TN Permit Practice Test 20

All 20 questions in test 20

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 may the HOV lane be used on weekends and during non-peak weekday times?

   1. It closes to all traffic
   2. It serves as a general purpose lane
   3. It becomes a truck only lane
   4. It remains restricted to two or more occupants
   Show answer

   It serves as a general purpose lane. The HOV lane serves as a general purpose lane on weekends and during non-peak traffic times on weekdays. The lane stays open to traffic. No truck only conversion occurs. Occupancy rules relax outside peak windows. The manual passage behind this item states: "HOV lane serves as a general purpose lane on weekends and during non-peak traffic times on weekdays." Outside those peak windows, treat the lane as open general purpose traffic space rather than a restricted lane.

   Study this in the handbook: Interstate driving

2. 2. A nonprescription medicine label warns that it may cause drowsiness. What should a driver do?

   1. Heed the warning and check with a doctor or pharmacist if unsure about driving
   2. Ignore it because no prescription is required
   3. Assume a familiar route removes the concern
   4. Take it only after starting the trip
   Show answer

   Heed the warning and check with a doctor or pharmacist if unsure about driving. Nonprescription medicine can contain compounds that affect driving, so read and heed warnings about drowsiness or operating machinery. A familiar road does not resolve uncertainty about the medicine's effects. The manual advises checking with a doctor or pharmacist when you have questions about a drug or combination of drugs. Buying it without a prescription is not a reason to dismiss a warning that concerns alertness behind the wheel.

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

3. 3. What is the classification and fine range for failing to stop for a stopped Tennessee school bus?

   1. Class C misdemeanor, $50 fine
   2. Class B misdemeanor, up to $500
   3. Class A misdemeanor, fined between $250 and $1,000
   4. Civil penalty of $100 only
   Show answer

   Class A misdemeanor, fined between $250 and $1,000. The manual classifies failing to stop for a stopped school bus as a Class A misdemeanor with a fine between $250 and $1,000. When a school bus stops at an intersection to load or unload children, drivers from all directions must stop until it resumes motion. Fifty dollars matches texting penalties. That understates classification and cap. One hundred dollars fits handicapped parking misuse.

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

4. 4. Before driving while taking a newly prescribed sedative, what should you do?

   1. Assume the prescription proves driving is safe
   2. Skip the warning if the dose is small
   3. Discuss its effect on driving with the doctor
   4. Test its effect while driving a familiar route
   Show answer

   Discuss its effect on driving with the doctor. A prescription does not establish that a medicine is safe to use while driving. Tennessee advises discussing a tranquilizer or sedative's driving effects with the doctor. A familiar route is not a suitable place to discover that your alertness has changed. Ask before getting behind the wheel, and remember that a legal prescription is not a defense for driving under the influence of the medicine.

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

5. 5. An unprotected fire hose crosses your path at an emergency scene. When may you drive over it?

   1. Whenever no firefighter is beside it
   2. Only when the fire official in command permits it
   3. Whenever your vehicle can clear it
   4. After sounding the horn
   Show answer

   Only when the fire official in command permits it. Do not drive across an unprotected fire department hose unless the official in command says you may. The condition is permission from the responsible fire official, not an estimate of your vehicle's clearance. A horn does not replace that permission. At an emergency scene, watch the ground as well as the vehicles and people, since a hose across the travel path creates a separate restriction on movement.

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

6. 6. Up to what maximum weight may a vehicle be operated on a Tennessee Class D license, setting aside hazmat, large passenger, and school bus use?

   1. 26,000 pounds
   2. 26,001 pounds or more
   3. 10,000 pounds
   4. 80,000 pounds
   Show answer

   26,000 pounds. A Class D license covers vehicles up to 26,000 pounds. It does not cover vehicles transporting hazardous materials, carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver, or used as school buses. That weight requires a commercial license class. 10,000 pounds is below the stated 26,000-pound maximum. That is tractor trailer territory, not Class D. The manual passage behind this item states: "A Class D license is required to operate any vehicle, up to a maximum weight of 26,000 pounds."

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

7. 7. A school bus begins flashing yellow warning lights. What should you do?

   1. Slow down and prepare to stop
   2. Maintain speed until children enter the road
   3. Accelerate to get past before it stops
   4. Treat the yellow lights as a signal to pass
   Show answer

   Slow down and prepare to stop. Yellow school-bus warning lights mean the bus is preparing to stop for children. Slow down and get ready to stop rather than using the warning as an opportunity to hurry past. Red flashing lights and the extended stop arm indicate the later stopped condition. Recognizing the yellow stage gives you time to respond before children are entering or leaving the bus and before the required stop.

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

8. 8. A motor-driven cycle under what engine size falls under the Class M limited discussion?

   1. Under 50 cubic centimeters
   2. Under 125 cubic centimeters
   3. Under 250 cubic centimeters
   4. Under 500 cubic centimeters
   Show answer

   Under 125 cubic centimeters. The manual generally distinguishes motorcycle license classes by engine size: a vehicle under 125 cubic centimeters requires a Class M limited license, while one over 125 cubic centimeters requires a Class M license. Fifty understates the engine ceiling described. Two hundred fifty doubles the stated limit. Five hundred covers full motorcycles, not this limited class. The manual passage behind this item states: "vehicle is under 125 cubic centimeters, a Class M limited license is needed. Class"

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

9. 9. When is wet pavement most treacherous after rain begins in Tennessee guidance?

   1. After an hour of steady rain washes the road
   2. Only when standing water causes hydroplaning
   3. Wet pavement grip equals dry grip at low speed
   4. When it first begins to rain, as dirt and oil mix with water into a greasy film
   Show answer

   When it first begins to rain, as dirt and oil mix with water into a greasy film. Pavement is particularly treacherous when rain first begins because accumulated dirt and oil mix with water to form a greasy film. The manual says most roads are most slippery then and advises slowing at the first sign of rain. It also explains that hot-day pavement can be extremely slippery until surface oil washes off. Hydroplaning is a separate loss of tire contact with the road and can occur under certain conditions at any speed.

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

10. 10. At an intersection with no painted lines, is there still a crosswalk in Tennessee guidance?

    1. Yes, there is a crosswalk at every intersection even without painted lines
    2. No, crosswalks exist only where painted
    3. Only if a pedestrian signal is installed
    4. Only at intersections with stop signs
    Show answer

    Yes, there is a crosswalk at every intersection even without painted lines. Paint does not create the pedestrian's legal space at an intersection. Tennessee states there is a crosswalk at every intersection, even if painted lines and boundaries do not mark the crossing, and pedestrians generally hold right of way there. Drivers who scan only for painted zebras miss the unmarked crossings where people still lawfully step out. A pedestrian signal adds control but does not create the crosswalk. Stop signs likewise regulate vehicles without defining pedestrian space. Regardless of right of way arguments, drivers must exercise great care to avoid striking pedestrians anywhere.

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

11. 11. How are reversible lanes usually marked, and what must you check before using one?

    1. With single white dashes; check your mirrors
    2. With green arrows painted on the pavement
    3. With double-broken yellow lines; check which direction may use it at that time
    4. With solid blue lines and roadside signs only
    Show answer

    With double-broken yellow lines; check which direction may use it at that time. Reversible lanes carry traffic in one direction at certain times and in the opposite direction at others. They are usually marked with double-broken yellow lines. Before entering, check which lanes may be used for your direction at that time. Roadside or overhead signs and special lights may control their use. White dashes mark ordinary lane lines. The manual identifies double-broken yellow lines as the usual pavement marking and describes green arrows as lane-control signals.

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

12. 12. Parking uphill without a curb, which way should the front wheels be turned?

    1. Toward the edge of the roadway (right)
    2. Away from the edge so the car rolls into traffic
    3. Straight ahead on gentle grades only
    4. Toward the curb side only when raining
    Show answer

    Toward the edge of the roadway (right). When parking uphill without a curb, turn the front wheels toward the edge of the roadway, to the right. The manual says this allows the car to roll away from the center of the road if the brakes fail. Always set the parking brake when parked. Away aim steers rollback into live lanes. Gentle grades still demand turned wheels. Rain is not the trigger for this habit.

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

13. 13. When backing a vehicle with an automatic transmission, how should the driver position and look?

    1. Both hands at 9 and 3 while watching only the mirrors
    2. Left hand at 12 o'clock, turn right, place the right arm over the seat back, and look over the shoulder through the rear window
    3. Look through the windshield and steer by the side mirrors alone
    4. Open the door and lean out to watch the rear tire
    Show answer

    Left hand at 12 o'clock, turn right, place the right arm over the seat back, and look over the shoulder through the rear window. Place your left hand at 12 o’clock, turn right, put your right arm over the seat back, and look over your shoulder through the rear window. Back slowly using idle speed or gentle acceleration, and keep looking rearward until stopped. Mirrors leave a blind area behind. The windshield view cannot show the rear path. The manual directs you to look over your shoulder through the rear window.

14. 14. In a manual-transmission vehicle, may you coast downhill while holding the clutch down?

    1. Yes, if a gear remains selected
    2. No, coasting with the clutch depressed is prohibited
    3. Yes, whenever traffic is light
    4. Yes, if you keep a foot near the brake
    Show answer

    No, coasting with the clutch depressed is prohibited. Holding the clutch down while coasting downhill reduces control, even if the gear lever remains in a selected gear. Tennessee's guidance expressly prohibits this practice for manual-transmission vehicles. Light traffic or readiness to brake does not change the stated rule. The important distinction is whether the clutch is engaged, not merely what the gear lever shows while the vehicle rolls down the grade.

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

15. 15. What happens when a vehicle hydroplanes, and how should the driver slow down?

    1. Brake hard immediately and yank the wheel
    2. Accelerate to regain contact at once
    3. Turn sharply toward the deeper water
    4. Tires lose contact with the roadway; slow gradually by letting up on the gas and do not slam the brakes
    Show answer

    Tires lose contact with the roadway; slow gradually by letting up on the gas and do not slam the brakes. In heavy rain, tires can lose all contact with the roadway, reducing or eliminating steering and braking traction. A slight direction change or a gust of wind can cause a skid or spin. Slow gradually by letting up on the gas; do not slam on the brakes. Hard braking contradicts the gradual slowdown advised. The manual says to let up on the gas and slow gradually, not accelerate.

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

16. 16. What should a driver in a merging lane do when the lane ends on a Tennessee highway?

    1. Force into traffic at any gap size
    2. Stop at the lane end indefinitely
    3. Pass merging traffic on the shoulder
    4. Adjust speed, signal, yield to highway traffic, and merge when a safe gap is available.
    Show answer

    Adjust speed, signal, yield to highway traffic, and merge when a safe gap is available.. Adjust your speed as needed, signal, and yield to traffic already on the highway. Use a safe gap to merge. On an interstate entrance ramp, keep moving at least slowly unless stopping is absolutely unavoidable. The merging driver must adjust speed and yield to traffic already on the highway. Do not stop indefinitely; keep moving if possible and merge when the way is clear, yielding as necessary.

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

17. 17. Who must accompany a Tennessee Class PD learner permit driver while driving?

    1. A licensed driver at least 21 years old sitting in the seat beside the driver
    2. Any passenger who holds a license, seated anywhere in the vehicle
    3. A parent or guardian only, seated in the back seat
    4. A licensed driving instructor only, regardless of age
    Show answer

    A licensed driver at least 21 years old sitting in the seat beside the driver. A Class PD permit holder may drive only with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and seated beside the permit holder. Age and seat position both matter, so any licensed passenger anywhere in the car does not satisfy the rule. A parent in the back seat also fails, because the supervising driver must sit next to the learner. An instructor is one possible supervisor, but the rule is written around licensed drivers who meet the age and seating conditions. Learners should confirm the adult qualifies before every practice drive.

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

18. 18. What must the vehicle brought for a Tennessee road test meet?

    1. Only a title stored at home
    2. Registration only when selling the vehicle
    3. Plates from any previous owner
    4. All Tennessee motor vehicle registration (valid tags) and safety law requirements
    Show answer

    All Tennessee motor vehicle registration (valid tags) and safety law requirements. The vehicle used for the road test must meet all Tennessee motor vehicle registration requirements, including valid tags, and all safety law requirements. A title alone does not satisfy the manual’s requirement for valid tags and compliance with safety laws. The road-test vehicle must satisfy registration requirements at the test. The vehicle must have valid tags that meet Tennessee registration requirements. The manual passage behind this item states: "The motor vehicle you bring for the road test must meet all Tennessee motor vehicle registration (valid tags) and safety law requirements"

19. 19. When are safety belts required for backseat passengers in Tennessee?

    1. When the backseat passengers are under 21 years old
    2. When the backseat passengers are not related to the driver
    3. Backseat belts are never required in Tennessee
    4. When the backseat passengers are under 17 years old
    Show answer

    When the backseat passengers are under 17 years old. Front seat belts are required for everyone, and Tennessee adds a clear backseat rule for younger riders. Backseat passengers under 17 years old must wear safety belts, and the provision stops applying once backseat passengers reach 18. Using age 21 or whether the riders are related to the driver does not match the rule, although permit and intermediate drivers trigger an added backseat rule for ages four through 17. Saying backseat belts are never required ignores the under 17 provision entirely. Checking the rear seat before driving should become automatic.

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

20. 20. What two brake methods must every automobile have under Tennessee law?

    1. Foot brake and engine braking through gears
    2. Front disc brakes and rear drum brakes
    3. Regular foot brake and a parking or emergency brake
    4. Service brakes and a trailer brake controller
    Show answer

    Regular foot brake and a parking or emergency brake. Tennessee requires automobiles to have two separate methods of applying the brakes: the regular foot brake and a parking or emergency brake, sometimes called a hand brake. The required pair includes a parking or emergency brake in addition to the regular foot brake. The manual identifies the two methods as the regular foot brake and the parking or emergency brake. The second method identified by the manual is a parking or emergency brake.

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