TN Permit Practice Test 17

All 20 questions in test 17

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 should a Tennessee driver pass a person riding a bicycle on the roadway?

   1. Leave at least 3 feet and pass slowly, waiting when the lane is too narrow
   2. Squeeze past within the same lane without slowing
   3. Honk continuously until the rider moves onto the sidewalk
   4. Force the rider onto the shoulder
   Show answer

   Leave at least 3 feet and pass slowly, waiting when the lane is too narrow. Pass a bicyclist slowly, leaving at least 3 feet of clearance until safely past. Do not pass if the street is too narrow; wait for enough room. Do not blast your horn or otherwise startle or intimidate the rider. The manual requires passing slowly with at least 3 feet of clearance and waiting if the street is too narrow. Continuous honking startles riders and is not a passing method.

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

2. 2. A reverse turn sign warns of two turns in opposite directions separated by less than how much distance?

   1. Less than 100 feet apart
   2. Less than one mile apart
   3. Less than 300 feet apart
   4. Less than 600 feet apart
   Show answer

   Less than 600 feet apart. The reverse turn sign marks two turns in opposite directions that are less than 600 feet apart. The example in the manual warns of a right turn followed by a left turn. The manual gives a spacing threshold of less than 600 feet, not less than 100 feet. The stated spacing is less than 600 feet, not less than one mile. Three hundred feet limits center turn lanes.

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

3. 3. Which form certifies the behind-the-wheel practice hours for a young Tennessee applicant?

   1. A school attendance letter only
   2. A vehicle inspection certificate
   3. An insurance declaration page
   4. Form SF-1256 for 50 hours of driving experience
   Show answer

   Form SF-1256 for 50 hours of driving experience. Form SF-1256 certifies 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience. The application checklist lists it for applicants under 18 after holding a learner permit for six months. Proof of school attendance or progress is a separate requirement. Attendance proof serves a different eligibility check. The application checklist identifies Form SF-1256 as the certification of 50 hours of driving experience. Insurance proof does not certify supervised driving time.

4. 4. Per the donation information in the Tennessee manual, one organ donor can save up to how many lives?

   1. As many as 2 lives
   2. As many as 8 lives
   3. As many as 20 lives
   4. As many as 75 lives
   Show answer

   As many as 8 lives. Donor registration offered during licensing rests on striking numbers: one organ donor can save up to eight lives through major organ transplants. Two understates how many recipients different organs can reach. Twenty overshoots the organ figure given in the discussion. Seventy-five is the trap in this set because that larger count describes lives improved by one tissue donor, a related statistic with a different meaning from lives saved by organs.

5. 5. What document must an honorably discharged veteran present to have Veteran displayed on a Tennessee license?

   1. A certified copy of DD-214, NAVPERS-660 discharge certificate, or DD Form 2 retired ID card
   2. A VA clinic appointment card
   3. A county veteran service letter alone
   4. A photocopy of a unit photograph
   Show answer

   A certified copy of DD-214, NAVPERS-660 discharge certificate, or DD Form 2 retired ID card. Certify honorably discharged veteran status on the application and present a certified copy of DD-214, a NAVPERS-660 honorable discharge certificate, or a DD Form 2 retired identification card. This is not one of the three documents the manual lists for the Veteran designation. This is not one of the three documents the manual lists for the Veteran designation. This is not one of the three documents the manual lists for the Veteran designation.

6. 6. You park on or along a Tennessee highway at night. Which lights should you leave on?

   1. Your headlights, so approaching drivers see the car clearly
   2. No lights, to save the battery
   3. Your emergency and parking lights
   4. Your high beams if parked facing traffic
   Show answer

   Your emergency and parking lights. When parking on or along a highway at night, leave emergency and parking lights on. The manual says never to leave headlights on when parked at night, even briefly, because they can blind approaching drivers and confuse them about the road’s position. The danger increases if parked on the wrong side of the roadway. Headlights on a parked car can blind and confuse approaching drivers.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights, night driving and bad weather

7. 7. Crossbuck lights are flashing at a Tennessee railroad crossing. What is the required action?

   1. Speed across before the train arrives
   2. Cross if another car crosses first
   3. Drive around lowered gates on the shoulder
   4. Stop and wait until the lights stop and it is safe to proceed
   Show answer

   Stop and wait until the lights stop and it is safe to proceed. Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing require a stop. Wait until the lights stop flashing and it is safe to proceed. Do not drive around lowered gates or try to beat a train. Racing a train risks a catastrophic collision. Another driver error does not make crossing safe. Going around gates defeats the warning system. The manual passage behind this item states: "Flashing lights on a crossbuck mean that a train is coming. Always stop when the lights are flashing. Remain stopped until the train has passed"

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

8. 8. What does a posted maximum speed limit represent for a Tennessee driver?

   1. The minimum speed to maintain in all weather
   2. The maximum lawful speed under ideal conditions, requiring slower speeds when conditions worsen
   3. A suggested speed that can be exceeded by 15 mph
   4. The speed to use only when police are present
   Show answer

   The maximum lawful speed under ideal conditions, requiring slower speeds when conditions worsen. A posted maximum speed limit is the maximum legal speed, but safe speed also depends on conditions. The manual says to adjust speed for traffic, road surface, weather, and visibility; even a speed below the posted limit can be unsafe. Limits cap speed rather than set a floor. No buffer above the limit is granted by the sign. The limit binds regardless of police presence.

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

9. 9. After a hardship license expires at age 16 and the holder renews a Class PD learner permit, what total driving experience must be attained between the two license types?

   1. A total of 180 days
   2. A total of 90 days
   3. A total of 270 days
   4. A total of 365 days
   Show answer

   A total of 180 days. The driver must hold the learner permit until attaining a total of 180 days of driving experience between the hardship license and learner permit, and must meet the Graduated Driver License requirements. Ninety days supplies only half the combined experience. 270 days is 90 days more than the stated 180-day total. A full year exceeds the combined requirement. The manual passage behind this item states: "a total of 180 days driving experience between the two license types and meet"

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

10. 10. What happens when a vehicle hydroplanes on a wet Tennessee road?

    1. Tires ride on water and lose steering and braking contact
    2. Tires grip harder due to water pressure
    3. Only rear tires lose contact
    4. Hydroplaning occurs only above 100 mph
    Show answer

    Tires ride on water and lose steering and braking contact. Hydroplaning means tires lose contact with the roadway because of water, so a slight change of direction or a gust of wind can cause the car to skid or spin. Water does not improve grip; it removes the contact that steering and braking need. The manual does not limit the event to rear tires or to triple digit speed. When a vehicle starts to hydroplane, slow down gradually by letting up on the gas, and do not slam on the brakes.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights, night driving and bad weather

11. 11. Which turning movement is the center lane of a Tennessee two-way highway with three or five lanes reserved for?

    1. Passing slower traffic in both directions
    2. Left turns only
    3. Emergency vehicle travel at all times
    4. Parking while waiting for passengers
    Show answer

    Left turns only. The manual says the center lane of a two-way three-lane or five-lane highway is used only for left turns. Shared center turn lanes may be used for left turns from or into the roadway, but not for passing or travel farther than 300 feet. Enter only when safe. Passing there creates head on conflicts. Emergency travel is not its purpose. Passenger parking never belongs in it.

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

12. 12. What BAC threshold does the manual describe as always illegal in Tennessee, expressed as drops of alcohol per 10,000 drops of blood?

    1. .05, or five drops of alcohol
    2. .10, or ten drops of alcohol
    3. .08, or eight drops of alcohol
    4. .02, or two drops of alcohol
    Show answer

    .08, or eight drops of alcohol. The manual identifies .08 percent BAC as the level of intoxication that is always illegal in Tennessee and describes it as eight drops of alcohol per 10,000 drops of blood. Lower limits apply to some drivers. Five drops understates the legal line. Ten drops overshoots the stated limit. Two drops marks underage thresholds instead. The manual passage behind this item states: "number, the more impaired a person is. In most states, including Tennessee, .08 is the level of intoxication which is always illegal."

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

13. 13. How should you treat your headlights when meeting or following a motorcycle at night?

    1. Keep high beams on so the motorcycle stays visible
    2. Flash your lights repeatedly to warn the rider
    3. Use parking lights to avoid glare entirely
    4. Dim your headlights as you would for other cars and trucks
    Show answer

    Dim your headlights as you would for other cars and trucks. At night, dim your headlights for motorcycles as you would for other cars and trucks. A motorcycle’s single headlight or tail light can blend into other vehicle lights, making distance easy to misjudge. High beams blind the exposed rider. The manual says to dim headlights; it also warns that flashing high beams can distract other drivers. The manual prohibits driving with only parking lights at night; dim the headlights instead.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and slow vehicles

14. 14. On a four-lane highway with a center turn lane, a school bus stops on the opposite side to load children, with red warning lights flashing and its stop arm extended. Must opposing drivers stop?

    1. No, the turn lane counts as a barrier
    2. Only if children cross the center lane
    3. Yes, a center turn lane is not a barrier, so drivers meeting the bus must stop in both directions
    4. Only during posted school hours
    Show answer

    Yes, a center turn lane is not a barrier, so drivers meeting the bus must stop in both directions. Yes. A center turn lane is a fifth lane suitable for vehicles, not a dividing barrier, so drivers meeting the stopped bus must stop. The manual distinguishes highways with separate roadways divided by median space or a barrier unsuitable for vehicular traffic, where opposing drivers need not stop but should proceed cautiously. The turn lane is expressly not a barrier. The red warning lights and extended stop arm require a stop on this road, even before children cross.

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

15. 15. A 9-year-old wants to ride in the bed of a pickup truck on a Tennessee interstate highway during an ordinary trip unrelated to agricultural activities or an organized parade, procession, or ceremonial event. What does the law say?

    1. It is allowed if an adult rides in the bed too
    2. It is allowed when the truck stays under 20 mph
    3. It is allowed on state highways but not interstates
    4. It is against the law on any state or interstate highway
    Show answer

    It is against the law on any state or interstate highway. The manual prohibits children ages six through twelve from riding in a pickup bed on state or interstate highways. It allows exceptions for agricultural activities and for an organized parade, procession, or other ceremonial event when the vehicle does not exceed 20 mph. Neither exception applies to the trip described. Cities and counties may also prohibit such rides on local roads. An adult in the bed does not make the ride legal for ages 6 to 12.

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

16. 16. Which crash counts as a reportable crash that must be reported to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security?

    1. Any crash with property damage over $50
    2. Only crashes on interstate highways
    3. A crash where a person is killed or injured, or property damage to one person exceeds $400
    4. Only crashes where a vehicle must be towed
    Show answer

    A crash where a person is killed or injured, or property damage to one person exceeds $400. Reportable crashes form a defined category in Tennessee. They include any crash in this state where a person is killed or injured, plus crashes where damage to the property of any one person, including the driver, exceeds four hundred dollars. The $50 line controls immediate police notification instead, so it cannot define this category. Location on an interstate does not matter, and towing is not the test either. Once a crash is reportable, the owner or operator must also file the Owner/Driver Report within the stated deadline.

    Study this in the handbook: What to do after a crash

17. 17. A driver is convicted of failure to show evidence of financial responsibility in Tennessee. What happens besides license suspension?

    1. The vehicle is seized and sold by the state
    2. A stop is placed on renewal of vehicle tags and registration
    3. Only a $50 fine is added
    4. The driver must retake the knowledge test only
    Show answer

    A stop is placed on renewal of vehicle tags and registration. After conviction for failure to show evidence of financial responsibility, driving privileges are suspended and a stop is placed on renewal of vehicle tags and registration. Before reinstatement, evidence of financial responsibility and any other required items must be submitted. Vehicle seizure belongs to certain DUI situations, not this conviction. A $50 fine understates it; license and tag renewal both stop. Retaking a test alone does not resolve the suspension and tag stop.

    Study this in the handbook: What to do after a crash

18. 18. Using the two-second rule, you reach the marker before finishing the count. What does that tell you?

    1. Your following distance is exactly right
    2. You should speed up to match the count
    3. You are following too closely and should slow slightly to add space
    4. Your brakes need immediate inspection
    Show answer

    You are following too closely and should slow slightly to add space. Counting one-thousand-one and one-thousand-two against a fixed roadside marker exposes tailgating in plain arithmetic. Arriving before the count ends means the gap shrinks below two seconds, so easing off slightly and rechecking against a fresh marker restores the cushion. Accelerating compresses the space further, the opposite of the remedy, and healthy brakes cannot manufacture missing distance. Repeat the check until a full two seconds pass between the lead vehicle and yours at the same point.

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

19. 19. Does a baby in a car seat count toward the two person minimum for a Tennessee HOV lane?

    1. Yes, a baby in a car seat qualifies just like any other passenger
    2. No, only passengers age 16 and older count
    3. Only if the baby is in the front seat
    4. Only on weekends when the lane is general purpose
    Show answer

    Yes, a baby in a car seat qualifies just like any other passenger. Occupancy counting for Tennessee HOV lanes treats every person alike. A baby in a car seat qualifies just like any other passenger toward the two or more persons requirement during controlled hours. Imposing a 16 year age floor invents a restriction the rule omits. Front seat placement for a baby contradicts child restraint guidance and is irrelevant to the count. Weekend general purpose use makes counting unnecessary then, but the qualifying rule for peak hours still includes the baby. A parent driving with an infant may lawfully use the lane when controls are active.

    Study this in the handbook: Interstate driving

20. 20. By law, what minimum percentage of Tennessee knowledge test questions must deal with drugs or alcohol and driving?

    1. At least 10 percent
    2. At least 25 percent
    3. At least 50 percent
    4. No share is set by law
    Show answer

    At least 25 percent. By law, at least 25 percent of Tennessee knowledge test questions must concern drugs or alcohol and driving. Ten percent is below that minimum, while 50 percent is twice the stated minimum. The manual describes the overall test as approximately 25 percent each for signs and signals, safe driving principles, rules of the road, and drugs and alcohol. Ten percent understates the mandated share of at least 25 percent.

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