NY Permit Practice Test 10

All 20 questions in test 10

Every question below comes from the New York 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 York driver who got a license at age 19 is still in the six-month probation period and is convicted of speeding. What happens?

   1. Nothing beyond the fine and points
   2. The license is suspended for 60 days
   3. The license is revoked for one year
   4. Probation is extended by one week
   Show answer

   The license is suspended for 60 days. Drivers who are 18 or older when they pass the road test in New York start with six months of probation. A single conviction for speeding, reckless driving, following too closely, a speed contest, or DWAI alcohol during that time suspends the license for 60 days, and so do any two other traffic violations. After the suspension, a new six-month probation begins. Another such offense in that new period brings a revocation of at least six months, not one year. Probation is not simply extended by a week.

2. 2. What is the minimum fine for a first conviction of passing a stopped school bus in New York?

   1. $250
   2. $50
   3. $100
   4. $1,000
   Show answer

   $250. New York sets a minimum $250 fine for a first conviction of passing a stopped school bus, and fines can reach $1,000 for three violations within three years. Three convictions in three years also revoke the license for at least six months, and each one adds 8 points. One thousand dollars is the top of the range for repeat offenders, not the first offense minimum, and $50 or $100 is below the floor. Owners can separately receive a $250 penalty when a school bus stop arm camera records the vehicle.

3. 3. A steady yellow light appears as you approach a New York intersection. What should you do?

   1. Treat it as a flashing red and stop, then proceed
   2. Accelerate so the light cannot turn red before you enter
   3. Be prepared to stop for the red light
   4. Turn only if no pedestrian is waiting
   Show answer

   Be prepared to stop for the red light. A steady yellow signal means the green phase is ending and the light will change to red. The driver should prepare to stop, judging whether a safe stop is possible before the intersection. Accelerating to beat the change turns a warning into a risky maneuver, while a flashing red has the separate meaning of a stop sign. A useful cue is the color change itself: yellow is a transition warning, not permission to maintain speed regardless of distance. Check mirrors, ease off the accelerator, and stop before the line when stopping can be done safely.

4. 4. Flashing red lights and a lowered gate are active at a railroad crossing. How far back must you stop?

   1. At least 30 feet from the tracks
   2. At least 3 feet from the tracks
   3. At least 15 feet from the tracks
   4. With the front bumper over the first rail
   Show answer

   At least 15 feet from the tracks. Flashing red lights, a lowered gate, or a bell at a railroad crossing requires stopping at least 15 feet from the tracks. Three feet is too close, while 30 feet is not the minimum stated here. Extending the bumper over a rail puts the vehicle in the crossing area. Stop before the marked line when one exists, keep clear of the rails, and wait until the signals stop and the gates are completely raised before moving.

5. 5. About how far ahead do New York headlights cover during night driving?

   1. About 100 feet
   2. About 350 feet
   3. About 500 feet
   4. About 1,000 feet
   Show answer

   About 350 feet. The manual says headlights cover about 350 feet ahead and advises driving at a speed that allows a stop within that distance. One hundred feet understates the visible range, while 500 and 1,000 feet overstate it. This is driving within the range of the headlights. At night, especially on an unfamiliar or curving road, choose a speed that leaves enough pavement inside the illuminated area for a controlled stop.

6. 6. What do flashing amber lights on a New York school bus warn other drivers about?

   1. The bus is present and drivers should notice the possible hazard
   2. The bus is giving every nearby driver a green signal
   3. The bus may be passed without checking traffic
   4. The bus is being used as an emergency vehicle
   Show answer

   The bus is present and drivers should notice the possible hazard. Flashing amber lights on a school bus warn traffic that the bus is present and may create a roadside hazard. They do not grant other drivers permission to pass, turn, or treat the bus as an authorized emergency vehicle. A driver should reduce speed, observe the bus and surrounding children, and be ready for a stop or movement near the roadway. The amber signal is an attention cue, not a replacement for ordinary traffic laws or careful scanning.

7. 7. What does a steady red X above a New York lane mean?

   1. Use the lane only for a left turn
   2. Move into the lane before the next signal
   3. Do not drive in that lane
   4. Proceed if the driver activates hazard lights
   Show answer

   Do not drive in that lane. A steady red X is a lane-use control signal that closes the lane beneath it. It does not mean the lane is available for a cautious driver, a left turn, or a vehicle using hazard lights. A flashing yellow X has the narrower left-turn meaning, while a steady yellow X tells traffic to leave the lane. Look overhead before entering a managed lane, and merge only where the roadway markings and other signals permit it.

8. 8. After a New York crash, what should occupants do if downed wires touch the vehicle or lie nearby?

   1. Exit on the side closest to the wires
   2. Move the wires away before leaving
   3. Remain inside and wait for help
   4. Push the vehicle clear of the wires
   Show answer

   Remain inside and wait for help. Downed electrical wires create a danger that can extend beyond the visible cable. If wires touch the vehicle or are lying near it, occupants should stay inside and warn one another not to approach until responders arrive. Exiting can expose a person to energized metal or ground current. The choice to move the wires is especially unsafe because a driver cannot know whether the line is live. Treat the vehicle as a shelter, call for assistance, and wait for trained personnel.

9. 9. What does a red octagonal STOP sign require in New York?

   1. A full stop and yielding before proceeding safely
   2. A stop only when another vehicle is visible
   3. A yield without stopping when no line is painted
   4. A rolling stop if the intersection is clear
   Show answer

   A full stop and yielding before proceeding safely. The octagonal shape identifies a STOP sign, and New York requires a complete stop before the stop line when one is present. If there is no line, stop before the crosswalk, or before entering the intersection when neither marking exists. Yield to vehicles and pedestrians in or approaching the intersection, then go when safe. An empty-looking roadway does not convert the sign into a yield sign. The cue is the red octagon, followed by the stopping location marked on the pavement.

10. 10. What BAC level can result in an Aggravated DWI charge in New York?

    1. .15 or higher
    2. .08 or higher
    3. .12 or higher
    4. .18 or higher
    Show answer

    .18 or higher. Aggravated DWI applies at .18 BAC or higher in New York. The .08 threshold starts ordinary DWI, while .12 and .15 are lower numbers that do not mark the aggravated category in this manual. The important distinction is the gap between the ordinary and aggravated thresholds, not simply whether alcohol is present. Use .18 as the cue for the aggravated tier, and remember that the license consequence and criminal consequences can be more severe at that level.

11. 11. Two vehicles enter an uncontrolled New York intersection at the same time. Which driver must yield?

    1. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
    2. The vehicle with more passengers yields
    3. Both drivers proceed together after sounding their horns
    4. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
    Show answer

    The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. At an intersection without a traffic signal or sign, New York gives priority to the vehicle on the right when both drivers arrive together. The left-side driver must wait, even if that vehicle is larger or closer to the center of the road. A horn does not create a right-of-way exception, and entering simultaneously invites a collision. The practical cue is to compare positions before moving: if the other vehicle is on your right, yield and let it clear the intersection first.

12. 12. After a New York license suspension for a fixed period, such as 30 or 90 days, what must usually be paid before the license is returned?

    1. A $100 reapplication fee
    2. A $50 suspension termination fee
    3. A $750 civil penalty
    4. Nothing; the license comes back automatically
    Show answer

    A $50 suspension termination fee. New York distinguishes suspension from revocation, and the fees follow that difference. A license suspended for an exact period, like 30 or 90 days, generally comes back only after a non-refundable $50 suspension termination fee is paid. The $100 fee is for reapplying after a revocation, when the license was canceled. The $750 civil penalty applies after certain revocations such as driving without insurance. A Zero Tolerance suspension has its own costs: a $125 civil penalty and a $100 termination fee.

13. 13. Outside New York City, when may a New York driver turn left on red?

    1. From any street onto a one-way street after slowing
    2. From a two-way street onto a one-way street when no cars approach
    3. Only outside New York City during nighttime hours
    4. From one one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding
    Show answer

    From one one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding. Outside New York City, a driver may turn left on red only from a one-way road onto another one-way road. The driver must first come to a full stop and yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and a sign or marking can still prohibit the movement. New York City has a stricter rule: a red turn is not allowed unless a sign specifically permits it. The useful memory cue is one-way to one-way, with the city exception checked before applying the statewide rule.

14. 14. What is the fine for a first New York conviction for drinking alcohol or having an open container in a vehicle on a public road?

    1. A fine of $1,000 to $2,500
    2. No fine, if the person is a passenger
    3. A flat $25 fine
    4. A fine up to $150 plus a surcharge and fee, with possible jail of 15 days
    Show answer

    A fine up to $150 plus a surcharge and fee, with possible jail of 15 days. New York's open container law covers both drivers and passengers in a vehicle on a public road. Drinking alcohol, holding an open alcoholic beverage container, or consuming cannabis there is a traffic infraction. A first conviction brings a fine up to $150 plus a mandatory surcharge and a crime victim assistance fee, and 15 days in jail is possible. Passengers in stretch limousines and similar permitted vehicles are exempt, but ordinary passengers are not. The $1,000 to $2,500 range is for aggravated DWI, and $25 is too low.

15. 15. At a traffic circle or rotary, who has the right-of-way?

    
    1. Drivers entering from an approach road
    2. The largest vehicle approaching the circle
    3. Drivers already traveling in the circle
    4. The driver who signals first
    Show answer

    Drivers already traveling in the circle. A driver approaching a New York traffic circle or rotary must yield to vehicles already in the circle. Reaching the entrance first does not create priority, vehicle size is irrelevant, and a turn signal only communicates intention. Slow before the entrance, scan the circulating lane, and wait for a safe gap. The visible traffic already moving inside the circle is the cue to let those vehicles continue.

16. 16. When must a New York driver turn on headlights because the windshield wipers are being used?

    1. Never, because wipers replace the need for lights
    2. Only after midnight, regardless of weather
    3. Only when driving on an expressway with no streetlights
    4. When using the wipers to clear rain, snow, or sleet
    Show answer

    When using the wipers to clear rain, snow, or sleet. New York requires headlights when the windshield wipers are being used to clear rain, snow, or sleet. The rule is tied to weather and visibility, not to midnight, expressway status, or the presence of streetlights. Wipers improve the driver's view but do not make the vehicle as visible to other road users, so they are not a substitute for headlights. The simple cue is wipers on for precipitation: turn on the headlights as well and avoid relying on daytime running lights alone.

17. 17. What hazard does the round yellow sign with an X and RR warn a driver about?

    
    1. A railroad crossing ahead
    2. A circular traffic pattern at the next junction
    3. A mandatory stop at a weigh station
    4. A bicycle lane beginning ahead
    Show answer

    A railroad crossing ahead. The yellow circle with the railroad X and RR letters is advance warning that tracks are ahead. It is not a bicycle instruction, a roundabout marker, or a weigh-station command. Once the warning appears, reduce speed, scan both directions, and be prepared to stop before reaching the rails. Trains can approach from either direction and cannot stop quickly. The round shape and RR lettering are the key visual cues that distinguish this warning from ordinary yellow diamond signs.

18. 18. What information does a blue New York service sign provide?

    1. A warning that a curve or intersection is hazardous
    2. The location of services such as rest areas, gas stations, or medical facilities
    3. The direction and distance to a destination
    4. A command setting the legal speed limit
    Show answer

    The location of services such as rest areas, gas stations, or medical facilities. Blue service signs show where drivers can find services, including rest areas, gas stations, camping, and medical facilities. They are informational, not warnings about a hazard, legal commands, or destination guidance. Yellow signs prepare drivers for roadway conditions, white signs usually state regulations, and green signs point toward locations. The practical cue is the blue background with white letters or symbols: look for the facility or service named, while continuing to obey the separate speed, lane, and turning rules on the road.

19. 19. How many questions are on New York's written knowledge test for a passenger vehicle license?

    1. 15
    2. 20
    3. 25
    4. 40
    Show answer

    20. The New York written test asks 20 questions. Passing requires at least 14 correct overall, with an additional requirement involving the four road-sign questions. The numbers 15, 25, and 40 can sound plausible if an applicant confuses this test with another state's exam or a commercial test. Keep the format together in memory: twenty questions, fourteen needed, and two of four signs required.

20. 20. What should a driver anticipate after seeing the yellow traffic-signal symbol?

    
    1. A traffic signal ahead
    2. A streetlight outage
    3. A police checkpoint
    4. A railroad gate inspection
    Show answer

    A traffic signal ahead. The yellow diamond with a traffic-light symbol warns that a signalized intersection is ahead. A driver should ease off the accelerator, check lane position, and be ready for a red, yellow, or green indication. The sign does not report broken streetlights, announce a police checkpoint, or identify railroad equipment. Advance warning is especially useful when the signal is difficult to see from a distance or lies beyond a curve. The miniature signal on the yellow diamond is the recognition cue.