NY Permit Practice Test 15

All 20 questions in test 15

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. What movement is forbidden by the red-slash sign showing a left-turn arrow?

   
   1. Turning left where the sign is posted
   2. Driving straight through the intersection
   3. Changing lanes before the intersection
   4. Turning right after stopping at a red light
   Show answer

   Turning left where the sign is posted. The sign depicts a left turn with a red slash, so that particular movement is prohibited at the posted location. It does not automatically ban a right turn, straight travel, or a lane change unless another sign, signal, or marking imposes those restrictions. The shape of the arrow matters more than the general presence of red. Read the pictured direction first, then apply the slash to that movement. A driver should choose a permitted route rather than turning left and hoping cross traffic is absent.

   Study this in the handbook: Road signs you must know

2. 2. May you stop on railroad tracks?

   1. Allowed while waiting
   2. Never stop on railroad tracks
   3. Allowed briefly
   4. Allowed with flashers
   Show answer

   Never stop on railroad tracks. Tracks forbid every halt: stopping on railroad tracks is illegal regardless of duration, signals, or flashers. Waiting, brief, and flashers readings each gamble against trains that cannot swerve or stop short. Queues that trap cars on the crossing kill; always confirm clear space beyond before crossing. Never let the wheels rest on the rails. Trains cannot stop short, so cars must never rest on rails.

   Study this in the handbook: Parallel parking and where you cannot park

3. 3. How should you brake for stops and turns?

   1. Brake late and hard
   2. Brake early and gently to warn followers
   3. Never brake before turns
   4. Brake only at stop signs
   Show answer

   Brake early and gently to warn followers. Braking speaks to the cars behind: brake early and gently when preparing to stop or turn, giving followers plenty of warning that speed is decreasing. Late hard braking, never-braking, and signs-only braking each surprise the tailgater the two-second rule barely contains. Early gentle pressure lights the brake lamps while speed bleeds gradually, letting the follower match the slowdown. Signal the intent, brake the plan, and stop the car in that order.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits, space cushion and work zones

4. 4. Where may you make a three-point turn?

   1. On expressways and interstate highways when traffic is light
   2. In parking lots and driveways but not on public streets
   3. On narrow two-way streets unless prohibited
   4. Never anywhere
   Show answer

   On narrow two-way streets unless prohibited. Three-point turns suit tight streets: unless prohibited, they may turn cars around on narrow two-way streets, and the road test may require one. Expressway, lot-and-driveway, and never readings each misplace a maneuver built for cramped pavement. Signal right, pull over, signal left, cross, reverse, and finish forward. Practice the sequence until it flows. Signal right, pull over, signal left, cross, reverse, then finish forward.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of way, turns and U-turns

5. 5. What is New York’s rule for carrying an infant younger than one year on a bicycle?

   1. It is allowed in an attached safety seat
   2. It is allowed if the infant wears a helmet
   3. It is prohibited
   4. It is allowed only on residential streets
   Show answer

   It is prohibited. New York prohibits carrying a child younger than one year as a bicycle passenger. A safety seat or helmet does not create an exception for that age group. The separate instruction about attached safety seats applies to children ages one through four. The road being residential also does not change the infant prohibition. Check both the passenger’s age and the required seating equipment before taking a child on a bicycle.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and trucks

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

   1. When driving after midnight in any weather
   2. When the temperature is below freezing at night
   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, temperature, 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.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings, expressways, night and bad weather

7. 7. What color are the letters and symbols on a blue New York service sign?

   1. Black
   2. White
   3. Yellow
   4. Red
   Show answer

   White. Service signs use a blue background with white letters and symbols. This color combination helps distinguish them from green destination signs, which show directions and distances to places. White signs with black lettering normally communicate regulations, while yellow signs with black lettering or symbols normally provide warnings. Recognize the blue and white design first, then read the particular service information on the sign as you continue along your route.

   Study this in the handbook: Sign shapes and colors

8. 8. When a New York vehicle's rear wheels begin to skid, which way should the driver steer?

   1. Hard opposite the skid
   2. Straight while accelerating
   3. In the direction the vehicle is trying to go
   4. Toward the nearest shoulder regardless of direction
   Show answer

   In the direction the vehicle is trying to go. For a rear-wheel skid, New York advises turning the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go. If the rear slides left, steer left; if it slides right, steer right. A hard opposite turn can produce a second skid, while acceleration or an automatic shoulder move does not restore the intended path. Ease off the gas, keep movements smooth, and be ready to adjust as the vehicle recovers. The steering direction follows the slide, not the driver's fear of it.

   Study this in the handbook: Skids, blowouts and vehicle emergencies

9. 9. Should you signal before braking for a turn?

   1. Signal after turning
   2. Signal before braking or turning when possible
   3. Never signal
   4. Signal only at night
   Show answer

   Signal before braking or turning when possible. Signals precede slowdowns: when possible, signal the turn before beginning to brake or make the turn. After, never, and night-only readings each delay the warning followers need. Early signals plus early gentle braking telegraph intentions completely. Blink first, brake second, turn third. Early signals plus gentle braking telegraph intentions completely. Blink the signal first, brake second, and turn third. Never brake first and signal second.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of way, turns and U-turns

10. 10. How are traffic light colors normally arranged?

    1. Green on top always
    2. Sideways only
    3. Red, yellow, and green top-to-bottom or left-to-right
    4. Random order
    Show answer

    Red, yellow, and green top-to-bottom or left-to-right. Signal heads follow a fixed order: red, yellow, and green arranged top to bottom or left to right. Green-top, sideways-only, and random readings each scramble the standard colorblind drivers rely on. Some intersections show lone single-color lights, steady or flashing, round or arrow. Position plus color plus shape announce every command. Position plus color plus shape announce every signal command clearly.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign shapes and colors

11. 11. How often must vehicles be inspected?

    1. At least once a year
    2. Never
    3. Once in ten years
    4. When the vehicle is sold
    Show answer

    At least once a year. Inspections are annual duties: no one may operate or park on public highways unless the vehicle was inspected at least once a year. Never, decennial, and sale-triggered readings each stretch an interval the law fixes yearly. Owner's-manual maintenance and prompt repairs supplement but never replace inspection. Keep the sticker current and the equipment sound. Owner-manual maintenance supplements but never replaces yearly inspection.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits, space cushion and work zones

12. 12. When may you open the roadside door?

    1. Always fling doors open
    2. Doors have absolute priority
    3. Never open roadside doors into bikes or traffic
    4. Cyclists must always stop
    Show answer

    Never open roadside doors into bikes or traffic. Dooring kills cyclists: after parking, never open the roadside door if it interferes with bicyclists and other traffic. Fling-open, priority, and cyclists-stop readings each ignore the bike lane running past the driver's door. Check the mirror and shoulder before unlatching, and open narrowly until the lane clears. The Dutch reach, far hand to the latch, forces the lifesaving glance. A mirror glance before unlatching saves a cyclist's life.

    Study this in the handbook: Parallel parking and where you cannot park

13. 13. How should you brake on snow and ice?

    1. Pump rapidly
    2. Slam the brakes
    3. Use the parking brake
    4. Press brakes in slow, steady strokes
    Show answer

    Press brakes in slow, steady strokes. Snow and ice reward gentle feet: brake early, carefully, and gently, pressing the brakes in slow, steady strokes rather than stabbing them. Rapid pumping, slamming, and parking-brake grabs each lock wheels that need rolling traction. ABS changes the technique to firm sustained pressure, but the principle holds: smooth inputs preserve grip. Start braking sooner, squeeze progressively, and let the stop stretch long.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings, expressways, night and bad weather

14. 14. What should you do if you hear tire thumping?

    1. Pull safely off and check the tires
    2. Speed up
    3. Ignore it
    4. Turn up the radio
    Show answer

    Pull safely off and check the tires. Thumping foretells blowouts: a thumping sound can warn that a blowout is coming, so get safely off the road and check the tires. Speed-up, ignore, and radio readings each drive deeper into the failure. Heat and damage announce themselves before rubber lets go. Heed the thump, inspect the rubber, and fix flats before they burst. Heat and damage announce themselves before rubber lets go completely.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings, expressways, night and bad weather

15. 15. Whom must turning drivers watch for?

    1. Only watch for cars
    2. Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and mopeds, especially right turns
    3. Ignore crosswalks
    4. Only watch at night
    Show answer

    Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and mopeds, especially right turns. Turns threaten the small and quiet: watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and moped riders, especially on right turns where they hide in the blind spot. Cars-only, ignore, and night-only readings each miss the daylight walkers and riders the arc crosses. Right turns sweep the curb lane where bikes ride and walkers step. Scan the whole arc before committing the wheel. Scan the whole turning arc before committing the wheel.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way, turns and U-turns

16. 16. When must a new resident obtain a New York vehicle registration?

    1. Within 10 days of buying a vehicle
    2. Within 30 days of establishing residence
    3. Only when the current registration expires
    4. Within 60 days of receiving a license
    Show answer

    Within 30 days of establishing residence. A new resident must get a New York registration within 30 days of establishing residence. The ten-day period belongs to a vehicle-inspection situation, not the residency deadline. Sixty days is not the stated period, and waiting for an old registration to expire overlooks the new obligation. Count from the date residence is established, rather than from the date a New York license arrives or the next vehicle trip.

17. 17. 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.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way, turns and U-turns

18. 18. For a 150-pound man, about how long does the body take to remove the alcohol in one standard drink, such as a 12-ounce beer?

    1. About one hour
    2. About 15 minutes
    3. About three hours
    4. No time at all after a cup of coffee
    Show answer

    About one hour. New York treats 1 1/2 ounces of liquor, 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, and 12 ounces of wine cooler as roughly equal. For a 150-pound man, each raises BAC by about .02 percent, and the body needs about one hour on average to remove that amount. Women generally take longer. Fifteen minutes is far too fast, and three hours overstates the time for one drink. Coffee, exercise, and cold showers may help a person stay awake but do not lower BAC; only time does.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DWI

19. 19. 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.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DWI

20. 20. How should you maintain the sensors used by driver assistance safety features?

    1. Keep them clean and free of damage
    2. Clean them only after an assistance feature stops working
    3. Cover exposed sensors to protect them from weather while driving
    4. Ignore visible sensor damage if no dashboard warning appears
    Show answer

    Keep them clean and free of damage. Keep the sensors for driver assistance features clean and free of damage. The guidance is ongoing care, rather than waiting for a feature to fail or for a warning to appear. Covering sensors is not the maintenance instruction given in this guidance. Learn where the sensors are and follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Continue checking traffic yourself because assistance features do not replace an attentive driver.