TN Permit Practice Test 21

All 20 questions in test 21

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 Tennessee law phrase the duty when following another vehicle?

   1. Do not follow more closely than is reasonable and prudent for speed, traffic, and highway condition
   2. Stay at least one car length back for each 10 miles per hour of speed on any road
   3. Maintain exactly two seconds of following distance at all times by statute
   4. Keep at least 100 feet behind the vehicle ahead whenever driving on a highway
   Show answer

   Do not follow more closely than is reasonable and prudent for speed, traffic, and highway condition. Tennessee law says not to follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, considering vehicle speed, traffic, and highway condition. The two-second rule is guidance for assessing following distance, with increased spacing advised for the conditions described on page 49. Car length formulas are not the statutory wording. Two seconds is guidance, not the statute text. No universal hundred foot rule is stated.

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

2. 2. How much moving water can make a driver lose control, and how much will carry most cars downstream?

   1. Two feet only causes loss of control; five feet carries cars away
   2. Three inches carries most cars downstream
   3. Cars cannot float, so depth does not matter
   4. Six to twelve inches can cause loss of control; two feet will carry most cars downstream
   Show answer

   Six to twelve inches can cause loss of control; two feet will carry most cars downstream. The manual says as little as six to twelve inches of water may cause loss of vehicle control and two feet will carry most cars downstream. Vehicles can float because of buoyancy, and moving water can push a vehicle sideways even while its wheels still touch the pavement. Floodwater may hide washed-out roadbeds; the manual instructs drivers to stay out of flooded roadways.

3. 3. During operating hours, what minimum number of occupants must an ordinary car have to use a Tennessee HOV lane?

   1. Two occupants
   2. One occupant
   3. Three occupants
   4. Four occupants
   Show answer

   Two occupants. An ordinary car needs at least two occupants during HOV operating hours. A baby in a car seat counts as a passenger, just like any other person. A solo driver cannot use the lane merely to pass vehicles in adjacent lanes. The manual separately lists motorcycle and emergency-vehicle exceptions; those do not turn an ordinary one-person car into an eligible vehicle. Count people rather than judging eligibility by speed or a brief intended use.

   Study this in the handbook: Interstate driving

4. 4. Children under 16 are not properly restrained in a Tennessee car, and no parent or legal guardian of the children is present. What may happen to the driver?

   1. Nothing, because restraint duties end at age 12
   2. The driver may be charged and fined $50 for violating the law
   3. The passengers are fined instead of the driver in all cases
   4. The vehicle is impounded on a first offense
   Show answer

   The driver may be charged and fined $50 for violating the law. The manual makes the driver responsible for properly restraining children under 16 and says the driver may be charged and fined $50 for a violation. If a child’s parent or legal guardian is present but not driving, that adult is responsible and may be fined. Violations involving required car seats or booster seats can carry greater penalties. The driver's duty covers children under 16, not only up to age 12.

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

5. 5. A steady yellow X appears over your lane. What should you do?

   1. Continue through because it is open indefinitely
   2. Use it only to make a turn
   3. Stop in the lane until the signal changes
   4. Leave the lane as soon as it is safe
   Show answer

   Leave the lane as soon as it is safe. A steady yellow X warns that the lane's use or direction is changing. Move out as soon as you can safely do so. This is different from a flashing yellow X, which marks a turn-only use. Stopping in the lane is not the instruction. Read both the color and whether the display is steady or flashing before deciding how to respond to an overhead lane-control signal.

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

6. 6. What minimum gap does Tennessee defensive guidance require when changing lanes or merging?

   1. A minimum four second gap
   2. A two second gap in all situations
   3. Any gap the vehicle can fit into
   4. A ten second gap for every lane change
   Show answer

   A minimum four second gap. Lateral moves need more room than simply following the car ahead. Tennessee defensive guidance requires a minimum four second gap whenever a driver changes lanes, enters a roadway, or merges with another traffic lane. The two second figure is the basic following rule, not the merging standard. Squeezing into any physical opening ignores the time based margin entirely. Ten seconds describes the passing gap needed at 55 mph, a different maneuver. Crossing several lanes should happen one lane at a time, never in a single sweeping cut across traffic.

   Study this in the handbook: Defensive driving and road rage

7. 7. For a nonparent adult to accompany an Intermediate Restricted driver during restricted hours, what authorization is required?

   1. Written parental designation carried by the teen, with the adult licensed and at least 21
   2. The adult's verbal consent alone
   3. A note signed only by the teen
   4. Any licensed passenger, regardless of age
   Show answer

   Written parental designation carried by the teen, with the adult licensed and at least 21. A parent or guardian may designate a licensed driver age 21 or older to accompany the teen during restricted hours. The designation must be written and in the teen's possession. A verbal agreement with the adult does not meet that requirement. Check the adult's age and license as well as the written authorization; all are part of this specific exception to the intermediate nighttime restriction.

   Study this in the handbook: The learner permit

8. 8. Parking downhill on a road without a curb, which way should the front wheels point?

   1. Away from the edge, toward traffic
   2. Straight ahead with the brake set
   3. Toward the edge of the roadway (right)
   4. Toward the center line of the road
   Show answer

   Toward the edge of the roadway (right). When parking downhill without a curb, turn the front wheels toward the edge of the roadway, to the right. The manual says this prevents the vehicle from rolling into traffic if the brake fails. Always set the parking brake when parked. Traffic facing wheels aim roll into lanes. The manual requires the front wheels to be turned toward the roadway edge; setting the brake does not replace that instruction.

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

9. 9. Under the manual’s school-zone-specific phone rule, when is phone use by a driver age 18 or older an offense?

   1. At any time of day while the vehicle is in motion in the zone, even when the flashers are off
   2. While the vehicle is in motion in the zone when children are visible in the crosswalk, unless used in hands free mode
   3. While the vehicle is in motion in the zone when warning flashers are in operation, unless used in hands free mode
   4. While the vehicle is in motion in the zone when the speed limit is above 25 mph, unless used in hands free mode
   Show answer

   While the vehicle is in motion in the zone when warning flashers are in operation, unless used in hands free mode. The offense needs three pieces together: a hand-held phone, a moving vehicle inside a marked school zone, and operating warning flashers, with a hands free mode exception for adults. Flashers off removes the trigger even though general distraction law still matters. Visible children and the posted speed are not elements; the flasher defines the protected period. Drivers under eighteen get no hands free exception, and for them the same act is treated as a delinquent act.

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

10. 10. When applying for an Intermediate Class D license, a Class PD holder must repeat the knowledge test if the permit expired how long before the driving skills test?

    1. More than 1 month prior
    2. More than 6 months prior
    3. More than 24 months prior
    4. More than 12 months prior
    Show answer

    More than 12 months prior. When a Class PD holder applies for an Intermediate Class D license, the knowledge test need not be repeated unless the permit expired more than 12 months before the driving skills test. One month is far shorter than the stated gap. Six months halves the period that matters here. Twenty-four months doubles the stated threshold. The manual passage behind this item states: "the license permit expired more than 12 months prior to the driving skills test."

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

11. 11. What free phone entry connects a Tennessee driver to the nearest Highway Patrol Dispatch Center in a highway emergency?

    1. Dial 911 and ask for a transfer fee waiver
    2. Dial *55 and pay standard rates
    3. Dial *THP (*847) on a wireless phone at no charge
    4. Call the county sheriff non-emergency line
    Show answer

    Dial *THP (*847) on a wireless phone at no charge. Dial *THP (*847) on a wireless phone at no charge to connect directly with the nearest Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatcher. The manual recommends this for highway emergencies or reporting a driver violating the rules of the road. That is not the direct patrol connection. Star five five appears nowhere here. The direct, free Highway Patrol connection described in the manual is *THP (*847).

12. 12. A vehicle is about to strike you from behind and there is clear space ahead. Which escape action may help?

    1. Speed up into the available space, then slow after danger passes
    2. Stop more abruptly in the same place
    3. Reverse toward the approaching vehicle
    4. Accelerate regardless of space ahead
    Show answer

    Speed up into the available space, then slow after danger passes. The manual identifies speeding up as a possible escape when a vehicle threatens from behind or the side and there is room ahead to move out of danger. Available space is essential; acceleration without it could create another collision. Once the immediate danger has passed, slow down again. This is a specific collision-avoidance response, not a general reason to keep increasing speed whenever another vehicle is nearby.

    Study this in the handbook: Avoiding collisions and keeping your vehicle safe

13. 13. According to the manual’s body-weight-and-fat comparison, if other factors are equal and two people weigh the same and drink the same amount, which one shows signs of intoxication first?

    1. The one with less body fat
    2. The one with more body fat
    3. Whichever one ate most recently in all cases
    4. Body fat makes no difference at equal weight
    Show answer

    The one with more body fat. The manual says alcohol is absorbed in water, not fat. People with less body fat have more water in which to dilute alcohol. In its comparison of people of the same weight drinking the same amount, the person with more body fat shows signs of intoxication first. Food separately slows alcohol absorption; it is not the basis of the body-fat comparison. Less body fat means more water for dilution, delaying signs longer.

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

14. 14. At a BAC of .10 percent, how much more likely is a driver to cause a crash than when sober?

    1. Twice as likely
    2. Twenty five times more likely
    3. Fifty times more likely
    4. Seven times more likely
    Show answer

    Seven times more likely. The Tennessee manual ties rising blood alcohol to sharply rising crash risk. At a BAC of .10 percent, a driver is seven times more likely to cause a crash than a sober driver. Twice as likely badly understates the jump at a level above the .08 legal line. Twenty five times belongs to the .15 percent level, and fifty times belongs to .17 percent. Memorizing which multiplier attaches to which level shows why risk climbs so steeply after only a few drinks. Nobody at .10 is fit to drive, whatever the comparison figure.

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

15. 15. What does Tennessee law say about standing on a roadway to solicit a ride?

    1. It is legal outside city limits only
    2. It is illegal to stand on a roadway to solicit a ride
    3. It is allowed when the pedestrian stays on the shoulder line
    4. It is permitted during daylight hours only
    Show answer

    It is illegal to stand on a roadway to solicit a ride. It is illegal in Tennessee to stand on a roadway to solicit a ride. The manual warns that hitchhiking is dangerous for both the pedestrian and the driver who stops to pick up a stranger. No outside city limits exception exists. The manual does not give a shoulder-line exception to the prohibition on standing on a roadway to solicit a ride. Daylight hours create no permission.

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

16. 16. What should a Tennessee interstate driver do when missing a planned exit?

    1. Back up on the shoulder to the exit
    2. Continue to the next exit and turn around safely
    3. Cut across the gore area at the last second
    4. Make a U-turn across the median
    Show answer

    Continue to the next exit and turn around safely. If you miss an interstate exit, continue to the next exit. Do not back up, cut across the median, or use emergency crossovers to turn around. Backing on an interstate shoulder is extremely dangerous. The manual says to continue to the next exit when you miss yours. The manual prohibits cutting across the median and directs you to the next exit. The manual passage behind this item states: "If you miss your turn or exit, do NOT back up, but go on to the next turn or exit or where you can safely and legally turn around. It is illegal to back up on the interstate"

17. 17. When does the manual say a Tennessee driver must produce evidence of financial responsibility?

    1. Insurance only after the first crash
    2. Coverage only for financed vehicles
    3. Proof of insurance or other accepted financial responsibility when charged with a violation or involved in a crash
    4. No proof is ever required in Tennessee
    Show answer

    Proof of insurance or other accepted financial responsibility when charged with a violation or involved in a crash. The manual requires evidence of financial responsibility when a driver is charged with any violation or is involved in a motor vehicle crash, regardless of apparent or actual fault. Accepted evidence includes specified insurance documents, a certificate for a qualifying cash deposit or bond, or proof of qualification as a self-insurer. The manual requires evidence when charged with any violation as well as when involved in a crash.

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

18. 18. Does a person using a motorized wheelchair count as a pedestrian under the manual's right-of-way definition?

    1. No, only people walking are pedestrians
    2. Yes, motorized and non-motorized wheelchair users are included
    3. Yes, but motorized wheelchair users are classified as vehicles
    4. No, a person in a motorized wheelchair is treated as a driver
    Show answer

    Yes, motorized and non-motorized wheelchair users are included. The pedestrian definition includes people on foot and those using either motorized or non-motorized wheelchairs. A powered chair does not remove the user's pedestrian status. This definition matters when applying the crossing and yielding rules; do not judge the person's rights solely by whether they are walking. The manual does not classify a motorized wheelchair user as a driver or a vehicle.

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

19. 19. What does Tennessee assign to a driver record for moving traffic violations under its point system?

    1. Reward points for safe years only
    2. Points that accumulate and can lead to license action
    3. Points that reduce insurance rates automatically
    4. Points that expire the same day
    Show answer

    Points that accumulate and can lead to license action. Moving traffic violations add points to the driver record. Adults who accumulate 12 or more points within 12 months receive a notice of proposed suspension; drivers under 18 receive that notice at 6 or more points within 12 months. Violation points penalize rather than reward conduct. The manual connects accumulated points to possible license suspension, not an automatic reduction in insurance rates.

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

20. 20. What does the manual say about texting while driving in Tennessee?

    1. Texting is allowed below 30 mph
    2. Texting is allowed while moving if traffic is light.
    3. Texting while driving is prohibited and dangerously distracting
    4. Only reading texts is prohibited, sending is fine
    Show answer

    Texting while driving is prohibited and dangerously distracting. The manual prohibits teenage and adult drivers from using a hand-held telephone or personal digital assistant to transmit or read a written message while the motor vehicle is in motion. Texting takes attention away from driving. Low speed does not make texting lawful or safe. The manual prohibits reading or transmitting written messages while the vehicle is in motion; light traffic does not change that rule.

    Study this in the handbook: Teen penalties, phones and school rules