RI Permit Practice Test 21

All 20 questions in test 21

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. What fine applies for speeding 1 to 10 mph over the posted limit?

   1. A fine of 195 dollars for this bracket
   2. A fine of 10 dollars per extra mile
   3. A fine of 50 dollars for this bracket
   4. A fine of 85 dollars for this bracket
   Show answer

   A fine of 85 dollars for this bracket. Driving 1 to 10 mph beyond the posted limit carries an 85 dollar fine, the lowest speeding bracket in the schedule. The 195 dollar figure is the minimum once speed reaches 11 mph over the limit, where ten dollars per extra mile also builds the total. Mixing those rows overstates a small excess and understates a larger one. Even a few miles over the limit draws a real penalty, so match speed to posted signs rather than traffic flow nearby.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and freeway driving

2. 2. When may motorists pass a school bus with flashing red lights without stopping?

   1. When the bus is stopped on a two-lane roadway
   2. When the bus is stopped on a private road
   3. When the bus is stopped in a parking lot
   4. When the bus is opposite them on a divided highway
   Show answer

   When the bus is opposite them on a divided highway. Motorists do not have to stop for a school bus showing flashing red lights when the bus is opposite them on a divided highway. A real divider, such as a barrier, grass, guardrail, trees, or water, separates the opposing traffic lanes. A two-lane road does not provide that separation, and the stop rule also applies on private roads and in parking lots. Do not treat a nearby driveway or lot as a divided highway. Identify the physical median before continuing past the bus.

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

3. 3. What do yellow roadway lines separate in Rhode Island?

   1. Traffic traveling in the same direction
   2. Traffic moving in opposite directions
   3. Parking spaces from pedestrian walkways
   4. Bicycle lanes from nearby travel lanes
   Show answer

   Traffic moving in opposite directions. Yellow roadway lines divide traffic moving in opposite directions. That color helps a driver distinguish the center separation from white lines, which separate traffic traveling the same way. A yellow line does not by itself mark a parking space or a bicycle lane. The line pattern then supplies another rule: solid yellow lines restrict passing, while broken yellow lines permit passing with care. When approaching a center line, first identify the direction of the traffic on each side before deciding whether a maneuver is allowed.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and roadway markings

4. 4. What happens when you shift to neutral during a stuck accelerator event?

   1. Engine power keeps pushing the drive wheels
   2. The engine stalls and steering locks up
   3. The engine races while power leaves the wheels
   4. The brakes gain extra stopping power instantly
   Show answer

   The engine races while power leaves the wheels. Selecting neutral disconnects the engine from the drive wheels, so the engine can race without pushing the vehicle any faster. Power keeps pushing the wheels only while a drive gear stays engaged, which is exactly the condition you must end. Racing revs sound alarming but they cannot add speed once the connection is broken. Use that break in power to brake firmly and steer off the roadway, then shut the engine off after you stop.

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

5. 5. While parking in Rhode Island, what contact with neighboring vehicles must a driver avoid?

   1. Parking within one space of another car
   2. Opening windows beside occupied vehicles
   3. Touching adjacent vehicles while parking or with doors
   4. Signaling beside vehicles already parked
   Show answer

   Touching adjacent vehicles while parking or with doors. Be sure not to touch adjacent vehicles either while parking, or with another vehicle's doors as you enter or exit your vehicle. Parking within one space of another car breaks no rule by itself, so distance alone is not the standard here. Judge the swing of your doors before opening them, and leave enough lateral room that a passenger can exit without marking the neighboring paintwork.

6. 6. After a drink, which part of the body does alcohol reach before any other?

   1. The brain, within seconds of drinking it
   2. The stomach lining, long before the brain
   3. The liver, which filters it out first
   4. The muscles, which weaken before thinking slows
   Show answer

   The brain, within seconds of drinking it. Swallowed alcohol enters the blood and reaches the brain within seconds, ahead of every other body part. That early arrival explains why judgment fades before a driver feels drunk. The stomach absorbs alcohol rather than holding it away from the brain, and the liver clears it slowly over hours rather than filtering it first. Muscles weaken later in the sequence, after thinking has already dulled. Feeling steady on your feet proves nothing about your driving mind, which alcohol reaches first.

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

7. 7. What should every passenger do before opening a door from a stopped vehicle?

   1. Check surroundings carefully before opening the vehicle door
   2. Open the door first and check surroundings afterward quickly
   3. Ask passing cyclists to announce themselves before opening
   4. Look only at the front seat passenger before opening
   Show answer

   Check surroundings carefully before opening the vehicle door. Every passenger in a stopped or parked vehicle should check the surroundings before opening the door. Looking after the door swings open is too late for a cyclist already beside the car. Scan mirrors, turn to check the blind area, and open the door only when the lane beside you is clear. That pause prevents a dooring crash and protects riders who may be hidden by the door pillar.

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

8. 8. Which maneuver is prohibited because it traps another driver?

   1. Signaling before merging onto a freeway entrance ramp
   2. Slowing gradually before turning into a side street
   3. Leaving a gap before changing lanes in traffic
   4. Cutting off a vehicle so it cannot merge or exit
   Show answer

   Cutting off a vehicle so it cannot merge or exit. Cutting off another vehicle so it cannot merge, pass, exit, or turn is listed among aggressive behaviors tied to violence. The trapped driver may brake hard or swerve into another lane. Leaving a gap before changing lanes gives others room and keeps traffic flowing. Anticipate exits early, signal, match the speed of the lane you are entering, and never squeeze into a space that forces hard braking behind you.

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

9. 9. You keep pumping the pedal during a total brake failure. What can the pumping do?

   1. Refill the empty brake lines with fresh fluid
   2. Temporarily restore enough pressure to slow or stop
   3. Lock all four wheels for one long skid stop
   4. Bring back full braking power for the whole trip
   Show answer

   Temporarily restore enough pressure to slow or stop. Pumping is the opening move when the pedal sinks to the floor. Each pump can rebuild a little fluid pressure, and that temporary gain may slow or stop the vehicle. Three or four pumps reveal whether the brakes will hold at all. Full normal power does not return, so downshifting and the parking brake still belong right after pumping in the sequence. Switching the engine off first throws away help too early. Learn the order while calm so fear cannot shuffle it.

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

10. 10. After re-entering the roadway, where should you center the vehicle?

    1. In the farthest lane from where you exited
    2. In the lane closest to where you left
    3. In the center lane regardless of traffic flow
    4. In the passing lane until speed increases
    Show answer

    In the lane closest to where you left. After climbing back onto pavement, the nearest lane keeps the recovery path short and predictable. Centering in the lane closest to the exit point restores a clear target without crossing extra lanes. Swinging to the farthest lane adds conflict with traffic that may already occupy it. Finish the recovery by canceling the signal and accelerating smoothly to match surrounding flow. A useful cue is tire contact: counter steer as the front tires touch, settle into that first available lane, and rebuild speed only after the vehicle tracks straight ahead again.

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

11. 11. A traffic problem looks easy to handle and does not involve you personally. What usually follows?

    1. You become upset faster because easy problems feel insulting
    2. Minor problems always linger longer than serious traffic threats
    3. It is not likely to upset you, and preparation comes more easily
    4. Easy situations demand an immediate emotional reaction from drivers
    Show answer

    It is not likely to upset you, and preparation comes more easily. When a situation feels manageable and does not touch you personally, upset is less likely and planning feels easier. You can watch, decide, and act without the extra charge a threat carries. Treating an easy problem as an insult reverses that natural pattern and invites needless tension. Minor issues also tend to fade faster than genuine dangers, not slower. Use calm moments well. Set your gap, choose your lane early, and bank the composure you will need when a harder moment arrives without warning later on.

12. 12. During off-road recovery, how should you hold the steering wheel?

    1. Loosely at the bottom with one hand
    2. Firmly on the top half with both hands
    3. Firmly at the bottom with both hands
    4. Lightly on one side with both hands
    Show answer

    Firmly on the top half with both hands. Off road recovery begins with directional control while one side sits lower than the pavement. Holding the upper half of the wheel firmly with both hands resists the pull created when tires climb back toward the roadway edge. A loose one handed grip near the bottom gives the wheel leverage to jerk away. Keep the vehicle aimed straight toward your target, ease off the accelerator, and slow gently. The bigger the drop between shoulder and roadway, the more steering control the climb demands from both arms working together.

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

13. 13. A pedestrian arrives at a crosswalk on a Rhode Island roundabout leg. Which way should the pedestrian look first?

    1. Straight ahead, without checking traffic
    2. Right, before checking for vehicles on the approach
    3. Behind, toward vehicles already passed
    4. Left, toward oncoming vehicles and bicycles
    Show answer

    Left, toward oncoming vehicles and bicycles. At the first crosswalk on a roundabout leg, a pedestrian looks left for oncoming vehicles and bicycles before stepping into the crossing. Looking right first reverses the order used for the approach side and can miss traffic arriving from the near lane. Looking behind or straight ahead does not identify the traffic that is about to reach the pedestrian's path. After crossing to the splitter or refuge, the pedestrian looks right before finishing the second part of the crossing. The first glance and the second glance serve different sides.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and roundabouts

14. 14. After a tire blowout, when should you check the traffic around you?

    1. As you gain control of the vehicle
    2. After you park and turn off the engine
    3. Before you grip the steering wheel firmly
    4. Only after the vehicle stops completely
    Show answer

    As you gain control of the vehicle. A blowout leaves the tire destroyed, so the goal is reaching safety without a swerve. Grip the wheel firmly with both hands, ease off the accelerator, and avoid braking while speed falls gradually. Checking traffic as control returns tells you whether the path off the roadway is clear. Waiting until the vehicle has stopped completely before looking around wastes the moment when nearby drivers are reacting around you. Once clear, leave the roadway slowly, brake gently, switch on hazard flashers, and stop where the vehicle sits safely away from traffic.

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

15. 15. While returning from the shoulder, to what speed should you slow?

    1. Slow gently to fifteen or twenty miles per hour
    2. Slow gently to twenty or twenty five miles per hour
    3. Slow gently to five or ten miles per hour
    4. Slow gently to ten or fifteen miles per hour
    Show answer

    Slow gently to five or ten miles per hour. Returning from a low shoulder at speed makes the climb onto pavement abrupt and hard to control. Easing off the accelerator and braking gently down to five or ten miles per hour steadies the vehicle before its tires meet the edge. Slowing only to fifteen or twenty keeps too much pace for a sharp climb, especially where the drop is severe. Avoid hard braking, straddle the roadway edge, and pick a spot where shoulder height sits closest to pavement level. Then check traffic, signal, and check the blind spot before steering back.

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

16. 16. After moving to a Full Operator's License, which road rules must a driver still follow?

    1. Only the passenger limits from provisional licensing
    2. Only the rules about driving hours and supervision
    3. All other road rules, including belt and child restraint rules
    4. Only the curfew rules from provisional licensing
    Show answer

    All other road rules, including belt and child restraint rules. A full license removes time, supervision, and passenger restrictions, but every other rule of the road still binds the driver, including safety belt and child restraint duties. Keeping just the old curfew in mind misses the wider point, because freedom from provisional limits is not freedom from traffic law. Stop signs, speed limits, yielding, and restraint use all continue unchanged. Picture the upgrade as removing training boundaries while the ordinary rulebook stays open on the same page for every licensed driver.

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

17. 17. You enter a center lane marked for shared left turns. When may you move into it?

    1. Any time you want a break from traffic
    2. As soon as your turn is a block away
    3. Only to pass a line of stopped cars
    4. Only when your turn lies within one hundred feet
    Show answer

    Only when your turn lies within one hundred feet. A shared turn lane exists for one job, positioning for a left turn, and Rhode Island limits entry to drivers whose turn comes within one hundred feet. Entering a block early turns the lane into extra travel space and risks meeting another driver head on. Passing stopped cars or resting there misuses a lane where opposing turns overlap. Watch for the pavement arrows, slide in close to your turn, and keep speed low while you wait for a gap.

    Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and roadway markings

18. 18. You drive on a public highway wearing earphones in both ears. How does Rhode Island treat that?

    1. It is not allowed on a public highway
    2. It is allowed when the volume stays low
    3. It is allowed at low speeds in town
    4. It is allowed for one earbud only here
    Show answer

    It is not allowed on a public highway. Earphones and headsets cut off horns, sirens, and the tire noise that warns of a car beside you. Rhode Island bars wearing them while operating a motor vehicle on a public highway. Low volume or slow town speeds still seal the ears against sounds the driver needs. A single earbud reading stretches a ban written around headsets into a permission it never grants. Keep both ears open, set navigation audio through the car speakers, and pull over to handle a call.

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

19. 19. Which statement best describes alcohol compared with other driving hazards?

    1. Alcohol is by far the greatest hazard for a driver
    2. Alcohol ranks below fatigue among everyday driving hazards
    3. Alcohol matters mainly on rural roads after midnight
    4. Alcohol harms only drivers who drink every day
    Show answer

    Alcohol is by far the greatest hazard for a driver. Among the hazards a driver faces, alcohol sits at the top in Rhode Island teaching. Fatigue, darkness, and weather all raise risk, yet none is singled out the way drinking is in this comparison. Limiting harm to daily drinkers or late rural trips misses how a single drinking episode dulls judgment on any road at any hour. Treat any plan to drive after drinking as the riskiest choice of the trip, and arrange another ride before the first glass.

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

20. 20. How does Rhode Island define right-of-way?

    1. Ownership of the lane closest to the curb
    2. The privilege of having or giving immediate roadway use
    3. Permission to proceed without scanning traffic
    4. Priority earned by driving the larger vehicle
    Show answer

    The privilege of having or giving immediate roadway use. Right-of-way means the privilege of having, or giving to others, immediate use of a certain part of the roadway at a given moment. Permission to proceed without scanning traffic distorts that privilege into a guarantee, which it never is, because another driver can still violate it. Hold the definition loosely in practice: claim the privilege only when others visibly honor it, and yield to avoid contact.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and roundabouts