NJ Permit Practice Test 12

All 20 questions in test 12

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. What legal status do road markings have in New Jersey?

   1. They have the same force of law as signs or traffic signals
   2. They apply only to commercial vehicles
   3. They are suggestions that may be ignored when traffic is light
   4. They are advisory unless a police officer is present
   Show answer

   They have the same force of law as signs or traffic signals. New Jersey gives road markings the same force of law as signs or traffic signals. That means a driver must obey a marked restriction or direction even when no officer is nearby. The rule is broader than a U-turn symbol, although the pictured no-U-turn sign is a useful reminder that movement restrictions are enforceable. Light traffic does not turn a solid line into a suggestion, and the rule applies to ordinary motorists as well as commercial drivers.

2. 2. On a two-lane road, a school bus ahead has flashing red lights. How far away must approaching motorists stop?

   
   1. At least 10 feet
   2. At least 50 feet
   3. At least 25 feet
   4. Only after the bus begins moving again
   Show answer

   At least 25 feet. On a two-lane road, a motorist must stop at least 25 feet from a school bus with flashing red lights. Ten feet is too close for the required stopping buffer, while 50 feet adds distance the cited rule does not require. Waiting only until the bus moves could put children at risk because motorists must remain stopped until the signals are off and the roadway is safe. Spot the red lights early and begin braking before reaching the 25-foot point.

3. 3. A New Jersey driver experiences a tire blowout. What should the driver do first?

   1. Brake hard before moving toward the shoulder
   2. Turn sharply toward the nearest open lane
   3. Release the steering wheel so the vehicle can coast freely
   4. Hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle straight
   Show answer

   Hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle straight. During a blowout, the first priority is keeping the vehicle pointed straight. Hold the steering wheel firmly, remove your foot from the gas pedal, and let the vehicle gradually slow without using the brakes. Braking hard can upset the vehicle, while a sharp turn creates a second loss-of-control risk. Once the car has coasted down, guide it to a safe area off the roadway. The steering wheel is your anchor during the initial tire failure.

4. 4. What does New Jersey’s red octagonal sign require?

   
   1. YIELD
   2. Do not enter
   3. Keep right around an obstruction
   4. STOP
   Show answer

   STOP. The red octagon is reserved for a STOP sign. Its shape and color identify a required stop, unlike the inverted triangle used for YIELD. A square with a red circle and white band identifies DO NOT ENTER, so that choice describes a different design. The curved arrow belongs to a roadway-direction warning. When studying signs, connect the eight-sided red outline with stopping before proceeding only when the way is safe.

5. 5. During what hours may a New Jersey permit or probationary holder under 21 not drive?

   1. From 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
   2. From midnight until 4:00 a.m.
   3. From 11:01 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
   4. From 9:01 p.m. until 5:01 a.m.
   Show answer

   From 11:01 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.. The hour restriction for the listed permit and probationary holders under 21 begins at 11:01 p.m. and ends at 5:00 a.m. The one-minute difference from midnight is intentional, so the midnight option is not equivalent. The other windows move both endpoints and do not match the rule. Read the start and finish as a single interval; the age and license type determine whether the restriction applies before the trip begins.

6. 6. A driver has six or more points within three years. What surcharge structure applies?

   1. $150 for six points plus $25 for each additional point, for three years
   2. $50 once, regardless of the total
   3. $1,000 each year for three years
   4. No surcharge unless a crash occurred
   Show answer

   $150 for six points plus $25 for each additional point, for three years. Six or more points within three years create a surcharge of $150 for six points plus $25 for each additional point. The surcharge is assessed for the applicable three-year period and is separate from court fines and penalties. A flat $50 payment ignores the point count, while the $1,000 annual amount belongs to a different DUI-related surcharge. A crash is not required for this point-record rule to apply.

7. 7. A school bus stops on the opposite side of a dual-lane highway, separated by a safety island or raised median. What should a New Jersey driver do?

   
   1. Stop 25 feet behind the bus
   2. Slow to 10 mph
   3. Continue at the posted speed without checking
   4. Pass the bus at 35 mph if no children are visible
   Show answer

   Slow to 10 mph. On a dual-lane highway, a driver on the far side of a safety island or raised median should slow to 10 mph when a school bus has stopped. The 25-foot stop rule applies to the other roadway situations described in the manual. The physical median is the important cue: a raised separation changes the response from stopping to a very slow approach.

8. 8. Which vehicle is barred from use during a New Jersey road test?

   1. A self-parking vehicle
   2. A vehicle with working turn signals
   3. A vehicle with a manual transmission
   4. A properly registered passenger car
   Show answer

   A self-parking vehicle. New Jersey does not permit a self-parking vehicle to be used for the road test. The exam is intended to observe the applicant's driving control, so an automated parking function cannot substitute for the driver's maneuver. A manual transmission is allowed if the applicant can shift correctly, and working signals and registration are ordinary requirements rather than disqualifiers. Before the appointment, verify that the vehicle's assistance features will not prevent the examiner from evaluating the applicant.

9. 9. After a driver reaches a BAC slightly above 0.05 percent, how does New Jersey describe the crash risk?

   1. It stays exactly the same
   2. It becomes six times as great immediately
   3. It doubles
   4. It falls if the driver ate first
   Show answer

   It doubles. The manual says crash risk doubles when a motorist reaches a BAC slightly above 0.05 percent. That figure describes increased danger, not a safe-driving threshold. Six times the risk is tied to a BAC of 0.10 percent, and eating does not make alcohol harmless. Separate risk figures from legal BAC limits because they answer different exam questions. No amount of confidence changes that measured risk.

10. 10. Who must drive a road-test vehicle to the test area when the accompanying motorist has less than three years of driving experience?

    1. The applicant, even if unlicensed to drive there
    2. The accompanying motorist
    3. The MVC examiner before the appointment
    4. Any passenger who is at least 16
    Show answer

    The accompanying motorist. For a road test, a licensed driver must remain with the applicant, and the manual adds a special transport rule. If that accompanying motorist is licensed outside New Jersey or has less than three years of driving experience, that person must drive the vehicle to the road-test area. The applicant cannot simply drive alone to the queue, and the MVC does not provide a driver. Arrange the trip with the qualified accompanying person before arriving.

11. 11. A traffic signal changes from a green arrow to a yellow arrow. What should the New Jersey driver understand?

    1. The arrow permits a new turn after cross traffic starts
    2. The driver has an unrestricted protected turn
    3. The driver must reverse to the previous intersection
    4. The signal is changing from green to red, so stop safely if possible
    Show answer

    The signal is changing from green to red, so stop safely if possible. A yellow arrow signals that the protected green-arrow phase is changing to red and gives the motorist a chance to stop safely. It does not grant an unrestricted turn, direct a reversal, or authorize a new movement after cross traffic begins. Watch the arrow’s color change and assess stopping distance immediately. The cue is that yellow marks the end of the protected phase.

12. 12. When does a handheld phone conviction put motor vehicle points on a New Jersey driving record?

    1. On the first violation, which adds two points
    2. Never, because phone offenses carry fines only
    3. Only when the phone use causes a crash
    4. On a third or subsequent violation, which adds three points
    Show answer

    On a third or subsequent violation, which adds three points. New Jersey handles phone violations mostly with fines at first. Points arrive with a third or subsequent conviction, which adds three motor vehicle penalty points, and a 90 day license suspension is also possible. A first violation carries a fine but no points, so the two point claim is wrong. Saying phone offenses never carry points ignores the rule for repeat offenders. A crash is not required for the points; the conviction itself is enough.

13. 13. What color and shape generally identify New Jersey warning signs?

    1. White and rectangular with a green route number
    2. Yellow and diamond-shaped with a black symbol or word message
    3. Blue and circular with a white service symbol
    4. Orange and triangular with a slow-moving vehicle symbol
    Show answer

    Yellow and diamond-shaped with a black symbol or word message. The manual says warning signs are yellow and diamond-shaped, with a black symbol or word message. That format distinguishes a warning from a white regulatory sign, a blue motorist service sign, and the fluorescent orange triangle used for slow-moving vehicles. The pictured STOP AHEAD sign is an advance warning, not the actual stop point. Use the color and shape as the first recognition step, then read the symbol to identify the condition that requires extra attention.

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

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

15. 15. Before merging from a highway entrance ramp, what should the driver do?

    
    1. Stop until every lane is empty
    2. Yield to main-road traffic and enter the right lane when safe
    3. Assume main-road traffic must yield
    4. Enter the left lane first
    Show answer

    Yield to main-road traffic and enter the right lane when safe. Traffic already on the highway has priority over a vehicle entering from an acceleration lane. Build speed toward the flow, yield, and merge into the right-hand lane when a safe opening exists. Stopping is discouraged unless necessary, and moving first into the left lane reverses the normal entry pattern. Use the ramp to match speed, signal, check the gap, and merge only when the movement is safe.

16. 16. What must a New Jersey motorist do when a train is approaching a railroad crossing?

    1. Yield to the train
    2. Rely on the vehicle's size to claim priority
    3. Enter the crossing before the train gets close
    4. Cross if the warning lights are still dark
    Show answer

    Yield to the train. Trains have priority when approaching a railroad crossing, so the motorist must yield and wait for a safe crossing. Vehicle size cannot defeat a train, and dark warning lights do not guarantee that no train is coming. Entering early to beat the locomotive is dangerous because trains appear farther away and move faster than expected. Reduce speed and cross only after warnings clear.

17. 17. What type of sign is a New Jersey warning sign?

    1. White and rectangular with black wording only
    2. Yellow and diamond-shaped with a black symbol or word message
    3. Blue and circular with a red border
    4. Orange and triangular with green lettering
    Show answer

    Yellow and diamond-shaped with a black symbol or word message. New Jersey warning signs are yellow and diamond-shaped with a black symbol or word message. Their purpose is to identify road conditions or hazards that require caution, such as crossings, curves, or changing roadway conditions. The white rectangular description belongs generally to regulatory signs, while blue service signs and the orange choice do not match the warning-sign design described here. Use the yellow diamond as a cue to scan farther ahead, adjust speed, and prepare for the condition shown.

18. 18. What does New Jersey’s white X-shaped railroad crossbuck mean?

    
    1. Stop only when a gate is lowered
    2. Trains must yield to vehicles
    3. Yield the right-of-way to trains
    4. The crossing is for pedestrians only
    Show answer

    Yield the right-of-way to trains. The white X-shaped crossbuck has the same meaning as a YIELD sign. Motorists must yield the right-of-way to trains because trains cannot swerve to avoid vehicles. Flashing lights, bells, or lowered gates may add active warnings, but a gate is not what defines the crossbuck. The cue is the X-shaped railroad sign at the crossing, which calls for yielding to the train.

19. 19. A New Jersey driver is convicted of a second DUI. How long must an ignition interlock remain after driving privileges are restored?

    1. Two to four years, on top of the suspension period
    2. Three months
    3. Seven months to one year
    4. Ten years
    Show answer

    Two to four years, on top of the suspension period. For a second or subsequent DUI, or a second refusal offense, New Jersey requires the interlock during the suspension and then for two to four years after restoration. The shorter periods belong to first offenses: three months for a BAC from 0.08% to below 0.10%, and seven months to one year for 0.10% to below 0.15%. Ten years is the window for counting a later offense as a second one, not an interlock period. A second DUI within that window also brings a suspension of one to two years.

20. 20. How many points does New Jersey add to a driving record for going 20 mph over the speed limit?

    1. 2 points
    2. 5 points
    3. 4 points
    4. 8 points
    Show answer

    4 points. New Jersey's point chart sorts speeding by how far over the limit the driver was. From 1 to 14 mph over, the charge is 2 points; 15 to 29 mph over is 4 points; and 30 mph or more over is 5 points. At 20 mph over, the driver falls in the middle band. Two points would apply only up to 14 over, and 5 points starts at 30 over. Eight points is used for leaving the scene of a crash with personal injury, not for speeding. Points add up toward a suspension notice at 12.