RI Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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 Rhode Island's texting law, which use of a wireless handset is prohibited while operating a motor vehicle?

   1. Calling emergency services during an actual emergency
   2. Using a phone only after parking in a legal space
   3. Composing, reading, or sending a text message
   4. Listening to a passenger's spoken directions
   Show answer

   Composing, reading, or sending a text message. The manual states that, regardless of age, a driver may not use a wireless handset to compose, read, or send a text message while operating a motor vehicle. The parking choice describes a stopped situation but does not state the prohibited conduct, and emergency calling is not the listed texting activity. Spoken directions from a passenger are not handset texting. Remember the three covered actions: compose, read, and send.

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

2. 2. At this STOP sign, where should the vehicle stop before yielding?

   
   1. After entering the intersection, if cross traffic is present
   2. Before the crosswalk or stop line, then yield before proceeding
   3. Only beside the signpost when another car approaches
   4. At the next driveway beyond the intersection
   Show answer

   Before the crosswalk or stop line, then yield before proceeding. Rhode Island law requires every driver approaching a STOP sign to stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or at a clearly marked stop line when there is no crosswalk. After stopping, yield to traffic before moving into the intersection. Stopping beside the signpost, inside the intersection, or beyond it puts the vehicle too far forward and past the point the law names. Use the crosswalk or stop line as the visual cue, then scan for people and vehicles before proceeding.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

3. 3. Your Rhode Island license is suspended. When does the suspension period begin to run?

   1. Only after your license has been surrendered or forwarded to the DMV
   2. On the date the court mails the notice
   3. On the date of the violation
   4. After you complete a driver course
   Show answer

   Only after your license has been surrendered or forwarded to the DMV. A suspended driver must turn in the license in person to the Operator Control Section, or the Accident Section if the order results from a collision. The suspension period does not begin until the license has been surrendered or forwarded to the DMV, and failing to comply affects reinstatement. The violation date and the notice date do not start the clock. During the suspension you cannot legally drive in Rhode Island or any other state for any reason.

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

4. 4. A Rhode Island limited provisional license holder is driving without supervision. During which period is that unsupervised driving permitted?

   1. Only from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
   2. From 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM
   3. Only from sunrise to sunset
   4. At any hour if the vehicle has a safety belt
   Show answer

   From 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM. The manual permits unsupervised driving from 5:00 AM through 1:00 AM, with additional allowances for travel to or from work and certain volunteer emergency organizations. That means the restricted overnight interval is 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM. The sunrise-to-sunset choice is too narrow because the rule uses clock times, and a safety belt does not erase the time restriction. Read the schedule as daytime and evening driving bounded by those two stated times.

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

5. 5. Smoke is coming from beneath your vehicle's hood. What should you do first?

   1. Pull off immediately, switch off the ignition, and move away
   2. Open the hood while remaining in the traffic lane
   3. Drive until the engine cools completely
   4. Pour water over the engine before leaving the vehicle
   Show answer

   Pull off immediately, switch off the ignition, and move away. For smoke under the hood, the manual puts personal safety first: pull immediately off the road, turn the ignition off, and move away from the vehicle. Calling 911 comes next, while attempting to extinguish the fire is discouraged unless a fire extinguisher is available. Opening the hood in traffic leaves the driver exposed. The useful cue is smoke under the hood means stop, shut down, and create distance.

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

6. 6. Which adjustment helps prevent hydroplaning on a wet Rhode Island road?

   1. Brake hard whenever the roadway begins to shine
   2. Increase speed so water passes beneath the tires faster
   3. Reduce speed and keep tires inflated to the manufacturer's recommendation
   4. Steer toward areas where water has pooled
   Show answer

   Reduce speed and keep tires inflated to the manufacturer's recommendation. Hydroplaning begins when the front tires lose contact with a wet road, taking away steering capability. The manual recommends maintaining the manufacturer’s tire pressure, reducing speed, and being cautious in rain. Increasing speed works against those precautions, while pooled water is an area to avoid. Braking hard can also disturb control. Watch for standing water and ease off the accelerator before reaching it.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing

7. 7. When does the Rhode Island manual allow a driver to stop inside a roundabout?

   1. Whenever the driver misses an exit
   2. Whenever another car wants to enter
   3. Only in an emergency
   4. Whenever the driver wants to check directions
   Show answer

   Only in an emergency. Inside a roundabout, the instruction is to continue until the intended street is reached and never stop unless there is an emergency. A missed exit or a need to review directions is not the stated exception. Entering traffic must yield to vehicles already circulating, so routinely stopping to invite another driver in also reverses that arrangement. Keep moving through the circle during normal travel and use the prescribed exit movement when the proper street is reached.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and roundabouts

8. 8. When passing a bicyclist, how much clearance should a motorist allow whenever possible?

   
   1. No clearance if the bicycle is near the curb
   2. Less than one foot if the motorist sounds the horn
   3. Exactly two feet in every roadway condition
   4. As much as possible, generally three to five feet
   Show answer

   As much as possible, generally three to five feet. A bicyclist is vulnerable to potholes, puddles, debris, and sudden movement, so passing space must account for more than the bicycle’s current position. The manual recommends as much clearance as possible, giving three to five feet as a practical range, and says the driver should be prepared to stop suddenly. A horn does not make a close pass safe, and a curb does not remove the bicyclist’s need for room. Slow down, leave space, and wait when necessary.

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

9. 9. Which hand signal communicates that you are slowing or stopping?

   1. Hold the left hand and arm down and still
   2. Hold the left arm straight out
   3. Hold the left hand and arm up
   4. Wave the left arm in a circle
   Show answer

   Hold the left hand and arm down and still. Point the left hand and arm down, keeping both still, when signaling that you will slow or stop. The straight-out position is the left-turn signal, and the raised position is the right-turn signal. Confusing those positions gives the driver behind you a different message. As with other hand signals, make the movement in time to let following drivers know what you intend to do.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and roadway markings

10. 10. 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.

11. 11. A 19-year-old in Rhode Island is convicted of a first offense with a BAC of 0.04%. What penalties does the table list?

    1. 30 to 180 day suspension and a $100 to $300 fine
    2. 6 to 12 month suspension and a $150 assessment
    3. 1 to 3 month suspension, a $250 fine, 30 hours of community service
    4. Suspension until age 21
    Show answer

    1 to 3 month suspension, a $250 fine, 30 hours of community service. For drivers 18 to 21 with a BAC of 0.02% to 0.08%, the first violation brings a 1 to 3 month license suspension, a $250 fine, and 30 hours of community service, plus a special course and treatment. The 6 to 12 month suspension with a $150 assessment is the under 18 first offense. The 30 to 180 day suspension with a $100 to $300 fine is the adult first DUI at 0.08% to 0.1%. Suspension until age 21 is an under 18 repeat penalty.

    Study this in the handbook: Refusal and DUI penalties

12. 12. Which hand signal tells drivers behind you that you intend to turn left?

    1. Hold the left hand and arm up
    2. Hold the left hand and arm straight out and still
    3. Hold the left hand and arm down
    4. Wave the left arm up and down
    Show answer

    Hold the left hand and arm straight out and still. For a left turn, extend your left hand and arm straight out and keep them still. The upward arm position means a right turn, while the downward position means slowing or stopping. These are separate messages, so choosing the proper position is part of communicating your intended movement. Give the signal in time for drivers behind you to understand what you plan to do rather than waiting until the turn begins.

    Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and roadway markings

13. 13. What traffic controls does a Rhode Island roundabout use instead of stop signs or traffic signals?

    1. Stop signs at every entrance and exit
    2. Only flashing red lights and railroad gates
    3. Yield signs, directional signs, and pavement markings
    4. No signs or markings because circulating traffic has priority
    Show answer

    Yield signs, directional signs, and pavement markings. Rhode Island's manual explains that a roundabout does not use stop signs or traffic signals as its control method. Instead, yield signs, directional signs, and pavement markings guide traffic through the intersection. The claim that no guidance is needed is especially unsafe because entering drivers must yield and choose the proper path. Approach slowly, follow the posted direction, and obey the yield instruction before merging into circulating traffic.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic lights and roundabouts

14. 14. During which daily period does Rhode Island require vehicle headlights, even with clear weather?

    1. From one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise
    2. From midnight to sunrise
    3. From sunset until midnight
    4. From sunset to sunrise
    Show answer

    From sunset to sunrise. The daily lighting period starts at sunset and continues through sunrise. A driver cannot wait another hour after sunset just because the weather is clear. Midnight is neither the starting point nor the ending point of this requirement. The manual also lists weather and limited visibility as separate reasons to use lights. For a clear evening trip, the setting sun marks the beginning of the required period, and the lights stay on through the night.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and headlights

15. 15. Which document must be shown for a Rhode Island road test vehicle's insurance requirement?

    1. A vehicle sales advertisement
    2. A utility bill in the vehicle owner's name
    3. A school transcript for the permit holder
    4. A current Rhode Island insurance identification card
    Show answer

    A current Rhode Island insurance identification card. The road test checklist requires proof of valid Rhode Island insurance, and it identifies an insurance card as acceptable evidence. A utility bill may establish an address in another setting, but it does not prove that the test vehicle is insured. A school transcript and a sales advertisement provide no insurance certification. Before the appointment, confirm that the vehicle owner is listed on the card and bring the original or an accepted photocopy so the examiner can verify the vehicle requirement.

16. 16. Your car has anti-lock brakes and you need to stop on a snowy or icy road. How should you use the brake pedal?

    1. Press the pedal down firmly and hold it
    2. Pump the pedal gently over and over
    3. Tap the pedal lightly, then release it fully
    4. Slam the pedal down, then let it up quickly
    Show answer

    Press the pedal down firmly and hold it. For winter driving, the manual says to brake early, brake slowly, and never slam on the brakes. With anti-lock brakes, push the pedal down firmly and keep holding it. Gentle pumping is the method for a car without anti-lock brakes, so it is the wrong technique here. Tapping and releasing, or slamming and letting up, does not match either method. Whatever brakes you have, leave yourself plenty of room to stop, and drive well below the posted limit when the first snow or ice arrives.

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

17. 17. How far from a crosswalk at an intersection must a Rhode Island driver avoid parking?

    1. Within 20 feet
    2. Within 5 feet
    3. Within 50 feet
    4. Only directly on the painted stripes
    Show answer

    Within 20 feet. Rhode Island's parking restrictions include the space within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. The prohibition is broader than the painted stripes themselves, so parking five feet away still blocks the protected approach and is not allowed. Fifty feet is a different distance used elsewhere in the parking list, including railroad crossings. Before leaving a vehicle, scan beyond the exact markings and measure the nearby curb features that create a statutory buffer.

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

18. 18. Which roadway change does this Rhode Island warning sign announce?

    
    1. A traffic signal is ahead
    2. The road narrows from the right
    3. A school crossing is ahead
    4. The highway is entering a divided section
    Show answer

    The road narrows from the right. The warning-sign panel identifies a road narrowing from the right as an upcoming roadway change. Drivers should anticipate less usable space, scan for vehicles beside them, and adjust position smoothly rather than waiting until the pavement pinches. A traffic signal, school crossing, and divided highway each have separate warning labels in the same panel. Treat the narrowing as advance information, not as a command to stop or an instruction to turn. Reducing speed early gives you time to read the roadway and cooperate with nearby traffic.

19. 19. After drinking alcohol, what actually reduces its effects on a driver?

    1. Strong coffee
    2. Time
    3. A meal after drinking
    4. Fresh air and exercise
    Show answer

    Time. Only time reduces the effects of alcohol after drinking. The liver processes alcohol at a set rate, and the body eliminates it through the kidneys and lungs. Coffee, food, fresh air, and exercise may make an intoxicated person feel more awake, but they do not make that person sober. Feeling alert after a cup of coffee therefore does not mean that the alcohol has stopped affecting driving ability.

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

20. 20. At a four-way stop, a vehicle on your left stopped before you arrived. Who should proceed first?

    1. You, because your vehicle is on its right
    2. You, if your intended route goes straight
    3. Whichever driver flashes the headlights first
    4. The vehicle that stopped before you arrived
    Show answer

    The vehicle that stopped before you arrived. Arrival order controls when vehicles reach a four-way stop at different times. The vehicle that stopped first should be allowed to go first. The rule about yielding to a vehicle on the right addresses simultaneous arrival, so it does not move a later arrival ahead of an earlier one. Traveling straight or flashing headlights also does not replace the arrival order. Stop fully and identify which vehicles were already waiting before deciding when to enter.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, turning and passing