VT Permit Practice Test 16

All 20 questions in test 16

Every question below comes from the Vermont 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. If a solid line sits in the other lane with a broken line in yours, what may a Vermont driver do?

   1. Never pass from either side of the road
   2. Pass only when driving on a hill
   3. Pass if it is clear ahead
   4. Yield your lane to oncoming traffic
   Show answer

   Pass if it is clear ahead. If there is a solid line but a broken line in your lane, you may pass if it is clear ahead. The broken line on your side allows the pass, while the solid line on the other side tells opposing drivers not to pass toward you. A hill is a place where passing is barred by poor sight distance, not a condition that allows it. Signal, check ahead and behind, and complete the pass only with a clear view.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and turning

2. 2. Why are continuous two-way left turn lanes not travel lanes in Vermont?

   1. They are reserved for transit buses on schedule
   2. They serve as parking lanes during midday hours
   3. Traffic from both directions may use the lane to turn left
   4. They serve as entrance ramps for Interstate highways
   Show answer

   Traffic from both directions may use the lane to turn left. A continuous two way left turn lane serves turners from both directions, so driving along it as a travel lane risks meeting an opposing turner head on inside the shared center space. Bus and parking uses misread the center lane purpose entirely, since its arrows and markings reserve it briefly for entering, waiting, and completing left turns only. Enter the center lane a short distance before your turn, place the whole vehicle inside it, and exit promptly into the side street or driveway.

   Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and turning

3. 3. Storm winds drop wires into the roadway ahead. What should a driver do?

   1. Stay away from the wires and never cross them
   2. Drive slowly across wires that are lying flat
   3. Move the wires aside with a long tree branch
   4. Park beside the wires and direct other traffic
   Show answer

   Stay away from the wires and never cross them. Downed wires may still carry current even when they lie still, and Vermont warns drivers never to get near them or cross them. Driving over a flat wire or moving it with a branch can complete a path for electricity through the vehicle or the person. Stop well back, keep others away from the area, and wait for utility or emergency crews to declare the scene safe.

   Study this in the handbook: Floods, winter, skids and visibility

4. 4. How should a bicyclist ride when passing parked cars in Vermont?

   1. Weave between parked cars to stay near the curb
   2. Ride in a straight line and do not weave between cars
   3. Stop at each parked car before riding past it
   4. Ride toward oncoming traffic to see parked cars better
   Show answer

   Ride in a straight line and do not weave between cars. A bicyclist should ride in a predictable manner, always in a straight line, and not weave in and out of parked cars. Weaving hides the rider behind each parked vehicle and then brings the rider back into traffic without warning. Riding against traffic is also wrong, since bicyclists ride with traffic on the right side. Drivers should expect a steady line from a rider and leave space for a door that may open into the rider path.

   Study this in the handbook: Bicyclists, motorcycles, trucks and animals

5. 5. What must a driver do for wide farm equipment on a narrow Vermont road?

   1. Yield to the wide equipment on the narrow road
   2. Pass quickly before the equipment begins to turn
   3. Drive onto the shoulder to get around the equipment
   4. Sound the horn and hold your lane position
   Show answer

   Yield to the wide equipment on the narrow road. Some farm equipment is wider than the road itself, so on a narrow road the car driver must yield and let the machinery keep the usable surface. Hurrying past or dropping onto the shoulder puts the car beside equipment that may sway or swing without warning. Hold a following position where the operator can see you, wait for a safe and clear stretch, and pass cautiously only when no traffic approaches.

   Study this in the handbook: Bicyclists, motorcycles, trucks and animals

6. 6. According to Vermont's safe-speed rule, when can 10 mph be unsafe?

   1. On a straight, dry road with clear visibility and light traffic
   2. During bad weather that makes control difficult
   3. Only on Interstate highways
   4. When no pedestrians or bicyclists are nearby
   Show answer

   During bad weather that makes control difficult. Vermont does not make 10 mph automatically safe. The manual ties speed to the conditions, including heavy traffic and bad weather, and warns that even 10 mph can be unsafe. A straight, dry road with light traffic does not create that warning by itself. An Interstate is not the only place where a speed can be unsafe, and the absence of pedestrians or bicyclists is not the test. The driver must choose a speed that can be controlled for the hazards present.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping, braking and following distance

7. 7. Vermont bars parking within a set distance of a fire hydrant. What is that distance?

   1. 50 feet from the hydrant
   2. 20 feet from the hydrant
   3. 30 feet from the hydrant
   4. 6 feet from the hydrant
   Show answer

   6 feet from the hydrant. Vermont lists six feet as the distance within which parking is barred beside a fire hydrant. That short gap keeps the hydrant reachable for hose connections at any hour. Twenty feet is the setback tied to a crosswalk at an intersection, so it belongs to a different feature. Thirty and fifty feet name other roadside clearances and do not state the hydrant rule. When you park, picture the hydrant at the curb and leave at least that six foot space open beside it.

   Study this in the handbook: Parking rules

8. 8. What should a left turning Vermont driver check behind before turning?

   1. The dashboard indicator lamp that shows your own turn signal is flashing
   2. That passengers in the rear seat have fastened belts again
   3. That the follower understood the signal and no one passes on the left
   4. The radio traffic report for traffic on the road ahead
   Show answer

   That the follower understood the signal and no one passes on the left. Before a left turn, the driver should signal three to five seconds in advance, slow gradually, and check the rearview mirror to see that the driver behind has understood the signal. The driver must also be sure no bicyclist or motor vehicle behind is trying to pass on the left. An indicator lamp shows only your own signal, belt checks belong before driving, and a radio report does not watch the lane beside you. On a multilane road, be in the left lane well in advance.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping, braking and following distance

9. 9. Which poor decisions head Vermont list of crash causes?

   1. Mechanical brake failure on older vehicles in winter
   2. Deer crossings on rural roads during the night
   3. Unfamiliar road layouts in newly built areas
   4. Driving too fast for conditions and not paying attention
   Show answer

   Driving too fast for conditions and not paying attention. Vermont crash causes begin with driver decisions: speed too fast for conditions, inattention, tailgating, center line crossing, failed yields, impairment, unsafe passing, and unchecked blind spots. Mechanical failure and animals contribute elsewhere, yet the manual insists poor decisions made by drivers cause most crashes across the state data. Audit your own habits against that eight item list, since each entry describes a choice available for correction before the next drive.

   Study this in the handbook: What to do after a crash

10. 10. What should Vermont brakes be checked for at regular intervals?

    1. That they operate together properly without swerving
    2. Pad thickness alone, without a road test
    3. Fluid color alone, without checking balance
    4. Pedal height alone, without checking swerve
    Show answer

    That they operate together properly without swerving. Brake care in Vermont includes regular interval checks that the brakes operate together properly, since uneven grab on sudden application swerves the vehicle from its lane. Pad thickness alone misses leaks, grease contamination, water intrusion, and overheating fade that each undermine stopping in distinct driving conditions. Test at slow speed on an empty road with a light wheel grip, noting any pull, and have a sinking pedal or fluid loss checked at once.

    Study this in the handbook: Equipment, inspection and maintenance

11. 11. What is the main purpose of crosswalks in Vermont pedestrian guidance?

    1. To encourage crossing only at locations where crossings can be made safely
    2. To give pedestrians a guaranteed crossing without requiring them to look for traffic
    3. To show drivers where they may wait while turning
    4. To designate bicycle parking beside the curb
    Show answer

    To encourage crossing only at locations where crossings can be made safely. Vermont says the main purpose of crosswalks is to encourage pedestrians to cross at locations where crossings can be made safely. A crosswalk is not a promise that a pedestrian can enter without looking, a place for a turning vehicle to wait, or a bicycle parking area. Drivers still need to watch for people and avoid blocking the marked path. The designated location helps organize crossings and gives drivers a place to expect them.

    Study this in the handbook: School buses and railroad crossings

12. 12. What standing do bicyclists hold as road users in Vermont?

    1. Guests who must yield to every motor vehicle
    2. Valid road users with the rights and duties of other drivers
    3. Off-road users who may enter roads only at crossings
    4. Unlicensed users with no duties under traffic law
    Show answer

    Valid road users with the rights and duties of other drivers. Bicyclists are valid road users in Vermont, holding the rights and responsibilities of other vehicle drivers even though no license is required to ride. Treating a rider as a guest who must always yield invites dangerous passes and turns across the bicycle path. Expect riders to obey signals and signs, expect to share the lane lawfully, and pass only with room and a clear view ahead.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicyclists, motorcycles, trucks and animals

13. 13. What following distance does Vermont set inside work zones?

    1. Maintain a 2 second following distance
    2. Follow the vehicle ahead closely in the zone
    3. Keep extra distance only during night work
    4. Maintain a 4 second following distance
    Show answer

    Maintain a 4 second following distance. Vermont's work zone guidance calls for a four-second following distance. It compares stopping on dry pavement at 60 miles per hour, which takes 240 feet, with stopping at 30 miles per hour, which takes 75 feet. The two-second and close-following choices remove the buffer needed when traffic stops suddenly, while night work is not the only condition covered. Count the gap to a fixed checkpoint and increase it when traffic or weather demands more room.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping, braking and following distance

14. 14. How long after junior license issuance is employment driving barred in Vermont?

    1. For one year after issuance or until age eighteen, whichever comes first
    2. For six months after issuance or until age eighteen, whichever comes first
    3. Until the driver turns twenty-one years old, with no earlier release
    4. For the first ninety days after issuance, with no later restriction
    Show answer

    For one year after issuance or until age eighteen, whichever comes first. A junior license holder cannot drive in the course of employment for one year following issuance of the Junior Driver License, or until reaching age eighteen, whichever comes first. Pizza delivery is the example given for work driving that must wait. Six months and ninety days shorten the period, while age twenty one extends it past the release the rule allows. Teen drivers and their employers should plan non driving duties until the year ends or the eighteenth birthday arrives.

    Study this in the handbook: Junior license passenger rules and recalls

15. 15. How should a Vermont driver slow down on a slippery road before braking harder?

    1. Brake hard at once and hold the pedal down firmly
    2. Downshift at once and pump the brakes rapidly again and again
    3. Take the foot off the gas, then gently squeeze the brakes
    4. Turn the steering wheel quickly from side to side
    Show answer

    Take the foot off the gas, then gently squeeze the brakes. Slowing on a slippery Vermont road starts by lifting off the gas, then gently squeezing the brakes with slow steady pressure while the wheels keep rolling. Hard braking locks wheels and erases steering, while rapid pumping on equipped cars fights the systems designed to modulate pressure for you. If the wheels begin to lock, ease off the pedal until rolling resumes, then reapply that gentle squeeze as speed bleeds away.

    Study this in the handbook: Floods, winter, skids and visibility

16. 16. Does Vermont's portable device ban apply while a vehicle is stationary on a public highway?

    1. No, a stopped vehicle is outside the device law
    2. No, the law applies only above 10 mph
    3. No, the law applies only in moving Interstate lanes
    4. Yes, the ban includes use while the vehicle is stationary on a highway
    Show answer

    Yes, the ban includes use while the vehicle is stationary on a highway. Vermont's rule includes a vehicle that is stationary on a public highway. Stopping at a light or in traffic therefore does not create the exception described by the first three choices. The law is not limited to speeds above 10 mph or to moving Interstate lanes, and a stopped vehicle remains within the stated highway condition. Keep the device unused until the vehicle is in a lawful place where the rule no longer applies.

    Study this in the handbook: Insurance, points and phone laws

17. 17. How may a motorcyclist slow without lighting the brake lamp?

    1. By dragging the rear brake lightly on downgrades
    2. By downshifting or rolling off the throttle
    3. By turning off the engine while moving
    4. By coasting in neutral down long hills
    Show answer

    By downshifting or rolling off the throttle. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or rolling off the throttle without activating the brake light, so following drivers must judge closing speed without that visual warning. Engine shutdown and neutral coasting are not the described technique, and relying solely on a brake lamp leaves the car driver blind to real motorcycle deceleration. Behind a motorcycle, watch its gap to the next vehicle and your own closing rate instead of waiting for a red lamp cue.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicyclists, motorcycles, trucks and animals

18. 18. Before moving left to pass another vehicle in Vermont, what should a driver check?

    1. Only the right-side mirror for traffic behind
    2. The rearview mirrors and the left shoulder blind spot
    3. Only the vehicle's horn before signaling
    4. The road behind after moving into the passing lane
    Show answer

    The rearview mirrors and the left shoulder blind spot. Before moving left to pass, Vermont's passing guidance says to look to the rear, using the rearview mirrors and a check over the left shoulder for the blind spot. That check shows whether another vehicle is already passing or occupies the space the driver wants to enter. A right-side-only check misses the left lane, a horn does not show whether it is clear, and checking after moving is too late. The mirror and shoulder check belongs before the lane change.

    Study this in the handbook: Highway markings and passing

19. 19. What do flashing arrow panels do when their arrows are not lit for guidance?

    1. They turn completely dark to save battery power
    2. They display a steady red X across the panel face
    3. They show caution mode with a blinking line or corner lights
    4. They display the posted speed limit for the work zone
    Show answer

    They show caution mode with a blinking line or corner lights. Unused flashing arrow panels switch to caution mode, showing a straight blinking line or blinking lights on the four corners, and Vermont drivers should slow down on seeing that display. A dark panel or red X describes other devices, while the caution pattern deliberately keeps the panel lit so approaching drivers register the work area ahead. On meeting corner blinkers across a trailer panel at night, ease off early and prepare for workers, tapers, or shifting lanes downstream.

    Study this in the handbook: Road signs

20. 20. How should a Vermont driver pass a motorcycle regarding lane use?

    1. Share the motorcycle lane briefly while passing the rider ahead
    2. Pass within the same lane along its left edge
    3. Change lanes completely and never cut in closely afterward
    4. Speed up after passing to stay ahead of the rider
    Show answer

    Change lanes completely and never cut in closely afterward. Motorcycles hold a full lane entitlement in Vermont, so passing drivers change lanes completely, signal the intention, and never cut in closely just after overtaking the rider. Lane sharing squeezes the rider against hazards they may need the full width to dodge, while speeding up afterward traps them beside your vehicle longer. Allow a passing motorcyclist plenty of room as well, and think of the machine as a person rather than an object when judging every gap.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicyclists, motorcycles, trucks and animals