TN Permit Practice Test 12

All 20 questions in test 12

Every question below comes from the Tennessee 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 alcohol affect clear night vision in the manual's description?

   1. It reduces that ability by more than half
   2. It reduces it by only one tenth
   3. It improves it as the eyes relax
   4. It changes side vision but not night vision
   Show answer

   It reduces that ability by more than half. Alcohol reduces the ability to see clearly at night by more than half. Relaxed eye muscles do not improve vision; the manual also describes poor glare vision and slower glare recovery. A ten-percent reduction greatly understates the stated effect. Night driving already depends on seeing the road and reacting to what appears in the headlights, so impaired clarity adds to the difficulty of that task.

   Study this in the handbook: How alcohol and drugs affect driving

2. 2. No vehicles are in sight as you reach a stop sign in Tennessee. What does the manual still require before you go?

   1. Slow below 15 mph and roll through if clear
   2. Come to a complete stop before the crosswalk, and go only if you can do so safely
   3. Stop only when other vehicles are present
   4. Treat it as a yield sign at all times
   Show answer

   Come to a complete stop before the crosswalk, and go only if you can do so safely. The manual describes the octagon as the stop sign and says you must bring your car to a complete stop, not going beyond the crosswalk. If you cannot see, you may proceed cautiously to a point where you can see, and then go only if you can do so safely. An empty looking street changes nothing about the stop. Rolling through, stopping only when traffic is present, or treating the sign as a yield sign all ignore the required complete stop.

   Study this in the handbook: Sign colors, shapes and regulatory signs

3. 3. When may you park on an interstate shoulder under Tennessee's parking restrictions?

   1. In an emergency situation
   2. Whenever a phone call is inconvenient
   3. Whenever an exit was missed
   4. For an ordinary picnic stop
   Show answer

   In an emergency situation. The interstate shoulder is not a general-purpose parking area. Tennessee's no-parking list allows an exception there for an emergency situation. A routine picnic or a missed exit does not satisfy that condition. Plan ordinary stops at an appropriate location off the interstate rather than using the shoulder for convenience. The restriction applies even though the shoulder lies outside the normal through-traffic lane.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane use, passing and parking

4. 4. What should you do after seeing a warning that a STOP sign is ahead but not yet visible?

   
   1. Continue at the same speed until the sign appears
   2. Stop immediately in the lane before reaching the sign
   3. Begin slowing so you can stop at the hidden sign
   4. Turn around because the road is closed
   Show answer

   Begin slowing so you can stop at the hidden sign. The stop-ahead warning gives advance notice that the actual stop sign is not yet visible. Start slowing and plan to make the required full stop at the sign or stop line. Maintaining speed wastes the warning, while stopping far before the control can confuse following traffic unless conditions require it. The sign does not indicate a closure. Use the extra distance to check the intersection and arrive under control.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, railroad, work zone and guide signs

5. 5. What fine range does Tennessee list for littering, based on the amount of litter?

   1. Fines start at $50 and can reach $3,000
   2. Fines start at $10 and cap at $100
   3. A flat $500 fine for every offense
   4. Fines start at $250 and cap at $500
   Show answer

   Fines start at $50 and can reach $3,000. Littering fines start at $50 and can reach $3,000, depending on the amount of litter. A person convicted of littering is also required to perform up to 40 hours of public service removing litter. The court may require up to eight additional hours of work in a waste recycling center. Ten dollars understates the fifty dollar starting fine. No single flat charge applies to every litter amount.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the Basic Speed Rule

6. 6. In a vehicle with a steering wheel interlock system, what must a driver never do with the ignition while the vehicle is in motion?

   1. Turn on the headlights from the ignition switch
   2. Turn it to the lock position, because the steering wheel will lock
   3. Leave the ignition out of the lock position
   4. Nothing; ignition position never affects steering
   Show answer

   Turn it to the lock position, because the steering wheel will lock. Never turn the ignition to the lock position while the vehicle is moving. The manual warns that the steering wheel will lock when you try to turn and control of the vehicle will be lost. The warning concerns turning the ignition to the lock position while moving. Keeping the ignition out of the lock position avoids the action prohibited by this warning.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat, mirrors, steering and the hands free law

7. 7. A person applying for a Tennessee license has an unresolved license problem in another state. What happens?

   1. Tennessee cannot issue a license until the matter is resolved
   2. Tennessee issues the license and ignores the other state
   3. The applicant may drive in Tennessee for 6 months first
   4. Only a warning is printed on the new license
   Show answer

   Tennessee cannot issue a license until the matter is resolved. Tennessee checks the National Driver Register through the Problem Driver Pointer System before issuing a license. If a problem exists in another state, whether the application is a first license or a renewal, Tennessee cannot issue the license until the matter is resolved. Ignoring the other state is exactly what the system prevents. A six month driving grace period is not offered, and a warning printed on a new license understates the block, since no license issues at all. The examiners supply the reporting state's name and a contact number so the record can be cleared.

   Study this in the handbook: Points, suspensions and keeping your license

8. 8. Must an empty school bus stop before a railroad grade crossing?

   1. No, it may cross if no train is near
   2. Yes, even when it carries no passengers
   3. No, it may cross if the gates are open
   4. No, only occupied buses must stop
   Show answer

   Yes, even when it carries no passengers. Tennessee requires church and school buses to stop at railroad grade crossings even when they carry no passengers. This requirement is broader than reacting to an approaching train or an active warning signal. If you are following an empty bus, anticipate that stop rather than assuming it will continue because no children are aboard. The manual calls attention to these mandatory stops so other drivers can be prepared.

   Study this in the handbook: Braking, following distance and required stops

9. 9. How often should a driver fighting interstate hypnosis stop and refresh, even when feeling well?

   1. Every four hours or 250 miles
   2. Only when drowsiness begins
   3. Once per day at the midpoint
   4. At least every two hours, or every 100 miles or so, getting out and walking around
   Show answer

   At least every two hours, or every 100 miles or so, getting out and walking around. To fight interstate hypnosis, stop and get out of the car at least every two hours or every 100 miles or so, even if you feel well. Walk around to let your muscles relax. Keep shifting your eyes, keep the interior cool, and quit driving when drowsy. The manual recommends driving no more than eight hours per day. The recommended interval is at least every two hours or about 100 miles, not four hours or 250 miles.

   Study this in the handbook: Interstate driving

10. 10. Passing on the right is permitted under what condition in the Tennessee manual?

    1. By driving off the pavement whenever the shoulder is wide
    2. Anytime the vehicle ahead signals a left turn, using the shoulder
    3. On any two-lane road without checking conditions
    4. Only when conditions permit passing safely, and never by driving off the pavement
    Show answer

    Only when conditions permit passing safely, and never by driving off the pavement. Passing on the right is allowed only when conditions permit it safely and the manual’s listed roadway or turning conditions are met. Never pass by driving off the pavement. The manual also says not to pass on the right shoulder of the highway. A left-turn signal alone does not establish that a pass is safe. Wide shoulders do not authorize off pavement passing.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane use, passing and parking

11. 11. Once inside a roundabout, when should you stop?

    1. Only when directed by signs, signals, or a traffic officer
    2. At every exit to check for signs
    3. Whenever another vehicle approaches the entry
    4. Before each lane change inside the circle
    Show answer

    Only when directed by signs, signals, or a traffic officer. Yield to traffic already circulating and enter when there is a gap. Once inside, the manual says not to stop unless directed by signs, signals, or a traffic officer. Exit carefully, signal right, and watch for pedestrians at the exit crosswalk, yielding if necessary. The manual does not direct you to stop at every exit; follow signs, signals, and traffic-officer directions. Entrants yield to you once you circulate.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way, turns and emergency vehicles

12. 12. Since January 1, 2016, how often do Tennessee licenses for persons over 21 expire?

    1. Every five years on the birthday
    2. Every four years from issuance
    3. Every eight years from the date of issuance
    4. Every ten years on the birthday
    Show answer

    Every eight years from the date of issuance. Adult licenses now run eight years from issuance, which also means expiration normally no longer lands on a birthday. Five years on the birthday describes Class D licenses issued before the 2016 change. Four and ten year cycles appear nowhere in the fee discussion. Standard fees in the table are calculated around this eight year period plus an application fee. Renewal notices arrive eight to ten weeks ahead, but the cycle itself is anchored to issuance.

13. 13. Which steering method does Tennessee recommend for normal everyday driving, and why?

    1. Push-Pull, because it slows turning movements and keeps both hands on the wheel through the maneuver
    2. Hand-over-hand, because it turns the wheel fastest
    3. One hand at 12 o'clock, because it rests the other arm
    4. Crossing the arms, because it locks the grip
    Show answer

    Push-Pull, because it slows turning movements and keeps both hands on the wheel through the maneuver. Push-Pull is recommended for normal driving because it slows turning movements for smoother, safer turns and keeps both hands on the wheel throughout the maneuver. Hand-over-hand steering is quicker but can leave only one hand on the wheel, and clothing or jewelry may interfere. Speed of turning is not the priority. Push-Pull keeps both hands on the wheel through the maneuver. The manual recommends Push-Pull; crossing hands can allow clothing or jewelry to interfere and the body to become unbalanced.

14. 14. How should passengers be seated in a 15-passenger van to protect stability, and what loading is prohibited?

    1. Fill the rear seat first; roof cargo is allowed if tied
    2. Seat passengers evenly over the rear axle only
    3. Have passengers sit as far towards the front as possible; do not tow trailers or put cargo on the roof
    4. Load heavy cargo on the roof to lower the center of gravity
    Show answer

    Have passengers sit as far towards the front as possible; do not tow trailers or put cargo on the roof. Seat passengers as far toward the front as possible. In most 15-passenger vans, the rear seat is behind the rear axle, creating uneven weight distribution and moving the center of gravity rearward. Do not tow trailers or put cargo on the roof; these also affect the center of gravity and increase rollover risk. Drivers should be trained and experienced, and tires should be checked every trip, including the different front and rear pressure recommendations.

15. 15. Which timing of hardship-license approval requires the applicant to renew a Class PD learner permit when the hardship license expires at age 16?

    1. More than 1 month away
    2. More than 3 months away
    3. Less than 6 months away
    4. More than 12 months away
    Show answer

    Less than 6 months away. If a hardship license is approved less than 6 months before the applicant’s 16th birthday, the applicant must renew a Class PD learner permit when the hardship license expires. The learner permit must be held until the two license types provide a total of 180 days of driving experience and the graduated licensing requirements are met. More than 1 month away does not state the manual’s condition of less than 6 months before the 16th birthday.

    Study this in the handbook: Getting a license and taking the tests

16. 16. Under the manual's implied-consent discussion, what must support an officer's request for testing?

    1. A prior DUI conviction in every case
    2. A crash causing physical injury
    3. The driver volunteering to be tested
    4. Reasonable grounds to believe the driver was driving under the influence
    Show answer

    Reasonable grounds to believe the driver was driving under the influence. The manual describes a test requested by an officer who has reasonable grounds to believe the driver has been driving under the influence of an intoxicant or drug. It does not require a previous conviction or an injury crash before such a request. Focus on the officer's grounds concerning impaired driving, rather than assuming that testing applies only after an especially serious collision has occurred.

    Study this in the handbook: How alcohol and drugs affect driving

17. 17. Before a Tennessee license is suspended, revoked or canceled, what does the Department of Safety do?

    1. It mails the new license by certified mail only
    2. It suspends the license first and decides about a hearing later
    3. It gives the licensee an opportunity for a hearing before acting, except in cases of final judgments and convictions
    4. It waits one year before telling the licensee
    Show answer

    It gives the licensee an opportunity for a hearing before acting, except in cases of final judgments and convictions. The manual says that if a license is about to be suspended, revoked or cancelled, the department gives the driver an opportunity for a hearing prior to action, except in cases of final judgments and convictions. The department also notifies the licensee in writing of the proposed action first. The hearing comes before the action, not after it, so a suspend first and hear later approach is not the stated process.

    Study this in the handbook: Points, suspensions and keeping your license

18. 18. When is driving below 55 mph in the leftmost lane of a Tennessee interstate unlawful?

    1. At all times, with no exceptions allowed
    2. Unless traffic congestion and flow prevent safe driving at that speed
    3. Unless the driver has hazard lights turned on and flashing
    4. Unless the driver is in a vehicle carrying a heavy load
    Show answer

    Unless traffic congestion and flow prevent safe driving at that speed. It is unlawful to drive below 55 mph in the leftmost lane of an interstate unless traffic congestion and flow prevent safe driving at that speed. The manual expressly provides this exception. The manual allows an exception when traffic congestion and flow prevent safe driving at 55 mph. Hazard flashers and heavy loads do not change the left lane rule. No special sign is required for the rule to apply.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and the Basic Speed Rule

19. 19. Where does the Tennessee manual say children ages 12 and under are safer in a vehicle with air bags?

    1. In the front seat if the seat is moved back
    2. In the back seat
    3. In the bed of a pickup truck at low speed
    4. In any seat, as long as belts are worn
    Show answer

    In the back seat. The manual says children ages 12 and under are safer in the back seat, properly restrained in a child restraint device or safety belt. Air bags provide supplemental protection for adults but pose a severe risk to these children. If a child must ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger-side air bag, the manual says to move the seat back as far as possible and properly buckle the child.

    Study this in the handbook: Safety belts, child seats and air bags

20. 20. What does Tennessee law say about leaving the engine running in a parked, unattended vehicle?

    1. It is allowed for up to 10 minutes
    2. It is allowed if the doors are locked
    3. It is allowed only in cold weather
    4. It is against the law
    Show answer

    It is against the law. The Tennessee manual lists routine parking rules, and one of them states plainly that it is against the law to leave the engine running in a parked unattended vehicle. It also tells drivers to remove the ignition keys and suggests locking the doors. Time limits, locked doors and cold weather are not exceptions the manual gives. The same list of routine parking rules also says to remove the ignition keys from a parked and unattended vehicle and suggests locking the doors.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane use, passing and parking