OR Permit Practice Test 12

All 20 questions in test 12

Every question below comes from the Oregon 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. You pass this sign on a rural highway. What does it tell you?

   
   1. The divided highway ends; keep to the right
   2. A divided highway begins just ahead
   3. Two lanes are merging into one lane
   4. A one-way road begins after the island
   Show answer

   The divided highway ends; keep to the right. This sign marks the end of a divided highway, where the median ends and traffic going both ways comes together with nothing between the lanes. Keep to the right. Oncoming vehicles will now pass close to your left, so stay in the middle of your lane and do not drift toward the center line. A similar sign with the arrows splitting apart marks where a divided highway begins.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, Guide and Service Signs

2. 2. A yellow warning sign shows an arrow that bends at a right angle rather than a gentle arc. What is it telling you?

   1. A gentle curve is ahead
   2. A side road enters ahead
   3. A sharp turn is ahead
   4. You must turn at the next street
   Show answer

   A sharp turn is ahead. Oregon's warning signs use the shape of the arrow to show what the road does. A Sharp Turn sign has an arrow bent at a right angle and means a sharp turn in the road is ahead. A plain Curve sign uses a gentle arc, and a chevron marks a sharp change in direction right at the sign. Slow down before you reach the turn and stay in your lane through it.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, Guide and Service Signs

3. 3. Light rain is starting as you pass this sign before a curve. What should you do?

   
   1. Keep your speed, since it is barely damp
   2. Slow down and brake early and gently
   3. Set cruise control for a steady speed
   4. Brake hard right as the curve starts
   Show answer

   Slow down and brake early and gently. This sign warns that the pavement is unusually slick when wet. When rain starts, Oregon advises applying the brakes sooner and more gently than usual and slowing down, because rain mixed with oil and dirt can make roads slippery. Slow down before the curve, not in it, keep cruise control off, and leave extra following distance so you will not need to brake hard.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, Guide and Service Signs

4. 4. On the freeway, your lane is marked off by short dotted white lines before an exit. You want to stay on the freeway. What should you do?

   1. Move out of that lane when it is safe
   2. Stay put; dotted lines continue on
   3. Speed up so you clear the exit first
   4. Cross the solid gore area at the exit
   Show answer

   Move out of that lane when it is safe. Short dotted white lines placed before an exit ramp or intersection tell you the lane you are in will not continue on the same route, such as an exit only lane. If you want to stay on the freeway, signal and move out of that lane early, once you have checked your mirrors and blind spot. Crossing a dotted line is permitted with caution.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement Markings

5. 5. In a work zone on a two-lane road, a flagger holds a sign and signals with one hand. What must you do?

   1. Keep going if the posted signs show no stop
   2. Follow the flagger's directions to slow, stop, or go
   3. Slow down but keep going unless a worker is in the lane
   4. Wait for a police officer to confirm the flagger's signal
   Show answer

   Follow the flagger's directions to slow, stop, or go. On two-lane roads, work zones often have flaggers or automated flagger devices that stop traffic in one direction while the other uses the open lane. Flaggers use signs and hand signals to tell you which direction to travel, to slow down, or to stop, and you must follow them. You must obey official signs and signals unless a road worker is redirecting traffic, so the flagger's direction comes first.

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency Vehicles, Stopped Vehicles and Work Zones

6. 6. Fog has become so thick that you decide to pull off the road. What should you do?

   1. Stop in your lane with your headlights on
   2. Pull far right and turn on your hazards
   3. Pull halfway onto the shoulder, lights off
   4. Stop on the left shoulder facing traffic
   Show answer

   Pull far right and turn on your hazards. When visibility in fog, dust, or smoke keeps dropping, slow down, watch for slow or stopped vehicles, and be prepared to pull over and stop. If you choose to pull off the road, Oregon says to pull as far as you can to the right and turn on your hazard lights so approaching drivers can see where you are. When you drive in these conditions, use your headlights on low beam.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights and Hazardous Conditions

7. 7. At an intersection with a green bike box, your light turns green and you want to turn right. What must you do?

   1. Turn first, since cars have the green too
   2. Pull into the bike box to make the turn
   3. Signal and yield to bicyclists on your right
   4. Wait for a separate right turn arrow
   Show answer

   Signal and yield to bicyclists on your right. Bike boxes are green painted areas at some intersections where people riding bicycles wait in front of cars. Drivers must stop behind the box at a red signal, and no right turns are allowed there on red. When the light turns green and you want to turn right, Oregon says you must signal and yield to people riding bicycles on your right before you turn.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians and Bicycles

8. 8. You realize you have just driven past your freeway exit. What should you do?

   1. Back up slowly along the shoulder
   2. Stop and wait for a gap to reverse
   3. Cut across the paint to reach the ramp
   4. Continue on and take the next exit
   Show answer

   Continue on and take the next exit. Missing an exit is annoying, but the fix is simple: go to the next one. Oregon says never to stop or back up on a freeway. Traffic approaches at high speed and does not expect a stopped or reversing vehicle. The shoulder is for emergencies only, not for getting back to a missed ramp. Taking the next exit and turning around costs only a few minutes.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing and Freeway Driving

9. 9. Oregon's prohibitive regulatory signs are red and white. Which of these is one of them?

   1. Do Not Enter
   2. Railroad Advance
   3. Hospital
   4. Signal Ahead
   Show answer

   Do Not Enter. Signs that prohibit actions or movements are red in Oregon, and they increase safety by controlling the flow of traffic through intersections. Do Not Enter is one, along with Stop, Yield, and the red circle and slash signs that ban turns. Yellow signs, such as Railroad Advance and Signal Ahead, warn of conditions ahead, and blue signs point to services like a hospital.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory Signs

10. 10. A driver's breath test shows a BAC of 0.06%, and the officer saw the car weaving. Can the driver be arrested for DUII in Oregon?

    1. No, the legal limit is 0.08%
    2. No, not unless they refuse the test
    3. Yes, even below 0.08% if impaired
    4. Only if they are under 21
    Show answer

    Yes, even below 0.08% if impaired. If your blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent or more, Oregon law presumes you are impaired. But you can still be arrested for DUII even if your BAC is lower than 0.08 percent when alcohol or drugs are affecting your driving. For drivers under 21, any amount is a failing result. The safest choice is not to drive after drinking at all.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, Drugs and DUII

11. 11. You drive through a highway work zone on a Sunday. Equipment is parked, and no workers are in sight. Does the posted work zone speed still apply?

    1. No, only while workers are present
    2. No, only on weekdays
    3. Only during daylight hours
    4. Yes, it applies at all times
    Show answer

    Yes, it applies at all times. The temporary speed posted in an Oregon work zone applies at all times, even if workers are not visible. Lanes may still be narrow or shifted, and equipment may be close to the road. The reduced limit stays in effect until you see an End Work Zone Speed Limit sign or another posted speed limit sign. Fines are doubled in all work zones, so keep to the posted speed.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency Vehicles, Stopped Vehicles and Work Zones

12. 12. You find a parking space with your front bumper about 8 feet from a fire hydrant. May you park there?

    1. Yes, 5 feet is the limit
    2. Yes, if you stay in the car
    3. Yes, for 15 minutes or less
    4. No, you need at least 10 feet
    Show answer

    No, you need at least 10 feet. Oregon's no parking list includes within 10 feet of a fire hydrant. At 8 feet you are too close, so find another space. The rule applies whether you are in the vehicle or not, and there is no exception for a quick stop. Other distances on the same list include 20 feet from a crosswalk at an intersection and 15 feet from a fire station driveway on the same side.

13. 13. A streetcar heading your way is stopped in the lane just left of yours. You want to turn left in front of it. What does Oregon say?

    1. Turn now, since a stopped streetcar cannot hit you
    2. Turn if you signal well before the corner
    3. Do not turn in front of it, even if it is stopped
    4. Turn if the streetcar doors are still open
    Show answer

    Do not turn in front of it, even if it is stopped. Oregon says never to turn in front of a streetcar or train that is traveling the same direction as you from an adjacent lane, even if it is stopped. A stopped streetcar can start moving again, and streetcars and trains cannot stop quickly. Wait until it has moved on, then signal and turn when the tracks are clear. Whenever you turn where there are tracks, look both ways for streetcars or trains first.

14. 14. A car stops suddenly ahead and you cannot stop in time. According to Oregon, what can you usually do faster than stopping?

    1. Pump the brakes several times
    2. Turn the vehicle away from it
    3. Shift the car into neutral
    4. Sound the horn and hold the lane
    Show answer

    Turn the vehicle away from it. When you will not stop in time, Oregon points out that in most cases you can turn the vehicle more quickly than you can stop it. If you will not stop in time to avoid a collision, turn away from it. Scanning the area ahead as you drive helps you identify escape routes before you need one. Speeding up is another tool, used when another vehicle is about to hit you from the side or behind.

    Study this in the handbook: Avoiding Collisions and Equipment Failures

15. 15. Where in your lane does the Oregon manual say it is generally safest to drive?

    1. Close to the center line, away from the curb
    2. Near the right edge, away from oncoming cars
    3. Wherever you can see farthest down the road
    4. In the center, so you can move either way
    Show answer

    In the center, so you can move either way. A side space cushion gives you room to react when another vehicle moves toward your lane. Oregon says that in general it is safest to drive in the center of your lane, because your vehicle can then move left or right to avoid a problem. Hugging the center line puts you close to oncoming traffic, and riding the edge leaves no room on that side. Keep as much space as possible from oncoming vehicles.

16. 16. You want to cover part of your car's side and rear windows with large stickers. What does the Oregon manual say?

    1. They are fine anywhere except the windshield
    2. They can limit your view, so do not block it
    3. They are fine if you have two side mirrors
    4. They are fine as long as the car is clean
    Show answer

    They can limit your view, so do not block it. Defensive driving starts with seeing what is to the front, sides, and rear of your vehicle. Oregon says not to load or equip your vehicle in any way that blocks your view, and warns that stickers or other objects on the windows can limit your view of the road. The same goes for cargo piled to the roof. Keep windows clear so you can spot hazards and escape routes.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat Belts, Child Seats and Distracted Driving

17. 17. Your car breaks down, and you have to stop in a place where parking is normally not allowed. What should you do?

    1. Leave your turn signal blinking
    2. Turn off every light to save the battery
    3. Switch on your high beams for visibility
    4. Turn on your hazard lights to warn others
    Show answer

    Turn on your hazard lights to warn others. If your vehicle breaks down and you have no choice, Oregon lets you stop or park temporarily where it is normally not allowed, as long as the vehicle does not create a hazard. If you must stop or pull off the road, turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers. Park on the shoulder if passing traffic has room to get by, and if your car cannot be seen from 200 feet, set out warning devices.

18. 18. A teenager on a skateboard starts across a marked crosswalk in front of you. How does the Oregon manual tell you to treat them?

    1. As a vehicle that must yield to you
    2. As a cyclist who must get off first
    3. As a pedestrian you must stop for
    4. As someone with no right of way
    Show answer

    As a pedestrian you must stop for. Oregon's manual uses the word pedestrian for people walking and for people rolling on skateboards, scooters, wheelchairs, and similar devices. You must stop for pedestrians crossing at any marked or unmarked crosswalk, so a skateboarder in the crosswalk gets the same stop as someone on foot. The manual calls these road users vulnerable because they can be hard to see and may not have protection against injury in a collision.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians and Bicycles

19. 19. On a multi-lane road, a driver is tailgating you and the lane to your right is open. What should you do?

    1. Move over into the right lane
    2. Tap your brakes hard to warn the driver
    3. Speed up to open space behind you
    4. Stay in your lane and hold your speed
    Show answer

    Move over into the right lane. If someone is following you too closely and there is a right lane, Oregon says to move over to the right and let them go by. If you cannot move over, slowly reduce your speed, which may encourage the driver to pass or back off. Never brake hard to discourage tailgating, because you could be hit from behind. Keeping a steady speed and braking gently and early also helps the driver behind keep a safe distance.

20. 20. You are driving beside a large truck. How can you tell that you are in one of its side blind spots?

    1. You cannot see the driver in its side mirror
    2. You cannot read the license plate on its rear
    3. Its turn signal on your side is blinking
    4. You are more than one lane away from it
    Show answer

    You cannot see the driver in its side mirror. Large vehicles have larger blind spots on both sides than smaller vehicles. Oregon gives a simple test: if you cannot see the driver in the large vehicle's side mirror, the driver cannot see you. Do not linger beside a truck or bus. Pass as quickly and safely as you can, or drop back until the driver's face appears in the mirror, so you are not hidden if the vehicle changes lanes.

    Study this in the handbook: Motorcycles, Large Vehicles and Other Road Users