RI Permit Practice Test 4

All 20 questions in test 4

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. How does Rhode Island law classify an adult's second chemical test refusal violation within a ten year period?

   1. A first-offense civil warning
   2. A misdemeanor, because it falls within the ten year period
   3. A license renewal issue with no violation class
   4. A felony only when the refusal follows a crash
   Show answer

   A misdemeanor, because it falls within the ten year period. Rhode Island's refusal statute now counts prior violations over a ten year period. A second refusal violation within ten years is a misdemeanor, with up to six months in jail, a fine of $600 to $1,000, 60 to 100 hours of community restitution, and a license suspension of one to two years. The driver's manual still prints a five year window, but the statute controls. The civil warning and renewal choices remove the violation class entirely, and the felony choice invents a crash condition the law does not use. Count back ten years from the new refusal when judging whether it is a repeat offense.

2. 2. For the first twelve months of a Rhode Island limited provisional license, what passenger limit applies to a passenger younger than 21?

   1. No passengers younger than 21 under any circumstance
   2. No more than two passengers, including household members
   3. No more than one passenger, with immediate family and household members exempt
   4. No limit when every occupant is properly restrained
   Show answer

   No more than one passenger, with immediate family and household members exempt. During the first twelve months, the license allows no more than one licensed passenger younger than twenty-one. Immediate family and household members are exempt from that passenger rule. The two-passenger choice raises the numerical ceiling, while a complete ban ignores the stated family exception. Seat belts remain required for everyone, but restraint use does not turn the passenger limit into an unlimited allowance. When reviewing this rule, pair the twelve-month period with one qualifying young passenger.

3. 3. Before turning left at an intersection, which road user must the driver yield to?

   
   1. Only pedestrians already standing in a marked crosswalk
   2. Only vehicles larger than the turning vehicle
   3. Oncoming traffic, including an oncoming bicyclist
   4. No one, because a left turn has priority over straight traffic
   Show answer

   Oncoming traffic, including an oncoming bicyclist. A left turn crosses the path of people traveling toward the intersection. The manual specifically says the turning driver must yield to oncoming bicyclists just as to an oncoming motorist. Vehicle size is irrelevant, and the duty is not limited to pedestrians in a painted crosswalk. A left-turn signal does not create priority over straight traffic. Before moving across the opposing path, check for both motor vehicles and bicycles, then wait until the approach is clear.

4. 4. Why should a driver avoid taking the right-of-way for granted?

   1. Another driver may fail to yield, and giving way can prevent a collision
   2. The law never assigns right-of-way at intersections
   3. Yielding automatically causes a traffic violation
   4. The driver with priority must always stop first
   Show answer

   Another driver may fail to yield, and giving way can prevent a collision. Having legal priority does not guarantee that another road user understands or obeys the rule. The manual advises yielding when necessary because the other driver may not grant the right-of-way, and that caution can save a life. This does not mean intersection law disappears or that yielding is itself unlawful. It means defensive driving takes priority over proving a legal point. Scan for a conflicting vehicle, reduce speed, and give space when the other person’s behavior is uncertain.

5. 5. After an emergency vehicle passes, what should a driver do before re-entering traffic?

   1. Turn left across traffic to follow the emergency vehicle
   2. Re-enter immediately without signaling
   3. Use the hazard lights and accelerate into the nearest lane
   4. Activate the turn signal and check over the shoulder for another emergency vehicle
   Show answer

   Activate the turn signal and check over the shoulder for another emergency vehicle. Rhode Island advises a driver to signal before returning to the traffic flow and to glance over the shoulder for another emergency vehicle. Re-entering immediately can place the vehicle in the path of a second responder, while hazard lights and acceleration do not replace a directional signal or a visual check. Turning across traffic to follow the first vehicle creates a separate conflict. Wait until the route is clear, signal the intended movement, check beside and behind the vehicle, then merge smoothly.

6. 6. When may a driver turn right at a steady red light in Rhode Island?

   
   1. After a complete stop and yielding, unless a sign prohibits the turn
   2. Whenever the driver slows and sees no vehicle nearby
   3. Only after the signal has been red for one minute
   4. Before stopping if the right lane is clear
   Show answer

   After a complete stop and yielding, unless a sign prohibits the turn. A right turn on red is allowed only after a complete stop and after yielding to pedestrians and other vehicles, unless a posted sign prohibits that turn. Merely slowing is not enough, and a clear-looking lane does not remove the duty to stop and yield. There is no one-minute waiting period. Check the sign, stop before the crosswalk or stop line, scan all approaches, and turn only when the movement is safe. The memory cue is stop, yield, then turn when permitted.

7. 7. A Rhode Island driver age 19 has a BAC of 0.04%. Which alcohol offense category applies?

   1. No offense because the BAC is below 0.08%
   2. Driving while impaired, for ages 18 through 20 and BAC at least 0.02% but below 0.08%
   3. Adult DUI at the 0.15% or above level
   4. Chemical-test refusal automatically applies
   Show answer

   Driving while impaired, for ages 18 through 20 and BAC at least 0.02% but below 0.08%. Rhode Island places drivers age 18 through 20 in this DWI category when BAC is at least 0.02% but below 0.08%. A 19-year-old with 0.04% falls inside that range, so the adult threshold in the choice “No offense because the BAC is below 0.08%” is not the only relevant rule. The 0.15% category is far higher, and refusal is a separate event that requires declining a chemical test. For an under-21 question, check age first, then compare the measured BAC with the dedicated DWI band.

8. 8. In a Rhode Island work zone, what color and shapes identify construction signs?

   1. White, pentagonal or oval
   2. Blue, circular or octagonal
   3. Green, triangular or square
   4. Orange, diamond or rectangular
   Show answer

   Orange, diamond or rectangular. Construction signs in Rhode Island work zones are orange and may be diamond or rectangular. The other combinations borrow colors or shapes associated with unrelated sign functions and are not the construction-sign description in the manual. This visual cue helps a driver recognize warnings before, within, and after a work zone. When approaching roadwork, look for the orange panel first, then read the message and respond to the hazard it identifies.

9. 9. When a solid yellow line is on a driver's side of a two-way roadway, what does it indicate?

   
   1. Crossing is allowed whenever the driver uses a turn signal
   2. Passing is required before the next intersection
   3. The line separates lanes traveling in the same direction
   4. The driver should not pass another vehicle or cross the solid line
   Show answer

   The driver should not pass another vehicle or cross the solid line. A solid yellow line on the driver's side means that direction should not pass another vehicle or cross the solid line. The manual notes limited emergency and legal-turn exceptions, but a turn signal alone does not authorize an ordinary crossing. Yellow separates opposing traffic, so it is not a same-direction lane divider. Treat the solid marking as a no-passing warning and look for a lawful, safe reason before crossing it.

10. 10. A pedestrian with a white cane is about to cross the street ahead of you in Rhode Island. What must you do?

    1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop before the intersection and yield the right of way
    2. Sound the horn to warn the pedestrian
    3. Flash the headlights and continue
    4. Slow down and drive around
    Show answer

    Bring the vehicle to a complete stop before the intersection and yield the right of way. When a pedestrian carrying a raised white cane, or guided by an identified guide dog, is crossing or trying to cross, Rhode Island law requires every approaching driver to come to a full stop before reaching the intersection or crossing point and to take whatever precautions are needed to avoid injuring the pedestrian. The penalty section sets a fine of not more than $250 for a violation; the $1,000 figure printed in the driver's manual does not match the current statute. Sounding the horn or flashing headlights does not help someone who cannot see you, and driving around the person is not a substitute for stopping.

11. 11. If an aggressive driver continues to hassle or follow you, where should you drive for help?

    1. Home, so the driver learns your address
    2. A deserted shoulder where the driver cannot see you
    3. The nearest police station or a busy place
    4. A faster lane where you can race away
    Show answer

    The nearest police station or a busy place. A driver who continues to hassle or follow you should be met with distance and public visibility, not a confrontation. The manual recommends driving to the nearest police station or busy place to get help. Going home reveals a private location, while a deserted shoulder removes witnesses and assistance. Keep doors locked, avoid eye contact, and do not make sudden braking or swerving moves while you choose a safe destination.

12. 12. How should a driver treat a posted SPEED LIMIT sign?

    
    1. As a regulatory maximum that still requires adjustment for conditions
    2. As an optional suggestion that may be exceeded in daylight
    3. As a minimum speed required on every roadway
    4. As a truck-only restriction that does not apply to cars
    Show answer

    As a regulatory maximum that still requires adjustment for conditions. SPEED LIMIT appears in the manual’s Regulatory Signs section, so it communicates a legal traffic rule rather than a casual suggestion. The posted number is not a required minimum and does not apply only to trucks. Drivers must also account for rain, snow, traffic, and visibility, choosing a safe speed even when that means traveling below the posted limit. Read the number before conditions change.

13. 13. What movement does this crossed left-turn arrow prohibit?

    
    1. Parking on the left shoulder only
    2. Making a U-turn at every intersection
    3. Driving straight through the intersection
    4. Turning left at the posted location
    Show answer

    Turning left at the posted location. The crossed left arrow means left turns are prohibited where the sign is posted. It does not automatically prohibit U-turns everywhere, going straight, or parking on a shoulder. The restriction is tied to the displayed maneuver and location. A driver who needs to travel left should continue to a permitted intersection rather than turning against the sign’s instruction. Check the arrow before committing to the turn.

14. 14. What following-distance rule does the manual give as an easy way to judge a safe gap?

    1. One car length at every speed
    2. The three-second-following-distance rule
    3. A half-second gap in light traffic
    4. Exactly ten feet behind the vehicle ahead
    Show answer

    The three-second-following-distance rule. The manual uses a three second following distance as a practical way to judge space behind another vehicle. It is not a fixed number of feet because the required distance grows with speed. Wet or slippery pavement calls for additional seconds, and a motorcycle deserves extra room as well. Choose a fixed object, count the time between the vehicle ahead passing it and your vehicle reaching it, and increase the gap when conditions deteriorate.

15. 15. What must a driver do when a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog is crossing ahead?

    1. Turn right on red after stopping
    2. Sound the horn and continue through first
    3. Stop completely before the intersection and yield
    4. Yield only if the pedestrian enters a marked crosswalk
    Show answer

    Stop completely before the intersection and yield. A white cane or guide dog signals a blind or low vision pedestrian who requires special care. The driver must bring the vehicle to a complete stop before reaching the intersection and yield the right of way. A horn does not replace stopping, and a marked crosswalk is not required for this protection. Even a right turn on red can be dangerous because the pedestrian may use engine sound to judge traffic. The cue is cane or guide dog: stop early, wait, and let the pedestrian cross safely.

16. 16. How long is a Rhode Island Limited Instructional Permit valid?

    1. Six months
    2. Three years
    3. One year or until age 18, whichever is longer
    4. Until the road test is passed, with no limit
    Show answer

    One year or until age 18, whichever is longer. The Limited Instructional Permit is valid for one year or until the holder reaches age 18, whichever is longer. If the permit expires before the road test is passed, the applicant must take the computerized test again or be recertified by CCRI and obtain a new permit. The permit does not last indefinitely, and six months is not the validity period.

17. 17. If an accelerator pedal sticks to the floor, what should the driver do while moving toward safety?

    1. Pump the accelerator until the engine stops
    2. Shift to reverse and accelerate
    3. Turn off the ignition before steering
    4. Shift to neutral while applying the brake
    Show answer

    Shift to neutral while applying the brake. A stuck accelerator can keep the drive wheels powered, so the manual directs the driver to shift to NEUTRAL while applying the brake. Then choose an escape path toward an open area, continue braking, leave the roadway, and turn off the ignition once safely off the road. Turning off the ignition immediately may make steering harder while the vehicle is still moving. Reverse is not an emergency control technique, and repeatedly pumping the accelerator can worsen the situation. Remember the sequence as neutral, brake, escape path, roadway exit, ignition off.

18. 18. According to the Rhode Island manual, how does a hands-free phone compare with a hand-held phone for crash risk?

    1. Research indicates no difference in risk between the two
    2. Hands-free is more dangerous
    3. Hands-free is far safer
    4. Hand-held is safer because the driver looks at the road
    Show answer

    Research indicates no difference in risk between the two. Some drivers choose a headset that removes the need to hold the phone. While a hands-free device may at first appear less distracting, the manual reports that research indicates no differences in risk between the two modes, because the conversation itself takes the driver's attention. Dialing adds the extra hazard of a hand off the wheel and eyes on the keypad. The safest choice is to let calls wait.

19. 19. An applicant under 18 is applying for a Rhode Island Limited Instructional Permit. How many hours of driver education must the completion certificate show?

    1. 20 hours
    2. 33 hours
    3. 50 hours
    4. 6 hours
    Show answer

    33 hours. Applicants under 18 must show a certificate for the 33 hour Rhode Island driver education class, administered by CCRI or an equivalent. Fifty hours is the supervised driving log needed later for the Limited Provisional License, so it is easy to mix up but it is not the classroom requirement. Twenty hours and six hours are not Rhode Island figures for this course. The certificate is presented at the DMV along with identity documents, the Social Security card, proof of residency, and the permit fee.

20. 20. What speed does the Rhode Island manual list for residential areas?

    1. 35 miles per hour
    2. 25 miles per hour
    3. 45 miles per hour
    4. 55 miles per hour
    Show answer

    25 miles per hour. The highway safety section lists 25 miles per hour for residential areas. The higher choices are not the residential figure given in this summary, even though highways may have substantially different limits. A posted sign and current law still control the road you are actually using, and the Basic Speed Law requires a lower speed when weather, traffic, or surface conditions demand it. Treat 25 mph as the listed residential reference, not permission to ignore a lower posting or unsafe conditions.