VA Permit Practice Test 22

All 20 questions in test 22

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. A hill hides the intersection beyond it, and on the way up you pass a yellow diamond sign showing a red octagon symbol with an arrow. What is waiting past the hilltop?

   
   1. A traffic signal that may be green
   2. A stop sign you must be ready for
   3. A lane that ends at the crest
   4. A railroad crossing with gates
   Show answer

   A stop sign you must be ready for. This warning sign shows a stop sign symbol, meaning a stop sign is ahead. The manual tells drivers to slow down and be ready to stop. It is placed where the stop sign itself may be hard to see in time, such as beyond a hill or curve. If you wait until you can see the stop sign, you may not have room to stop smoothly. A traffic signal ahead uses a different warning sign with a signal symbol.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs

2. 2. At night you notice red reflectors on the pavement shining back at you as you drive up a ramp. What do they most likely mean?

   1. A lane for buses is beginning
   2. You are in a lane meant for trucks
   3. You are heading the wrong way
   4. A crosswalk is just ahead
   Show answer

   You are heading the wrong way. Red reflectors on the pavement mark areas not to be entered or used. The manual explains they are placed on the road surface so that only traffic flowing in the wrong direction would see them. If red reflectors are facing you, you may be going the wrong way on a ramp or one-way road. Slow down, pull over safely and turn around carefully. Wrong-way arrows on the pavement give the same warning.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs

3. 3. An oncoming driver at night will not dim their high beams. What should you do with your own headlights?

   1. Flash your high beams until they dim
   2. Switch to high beams to see better
   3. Keep your low beams on as you pass
   4. Turn your headlights off for a moment
   Show answer

   Keep your low beams on as you pass. The manual is clear: even if the other driver does not dim his headlights, do not turn on your high-beam headlights. Two drivers blinding each other makes a crash more likely. Keep your low beams on, glance toward the side of the road, and check ahead quickly until the vehicle has passed. Switching off your headlights would make your car hard to see. High beams are for highways when no vehicle is within 500 feet coming toward you.

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

4. 4. What does the Virginia manual say will lower a person's level of intoxication?

   1. Drinking strong black coffee
   2. Taking a cold shower first
   3. Exercising to sweat it out
   4. Only the passage of time
   Show answer

   Only the passage of time. Only time can decrease intoxication. The manual specifically says that coffee, cold showers or exercise will not sober you up. These may make a person feel more awake, but the alcohol is still in the body and still affects vision, judgment and coordination. A driver who feels alert after coffee can still be impaired. If you have been drinking, wait, call a sober driver, or use another way home instead of trying a quick fix.

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

5. 5. What does a Y Intersection warning sign tell you about the road ahead in Virginia?

   1. You must bear either right or left
   2. Two lanes will soon merge into one
   3. A side road joins from the left only
   4. The road becomes a divided highway
   Show answer

   You must bear either right or left. A Y Intersection sign shows the road splitting into two branches. The manual says you must bear either right or left ahead, because the road you are on does not continue straight. Choose your branch early and signal so drivers behind you know where you are going. A merge sign is the one that shows two lanes joining into one, and a divided highway sign shows a median beginning. Slow down as you approach so you can read the guide signs.

   Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and work zones

6. 6. What are dotted white lines used for in Virginia intersections and interchanges?

   1. Marking places where passing is allowed
   2. Showing where bicycles may cross the road
   3. Marking the edge of the paved shoulder
   4. Guiding drivers to stay in their own lane
   Show answer

   Guiding drivers to stay in their own lane. Dotted white lines are small rectangles placed close together. They show lane assignment in intersections and interchanges, where drivers might otherwise drift out of a lane. They are often used to guide two turning lanes through an intersection side by side, and also mark where a turn lane opens or where an entrance or exit lane begins. They do not mark passing zones, bike crossings or the road edge. Follow the dotted line through the turn so you stay in your lane.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs

7. 7. On a long trip, how often does the Virginia manual say you should stop for rest?

   1. At least every four hours
   2. Once every 300 miles
   3. At least every two hours
   4. When you first feel sleepy
   Show answer

   At least every two hours. To avoid drowsy driving, the manual tells drivers to limit long distance driving and stop at least every two hours for rest. Other tips include getting plenty of quality sleep before the trip, avoiding alcohol and heavy foods, sharing the driving with a well-rested companion, and avoiding driving between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Signs of drowsiness include yawning, heavy eyelids and missing exits. Plan stops into your route ahead of time.

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

8. 8. At an intersection, why does the Virginia manual tell you to look to the left first?

   1. Drivers coming from the left must yield to you
   2. Cars from the left will be closer to you
   3. Most traffic signals hang on the left
   4. Pedestrians usually cross from the left
   Show answer

   Cars from the left will be closer to you. Before entering an intersection, check left, then right, then left again. The manual explains that you look left first because cars coming from the left will be closer to you, in the lane you cross first. After checking right, take one more quick look to the left before driving through, since the situation there can change fastest. This habit has nothing to do with who has the right-of-way or where signals are mounted. Use it at every intersection, crosswalk and driveway.

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

9. 9. Black or orange rumble strips are laid across your lane ahead of a Virginia work zone. How should you handle them?

   1. Swerve around them onto the shoulder
   2. Slow down and drive straight over them
   3. Speed up to cross them more smoothly
   4. Stop before them and wait for a flagger
   Show answer

   Slow down and drive straight over them. Rumble Strips Ahead signs warn of black or orange strips placed across the travel lanes before work zones, including a flagger or lane closure. Rumble strips often come just before a flagger or a lane closure. The manual says they should be driven over slowly, not swerved around. Steering around them onto the shoulder or into another lane can cause a crash. Stopping in the lane is not required. Use the rumble as your cue to watch for workers.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs

10. 10. You are driving a tall moving truck and see a Low Clearance sign showing a height lower than your truck. What should you do?

    1. Do not drive under the overpass
    2. Pass under it slowly in the center
    3. Let some air out of the tires first
    4. Go ahead if no traffic is near you
    Show answer

    Do not drive under the overpass. A Low Clearance sign warns that the overpass ahead has limited height. The manual is direct: do not proceed if your vehicle is taller than the height shown on the sign. Driving slowly or staying in the center of the lane does not create more room, and changing tire pressure is not a safe fix. Traffic around you has nothing to do with the clearance. Find another route before you reach the structure so you do not strike it and block the road.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs

11. 11. You want to pass a tractor-trailer on a two-lane Virginia road. How much clear road ahead might you need?

    1. More than half a mile
    2. About 200 feet
    3. About one block
    4. About 500 feet
    Show answer

    More than half a mile. A truck and its trailer may be as long as 65 feet, and the manual says it may take you more than half a mile of clear road to pass. Large vehicles also have big blind spots along both sides. Before you start, make sure you can see well past the truck with no oncoming traffic, hills or curves. If you are unsure, stay back and wait for a longer clear stretch or a passing lane.

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

12. 12. Why might the number on a Virginia electronic speed limit sign change while you are driving?

    1. It shows the average speed of nearby cars
    2. It is adjusted for weather or traffic
    3. It shows your own measured speed
    4. It changes after dark each day
    Show answer

    It is adjusted for weather or traffic. Speed limit signs show the maximum legal speed when weather conditions are good. The manual notes that some roads have electronic speed limit signs that change based on weather or traffic conditions, so the legal limit can be lower during a storm or a backup. Treat the number shown as the posted limit at that moment. Even when the sign has not changed, you can be ticketed for driving too fast for rain, snow or ice.

    Study this in the handbook: Sign colors and shapes

13. 13. After parallel parking on a Virginia street, your right wheels are about 18 inches from the curb. Is that acceptable?

    1. Yes, anything under two feet is fine
    2. Yes, if your flashers are on
    3. Yes, on a one-way street only
    4. No, you may be no more than one foot away
    Show answer

    No, you may be no more than one foot away. When you park next to a curb, pull close to it. Virginia says you may not park more than one foot from the curb. Eighteen inches is half a foot too far, which leaves your car sticking out into the travel lane. Flashers do not fix the problem, and the rule applies on one-way and two-way streets alike. Pull out and straighten the car so your wheels are within twelve inches of the curb.

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

14. 14. On a four-lane Virginia highway, a tow truck with flashing lights is stopped on the right shoulder, and the lane to your left is clear. What should you do?

    1. Stay in your lane at full speed
    2. Move to a lane not next to the tow truck
    3. Stop behind the tow truck and wait
    4. Drive onto the left shoulder to pass
    Show answer

    Move to a lane not next to the tow truck. When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing lights on a highway, proceed with caution and, if it is reasonable and safe, change to a lane not next to the vehicle. With a clear lane to your left, that means moving over. If you cannot safely change lanes, reduce your speed and proceed with caution instead. Violations can lead to court suspension of your license and demerit points. Stopping behind the truck is not required.

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

15. 15. A passenger wants to hold a baby on their lap for a short drive in Virginia. What does the manual say?

    1. That is fine for trips under ten miles
    2. It is allowed if the adult wears a belt
    3. Never; the child could be crushed in a crash
    4. It is allowed in the back seat only
    Show answer

    Never; the child could be crushed in a crash. The manual says never to hold a child in your lap. In a crash, the child may be crushed between your body and the dashboard or the back of the seat, and no adult can hold on against those forces. A short trip or the adult's own seat belt does not change this. Children under 8 must ride in a properly installed child safety seat or booster seat, and the center of the back seat is the safest place for it.

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

16. 16. To skip a red light, a driver cuts across a corner gas station lot onto the cross street in Virginia. Is that legal?

    1. Yes, if the lot is empty at the time
    2. Yes, as long as the driver goes slowly
    3. Yes, if the light has been red a long time
    4. No, dodging traffic controls that way is illegal
    Show answer

    No, dodging traffic controls that way is illegal. Traffic signals, signs and pavement markings keep traffic flowing in an orderly way, and drivers must obey them. The manual states that it is illegal to avoid these traffic controls by cutting through a parking lot or field. Always follow an officer's direction when one is present. An empty lot, a slow speed or a long red light does not make it legal. Wait for the signal like everyone else.

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

17. 17. Under Virginia's implied consent law, what act means you have already agreed to take a breath test if asked?

    1. Signing a traffic ticket
    2. Being in a crash with injuries
    3. Renewing your license at DMV
    4. Driving on Virginia's public roads
    Show answer

    Driving on Virginia's public roads. Implied consent means the agreement comes from driving itself. If you operate a motor vehicle on Virginia's public roads, you agree to take a breath test upon request. It does not depend on signing anything at the stop, being in a crash or what you did at DMV. If police have probable cause to suspect drinking or drug use, they will ask for a breath or blood test, and refusing can bring an automatic administrative suspension.

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

18. 18. A long line of military trucks is passing on a Virginia road, and you want to turn left across it. What should you do?

    1. Turn through a gap between two trucks
    2. Fall in line with the convoy for a while
    3. Wait until the whole convoy has passed
    4. Flash your lights so a truck stops for you
    Show answer

    Wait until the whole convoy has passed. Virginia drivers must yield to all military convoys and must never cut through or join one. Turning through a gap between convoy vehicles counts as cutting through it, and falling in with the line counts as joining it. Flashing your lights does not change who must yield. Wait until the last vehicle in the convoy has passed, then make your turn when the road is clear.

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

19. 19. Your normal following distance is three seconds. Heavy snow begins and visibility drops. What gap does the Virginia manual's rule call for now?

    1. About six seconds
    2. About four seconds
    3. About three seconds
    4. About ten seconds
    Show answer

    About six seconds. When visibility is reduced or the road is covered with rain, snow or ice, the first response is to reduce your speed. The manual then says to increase your space cushion by doubling your normal following distance. Doubling a three second gap gives about six seconds. Keeping the same three seconds ignores the longer stopping distance on snow, and adding just one second is not enough. Turn on your headlights as well so others can see you.

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

20. 20. Your turn signals have stopped working. Which hand signal tells Virginia drivers you are about to turn right?

    1. Left hand and arm pointing up
    2. Left arm held straight out the window
    3. Left hand and arm pointing down
    4. Right arm held out the passenger window
    Show answer

    Left hand and arm pointing up. Virginia's hand signals are all given with the left hand and arm out the driver's window. For a right turn, the left hand and arm point upward. A left arm held straight out means a left turn, and a left arm pointing downward means slowing or stopping. Drivers behind you cannot see a right arm through the passenger window. Use hand signals whenever your turn signals fail, and give them early, about three or four seconds before the turn.

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