NJ Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the New Jersey 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. A New Jersey driver who is 21 or older has a BAC reading of 0.08 percent. What does that reading mean?

   1. It is below every alcohol-related limit
   2. It reaches the illegal adult threshold
   3. It is legal unless the driver feels impaired
   4. It triggers only a warning for a first stop
   Show answer

   It reaches the illegal adult threshold. For an adult motorist, New Jersey treats a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher as illegal, even though impairment can begin well below that level. The option requiring a crash adds an event the rule never requires. A reading of 0.05 percent is associated with increased crash risk in the same discussion, not permission to drive freely. On a test, pair the driver’s adult age with the 0.08 figure and remember that a breath result is a measurement of alcohol concentration.

2. 2. A New Jersey driver younger than 21 has a BAC of 0.01 percent. Is driving permitted?

   1. Yes, until the reading reaches 0.08 percent
   2. Yes, if the trip is less than five miles
   3. Yes, when a supervising adult is in the vehicle
   4. No, the under-21 threshold has already been reached
   Show answer

   No, the under-21 threshold has already been reached. New Jersey uses a much lower BAC threshold for a person younger than 21: 0.01 percent or higher is illegal. The adult figure of 0.08 percent belongs to a different age category and cannot be substituted here. A short trip and an accompanying adult do not create exceptions to the alcohol rule. The useful exam cue is the age phrase; once it appears, compare the reading with 0.01 percent before considering any adult standard.

3. 3. What is a New Jersey motorist’s legal consequence for refusing a breath test after an arrest?

   1. The refusal is ignored unless property damage occurred
   2. The refusal is illegal and carries separate penalties
   3. The refusal is lawful if the driver asks for a blood test
   4. The refusal matters only after an adult BAC conviction
   Show answer

   The refusal is illegal and carries separate penalties. New Jersey’s implied-consent rule makes refusal itself unlawful. The listed consequences include loss of driving privileges, an IDRC referral, fines, an ignition interlock device, and a violation surcharge. The property-damage option invents a condition that is not part of the rule, while asking for another test does not erase the refusal. When an exam question says a breath test was refused after arrest, look for the independent refusal penalties rather than treating it as merely evidence in a DUI case.

4. 4. How many questions must a New Jersey applicant answer correctly to earn the 80-percent passing result on the 50-question knowledge test?

   1. 35 questions
   2. 45 questions
   3. 30 questions
   4. 40 questions
   Show answer

   40 questions. New Jersey’s knowledge test has 50 questions, and the passing mark is 80 percent. Converting that percentage gives 40 correct responses. The 45-question option would be a 90-percent score, while 35 would be only 70 percent. This is a calculation tied to the published test format, not a separate vision or road-test requirement. A quick way to retain it is to connect the pair 50 questions and 40 correct answers rather than memorizing the percentage alone.

5. 5. Two motorists arrive simultaneously at a New Jersey multi-way stop. Which driver yields?

   1. The driver approaching from the left yields to the driver on the right
   2. The driver on the right reverses to let the left vehicle pass
   3. The heavier vehicle receives priority
   4. Both vehicles enter together at reduced speed
   Show answer

   The driver approaching from the left yields to the driver on the right. At a multi-way stop, simultaneous arrival creates a right-side priority rule: the motorist on the left yields to the motorist on the right. Vehicle weight and arrival speed do not change that assignment. Entering together would turn a predictable crossing into a conflict, and reversing is not the prescribed response. The practical cue is to identify your position relative to the other vehicle before moving from the stop line.

6. 6. While turning left at a New Jersey intersection, what must a driver do before crossing the opposing lane?

   1. Turn first because a green signal gives absolute priority
   2. Wait only for a police officer’s hand signal
   3. Yield to oncoming traffic and stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk
   4. Yield to vehicles behind the turning car
   Show answer

   Yield to oncoming traffic and stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. A left turn crosses the path of approaching vehicles and may also cross a pedestrian route. New Jersey therefore requires the turning motorist to yield to oncoming traffic and stop for pedestrians within the crosswalk. A green light authorizes movement only after those conflicts are cleared; it is not a guarantee that the turn can begin immediately. Before steering left, check the opposing lane, the crossing area, and the space into which the vehicle will travel.

7. 7. A New Jersey driver exits a private driveway onto a public road. Which traffic must be yielded to?

   1. Every vehicle already traveling on the main road
   2. Only traffic approaching from the driver’s left
   3. Only the first vehicle visible at the curb
   4. No traffic when the driveway has a wide opening
   Show answer

   Every vehicle already traveling on the main road. A driveway is not an equal branch of the public roadway. The motorist emerging from private property must yield to all traffic on the main road, which means checking both directions and waiting for a safe opening. Limiting the obligation to the left side overlooks vehicles approaching from the other direction. A wide driveway changes visibility, not the legal priority. Stop before entering the road, scan both ways, and proceed only after the established traffic is clear.

8. 8. At a New Jersey intersection without painted lines, what pedestrian crossing should a driver expect?

   1. Pedestrians have no crossing area until paint is added
   2. Only cyclists may cross without painted markings
   3. An unmarked crosswalk exists at the intersection
   4. The driver may treat the corner as a parking space
   Show answer

   An unmarked crosswalk exists at the intersection. New Jersey recognizes a crosswalk at every intersection, even where pavement markings are absent. That unmarked crossing still requires a motorist to watch for people and yield as the pedestrian law requires. The paint-based option mistakes visibility of the marking for existence of the crossing. A corner with no stripes is therefore not a free pass to maintain speed. Slow your approach, look toward both sidewalks, and be ready to stop before the person enters your path.

9. 9. What does New Jersey law set top speed limits for?

   1. Only roads with a posted school-zone sign
   2. Only interstate highways within city limits
   3. Only rural roads without center lines
   4. Any given road, street, highway, or freeway
   Show answer

   Any given road, street, highway, or freeway. New Jersey law establishes top speed limits for any given road, street, highway, or freeway. That wording covers the roadway classification itself, so a driver must identify the applicable limit and obey it even when traffic is moving faster. The school-zone choice is too narrow, and the interstate-only choice ignores ordinary streets and highways. The rural-road choice also misses the broader rule. A useful habit is to treat every speed limit as a legal ceiling, then adjust below it for weather, visibility, traffic, or road conditions.

10. 10. A driver travels 76 mph in a posted 65-mph New Jersey zone. What fine rule applies?

    1. The fine is doubled only after a crash
    2. The fine is doubled because the speed is at least 10 mph over
    3. The fine is cut in half because the excess is under 15 mph
    4. The ordinary fine applies until the speed reaches 80 mph
    Show answer

    The fine is doubled because the speed is at least 10 mph over. The calculation is 76 minus 65, which equals 11 mph. New Jersey doubles the fine when a driver exceeds a 65-mph limit by 10 mph or more, so this example crosses the threshold. A collision is not required, and the law does not wait for 15 or 80 mph. On the test, subtract the posted limit from the actual speed first; the resulting number determines whether the special 65-mph penalty applies.

11. 11. In addition to qualifying speeding, what other conduct can receive a doubled fine in a posted 65-mph New Jersey zone?

    1. Most other moving violations committed in that zone
    2. Any unpaid parking ticket from another municipality
    3. A registration renewal filed one week late
    4. A vehicle inspection appointment made after noon
    Show answer

    Most other moving violations committed in that zone. New Jersey extends the double-fine provision in a 65-mph zone beyond the speed threshold: most other moving violations committed there are also covered. The rule concerns conduct while driving, not administrative lateness or a parking debt from elsewhere. A broad claim that every ticket doubles is also too wide because the manual says most other moving violations. The useful cue is the combination of location, 65-mph posting, and a moving violation.

12. 12. Which maximum appears in New Jersey’s speed table for certain interstate highways when posted?

    1. 45 mph
    2. 50 mph
    3. 65 mph
    4. 55 mph
    Show answer

    65 mph. Certain interstate highways may be posted at 65 mph, the highest category shown in New Jersey’s table. The 55-mph figure belongs to certain state highways and interstates as posted, so it is not the answer for the separate 65-mph category. A road type does not authorize ignoring a lower sign; the displayed limit still controls. Look for the words ‘certain interstate highways’ beside the number rather than choosing the familiar 55-mph figure.

13. 13. Which New Jersey driver may not use either a handheld or hands-free cellular telephone while operating the vehicle, except in limited circumstances?

    1. A school bus driver
    2. A driver stopped at a red light in a travel lane
    3. A driver with a passenger holding the phone
    4. A driver using a phone mounted below the windshield
    Show answer

    A school bus driver. The school-bus rule is stricter than the ordinary hands-free allowance. A school bus driver may not use a handheld or hands-free cellular telephone while operating the bus, except during an emergency or when the bus is parked safely off the highway. A passenger holding the phone does not change who is operating the bus. Identify the vehicle and driver category first; that special combination overrides the general phone discussion.

14. 14. Is it lawful in New Jersey to drive across private property to bypass a traffic signal or stop sign?

    1. Yes, whenever the property entrance is open to the public
    2. Yes, but only if the driver activates hazard lights
    3. No, using public or private property to avoid the control is a motor-vehicle violation
    4. No, unless the maneuver is made after midnight
    Show answer

    No, using public or private property to avoid the control is a motor-vehicle violation. New Jersey specifically treats operating a vehicle on public or private property to avoid a traffic-control signal or sign as a moving violation. The property’s open entrance and the time of day do not turn the shortcut into a legal maneuver. Hazard lights announce a vehicle but do not authorize bypassing the control. If a signal is red, remain in the roadway and wait for the lawful movement instead of cutting through a lot.

15. 15. During a mechanical emergency, where should a New Jersey motorist stop?

    1. In the nearest intersection with headlights off
    2. On the right highway shoulder with emergency flashers on
    3. On the left shoulder facing opposing traffic
    4. In a marked crosswalk with hazard lights off
    Show answer

    On the right highway shoulder with emergency flashers on. For mechanical trouble or another emergency, New Jersey advises stopping on the right highway shoulder and turning on emergency flashers. The right shoulder places the disabled vehicle away from the main travel path, while the flashers alert approaching drivers. A left shoulder can expose the vehicle to opposing traffic, and an intersection or crosswalk creates a new obstruction. The practical cue is shoulder, then flashers: move as far right as conditions safely allow and make the vehicle visible before seeking help.

16. 16. Before opening the driver-side door after parking on a New Jersey street, what should the motorist check?

    1. Only the fuel gauge and parking meter
    2. The rear seat before checking outside
    3. Whether the vehicle is more than six inches from the curb
    4. Traffic, bicycles, and mopeds approaching the door area
    Show answer

    Traffic, bicycles, and mopeds approaching the door area. A parked vehicle’s door can enter the path of a cyclist, moped, or passing vehicle. New Jersey’s parking guidance tells the motorist to check traffic and those smaller road users before opening the driver-side door. The curb-distance option concerns where the vehicle is parked, not whether the door can be opened safely. Use the mirrors, look over the shoulder, and choose the curbside exit for passengers when that is safer.

17. 17. What parking distance from a crosswalk at an intersection is prohibited in New Jersey, unless an alley exception applies?

    1. Within 10 feet
    2. Within 25 feet
    3. Within 40 feet
    4. Within 50 feet
    Show answer

    Within 25 feet. New Jersey bars parking within 25 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection or the sideline of a street or intersection highway, with the manual noting an alley exception. Ten feet is the hydrant distance, while 50 feet is associated with a railroad crossing. The protected approach area preserves a clear view between people crossing and approaching drivers. When choosing a curb space, measure from the crosswalk rather than stopping wherever the paint ends.

18. 18. When must New Jersey headlights be used because of weather or visibility, even if it is daytime?

    1. Only when the temperature falls below freezing
    2. Only after a police vehicle flashes its headlights
    3. Only when the road has no streetlights
    4. When visibility is 500 feet or less or windshield wipers are in use
    Show answer

    When visibility is 500 feet or less or windshield wipers are in use. New Jersey requires headlights in daytime conditions when visibility is 500 feet or less and whenever windshield wipers are being used during rain, snow, or ice. Fog, mist, and smoke are additional visibility triggers. Streetlights and temperature do not define the rule, and a police signal is unnecessary. A simple driving cue is to turn on the headlights when the wipers come on; that habit covers a condition specifically named in the statute summary.

19. 19. What speed should a New Jersey driver seek in an acceleration lane before merging onto a highway?

    1. Walking speed until another driver waves the vehicle in
    2. The posted limit minus 20 mph in every case
    3. The speed of the traffic already on the highway
    4. A complete stop at the lane’s far end
    Show answer

    The speed of the traffic already on the highway. The acceleration lane exists to let an entering motorist build speed before joining established highway traffic. The manual directs the driver to speed up to the flow of traffic when leaving that lane. Stopping at its end or entering at walking speed would create a sudden obstruction, while subtracting a fixed 20 mph ignores actual traffic conditions. Signal, check the gap, yield to vehicles already present, and merge smoothly at a compatible speed.

20. 20. What program must a person who has never held a driver license complete in New Jersey?

    1. The Graduated Driver License Program
    2. The commercial vehicle endorsement course
    3. The vehicle inspection program
    4. The defensive driving point-removal course
    Show answer

    The Graduated Driver License Program. New Jersey places first-time drivers in the Graduated Driver License Program before they receive a basic driver license. The program introduces driving privileges in phases and includes supervised practice. A commercial endorsement course is for specialized vehicle operation, while inspection concerns vehicle condition and defensive driving is a later safety or point-related activity. The useful cue is first license history: someone who has never held a license enters the GDL process, rather than skipping directly to an unrestricted basic credential.