RI Permit Practice Test 20

All 20 questions in test 20

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. You realize too late that your freeway exit is passing on your right. What should you do?

   1. Continue ahead and leave at the next exit
   2. Stop on the shoulder and back to the ramp
   3. Cross the gore area quickly before it ends
   4. Slow in the travel lane and wait for a gap
   Show answer

   Continue ahead and leave at the next exit. Missing an exit feels urgent, yet Rhode Island guidance sends you onward to the next exit rather than allowing a recovery move. Backing along the shoulder puts your car against the flow of fast traffic with almost no protection. Crossing the gore area or slowing in a travel lane places you where following drivers least expect a slow vehicle. Stay at traffic speed, take the following exit, and rejoin your route on surface streets where turns are expected.

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

2. 2. On a Rhode Island hill parking test stop, what must the parking brake prove?

   1. That it can slow the car from 20 mph
   2. That it replaces the service brake fully
   3. That it locks only the front wheels
   4. That it can hold the vehicle from rolling back
   Show answer

   That it can hold the vehicle from rolling back. During a hill stop, the parking brake must hold the vehicle from rolling back after the driver shifts to neutral at the right side of the road. A brake that merely slows a moving car has not shown the holding strength this test measures. Set it firmly on every grade, because a weak parking brake reveals itself at the worst moment, usually after the driver walks away.

   Study this in the handbook: Where you may not park or stop

3. 3. Some people seem livelier after drinking. What actually causes that stimulated look?

   1. Extra oxygen reaching the brain after drinking
   2. Faster reflexes produced by the first drink
   3. Sugar in the drink raising body energy
   4. A loss of caution and self control
   Show answer

   A loss of caution and self control. A louder, bolder manner after drinking looks like stimulation, yet alcohol slows the body rather than speeding it. The lively surface comes from caution and self control slipping away, releasing behavior a sober person would hold back. Reflexes slow, judgment clouds, and alertness drops behind that confident front. Sugar or oxygen explanations mistake the display for a true gain in ability. Read boldness after drinking as a warning sign of impairment, never as proof that someone is fit to drive home.

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

4. 4. Your windshield wipers are running in steady rain. What must accompany them?

   1. Parking lights alone until the rain gets heavier
   2. Headlights switched on while the wipers run
   3. High beams aimed through the heaviest rain bands
   4. Fog lamps only, with the headlights left off
   Show answer

   Headlights switched on while the wipers run. Rain that calls for wipers also calls for headlights in Rhode Island, and the rule links the two directly: wipers running means headlights on. Parking lights mark your car weakly without lighting the road ahead. High beams scatter light back through heavy rain and blind other drivers, while fog lamps alone leave the main lamps dark. Pairing headlights with wipers helps others spot you through spray. Switch both on together whenever rain starts, and keep them on until the glass stays clear.

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

5. 5. You leave a private driveway and reach the sidewalk before the street. Where must you stop?

   1. Only at the curb, after crossing the sidewalk slowly
   2. Halfway across the sidewalk, then roll into traffic
   3. At the sidewalk first, then again at the curb
   4. Nowhere, since driveways have no stop requirement
   Show answer

   At the sidewalk first, then again at the curb. Leaving a private road or driveway calls for two separate stops. The first pause at the sidewalk lets you look for people walking where your path crosses theirs. Rolling through that area slowly merges both checks into one hurried glance and risks missing a child or a person using a mobility aid. After the sidewalk check, stop again at the curb to judge traffic on the street. Treating the exit as one smooth roll removes the pause that makes each check work.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

6. 6. When leaving a parking space in Rhode Island, how must a driver signal?

   1. By hand or with directional lights before pulling out
   2. Only by tapping the horn twice for nearby cars
   3. Only after reaching the middle of the lane
   4. By flashing headlights toward oncoming drivers
   Show answer

   By hand or with directional lights before pulling out. Pulling out of a parking space requires a signal made by hand or with the directional lights, so drivers in the lane receive warning before the vehicle moves. Tapping the horn twice might alert someone nearby, yet a horn carries no direction information and does not satisfy the signaling duty. Signal first, check mirrors and the blind spot over the shoulder, then ease out only when the lane is clear.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and roadway markings

7. 7. Where inside an intersection area does Rhode Island prohibit parking?

   1. Only in the exact center of the crossing
   2. Only where cross traffic turns left across it
   3. Within sight of a corner traffic signal
   4. Within the intersection itself at any point
   Show answer

   Within the intersection itself at any point. Parking or stopping within an intersection itself is prohibited anywhere inside it, not merely at its center, because a standing vehicle there blocks turning paths and sight lines from every approach. Limiting the ban to the exact center would leave corners and crosswalk entries open for parking, which still obstructs drivers trying to see and turn. Keep the whole box clear, including its edges and exit sides.

   Study this in the handbook: Where you may not park or stop

8. 8. After moving off the road, the engine still will not start. What should you do?

   1. Keep cranking until the battery goes dead
   2. Stand behind the vehicle waving traffic past
   3. Raise the hood and keep hazard flashers flashing
   4. Push the vehicle back into the roadway
   Show answer

   Raise the hood and keep hazard flashers flashing. Raising the hood with hazard flashers left on marks your vehicle as disabled and needing help once it still refuses to start off the roadway. Cranking until the battery dies removes the flashers that warn approaching drivers at night or in poor visibility. The raised hood is a widely understood distress signal visible from a distance. Step away from traffic while waiting, and use a phone to request assistance rather than walking along a fast roadway.

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

9. 9. How long can a driver look away from the roadway before collision risk doubles?

   1. Risk doubles after one second of looking away
   2. Risk doubles after three seconds of looking away
   3. Risk doubles after two seconds of looking away
   4. Risk doubles after five seconds of looking away
   Show answer

   Risk doubles after two seconds of looking away. Glancing away for two seconds already doubles the chance of a collision, so danger grows far sooner than many learners expect. Waiting for a three second threshold creates a false cushion, because harm has already doubled before that extra second ends. Short peeks feel harmless at low speed yet still hide braking lights, crossing children, and narrowing gaps. Keep vision on the intended path, handle dashboard tasks while stopped, and let passengers manage phones, maps, and loose items during travel.

10. 10. With a standard shift on a hill start, what driving skill is expected?

    1. Climb the hill without rolling backward noticeably
    2. Roll backward briefly before moving forward once again
    3. Hold the vehicle using only the clutch pedal
    4. Shift to neutral while climbing the hill
    Show answer

    Climb the hill without rolling backward noticeably. A manual gearbox on a grade demands coordination among clutch, throttle, and parking brake so the car climbs without sliding backward. The parking brake holds position first, then a left shoulder check, gear engagement, signal, and careful release launch the vehicle forward. Resting weight on the clutch alone overheats parts and still lets the car creep rearward toward anyone waiting behind. Examiners watch that departure closely, because controlled hill starts protect bumpers, nerves, and traffic queued below the slope.

    Study this in the handbook: Where you may not park or stop

11. 11. When approaching an intersection for a left turn, which lane position should the driver use?

    1. Lane position 1, in the middle of the lane
    2. Lane position 2, far enough in advance of the turn
    3. Lane position 3, near the right line or curb
    4. The shoulder, after crossing the centerline
    Show answer

    Lane position 2, far enough in advance of the turn. For a left turn, the driver should move into lane position 2 far enough before the intersection to prepare for the turn. Lane position 1 is the normal middle position, while lane position 3 is used when hazards are on the left or the driver intends to turn right. The shoulder is not a turning lane, and crossing the centerline to reach it would create a dangerous conflict. Positioning early gives the vehicle a predictable path into the intersection.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

12. 12. Why is the multiplied effect of alcohol plus another drug so serious?

    1. It threatens your health and can badly damage driving ability
    2. It causes brief sleepiness that coffee reliably reverses at once
    3. It affects only physical health while sparing driving skills
    4. It matters mainly for passengers rather than the driver
    Show answer

    It threatens your health and can badly damage driving ability. A multiplied drug and alcohol effect poses a serious hazard to health and can have a disastrous effect on driving ability at the same time. Coffee cannot reliably reverse sleepiness from this mixture, despite how alert someone may sound afterward. Driving skills are not spared while the body suffers, since steering, braking, and judgment decline together. The driver carries the greatest risk because every control decision flows through impaired hands. Separate the substances completely and arrange sober transport early.

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

13. 13. Which roadside action is listed among aggressive driving behaviors?

    1. Waving another driver forward at a four way stop
    2. Pulling fully off pavement to check a flat tire
    3. Blocking traffic to chat with someone beside the road
    4. Stopping behind a school bus with flashing red lights
    Show answer

    Blocking traffic to chat with someone beside the road. Blocking traffic to speak with a passerby or people in another vehicle invites horns, sudden lane changes, and angry passing behind you. Pulling fully off the pavement to check a flat tire moves a problem out of travel lanes, which is safer. If you need to talk, pull into a parking area or side street where following traffic can pass freely.

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

14. 14. After a minor traffic incident, one driver threatens another with the car itself. What is that called?

    1. Defensive driving under pressure from surrounding traffic nearby during rush hour
    2. Aggressive courtesy meant to warn another roadway user
    3. A simple misunderstanding with no element of threat involved
    4. Road rage occurs when a vehicle is used to threaten or cause harm
    Show answer

    Road rage occurs when a vehicle is used to threaten or cause harm. Using a vehicle or another weapon to threaten or harm someone after a traffic incident crosses the line into road rage. The act is deliberate and aimed at a person, which separates it from ordinary pushy driving. Calling it a misunderstanding strips away the threat that makes the conduct dangerous. Courtesy warnings involve signals and space, never intimidation. If another driver escalates this way, avoid eye contact, do not respond in kind, keep your doors locked, and drive toward a busy public place or police help instead of stopping.

15. 15. A driver has just learned that a close family member has died. Why is driving right away risky?

    1. Grief usually sharpens focus during the first hour behind the wheel
    2. Grief may leave the driver too upset to operate a vehicle safely
    3. Sad news affects driving only when the planned trip is long
    4. A short conversation restores full attention before any trip begins
    Show answer

    Grief may leave the driver too upset to operate a vehicle safely. News of a serious illness or death in the family can overwhelm a person before the wheels even turn. Shock and grief pull attention inward, slow reactions, and make ordinary choices harder to judge. Feeling sharper after bad news is a tempting belief, but upset works in the opposite direction and can linger well beyond a brief chat. Short trips offer no protection either, since a lapse can happen at the first intersection. When emotions are raw, hand the keys to someone steadier or wait until calm returns.

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

16. 16. A motorcyclist ahead of you keeps shifting position within the lane. What should you understand about those movements?

    1. The rider is showing off for nearby traffic
    2. The rider is improving visibility and dodging hazards
    3. The rider is preparing to split between lanes
    4. The rider has lost control of the motorcycle
    Show answer

    The rider is improving visibility and dodging hazards. Riders shift within a lane to be seen more easily and to blunt the effects of wind, road debris, and passing vehicles. Reading that movement as showing off tempts you to crowd a rider who is actually picking the safest slice of pavement. A gust from a truck, a patch of gravel, or a pothole can push a motorcycle sideways without warning. Leave the whole lane to the rider, pass only with a full lane change, and expect another shift whenever road surface or traffic changes.

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

17. 17. How should speed change when Rhode Island roads turn wet, icy, or snow covered?

    1. Keep posted speed on treated highways
    2. Increase speed to maintain momentum
    3. Brake firmly at every curve
    4. Slow down and drive with care
    Show answer

    Slow down and drive with care. Slow down and drive with care in bad weather, because wet, icy, and snow covered highways can be very dangerous even for experienced drivers. Keeping posted speed confuses a legal maximum with a safe pace, since that maximum assumes ideal conditions. Gentle braking, generous following room, and patience on bridges or shady patches give tires the grip they need when the surface stops helping.

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

18. 18. You wait to turn left while a vehicle approaches you head-on through the intersection. Who has the right-of-way over your turn?

    1. The motor vehicle approaching directly toward you
    2. Your vehicle after you flash your headlights
    3. A vehicle waiting behind you at the stop line
    4. The first driver to reach the intersection center
    Show answer

    The motor vehicle approaching directly toward you. A vehicle coming straight at you through an intersection keeps the right-of-way while you wait to turn left, so your turn waits until the way is clear. Flashing your headlights announces nothing the law honors, and signaling alone grants no priority either. Keep your wheels pointed straight, not angled into your intended path, so a rear tap cannot push you into oncoming traffic. When a safe gap finally opens, turn at a proper speed, stay right of the center, and cancel your signal afterward.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

19. 19. Your accelerator sticks while you steer into a sharp curve. What should you do first?

    1. Turn the ignition off inside the curve
    2. Shift to neutral right away
    3. Pump the accelerator to try to free the pedal
    4. Downshift to a lower gear for control
    Show answer

    Shift to neutral right away. When the accelerator is stuck while you steer into a sharp turn, shift to neutral immediately. In a manual transmission, depress the clutch too, but that is not the response asked for here. The engine may race after neutral, yet power is removed from the drive wheels. Turning off the ignition inside the turn is not the listed first action, and pumping the accelerator does not follow the manual's procedure. Once in neutral, continue braking and follow an escape path toward an open area off the roadway.

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

20. 20. At a Rhode Island stop sign, where must a driver stop when a crosswalk is present?

    1. In the middle of the crosswalk itself
    2. Past the crosswalk near the corner
    3. Before entering the crosswalk on the near side
    4. At the far side of the intersection
    Show answer

    Before entering the crosswalk on the near side. Every driver approaching a stop sign shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, keeping the crossing clear for people on foot. Rolling past the crosswalk to the corner puts the vehicle where pedestrians expect a car-free path. Only when no crosswalk exists does the stop shift to a marked stop line, and then to the point nearest the intersecting highway with a view of traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing