TN Permit Practice Test 4

All 20 questions in test 4

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. What does the octagon shape of this traffic sign identify?

   
   1. Stop
   2. Yield
   3. Railroad crossing ahead
   4. A hazardous condition ahead
   Show answer

   Stop. The manual assigns the octagon shape to the stop message. Shape recognition lets a driver identify the required response even before the lettering is fully readable. A triangle is used for yield, a round sign warns of a railroad ahead, and a diamond warns of a hazardous or unusual condition. Do not confuse the red stop sign with those other silhouettes. When the eight-sided outline appears, prepare for a complete stop at the required stopping position and then follow the right-of-way rule.

2. 2. How many people were killed by distracted driving in 2019, according to NHTSA figures in the Tennessee manual?

   1. About 100
   2. About 50,000
   3. About 800
   4. 3,142
   Show answer

   3,142. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,142 people were killed by distracted driving in 2019, and cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes every year. Tennessee's Hands Free law bars holding a phone while driving, and texting has been prohibited for teen and adult drivers since July 1, 2009. Put the phone away before you start.

3. 3. What action is normally appropriate when you see a yellow diamond warning sign?

   1. Continue at the same speed because it gives route information
   2. Watch for a hazardous or unexpected condition and consider slowing
   3. Stop immediately at the sign even when the road is clear
   4. Treat it as a regulation that sets a mandatory speed
   Show answer

   Watch for a hazardous or unexpected condition and consider slowing. A yellow diamond sign warns of a condition ahead that may require caution, reduced speed, or another safe response. It is not automatically a stop command and does not by itself establish a mandatory speed. A route information sign serves a different purpose. The driver should read the symbol or message, scan the roadway, and adjust early rather than braking abruptly at the sign. Curves, intersections, merging traffic, and other unexpected conditions are examples of why this warning shape deserves attention.

4. 4. A two-lane road has a broken yellow line between opposing traffic. When may you cross it to pass?

   
   1. Whenever the vehicle ahead is traveling below the speed limit
   2. Only after another driver signals permission
   3. When no oncoming traffic is present and the maneuver is safe
   4. Never, because every yellow line prohibits crossing
   Show answer

   When no oncoming traffic is present and the maneuver is safe. A broken yellow center line allows a driver to cross for passing when the opposing lane is clear and the maneuver can be completed safely. A slower vehicle alone does not make passing legal, and another driver cannot grant permission to ignore traffic conditions. A solid yellow marking has different restrictions, so treating every yellow line alike is too broad. Before crossing, check sight distance, oncoming traffic, hills, curves, and intersections. The practical cue is simple: broken yellow may permit a pass, but safety still controls the decision.

5. 5. Which action is prohibited when traveling behind a properly identified funeral procession?

   1. Driving between vehicles in the procession
   2. Allowing the procession to continue ahead
   3. Obeying a traffic officer directing the procession
   4. Following the procession at a safe distance
   Show answer

   Driving between vehicles in the procession. A driver may not drive between vehicles in a properly identified funeral procession unless a traffic officer directs that movement. Cutting into the line breaks its protected movement and can create conflicts with vehicles entering or leaving the procession. The safe response is patience, a suitable following distance, and obedience to any officer managing the intersection. Do not use a gap in the line as an invitation to merge through it.

6. 6. What condition does the five-sided school sign warn drivers to expect?

   
   1. A recreation area with no pedestrian activity
   2. Children near a school, requiring slower and more cautious driving
   3. A hospital entrance where stopping is mandatory
   4. A truck-only lane beginning ahead
   Show answer

   Children near a school, requiring slower and more cautious driving. The five-sided school sign appears near school grounds or buildings. It tells drivers to slow down, drive with caution, and watch for children. It does not identify a park, hospital, or truck lane. Children may cross unexpectedly or appear near a bus stop, so reduce speed before reaching the school area and scan both sides of the roadway. The distinctive pentagon is a quick recognition cue for school traffic.

7. 7. A Tennessee teen holding an Intermediate Restricted License has accumulated more than 6 points. What happens to the move to the unrestricted license?

   1. Nothing changes as long as the teen is 17
   2. The license is revoked until age 18
   3. The teen must retake the knowledge test only
   4. The restricted license must be held for an additional 90 days
   Show answer

   The restricted license must be held for an additional 90 days. Points are the brake on Tennessee's graduated licensing. A teen who collects more than six points on the driving record while on the Intermediate Restricted License must hold that restricted license for an extra 90 days before applying for the unrestricted step, even after turning 17. Age alone does not override the point rule, the license is not revoked outright by that point total, and a knowledge retest is not the remedy. The manual also drops a teen back to the restricted license for 90 days for certain violations at the unrestricted stage.

8. 8. What should a driver do when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights on a qualifying multi-lane roadway?

   
   1. Stop in the lane next to the emergency vehicle
   2. Maintain speed unless an officer waves directly
   3. Change into a nonadjacent lane, or reduce speed and proceed cautiously if changing lanes is unsafe
   4. Move toward the emergency vehicle before passing
   Show answer

   Change into a nonadjacent lane, or reduce speed and proceed cautiously if changing lanes is unsafe. The driver should make a lane change into a lane that is not adjacent to the stationary emergency vehicle. If that movement cannot be made safely, the alternative is to reduce speed and maintain a safe speed for current road conditions. Stopping beside the vehicle can obstruct responders, while maintaining speed disregards the flashing warning. Moving closer reverses the protective action. The decision cue is simple: create a lane of separation when possible, otherwise slow down and pass with care.

9. 9. Where should a driver stop when approaching a stop sign with no crosswalk or marked stop line?

   1. Only after another vehicle has stopped first
   2. Past the intersection so the front wheels enter the cross street
   3. At least 50 feet before the intersection in every case
   4. At the nearest point where approaching traffic can be seen, before entering the intersection
   Show answer

   At the nearest point where approaching traffic can be seen, before entering the intersection. If a stop sign has neither a crosswalk nor a clearly marked stop line, Tennessee directs the driver to stop at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where approaching traffic can be viewed, and before entering the actual intersection. Stopping beyond the intersection defeats the visibility and safety purpose. The manual does not impose a universal 50-foot distance, and another vehicle does not need to stop first. Approach slowly enough to identify the correct stopping point, make a complete cessation of movement, and then check for traffic.

10. 10. When may a driver pass a school bus or church bus in Tennessee?

    1. Not while its flashing lights operate and its stop arm is extended
    2. Only after sounding the horn twice
    3. Whenever the driver can see around the bus
    4. Whenever the bus is stopped on a divided roadway
    Show answer

    Not while its flashing lights operate and its stop arm is extended. Passing is prohibited while a school bus or church bus has its flashing lights operating and stop arm extended. The bus's position, a clear sightline, or a horn signal does not override the warning equipment. The divided-roadway choice is also too broad because the visible lights and extended arm are the stated restriction in this rule. Stop and wait until the warning condition ends, watching for children who may be crossing near the bus.

11. 11. On a multilane roadway, how should you approach a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights?

    
    1. Change to a lane that is not adjacent, or slow to a safe speed if changing is not possible
    2. Stop beside the emergency vehicle in the next lane
    3. Keep speed and lane position unchanged
    4. Pass on the shoulder without reducing speed
    Show answer

    Change to a lane that is not adjacent, or slow to a safe speed if changing is not possible. Tennessee's Move Over Law applies on multilane roads with two or more lanes moving in the same direction. The driver should change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary emergency vehicle. If that cannot be done safely, proceed with caution by reducing speed and maintaining a safe speed for the conditions. Stopping beside the vehicle, using the shoulder to pass, or holding speed gives responders less space and time. Check mirrors early, signal the lane change, and slow smoothly when the adjacent lane cannot be used.

12. 12. How must a driver treat an intersection when its traffic signal is not working?

    1. As an uncontrolled intersection where the fastest vehicle goes first
    2. As a green signal for the road with more traffic
    3. As a flashing yellow signal in every direction
    4. As an all-way stop, stopping in every direction before proceeding safely
    Show answer

    As an all-way stop, stopping in every direction before proceeding safely. Tennessee law treats a malfunctioning traffic signal as an all-way stop intersection. Drivers should stop as they would at stop signs in all directions and proceed only when the movement is safe. The failed signal does not give priority to the busier road, the fastest vehicle, or a favored direction. After stopping, drivers still apply ordinary right-of-way rules and watch for pedestrians and other vehicles.

13. 13. How should a driver use anti-lock brakes during an emergency stop?

    1. Press firmly and steadily while steering around hazards
    2. Pump the brake pedal repeatedly and release it before stopping
    3. Use the parking brake alone to avoid wheel lock
    4. Take both hands off the wheel once braking begins
    Show answer

    Press firmly and steadily while steering around hazards. With anti-lock brakes, the manual says to apply firm, steady pressure and continue steering around hazards while keeping the foot on the brake until the vehicle stops. Pumping the pedal can disengage the anti-lock system, and the parking brake is not a substitute for the service brake in an emergency. Steering remains important because braking alone does not remove an obstacle from the vehicle path.

14. 14. What does a yield sign require when other vehicles are approaching?

    1. Speed up so the driver enters before the other vehicles
    2. Continue without checking because the sign is only advisory
    3. Stop and wait until the approaching traffic has passed safely
    4. Turn around before reaching the intersection
    Show answer

    Stop and wait until the approaching traffic has passed safely. The triangular yield sign requires the driver to stop and wait when other vehicles are approaching from the right or left on the intersecting roadway. It is not merely a suggestion, and entering quickly can create a conflict. A driver may proceed without stopping only after slowing and confirming that no traffic or pedestrian movement creates a hazard. The sign never calls for turning around as a routine response.

15. 15. What does Tennessee's No Refusal law, passed in 2012, allow officers to do?

    1. Skip the arrest and issue only a warning
    2. Require every driver to carry a breath tester
    3. Seek search warrants for blood samples from suspected impaired drivers
    4. Suspend a license without any test or evidence
    Show answer

    Seek search warrants for blood samples from suspected impaired drivers. The No Refusal law lets law enforcement seek search warrants for blood samples when a driver is suspected of impaired driving. The goal is to deter impaired driving and cut crashes and deaths. It does not replace arrests with warnings, require drivers to carry testers, or allow suspension without evidence. Refusing a requested test can still bring a twelve month suspension.

16. 16. When constant windshield-wiper use is required by rain or other precipitation, what lighting rule applies?

    1. Parking lights alone are sufficient
    2. Headlights must be turned on
    3. Headlights are required only after sunset
    4. Hazard flashers replace the headlight requirement
    Show answer

    Headlights must be turned on. Tennessee requires headlights when rain, mist, snow, or other precipitation makes constant windshield-wiper use necessary. The rule does not depend on whether the driver personally thinks visibility remains adequate, and parking lights alone are not a substitute. Waiting until sunset ignores the daylight inclement-weather provision. Hazard flashers serve a different warning purpose. Tie the requirement to the wipers: if precipitation demands their constant use, turn on the headlights so the vehicle is easier for others to see.

17. 17. What minimum jail time does Tennessee list for a third DUI conviction?

    1. 48 hours
    2. 45 days
    3. 120 days
    4. 150 days
    Show answer

    120 days. The Tennessee DUI penalty table sets jail for a third conviction at 120 days to 11 months 29 days, with a fine of $1,100 to $10,000, and the vehicle is subject to seizure and forfeiture. Forty-eight hours is the first conviction minimum and 45 days the second. One hundred fifty days is the minimum for a fourth or later conviction, which is a Class E felony. Each repeat conviction brings sharply longer jail time and bigger fines.

18. 18. How much supervised driving experience must support a Tennessee Intermediate Restricted License application?

    1. 30 hours, including 5 hours at night
    2. 50 hours, including 10 hours at night
    3. 60 hours, all during daylight
    4. 180 hours, including 50 hours at night
    Show answer

    50 hours, including 10 hours at night. The Tennessee application requires verification of 50 hours of driving experience, with 10 of those hours completed at night. The record must be certified by a parent, legal guardian, or licensed driving instructor on the official form. Thirty hours and 60 daylight-only hours change the requirement, while 180 hours confuses the experience total with the separate permit holding period. Keep a careful log as practice occurs. The night-hour portion is the detail most likely to be overlooked when totaling daytime practice.

19. 19. When may you enter an intersection while waiting to turn?

    1. When you can stop within the crosswalk
    2. Whenever the traffic signal is green
    3. Whenever the vehicle ahead has entered it
    4. Only when you can clear it without stopping
    Show answer

    Only when you can clear it without stopping. A driver should not enter an intersection unless there is enough room to get through without stopping. A green light does not excuse blocking the crossing, and following the vehicle ahead does not prove that your own path will remain open. Stopping in the crosswalk is also not a safe substitute for clearing the intersection. Wait behind the line until traffic ahead moves far enough to create a complete route through. This cue is especially important in congested traffic, where entering on green can leave your vehicle stranded when the signal changes.

20. 20. What does the yellow plus-shaped warning sign identify?

    
    1. A hospital entrance
    2. A place where all turns are prohibited
    3. A crossroad ahead
    4. A railroad crossing with no intersecting road
    Show answer

    A crossroad ahead. The plus-shaped black lines represent a crossroad, where traffic may enter from both sides. Slow enough to scan the intersecting roadway and be ready for vehicles approaching from either direction. The symbol does not identify a hospital, prohibit every turn, or describe a railroad crossing by itself. A crossroad warning is especially useful where the intersection may be hidden by a hill, curve, or vegetation.