UT Permit Practice Test 19

All 20 questions in test 19

Every question below comes from the Utah 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 effect of alcohol is called color distinction in Utah's discussion of impairment?

   1. A reduced ability to judge vehicle speed at a distance
   2. A reduced ability to distinguish colors
   3. A reduced ability to process information and respond
   4. A reduced ability to use stored experience for new problems
   Show answer

   A reduced ability to distinguish colors. Utah describes color distinction as a reduction in the ability to distinguish colors. That loss can make colored traffic signals, signs, and vehicle lights harder to interpret. Judging distance and speed belongs to another part of alcohol-related vision loss, while processing and responding concern reaction time. Using stored experience for new problems concerns judgment rather than color distinction. The question asks for the specific ability named by the handbook, so the choice about separating colors is the one that matches the term.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, Drugs and the 0.05 Limit

2. 2. A 150-pound Utah driver crashes at 30 mph. How much force does the handbook say hits the body?

   1. About 1,500 pounds of force on the body at the moment of impact
   2. About 300 pounds of force at the moment of impact in the crash
   3. Force equal to body weight alone, with nothing added by speed
   4. 4,500 pounds of force, from weight multiplied by the car speed
   Show answer

   4,500 pounds of force, from weight multiplied by the car speed. Utah explains crash force as your weight multiplied by the car speed, so a 150 pound person crashing at 30 mph faces 4,500 pounds of force on the body. Figures of 1,500 or 300 pounds and plain body weight all pretend a person could brace against an impact, which the handbook says outright cannot be done at that load. The belt spreads that force across the hips and chest over a longer, survivable stop.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat Belts, Car Seats and Air Bags

3. 3. A 100-car Utah freight train at 55 mph applies emergency braking. How far does it need to stop?

   1. About 400 feet, like a loaded truck rig
   2. More than a mile, roughly 18 football fields
   3. About half a mile on dry level track
   4. Just under 1,000 feet with full braking
   Show answer

   More than a mile, roughly 18 football fields. Once a 100-car freight train traveling at 55 mph is set into emergency braking, Utah says it will need more than a mile to stop, approximately 18 football fields, because the weight and speed dictate the physics. Four hundred feet is a loaded truck figure, half a mile halves the truth, and 1,000 feet misses by most of the distance. No driver at a crossing should ever count on a train braking to safety on their behalf.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad Crossings

4. 4. A Utah crossing gate is lowering as you approach. May you drive around the gate?

   1. Yes, if no train is visible in either direction
   2. Yes, if a flagger waves you through
   3. No, you may not go around a lowered gate
   4. Yes, after stopping for five seconds
   Show answer

   No, you may not go around a lowered gate. Once a crossing gate starts down, Utah prohibits driving through, around, or under it, and the ban also covers a gate that is being raised or lowered. A clear view down the tracks, a flagger's wave, or a five second pause does not override a lowered barrier, since the gate exists to keep you off the rails while a train passes. Stay behind the gate until it is fully up and the lights stop flashing. If the gate malfunctions, find another crossing rather than steering around the arm.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad Crossings

5. 5. You return to a street where cars line both curbs. Which parking spot does Utah place off limits?

   1. A marked stall at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac
   2. A space on a gravel shoulder, clear of moving traffic
   3. A space beside a curb where no sign limits parking
   4. Directly in front of a public or private driveway
   Show answer

   Directly in front of a public or private driveway. Blocking the mouth of a driveway, public or private, sits among the barred parking places and needs no extra sign to take effect. Marked stalls, a clear rural shoulder, and an unsigned curb space can be lawful when other rules are met. That unsigned curb point tempts drivers who equate no sign with full permission, yet the driveway bar stands on its own. Leave the apron open so residents can enter and leave while seeing walkers and traffic without nosing blindly outward.

6. 6. What do Utah animal crossing signs tell a driver about the road ahead?

   1. The signs are placed in areas with many animal and vehicle collisions, calling for extra alertness
   2. A zoo or ranch entrance is nearby ahead
   3. Animals are fenced away from that stretch of roadway by continuous barriers
   4. Hunting is allowed from the road shoulder
   Show answer

   The signs are placed in areas with many animal and vehicle collisions, calling for extra alertness. Utah places animal crossing signs in areas with many animal and vehicle collisions, so the sign is a crash history warning to be alert, look well down the road and at its sides, and use caution at dawn and dusk when animals are most active. A ranch entrance, fencing away the risk, and shoulder hunting are not what the sign reports. One animal near the road often means followers, so ease off even after the first one passes.

   Study this in the handbook: Distractions, Fatigue, Animals and Mountain Roads

7. 7. The water over a Utah road looks shallow. Why must you still not attempt the crossing?

   1. Shallow water always hides police checkpoints
   2. A wet road surface ruins tire tread quickly
   3. Water can hide dips, or floodwaters can damage roadways by washing away the underlying road surface
   4. A slow crossing keeps the vehicle stable enough to handle shallow moving water safely
   Show answer

   Water can hide dips, or floodwaters can damage roadways by washing away the underlying road surface. Even where water appears shallow enough to cross, Utah forbids attempting a flooded roadway because water can hide dips in the road, or worse, floodwaters can damage roadways by washing away the underlying road surface. Checkpoints, tread wear, and slow crossing logic all miss the invisible missing pavement. Flash floods arrive within minutes or hours of heavy rain, so a road that was whole an hour ago may already be undermined.

   Study this in the handbook: Renewal, Phone Laws and the Point System

8. 8. A bicyclist ahead travels slower than a reasonable speed on a Utah road divided into three or more lanes. What may you do to pass?

   1. Use the center two-way left turn lane to pass the bicyclist
   2. Drive on the shoulder until you are ahead of the bicyclist
   3. Follow closely until the bicyclist moves onto the sidewalk
   4. Pass in the oncoming lane without checking for traffic ahead
   Show answer

   Use the center two-way left turn lane to pass the bicyclist. Utah makes one narrow allowance for passing a very slow bicyclist: a driver may use the center lane reserved for two-way left turns on a road with three or more lanes. The shoulder is not a travel lane for passing, tailgating pressures the rider without creating a legal route around, and crossing into oncoming traffic without a clear view invites a head-on crash. Use the center lane briefly, confirm it is empty of turning traffic, and return right once past.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles

9. 9. When are points for an individual Utah conviction automatically removed?

   1. One year after the date of the violation
   2. Five years after the date of the violation
   3. Three years after the date of the violation
   4. They stay until the license is renewed again
   Show answer

   Three years after the date of the violation. Points for an individual Utah conviction drop off automatically three years after the date of the violation, separate from the faster relief earned by clean driving years or a defensive driving course. One year is when half the total can clear after a conviction free year, five years overstates the wait, and renewal has nothing to do with the schedule. Knowing the three year clock helps a driver see a hearing threshold fade with time as well as behavior.

   Study this in the handbook: Renewal, Phone Laws and the Point System

10. 10. Where is a large truck's largest blind spot located?

    1. Directly behind the trailer doors, along the rear of the truck
    2. In front of the cab for twenty feet before the truck
    3. On the right side, from behind the cab along the truck's length
    4. Above the trailer roof on both sides of the truck
    Show answer

    On the right side, from behind the cab along the truck's length. Utah identifies the largest blind spot on a large truck as the right side, beginning behind the cab and running the length of the truck. The rear and front areas also have blind spots, but neither is the largest location named. The roof is not the relevant area. If the truck driver cannot see your vehicle in the side mirror, move out of the blind spot rather than traveling beside the truck. Passing completely and leaving space reduces the time you spend in that right-side zone.

11. 11. What must a Utah bicyclist never do while cycling on the highway?

    1. Ride on the right side of a one-way street
    2. Attach the bike or themselves to a vehicle on the highway
    3. Use hand signals before turning or stopping
    4. Look back over a shoulder before moving left to check for traffic
    Show answer

    Attach the bike or themselves to a vehicle on the highway. A Utah bicyclist may never attach themselves or the bicycle to any vehicle moving on the highway, a shortcut that removes steering and braking control at motor vehicle speeds. Riding right, hand signaling, and shoulder checks are expected habits instead. Drivers who see a rider holding a door handle or bumper should slow down and create space, since a small bump can put the rider under wheels with no chance to recover.

12. 12. During which dates may snow tires with metal studs be used in Utah each year?

    1. September 1 through April 30
    2. October 15 through March 31
    3. November 1 through February 28
    4. October 1 through April 15
    Show answer

    October 15 through March 31. Utah allows metal studs in snow tires from October 15 through March 31, a window built around the months when packed snow and ice linger longest. Starting in September puts studs on dry pavement too early, a November start waits past the first mountain storms, and running into mid April keeps the studs chewing pavement after the season closes. Plan the swap with the calendar in hand, especially if a vehicle splits time between valley streets and canyon roads.

    Study this in the handbook: Night Driving, Weather, Floods and Skids

13. 13. Besides turns and lane changes, when does Utah require a turn signal?

    1. When parking the vehicle overnight
    2. When entering a private garage door
    3. Only when traffic is close behind you
    4. Any time you pull to or from a curb
    Show answer

    Any time you pull to or from a curb. Utah signaling requirements include any time you pull to or from a curb, alongside signaling for two seconds before turning and before beginning any lane change. Overnight parking, garage entry, and waiting for close traffic do not frame the duty, which exists so drivers and pedestrians behind you can read a curb departure before it happens. Good drivers signal intentions well in advance, using signals, stoplights, or hand and arm signals as the vehicle allows.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad Crossings

14. 14. Three or more Utah snowplows travel in echelon formation. How may a driver pass them?

    1. On the left side only at low speed
    2. On neither side of the formation
    3. On the side without a deployed blade
    4. Between plows when a gap opens wide
    Show answer

    On neither side of the formation. Utah provides that if three or more snowplows operate in echelon formation, a driver may not pass or overtake the snowplows on either side, extending the single plow rule that already bars passing on the blade side of a plow showing flashing yellow lights. Left side creeping, the bladeless side, and gaps inside the formation all defeat the staggered wall that clears the whole road width. Fall in behind and let the echelon finish its pass.

    Study this in the handbook: Lane Changes, Passing, Turns and U-Turns

15. 15. What safety connection must Utah have between a towing vehicle and the vehicle it tows?

    1. A tow strap selected by the owner and rated for the load
    2. Only the hitch ball, with no chain or cable
    3. One chain or cable strong enough to prevent separation
    4. A rigid steel bar on every tow
    Show answer

    One chain or cable strong enough to prevent separation. Utah requires all towed vehicles and regular hitches or couplings to have one chain or cable strong enough to prevent the vehicles from separating. A tow strap is not the connection named by this rule, and a hitch ball without a chain or cable provides no backup if the coupling fails. Utah also does not require a rigid steel bar for every tow. Before moving, check that the required chain or cable is attached and capable of catching the towed vehicle if the hitch comes apart.

16. 16. Which weapon act from a vehicle brings mandatory Utah revocation?

    1. Discharging or allowing the discharge of a firearm from a vehicle
    2. Carrying a locked hunting rifle to a range
    3. Transporting ammunition in a closed trunk box
    4. Carrying an unloaded firearm inside a locked vehicle case
    Show answer

    Discharging or allowing the discharge of a firearm from a vehicle. Utah revokes the license for discharging, or allowing the discharge of, a firearm from a vehicle, and pairs it with a ban on using explosive, chemical, or incendiary devices from a vehicle. Lawful transport to a range, boxed ammunition in the trunk, and a cased unloaded firearm involve no discharge from a vehicle. A single shot fired from a car window therefore costs far more than the citation most people expect.

    Study this in the handbook: Renewal, Phone Laws and the Point System

17. 17. When you park next to a Utah curb, what is the greatest distance the back wheel may sit from the curb?

    1. 12 inches
    2. 18 inches
    3. 24 inches
    4. 6 inches
    Show answer

    12 inches. Utah measures curb parking from the back wheel, which must sit no more than 12 inches from the curb. At 18 or 24 inches the rear of the car projects into the travel lane and becomes an obstacle for passing traffic. Six inches is tighter than the law demands and can scrape a tire or wheel on a high curb. Use the right mirror and the curb line to judge the gap after you stop, then correct before leaving the vehicle. On a parallel park the handbook repeats the same 12 inch target.

18. 18. You approach a curve on a Utah road and cannot see far ahead. What does the speed law require there?

    1. Hold the posted speed through the entire curve
    2. Speed up briefly so you clear the curve sooner
    3. Slow down only when another vehicle is visible
    4. Slow down while approaching and going around it
    Show answer

    Slow down while approaching and going around it. Utah lists curves among the places where the law requires a slower speed, because a bend hides oncoming traffic, animals, and debris until late. Holding the posted number through the whole curve assumes the sight lines the bend removes, and waiting for a visible vehicle leaves no margin when one appears. Ease off before the bend, keep the vehicle in its lane at a pace that lets you stop within what you can see, and accelerate gently as the road straightens.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic Signals and Arrows

19. 19. A Utah driver develops a health condition that may affect safe driving. What duty follows?

    1. Report it to the Driver License Division and seek evaluation and advice from a competent Health Care Professional
    2. Tell only the vehicle insurance company agent about it and continue driving without any evaluation
    3. Wait for the next renewal to mention it
    4. Stop reporting once medication is prescribed
    Show answer

    Report it to the Driver License Division and seek evaluation and advice from a competent Health Care Professional. Utah places responsibility on the driver to ensure reasonably good health while driving, and a person with a health condition that may affect the ability to drive safely is responsible to report it to the Driver License Division and to seek evaluation and advice from a competent Health Care Professional. Renewal delays, insurer only notice, and silence after a prescription all dodge a safety duty that applies as soon as the condition appears.

20. 20. Driving straight through a Utah continuous flow intersection, what extra light should you watch for?

    1. A meter light on the far exit ramp
    2. A flex lane arrow above your lane ahead
    3. A flashing beacon that warns of traffic entering from the next driveway ahead
    4. Another light just past the intersection, which may be red to let left-turning cars cross in front of you
    Show answer

    Another light just past the intersection, which may be red to let left-turning cars cross in front of you. Utah tells drivers traveling through a continuous flow intersection to proceed as normal but watch for another light just past the intersection, where a possible red allows left-turning cars to cross in front of through traffic. Ramp meters, flex arrows, and driveway beacons belong to other systems. The displaced left design moves that crossing conflict beyond the main box, so a green at the first signal does not guarantee a clear run through the second.

    Study this in the handbook: Intersections and Right of Way