VA Permit Practice Test 25

All 20 questions in test 25

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. With your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, how does the Virginia manual say to back a trailer to the left?

   1. Use your right hand to move the wheel left
   2. Turn the wheel to the right to swing it left
   3. Use your left hand to move the wheel left
   4. Hold the wheel still and steer with the brakes
   Show answer

   Use your left hand to move the wheel left. Backing a trailer feels backward at first. The manual tells you to place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel while backing. To back the trailer to the left, use your left hand to move the wheel left, and to back it to the right, use your right hand to move the wheel right. Because your hand is at the bottom, the trailer goes the way your hand moves. If you cannot see behind you, have someone outside guide you.

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

2. 2. A Virginia lane use signal shows a left-turn arrow above the center lane. When may you enter that lane?

   1. To pass slower traffic on your left side
   2. Any time, as a normal travel lane
   3. Only during the morning rush hour
   4. Only to turn left as the arrow shows
   Show answer

   Only to turn left as the arrow shows. Lane use signals show which lanes you may use at different times. A red X means never drive in the lane, and a green arrow means you may drive in it. A one-way or two-way left-turn arrow means you may enter that lane only to turn in the direction of the arrow. It is not a passing lane or an extra travel lane. Move into it close to your turn, and watch for drivers coming from the other direction who may use it too.

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

3. 3. You hear a siren and see a fire truck coming up behind you on a two-lane road. What should you do?

   1. Pull to the right edge and stop
   2. Speed up to stay ahead of it
   3. Stop right where you are in the lane
   4. Move to the left so it can pass right
   Show answer

   Pull to the right edge and stop. When police, fire and rescue vehicles or ambulances approach from behind using a siren, flashing lights or both, you must immediately yield the right-of-way. Move safely to the right edge of the road and stay stopped until it goes by. Speeding up makes the situation more dangerous, and stopping in the middle of the lane can block it. The law points you to the right edge, not the left. After it passes, check for other emergency vehicles before you pull back out.

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

4. 4. The last child from a stopped school bus has reached the sidewalk, but the bus is still stopped with its red lights flashing. What should you do?

   1. Go now, since everyone is off the road
   2. Pass slowly on the left side
   3. Honk so the driver moves the bus
   4. Stay stopped until the bus moves again
   Show answer

   Stay stopped until the bus moves again. Drivers must stop and remain stopped until all persons are clear and the bus moves again. Both parts matter. Children being clear is not enough by itself. The bus moving again is your signal that the stop is over. Honking at a school bus driver or easing around the bus is unsafe and against the rule. Wait patiently, then check that the road is clear before you go.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and reckless driving

5. 5. You are about to cross a sidewalk while leaving a Virginia shopping center. From which direction might a bicyclist on that sidewalk be coming?

   1. From the direction traffic flows
   2. From your left, never your right
   3. Bicycles do not use sidewalks
   4. From either direction
   Show answer

   From either direction. The manual tells drivers to be aware of bicyclists riding in either direction on sidewalks, shared-use paths or two-way separated bike lanes. A cyclist on a sidewalk can approach a driveway from the side you are not checking. Before you pull across a sidewalk, stop and look both ways along it as well as at the street. Bicyclists are generally allowed on public roads, and many also ride on sidewalks and paths.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of way, pedestrians and roundabouts

6. 6. On a two-way Virginia street, the only open space is on the left side, so you would face oncoming traffic. May you park there?

   1. Yes, if the space is long enough
   2. No, park on the right side instead
   3. Yes, for less than an hour
   4. Yes, if you use your flashers
   Show answer

   No, park on the right side instead. On a two-way street, Virginia requires you to park on the right side of the road. Parking on the left means facing oncoming traffic and pulling out against it when you leave. A long space, a short stay or flashers do not change the rule. Only on a one-way road may you park on either side. Keep looking for a space on the right, and park no more than one foot from the curb.

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

7. 7. The lights at a Virginia railroad crossing are flashing, but you can see far down the tracks and no train is in sight. What must you do?

   1. Slow down and cross with care
   2. Cross quickly before a train comes
   3. Go around if there is no gate
   4. Stop completely and wait
   Show answer

   Stop completely and wait. At a railroad crossing with flashing red lights, you must come to a complete stop even if you do not see a train. Trains may approach from either direction, and on more than one track. Slowing down and rolling across, or hurrying, ignores the warning. Do not go until the tracks are clear and the lights stop flashing. If a gate is present, never drive around it.

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

8. 8. Besides BUS ONLY lettering, what pavement color may mark a lane reserved for buses in Virginia?

   1. Green pavement
   2. Blue pavement
   3. Yellow pavement
   4. Red pavement
   Show answer

   Red pavement. Bus-only lanes are shown by BUS ONLY markings, red-colored pavement, or both. A red lane tells you not to drive in it with a regular car. Green paint is used for bike lanes and bike boxes, and yellow is used for center lines that separate opposite directions of traffic. HOV lanes are marked with a diamond in the center of the lane. Learn these colors so you can stay out of special lanes without having to read every word.

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

9. 9. What does the Virginia manual say is the way to create a space cushion around your vehicle?

   1. Ride close to the right edge line
   2. Follow the car ahead by one second
   3. Stay in the middle of your lane
   4. Drive beside other cars to block them
   Show answer

   Stay in the middle of your lane. A space cushion is room around your car that gives you distance to react in an emergency and avoid a crash. The manual says to create it by staying in the middle of your lane and making sure there is enough room ahead and behind for other vehicles to pass or stop safely. Hugging the edge line leaves no room on that side. A one second gap is too short at any speed in the following distance chart. Avoid riding beside other vehicles.

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

10. 10. A Virginia warning sign shows the road you are on meeting a crossroad in the shape of a T. What does that mean for you?

    1. A side road joins from the right only
    2. It crosses a railroad track ahead
    3. It ends ahead and you must turn right or left
    4. It splits into a divided highway
    Show answer

    It ends ahead and you must turn right or left. A T Intersection sign means the roadway you are traveling on ends ahead at a stop sign. You cannot continue straight, so you must turn right or left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Start slowing early so you can stop fully at the sign. A side road joining your road is shown by the intersection and side road signs, and railroad crossings have their own round and crossbuck signs. Signal your turn before you reach the stop.

    Study this in the handbook: Railroad crossings and work zones

11. 11. How does Virginia law define aggressive driving?

    1. A traffic offense done to harass or injure someone
    2. Driving 20 mph or more over the limit
    3. Honking at another driver in traffic
    4. Driving while angry, even with no offense
    Show answer

    A traffic offense done to harass or injure someone. Virginia law defines aggressive driving as the intent to harass, intimidate, injure or obstruct another person while committing one or more traffic offenses, such as failing to stop or yield, avoiding a traffic control device, or failing to give way to a vehicle that is passing. Driving 20 mph over the limit relates to reckless driving. Honking or feeling angry is not the definition by itself. Both the intent and a traffic offense are part of it.

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

12. 12. A deer runs across the road ahead of you and disappears into the trees. What should you expect next?

    1. The danger has passed for now
    2. Others are likely nearby, so stay slow
    3. It will come back to the same spot later
    4. Deer cross alone, so speed back up
    Show answer

    Others are likely nearby, so stay slow. The manual tells drivers to slow down if they see a large animal near or crossing the road, because large animals frequently travel in groups and there are likely others nearby. A second or third deer often follows the first one across. If a collision cannot be avoided, do not swerve; brake firmly and stay in your lane. Keep your speed down, watch both sides of the road, and use your horn to scare animals away.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DUI

13. 13. During a rainstorm, when are Virginia roads most likely to be slippery?

    1. During the first half-hour after rain begins
    2. After it has rained steadily for hours
    3. Once deep puddles cover the road
    4. Right after the rain has stopped
    Show answer

    During the first half-hour after rain begins. When rain begins, oil on the road surface mixes with the water. The manual says roads are more likely to be slippery during the first half-hour of rain for that reason. Drivers often relax because the rain is light at first, which is exactly when traction is poorest. Slow down, leave more space and brake gently early in a storm. Avoid ponded water when possible, since it can cause hydroplaning.

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

14. 14. You and another driver reach a Virginia intersection with a dark, powerless signal at the same time. The other car is on your right. What should you do?

    1. Go first, since the signal is out
    2. Stop, then let the car on your right go
    3. Go if your road looks busier
    4. Flash your lights, then go first
    Show answer

    Stop, then let the car on your right go. If the traffic lights at an intersection are not working, all vehicles coming to it must stop, and the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. Here the other car is on your right, so after stopping you let it go first. A dark signal works like an all-way stop, unless an officer is directing traffic or portable stop signs are in use. How busy your road is or a flash of headlights does not change who goes first.

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

15. 15. According to the Virginia manual, when is the best time to decide you will not drive after drinking?

    1. Before you start drinking
    2. After your first drink or two
    3. When you start to feel the effects
    4. Once the party is winding down
    Show answer

    Before you start drinking. The manual says the only way to avoid the risks of drinking and driving is to decide before you start drinking that you are not going to drive. Alcohol affects judgment, so making the right decision is much harder after one or two drinks, and many people do not feel impaired even when they are. Plan ahead for a sober ride home with a designated driver or other transportation. The manual stresses that alcohol-related crashes can be prevented.

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

16. 16. You are driving 25 mph on a dry Virginia city street behind another car. How many seconds of following distance does the chart call for?

    1. 3 seconds
    2. 2 seconds
    3. 4 seconds
    4. 1 second
    Show answer

    2 seconds. Virginia's following distance chart is based on speed and dry pavement: two seconds under 35 MPH, three seconds from 35 to 45 MPH, and four seconds from 46 to 70 MPH. At 25 MPH you are in the lowest band, so keep at least two seconds. Count from when the car ahead passes a fixed object until you reach it. In rain, heavy traffic or with a car in poor condition, add extra seconds.

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

17. 17. Which of these is an example of a yellow and black warning sign in Virginia?

    1. Speed Limit
    2. Do Not Enter
    3. Slippery When Wet
    4. Hospital ahead
    Show answer

    Slippery When Wet. Yellow used with black conveys a warning. The manual lists curve ahead, stop ahead, overhead clearance and slippery when wet as examples. These signs tell you to slow down and be ready for a hazard. A Speed Limit sign is black and white because it states a law, a Do Not Enter sign is red and white, and hospital signs are blue guide signs for motorist services. The yellow color itself is your first clue to expect a hazard.

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

18. 18. You are about to leave a Virginia interstate at the next exit. What should you do before moving into the exit lane?

    1. Slow down sharply in your lane
    2. Give the proper turn signal
    3. Turn on your hazard flashers
    4. Tap the horn to warn others
    Show answer

    Give the proper turn signal. When you plan to change lanes, turn, or enter or exit a highway, first give the proper turn signal. Signaling is required by law and tells drivers around you what you plan to do. Slowing sharply while still in a travel lane can cause a rear end crash, so do most of your slowing in the exit lane. Hazard flashers and the horn do not show your direction. Check mirrors and your blind spot, then move over smoothly.

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

19. 19. You switch on your high beams in heavy fog, and the glare bounces back into your eyes. What should you do instead?

    1. Turn off all your headlights
    2. Use parking lights only
    3. Use low beams and watch the road edge
    4. Keep high beams but slow down
    Show answer

    Use low beams and watch the road edge. Fog reflects light and can bounce your own headlights back into your eyes, which is what high beams do in fog. The manual says to use low-beam headlights in heavy fog and look for road edge markings to guide you. Turning off your lights or using only parking lights makes your car hard for others to see. Slowing down is also right, but not with high beams on. Keep a longer following distance as well.

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

20. 20. You pass a yellow diamond Divided Highway Begins sign, and the road ahead splits around a median. Where should you drive?

    
    1. Keep right of the median
    2. Keep left of the median
    3. On either side of the median
    4. Straight across the median
    Show answer

    Keep right of the median. The Divided Highway Begins sign means the road ahead is split into two separate roadways by a median or divider, and each roadway carries one-way traffic. The manual's instruction is to keep right. The roadway to the left of the median carries oncoming traffic, so drifting left would put you in a head-on path. Neither side is a free choice, and crossing the median is never a travel option. Stay right until the median ends.

    Study this in the handbook: Regulatory and warning signs