PA Permit Practice Test 2

All 20 questions in test 2

Every question below comes from the Pennsylvania 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. In Pennsylvania, what does a solid yellow line nearest your vehicle prohibit when paired with a broken yellow line?

   1. Yes, passing is always permitted from either side
   2. The line means the road is one-way
   3. Only trucks may pass from your side
   4. No, passing is prohibited from your side
   Show answer

   No, passing is prohibited from your side. A solid yellow line on your side of a combination centerline means you may not pass. The driver facing the broken yellow line may pass when conditions are safe, but that permission does not cross over to your lane. The truck-only option invents a vehicle exception, and the one-way option misreads a centerline that separates opposing traffic. Before passing, read the line nearest your vehicle and obey the restriction shown there.

2. 2. How must a Pennsylvania driver respond to a flashing red traffic signal?

   1. Make a complete stop, then proceed only after the intersection is clear
   2. Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
   3. Wait for the signal to turn solid green
   4. Slow down and continue without stopping
   Show answer

   Make a complete stop, then proceed only after the intersection is clear. Pennsylvania gives a flashing red light the same force as a STOP sign. The driver must stop completely, look both ways, and move only after the intersection is clear. Merely slowing down leaves the required stop undone, and checking only traffic from the left overlooks hazards from the other direction. Waiting for a solid green is unnecessary because the signal already supplies stop-control instructions. Treat the indication like a stop sign, scan for vehicles and pedestrians, and proceed when the crossing is safe.

3. 3. What does a flashing yellow traffic signal tell a Pennsylvania driver to do?

   1. Stop and remain stopped until a green light appears
   2. Slow down, look, and proceed with care
   3. Accelerate to clear the intersection quickly
   4. Ignore the signal because it has no legal meaning
   Show answer

   Slow down, look, and proceed with care. A flashing yellow light signals caution while allowing traffic to continue. Pennsylvania directs the driver to slow down, look, and proceed with care. The stop-and-wait choice treats the signal like a red light, and acceleration reduces the time available to identify a hazard. Ignoring the display is not safe because it is an active warning. Reduce speed before entering the intersection, check for cross traffic and pedestrians, and continue only after the route has been assessed.

4. 4. Which location is listed as one where a Pennsylvania driver may not stop, stand, or park?

   1. Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
   2. Within 50 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
   3. Within 5 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
   4. Only on a crosswalk when pedestrians are present
   Show answer

   Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. Pennsylvania lists the area within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection among places where a driver may not stop, stand, or park, except in an emergency or when directed by a police officer. The five-foot and 50-foot options change the stated distance, while the pedestrians-present answer narrows the rule to the painted crossing itself. As you approach an intersection, keep the crosswalk and its approach clear so pedestrians remain visible and vehicles can turn safely. Remember that this restriction is measured from the crosswalk at an intersection.

5. 5. What general instruction applies to the places Pennsylvania lists as prohibited stopping, standing, or parking locations?

   1. Stop there briefly whenever hazard lights are on
   2. Never stop, stand, or park there except in an emergency or when directed by a police officer
   3. Park there if the vehicle is attended
   4. Use those locations only after midnight
   Show answer

   Never stop, stand, or park there except in an emergency or when directed by a police officer. Pennsylvania begins its list of prohibited stopping, standing, and parking locations with an important exception. A driver must not use those places unless there is an emergency or a police officer tells the driver to do so. Hazard lights, an attended vehicle, or the time of day does not create a general permission to stop there. Apply the rule before considering the individual location, such as a hydrant, intersection, or crosswalk. This keeps the driver from treating a short pause as automatically lawful.

6. 6. What must a vehicle parked in a Pennsylvania space reserved for people with disabilities display?

   1. A handwritten note from the passenger
   2. An authorized registration plate or parking placard
   3. Only the vehicle's hazard lights
   4. A temporary permit from any neighboring state
   Show answer

   An authorized registration plate or parking placard. Pennsylvania's reserved-parking sign identifies spaces that require an authorized registration plate or parking placard. Hazard lights, a handwritten note, or an unrelated temporary document do not establish the authorization described by the manual. The restriction protects access for people who have been issued the appropriate credential, so briefly stopping without one is not made acceptable by convenience. At a marked accessible space, look for the required plate or placard before leaving the vehicle there.

7. 7. On dry pavement, what following distance does Pennsylvania's manual recommend as a safe space cushion?

   1. One car length regardless of speed
   2. A one-second gap at every speed
   3. A four-second following distance
   4. No gap when traffic is moving steadily
   Show answer

   A four-second following distance. On dry pavement, the manual recommends a four second following distance so the driver has room to steer or brake around a hazard. A one second interval and a fixed car length ignore the way speed changes stopping space, while eliminating the gap removes the reaction margin entirely. Increase the cushion for rain, darkness, heavy loads, or slow vehicles that may stop unexpectedly. Use a roadside object to count the seconds after the vehicle ahead passes it.

8. 8. You approach a Pennsylvania school bus on an undivided roadway while its red signals flash. Which stopping rule applies?

   1. Slow to 15 mph and pass after checking mirrors
   2. Stop only when approaching behind the bus
   3. Pass on the left if no child is visible
   4. Stop at least 10 feet away until the red signals stop, the arm retracts, and children are safe
   Show answer

   Stop at least 10 feet away until the red signals stop, the arm retracts, and children are safe. On an undivided Pennsylvania roadway, traffic approaching from either direction must stop for the bus described. The vehicle must remain at least 10 feet away until the red signals stop, the stop arm is withdrawn, and the children have reached a safe place. The two passing options ignore the all-vehicle stopping requirement, while the rear-only option incorrectly excludes oncoming traffic. Use the physical divider exception only on a divided highway separated by a barrier or other median.

9. 9. What occurs when a Pennsylvania driver's tires hydroplane on a wet roadway?

   1. The engine overheats because water enters the radiator
   2. The brakes gain extra traction from standing water
   3. The tires lose grip and ride like skis on a film of water
   4. The vehicle slips only because the steering wheel is misaligned
   Show answer

   The tires lose grip and ride like skis on a film of water. Hydroplaning is a loss of tire grip in which the tires ride like skis on a film of water. Speed makes the tires less effective at wiping water away, and the manual notes that the problem can begin at 35 mph when water is only one tenth of an inch deep. A blowout, overheating, or misalignment describes a different problem. Reduce speed on wet pavement, especially when tire tread is worn.

10. 10. If a Pennsylvania driver's vehicle starts to hydroplane, which response follows the manual?

    1. Brake hard and turn toward the shoulder immediately
    2. Accelerate to push the tires through the water
    3. Keep both hands on the wheel, ease off the accelerator, and avoid braking or turning until control returns
    4. Shift into park while the vehicle is moving
    Show answer

    Keep both hands on the wheel, ease off the accelerator, and avoid braking or turning until control returns. During hydroplaning, keep both hands on the steering wheel and ease off the accelerator. The manual advises avoiding braking and steering until the tires regain contact, because a hard brake or sharp turn can worsen the loss of control. Accelerating adds speed to an already unstable condition, and selecting park while moving can damage the vehicle. Keep the wheel steady, let the vehicle slow naturally, and make a gradual correction after traction returns.

11. 11. A tow truck is stopped on the Pennsylvania shoulder while responders work nearby. What does the Move Over law require?

    1. Move over only if the truck is displaying blue lights
    2. Maintain speed because the truck is outside the travel lane
    3. Stop in the adjacent lane until the tow truck leaves
    4. Move to a nonadjacent lane when possible, or reduce speed at least 20 mph below the posted limit
    Show answer

    Move to a nonadjacent lane when possible, or reduce speed at least 20 mph below the posted limit. Pennsylvania's Move Over law covers towing and recovery personnel and disabled vehicles marked with warning devices. Drivers should move into a lane that is not adjacent to the response area when traffic permits. If changing lanes is impossible or unsafe, reduce speed to at least 20 mph below the posted limit. Maintaining speed ignores the protected roadside activity, while stopping in the next lane creates another hazard. Look ahead, signal early, and choose the safe alternative.

12. 12. What should a Pennsylvania driver do if the vehicle's brake system warning light appears and braking weakens?

    1. Turn the ignition to lock and coast without steering
    2. Accelerate to restore hydraulic pressure
    3. Push harder on the pedal, shift to a lower gear, and move toward the roadside or next service station
    4. Steer into a parked vehicle to stop immediately
    Show answer

    Push harder on the pedal, shift to a lower gear, and move toward the roadside or next service station. With a brake warning light and reduced braking, a newer split system may still brake two of the four wheels. The pedal may travel farther, so press harder, recognize that stopping distance has increased, and shift to a lower gear to help slow the vehicle. Turning the ignition to lock can remove steering ability, and accelerating or striking a parked car is not a controlled response. Keep the vehicle aimed safely and pull off toward a service station when possible.

13. 13. According to Pennsylvania's driver manual, is any driver ever legally granted an absolute right-of-way?

    1. It identifies who must yield, and drivers must still avoid a crash
    2. It grants permanent priority to the vehicle on the right
    3. It guarantees that a driver who arrives first can continue
    4. It gives every emergency vehicle priority in every location
    Show answer

    It identifies who must yield, and drivers must still avoid a crash. Pennsylvania's manual says the law does not give anyone the right-of-way at intersections; it only identifies who must yield. Even when another driver has the yield duty, you must stop or yield if that is needed to prevent a crash. The right-side, first-arrival, and emergency-vehicle choices turn a conditional traffic rule into an absolute guarantee. Use the rule to organize your decision, but keep scanning for a person who may fail to follow it.

14. 14. At a steady red light in Pennsylvania, where should you stop before waiting for permission to proceed?

    1. Before the marked stop line or crosswalk
    2. At the far side of the intersection after checking traffic
    3. Only when a vehicle is approaching from the side
    4. After entering the intersection, beside the cross street
    Show answer

    Before the marked stop line or crosswalk. Pennsylvania places the stopping point before the marked stop line or crosswalk. If neither is visible, stop before entering the intersection, then wait for a green light. The tempting idea of stopping after entering the junction leaves the vehicle in the conflict area and ignores the stated location. A clear cue is the first painted line: the front of the vehicle must not pass it while stopping. A permitted turn on red does not remove the initial stop or the duty to yield afterward.

15. 15. After establishing Pennsylvania residency, how soon must a new resident obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license?

    1. Within 15 days
    2. Within 60 days
    3. At the next annual vehicle inspection
    4. Within 30 days
    Show answer

    Within 60 days. A person who moves into Pennsylvania and establishes residency must obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license within 60 days and surrender the out-of-state license. Fifteen and 30 days are shorter intervals that do not match this resident-transfer rule, and inspection timing is unrelated to licensing. The clock begins with the move and establishment of Pennsylvania residency, not with the next renewal date from the former state. Remember 60 days as the transition window for the driver's license.

16. 16. Before taking the road test for a junior license, a Pennsylvania learner's permit holder must complete at least how many hours of adult-supervised skill-building driving?

    1. 35 hours, including at least 5 at night and 2 in bad weather
    2. 50 hours, including at least 10 at night and 5 in bad weather
    3. 100 hours, including at least 20 at night and 10 in bad weather
    4. 65 hours, including at least 10 at night and 5 in bad weather
    Show answer

    65 hours, including at least 10 at night and 5 in bad weather. A Pennsylvania driver under 18 must complete at least 65 hours of behind-the-wheel skill-building before the Road Test. That total must include no less than 10 hours of nighttime driving and five hours in bad weather. The smaller totals leave out required practice, while 100 hours is not the minimum named by the manual. Treat the three numbers as one package: 65 overall, 10 nighttime, and 5 bad-weather hours. The signed certification is part of the road-test preparation for a young driver.

17. 17. During what hours are junior license holders in Pennsylvania generally prohibited from driving, absent an exception for travel to/from employment or volunteer service?

    1. Midnight to 6 a.m.
    2. 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
    3. 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    4. 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    Show answer

    11 p.m. to 5 a.m.. The ordinary nighttime restriction for a Pennsylvania junior driver's license runs from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. The other time ranges shift both endpoints and therefore do not describe the junior-license rule. Limited exceptions include being with a qualifying adult or driving for specified employment, public, charitable, or volunteer service with required documentation. For a straightforward exam question, anchor the restriction to 11 at night and 5 in the morning before considering whether an exception is stated.

18. 18. For the first six months on a junior license in Pennsylvania, how many passengers under 18 who are not immediate family may a driver carry without a parent/guardian present?

    1. No more than two
    2. No more than three
    3. An unlimited number
    4. No more than one
    Show answer

    No more than one. During the first six months of a Pennsylvania junior license, the driver may carry no more than one passenger under 18 who is not an immediate family member, unless a qualifying adult is in the vehicle. Two, three, and unlimited choices exceed the initial cap. The later three-passenger allowance is conditional and cannot be applied early. When studying this rule, separate the first six months from the expanded period and check whether the question supplies the adult exception.

19. 19. A driver under 18 in Pennsylvania who accumulates 6 or more points, or is convicted of driving 26 mph or more over the posted limit, faces what mandatory suspension for a first occurrence?

    1. 90-day suspension
    2. 120-day suspension
    3. 1-year suspension
    4. 30-day suspension
    Show answer

    90-day suspension. A driver under 18 receives a mandatory 90-day suspension for a first occurrence involving six or more points, or a conviction for driving at least 26 mph over the posted limit. The 120-day period applies to additional occurrences, while 30 days and one year are not the periods specified here. Do not confuse this young-driver consequence with the separate adult point-examination process. When the question says first occurrence, select 90 days and remember the repeat increase to 120 days.

20. 20. What is required for a young Pennsylvania driver to qualify for an early unrestricted license before age 18?

    1. Six months with no tickets and a second road test
    2. One year without a responsible crash or Vehicle Code conviction, an approved driver-training course, and required adult consent
    3. A clean three-month record and payment of an early-license fee
    4. Completion of the permit exam again with no passenger violations
    Show answer

    One year without a responsible crash or Vehicle Code conviction, an approved driver-training course, and required adult consent. Before age 18, Pennsylvania permits a junior driver to apply for a regular license after holding the junior license for one year and meeting several conditions: completing an approved driver-training course, avoiding a responsible crash for one year, avoiding a Vehicle Code conviction for one year, and obtaining consent from a qualifying adult. Six months, a second road test, or another permit exam leaves out the required record and training conditions. Look for the complete package, not just a clean stretch or a fee.