TX Permit Practice Test 17

All 20 questions in test 17

Every question below comes from the Texas 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. On a Texas Farm to Market road outside town, what is the car speed limit?

   1. 70 mph
   2. 55 mph
   3. 60 mph
   4. 85 mph
   Show answer

   70 mph. Rural numbered highways run at the table top for regular traffic. Texas sets 70 mph for passenger cars, motorcycles, light trucks, and most towing combinations on Texas or U.S. numbered highways outside urban districts, including Farm to Market and Ranch to Market roads. Inspected school buses get 60 there, and uninspected buses on unnumbered roads drop to 50. The 85 figure exists only where limited-access highways post it. The cue is the route marker: a numbered highway outside town means 70 unless signs say otherwise.

2. 2. What does Texas say about counterfeit disabled parking placards?

   1. It is allowed if the printer is high quality
   2. Altering dates is fine with a doctor's note
   3. Making, selling, possessing, displaying, or altering one is prohibited
   4. Only selling is banned; possession is fine
   Show answer

   Making, selling, possessing, displaying, or altering one is prohibited. Fake placards steal access from people who need it. Texas prohibits making, selling, possessing, or displaying a counterfeit disabled parking windshield card, and also bans altering a real one. Print quality, doctor's notes, and possession-only excuses change nothing. The cue is any card that is not exactly as the state issued it to the person being transported: creating, changing, holding, or showing it breaks the law.

3. 3. A pedestrian entered a crosswalk before the traffic light changed. What must a driver do when the light changes?

   1. Proceed immediately because the new light gives the driver priority
   2. Continue yielding until the pedestrian has cleared the crosswalk
   3. Pass behind the pedestrian without checking the remaining crossing
   4. Sound the horn so the pedestrian returns to the curb
   Show answer

   Continue yielding until the pedestrian has cleared the crosswalk. Texas requires drivers to continue giving the pedestrian the right-of-way when the light changes after the pedestrian has entered the crosswalk. A new signal does not erase a person already crossing or make it safe to move through the remaining space. The driver should wait, watch the full crossing, and proceed only after the path is clear. A horn is not a substitute for yielding. The cue is pedestrian already in the crosswalk: let that person finish before following the new signal.

4. 4. When conditions are poor, what should a driver do with the following interval?

   1. Allow more time than the normal interval
   2. Use a fixed 10-foot distance
   3. Follow more closely to avoid spray
   4. Keep exactly two seconds in every condition
   Show answer

   Allow more time than the normal interval. Texas advises drivers to allow more time between vehicles during poor road conditions. Rain, reduced traction, traffic, or limited visibility can make braking and observation take longer, so the ordinary good-condition interval should not be treated as a universal constant. Keeping exactly two seconds ignores the changed environment, while a fixed number of feet cannot account for speed. Following closely worsens the margin for a sudden stop. Use a visible roadside object as a timing check and add space whenever the pavement, traffic, or view becomes less favorable.

5. 5. What is the Texas penalty for a first adult DWI?

   1. A $50 ticket only
   2. A warning letter
   3. Community service only
   4. Up to $2,000, 72 hours to 180 days jail, 90 to 365 days suspension
   Show answer

   Up to $2,000, 72 hours to 180 days jail, 90 to 365 days suspension. Adult first DWI combines money, jail, and suspension. The Texas table sets up to $2,000, 72 hours to 180 days in jail, and 90 to 365 days of license suspension. Tickets, letters, and service-only readings all understate the package. The cue is the first conviction: all three penalties land together. Court costs, program fees, and insurance spikes multiply the table fine many times. The true first-DWI price often tops ten thousand dollars.

6. 6. What suspension follows a failed Texas DWI specimen?

   1. No suspension at all
   2. 90 days, up to 365 days for later offenses
   3. Lifetime revocation always
   4. A one-day suspension
   Show answer

   90 days, up to 365 days for later offenses. Failing the test costs months off the road. Texas suspends for 90 days on a 0.08 or greater result, rising to 365 days for subsequent offenses. Zero, lifetime, and one-day readings all miss the table. The cue is the failed specimen: the suspension runs alongside any criminal case. An ALR hearing must be requested quickly or the suspension starts automatically. Legal help matters most in these first days.

7. 7. What does this sharp-turn warning sign tell a driver to expect?

   
   1. A railroad crossing with several tracks
   2. A lane that ends at the next block
   3. A sharp turn in the arrow's direction
   4. A traffic signal that changes ahead
   Show answer

   A sharp turn in the arrow's direction. The arrow warns that the road will turn sharply in the direction it points. Reduce speed before entering the bend, keep right, and do not pass because the turn can limit visibility and leave little room to correct a mistake. A railroad crossing, lane ending, or traffic signal would use another sign shape or symbol and requires a different response. Read the arrow early, settle the vehicle into the proper lane, and keep both hands ready for the tighter steering change instead of waiting until the turn is already underway.

8. 8. In Texas, how far from a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal at the side of the road must you park?

   1. At least 15 feet
   2. At least 30 feet on the approach
   3. At least 20 feet
   4. At least 50 feet
   Show answer

   At least 30 feet on the approach. The Texas no parking list includes within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or other traffic control signal located at the side of a road. The rule applies whether the vehicle is occupied or not, and it covers standing idling as well as parking. Fifteen feet is the hydrant distance, and 20 feet applies to crosswalks at intersections and fire station driveways. Fifty feet is the railroad crossing distance, not the distance from a sign or signal.

9. 9. A Texas shoulder drops sharply off the pavement. What should you do?

   1. Slow down and steer firmly if you leave the pavement
   2. Speed up to jump the shoulder
   3. Slam the brakes and jerk left
   4. Close your eyes through the drop
   Show answer

   Slow down and steer firmly if you leave the pavement. A pavement edge drop can grab a tire and flip a panicked correction. Texas warns of a significant drop from pavement edge to shoulder, advising that forced off-pavement means slowing down and steering firmly. Jump attempts, brake slams, and blind driving all convert the drop into a rollover. The cue is the crumbling edge line: ease off the gas, grip firmly, and rejoin the pavement only at a safe shallow angle.

10. 10. A flag person directs you to stop at Texas rails. Where do you stop?

    1. Proceed if the flagger looks tired
    2. Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail
    3. Stop on the tracks for a better view
    4. Honk and drive around the flagger
    Show answer

    Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail. A flagger's stop command equals any gate or bell. Texas requires stopping 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail when directed by a flag person, just as for flashing lights or warning devices. Tiredness judgments, track stops, and drive-arounds all disobey the command. The cue is the raised paddle or hand: stop in the measured band and wait for release.

11. 11. A steady yellow X appears over your Texas lane. What does it mean?

    1. Stop dead under the signal
    2. Move into that lane quickly
    3. Prepare to vacate the lane safely
    4. Ignore it until it turns red
    Show answer

    Prepare to vacate the lane safely. A yellow X is the lane's closing notice. Texas says a steady yellow X means prepare to safely vacate the lane because a lane control change is being made. Stopping under it, diving into it, and waiting for red all mishandle the warning. The cue is the color shift overhead: the lane you are in is about to close or reverse, so signal, check mirrors, and slide to an open lane promptly.

12. 12. Red lights flash at a railroad crossing and a train is coming. How long must you wait?

    1. Remain stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing
    2. Cross slowly while the lights keep flashing
    3. Stop, then go once you have counted to five
    4. Turn around only if a second train appears
    Show answer

    Remain stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing. Flashing red at the rails means the crossing is active. Texas requires stopping when red lights flash at a railroad crossing, and if a train is approaching, remaining stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing. Creeping across under flashing lights disobeys the signal. Counting seconds invents a rule that does not exist. Turning around is sometimes wise but is not what the text commands. The cue is the flashing red: stop, watch the train fully clear, and move only after the lights go dark.

13. 13. When may a driver use a high occupancy vehicle preferential lane described in the handbook?

    1. For any vehicle at all times on weekends
    2. Only after 9 p.m. on weekdays
    3. Only for motorcycles during afternoon traffic
    4. For carpools and buses between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday through Friday
    Show answer

    For carpools and buses between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. The HOV preferential lane is reserved for buses and vehicles used for carpools during the handbook’s stated weekday morning period. Both parts matter: the vehicle must qualify, and use is limited to 6 a.m. through 9 a.m., Monday through Friday. This is not a lane for every vehicle on weekends, an evening-only lane, or a motorcycle-only facility. Check the posted sign before entering because local signs can add operating details. The simple memory cue is bus or carpool plus weekday morning, not merely a vehicle traveling during rush hour.

14. 14. What does a steady yellow traffic light warn drivers about?

    1. The intersection must remain closed
    2. A protected turn is active
    3. The signal grants unlimited passage
    4. The light is about to change to red
    Show answer

    The light is about to change to red. A steady yellow light warns drivers to use caution and alerts them that the signal is about to change to red. When a safe stop can be made, the driver must stop before entering the nearest crosswalk. The yellow display is not a protected-turn indication, does not grant unlimited passage, and does not mean the intersection is permanently closed. Watch the distance to the stop line and the traffic behind you, then decide whether stopping can be completed safely. If it cannot, proceed cautiously before the light turns red.

15. 15. Must you show your license after a Texas injury crash?

    1. Refuse all document requests
    2. Show a library card instead
    3. Show your driver license if requested and available
    4. Eat the license to hide it
    Show answer

    Show your driver license if requested and available. The license proves who stands before the victim. Texas requires showing your driver license, if requested and available, to the injured and involved parties. Refusals, library cards, and destruction all obstruct justice. The cue is the request: produce the license promptly and let them record it. Allow them to photograph it rather than handing it over to keep. Never let the card leave your sight during the exchange.

16. 16. A Texas lane-merge sign appears. What must traffic do?

    1. Split into two lanes
    2. Stop and reverse
    3. Merge all traffic into one lane
    4. Speed up to pass
    Show answer

    Merge all traffic into one lane. Lane drops demand early cooperation. Texas says the sign instructs all traffic on the roadway to merge into one lane. Splitting, reversing, and racing all fight the funnel. The cue is the merging-arrows panel: pick the surviving lane early and zipper in turn. Take turns with the neighboring lane at the merge point like a zipper. Forcing ahead at the last cone causes sideswipes and rage.

17. 17. Where should a breaking-down Texas car go?

    1. Move the car off the pavement to the roadside
    2. Leave it in the travel lane
    3. Push it into traffic
    4. Abandon it on a bridge
    Show answer

    Move the car off the pavement to the roadside. Breakdowns belong off the pavement. The Texas breakdown list orders moving the car off the pavement to the roadside. Lane, traffic, and bridge abandonments all endanger everyone. The cue is the sputtering engine: coast to the shoulder before it dies fully. Coast with hazards flashing to warn drivers approaching from behind you. Steer straight and brake gently to preserve control.

18. 18. How do Texas troops renew licenses after service?

    1. Present license and separation papers within 90 days for exam-free renewal
    2. Retake all exams always
    3. Wait five years to renew
    4. Surrender the license forever
    Show answer

    Present license and separation papers within 90 days for exam-free renewal. Returning service members get a smooth licensing homecoming. Texas lets honorably discharged personnel, spouses, and dependents present license and separation papers within 90 days for renewal without knowledge or driving exams. Always-retake, five-year, and surrender readings deny the benefit. The cue is the discharge date: ninety days to the driver license office. Dependents need the sponsor service paperwork plus their own identification documents. Start the renewal online to shorten the office visit.

19. 19. On a Texas roadway posted at 25 mph or more, what should you do when approaching a stopped vehicle covered by the Move Over or Slow Down law with its required lights activated?

    1. Stop in the closest lane until the vehicle leaves
    2. Move out of the closest lane when possible, or reduce speed by 20 mph below the limit
    3. Change lanes only when the vehicle is a police car
    4. Keep the posted speed and sound the horn
    Show answer

    Move out of the closest lane when possible, or reduce speed by 20 mph below the limit. Texas gives two protective actions when a covered emergency or service vehicle is stopped with lights activated. On a roadway with multiple lanes in the same direction, move out of the lane nearest that vehicle when it is safe. At a posted limit of 25 mph or more, the alternative is slowing to at least 20 mph below that limit. Below a posted 25 mph, slow to less than 5 mph. A complete stop is not the ordinary instruction, and the rule covers more than police cars. Look for the activated lights, check adjacent traffic, and create space before passing.

20. 20. What reinstatement fee does Texas require for an Administrative License Revocation suspension?

    1. $500
    2. $50
    3. $250
    4. $125
    Show answer

    $125. Texas lists a $125 reinstatement fee for every Administrative License Revocation (ALR) suspension. ALR is the administrative penalty for driving while intoxicated, and DPS may suspend a license under it for a failed breath or blood test, for refusing a test, or for a driver under 21 with any detectable alcohol. The $50 choice understates the handbook figure, while $250 and $500 overstate it. A useful memory cue is to connect ALR with the number 125 when a question asks about reinstatement.