OK Permit Practice Test 14

All 20 questions in test 14

Every question below comes from the Oklahoma 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. Your car has a mechanical problem and cannot go faster than about 30 mph. You planned to take an expressway with a 40 mph minimum. What should you do?

   1. Use the expressway with hazard flashers on
   2. Drive on the shoulder of the expressway
   3. Take another route, not the expressway
   4. Use the left lane so faster cars pass right
   Show answer

   Take another route, not the expressway. The manual says that if your car is not in good condition, or if you can't or don't want to drive at or above the minimum speed limit, don't use the expressway. The usual minimum is 40 mph, and driving too slowly there is against the law because it is dangerous. Hazard flashers do not make a slow car legal, the shoulder is for emergencies, and the left lane is for faster traffic.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement Markings and Lanes

2. 2. The railroad gates are down, but you see no train coming. What does the Oklahoma manual say?

   1. You may drive around the gates if the track is clear
   2. Stop behind the gate; driving through is illegal
   3. Drive around carefully if the lights stop flashing
   4. You may lift the gate if it seems to be stuck
   Show answer

   Stop behind the gate; driving through is illegal. When railroad gates are down, the manual says never drive around them. Stop behind the gate, because it is against the law to drive through lowered gates, and do not cross until the gates are raised and the lights have stopped flashing. Not seeing a train does not change this; the manual warns that a train appears to move much slower than it really is, and a second train may be coming on another track. Wait for the gates to rise.

   Study this in the handbook: School Buses and Railroad Crossings

3. 3. Before a long drive you take an over-the-counter cold pill. What does the manual warn about such medicines?

   1. They improve alertness for a short drive
   2. They affect only people who take large doses
   3. They may slow your reaction time and make you dizzy or nervous
   4. They are safe as long as they were bought without a prescription
   Show answer

   They may slow your reaction time and make you dizzy or nervous. The manual says many prescription drugs and even over-the-counter drugs, such as cold, hay fever and pain medications and diet pills, can slow your reaction time, make you dizzy or nervous and impair your concentration and vision. Ordinary use can cause this, not only large doses. Buying a medicine without a prescription does not make it safe to drive on. Read the label and think about the effects before you drive.

   Study this in the handbook: Implied Consent and DUI Penalties

4. 4. On a multi-lane road, what should you do when a stationary vehicle on the shoulder displays flashing lights?

   1. Move to a lane not next to it when safe, or slow down if changing lanes is unsafe
   2. Keep the same lane and speed because the vehicle is off the roadway
   3. Stop beside the vehicle so its occupants can ask for help
   4. Move onto the shoulder and pass the stopped vehicle there
   Show answer

   Move to a lane not next to it when safe, or slow down if changing lanes is unsafe. The Move Over rule protects people working beside traffic. On a multi-lane road, change into a lane that is not next to the stationary vehicle when that can be done safely. If a lane change is unsafe, slow down and proceed carefully. Remaining at speed ignores the hazard, stopping beside the vehicle adds another obstruction, and using the shoulder puts the moving vehicle in the same space as responders. Check mirrors early, signal, create separation, and reduce speed when the surrounding traffic leaves no safe opening.

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency Vehicles and the Move Over Law

5. 5. You are driving a car in a funeral procession on a rural highway, outside any business or residential area. How much room should you leave between your vehicle and the next one?

   1. At least 200 feet
   2. About one car length, to keep the line tight
   3. No more than 50 feet
   4. At least 1,000 feet
   Show answer

   At least 200 feet. Outside a business or residential area, vehicles in a caravan or motorcade, such as a funeral procession, should leave at least 200 feet between each vehicle. The space lets other cars and trucks enter the line safely. A tight gap of one car length or 50 feet gives them no room, and a gap as long as 1,000 feet is not the distance the manual states. The 200-foot guidance is tied to the setting, outside business or residential areas.

   Study this in the handbook: Following Distance and Stopping

6. 6. What does limited access mean on Oklahoma expressways and turnpikes?

   1. Only cars may use them; trucks must use other roads
   2. You enter and leave only at interchanges
   3. They may be used only during daylight hours
   4. Drivers need a special permit to use them
   Show answer

   You enter and leave only at interchanges. Oklahoma has many miles of limited-access highways designed for safe, uninterrupted travel at higher speeds, with no stop signs, traffic signals, or railroad crossings. Limited access means you enter or leave the roadway only at entrances and exits, called interchanges, without ever crossing the path of other traffic. The term says nothing about which vehicles may use the road or what time of day. Plan your exit ahead, because you cannot simply turn off wherever you like.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement Markings and Lanes

7. 7. Light snow is falling on the expressway. How far behind the vehicle in front should you stay?

   1. 2 seconds, since traffic is slower
   2. 3 seconds, the same as dry roads
   3. At least 4 seconds behind it
   4. 1 car length for every 20 mph
   Show answer

   At least 4 seconds behind it. The manual's expressway rule is to stay 3 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you and allow 4 seconds in bad weather. Falling snow counts as bad weather, so leave at least 4 seconds. Slower traffic is not a reason to shorten the gap. The other method the manual gives is at least one car length for every 10 mph, not every 20, and it also says to always increase your distance on slick roads.

   Study this in the handbook: Expressway Driving

8. 8. On a two-lane road with a broken yellow center line, you are behind a slow car and the oncoming lane is clear well ahead. What does the line tell you?

   1. Passing is never allowed across a yellow line
   2. You may pass when it is safe to do so
   3. Only trucks may pass across this line
   4. You may pass if you speed up past the limit
   Show answer

   You may pass when it is safe to do so. A broken, or dashed, yellow center line means traffic moves in opposite directions on each side of the line, and passing is permitted when it is safe. With a clear oncoming lane and at least 200 feet of open road without a No Passing Zone, you may pass. You may not exceed the speed limit to do it, and the line applies to all drivers alike. A solid yellow line in your lane would mean no passing.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement Markings and Lanes

9. 9. Your car stalls on the tracks and you see a train approaching from your right. After getting out, which way should you run?

   1. Straight down the tracks, away from the train
   2. At an angle away from the tracks, to your left
   3. At a 45-degree angle away, toward the right
   4. Back into the car to wait for help
   Show answer

   At a 45-degree angle away, toward the right. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out and run at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks in the direction the train is coming from, then dial 911. With the train approaching from your right, that means angling away from the tracks toward the right. Never run down the tracks, and do not stay in the vehicle. The manual's memory word is GO: get out of your vehicle. Then call 911 and the ENS number posted at the crossing.

   Study this in the handbook: School Buses and Railroad Crossings

10. 10. You see this sign as you drive on a country road. What should you do?

    
    1. Stop at once, because a train is crossing right now
    2. Slow down and be ready to stop within 15 to 50 feet of the first track
    3. Keep your speed and look only for a stop line
    4. Speed up so you clear the tracks before a train arrives
    Show answer

    Slow down and be ready to stop within 15 to 50 feet of the first track. A round yellow and black sign is the advance warning that you are approaching railroad tracks. The manual says to slow down and be prepared to stop within 15 to 50 feet of the first track. The sign does not mean a train is crossing at this moment, so you need not stop where you are. Speeding up to beat a train is the opposite of preparing to stop.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning Signs

11. 11. Which drugs does the Oklahoma manual warn can slow your reaction time and impair your driving, besides alcohol and illegal drugs?

    1. Some prescription and cold or allergy medicines
    2. None; only illegal drugs affect driving
    3. Only drugs that make you feel drunk
    4. Medicines taken in very large doses
    Show answer

    Some prescription and cold or allergy medicines. Everyone knows that alcohol and mind-altering drugs change how you see and react, but the manual warns that many prescription drugs and even over-the-counter drugs, such as cold, hay fever, and pain medications and diet pills, can slow your reaction time, make you dizzy or nervous, and impair your concentration and vision. Ordinary use can do this; the effect is not limited to large amounts or to drugs that make you feel drunk. Check the label before you drive.

    Study this in the handbook: Implied Consent and DUI Penalties

12. 12. What minimum following distance does the Oklahoma manual recommend behind a motorcycle?

    1. At least one second
    2. At least two seconds
    3. At least ten seconds
    4. At least three seconds
    Show answer

    At least three seconds. The manual says to allow at least a three-second following distance behind a motorcycle so the rider has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. It adds that both riders and drivers are more likely to make bad decisions if there is not enough stopping distance or time to see and react. One or two seconds is too close, and ten seconds is not the minimum given. The manual's general safety tip also says to increase your distance when following motorcycles.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicycles, Motorcycles, Trucks and Farm Vehicles

13. 13. After passing this sign, you find your view down the tracks is blocked in one direction. What should you do?

    
    1. Drive very slowly until you can see down the track
    2. Speed up to cross before a train arrives
    3. Rely on hearing a train horn and keep your speed
    4. Stop on the nearest rail for a better view
    Show answer

    Drive very slowly until you can see down the track. The round yellow advance warning sign tells you railroad tracks are ahead and gives you time to slow down and be ready to stop 15 to 50 feet from the first track. Sometimes your view along the tracks is blocked. In that case the handbook says to drive very slowly until you can see down the track, and to stop if you see a train coming. A horn is not dependable: in Quiet Zones, trains do not sound horns during normal operation. Speeding up and stopping on a rail both put you where a train could hit you.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning Signs

14. 14. It has just started to drizzle, and you pass this yellow sign. What should you do?

    
    1. Keep your speed, since the road is barely wet
    2. Slow down and use extra caution
    3. Brake hard to test how slick it is
    4. Turn on high beams to see the surface
    Show answer

    Slow down and use extra caution. A sign showing a skidding car means the road is slippery when wet. The manual adds that roads are likely to be very slick just after it begins to rain or drizzle, because the first drops loosen built-up grease and dirt into a slippery film. So the start of a light drizzle is exactly when to slow down and use extra caution. Hard braking can start a skid, and the manual says to use low beams, not high beams, in rain.

    Study this in the handbook: Following Distance and Stopping

15. 15. You realize you missed your exit on a controlled-access highway. What should you do?

    1. Back up slowly on the shoulder to the exit
    2. Cross the median at a gap to turn around
    3. Stop in the lane and wait for a gap to turn
    4. Drive to the next exit and re-enter going back
    Show answer

    Drive to the next exit and re-enter going back. The manual is firm: never turn around on the expressway, and do not, under any conditions, cross the median or divider to turn your car around. Instead, keep driving to the next exit, get off, and re-enter the highway in the other direction. Backing along the shoulder or stopping in a travel lane puts you in the path of high-speed traffic. To avoid missing an exit in the first place, the manual says to move to the exit lane as early as possible.

    Study this in the handbook: Expressway Driving

16. 16. On a two-lane road, a school bus ahead of you slows for a railroad crossing. May you pass it?

    1. Yes, if no train is visible in either direction
    2. Yes, if the bus driver waves you around the bus
    3. No, passing it is allowed only on a multi-lane highway
    4. Yes, as long as you finish before the tracks
    Show answer

    No, passing it is allowed only on a multi-lane highway. School buses must stop at railroad crossings, and the manual says not to pass a vehicle that is required to stop at a crossing unless you are driving on a multi-lane highway. On a two-lane road, going around the bus would put you in the opposing lane near the tracks, exactly where you should be slowing and looking for trains. Not seeing a train does not change the rule, and a wave from the bus driver does not create an exception. Stop behind the bus and wait for it to cross.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning Signs

17. 17. According to the Oklahoma manual, what happens when your car hydroplanes?

    1. The engine floods and stalls in deep water
    2. The brakes overheat after a long downhill
    3. The windshield fogs up so badly you cannot see out
    4. The tires lose contact and ride on a film of water
    Show answer

    The tires lose contact and ride on a film of water. Hydroplaning means your tires lose contact with the road surface and ride on a film of water. The manual says this reduces traction, increases stopping distance, and makes turning more hazardous. As long as the road surface is wet, you should slow down to avoid it, and in a heavy downpour you should slow down or pull off the road. Hydroplaning is not about a flooded engine, hot brakes, or a foggy windshield; it is about tires losing their grip on wet pavement.

    Study this in the handbook: Following Distance and Stopping

18. 18. When you use hand-and-arm signals instead of turn indicators, what should you do with your arm during the actual turn?

    1. Keep it out the window until the turn is complete
    2. Bring it in to keep control of the steering wheel
    3. Change it to the slow-or-stop signal as you turn
    4. Wave it to tell drivers behind to pass you
    Show answer

    Bring it in to keep control of the steering wheel. Oklahoma drivers may signal with the turn indicators or with arm signals. When you use arm signals, the manual says to extend your arm well out of the window so the signal is clear, then bring your arm in during the actual turn to keep control of the steering wheel. Holding the arm out through the turn leaves only one hand to steer. Switching to another arm signal mid-turn would send the wrong message, and waving other drivers past is not a signal at all.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing and Turning

19. 19. You park facing uphill next to a curb. How should you set your front wheels?

    1. Turned sharply toward the curb
    2. Straight, with the parking brake set
    3. Turned right, with the car in neutral
    4. Turned sharply away from the curb
    Show answer

    Turned sharply away from the curb. Facing uphill against a curb, the manual says to turn your wheels sharply away from the curb and back up slowly until the rear of the tire rests against the curb, then shift into low gear or park. If the car should roll back, the curb will stop it. Turning the wheels toward the curb is the downhill method, and straight wheels give the curb nothing to catch. Neutral is not one of the gears the manual lists.

    Study this in the handbook: Parking Rules

20. 20. Approaching an intersection, the dashed white line between your lane and the next becomes solid white. What does that tell you?

    1. The lane beside you now carries oncoming traffic
    2. You are required to change lanes right away
    3. Passing is now permitted and encouraged
    4. Lane changes here are hazardous; stay put
    Show answer

    Lane changes here are hazardous; stay put. A solid white line means traffic moves in the same direction on each side of the line, but passing is hazardous, as when you are approaching an intersection or a merge area. When dashed white lines turn solid near an intersection, it is a cue to stay in your lane. Oncoming traffic is separated by yellow lines, not white, and the solid line never orders you to change lanes. Plan any lane change before the line becomes solid.

    Study this in the handbook: Pavement Markings and Lanes