VA Permit Practice Test 17

All 20 questions in test 17

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. Your light turns red as you reach a green-painted box with a white bicycle symbol in front of the stop line. Where should you stop?

   1. Inside the box, at its front edge
   2. With your front wheels in the box
   3. Past the box, in the crosswalk
   4. Behind the box, at the stop line
   Show answer

   Behind the box, at the stop line. The green area with a bicycle symbol is a bicycle box. Drivers must stop for a red traffic signal behind all bicycle boxes, not inside the box. Bicyclists move into the box in front of the cars so they are easier to see when the light changes. Right turns on red are not allowed at these intersections. When the light turns green and you turn right, signal and yield to bicycles on your right.

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

2. 2. How many sides does the Virginia sign that marks school zones and school crossings have?

   1. Four sides
   2. Five sides
   3. Six sides
   4. Eight sides
   Show answer

   Five sides. The school zone and school crossing sign is a pentagon, a five-sided shape. It marks school zones and warns you about school crossings, and two signs may be used together to show the exact location of the crosswalk. Learning the shape helps you recognize it from far away, before you can read any words. An eight-sided sign is a stop sign, and four-sided diamonds are general warnings. Watch for children and obey crossing guards near these signs.

   Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

3. 3. What does the Virginia manual call the distance your car travels after you apply the brakes?

   1. Braking distance
   2. Reaction distance
   3. Perception time
   4. Following distance
   Show answer

   Braking distance. The manual splits stopping into three parts. Perception time is the moment it takes you to notice a hazard. Reaction distance is how far you travel between recognizing the problem and applying the brakes. Braking distance is the distance your car travels after you apply the brakes. Braking distance grows with speed and depends on your brakes, tires and the pavement, and wet pavement can double it. Following distance is the space you keep ahead of you.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and reckless driving

4. 4. Just after you pass this round yellow sign with a black X and the letters RR, you hear a train horn but cannot see a train yet. What should you do?

   
   1. Speed up to cross before the train
   2. Slow down, look, listen and be ready to stop
   3. Keep your speed until you see the train
   4. Stop right here, well before the crossing
   Show answer

   Slow down, look, listen and be ready to stop. This round sign is placed before a railroad crossing. It warns you to look, listen, slow down and be prepared to stop for trains or any vehicles using the rails. Trains may approach the crossing at any time and from either direction. Racing one is deadly, and waiting until you see it may leave too little room to stop. Slow down now and stop at the crossing if a train is coming.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and work zones

5. 5. In a car with air bags, how does the Virginia manual say to set an adjustable steering wheel?

   1. Tilt it downward toward your chest
   2. Tilt it up toward your face
   3. Push it as far forward as it will go
   4. Set it level with your chin
   Show answer

   Tilt it downward toward your chest. If your vehicle has air bags and the steering wheel adjusts, the manual says to tilt it downward. This points the air bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck. Also move your seat back so you are at least ten inches from the wheel, and always buckle up, because air bags are meant to work together with safety belts. Tilting the wheel up aims the bag at your face, which can cause serious injury.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, air bags and child safety seats

6. 6. Which information does the Virginia manual tell you to get from the other drivers after a crash?

   1. Social Security number and birth date
   2. Name, address and driver's license number
   3. Their employer's name and work phone number
   4. Their speed and where they were headed
   Show answer

   Name, address and driver's license number. Drivers involved in a crash must exchange information as soon as possible. The manual lists the name, address and driver's license number of the other drivers, the license plate numbers of the other vehicles, the names and addresses of anyone injured and of each witness, and the name, address and insurance policy number of other vehicle owners. Social Security numbers and job details are not on the list. Write the details down carefully, and notify your insurance company right away.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

7. 7. You need to stop on an icy Virginia road. How should you brake?

   1. Press the brake pedal firmly
   2. Pump antilock brakes rapidly
   3. Coast without touching the brake
   4. Release the gas and brake gently
   Show answer

   Release the gas and brake gently. On slippery surfaces, the manual says to release the accelerator and apply the brakes gently when you need to stop. Keeping a slow, steady speed instead of braking hard lets you keep control. Hard braking can lock the wheels and send the car sliding, and antilock brakes should never be pumped. Coasting with no brake at all may not stop you in time. Start slowing much earlier than usual so a gentle stop is possible.

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

8. 8. At a Virginia four-way stop, you come to a full stop first. A car on your right stops a second later. Who should go first?

   1. You, since you arrived first
   2. The car on your right
   3. Whichever car is turning
   4. The car that honks first
   Show answer

   You, since you arrived first. When vehicles from different directions reach an intersection at different times, the vehicle that arrives first goes first. You stopped first, so you go first, even though the other car is on your right. The rule that the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right applies only when vehicles arrive at the same time. Turning or honking does not decide right-of-way. Go when the way is clear, watching for pedestrians.

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

9. 9. You enter a Virginia roundabout and want the exit that lies to your left. Which way do you travel around the circle to reach it?

   1. Clockwise, turning left at the entry
   2. Straight across the center island
   3. Whichever way is shorter
   4. Counter-clockwise, all the way around
   Show answer

   Counter-clockwise, all the way around. After entering a roundabout, drivers must travel in a counter-clockwise direction. To reach an exit on your left, you go around the circle, keeping the center island on your left, until you reach it, never cutting left against traffic. Stay to the left as you enter if you plan to turn left, stay in your lane, and use your right turn signal before you exit. Crossing the island or going clockwise would put you head-on with circulating traffic.

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

10. 10. In which of these situations does the Virginia manual tell you to increase your following distance?

    1. When the car ahead is a small sedan
    2. When the road is straight and level
    3. When you are exiting an expressway
    4. When you are driving under the limit
    Show answer

    When you are exiting an expressway. The manual lists times to leave extra room ahead: behind a large vehicle that blocks your vision, in bad weather or heavy traffic, when exiting an expressway, behind a motorcycle or bicycle, and when being tailgated. Leaving an expressway often means traffic ahead slows suddenly on the ramp, so more space gives you time to brake. A small car ahead, a straight level road or a speed below the limit are not reasons on the list. Plan for the slowdown before the ramp.

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

11. 11. On a two-lane Virginia road posted at 35 mph, you come up on a stopped trash truck collecting garbage. You cannot change lanes. How should you pass?

    1. At 35 mph, keeping one foot away
    2. At 25 mph or less, at least two feet away
    3. At 30 mph, at least three feet away
    4. At 15 mph, at least five feet away
    Show answer

    At 25 mph or less, at least two feet away. On a highway with fewer than four lanes, or whenever you cannot change lanes, the manual says to slow down to 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit and pass at least two feet to the left of a stationary trash collection vehicle. With a 35 MPH limit, that means 25 MPH or less. On a highway of at least four lanes, change to a lane not next to the truck instead when you safely can.

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

12. 12. An open curb space on a Virginia street is about 12 feet from the corner of an intersection. May you park there?

    1. Yes, the limit is 10 feet
    2. Yes, if no stop sign is there
    3. Yes, for up to 15 minutes
    4. No, stay at least 20 feet back
    Show answer

    No, stay at least 20 feet back. Virginia does not allow parking within 20 feet of an intersection. A car 12 feet from the corner is inside that zone. The rule applies whether or not there is a stop sign, and there is no short-stay exception. Other distances to remember are 15 feet from a fire hydrant and 50 feet from a railroad crossing. Find a space farther back from the corner.

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

13. 13. You come over a hill at 50 mph and see a horse-drawn buggy ahead displaying this emblem. What does the Virginia manual say to be ready to do?

    
    1. Keep your speed and pass at once
    2. Flash your high beams to warn it
    3. Adjust your speed or your position
    4. Sound your horn as you get closer
    Show answer

    Adjust your speed or your position. This emblem marks a slow moving vehicle traveling at 25 MPH or less, such as farm equipment, horse-drawn vehicles or highway work vehicles. The manual says to be prepared to adjust your speed or position when you see one. At 50 MPH you close the gap very quickly, so slow down right away. Passing at once may not be legal or safe, and near horse-drawn buggies the manual says not to use the horn. Pass only when the road is clear and passing is allowed.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs

14. 14. You are on a paved rural Virginia highway outside any town and have not passed a speed limit sign. What is the maximum speed for your car?

    1. 45 mph
    2. 60 mph
    3. 65 mph
    4. 55 mph
    Show answer

    55 mph. When no speed limit sign says otherwise, Virginia's default maximum for passenger vehicles and motorcycles is 55 MPH on all roads that are not school, business or residential areas and not unpaved. A paved rural highway falls into that group. Higher limits such as 60 or 65 MPH apply only where they are posted. If you are unsure of the limit, keep to 55 MPH until you see a sign, and slow down further for curves and weather.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and reckless driving

15. 15. What does the Virginia manual name as the single biggest contributor to crashes?

    1. Driving after dark on rural roads
    2. Failing to identify a risk
    3. Worn tires and poorly kept brakes
    4. Heavy rain, snow and ice
    Show answer

    Failing to identify a risk. Most of what you do while driving depends on what you see. The manual says the single biggest contributor to crashes is failing to identify a risk. That is why it stresses knowing where other vehicles are, looking down the road, to the sides and behind, and watching for unexpected events, especially pedestrians and bicyclists. Darkness, bad weather and worn equipment make driving harder, but the manual singles out not spotting the danger in time.

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

16. 16. On a two-lane Virginia road, when may you pass another vehicle on the right?

    1. When it is going under the speed limit
    2. When the shoulder is paved and wide
    3. When it has signaled and is turning left
    4. When the driver waves you around it
    Show answer

    When it has signaled and is turning left. Passing on the right is allowed when the vehicle ahead has signaled and is making a left turn. Use care, because that vehicle may block your view and the view of other drivers. You may not pass on the right if you would have to drive off the pavement or main part of the roadway, so using the shoulder is not allowed. A slow driver or a friendly wave does not create permission. Check for pedestrians and cross traffic before going around.

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

17. 17. In a dual-lane Virginia roundabout, you plan to go straight through. Which entry lane may you use?

    1. Stay in the right lane
    2. Stay in the left lane
    3. You may use either lane
    4. Whichever lane the car ahead uses
    Show answer

    You may use either lane. Lane choice in a roundabout depends on where you plan to leave it. For a right turn you stay to the right, and for a left turn you stay to the left. If you plan to go straight and the roundabout has two lanes, you may stay in either lane. Once inside, keep to your lane until you are ready to exit, and check beside and behind you before leaving. Copying the car in front does not tell you anything about your own exit.

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

18. 18. On a three-lane Virginia road with two-way traffic, the center lane has a single broken yellow line on both sides. How may it be used?

    1. For passing, by drivers going either way
    2. For left turns only, from either direction
    3. For passing, but only by uphill traffic
    4. As a lane for buses and carpools
    Show answer

    For passing, by drivers going either way. On three-lane roads with traffic in both directions, the markings on the center lane tell you how it may be used. When the center lane has a single broken yellow line on both sides, drivers traveling in either direction may use it for passing. A center lane with a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line on each side is a two-way left turn lane instead. Because oncoming drivers may use the same lane, check carefully before you pull into it.

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

19. 19. You reach a Virginia yield sign on a ramp, and the traffic you are joining has no safe gap. What does yielding require you to do?

    1. Merge slowly and let others adjust to you
    2. Keep rolling, since a yield sign is not a stop
    3. Stop and wait until you can merge safely
    4. Speed up to squeeze into the smallest gap
    Show answer

    Stop and wait until you can merge safely. A yield sign tells you to slow down, be ready to stop, and let vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists pass before you go. The manual adds that yielding also means stopping if you cannot merge safely into the flow of traffic. Forcing other drivers to brake or swerve for you is not yielding. Squeezing into a gap that is too small can cause a crash. If there is no room, come to a stop and wait for a safe opening.

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

20. 20. You are on a Virginia highway divided by a grass median. On the other side of the median, a stopped school bus shows flashing red lights and its stop sign. What must you do?

    1. Keep going with care; you need not stop
    2. Stop until the bus begins moving again
    3. Stop, then go once children are clear
    4. Slow to 10 mph under the limit and pass
    Show answer

    Keep going with care; you need not stop. Drivers normally must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign from any direction. The manual gives one exception: you do not have to stop if you are traveling the opposite way on a road divided by a median or barrier and the bus is on the other side of it. You should still be prepared for unexpected actions by people getting off the bus. On an undivided road, drivers in both directions must stop.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and reckless driving