TX Permit Practice Test 8

All 20 questions in test 8

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. Which vehicles must display the slow-moving vehicle emblem on Texas roads?

   1. Any vehicle carrying a wide load, regardless of speed
   2. Only school buses and church buses
   3. Vehicles assigned to travel at 25 mph or less, such as farm tractors and animal-drawn vehicles
   4. Vehicles that have failed their annual inspection
   Show answer

   Vehicles assigned to travel at 25 mph or less, such as farm tractors and animal-drawn vehicles. The orange and red triangle marks a vehicle that will not keep up with traffic. Texas requires it on farm tractors and machinery, road construction machinery, animal-drawn vehicles, and other motor vehicles assigned to travel at 25 mph or less. Width has nothing to do with it, and buses and inspection status are unrelated to the emblem. When you see the triangle ahead, assume a closing speed far higher than usual, start slowing early, and pass only where the road and sight distance allow it.

2. 2. What does the Texas handbook say about caffeine and a drunk driver?

   1. It cannot make a drunk driver sober or improve their driving
   2. A cup of coffee restores sober driving ability
   3. Caffeine cancels one drink per cup
   4. Caffeine speeds up alcohol elimination
   Show answer

   It cannot make a drunk driver sober or improve their driving. While caffeine can help drowsy drivers stay alert, the handbook says it cannot make a drunk driver sober, and studies show ordinary amounts of caffeine do not improve a drunk driver's ability to operate a vehicle. Alcohol leaves the body only with time. The same chapter warns that tranquilizers and sedative hypnotics, including barbiturates, are powerful drugs that impair driving on their own and multiply the effects of alcohol.

3. 3. When is it unnecessary to stop for a school bus under the Texas handbook?

   1. When passing on a different road or on a controlled-access highway where pedestrians cannot cross to the bus
   2. Whenever the driver cannot see children near the bus
   3. When the approaching vehicle is traveling under 15 mph
   4. Whenever the bus is on the opposite side of any road
   Show answer

   When passing on a different road or on a controlled-access highway where pedestrians cannot cross to the bus. Texas makes an exception when the driver is passing a school bus on a different road, or when the bus is in a controlled-access highway loading zone where pedestrians are not permitted to cross. The exception is not based on an ordinary opposite direction, low speed, or a driver's inability to see children. On the same road with flashing red lights, the stop duty remains. The cue is to identify the physical roadway relationship and whether pedestrians can cross before relying on the exception.

4. 4. What does a double solid white pavement marking mean?

   1. Traffic may cross freely to pass a slower vehicle
   2. Crossing is prohibited
   3. Only motorcycles may cross the marking
   4. The marking identifies a railroad track
   Show answer

   Crossing is prohibited. The handbook states that crossing is prohibited where a pavement marking consists of double solid white lines. The restriction applies even if the adjacent lane looks open, because the marking controls lane movement at that location. A dashed line is the marking associated with permitted changes when safe, not this double-solid pattern. The lines do not identify a railroad track or create a motorcycle-only exception. The visual cue is two unbroken white lines together: remain in the lane until the marking changes.

5. 5. What may broken or dashed pavement lines permit when the movement is safe?

   1. Parking in the travel lane
   2. Ignoring a traffic signal
   3. Driving against traffic in any direction
   4. Passing or changing lanes
   Show answer

   Passing or changing lanes. Broken or dashed lines can permit passing or changing lanes when the movement is safe. The marking is permission to evaluate a lane change, not an instruction to make one. The driver must still check traffic, signs, signals, and any other restriction. Broken lines do not authorize parking in a live lane, driving against traffic, or ignoring a red light. The cue is a dashed boundary plus a clear gap: signal, check mirrors and blind spot, then move only when safe.

6. 6. At a railroad crossing with flashing red lights, what must a driver do?

   1. Slow down, then cross before the gates begin to lower
   2. Stop and remain stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing
   3. Stop only if the train is already visible
   4. Drive around the gate after checking the nearest track
   Show answer

   Stop and remain stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing. Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing require a stop. If a train is approaching, the driver must remain stopped until the train passes and the lights stop flashing. Trying to beat a gate or relying only on whether the train is visible ignores the warning system and the possibility of another track or obstructed view. Driving around a lowered gate is especially dangerous. The cue is red crossing lights: stop before the crossing, wait through the warning, and proceed only after release.

7. 7. What does the orange color identify in a work zone?

   1. Motorist services
   2. Construction and maintenance devices
   3. Public recreation and scenic guidance
   4. Permitted movements and direction guidance
   Show answer

   Construction and maintenance devices. Orange is the basic color for construction and maintenance traffic control devices. This color helps drivers recognize temporary work-zone guidance among ordinary roadway information. Blue identifies motorist services, brown identifies public recreation and scenic guidance, and green identifies permitted movements or direction guidance. When orange signs, drums, cones, panels, or arrow devices appear, expect a changed traffic pattern, slow as needed, and watch carefully for workers and equipment near the roadway.

8. 8. Which child passenger restraint rule applies in Texas?

   1. A child may use an adult belt at any age if seated in the back
   2. Every child under 12 must use a rear-facing seat regardless of height
   3. A child under 8 must use a federally approved child car seat unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches
   4. Only children under 4 years old need a federally approved restraint
   Show answer

   A child under 8 must use a federally approved child car seat unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches. Texas requires a federally approved child car seat for a child under 8 who occupies a seat equipped with a safety belt, unless that child is more than 4 feet 9 inches tall. Age alone does not make every young passenger rear-facing, and sitting in the back does not eliminate the restraint requirement. The rule also reaches beyond children under four. The cue is to check both measurements: under eight and not over 4 feet 9 inches means use the approved child seat.

9. 9. What does the Texas handbook say about sunscreen or window tinting on a vehicle?

   1. It is prohibited on all windows
   2. There are no rules
   3. It is allowed only on the rear window
   4. It must comply with the state regulations for your vehicle make and model
   Show answer

   It must comply with the state regulations for your vehicle make and model. If sunscreen or window tinting is used, it must comply with the appropriate state regulations for your vehicle make and model. Tint is neither banned outright nor unregulated; the permitted darkness depends on the window and the vehicle type. Illegal tint can fail the safety inspection and draw a citation. The handbook's equipment chapter also sets the mounting height for headlamps and other lights.

10. 10. 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.

11. 11. What must a driver do when facing a flashing yellow arrow for a left turn?

    1. Stop and wait for a green arrow
    2. Turn left without checking because opposing traffic must stop
    3. Turn left only after yielding to oncoming traffic
    4. Continue straight and ignore the arrow
    Show answer

    Turn left only after yielding to oncoming traffic. A flashing yellow arrow permits a left turn, but it is not a protected movement. You must yield to vehicles approaching from the opposite direction before turning. A green arrow provides protected movement, while a flashing yellow arrow leaves the opposing traffic priority. The stop-and-wait choice confuses this signal with a red indication. Before moving, scan the opposing lanes and the crosswalk, then turn only when the gap is safe. The arrow gives permission to turn, not permission to take the right of way.

12. 12. At a steady yellow light, when should you stop before entering the intersection?

    1. Only after entering the intersection
    2. Never, because yellow means accelerate
    3. When you can stop safely before the nearest crosswalk
    4. Only when a police officer is present
    Show answer

    When you can stop safely before the nearest crosswalk. A steady yellow light warns that the signal is changing to red. Stop before the nearest crosswalk when doing so can be accomplished safely. If stopping safely is not possible, proceed cautiously through the intersection before the light turns red. The choice to continue after entering the intersection reverses the stopping point, and accelerating is not the handbook response. As the light changes, check your distance and speed rather than braking abruptly. The practical cue is whether a controlled stop can be made before the crosswalk.

13. 13. What does a law enforcement officer's direction control at a traffic signal?

    1. Only a green signal may be followed
    2. A posted speed limit becomes optional
    3. The driver may choose whichever instruction is more convenient
    4. The officer's direction must be obeyed even if it conflicts with an ordinary rule
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    The officer's direction must be obeyed even if it conflicts with an ordinary rule. Drivers must obey a law enforcement officer who is directing traffic, even when the instruction ordinarily appears to conflict with a traffic law. The officer is managing the immediate roadway situation, so following only the signal or choosing a convenient instruction can create a dangerous conflict. This does not make posted speed limits generally optional. The visual cue is the officer actively controlling traffic: stop, proceed, turn, or take the directed path as instructed, while remaining alert for pedestrians, other vehicles, and hazards around the intersection.

14. 14. A Texas sign shows a litter barrel symbol. What does it tell you?

    1. A litter barrel, the only lawful place to throw trash, is one mile ahead
    2. A rest area is closed
    3. A landfill entrance is ahead
    4. Trash may be thrown out here
    Show answer

    A litter barrel, the only lawful place to throw trash, is one mile ahead. The handbook explains that the only place you may lawfully throw your trash on the highway is in a litter barrel, and this sign advises that such a barrel is one mile ahead. Litter barrels are also found at all rest and picnic areas. Throwing trash from a vehicle anywhere else is littering. Nearby route marker signs tell you what road you are on so you can plan your trip.

15. 15. What does a Texas sign with a U-turn arrow crossed by a red slash mean at an intersection?

    1. U-turns are allowed after yielding
    2. U-turns are required
    3. Making a U-turn at that intersection is prohibited
    4. The road ahead curves back
    Show answer

    Making a U-turn at that intersection is prohibited. Making a U-turn at an intersection where this sign is posted is prohibited. The same sign family includes the truck prohibition sign, which bars trucks from using or entering the roadway, and the Wrong Way sign, which tells you that you are driving against the flow on a one way street. The red slash cancels the movement pictured, so the sign never requires or permits a U-turn.

16. 16. 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.

17. 17. At an all-way stop, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, which vehicle should go first?

    1. The vehicle on the other driver's right
    2. The vehicle on the other driver's left
    3. The vehicle that is larger
    4. The vehicle that honks first
    Show answer

    The vehicle on the other driver's right. When vehicles reach an all-way stop simultaneously, yield to the vehicle on your right. The rule is based on position, not vehicle size, speed, or which driver makes a sound. First come to a complete stop, assess who arrived first, and use the right-side rule only when arrival is simultaneous. The left-side choice reverses the required priority and could cause both vehicles to enter together. A clear pause and deliberate glance to the right provide the needed cue before proceeding.

18. 18. If a traffic signal changes after a pedestrian has entered the crosswalk, what must a driver do?

    1. Continue yielding to the pedestrian
    2. Sound the horn until the pedestrian stops
    3. Proceed immediately because the light changed
    4. Yield only if the pedestrian is running
    Show answer

    Continue yielding to the pedestrian. A pedestrian who entered while permitted keeps the right of way even if the signal changes afterward. Drivers must wait and allow that person to finish crossing instead of treating the new vehicle indication as permission to move through. The immediate-proceed choice ignores the person already in the crosswalk. Horn use does not replace yielding, and walking speed does not change the duty. Keep the vehicle stopped, watch the pedestrian's path, and move only after the crossing area is clear.

19. 19. Where are in-street pedestrian crossing signs placed?

    1. Only on the right-hand roadside shoulder
    2. In the roadway at the crosswalk on a center line, lane line, or median island
    3. At the nearest railroad crossing
    4. Above the roadway on a traffic signal mast
    Show answer

    In the roadway at the crosswalk on a center line, lane line, or median island. Texas describes in-street pedestrian crossing signs as being placed in the roadway at the crosswalk. Their permitted locations include the center line, a lane line, or a median island. They are not roadside signs on the left or right, and an overhead placement describes a different pedestrian sign. The railroad choice concerns a separate warning system. When driving toward a marked crossing, expect the sign to stand within the roadway and reduce speed for people who may enter the crosswalk.

20. 20. What does a solid yellow line on your side beside a broken yellow line on the other side mean?

    1. Both directions may pass without restriction
    2. Both directions must stop before crossing the lines
    3. Your side may pass but the other side may not
    4. Your side may not pass, while the other side may pass when safe
    Show answer

    Your side may not pass, while the other side may pass when safe. A solid yellow line next to your lane signals that passing from your side is prohibited. The broken line on the opposing side indicates that traffic there may pass when conditions are safe. The markings assign different permissions to the two directions, so reading only the broken line would be unsafe. The unrestricted and reversed interpretations are wrong because they ignore which line is adjacent to your lane. Stay behind the line and wait for a lawful passing section before overtaking.