VA Permit Practice Test 14

All 20 questions in test 14

Every question below comes from the Virginia 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. According to the Virginia manual, how should you use your eyes while searching the road?

   1. Fix them on the car directly ahead
   2. Keep them on the center line ahead
   3. Keep them moving, not fixed on one thing
   4. Watch your mirrors most of the time
   Show answer

   Keep them moving, not fixed on one thing. Searching means looking at the whole scene for anything that might come into your path. The manual says to avoid staring at one thing and to keep your eyes moving so you learn to read the road and your surroundings. Fixing your gaze on the car ahead or the center line leaves you blind to hazards at the sides. Mirrors should be checked about every 10 seconds, not watched constantly. Scan far ahead, side to side, and behind.

   Study this in the handbook: Hand position, following distance and blind spots

2. 2. You park on a hill beside a Virginia road that has no curb. How should you set your front wheels?

   1. So the car would roll away from traffic
   2. Straight ahead, with the brake on
   3. So the car would roll into the road
   4. Toward the center of the road
   Show answer

   So the car would roll away from traffic. Without a curb to stop the tires, the goal is to make sure a rolling car goes away from moving traffic. The manual says to turn the front wheels so that if the vehicle rolls, the rear of the vehicle rolls away from traffic. Straight wheels leave the direction to chance, and turning toward the road sends a runaway car into the travel lanes. Set the parking brake every time, and leave the car in gear or park as well.

   Study this in the handbook: Special lanes, painted curbs and parking

3. 3. When driving at night in a Virginia city, which headlights should you normally use?

   1. High beams on every city street
   2. Parking lights on well-lit streets
   3. High beams unless a car is ahead
   4. Low beams, unless the street is unlit
   Show answer

   Low beams, unless the street is unlit. The manual says to use low beams when driving in cities and towns, except on streets where there is no lighting. City streets usually have street lights and frequent oncoming traffic, so high beams would blind other drivers and pedestrians. Parking lights are not headlights and do not light the road enough. On an unlit street with no one coming, high beams may help, but switch back to low beams whenever you meet or follow another vehicle.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights, night, fog, rain and snow

4. 4. What color are the Virginia signs used to advise and warn drivers in an incident area, such as a crash scene?

   1. Orange and black
   2. Yellow and black
   3. Red and white
   4. Pink and black
   Show answer

   Pink and black. Virginia uses two colors for temporary areas. Orange and black signs advise and warn in construction areas, and pink and black signs do the same in incident areas, such as the scene of a crash. Both may appear with black and white signs that state rules that exist only because of the construction or incident. When you see pink signs, expect stopped vehicles, responders and changed lanes ahead, and slow down.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and turns on red

5. 5. Which traffic signal requires you to treat the intersection like a stop sign, stopping fully and yielding before you go?

   1. A flashing yellow light
   2. A flashing red light
   3. A steady yellow arrow
   4. A steady green arrow
   Show answer

   A flashing red light. At a flashing red light, come to a complete stop and yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, then go when the way is clear. That is how you would handle a stop sign. A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution without stopping, a steady yellow arrow warns that the signal is about to change, and a green arrow lets you go in its direction if the way is clear. At a railroad crossing, a flashing red always means stop.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and turns on red

6. 6. Fire trucks are stopped answering an alarm at a house on your Virginia street. How far from them must you park?

   1. At least 100 feet away
   2. At least 200 feet away
   3. At least 50 feet away
   4. At least 500 feet away
   Show answer

   At least 500 feet away. Virginia law says you may not park within 500 feet of where fire trucks or equipment are stopped answering an alarm. The same 500 foot figure is the closest you may follow an emergency vehicle with flashing lights. The 50 foot figure is the railroad crossing distance, and 15 feet is used for fire hydrants and fire station entrances. If you live on the street, park well away or stay out of the area until the trucks leave.

   Study this in the handbook: Special lanes, painted curbs and parking

7. 7. A Virginia driver under 21 is convicted of driving after illegally drinking, with a BAC of .05. How long is the driving privilege suspended?

   1. One year from the date of conviction
   2. Seven days
   3. 90 days
   4. Until the driver turns 21
   Show answer

   One year from the date of conviction. For an underage driver with a BAC of at least .02 but less than .08, the court suspends the driving privilege for one year from the date of conviction and adds either a $500 minimum fine or at least 50 hours of community service. Seven days is the administrative suspension after an adult DUI arrest. Ninety days and turning 21 are not the stated terms. At .08 or higher, the young driver can face adult DUI penalties instead.

   Study this in the handbook: Suspensions, revocations and demerit points

8. 8. A driver is following too closely behind you on a Virginia road. What does the manual say to do with the space in front of you?

   1. Increase the space ahead of you
   2. Shrink it so the tailgater has room
   3. Keep it the same and ignore the driver
   4. Close it so no one can cut in front
   Show answer

   Increase the space ahead of you. Being tailgated is on the manual's list of times to increase your following distance. Extra room ahead lets you slow down gradually if traffic in front stops, so the driver behind is less likely to hit you. Closing the gap does the opposite, because any hard stop then becomes an emergency for both of you. The manual also suggests moving to another lane when possible, or gently tapping the brakes to encourage the tailgater to pass or back off.

   Study this in the handbook: Hand position, following distance and blind spots

9. 9. Close to an intersection, a solid white line separates your lane from the lane beside you. What does that line tell you?

   1. Traffic in that lane is coming at you
   2. Lane changes are discouraged at this spot
   3. You must change lanes before the corner
   4. Passing on the right is encouraged here
   Show answer

   Lane changes are discouraged at this spot. Solid white lines show turn lanes and discourage lane changes near intersections, ramps and other places where changing lanes could be dangerous. Solid white lines also mark the right edge of the pavement. They do not separate opposite directions of travel, which is the job of yellow lines. Choose the lane you need before the solid line begins, then stay in it through the intersection. A broken white line is the marking that lets you change lanes with caution.

   Study this in the handbook: Special lanes, painted curbs and parking

10. 10. On a two-lane Virginia road, the center line is a single broken yellow line. What does it allow?

    1. Passing on the right side only
    2. No passing in either direction
    3. Passing on the left either way when clear
    4. Passing by traffic on one side only
    Show answer

    Passing on the left either way when clear. Yellow center lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions. When the center line is a single broken yellow line, passing on the left is allowed for drivers going either way, as long as the road ahead is clear. Double solid yellow lines are the ones that forbid passing in both directions, and a broken line beside a solid line allows passing from one side only. Before you pull out, make sure you can return to your lane well before any oncoming vehicle.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs

11. 11. According to the Virginia manual, what happens when a driver over-corrects?

    1. The front wheels lock and the car stops
    2. The engine stalls from the sudden turn
    3. The rear wheels slide toward the outside of the turn
    4. The car drifts slowly toward the center line
    Show answer

    The rear wheels slide toward the outside of the turn. Over-correcting happens when a driver turns the steering wheel more sharply than expected. The rear wheels then slide toward the outside of the turn, and the driver may lose control. Most over-correction crashes involve a single vehicle and are often preventable. Stay alert, slow down on curves, and if you drift off the pavement, do not jerk the wheel. Ease off the speed, look where you want to go, and steer back onto the road gradually.

    Study this in the handbook: When you must stop, school buses and stopping distance

12. 12. According to the Virginia manual, 12 ounces of beer has about the same alcohol as which drink?

    1. A twelve-ounce glass of wine
    2. A five-ounce glass of wine
    3. Two shots of liquor
    4. Half a shot of liquor
    Show answer

    A five-ounce glass of wine. The manual gives a simple comparison: twelve ounces of beer is the same as a shot of liquor or a five-ounce glass of wine. So a can of beer counts the same as a glass of wine or a shot. A twelve-ounce glass of wine would hold far more alcohol. Count every drink the same way, and remember that only time lowers intoxication.

    Study this in the handbook: Aggressive, distracted and drowsy driving

13. 13. Your light turns yellow while you are still well back from the intersection and can stop safely. What should you do?

    1. Stop before the intersection
    2. Speed up to get through first
    3. Keep the same speed and go
    4. Tap the horn and keep going
    Show answer

    Stop before the intersection. A yellow light warns that the signal is about to turn red. If you have not entered the intersection, the manual says to stop, unless stopping would be unsafe, in which case you go through cautiously. Being well back with room to stop safely means you should stop. Speeding up to beat the light is specifically warned against, and keeping your speed may carry you into the intersection on red. Brake smoothly and stop at the line.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and turns on red

14. 14. You are about to pass a person riding a moped on a two-lane Virginia road. How much space must you leave as you go by?

    1. At least one foot
    2. At least two feet
    3. Half a car length
    4. At least three feet
    Show answer

    At least three feet. When approaching or passing a person riding a bicycle, moped, power-assisted bicycle or similar device, the manual says to reduce speed and pass at least three feet to the left. Mopeds are vulnerable road users. Two feet is the figure for passing a stopped trash truck, not a rider. If you cannot leave three feet in your lane, change lanes to pass.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing, turning, U turns and signals

15. 15. You have passed a tractor-trailer and want to move back into its lane. You can see part of its grille but not its whole front in your mirror. What should you do?

    1. Move over now and then slow down
    2. Move over and brake to warn it
    3. Wait until the entire front shows
    4. Signal and cut in before it closes
    Show answer

    Wait until the entire front shows. Cutting in front of a large vehicle too soon after passing can get you rear-ended, because trucks need nearly twice the time and room to stop as cars. The manual says to look for the entire front of the truck in your rearview mirror before pulling in front, and then maintain your speed. Seeing only part of the grille means you are still too close. Slowing or braking after you cut in makes the danger worse.

    Study this in the handbook: Bicycles, motorcycles, trucks and other road users

16. 16. At a quiet Virginia intersection with no painted crosswalk, a pedestrian starts across the street in front of you. Must you yield?

    1. No, only painted crosswalks count
    2. Yes, unmarked intersections count too
    3. Not unless the person waves at you
    4. Not unless a stop sign controls you
    Show answer

    Yes, unmarked intersections count too. Drivers must yield to pedestrians or bicyclists crossing within a clearly marked crosswalk or at an unmarked intersection. A crosswalk does not have to be painted for the duty to apply at an intersection. The manual adds that turns on red are especially hazardous to pedestrians, and that drivers should avoid conflict and let pedestrians and bicyclists cross safely. Slow down near intersections and be ready to stop for anyone stepping off the curb.

    Study this in the handbook: Special lanes, painted curbs and parking

17. 17. Which of these is a warning sign of drowsy driving listed in the Virginia manual?

    1. Feeling hungry on a long drive
    2. Wanting to change the radio station often
    3. Noticing more traffic than usual
    4. Trouble recalling the last few miles
    Show answer

    Trouble recalling the last few miles. The manual lists signs of drowsy driving: constant yawning, head nodding, heavy eyelids, difficulty remembering the last few miles driven, missing road signs or exits, unplanned lane changes, driving off the road and hitting rumble strips. Not remembering the stretch you just drove means your attention has already lapsed. Hunger, wanting different music or heavier traffic are not on the list. If you notice these signs, find a safe place to stop and rest.

    Study this in the handbook: Aggressive, distracted and drowsy driving

18. 18. At a Virginia four-way stop, you and a car on your left both come to a stop at the same moment. Who goes first?

    1. The car on your left goes first
    2. Whichever driver honks first
    3. You go, because you are on the right
    4. Both go together, carefully
    Show answer

    You go, because you are on the right. At an All Way or 4 Way stop, every vehicle must stop. The first to arrive goes first, but if you reach the intersection at the same time as other vehicles, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. Here you are on the right of the other car, so you go first after your stop. Honking or both pulling out at once leads to crashes. Make eye contact and proceed only when it is clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and turns on red

19. 19. You are in the left lane when you pass a yellow diamond Lane Reduction sign showing the right lane ending, and a driver in the right lane needs to move over. What should you do?

    
    1. Speed up so the driver merges behind you
    2. Allow the driver to merge smoothly
    3. Move onto the left shoulder for room
    4. Hold your spot so they must wait
    Show answer

    Allow the driver to merge smoothly. The Lane Reduction sign means the right lane ends soon. Drivers in the right lane must merge left when space opens up, and drivers in the left lane should allow other vehicles to merge smoothly. Speeding up or closing the gap to block a merging driver can force a sudden stop or a sideswipe. Keep a steady speed, leave room ahead, and let the other car in. The shoulder is not a travel lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs

20. 20. A yellow-green diamond Pedestrian Crossing sign has a smaller sign with a downward arrow mounted below it. What does the arrow show?

    
    1. Where the crosswalk actually is
    2. Where to park to let people cross
    3. The lane you must move into
    4. The direction people must walk
    Show answer

    Where the crosswalk actually is. The Pedestrian Crossing sign warns you to watch for people walking, riding bicycles or using other devices who may enter a crosswalk or cross your path. Slow down and be prepared to stop. The manual adds that a second sign with an arrow may show the actual location of the crosswalk. When you see that arrow, the crossing is right there, so be ready to stop for anyone stepping out. The arrow does not direct drivers into a lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs