TN Permit Practice Test 6

All 20 questions in test 6

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 roadway condition does the divided-highway warning sign announce?

   
   1. A one-lane bridge with traffic alternating directions
   2. A three-way intersection with no median
   3. A place where U-turns are required
   4. The directions of travel will separate around a median
   Show answer

   The directions of travel will separate around a median. The split-arrow symbol warns that opposing directions will be separated by a divided highway or median. Stay on the side intended for your direction and do not cross the median to make a U-turn. The sign does not describe a three-way junction, a one-lane bridge, or a required turn. Look ahead for the physical separation and position your vehicle before the roadway divides.

2. 2. What should you do when the pictured keep-right sign is posted around an obstruction?

   
   1. Use the left shoulder to pass the obstruction
   2. Stay centered across both lanes
   3. Drive to the right of the obstruction
   4. Treat the sign as permission to pass on either side
   Show answer

   Drive to the right of the obstruction. A keep-right instruction directs traffic around a median, island, or other obstruction on its right side. Moving to the left shoulder would put the vehicle on the wrong side of the intended channel, and straddling lanes creates uncertainty for nearby drivers. The sign is not an invitation to choose either side. Slow enough to identify the channel, signal if changing position, and remain within the lane that carries traffic to the right of the obstruction.

3. 3. A new resident under 18 has an out-of-state permit. What must be true before an Intermediate Restricted License can be issued?

   1. The Tennessee permit has been held 30 days at any age
   2. Only a certified school record is needed
   3. The out-of-state permit automatically converts immediately
   4. A permit has been held 180 total days and the applicant is 16
   Show answer

   A permit has been held 180 total days and the applicant is 16. A new resident who is fifteen receives a Tennessee learner permit even when a prior state issued a valid permit. Eligibility for the Intermediate Restricted License requires a total permit period of 180 days and turning sixteen. Time from the former state may count when supported by a certified driving record issued within the required recent period. Thirty days is not enough, a school record addresses a different issue, and automatic conversion ignores Tennessee’s age and experience requirements.

4. 4. What is an accepted Tennessee practice for oncoming traffic meeting a funeral procession?

   1. Pass the procession on the shoulder
   2. Pull to the side of the roadway as a sign of respect
   3. Drive between vehicles in the procession
   4. Stop in the travel lane and leave the vehicle
   Show answer

   Pull to the side of the roadway as a sign of respect. Tennessee describes oncoming traffic pulling to the side of the roadway as a common and accepted sign of respect when meeting a funeral procession. Passing on the shoulder is not the courtesy described, and driving between procession vehicles is prohibited unless a traffic officer directs it. Leaving a vehicle stopped in the travel lane creates a hazard. Notice that the accepted practice concerns opposing traffic meeting the procession, while separate rules govern vehicles traveling with or behind it.

5. 5. Under Tennessee's under-21 impaired driving rule, what BAC figure can trigger a conviction for a driver at least 16 but not yet 21?

   1. 0.08 percent
   2. 0.10 percent
   3. 0.02 percent
   4. 0.00 percent only
   Show answer

   0.02 percent. The manual states that a person at least 16 but not yet 21 can be convicted of underage driving while impaired when found driving with a BAC of .02 percent. That is a separate youth standard, so substituting the adult .08 threshold understates the risk for this age group. A requirement of exactly zero is also not the wording used in the rule. For a teen driver, even a small measured amount can matter. The practical cue is to avoid driving after any alcohol use rather than trying to calculate a safe margin.

6. 6. Can Tennessee charge a driver who is impaired by an intoxicant even when the question is not limited to alcohol?

   1. Yes, driving under the influence of any intoxicant is unlawful
   2. No, only alcohol can support a charge
   3. Yes, but only on an interstate highway
   4. No, unless the driver is under 21
   Show answer

   Yes, driving under the influence of any intoxicant is unlawful. Tennessee's DUI rule covers driving or being in physical control while under the influence of an intoxicant, marijuana, narcotic drug, or drugs producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system. Alcohol is only one part of that rule. The interstate-only and under-21 limitations add restrictions that the manual does not impose. A driver should consider prescription and nonprescription substances as well as alcohol before driving. If a substance affects judgment, coordination, alertness, or other driving functions, choosing to drive can create both danger and criminal exposure.

7. 7. Two vehicles reach an intersection without signs or signals at the same time. Which driver must yield?

   
   1. The driver on the left
   2. The vehicle traveling faster
   3. The driver on the right
   4. The vehicle that is turning right
   Show answer

   The driver on the left. When two vehicles arrive together at an intersection with no stop signs or signals, Tennessee assigns the yield duty to the driver on the left. The vehicle on the right may proceed first, but that driver still needs to confirm the path is clear. Choosing the right-hand driver reverses the state rule. Vehicle size and speed do not decide this situation. A useful scan is to identify whether another vehicle arrived at the same time, then locate that vehicle relative to your own position before moving.

8. 8. What does Tennessee's Basic Speed Rule require a driver to consider?

   1. The posted number regardless of weather or visibility
   2. The speed of the fastest vehicle nearby
   3. Current driving conditions, rather than only the posted limit
   4. A fixed 35 mph maximum on every road
   Show answer

   Current driving conditions, rather than only the posted limit. The Basic Speed Rule is a safety principle that limits speed according to current conditions and does not set one exact number. A posted limit is not permission to maintain that speed when darkness, rain, fog, traffic, or the road surface makes it unsafe. Matching the fastest nearby vehicle can compound the danger, and Tennessee does not impose a universal 35 mph maximum through this rule. Use the posted limit as an upper boundary, then reduce speed when the conditions or the available stopping distance require it.

9. 9. A driver is being followed too closely on a road with a right lane. What is the safer response?

   1. Move over to the right and let the following driver pass
   2. Accelerate beyond the speed limit to create distance
   3. Block both lanes until the other driver stops
   4. Brake sharply to make the other driver back away
   Show answer

   Move over to the right and let the following driver pass. When a tailgater is behind you and a right lane is available, move over so that driver can pass. Sharp braking increases the chance of being struck from behind, while speeding creates a separate violation and may not solve the conflict. Blocking lanes turns another driver’s poor judgment into a confrontation. Keep your own speed controlled, signal early, and create room for the impatient vehicle to go around legally.

10. 10. If your vehicle has trouble on the highway, what should you do as soon as possible?

    1. Move to the right shoulder or emergency stopping area and turn on the emergency flashers
    2. Leave the vehicle in the travel lane with the headlights off
    3. Walk along the highway to find help before warning other traffic
    4. Stop on the left shoulder whenever it is closer
    Show answer

    Move to the right shoulder or emergency stopping area and turn on the emergency flashers. The manual directs a driver with vehicle trouble to reach the right shoulder or emergency stopping area as soon as possible and activate the emergency flashers. Those steps make the disabled vehicle easier for approaching traffic to recognize. Walking along an interstate is dangerous, so staying with the vehicle on the side away from traffic is preferred when feasible. Leaving the car dark in a travel lane gives other drivers less warning and increases the chance of a secondary collision.

11. 11. What should a driver do if a vehicle without anti-lock brakes starts to skid?

    1. Pump the brake rapidly while turning away from the skid
    2. Accelerate hard to force the tires straight
    3. Lock the steering wheel and keep the brake fully pressed
    4. Release the brake and steer in the direction of the skid when it can be done safely
    Show answer

    Release the brake and steer in the direction of the skid when it can be done safely. For a vehicle without anti-lock brakes, the manual recommends taking your foot off the brake and steering in the direction of the skid, provided that doing so will not run the vehicle off the road or into a hazard. Pumping the pedal or locking the steering can reduce control. Acceleration does not restore traction. The driver must also account for oncoming traffic and other obstacles before making the steering correction.

12. 12. What do traffic signals control at some intersections and crosswalks?

    1. Vehicle drivers and pedestrians
    2. Only vehicles traveling on interstates
    3. Only emergency vehicles
    4. Only pedestrians at railroad crossings
    Show answer

    Vehicle drivers and pedestrians. Traffic signals assign right of way and control both vehicle drivers and pedestrians at some intersections and crosswalks. They are not limited to interstate traffic, emergency vehicles, or railroad users. A driver should still inspect the intersection, follow the displayed phase, and yield when another rule requires it. The signal organizes movement, but it does not make an unsafe path safe. Look for people already crossing, vehicles still clearing the intersection, and any officer or worker giving a different traffic direction.

13. 13. What does a yellow diamond sign warning of a sharp curve tell a driver to expect?

    1. A mandatory stop at the sign
    2. A lane reserved for buses
    3. A curve that may require reduced speed
    4. A railroad crossing with no road change
    Show answer

    A curve that may require reduced speed. The sharp curve warning tells the driver to prepare for a turn and reduce speed as needed before entering it. The manual notes that this type of turn sign is used with a recommended speed of 30 miles per hour or less. That recommendation is a cue for a safe approach, not a command to stop at the sign. It also is not a bus lane or railroad message. Brake before the curve, keep the vehicle in its lane, and avoid entering faster than visibility and traction allow.

14. 14. How many points within 12 months bring a Tennessee driver under 18 a notice of proposed suspension?

    1. 3 or more
    2. 6 or more
    3. 12 or more
    4. 15 or more
    Show answer

    6 or more. Juvenile drivers under 18 who accumulate 6 or more points within 12 months receive a notice of proposed suspension, and those with 1 to 5 points get an advisory letter. Twelve is the adult threshold. Three and fifteen are not Tennessee figures. Six points can come from as little as one cell phone conviction for a permit or intermediate license holder, or about two minor traffic citations.

15. 15. What do Tennessee's yellow diamond shaped warning signs tell drivers to expect?

    1. A place where passing is required
    2. A change in the legal speed limit
    3. The distance to the next town
    4. A condition ahead that may call for reduced speed or a safety action
    Show answer

    A condition ahead that may call for reduced speed or a safety action. Diamond warning signs exist to give you time. They flag a curve, an intersection, a crossing or a change in the road surface so you can slow or prepare before you reach it. They never change the legal speed limit, which is set by white regulatory signs, and distances to towns are on green guide signs. No sign ever requires you to pass. When a diamond appears, ease off the accelerator, look for the hazard it names, and have a plan before you arrive.

16. 16. During which hours may a Tennessee driver under 18 with a learner permit not drive?

    1. 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    2. Midnight to 5 a.m.
    3. 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
    4. 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    Show answer

    10 p.m. to 6 a.m.. A Tennessee learner permit holder under 18 may not drive between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. window belongs to the next step, the Intermediate Restricted License, so it is a common mix-up. Midnight and 9 p.m. start times are not Tennessee rules. When driving, the permit holder needs a licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat, everyone must be belted, and handheld devices are banned.

17. 17. When may a driver turn right at a red traffic signal in Tennessee?

    
    1. Before stopping if the lane appears empty
    2. After a complete stop and when no pedestrians or cross traffic are present, unless otherwise posted
    3. Only when a green arrow is displayed
    4. Whenever the driver signals, even with pedestrians present
    Show answer

    After a complete stop and when no pedestrians or cross traffic are present, unless otherwise posted. Tennessee generally permits a right turn on red only after the driver has made a complete stop and confirmed that no pedestrians or cross traffic are present. A driver must also obey any sign that prohibits the turn. A signal alone does not replace the stop, and an empty-looking lane is not enough if a pedestrian or conflicting vehicle is present. Stop behind the crosswalk or line, scan carefully, then turn only when the movement is lawful and safe.

18. 18. What is the broad X shaped sign mounted at a Tennessee railroad crossing called?

    
    1. A pennant
    2. A crossbuck
    3. A route marker
    4. An advisory plate
    Show answer

    A crossbuck. The white X with the words RAILROAD CROSSING is the crossbuck, and it stands at the crossing itself rather than in advance of it. It carries the legal weight of a yield sign: slow, look and listen in both directions, and stop if a train is approaching. A pennant marks a no passing zone, route markers identify highways, and advisory plates ride under warning signs. Smaller plates below the crossbuck tell you how many tracks cross the road, which matters because a second train can follow the first.

19. 19. How far should children stay from a school bus when they are outside it?

    1. Twenty feet
    2. Two feet
    3. Five feet
    4. Ten feet
    Show answer

    Ten feet. The school-bus danger zone surrounds the bus, so children should stay ten feet away and never go behind it. The distance creates space from the bus's blind areas and moving traffic. Five giant steps are described as a practical way for children to escape the zone, but that is not the same figure as the ten-foot rule. Drivers should stop far enough away to preserve that safety space and watch for children retrieving belongings.

20. 20. How much clearance must a driver leave when passing a bicyclist traveling in the same direction?

    
    1. At least 1 foot
    2. At least 3 feet
    3. At least 2 feet
    4. At least 6 feet
    Show answer

    At least 3 feet. When overtaking a bicyclist traveling in the same direction, Tennessee requires the driver to pass slowly and leave at least 3 feet of space. The clearance must continue until the vehicle is safely past the bicycle. One or two feet leaves little room for a wobble or wind effect, while six feet is not the stated minimum. Slow before moving alongside, check for oncoming traffic, and do not force the rider toward parked vehicles.