PA Permit Practice Test 6

All 20 questions in test 6

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. How many crashes a year does falling asleep at the wheel cause nationally, according to the Pennsylvania manual?

   1. At least 100,000, with almost half involving drivers ages 15 to 24
   2. About 1,000
   3. About 10 million
   4. About 500
   Show answer

   At least 100,000, with almost half involving drivers ages 15 to 24. Every year across the United States, falling asleep while driving causes at least 100,000 crashes, in which 1,500 people die and 40,000 are injured, and almost half of those crashes involve drivers between 15 and 24 years of age. Being awake 18 hours impairs you like a .05 BAC. Stop and rest at the first signs of drowsiness, and share the driving on long trips.

2. 2. On a wet Pennsylvania roadway, which speed and spacing adjustment is recommended?

   1. Maintain dry-road speed and shorten the gap
   2. Reduce speed and increase following distance
   3. Accelerate before the tires encounter water
   4. Use the shoulder to avoid slowing traffic
   Show answer

   Reduce speed and increase following distance. Wet pavement reduces the margin available for braking and steering, so the manual pairs a lower speed with more space behind the vehicle ahead. The choice to keep dry-road speed assumes traction remains unchanged, while shortening the gap leaves less time to respond. Acceleration near water can worsen a loss of grip, and the shoulder is not a routine travel lane. When rain begins, ease off the accelerator early, enlarge the time gap, and make turns and stops smoothly.

3. 3. What does the Pennsylvania manual count as one drink?

   1. A 16 ounce beer
   2. Two shots
   3. Any amount under 8 ounces
   4. 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor, 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine
   Show answer

   1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor, 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine. You should consider one drink to be 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor, a 12 ounce beer or a 5 ounce glass of wine, and the manual notes that a 110 pound woman reaches a .03 BAC after just 8 ounces of beer and a 140 pound man reaches .025 after a full 12 ounce beer. Approximately 40 percent of all traffic deaths involve drinking drivers.

4. 4. According to a roadside survey cited in the Pennsylvania manual, how many drivers tested positive for a drug that could affect driving?

   1. Nearly 1 in 4
   2. About 1 in 100
   3. About 1 in 1,000
   4. More than 3 in 4
   Show answer

   Nearly 1 in 4. According to the NHTSA 2013 to 2014 Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers, nearly 1 in 4 drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could affect safe driving skills, and 43 percent of drivers killed in crashes tested positive for drugs while 37 percent tested positive for alcohol. Prescription and over the counter medicines count, so read the label before driving.

5. 5. After a tire blowout, what should a Pennsylvania driver do first?

   1. Brake hard to stop before the tire comes apart
   2. Steer sharply onto the shoulder
   3. Hold the steering wheel tightly and stay off the brake
   4. Accelerate to stabilize the damaged tire
   Show answer

   Hold the steering wheel tightly and stay off the brake. A blowout can pull the vehicle or make one corner drop, so the first response is to keep firm control of the steering wheel. Pennsylvania warns drivers to stay off the brake because braking after the blowout can cause a skid and loss of control. A sharp move toward the shoulder adds a steering disturbance, and acceleration does not repair the tire. After stabilizing the direction, ease off the gas, steer smoothly, and use gentle braking only when the vehicle has slowed.

6. 6. What share of 16 year old Pennsylvania drivers were in reportable crashes in 2017?

   1. 7.2 percent
   2. 0.5 percent
   3. 50 percent
   4. 25 percent
   Show answer

   7.2 percent. For 2017, 7.2 percent of all 16 year old Pennsylvania drivers were in reportable crashes in the state, and in over one third of crashes involving 16 year olds the teen was pulling out from a stop sign or turning left across traffic. About 92 percent of crashes and 93 percent of crash deaths come from just four crash types, which the manual's driving skills section targets.

7. 7. What does Pennsylvania caution drivers about assuming at an intersection?

   1. The widest roadway always has priority
   2. The first vehicle to sound its horn may proceed
   3. A driver should not assume an automatic right-of-way
   4. A green light removes every duty to yield
   Show answer

   A driver should not assume an automatic right-of-way. Pennsylvania explains that intersection law identifies who must yield, but it does not guarantee that another road user will obey. A driver who assumes automatic priority can enter a conflict and turn a legal expectation into a crash. Road width and a horn do not create priority, and a green light does not erase the need to watch for pedestrians or other hazards. Approach with the right-of-way rule in mind, but be prepared to stop whenever another person fails to yield.

8. 8. What is the maximum fine for a Pennsylvania Move Over violation that causes the death of a responder or a person near a disabled vehicle?

   1. Up to $1,000
   2. Up to $10,000
   3. Up to $5,000
   4. Up to $500
   Show answer

   Up to $10,000. The most severe outcome listed for Pennsylvania's Move Over Law is death of an emergency responder or a person in or near a disabled vehicle. That violation can bring a one-year license suspension and a fine of up to $10,000. The $1,000 figure applies when the violation leads to serious bodily injury or death of another person in the less specific category, while $5,000 applies to serious injury of a responder or nearby person. Match the penalty to both the harm and the protected person described.

9. 9. On wet Pennsylvania roads, what following interval is advised after reducing speed?

   1. Reduce the gap to two seconds
   2. Keep exactly four seconds in every condition
   3. Follow one car length behind
   4. Increase the gap to five or six seconds
   Show answer

   Increase the gap to five or six seconds. The manual gives a concrete wet-road adjustment: reduce speed by 5 to 10 miles per hour and increase following distance to five or six seconds. A two-second gap is too short for the longer stopping distance, and a fixed four-second interval ignores the added space Pennsylvania calls for on wet pavement. Car lengths vary with speed, so they are not a dependable substitute for time. Start counting when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object, and add room before conditions worsen.

10. 10. How do rapid starts and hard stops affect fuel use, according to the Pennsylvania manual?

    1. They save fuel
    2. They can increase fuel usage by 40 percent while cutting travel time by only 4 percent
    3. They have no effect
    4. They double travel time
    Show answer

    They can increase fuel usage by 40 percent while cutting travel time by only 4 percent. Rapid starts and hard stops can increase fuel usage by 40 percent but reduce travel time by only 4 percent, so aggressive driving buys almost nothing. Use the air conditioner rather than open windows above 40 mph, keep tires inflated, and remember the maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania is 70 mph. Smooth driving also lengthens following distance naturally and reduces wear on brakes and tires.

11. 11. What determines a safe driving speed in Pennsylvania beyond the posted limit?

    1. Only the number printed on the speed-limit sign
    2. The speed of the fastest nearby vehicle
    3. The vehicle's maximum advertised speed
    4. Road, visibility, and traffic conditions
    Show answer

    Road, visibility, and traffic conditions. Pennsylvania says there is no single speed that is safe at all times. A driver must consider the posted limit together with road conditions, visibility, and the flow of other traffic. The sign number is a maximum for ideal conditions, not a promise that the same speed is safe in rain, fog, congestion, or a sharp curve. Matching the fastest vehicle can copy another driver's mistake. Use the roadway and what you can see as active cues, and lower speed when conditions become less than perfect.

12. 12. What category of sign tells Pennsylvania drivers what they must or must not do under law?

    1. Warning signs
    2. Guide signs
    3. Regulatory signs
    4. Service signs
    Show answer

    Regulatory signs. Regulatory signs communicate legal requirements such as speed limits, turning restrictions, parking rules, and travel direction. Warning signs serve a different job by identifying hazards or changing roadway conditions ahead, while guide signs help with routes and destinations. A service sign points toward facilities rather than imposing a command. When a sign states a required movement or prohibition, treat it as enforceable traffic control and look for the associated fine or points if the rule is ignored.

13. 13. A steady red arrow points left at a Pennsylvania traffic signal. What is required?

    1. Stop and do not turn left until a permitted signal appears
    2. Turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic
    3. Continue straight through the intersection
    4. Treat the arrow as a flashing yellow arrow
    Show answer

    Stop and do not turn left until a permitted signal appears. A steady red arrow stops the movement in the arrow's direction, so a driver must remain stopped and wait for a Green Arrow or Flashing Yellow Arrow before beginning that left turn. The ordinary turns-on-red rule can still apply only where the manual permits it and after a complete stop, not as permission to turn in the arrow's direction without checking the signal. A steady arrow is not a caution phase. Read the arrow itself, hold position, and wait for the allowed movement.

14. 14. What does a single broken yellow centerline show on a Pennsylvania two-way road?

    1. Passing is prohibited in both directions
    2. Passing is permitted on either side when safe
    3. Traffic travels one way only
    4. The lane is reserved for left turns
    Show answer

    Passing is permitted on either side when safe. A single broken yellow centerline separates opposing traffic on a two-lane road and permits passing from either side when safe conditions exist. That permission still requires checking for oncoming traffic, sight distance, and other restrictions. A double solid line would prohibit passing in both directions, while one-way travel and a center turn lane use different roadway arrangements. Use the broken line as an opportunity, not a guarantee: signal, confirm a clear path, and return safely to your lane.

15. 15. When may a driver cross a broken yellow centerline in Pennsylvania?

    1. Whenever the driver is below the speed limit
    2. Only after sounding the horn twice
    3. Only during daylight hours
    4. When passing can be completed under safe conditions
    Show answer

    When passing can be completed under safe conditions. The broken yellow marking indicates that a passing maneuver may be made when conditions are safe. Speed below the limit, a horn signal, and daylight do not by themselves make the movement safe or legal. The driver still needs adequate visibility, a clear opposing lane, and enough room to return without forcing another road user to react. Check the line pattern and the full roadway, then abandon the pass if sight distance or traffic leaves any doubt.

16. 16. At what speed and water depth can a vehicle hydroplane, according to the Pennsylvania manual?

    1. Only above 70 mph in deep water
    2. As low as 35 mph in water only one tenth of an inch deep
    3. Only above 55 mph
    4. Only in standing water over an inch deep
    Show answer

    As low as 35 mph in water only one tenth of an inch deep. You can hydroplane at speeds as low as 35 mph when water is only one tenth of an inch deep, because rain brings oil in the asphalt to the surface and the tires ride up on the film. Slow down in rain, avoid puddles, and if you hydroplane ease off the gas and steer straight until the tires grip again. Near 32 degrees a layer of water on ice is worse than ice alone.

17. 17. What instruction is identified by Pennsylvania's eight-sided STOP sign?

    1. Slow down and yield without stopping
    2. Prepare for a railroad crossing
    3. Enter a one-way roadway
    4. Come to a complete stop before proceeding
    Show answer

    Come to a complete stop before proceeding. The octagon is reserved for the STOP sign, and the driver must stop completely before proceeding. Pennsylvania also requires checking for pedestrians and cross traffic, with the stop made before the first painted line or crosswalk when one is present. Slowing without stopping is illegal, while the railroad and one-way choices describe other signs or conditions. Use the shape as an early recognition cue, then obey the line placement and move only after the intersection is clear.

18. 18. A vehicle is taller than the height shown on a Pennsylvania LOW CLEARANCE sign. What should its driver do?

    1. Do not enter the underpass, tunnel, or garage
    2. Enter slowly if the roof appears flexible
    3. Use the shoulder to pass beneath the sign
    4. Follow a taller vehicle to judge clearance
    Show answer

    Do not enter the underpass, tunnel, or garage. A LOW CLEARANCE sign gives the height limit for an underpass, tunnel, or parking garage. A vehicle taller than that listed measurement should not enter, even if the driver thinks the roof might flex or another vehicle appears to fit. The shoulder is not an alternate route under a fixed structure, and following someone else does not change the vehicle's height. Read the number before committing to the entrance, then choose a route with enough vertical room.

19. 19. A Pennsylvania school bus has red lights flashing and its stop arm extended. How far away must approaching traffic stop?

    1. At least 2 feet from the bus
    2. Only far enough to see around the bus
    3. At least 10 feet from the bus
    4. At least 50 feet from the bus
    Show answer

    At least 10 feet from the bus. Pennsylvania requires traffic to stop at least 10 feet away when a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing and the stop arm extended. The rule applies to vehicles behind the bus and to traffic approaching from the opposite direction on the same roadway, subject to the divided-highway exception. Two feet is dangerously close, while 50 feet is not the stated minimum. Stop before reaching the bus, remain stopped, and wait until the red lights stop, the arm withdraws, and children reach safety.

20. 20. Which shape is used only for Pennsylvania STOP signs?

    1. Octagon
    2. Triangle
    3. Pennant
    4. Circle
    Show answer

    Octagon. Pennsylvania identifies the octagon as the only eight-sided highway sign shape and uses it for STOP signs. A triangle belongs to a YIELD sign, a pennant marks the beginning of a no-passing zone, and a circle is associated with the railroad advance warning sign. Shape recognition helps when the lettering is distant, partly hidden, or viewed from the back. If the outline is an octagon, prepare for a complete stop and then check pedestrians and cross traffic.