TX Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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. What is a two-way left-turn lane intended for?

   1. Parking while waiting to turn
   2. Passing slower traffic straight ahead
   3. Driving through the lane for several blocks
   4. Preparing for a left turn from either direction
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   Preparing for a left turn from either direction. A center lane marked for two-way left turns is a turning space, not a travel or passing lane. Enter it only where you have enough time to slow or stop safely and prepare for the left turn. Driving straight through it or using it to overtake defeats its purpose and creates conflicts with vehicles turning from the opposite direction. Parking is also unrelated to the lane marking. The useful cue is the yellow-bordered center lane with left-turn arrows: turn preparation only.

2. 2. When turning right, when should you begin signaling?

   1. Only after entering the intersection
   2. Exactly 10 feet before the turn
   3. At least 100 feet before the turn
   4. After completing the turn
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   At least 100 feet before the turn. A right turn should be signaled at least 100 feet before the turn. Early notice gives following and crossing traffic time to understand your intended movement and react. Signaling after entering the intersection is too late, and the ten-foot choice does not provide the handbook's required distance. Keep the signal active while approaching and turning, and position the vehicle correctly before the corner. The concrete cue is to count a full 100 feet of advance notice, not merely tap the control at the corner.

3. 3. On a two-lane road, what must you do before passing another vehicle?

   1. Pass only by crossing a solid yellow line
   2. Move onto the shoulder without checking
   3. Check that the opposite lane is clear and passing is permitted
   4. Follow closely until the other driver speeds up
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   Check that the opposite lane is clear and passing is permitted. Passing requires a clear view and a lawful opportunity. Before moving left, check that the opposing lane is clear, that no vehicle is approaching closely, and that markings or signs do not prohibit the maneuver. The shoulder is not a substitute for a travel lane, and a solid yellow restriction cannot be crossed simply to overtake. Following closely increases pressure without improving safety. The best cue is a complete scan of the road, markings, and signs before you leave your lane.

4. 4. When parking on an unlighted highway at night, which lights should remain on?

   1. High beams only
   2. Parking lights or low-beam headlights
   3. Hazard lights only with no other lights
   4. No lights if the vehicle is parked
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   Parking lights or low-beam headlights. The handbook directs a driver who parks on an unlighted highway at night to leave the parking lights or low-beam headlights on. High beams can create unnecessary glare and are not the stated instruction. Hazard lights alone do not replace the listed lighting, and a parked vehicle without lights is harder for approaching drivers to see. Before leaving the vehicle, check that the required lights are operating and use a location fully off the travel lane whenever possible.

5. 5. What should a driver do when leaving a vehicle?

   1. Leave the motor running and remove the key
   2. Turn off the motor, set the parking brake, and remove the key
   3. Set the parking brake only when on a hill
   4. Open the door without checking behind the vehicle
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   Turn off the motor, set the parking brake, and remove the key. When leaving a vehicle, the handbook directs the driver to turn the motor off, set the parking brake, and remove the key. These steps secure the vehicle and reduce the chance of an unattended car moving or being entered improperly. Leaving the motor running, using only the brake on a hill, or opening the door without checking behind does not include the full safety sequence. Before opening the door, also look behind for oncoming traffic so the exit does not create a roadside hazard.

6. 6. Who may establish or alter Texas speed limits under the handbook?

   1. Only individual drivers on the roadway
   2. Only vehicle manufacturers
   3. Only the federal government for every road
   4. The Texas Transportation Commission, regional mobility authorities, and local governments
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   The Texas Transportation Commission, regional mobility authorities, and local governments. The handbook gives authority to the Texas Transportation Commission, regional mobility authorities, and local governments to raise or lower speed limits based on traffic studies and other statutory requirements. Drivers cannot change a limit by agreement, and vehicle manufacturers do not set roadway rules. Federal control is not the exclusive authority described. When entering a new road, look for the posted limit and follow the sign in force at that location.

7. 7. What should a driver always observe for the roadway on which they are driving?

   1. The posted speed limit
   2. The speed of the vehicle behind them
   3. The largest speed limit in the state
   4. The speed suggested by a passenger
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   The posted speed limit. The handbook directs drivers to be aware of and observe the posted speed limit for the roadway on which they are driving. A driver should not substitute the speed of a following vehicle, a statewide maximum from another road, or a passenger suggestion. Posted signs control the location, while traffic, weather, and visibility may require a slower speed. Scan for the sign when entering the road and keep the vehicle within the limit.

8. 8. Where does the Texas handbook say to shift your eyes when an approaching vehicle's headlights are blinding?

   1. Straight at the headlights
   2. To the left edge of the road
   3. Into the rearview mirror
   4. Down to the lower right side of your lane
   Show answer

   Down to the lower right side of your lane. Avoid looking directly into the headlights of approaching vehicles. The handbook says to shift your eyes down to the lower right side of your lane, using the edge line as a guide until the vehicle passes. Looking left pulls you toward the oncoming lane, and staring at the lights leaves you momentarily blind. At night, drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance lit by your own headlights.

9. 9. What does Texas law prohibit a driver from doing with a cell phone while driving?

   1. Reading, writing, or sending messages
   2. Pulling safely off the road to make a call
   3. Using it to contact law enforcement during an emergency
   4. Letting a passenger make a call
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   Reading, writing, or sending messages. While driving, it is against Texas law to read, write, or send messages on a cell phone or portable wireless device. The handbook allows emergency contact with law enforcement, and it advises pulling safely off the road before making a call. A passenger can also handle the call when possible. The key distinction is active message use while the vehicle is being driven. Put the device away before moving, and pull completely off the roadway if an urgent call is necessary.

10. 10. For a driver age 21 or older, what BAC level is described as legally intoxicated?

    1. 0.10 or more only
    2. 0.02 or more
    3. 0.05 or more
    4. 0.08 or more
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    0.08 or more. The handbook states that a person age 21 or older is legally intoxicated at a BAC of 0.08 or more. This is a legal threshold, not a guarantee that lower levels are safe or that impairment begins only at that number. The other figures are not the adult limit stated here. Alcohol can affect judgment and reaction before the threshold is reached, so the safest plan is to use a sober driver. Never use a drink count as a substitute for a safe ride.

11. 11. What is the penalty for a first offense of refusing a breath or blood specimen as a minor?

    1. A 30-day suspension
    2. A two-year suspension
    3. A 180-day driver license suspension
    4. No suspension if the driver was not intoxicated
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    A 180-day driver license suspension. For a minor's first refusal to provide a breath or blood specimen, the listed consequence is a 180-day suspension of the driver license, or denial of driving privilege if the person is not licensed. The thirty-day figure belongs to a different alcohol-related offense, while two years applies to second and subsequent refusals. The rule concerns refusal itself, not a later proof of intoxication. Treat the implied-consent decision seriously, because declining the test can trigger its own suspension.

12. 12. After a crash that is not investigated, when must a qualifying written report be filed with TxDOT?

    1. Within 24 hours in every case
    2. On the first day of the next month
    3. No later than the 10th day after the crash
    4. Only when a police officer requests it
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    No later than the 10th day after the crash. When the crash is not investigated by law enforcement and meets the handbook's stated injury, death, and damage conditions, the written report must be filed with TxDOT no later than the tenth day after the crash. The rule is not a universal 24-hour requirement and does not wait for an officer's request. Record the date immediately, determine whether the qualifying conditions apply, and obtain the specified TxDOT form. The practical cue is the tenth-day deadline, which should be treated as an outside limit.

13. 13. What information should you exchange with other drivers after a crash when requested and available?

    1. Names, addresses, phone numbers, vehicle and license details, and insurance information
    2. A cash payment instead of identifying information
    3. Nothing unless the damage exceeds $1,000
    4. Only your first name and color of vehicle
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    Names, addresses, phone numbers, vehicle and license details, and insurance information. After a crash, the handbook calls for exchanging identifying and insurance information when requested and available. That includes names, addresses, phone numbers, vehicle identification and license plate numbers, driver license information, and insurance information. A first name alone is incomplete, cash is not a substitute for the record, and the duty is not limited only to crashes over a particular damage amount. Stay calm, write the information accurately from the documents, and also note the location and any witnesses.

14. 14. What must a written notice include after a collision with an unattended vehicle?

    1. Only the vehicle's license plate number
    2. Only the weather conditions at the scene
    3. Only the time of day when it happened
    4. A statement of the circumstances of the collision
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    A statement of the circumstances of the collision. When a written notice is attached to an unattended vehicle, it must provide a statement of the circumstances of the collision. The notice also includes the driver's name and address, but the question asks specifically about the collision information. A license plate number, time of day, or weather report does not replace the required description. The practical cue is to record what happened clearly while the details are fresh, then make the notice visible and secure on the damaged vehicle.

15. 15. What does a pedestrian hybrid beacon warn and control?

    1. Only trains approaching a crossing
    2. Vehicles entering a freeway toll lane
    3. Traffic where pedestrians enter or cross a street or highway
    4. Drivers approaching a private driveway
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    Traffic where pedestrians enter or cross a street or highway. A pedestrian hybrid beacon is a pedestrian-activated warning device used where people enter or cross a street or highway. It works with signs and pavement markings and is installed only at a marked crosswalk. It is not a railroad signal, a toll-lane control, or a driveway warning. When the beacon is present, expect a controlled pedestrian crossing and be ready to stop according to the signal display. The marked crosswalk is the concrete cue that identifies the location and purpose.

16. 16. Which sign shape is generally used for regulatory signs in Texas?

    1. Horizontal rectangle
    2. Vertical rectangle
    3. Diamond
    4. Pentagon
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    Vertical rectangle. Texas generally uses a vertical rectangle for regulatory signs. These signs communicate rules about what drivers may or may not do, so read the wording and follow it as you approach. A horizontal rectangle usually points toward a route or destination, while a diamond warns about a road hazard. A pentagon identifies a school advance or school crossing location. A useful visual cue is to connect the tall rectangular outline with an instruction that carries the force of a traffic rule, rather than treating it as a direction or advance warning.

17. 17. What is orange the basic color for in construction and maintenance work zones?

    1. Traffic control devices
    2. Hospital services
    3. Passenger vehicle license plates
    4. Recreation and scenic guidance
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    Traffic control devices. Orange is the basic color for construction and maintenance traffic control devices. It cues drivers to expect signs, barricades, panels, drums, cones, tubes, or other equipment guiding traffic through a work zone. It is not the color assigned to hospital services or recreation and scenic guidance, and it does not describe ordinary passenger license plates. When orange devices appear, slow down, watch for workers and equipment, and prepare for a lane change.

18. 18. What does the Standard Colors table explain about road signs?

    1. The age for a provisional license
    2. The meanings of commonly used sign colors
    3. The distance required before a crosswalk
    4. The penalty for refusing a breath test
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    The meanings of commonly used sign colors. The Standard Colors table shows colors commonly used on road signs and explains what each color means. Color can provide an early clue about the kind of information or instruction ahead, but drivers must still read the sign and observe the roadway. The table does not set licensing ages, parking distances, or alcohol penalties. Use the color as a quick classification aid, then confirm the symbol or wording before choosing a maneuver.

19. 19. What does a diamond-shaped sign exclusively warn drivers about?

    1. Existing or possible hazards on the road or nearby
    2. A stop requirement at the next intersection
    3. A route, destination, or exit name
    4. A school advance or school crossing
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    Existing or possible hazards on the road or nearby. A diamond sign is reserved for warning about an existing or possible hazard on the road or in an adjacent area. It is an advance cue to look for the condition and respond safely, not a command to stop by itself. An octagon is exclusively a stop-sign shape, a horizontal rectangle generally carries guide information, and a pentagon marks school advance or school crossing signs. Seeing the diamond profile should prompt an immediate search for the hazard described by its symbol or message.

20. 20. Ignoring a Texas warning sign may result in:

    1. Permission to continue without reducing speed
    2. A traffic violation, in addition to increased safety risk
    3. A requirement to stop at every warning sign
    4. An automatic change to a regulatory sign
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    A traffic violation, in addition to increased safety risk. Texas describes warning signs as notices of conditions immediately ahead, including hazards, changes in direction, or another situation requiring attention. The handbook also cautions that disregarding them may be a traffic violation. A warning sign does not automatically require a full stop, and it does not become a regulatory sign simply because a driver ignores it. Use the sign as an early response cue: pay attention, follow its instructions, and reduce speed to at least the posted speed when applicable.