RI Permit Practice Test 5

All 20 questions in test 5

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 should a driver do when approaching a roundabout entrance?

   1. Enter clockwise so the nearest exit is reached sooner
   2. Stop inside the circle until every approaching vehicle has passed
   3. Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout, then enter counterclockwise through a safe gap
   4. Enter without yielding because traffic in the circle must stop
   Show answer

   Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout, then enter counterclockwise through a safe gap. Before entering a roundabout, slow down and yield to vehicles already circulating. Wait for a safe gap, then merge into the circle in a counterclockwise direction. Stopping inside the roundabout is not the normal procedure and can block traffic, while clockwise travel goes against the pattern described in the manual. Vehicles already in the circle do not owe entering traffic a stop. Scan for pedestrians too, because they retain priority at crossings. The cue is yield before entry, circulate counterclockwise, and exit to the right.

2. 2. At a red octagonal STOP sign, where must the driver stop before proceeding?

   1. Past the crosswalk so the front wheels reach the next lane
   2. Only after entering the intersection far enough to see cross traffic
   3. At the center of the intersection
   4. Before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection
   Show answer

   Before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. The stop requirement applies before entering the near-side crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, the driver uses a marked stop line, or the nearest point where approaching traffic can be seen before entering the intersection. Stopping in the middle or beyond the crosswalk places the vehicle where pedestrians and cross traffic may already be moving. Approach slowly, stop at the required location, look both ways, and proceed only after yielding.

3. 3. What is the first step if the brake pedal goes to the floor?

   1. Turn off the engine immediately
   2. Pump the brake pedal
   3. Accelerate toward the shoulder
   4. Steer into oncoming traffic
   Show answer

   Pump the brake pedal. When the brake pedal drops to the floor, the manual first directs the driver to pump it. Several pumps may temporarily restore enough pressure to slow or stop the vehicle, so the driver can then continue with the other emergency steps. Downshifting and carefully engaging the parking brake are also part of the procedure, but they are not the first action asked for here. Do not accelerate or steer into danger. The practical cue is a sudden pedal with no resistance: pump promptly while looking for an open zone and preparing to reduce speed.

4. 4. When must motorists stop for a school bus with flashing red lights?

   
   1. Only when following the bus on a two-lane road
   2. When approaching from either direction, until the red lights stop flashing
   3. Only if children are visible in the roadway
   4. Never when the bus is stopped on a private road
   Show answer

   When approaching from either direction, until the red lights stop flashing. Flashing red lights on a school bus require motorists approaching from either direction to make a full stop and remain stopped until the red lights no longer flash. The rule applies on public highways, private roads, and parking lots. A divided highway exception exists when the bus is opposite your vehicle and the directions are separated, but that is not the ordinary two-way approach described here. Do not wait for children to appear. The cue is red bus lights, which mean stop and wait.

5. 5. At a Rhode Island four-way stop, two vehicles arrive at the same time. Which driver yields?

   
   1. The driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right
   2. The driver on the right yields to the vehicle on the left
   3. The vehicle with the larger engine has priority
   4. Both drivers proceed together
   Show answer

   The driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. At a four-way stop, arrival order normally settles priority, but equal arrival creates a special tie rule. The vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on its right. The choice “The driver on the right yields to the vehicle on the left” reverses that relationship and would give priority to the wrong approach. A larger engine has no bearing on right-of-way, and moving together would create a conflict in the intersection. Make a complete stop first, identify which vehicle is to your right, and let that vehicle proceed before entering.

6. 6. Which maneuver is prohibited by this sign?

   
   1. Turning into a driveway on the right
   2. Changing from one lane to another
   3. Making a U-turn
   4. Stopping at a marked intersection
   Show answer

   Making a U-turn. The crossed U-shaped arrow identifies a prohibition on U-turns at that location. It does not ban ordinary lane changes, right turns into driveways, or stopping where another sign or signal requires a stop. A driver should read the symbol literally: the barred maneuver is turning the vehicle around. If a route is missed, continue to a lawful place where a turnabout is permitted.

7. 7. Besides suspension and fines, which treatment-related consequence can appear after a Rhode Island chemical test refusal?

   1. A mandatory vehicle repainting inspection
   2. Alcohol or drug treatment
   3. A permanent ban on public transportation
   4. A required motorcycle skills examination
   Show answer

   Alcohol or drug treatment. The refusal penalties include alcohol or drug treatment, along with a special course on driving while intoxicated in the adult table. None of the vehicle repainting, transit, or motorcycle-testing choices appears as a refusal consequence. The manual also identifies community service and assessments, so treatment is one part of a broader penalty package rather than a replacement for the suspension. Look for the substance-related response when the question asks about treatment.

8. 8. What speed range does the Rhode Island manual give for most highways?

   1. 50 to 65 miles per hour
   2. 25 to 35 miles per hour
   3. 35 to 45 miles per hour
   4. 70 to 85 miles per hour
   Show answer

   50 to 65 miles per hour. The manual's summary describes most highway speeds as 50 to 65 miles per hour. That range is distinct from the 25 mph residential reference and does not create a blanket permission to drive at the top number. Posted limits govern particular roads, and weather or traffic can require a slower pace under the Basic Speed Law. When reading a speed question, distinguish the road type and the stated range, then adjust for conditions before choosing a safe speed.

9. 9. What does the Rhode Island manual say about passing when a solid yellow line is on your side?

   
   1. Do not cross it to pass
   2. Pass only motorcycles across it
   3. Pass if the vehicle ahead is below the speed limit
   4. Cross it whenever the opposite lane looks empty
   Show answer

   Do not cross it to pass. A solid yellow center line on the driver’s side marks a no passing condition. The line is a roadway restriction, so an empty opposing lane or a slow vehicle does not authorize crossing it. The motorcycle and speed based exceptions in the other choices are not stated by this marking rule. Drivers should wait for a permitted passing section and maintain a safe following distance meanwhile. The visual cue is the uninterrupted yellow line beside the vehicle: solid means stay in lane for passing decisions, unlike a broken line that may permit a maneuver when safe.

10. 10. What is the recommended sequence for controlling a vehicle that begins to skid?

    1. Press the accelerator and steer sharply away from the skid
    2. Release the gas, avoid the brake, let the vehicle slow, and steer where you want to go
    3. Lock the brakes while turning toward the shoulder
    4. Shift to park and hold the wheel straight
    Show answer

    Release the gas, avoid the brake, let the vehicle slow, and steer where you want to go. During a skid, abrupt pedal or steering inputs can make the vehicle harder to control. The manual’s sequence is to let off the gas, keep the foot away from the brake and clutch, allow gradual slowing, and turn in the direction you want the vehicle to go. That response differs from locking the brakes, adding power, or making a sharp opposite turn. Keep steering corrections measured and be ready to work left and right until the vehicle settles.

11. 11. A vehicle stalls on railroad tracks while a train is approaching. Where should the occupants move?

    1. Exit and move as far from the tracks as possible
    2. Remain inside with hazard lights on
    3. Push the vehicle toward the nearest crossing gate
    4. Stand beside the vehicle to flag the train
    Show answer

    Exit and move as far from the tracks as possible. The manual puts personal escape ahead of protecting the stalled vehicle. Everyone should get out, leave the tracks, and move as far away as possible. Staying in the car or standing beside it leaves people inside the collision area. Pushing the vehicle is dangerous and wastes time when a train is coming. Once clear, the occupants should also consider the train’s direction when choosing where to run, since debris can travel with the train. The immediate cue is simple: abandon the vehicle and create maximum distance from the rails.

12. 12. What does the yellow diamond sign with arrows around a circle warn a driver about?

    
    1. A one-way street ending ahead
    2. A railroad crossing with a stopped train
    3. A roundabout ahead
    4. A school bus loading zone only
    Show answer

    A roundabout ahead. The manual describes a yellow diamond warning sign showing an arrow with a circle pattern and two or more arrows pointing away from the circle. That symbol announces roundabout exits and prepares the driver for circular, counterclockwise traffic. It is not the railroad crossing symbol, a one-way termination notice, or a message limited to school buses. Once the sign appears, reduce speed, identify the entrance, and plan your lane position before reaching the circle.

13. 13. How should a driver respond to a flashing red traffic signal in Rhode Island?

    1. Slow down and continue without stopping
    2. Make a full stop, yield to traffic on both sides, then proceed when safe
    3. Treat it as a flashing yellow signal
    4. Stop only if a pedestrian is waiting
    Show answer

    Make a full stop, yield to traffic on both sides, then proceed when safe. A flashing red signal has the same stopping meaning as a stop sign. The driver must stop completely, yield to vehicles on the right and left, and proceed only after the intersection is safe. Treating it as flashing yellow would remove the required stop. Waiting for a pedestrian is not enough, because cross traffic also has priority. See flashing red, stop first and check both directions.

14. 14. A school bus displays flashing red lights. What must an approaching Rhode Island motorist do?

    
    1. Continue unless the bus is in a marked school zone
    2. Pass slowly if no children are visible
    3. Stop only when approaching from behind the bus
    4. Stop fully and remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing
    Show answer

    Stop fully and remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing. Flashing red bus lights require a full stop for motorists coming from either direction, and the vehicle must stay stopped until the red lights no longer flash. The rule also covers public highways, private roads, and parking lots. Passing because children are not visible ignores the signal. The divided-highway exception applies only when the bus is opposite the vehicle on a separated roadway.

15. 15. Which source does the Rhode Island manual identify for up-to-date changes in laws, fees, and procedures?

    1. The DMV or Rhode Island General Laws websites
    2. A vehicle owner's manual
    3. A newspaper classified advertisement
    4. A roadway construction cone
    Show answer

    The DMV or Rhode Island General Laws websites. The manual points readers to dmv.ri.gov or rilin.state.ri.us when they need current information about laws, fees, or procedures. A vehicle owner's manual covers operation and maintenance, not state licensing rules. Classified advertisements and roadway equipment have no authority to update DMV requirements. This distinction is useful because the handbook itself warns that listed fees may be subject to surcharges or statutory changes. Verify time-sensitive details before relying on a printed page.

16. 16. Which color and sign group identifies a construction or work-zone warning in the Rhode Island manual?

    1. The white organ-donor notice group
    2. The blue hospital guide sign group
    3. The green freeway-direction group
    4. The orange construction sign group
    Show answer

    The orange construction sign group. The warning-sign panel includes construction and road-work signs, and orange is the visual cue associated with work zones. Those signs alert drivers to changing conditions, workers, equipment, or altered paths. Blue signs in the manual identify services such as hospitals, while green signs provide route guidance. White organ-donor notices are not roadway warnings. On approach to an orange work-zone sign, reduce speed, scan for flagpersons and lane shifts, and follow temporary directions. Color helps you anticipate the kind of response before reading the symbol or wording.

17. 17. How does the Rhode Island manual say to guard against hydroplaning?

    1. Use cruise control on wet roads
    2. Brake hard when you feel the tires float
    3. Drive in the center of the road where water is deepest
    4. Keep tire pressure at the manufacturer's standard, reduce speed, and be careful in rain
    Show answer

    Keep tire pressure at the manufacturer's standard, reduce speed, and be careful in rain. Hydroplaning happens when tires ride on a film of water and lose steering capability. The manual says to guard against it by keeping tire pressure inflated to the manufacturer's recommended standard, reducing speed, and being careful while driving in the rain, and to avoid areas where water pools. Cruise control and hard braking on a floating tire both invite a skid. Roads are especially slippery when rain first starts, as oil, rubber and dirt mix with water.

18. 18. A Rhode Island permit holder has logged 60 supervised hours and passed the road test, but was convicted of a seat belt infraction four months ago. What blocks the Limited Provisional License?

    1. Nothing, because seat belt infractions are not moving violations
    2. The applicant must repeat the 33 hour driver education class
    3. The applicant must be free of moving violations and seat belt infractions for the previous six months
    4. The applicant must wait until age 18 for any license
    Show answer

    The applicant must be free of moving violations and seat belt infractions for the previous six months. To get a Limited Provisional License, the applicant must not have been convicted of a moving violation or a safety belt infraction during the previous six months. A conviction four months ago falls inside that window, so the license must wait. Seat belt infractions are named separately in the rule, which is why the idea that they do not count is wrong. Nothing in the manual requires repeating the 33 hour course for this, and the provisional license exists precisely for drivers under 18.

19. 19. What minimum vision, with corrective lenses if you normally wear them, does Rhode Island require for a Limited Instructional Permit?

    1. 20/70
    2. 20/100
    3. 20/20
    4. 20/40
    Show answer

    20/40. Every permit applicant takes a vision test, and the vision must be at least 20/40 with corrected lenses. Anyone who normally wears glasses or contact lenses to see at a distance must wear them for the test. The 20/20 choice describes perfect vision, which is not required. The 20/70 and 20/100 choices describe weaker vision than the Rhode Island minimum, so they would not qualify an applicant for the permit.

20. 20. An adult in Rhode Island refuses a chemical test for the third time within ten years. What license suspension does the law set?

    1. 1 to 2 years
    2. 6 months to 1 year
    3. 2 to 5 years
    4. 30 to 180 days
    Show answer

    2 to 5 years. Rhode Island's refusal statute counts prior violations over a ten year period. A third or subsequent refusal within ten years is a misdemeanor with up to one year in prison, an $800 to $1,000 fine, at least 100 hours of community restitution, and a license suspension of two to five years. Six months to one year is the first refusal suspension, and one to two years is the second refusal suspension. Thirty to 180 days is the suspension for a first DUI at a BAC of 0.08% to 0.1%, not a refusal.