. Daylight driving is required.
    4. An outside mirror is required.
    Show answer

    A mechanical aid is required while driving.. New Hampshire uses a Mechanical Aid restriction when a driver needs an aid to operate the vehicle. Corrective Lenses addresses vision, Daylight Only limits when the vehicle may be driven, and Outside Mirror identifies a mirror requirement. The question describes a driver who can operate only with hand controls, so the restriction must describe the operating aid rather than vision, lighting, or equipment on the vehicle. License restrictions record conditions needed for that driver to operate lawfully.

    Study this in the handbook: Youth Operator license, restrictions and renewal

12. 12. On a New Hampshire curve, when is extra speed reduction beyond the usual entry slowing required?

    1. Just on dry, sunny days
    2. Entry speed by itself suffices
    3. Poor grip, traffic, or a blind exit
    4. When traction is good and the exit is fully visible
    Show answer

    Poor grip, traffic, or a blind exit. Poor grip, vehicles ahead, and a hidden exit each shrink the margin a curve offers, demanding slower entry than the bend alone suggests. Dry sunny weather and an ordinary entry speed describe the baseline case, not the harder one, and good traction with a fully visible exit restores that baseline. Brake while straight, then hold slight steady acceleration through. If the exit stays invisible, assume it is occupied; a curve that hides its end hides its hazards with it, including a stopped vehicle or debris.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane changes, passing, backing and road conditions

13. 13. A driver must leave a vehicle beside a rural road for several hours. What should be placed on the windshield?

    1. A set of reflective warning triangles
    2. A note with the problem and a contact
    3. A sign asking a business to watch the car
    4. A copy of the vehicle registration
    Show answer

    A note with the problem and a contact. When a vehicle will sit beside a rural road for several hours, New Hampshire asks the driver to leave a note on the windshield for police. The note should explain the problem, give an expected time the car will move, and say how to reach the owner. Reflective triangles are for a breakdown, not for long term storage, and a business cannot give police the owner's details. A registration copy shows ownership but not when the car will move. Write the note before you walk away, and include a phone number someone will actually answer.

    Study this in the handbook: Roundabouts and school buses

14. 14. When leaving a perpendicular parking space, when should the driver begin turning the wheel?

    1. As soon as the reverse lights come on
    2. When the rear bumper passes the next parking space
    3. Once the vehicle is halfway out of the space
    4. After the front bumper clears the car beside it
    Show answer

    After the front bumper clears the car beside it. Leaving a perpendicular or angle space, the driver backs straight out until the front bumper clears the vehicle parked alongside. Only then is there room to swing the wheel without clipping that car. Turning as soon as the reverse lights come on cuts the arc too early, and waiting until the rear bumper passes the next space leaves the front corner exposed. Check mirrors and look over both shoulders while backing. Use the neighboring bumper as your marker: when it disappears behind your front fender, begin the turn.

    Study this in the handbook: Parking rules and distances

15. 15. A first DUI conviction in New Hampshire is classified as what level of offense?

    1. A Class B misdemeanor
    2. A Class A felony charge
    3. A civil violation
    4. A Class B felony
    Show answer

    A Class B misdemeanor. A first conviction for driving under the influence in New Hampshire is a Class B misdemeanor. That classification carries a fine of at least $500, a possible loss of driving privileges from 9 months to 2 years, and a required impaired driver education program. Calling it a civil violation understates a criminal charge, while a felony label belongs to more serious matters than this first offense. The misdemeanor tag matters when you disclose a conviction on a job or school form. Remember the pairing: first offense, Class B.

    Study this in the handbook: How alcohol and drugs affect driving

16. 16. Which road qualifies for New Hampshire's 65 mph speed limit?

    1. A Class V highway outside a town's compact area.
    2. A two-lane road posted at 55 mph.
    3. A divided interstate or turnpike with at least four lanes.
    4. A road where traffic is moving faster than 55 mph.
    Show answer

    A divided interstate or turnpike with at least four lanes.. New Hampshire permits 65 mph on the interstate system and on the central and eastern turnpikes only where the highway is divided and has four or more lanes. A two-lane road outside a compact area belongs to a different speed rule, and a posted 55 mph limit does not create a 65 mph exception. Traffic moving faster than 55 mph also cannot change the legal limit. The road's classification, division, and lane count control this answer. The separate 70 mph rule applies only to the specified portion of I-93, so it should not be used for every turnpike.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

17. 17. What reminder trick does New Hampshire guidance suggest so a driver checks the back seat before locking up?

    1. Leave a window cracked open
    2. Set the parking brake twice
    3. Honk the horn twice after parking
    4. Keep a purse or briefcase in back
    Show answer

    Keep a purse or briefcase in back. A purse or briefcase riding in back forces a trip to the rear door, where a sleeping child becomes visible before locking. A cracked window does nothing for a child in a heating cabin and invites theft. Vehicles heat within minutes in warm weather, faster as temperatures climb. Build the look before you lock habit around something you truly cannot leave behind, and practice it even on cool mornings.

    Study this in the handbook: Vision, fatigue, emotions and hot vehicles

18. 18. Where should a lap belt sit after fastening, in New Hampshire guidance?

    1. Snug and low across the hips
    2. High across the stomach
    3. Loose over the thighs
    4. Twisted once for tightness
    Show answer

    Snug and low across the hips. A snug belt low on the hips loads the pelvis, the frame built to take crash force. Riding high on the stomach lets an occupant slide beneath it and exposes soft tissue to the webbing. Twisting narrows the belt into a rope that concentrates force. After the click, pull the slack out and check the belt against hip bones, not belly, every single ride, however short the errand.

    Study this in the handbook: Vehicle checks, seating and restraints

19. 19. Your breakdown stops the car in a hazardous spot in New Hampshire. What should passengers do?

    1. Stay seated with doors locked
    2. Stand behind the car to warn others
    3. Sit on the guardrail above traffic
    4. Get out and move well away from traffic
    Show answer

    Get out and move well away from traffic. A hazardous location empties the vehicle, with everyone waiting well away from traffic rather than inside a target. Standing behind the car to flag traffic places bodies where a second impact lands. Stay with the vehicle only when the spot is genuinely safe. Count heads as you exit, take children by the hand, and gather uphill or behind a barrier where flying debris cannot follow.

    Study this in the handbook: Brake failure, blowouts and breakdowns

20. 20. Your engine shuts off while moving in New Hampshire. What happens to steering, and what should you expect?

    1. Steering becomes easier
    2. The wheel turns hard, grip strongly
    3. Steering locks solid instantly
    4. Nothing about steering changes
    Show answer

    The wheel turns hard, grip strongly. Power loss kills steering assist, so the wheel grows heavy and demands a strong grip and steady pressure on the brake. A solid lock would be a different failure entirely; the car still steers with effort. Avoid braking hard, slow in a straight line, and pull off. Try a restart once stopped; if it fails, raise the hood, switch on flashers, and call for help from safety.

    Study this in the handbook: Brake failure, blowouts and breakdowns