TN Permit Practice Test 2

All 20 questions in test 2

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. Where does the X-shaped crossbuck sign identify the railroad tracks?

   
   1. Only at a hospital entrance
   2. At the beginning of a school zone
   3. At the railroad grade crossing itself
   4. On the far side of a construction detour
   Show answer

   At the railroad grade crossing itself. The crossbuck is placed at the railroad grade crossing and shows where the tracks are located. It is not a medical, school, or construction marker. A smaller plaque can show the number of tracks, which is important because one train can hide another approaching on a second track. Reduce speed, look and listen, and never assume the first visible train is the only rail hazard before crossing.

2. 2. Which of these can lead to suspension or revocation of a Tennessee driver license?

   1. Driving away from a gas station without paying for fuel
   2. Parking in a two-hour zone for three hours
   3. Letting a passenger eat in the car
   4. Using cruise control on an interstate
   Show answer

   Driving away from a gas station without paying for fuel. Tennessee's list of grounds for suspending or revoking a license includes driving a vehicle away from a gas station without paying for dispensed gas or diesel. It also includes failing to show proof of insurance after a crash or moving violation, and possessing five or more grams of methamphetamine in a vehicle. An overtime parking ticket, a passenger eating, and cruise control are not on the list.

3. 3. When may a driver turn left on a red light in Tennessee?

   1. From a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding
   2. From any street onto a two-way street without stopping
   3. Only when a police officer is not watching
   4. Never, even between two one-way streets
   Show answer

   From a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding. Tennessee permits a left turn on red in the limited situation of turning from a one-way street into another one-way street, after the driver stops and yields to traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The rule does not authorize a rolling turn or a left turn onto a two-way street. Check for a prohibition sign, stop completely at the proper location, and proceed only when the movement is clear.

4. 4. How soon must a Tennessee driver report a change of address to the Department of Safety?

   1. Within 30 days
   2. Within 60 days
   3. Within 10 days
   4. At the next renewal
   Show answer

   Within 10 days. A new address must be reported to the Department of Safety within ten days, online, by letter, or with a change of address form at a Driver License Service Center. The new address may not appear on the license until a new card is issued, but the official file must be correct. Thirty and sixty days are too long, and waiting for renewal can mean missing notices and even getting a ticket.

5. 5. How does Tennessee define dropping out of school for purposes of a minor losing driving privileges?

   1. 10 consecutive or 15 total days of unexcused absences in a semester
   2. Missing one day without a note
   3. Failing a single class
   4. 30 absences of any kind in a year
   Show answer

   10 consecutive or 15 total days of unexcused absences in a semester. Drivers under 18 can lose driving privileges for dropping out of school, defined as 10 consecutive or 15 total days of unexcused absences in a semester. They can also lose them for failing to make satisfactory progress, generally passing three subjects per grading period, or for carrying weapons on school property. One missed day or one failed class is not the definition, and 30 absences of any kind is not the measure.

6. 6. In Tennessee, is using headlights while the wipers are on a legal requirement or only a recommendation?

   1. It is Tennessee law
   2. Only a recommendation in the manual
   3. Required only on interstates
   4. Required only for commercial vehicles
   Show answer

   It is Tennessee law. Many drivers assume wipers and lights is friendly advice. In Tennessee it is the law, so a driver running wipers in the rain with the headlights off can be stopped and cited. The rule is not limited to interstates or to commercial vehicles; it applies on every road and to every vehicle. The reason is simple: precipitation hides unlit cars, and an oncoming driver who cannot see you cannot avoid you. Treat the wiper switch as a reminder that the headlight switch comes next.

7. 7. What do two solid yellow lines between opposing lanes mean?

   
   1. Cross them whenever no oncoming vehicle is visible
   2. Use them as a center lane for left turns
   3. Do not cross them to pass from either direction
   4. Cross them to pass only during daylight
   Show answer

   Do not cross them to pass from either direction. Two solid yellow lines separate opposing traffic and prohibit crossing from either direction to pass, even when no oncoming vehicle is visible. The marking is not a shared center lane and does not become permissive in daylight. A driver may cross a solid yellow line to turn into a driveway or side road when that movement is safe, but a turn is different from overtaking another vehicle. Read the pavement before changing lanes and keep the vehicle on its proper side of the roadway.

8. 8. How often does a crash involving a distracted driver occur in Tennessee, according to the state's crash network?

   1. Once a day
   2. Every 26 minutes and 13 seconds
   3. Every 5 hours
   4. Once a week
   Show answer

   Every 26 minutes and 13 seconds. According to Tennessee's integrated traffic analysis network, known as Titan, a crash involving a distracted driver occurs in Tennessee every 26 minutes and 13 seconds. Nationally cell phone use leads to 1.6 million crashes a year. Preset navigation and music before driving, and pull off the road if a call or message cannot wait. Even a hands free conversation divides attention.

9. 9. What does one solid white line between lanes of traffic mean in Tennessee?

   1. The lanes carry traffic in opposite directions
   2. You should stay in your lane and not cross the line to pass
   3. Passing is required before the line ends
   4. The lane is reserved for vehicles turning left
   Show answer

   You should stay in your lane and not cross the line to pass. White lane markings separate traffic moving in the same direction. A single solid white line signals that the driver should remain in the lane and should not cross it to pass, except when an emergency requires a lane change. The opposite-direction choice describes yellow markings, not white ones. Treat the solid line as a boundary that discourages routine movement across it, even when the adjacent lane looks open.

10. 10. On which Tennessee signs is red used as a legend color rather than a background?

    1. STOP and WRONG WAY signs
    2. Interstate route markers
    3. YIELD signs, parking prohibition signs and the prohibitory circle and slash
    4. School crossing signs
    Show answer

    YIELD signs, parking prohibition signs and the prohibitory circle and slash. Red shows up two ways on Tennessee signs. As a background it belongs to stop and wrong way messages. As a legend, meaning the border, lettering or symbol, it marks the YIELD sign, parking prohibition signs, and the red circle with a diagonal bar that says a movement is not allowed. STOP and WRONG WAY are red field signs, Interstate markers use red only in the shield, and school signs are yellow or fluorescent yellow green. Knowing which part is red helps you read a sign before the words are legible.

11. 11. For a driver age 21 or older operating a noncommercial vehicle in Tennessee, what is the lowest BAC covered by the general alcohol per se threshold?

    1. 0.10 percent or higher
    2. 0.02 percent or higher
    3. 0.05 percent or higher
    4. 0.08 percent or higher
    Show answer

    0.08 percent or higher. Tennessee identifies an alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher in an operator's blood or breath as unlawful for the general DUI rule. The lower .02 figure belongs to the separate underage driving while impaired provision for qualifying drivers under 21. The .05 and .10 choices do not match the threshold stated here. Do not use a personal feeling of sobriety to estimate legality. Alcohol can impair judgment before the listed threshold, and any observed impairment can still create serious legal and safety consequences.

12. 12. What action is required when a driver faces a DO NOT ENTER sign?

    
    1. Use the lane only for a U-turn
    2. Enter after slowing if no vehicles are visible
    3. Park beside the sign until traffic clears
    4. Do not enter that roadway or ramp
    Show answer

    Do not enter that roadway or ramp. A DO NOT ENTER sign marks an entrance that the driver must not use, commonly the exit end of a one-way street or ramp. The absence of visible traffic does not cancel the prohibition, so cautiously entering remains wrong. Parking beside the sign can create a hazard, and the sign does not grant a special U-turn lane. Treat the message as an immediate direction to stay out. If encountered accidentally, stop or reposition only when it can be done safely and legally.

13. 13. What is a two-way center lane marked with yellow lines and left-turn arrows reserved for?

    1. Passing slower traffic in the center of the roadway
    2. Vehicles preparing to make left turns from either direction
    3. Driving straight through until traffic becomes lighter
    4. Parking temporarily between intersections
    Show answer

    Vehicles preparing to make left turns from either direction. A two-way center lane is a shared turning space, not a travel or passing lane. Drivers from either direction may enter it to prepare for a left turn, but using it to continue straight or pass creates a conflict with opposing turning traffic. Parking there also blocks the intended movement. Check the arrows and lane boundaries, signal your turn, and enter only for the short distance needed to make the maneuver.

14. 14. When does Tennessee’s Move Over lane-change requirement apply based on roadway layout?

    1. On every one-lane road with a marked shoulder
    2. Only on a divided road with three lanes total
    3. Only where traffic moves in opposite directions in one lane
    4. On a multi-lane road with at least two lanes moving in the same direction
    Show answer

    On a multi-lane road with at least two lanes moving in the same direction. The lane-change requirement is tied to a multi-lane roadway having two or more lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. That arrangement gives the driver another lane to use when safely separating from the stopped vehicle. A one-lane road cannot offer the required adjacent alternative, and the rule is not limited to a three-lane divided design. Opposing traffic in one shared lane does not meet the stated layout. Count same-direction lanes first, then choose the safe response.

15. 15. A Tennessee driver is convicted of DUI with a 12-year-old in the car. What added penalty applies?

    1. A $50 fine
    2. An extra 48 hours in jail only
    3. No added penalty unless the child is hurt
    4. A mandatory minimum 30 days in jail and a $1,000 minimum fine
    Show answer

    A mandatory minimum 30 days in jail and a $1,000 minimum fine. Under the Drunk Driving Child Protection Act, a DUI with a child under 18 in the vehicle adds a mandatory minimum 30 days in jail and a mandatory minimum $1,000 fine on top of all other penalties. The penalty applies even if the child is unhurt. If the child suffers serious bodily injury the offense becomes a Class D felony, and if the child dies it is a Class C felony. A $50 fine or 48 hours understates it.

16. 16. What does a red circle and diagonal bar on a white sign mean?

    
    1. The action shown is prohibited
    2. The action shown is permitted only at night
    3. The action shown is required before turning
    4. The action shown is recommended
    Show answer

    The action shown is prohibited. A white sign carrying a red circle and diagonal bar means no to the symbol displayed behind it. For example, the marking can prohibit trucks, bicycles, a left turn, or a U-turn. It is not a recommendation, a nighttime permission, or a required turning step. Read the symbol inside the prohibition mark rather than focusing only on its color. If the displayed movement is crossed out, choose another lawful path or maneuver.

17. 17. How far from a traffic signal, stop sign, or other traffic control device is parking prohibited?

    1. Within 10 feet
    2. Within 30 feet
    3. Within 15 feet
    4. Within 50 feet
    Show answer

    Within 30 feet. Tennessee prohibits parking within 30 feet of a traffic signal, stop sign, or other traffic control device. The buffer keeps a parked vehicle from hiding the control or interfering with approaching drivers. Fifteen feet is the fire-hydrant distance, 20 feet is used for a crosswalk, and 50 feet applies near a railroad crossing. Identify the nearby object first, then apply its matching clearance instead of using one universal parking distance.

18. 18. What kind of information is generally conveyed by a rectangular regulatory sign?

    1. A warning that a railroad crossing is immediately ahead
    2. A recommendation for a scenic recreation area
    3. Laws, regulations, or instructions such as speed and lane use
    4. A notice that a road surface is slippery
    Show answer

    Laws, regulations, or instructions such as speed and lane use. A rectangular regulatory sign communicates a rule or instruction that governs road use. Examples include speed limits and lane-use directions. It is not the standard warning shape for a railroad, slippery pavement, or other hazard, and it is not primarily a recreation guide. Drivers should read the wording, symbol, or lane arrow and follow the displayed requirement. The shape helps identify the sign category, but the actual message supplies the specific rule. Treating a regulatory sign as optional can create a violation or conflict.

19. 19. Whose directions must drivers obey even when those directions differ from a traffic signal?

    1. Only another driver who has a vehicle larger than yours
    2. No one, because the signal always controls
    3. Only a passenger who is familiar with the road
    4. A law enforcement officer, highway worker, or school crossing guard controlling traffic
    Show answer

    A law enforcement officer, highway worker, or school crossing guard controlling traffic. Traffic control may be provided by authorized people as well as by signs and signals. A law enforcement officer, highway construction person, or school crossing guard may direct traffic, and drivers must follow that direction even when the light or sign appears to say something else. The size of another vehicle and a passenger's opinion have no controlling authority. Slow down, identify the person giving directions, and comply smoothly. This rule prevents a driver from following a signal into a work area or crossing movement being managed by a person.

20. 20. What habit does the Tennessee manual tell drivers to build whenever the windshield wipers are running?

    1. Switch on the hazard flashers
    2. Turn the headlights on whenever the wipers are in use
    3. Use only the parking lights
    4. Turn the headlights off to reduce glare
    Show answer

    Turn the headlights on whenever the wipers are in use. Rain, mist and snow cut visibility for everyone, and the manual wants headlights on as an automatic reflex the moment the wipers start. Headlights make your vehicle visible to oncoming drivers in spray and gray light long before they could pick out an unlit car. Hazard flashers are for a stopped or disabled vehicle and confuse drivers behind you if used while moving. Turning lights off or relying on parking lights removes the very thing that makes you visible. Wipers on, lights on, every time.