OH Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the Ohio 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. If a railroad crossing has a stop sign posted with the crossbuck, what must drivers do?

   1. Stop only if a gate is descending
   2. Stop before proceeding
   3. Continue after sounding the horn
   4. Cross without stopping if no train is visible
   Show answer

   Stop before proceeding. At some railroad crossings, a stop sign is posted with the warning signs. Ohio says every vehicle must stop before going on when that stop sign is present. The gate-only choice is wrong because the stop sign creates the stopping requirement even without a gate. Use the stop sign as the cue, then look both ways and listen before crossing. Proceed only after checking for trains and confirming the tracks can be cleared without stopping on them.

2. 2. What do pedestrians entering or standing in an Ohio crosswalk require from a driver?

   
   1. The driver may proceed if the vehicle is already slowing
   2. The driver must yield the right-of-way
   3. The driver must sound the horn and continue
   4. The driver may use the crosswalk to pass another vehicle
   Show answer

   The driver must yield the right-of-way. Ohio requires a driver to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians entering or already in a crosswalk. Slowing is helpful, but it does not replace yielding, and a driver may not continue simply because the vehicle has begun braking. A horn does not grant permission to proceed, and a crosswalk is not a passing lane. Scan every crosswalk before entering it, reduce speed early, and wait until the pedestrian has cleared the vehicle’s path. Yielding protects people who may be difficult to see around parked vehicles or other traffic.

3. 3. What does this sign require before entering the roadway?

   
   1. Make a complete stop every time
   2. Proceed only after a police officer signals
   3. Enter without checking for pedestrians
   4. Slow and yield, stopping if needed
   Show answer

   Slow and yield, stopping if needed. A yield sign tells the driver to slow down and give priority to traffic and pedestrians, stopping when necessary. It does not require a complete stop in every circumstance, but entering without checking would defeat the yielding duty. A police officer is not required for the sign to apply. Treat the inverted triangle as a prompt to reduce speed, scan, and stop if another road user has priority.

4. 4. When should Ohio headlights be used because of precipitation?

   1. Only after midnight during heavy rain
   2. Whenever windshield wipers are in use because of precipitation
   3. Only when high beams are permitted
   4. Only when another driver flashes headlights first
   Show answer

   Whenever windshield wipers are in use because of precipitation. Ohio requires headlights whenever windshield wipers are being used because of precipitation. The rule is tied to the wipers and weather, not to the clock, a high-beam decision, or another driver's behavior. High beams can create glare and are a separate question from whether headlights must be on. If rain, snow, or similar precipitation requires the wipers, turn on the headlights at the same time so the vehicle is easier to see.

5. 5. What forms may white pavement lines take?

   1. Solid or broken (dashed) lines
   2. Only yellow broken lines
   3. Only double solid lines
   4. Arrows and crosswalk stripes only
   Show answer

   Solid or broken (dashed) lines. Ohio identifies white lines as lane markings that may be solid or broken, also called dashed. White markings generally organize traffic moving in the same direction, while yellow markings separate opposing traffic. A double solid yellow center line is not a white line, and arrows or crosswalk stripes are different pavement-marking types. When studying roadway markings, first identify the color, then determine whether the line is solid or broken. That quick scan helps distinguish lane separation from passing rules and pedestrian markings.

6. 6. When should Ohio drivers use headlights because of weather or visibility?

   1. Whenever visibility is poor because of rain, snow, fog, or similar conditions
   2. Only when visibility falls below 100 feet
   3. Only after midnight during winter
   4. Only when another driver flashes headlights first
   Show answer

   Whenever visibility is poor because of rain, snow, fog, or similar conditions. Ohio requires headlights whenever visibility is poor, including conditions such as rain, snow, or fog. The rule does not wait for a particular 100 foot measurement, midnight, or another driver's signal. Headlights help the driver see and help other roadway users notice the vehicle, so the weather condition itself is the cue. The manual also requires them from sunset to sunrise and whenever windshield wipers are in use because of precipitation, making early use the safer habit.

7. 7. During the first 12 months of an Ohio probationary license, how many non-family passengers may the driver carry without a parent or guardian?

   1. Two
   2. One
   3. Three
   4. No limit
   Show answer

   One. During the first 12 months of holding a probationary Driver License, the driver may not operate a vehicle with more than one non-family member as a passenger unless a parent or guardian is along. One non-family passenger is therefore the most allowed. Two or three already exceed the limit, even if the vehicle has enough belts, and no limit ignores the rule. Family members are not counted, and a parent or guardian in the vehicle removes the restriction.

8. 8. An Ohio driver refuses a chemical test and has one prior refusal within 10 years. How long is the administrative suspension?

   1. One year
   2. Three years
   3. Two years
   4. Five years
   Show answer

   Two years. Ohio's refusal suspension depends on prior refusals or OVI and drug convictions within 10 years: one year for a first refusal, two years with one prior, three years with two priors, and five years with three or more. With one prior refusal the suspension is two years. One year is the first refusal, and three or five years require more priors. The suspension starts immediately and stands even if the driver is acquitted of OVI.

9. 9. How many points does Ohio assess for failing to stop and disclose your identity after a crash?

   1. 2 points
   2. 3 points
   3. 4 points
   4. 6 points
   Show answer

   6 points. Ohio's point categories put failure to stop and disclose identity after a crash at 6 points, with other dangerous and serious actions. Two points is for ordinary moving violations, some speed offenses, and restriction violations. Four points is for willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. Three points appears for a second handheld phone offense, not here. Twelve points within two years brings a suspension.

10. 10. What should a driver do when rain, snow, sleet, or ice makes the roadway slippery?

    
    1. Brake hard and continue at the same speed
    2. Follow closely to copy the vehicle ahead
    3. Reduce speed and allow extra distance
    4. Accelerate through the wet or icy area
    Show answer

    Reduce speed and allow extra distance. Ohio advises reducing speed at the first sign of rain, snow, sleet, or ice and allowing extra distance from the vehicle ahead. Slippery tires grip less effectively, which increases stopping distance and makes turning without a skid harder. Hard braking can worsen loss of control, close following removes needed reaction room, and acceleration does not restore traction. If the vehicle begins to slide, ease off the gas slowly and apply the brake gently. The cue is smooth control input combined with a larger space cushion.

11. 11. What action is required when a pedestrian is entering a marked crossing?

    
    1. Sound the horn and continue without changing speed
    2. Pass the pedestrian before the crosswalk begins
    3. Yield and be prepared to stop
    4. Yield only if a crossing guard is present
    Show answer

    Yield and be prepared to stop. A pedestrian warning sign calls for attention well before the crossing. Ohio requires drivers to yield to pedestrians entering or already in a crosswalk, and a stop line before the crosswalk must also be obeyed. A horn does not replace yielding, and passing before the painted lines can still put a person in danger. The duty is not limited to locations with crossing guards. Reduce speed, scan around parked vehicles, and leave the person enough space to cross safely. The strongest cue is movement toward the roadway, not whether the pedestrian has stepped into your exact lane yet.

12. 12. You approach a stopped authorized vehicle with warning lights activated, and changing lanes is unsafe. What should you do?

    
    1. Pass on the shoulder without reducing speed
    2. Maintain your speed because the stopped vehicle is off the roadway
    3. Stop beside the vehicle and wait for its operator to wave
    4. Slow down and proceed cautiously at a safe speed for conditions
    Show answer

    Slow down and proceed cautiously at a safe speed for conditions. Ohio's Move Over guidance requires an adjacent lane change when safe and requires slowing down when a lane change is unsafe. If you cannot move away, reduce speed and proceed with caution while keeping a safe speed for traffic conditions. Maintaining speed gives the roadside workers less time and space, stopping beside the vehicle creates a new obstruction, and the shoulder is not a high-speed passing lane. The cue is the activated warning lights: scan early, move over when practical, and otherwise make the passage slower and wider than normal.

13. 13. Two drivers arrive at a four-way intersection at the same time. Who must yield?

    1. The driver in the larger vehicle yields
    2. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
    3. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
    4. Both drivers proceed together if neither uses a signal
    Show answer

    The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. At a four-way intersection where both drivers arrive simultaneously, Ohio assigns the right of way to the driver on the right. The driver on the left must yield, even if that vehicle is larger or the driver feels ready to move first. Vehicle size does not decide this relationship, and silence from the turn signals changes nothing. Compare the other vehicle’s position before entering: if it is on your right, wait and let it proceed.

14. 14. What is the required minimum liability coverage for bodily injury to one person under Ohio's financial responsibility law?

    1. $50,000
    2. $25,000
    3. $100,000
    4. $250,000
    Show answer

    $25,000. Ohio's minimum liability insurance requirements include $25,000 for bodily injury to one person in a crash. That amount is the per-person figure, not the larger aggregate amount that can apply when more than one person is injured. Choosing $50,000, $100,000, or $250,000 would overstate the minimum asked about here. Drivers should keep proof of financial responsibility available because Ohio prohibits driving without insurance or another accepted form of coverage.

15. 15. What is prohibited in Ohio for most drivers using a cell phone while driving?

    1. Holding or physically supporting the phone
    2. Calling emergency services
    3. Using an amateur radio
    4. Using a hands-free navigation prompt
    Show answer

    Holding or physically supporting the phone. Ohio generally prohibits using, holding, or physically supporting a cell phone or electronic wireless communications device while driving on Ohio roads. The manual lists exceptions, including navigation device purposes and emergency service calls, so the broadest wording in the choice set is not a ban on every electronic use. Holding the phone is specifically within the prohibited conduct. Set navigation before moving and use an allowed, hands-free method rather than handling the device in traffic.

16. 16. What factors does Ohio use when considering a reasonable driving speed?

    1. Vehicle color, tire brand, and passenger count
    2. Driver age, route number, and fuel level
    3. Insurance company, vehicle make, and time of purchase
    4. Road design, expected traffic volume, and dry weather visibility
    Show answer

    Road design, expected traffic volume, and dry weather visibility. Ohio considers road design, expected traffic volume, and dry weather without fog or other visibility problems when describing reasonable speeds. Those conditions help determine whether the posted number is appropriate for maintaining control and stopping within the clear distance ahead. Vehicle color, tire brand, age, and insurance company are not the factors named in this rule. Scan beyond the speed-limit sign: if visibility worsens, traffic builds, or the roadway becomes more demanding, reduce speed enough to keep the vehicle controlled and able to stop safely.

17. 17. A pedestrian carrying a white cane is waiting to cross. What priority does that pedestrian have?

    1. No priority unless a signal is green
    2. Priority only after waving at traffic
    3. The right of way
    4. Priority only in a school zone
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    The right of way. Ohio identifies a pedestrian who is blind or visually impaired by a white cane or guide dog and gives that pedestrian priority. The signal-only choice is too limited because the listed cue itself establishes the right of way. Slow early, avoid crowding the crosswalk, and be ready for the person to enter more cautiously than other pedestrians. The white cane or guide dog is the concrete warning that extra patience and a full yield are required.

18. 18. What must a reasonable speed allow an Ohio driver to do?

    1. Maintain control and stop within the assured clear distance ahead
    2. Stop only after reaching the next intersection
    3. Match the fastest vehicle nearby and continue without braking
    4. Drive faster whenever the posted limit permits it
    Show answer

    Maintain control and stop within the assured clear distance ahead. The manual ties a reasonable speed to two practical abilities: keeping control of the vehicle and bringing it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead. Matching another driver is not a safety standard, since that vehicle may already be traveling too fast. Waiting until the next intersection ignores hazards that can appear sooner. A posted limit sets an upper legal reference in many situations, but it does not require a driver to use that speed when stopping distance or control would suffer. The useful check is whether the visible roadway gives enough room to stop safely.

19. 19. Which shapes and colors may identify an Ohio guide sign?

    1. Square or rectangular, with green, brown, or blue colors
    2. Diamond-shaped, with yellow and black colors
    3. Triangular, with orange and white colors
    4. Circular, with red and white colors only
    Show answer

    Square or rectangular, with green, brown, or blue colors. Ohio guide signs may be square or rectangular, and their colors may be green, brown, or blue. These visual features help distinguish navigation information from other sign categories. A yellow diamond generally signals a warning, while red and white commonly appear on regulatory or prohibitory signs. An orange work-zone sign is also a different category, and the manual does not describe guide signs as triangular. When a sign helps locate a service or destination, its shape and color should fit the guide-sign group.

20. 20. How should you treat an inoperable traffic light when approaching the intersection?

    1. Enter first because an inoperable signal gives priority
    2. Treat it like a green light if no car is visible
    3. Stop only if the signal has been dark for one minute
    4. Treat it like a stop sign, yield, and use caution
    Show answer

    Treat it like a stop sign, yield, and use caution. An inoperable signal removes the normal light guidance, so Ohio directs drivers to handle the location like a stop sign. The driver must yield the right of way and use caution while entering. A dark signal is not permission to continue as though it were green, and there is no waiting period that changes the rule. Priority also does not belong automatically to the first vehicle that reaches the line. The practical habit is to stop, scan every approach, yield, and proceed only when the intersection is safe.