RI Permit Practice Test 18

All 20 questions in test 18

Every question below comes from the Rhode Island 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. Under what arrangement may a Limited Provisional License holder drive at any time?

   1. With a supervising driver seated beside them
   2. Alone between midnight and early morning hours
   3. Alone while carrying several young passengers
   4. With unlicensed passengers riding in front seats
   Show answer

   With a supervising driver seated beside them. Supervision removes the limited license's time restriction: the holder may drive at any time when a supervising driver sits beside them while the vehicle is moving. Driving alone between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. is prohibited, so the midnight option reverses the rule. Young passengers do not count as supervisors, and unlicensed front-seat passengers do not meet the condition. Before moving, confirm that the qualified supervisor is in the front seat and every occupant is properly restrained.

   Study this in the handbook: The three levels of Rhode Island's graduated license

2. 2. A road is too narrow for a car and bicycle to travel safely side by side. The bicyclist ahead moves into the center of the road. What should the driver be prepared to do?

   1. Keep the same speed and pass within the narrow lane.
   2. Sound the horn until the bicyclist moves right.
   3. Slow down or stop when the bicyclist takes the travel lane.
   4. Accelerate to pass before the bicyclist enters the center.
   Show answer

   Slow down or stop when the bicyclist takes the travel lane.. On a road too narrow for a car and bicycle to travel safely side by side, the driver must be prepared to slow down or stop when the bicyclist ahead takes the travel lane in the center of the road. Keeping the same speed and trying to pass in that narrow space ignores the cyclist's need to use the lane. Sounding the horn until the cyclist moves over is also wrong because a loud horn can startle a bicyclist and cause a swerve. The concrete cue is the cyclist moving into the center because there is not enough room to share the lane safely. That movement means the driver must slow or stop.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses and bicyclists

3. 3. After entering a parking space, which finishing sequence does Rhode Island list?

   1. Leave the engine running, lock it, and keep the lights on.
   2. Stop the engine, lock the ignition switch, remove the key, and set the parking brake.
   3. Shift to neutral, release the parking brake, and remove the key.
   4. Keep a foot on the brake, leave the engine running, and unload.
   Show answer

   Stop the engine, lock the ignition switch, remove the key, and set the parking brake.. After entering the space, the manual lists four finishing actions: stop the engine, lock the ignition switch, remove the key, and set the parking brake. The sequence secures the vehicle and prevents it from being left ready to move. Leaving the engine running, releasing the brake in neutral, or holding the pedal while unloading does not complete the listed parking procedure. The key is the full set of steps, not just stopping the car at the curb.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

4. 4. A school bus flashes red lights while loading in a parking lot that is not a designated loading zone. Must nearby motorists stop?

   1. Motorists on public highways may ignore the flashing red lights
   2. Motorists should stop only when children cross a marked crosswalk there
   3. Yes, the stop rule covers lots and private roads
   4. Motorists may ignore red lights outside school hours
   Show answer

   Yes, the stop rule covers lots and private roads. Flashing red lights on a school bus require a full stop in a parking lot just as they do on a public highway, unless the bus is in a designated loading zone. Rhode Island extends the requirement to private roads and parking lots where children may move between vehicles. The rule does not wait for a child to enter a marked crosswalk, and school hours do not determine whether the signal applies. Stop when the red lights flash and remain stopped until they stop flashing.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school buses and bicyclists

5. 5. What can happen when a legal or illegal drug is taken together with alcohol?

   1. Legal prescription drug effects stay fully predictable when alcohol is added
   2. Even familiar drugs can produce unexpected effects alongside alcohol use
   3. Only illegal drugs react badly when combined with alcohol
   4. Alcohol weakens every other drug until neither affects driving
   Show answer

   Even familiar drugs can produce unexpected effects alongside alcohol use. Many drugs, legal and illegal alike, produce unexpected effects when taken with alcohol, so familiar doses can surprise even experienced users. A pharmacy label cannot promise predictable behavior once drinks join a legal medicine. Illegal status is not the dividing line either, since ordinary remedies also interact unpredictably. Alcohol does not weaken a second drug into harmlessness. Keep the two apart entirely: if drinking is planned, postpone nonessential doses only with medical guidance and never drive afterward.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, BAC limits and implied consent

6. 6. If you miss a freeway exit ramp, what should you do?

   1. Stop on the shoulder and reverse to the exit
   2. Make a U-turn through the median to reach it
   3. Continue driving until you reach the next exit
   4. Back up in the travel lane before traffic arrives
   Show answer

   Continue driving until you reach the next exit. A missed exit is a navigation mistake, not a reason to reverse or turn around in moving freeway traffic. Continue to the next exit, leave the freeway safely, and choose a lawful route back if needed. Stopping on a shoulder and backing toward a ramp exposes the vehicle to high-speed traffic, while a median U-turn may cross barriers or opposing lanes. Backing in a travel lane creates an immediate collision threat. Keep driving forward, accept the extra distance, and let the next exit reset the route.

   Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

7. 7. How much following room should you leave behind a motorcyclist?

   1. Leave only one car length at highway speed
   2. Keep a one to two second cushion behind the motorcycle
   3. Keep a two to three second cushion behind the motorcycle
   4. Keep a three to four second cushion behind the motorcycle
   Show answer

   Keep a three to four second cushion behind the motorcycle. A motorcycle's stopping distance is nearly the same as a car's, so its small size does not mean it can stop instantly. Slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult, and the rider may slow without showing a brake light. Keep at least three to four seconds of space behind the motorcycle, counting from a fixed point. The one to two second option leaves too little reaction room; one car length is especially unsafe at highway speed. Increase the cushion further when weather or pavement reduces traction.

   Study this in the handbook: Following distance, trucks and motorcycles

8. 8. How should you judge a motorcyclist who changes position inside a lane to see and be seen better?

   1. As reckless riding meant to show off
   2. As a signal to pass on either side
   3. As riding with a purpose, not showing off
   4. As proof the lane is wide enough to share
   Show answer

   As riding with a purpose, not showing off. Lane movement by a motorcyclist serves a purpose and reflects neither recklessness nor showing off. Treating the shift as an invitation to pass on either side squeezes the rider between your car and the lane edge, erasing the escape space the movement was meant to create. A motorcycle owns the full width of its lane just as your car does. Hold your position, wait for a proper passing opportunity in another lane, and remember that debris or wind may explain a swerve that looks playful from behind.

   Study this in the handbook: Following distance, trucks and motorcycles

9. 9. Which action is part of preparing to enter a parking space from a traffic lane?

   1. Slow down without signaling until fully stopped
   2. Signal your intentions before entering the space
   3. Check only the open space and ignore traffic behind
   4. Angle toward the curb before warning other drivers
   Show answer

   Signal your intentions before entering the space. Pull toward the lane closest to the open space and switch on the turn signal so following drivers understand the slowdown. Signaling shares a plan, giving the driver behind time to ease off instead of swerving around a suddenly angling car. Swinging toward the curb before warning anyone hides that plan until the movement is already underway. After the space is secured, shut off the engine, remove the key, and set the parking brake firmly.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

10. 10. On a winter drive, where does black ice most often catch drivers off guard, so you should take it slow?

    1. Sunlit straight stretches with heavy midday traffic
    2. Heated parking garages and covered loading areas
    3. Freshly salted lanes beside snowplow routes
    4. Near intersections, off-ramps, bridges, and shady spots
    Show answer

    Near intersections, off-ramps, bridges, and shady spots. Black ice favors intersections, off-ramps, bridges, and shady areas, so approach each of those places slowly in freezing weather. Bridge decks chill from air passing underneath, while shade blocks the weak winter sun that clears open pavement. A freshly salted lane beside a plow route usually grips better, which makes it a poor guess for the worst hazard. Lift off the speed before you reach these spots, not after the steering feels light, because braking on the ice itself may only start a skid.

    Study this in the handbook: Skids, brake failure, blowouts and other emergencies

11. 11. What limit does the manual place on the three-second following rule?

    1. It works only on dry roads during daylight hours
    2. It guarantees a safe stop at any highway speed
    3. It cannot always guarantee time to stop safely
    4. It removes the need to watch the vehicle ahead
    Show answer

    It cannot always guarantee time to stop safely. Counting from a fixed point gives a simple gap check, yet the count has a clear limit. Reaching the point before three seconds ends shows the gap is short, and even a full three seconds cannot promise a safe stop in every emergency. Heavy traffic, wet pavement, and higher speeds can all demand more room. Treat three seconds as the floor for ordinary conditions, then add time whenever weather or visibility worsens. A quick recount after any speed change keeps the habit honest.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, trucks and motorcycles

12. 12. In the Smith System, what does the key called Leave Yourself an Out mean?

    1. Leave space between your vehicle and the next one
    2. Keep your eyes fixed on the vehicle directly ahead
    3. Keep close to the curb so no vehicle can pass
    4. Keep the same speed so no gap opens in traffic
    Show answer

    Leave space between your vehicle and the next one. Leave Yourself an Out means keeping space between your vehicle and the next vehicle so an unexpected problem has somewhere to go. A cushion can give you time to brake, steer, or move away from a developing conflict. Fixing your gaze on one vehicle narrows the search for hazards, and driving close to the curb removes room rather than creating it. Matching speed simply to prevent a gap can place you too close to traffic. Scan ahead and preserve an escape space whenever conditions change.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, trucks and motorcycles

13. 13. After alcohol reaches the stomach, where does it go next?

    1. Into the blood and onward to every body part
    2. Straight to the liver without entering the blood first
    3. Into body fat where it stays inactive for hours
    4. Mostly out through the lungs before affecting the brain
    Show answer

    Into the blood and onward to every body part. Once alcohol enters the stomach, it passes into the blood and travels to all parts of the body, including the brain. The liver receives alcohol through circulation rather than by some direct route that skips the bloodstream. Body fat does not park alcohol in an inactive state away from judgment and reflexes. Lung elimination handles only part of the process over time. Because spread happens body wide, impairment can begin quickly, so driving plans must change before drinking starts.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, BAC limits and implied consent

14. 14. On a two-lane road, the broken center line is on your side and the solid line is on the other side. What does your broken line allow?

    1. Passing is forbidden for traffic traveling in both directions
    2. Traffic facing the solid line may pass with care
    3. You may cross only when making an emergency maneuver
    4. You may pass another vehicle if you do so carefully
    Show answer

    You may pass another vehicle if you do so carefully. Painted center lines divide passing permission by side when one line is solid and the companion line is broken. Traffic beside the broken line may overtake another vehicle, provided the move is made with care and the road ahead is clear. Giving that permission to traffic facing the solid line, as one option does, reverses the marking and invites a head on conflict. Read the line nearest your vehicle first: broken on your side allows a careful pass, while solid on your side bars it.

    Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and roadway markings

15. 15. You need to back up well over thirty feet along a street. What warning should you add?

    1. Sound the horn twice before starting to reverse
    2. Turn on the headlights and keep them on high
    3. Flash the brake lights three times before moving
    4. Switch on the hazard lights while you reverse
    Show answer

    Switch on the hazard lights while you reverse. A long reverse movement surprises drivers who expect traffic to move forward, so hazard lights warn others while you back farther than thirty feet. A horn tap or brake light flash gives only a brief signal that ends before the maneuver finishes. Headlights on high beam dazzle drivers behind you without showing that your car is moving backward. Keep the hazards flashing for the whole reverse, check mirrors often, and look over your shoulder as you creep back.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

16. 16. What does tailgating mean in heavy traffic?

    1. Riding too close to the vehicle directly ahead
    2. Driving beside a truck for several highway miles
    3. Stopping far behind a crosswalk at a red light
    4. Following an emergency vehicle at a safe distance
    Show answer

    Riding too close to the vehicle directly ahead. Tailgating means riding too close to the vehicle in front of you. It removes braking room and can turn a small slowdown into a rear end crash. Stopping far behind a crosswalk at a red light leaves extra space, the opposite problem. Use a three second gap in normal weather, add seconds on wet pavement, and back off further behind motorcycles and large trucks with limited rear visibility.

    Study this in the handbook: Distractions, drowsy driving and road rage

17. 17. When a driver sees a potential hazard ahead, when should the driver slow down?

    1. As soon as the potential hazard is seen
    2. Only after reaching the hazard
    3. After the vehicle ahead begins braking
    4. Only if the hazard moves into the driver's lane
    Show answer

    As soon as the potential hazard is seen. The manual says to slow down right away when a potential hazard appears ahead, such as children playing in the street or a vehicle parked close to the highway. Waiting until the vehicle reaches the hazard removes time and space for a safe stop. A driver should not wait for the vehicle ahead to brake, because that driver may not see the same danger or may react too late. The instruction applies to a potential hazard before it becomes an immediate obstruction.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, trucks and motorcycles

18. 18. What serious duty comes with holding a license to drive?

    1. A duty to finish every trip as quickly as possible
    2. Responsibility for safety of others and yourself while driving
    3. Responsibility only for passengers riding in your own vehicle
    4. A duty to challenge drivers who behave badly nearby
    Show answer

    Responsibility for safety of others and yourself while driving. A license to drive brings a serious responsibility for the safety of others and yourself. That duty covers pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, and drivers you may never meet. Limiting care only to passengers in your own vehicle ignores people outside the car who depend on your choices. Treat licensing as a privilege, keep learning after the test, and make decisions that protect everyone sharing the road with you.

19. 19. Traffic flows in both freeway lanes and you are not passing anyone. Where should you drive?

    1. In whichever lane feels smoothest that day
    2. In the right lane as your normal position
    3. In the left lane to stay clear of merges
    4. Straddling both lanes until someone approaches
    Show answer

    In the right lane as your normal position. Freeway lanes work best when passing and cruising stay separated. Rhode Island places normal driving in the right lane and reserves the left for passing, unless signs post something different. Cruising on the left blocks faster traffic and invites passing on the right, where blind spots grow. Straddling lanes removes the predictability other drivers count on at speed. Move left to pass, then settle right again once the slower car is visible in your mirror.

    Study this in the handbook: Licenses, insurance, phones and other laws

20. 20. In a Rhode Island work zone, why is tailgating singled out as especially risky?

    1. Work zone lanes are wider than normal lanes
    2. Flagger stations require extra following room
    3. Speed limits rise inside most work zones
    4. Most work zone crashes are rear-end collisions
    Show answer

    Most work zone crashes are rear-end collisions. Following too closely inside a work zone leaves no room when traffic compresses suddenly near merges, lane shifts, or flagger stops, and rear end impacts make up most crashes there. Wider lanes might sound calming, yet work zone lanes are often narrowed and shifted, so that option misstates the setting. Add following space early, watch brake lights several vehicles ahead, and expect stops that arrive with little warning near equipment.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and freeway driving