OR Permit Practice Test 3

All 20 questions in test 3

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. Two drivers at a red light see who can accelerate faster when it turns green, while staying under the speed limit. Under Oregon's definition, is that racing?

   1. No, racing requires exceeding the speed limit
   2. No, racing only counts on a closed course
   3. Yes, any acceleration or speed contest counts as racing
   4. Only if the drivers bet money on the result
   Show answer

   Yes, any acceleration or speed contest counts as racing. Oregon makes racing illegal on any road and defines it broadly: any acceleration or speed contest, or an attempt to make a speed record. A contest to see who pulls away from a light faster fits that definition even if neither car goes over the limit, so speeding is not an element. The rule applies on public roads, so the closed course idea misreads it, and whether money changes hands does not matter. Pull away from a light at a normal pace.

2. 2. The car in the lane beside you has stopped at a crosswalk. What does Oregon law say about passing it?

   1. You may pass if you sound your horn first
   2. Passing it is against the law
   3. You may pass at 10 mph or less
   4. You may pass if you cannot see a pedestrian
   Show answer

   Passing it is against the law. Oregon makes it illegal to pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk. The stopped driver may be waiting for a pedestrian who is hidden from your view by that vehicle, so failing to see anyone is exactly the danger, not a reason to go. A horn warning or a slow speed does not make the pass legal. Be ready to stop yourself, and never stop with any part of your vehicle overhanging the crosswalk.

3. 3. What does a wide solid white line mark on an Oregon road, and may you cross it?

   1. It is a barrier that may never be crossed
   2. It directs traffic into specific lanes and separates bike lanes; crossing is permitted but discouraged
   3. It separates opposing traffic
   4. It marks a shoulder that may be used for passing
   Show answer

   It directs traffic into specific lanes and separates bike lanes; crossing is permitted but discouraged. A wide solid white line is used to direct traffic into specific lanes, such as turn lanes, and to separate bike lanes from other traffic lanes. Crossing a wide solid white line is permitted but discouraged. A regular solid white line marks the edge or fog line, a broken white line separates lanes going the same direction, and yellow lines separate opposing traffic. The shoulder is never a passing lane.

4. 4. Which maneuver is prohibited by the crossed left arrow shown here?

   
   1. Turning left from the approach controlled by the sign
   2. Making a legal right turn at the same intersection
   3. Proceeding straight through the intersection
   4. Stopping for a pedestrian in the marked crosswalk
   Show answer

   Turning left from the approach controlled by the sign. The symbol shows a leftward turn with a red slash, so that particular left movement is forbidden where the sign is posted. It does not automatically prohibit every other movement at the intersection. The choice “Proceeding straight through the intersection” is too broad because going straight may remain allowed unless another sign or signal restricts it. Choose a permitted direction, obey the signal, and avoid trying to begin the left turn before the sign and then correcting late. The restriction applies to the movement pictured, not to all travel.

5. 5. At what age may someone apply for an Oregon Class C instruction permit?

   1. 18 years of age
   2. 14 years of age
   3. 16 years of age
   4. 15 years of age
   Show answer

   15 years of age. For an Oregon Class C noncommercial driving privilege, the minimum age to apply for an instruction permit is 15. That threshold is separate from the minimum age to apply for a license, which is 16. Choosing 14 moves the permit age below the stated minimum, while 16 and 18 confuse license eligibility with permit eligibility. A new applicant should first identify whether the question concerns the instruction permit or the full license because the manual gives those two ages separately.

6. 6. Which minimum liability amount covers property damage to others under Oregon's required insurance?

   1. $20,000 per collision
   2. $15,000 per collision
   3. $10,000 per collision
   4. $25,000 per collision
   Show answer

   $20,000 per collision. Oregon’s minimum required coverage for damage to another person’s property is $20,000 per collision. The $25,000 figure belongs to bodily injury for one person, and $50,000 applies to bodily injury or death involving two or more people. $10,000 and $15,000 are below the property-damage minimum described in the manual. When reviewing an insurance policy, separate property damage from personal injury protection and bodily-injury limits so a familiar number is not assigned to the wrong category.

7. 7. What change in traffic does the yellow merge warning depict?

   
   1. Vehicles are prohibited from joining the roadway
   2. The driver's lane must end immediately at the sign
   3. Traffic is merging from the side shown by the sign
   4. Two roadways join but no driver needs to adjust position
   Show answer

   Traffic is merging from the side shown by the sign. The merge symbol shows traffic entering from the side indicated by the arrow. A driver should check mirrors and blind spots, adjust speed, and create space so the streams can combine safely. The choice “Two roadways join but no driver needs to adjust position” describes an add-lane situation instead, where the manual says no merge is needed. Do not wait until the side traffic is beside the vehicle to look. Read the arrow early, locate the other stream, and make a smooth speed or lane adjustment that preserves room for everyone.

8. 8. What following distance does the Oregon manual define as safe in ordinary conditions?

   
   1. One second at every speed
   2. Exactly one car length
   3. Two to four seconds
   4. Ten seconds only on freeways
   Show answer

   Two to four seconds. The manual defines a safe following distance as two to four seconds in ordinary driving. When traveling faster than 30 mph, it advises four seconds or more, because higher speed leaves less time to notice a hazard and increases stopping distance. One car length is not a dependable measure because the needed space changes with speed. Ten seconds is not the standard baseline. Pick a fixed object, wait for the vehicle ahead to pass it, and count until your own vehicle reaches that point.

9. 9. What should a driver anticipate after seeing the pedestrian crossing warning?

   
   1. A vehicle checkpoint ahead
   2. A roadway where pedestrians are forbidden
   3. A sidewalk repair zone with no crossing activity
   4. People crossing the driver's path
   Show answer

   People crossing the driver's path. The walking figure warns that people may cross the vehicle's path. It calls for active observation and readiness to yield, not for treating the area as a no-pedestrian zone. The choice “A sidewalk repair zone with no crossing activity” misses the purpose of the warning because construction is not what the symbol communicates. Reduce speed when needed, search both sides of the roadway, and watch for a person who is already in or about to enter the crossing. A flashing beacon, when present, can reinforce that a crossing movement is occurring.

10. 10. At an Oregon roundabout entrance, what should a driver do after yielding?

    1. Stop at the entrance until the roundabout is completely empty
    2. Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
    3. Enter in the lane nearest the center island regardless of the exit
    4. Wait for a gap and merge into circulating traffic
    Show answer

    Wait for a gap and merge into circulating traffic. At a roundabout entrance, yield to traffic already inside and to traffic exiting, then wait for a gap and merge. The roundabout does not need to be completely empty, and yielding only to traffic from one direction overlooks vehicles already circulating. Lane choice should follow the exit signs and pavement markings rather than an automatic preference for the inside lane. Slow before the crosswalk, watch for pedestrians, and enter when the opening allows a smooth merge. Once inside, maintain your lane and continue around the circle until the selected exit.

11. 11. When must you stop before Oregon railroad tracks even if no train is visible?

    1. Only when another vehicle stops first
    2. Only when a crossing gate is fully lowered
    3. When a stop sign is posted
    4. Never if the warning lights are off
    Show answer

    When a stop sign is posted. Oregon requires a driver to stop before railroad tracks when a stop sign is posted, even if no train can be seen. The absence of a visible train or flashing lights does not cancel a posted stop. Waiting for another vehicle is also unsafe because each driver has an independent duty to obey the sign. Stop at the marked line or, if there is no stop line, at least 15 feet from the nearest rail. Look carefully for trains in both directions before crossing.

12. 12. How far behind an emergency vehicle must an Oregon driver remain after it passes?

    1. No distance is specified
    2. At least 100 feet
    3. At least 250 feet
    4. At least 500 feet
    Show answer

    At least 500 feet. After an emergency vehicle passes, Oregon requires the driver to stay at least 500 feet behind it. Following more closely can interfere with the emergency response and reduces the space available for the vehicle to maneuver. The 100 and 250 foot choices understate the stated minimum, while no distance ignores the explicit rule. First pull safely to the right and stop when the warning is approaching, then resume only after it passes while preserving the full following distance.

13. 13. What does a double center line with one solid and one broken yellow line indicate?

    1. Passing is prohibited in both directions at all times
    2. Passing is allowed according to which line is on your side
    3. Only left turns are permitted across the center
    4. The roadway has traffic moving in one direction
    Show answer

    Passing is allowed according to which line is on your side. Oregon uses a solid and broken yellow pair to show that passing depends on the line beside your lane. A broken line on your side permits passing when the roadway and traffic make the maneuver safe, while a solid line on your side prohibits it. The all-times ban describes double solid yellow lines, not this combination. The marking also does not convert the road to one-way travel. Identify your side of the center line first, then check sight distance and oncoming traffic before moving out.

14. 14. What do Oregon warning signs generally alert drivers to?

    1. Routes reserved for emergency vehicles
    2. The exact maximum speed permitted on every roadway
    3. Services available at the next highway exit
    4. Known possible hazards or a change in road conditions ahead
    Show answer

    Known possible hazards or a change in road conditions ahead. Yellow warning signs alert drivers to possible hazards or changing road conditions ahead. They do not set every roadway's speed, identify motorist services, or reserve routes for emergency vehicles. The manual emphasizes that the driver remains responsible for recognizing and reacting to conditions whether or not a sign is present. When a warning appears, scan farther ahead, reduce speed if needed, and prepare for the maneuver the symbol suggests instead of treating the sign as a guarantee that the hazard is absent.

15. 15. What penalties can a third Oregon mobile-electronic-device driving offense carry?

    1. Up to $100
    2. Up to $2,500 and six months in jail
    3. Up to $1,000
    4. No fine, only a warning
    Show answer

    Up to $2,500 and six months in jail. The Park Your Phone fine schedule in the Oregon manual lists up to $1,000 for a first offense, up to $2,000 for a second offense, and up to $2,500 plus six months in jail for a third offense. These penalties concern unlawful phone or other mobile device use while driving. A $100 cap or a warning badly understates them, and $1,000 is only the ceiling for a first offense. The penalties climb with each offense, so a repeat offender risks jail time as well as a larger fine.

16. 16. What advice does the Oregon manual give about letting a driver signaling for a lane change move over?

    1. Help by slowing down or speeding up a little if needed
    2. Speed up to close the gap
    3. Hold your speed exactly
    4. Flash the high beams
    Show answer

    Help by slowing down or speeding up a little if needed. Sharing space means adjusting for others. The manual says to help other drivers signaling for a lane change make the move safely by slowing down or speeding up a little if needed, to move over a lane for vehicles entering a freeway when no one is beside you, and to keep extra space from parked cars because a door may open in your path. Closing the gap or refusing to adjust invites a sideswipe.

17. 17. What does a broken white line separate?

    1. A parking area from a railroad track
    2. Traffic moving in opposite directions
    3. Lanes of traffic going in the same direction
    4. A lane where changing position is never allowed
    Show answer

    Lanes of traffic going in the same direction. A broken white line separates lanes carrying traffic in the same direction. Oregon permits crossing that line with caution, so it guides lane separation without creating the no-change restriction associated with double solid white lines. Yellow center markings, not broken white lines, separate opposing traffic. A driver should signal, check mirrors and blind spots, and cross only when the lane change is safe. The color and pattern work together: white generally organizes same-direction lanes, while a broken pattern indicates a cautious crossing may be possible.

18. 18. A friend crashes your car in a reportable Oregon collision and never files the DMV report. What is your duty as the owner?

    1. You must file the report as the owner
    2. None, because only the driver can report
    3. Ask police for their report, which replaces the DMV report
    4. Report only if your insurance company asks you to
    Show answer

    You must file the report as the owner. Oregon's reporting list covers the owner of a vehicle involved in a reportable collision when the driver fails to report it. Ownership brings its own duty, so the idea that only the driver can file is wrong. A police report does not substitute for the report owed to DMV, and nothing in the rule waits on a request from your insurer. Check whether the crash met a reporting condition, such as damage over $2,500, a tow with damage over $2,500, or any injury or death, and file within 72 hours.

19. 19. Which of these is on the Oregon manual's list of reasons a driver can lose the driving privilege?

    1. Paying a traffic ticket by mail
    2. Failing to report a vehicle collision
    3. Letting a licensed friend drive your insured car
    4. Driving slower than traffic in the right lane
    Show answer

    Failing to report a vehicle collision. The manual lists reasons a driver can lose the privilege: driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or inhalants, failing to report a vehicle collision, driving uninsured, too many traffic convictions, and failure to comply with court fines. It notes the list is not complete. Paying a ticket by mail is a way of complying with a fine, not failing to. Lending an insured car to a licensed driver appears nowhere on the list, and driving slower than traffic in the right lane is exactly where the manual tells slow drivers to be.

20. 20. When driving slower than the normal flow of traffic in Oregon, where should you drive?

    1. In the right lane or as close as possible to the right curb or edge
    2. In the left lane to make faster traffic pass on the shoulder
    3. On the center line so both lanes remain visible
    4. In whichever lane has the highest posted limit
    Show answer

    In the right lane or as close as possible to the right curb or edge. A driver traveling slower than normal traffic must use the right lane or drive as close as possible to the right curb or edge, unless preparing for a left turn. The left lane choice interferes with faster traffic and does not authorize shoulder travel. The center line is not a lane for ordinary slow travel, and lane selection is not based on finding a higher posted limit. Watch for congestion building behind you, then pull off at the first safe area when needed to let traffic pass.