VA Permit Practice Test 3

All 20 questions in test 3

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. What does a Virginia sign reading “Speed Photo Enforced” indicate?

   1. Automated photo enforcement may be used for speeding in a school zone
   2. Officers may not issue speeding citations there
   3. The speed limit is advisory only
   4. The road has no posted maximum speed
   Show answer

   Automated photo enforcement may be used for speeding in a school zone. Virginia says some school zones may use automated photo enforcement, and the sign wording identifies that possibility. The sign does not make the speed limit optional, prevent officers from enforcing it, or remove the need for a posted maximum. Treat the notice as a reminder that speeding can be recorded automatically in that school zone. The word may is important: it describes possible enforcement rather than promising that a camera is active at every location. Reduce speed before entering the zone and continue following the displayed limit and traffic conditions.

2. 2. Where does Virginia's manual say to place your hands on the steering wheel?

   1. At 10 and 2
   2. One hand at 12 o'clock
   3. At 12 and 6
   4. At the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, holding with fingers and thumbs
   Show answer

   At the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, holding with fingers and thumbs. Sit straight but relaxed, and if the steering wheel were a clock your hands should be at the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions. Hold the wheel with your fingers and thumbs rather than gripping with your palms. The lower hand position keeps your arms clear of a deploying air bag and gives smooth control for the hand over hand and push pull steering methods.

3. 3. Besides a suspension, what does a Virginia court impose on an underage driver convicted with a BAC of at least .02 but under .08?

   1. A $100 fine only
   2. A mandatory five-day jail term
   3. A $500 minimum fine or at least 50 hours of community service
   4. Ten hours of community service
   Show answer

   A $500 minimum fine or at least 50 hours of community service. The court penalty for this underage offense includes a one-year suspension plus either a minimum mandatory fine of $500 or at least 50 hours of community service. A $100 fine and ten hours of service are far below the stated amounts. The mandatory five-day jail term belongs to a DUI with a juvenile passenger aboard, not to this offense. A BAC of .08 or higher moves the young driver into adult DUI penalties.

4. 4. What should you do when a Keep Right sign marks an obstruction ahead?

   
   1. Stop and wait for the obstruction to move
   2. Pass on the side shown by the arrow
   3. Drive left of the barrier if no traffic is visible
   4. Treat the arrow as a suggested passing lane
   Show answer

   Pass on the side shown by the arrow. Keep Right is used where a traffic island, median, or barrier lies ahead. The arrow identifies the side on which the driver must continue, so passing left merely because the roadway looks open is unsafe and contrary to the sign. The instruction is not a suggestion to use a preferred passing lane. Spot the obstruction early, position the vehicle on the indicated side, and maintain control through the narrowed path.

5. 5. A Virginia driver without an E-ZPass transponder approaches a toll plaza. What should they do?

   1. Look for and follow the signs for cash only lanes, slowing down as they approach
   2. Use any lane and pay later
   3. Use the E-ZPass express lane
   4. Stop before the plaza and wait for an attendant
   Show answer

   Look for and follow the signs for cash only lanes, slowing down as they approach. If you do not have a transponder, look for and follow the signs for cash only lanes as you approach a toll plaza, and slow down as you approach it. Be extra cautious approaching, entering and leaving the plaza because other drivers change lanes and toll employees may cross the lanes. High speed lanes marked with the purple E-ZPass logo are reserved for vehicles with transponders.

6. 6. What does a Signal Ahead warning sign indicate?

   
   1. A signal is behind you and can be ignored
   2. The next signal is permanently out of service
   3. Only emergency vehicles may enter the intersection
   4. Traffic signals are ahead, so slow and be ready to stop
   Show answer

   Traffic signals are ahead, so slow and be ready to stop. Signal Ahead is advance notice that traffic lights are coming. The manual pairs that notice with slowing down and readiness to stop, which helps a driver manage an intersection that may be hidden by distance, a curve, or changing traffic. It does not say the signal is broken or restricted to emergency vehicles. Let the sign change your approach early, then obey the actual light when it comes into view.

7. 7. If a collision with a deer is unavoidable, what does the manual advise?

   1. Swerve into oncoming traffic to miss the animal
   2. Brake firmly, stay in your lane, and make a controlled stop
   3. Accelerate so the animal has less time in the roadway
   4. Leave your lane and drive onto the shoulder immediately
   Show answer

   Brake firmly, stay in your lane, and make a controlled stop. When an animal cannot be avoided, the safest response is firm braking while keeping the vehicle in its lane and bringing it to a controlled stop. The swerving choices can create a more serious collision with oncoming traffic, a ditch, or another vehicle. Drivers should also slow down when they see a large animal because deer often travel in groups. At dusk and dawn, scan the roadside, use the horn when appropriate, and expect another animal nearby.

8. 8. At a flashing yellow arrow, when may you turn in the arrow's direction?

   1. When the way is clear after yielding to opposing traffic and pedestrians
   2. Only after waiting for a steady green arrow
   3. Only if no vehicle is behind you
   4. Immediately, because the arrow gives absolute priority
   Show answer

   When the way is clear after yielding to opposing traffic and pedestrians. A flashing yellow arrow permits a turn in its direction only when the way is clear. The turning driver must yield to vehicles coming from the other direction and to pedestrians in the intersection. The arrow does not grant absolute priority, require a steady green, or depend on whether another vehicle follows behind. Before moving, scan for motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds, and people in the crosswalk. Let a pedestrian finish crossing before turning, even if the signal has changed.

9. 9. When must you stop for a school bus even if its warning signals are not on?

   1. Only when children are crossing in front of the bus
   2. Only when the bus has an extended stop sign
   3. When the bus is loading or unloading passengers
   4. Never, unless the red lights are flashing
   Show answer

   When the bus is loading or unloading passengers. Virginia also requires a stop when a school bus is loading or unloading passengers, even if its warning signals are not operating. Waiting for flashing red lights misses the separate condition stated in the manual. The presence of visible children is not the threshold, because passengers may be entering or leaving outside your immediate view. Treat a bus serving passengers as a stop situation, watch for people near the roadway, and remain stopped until the movement around the bus is safe.

10. 10. Which BAC range can result in an illegal-consumption conviction for a Virginia driver under age 21?

    1. At least .08 but less than .10
    2. At least .02 but less than .08
    3. At least .10 but less than .12
    4. At least .00 but less than .02
    Show answer

    At least .02 but less than .08. For a driver under 21, Virginia identifies illegal consumption when BAC is at least .02 but below .08. The .08 figure is the adult DUI threshold and misses the underage range when offered as the starting point. A range below .02 does not reach the stated minimum, while one beginning at .10 has passed the upper boundary. Remember both endpoints: .02 starts this age-based range, and .08 ends it.

11. 11. At a Merge warning sign, what traffic pattern should you expect?

    
    1. Opposing traffic will cross your lane immediately
    2. Your lane is reserved for buses
    3. Two lanes moving in the same direction will become one
    4. The road will divide into two one-way roadways
    Show answer

    Two lanes moving in the same direction will become one. The Merge warning means two lanes traveling in the same direction are about to become one. Drivers in both lanes share responsibility for merging safely, so neither lane has an automatic right to force the other out. Opposing traffic and a divided-highway split describe different roadway patterns. Begin checking mirrors and gaps when the sign appears, communicate with a signal, and make room for a smooth, controlled merge.

12. 12. After moving to a new address within Virginia, how soon must you notify DMV?

    1. Within 10 days
    2. Within 60 days
    3. Only at your next renewal
    4. Within 30 days
    Show answer

    Within 30 days. Virginia requires drivers to notify DMV within 30 days of a move. The postal service will not forward a driver's license, so a card mailed to an old address goes back to DMV. Sixty days is the deadline for a new resident to get a Virginia license, a different rule. Ten days is too short, and waiting until renewal leaves DMV with the wrong address for mailings.

13. 13. When may you cross train tracks on a roadway?

    1. When the vehicle ahead begins to move, even if the exit is blocked
    2. Whenever the crossing lights are not flashing
    3. After stopping on the tracks to check both directions
    4. Only when you have enough room to cross without stopping and clear the tracks safely
    Show answer

    Only when you have enough room to cross without stopping and clear the tracks safely. Cross train tracks only when there is enough room beyond them to complete the crossing without stopping. A dark signal does not prove that the route is safe, and stopping on the rails leaves the vehicle in the train’s path. Following a moving vehicle is also unsafe if traffic has filled the far side. Look both ways, obey the signs and signals, and confirm the entire exit is open before entering. If space is uncertain, wait before the tracks until the vehicle ahead has cleared the crossing area.

14. 14. When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing lights on a highway, what should a Virginia driver do if changing lanes is reasonably safe?

    
    1. Stop in the travel lane until the vehicle departs
    2. Change to a lane not next to it and proceed cautiously
    3. Speed up to pass before reaching the vehicle
    4. Move onto the shoulder and continue at the same speed
    Show answer

    Change to a lane not next to it and proceed cautiously. For a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck with flashing lights, the preferred response is a cautious lane change into a lane not next to the vehicle when safety and traffic conditions permit. Stopping in the travel lane can create a second hazard, while accelerating or using the shoulder abandons the protective spacing the rule seeks. If the lane change cannot be made safely, reduce speed and continue with caution instead of forcing the maneuver.

15. 15. What is Virginia's rule on radar detectors?

    1. It is illegal to use them in Virginia
    2. They are legal in passenger cars
    3. They are legal outside cities
    4. They are legal if mounted below the dash
    Show answer

    It is illegal to use them in Virginia. The Virginia manual states plainly that it is illegal to use radar detectors in Virginia, and it places the rule right after its speeding penalties: an extra $100 fine for 81 to 85 mph in a 65 mph zone, and a possible reckless driving charge for driving over 85 mph or 20 or more mph above the limit. The manual gives no exception for passenger cars, for roads outside cities, or for a detector mounted below the dash. The safe approach is to watch the posted limit rather than a device.

16. 16. What does a steady yellow traffic light warn a driver about?

    1. The intersection is closed to all traffic
    2. The signal grants an unrestricted right of way
    3. The light is about to change
    4. The driver must accelerate before red appears
    Show answer

    The light is about to change. A steady yellow light or arrow is a caution warning that the signal is about to change. If you have not entered the intersection, stop when it is safe; if stopping would be unsafe, proceed through cautiously. A driver already in the intersection should clear it carefully. Accelerating to beat the light is specifically contrary to the manual's advice and can turn a changing signal into a conflict. The yellow display is therefore a transition cue: check your stopping distance, avoid sudden unsafe braking, and never use extra speed to extend the green phase.

17. 17. Which rule helps a Virginia driver judge whether there is enough following distance?

    
    1. Keep one second at every speed
    2. Stay exactly one car length behind
    3. Use the two-, three- and four-second rule
    4. Follow closely until the vehicle ahead brakes
    Show answer

    Use the two-, three- and four-second rule. The manual uses a two-, three-, and four-second rule to help judge whether the gap behind the vehicle ahead is sufficient. One car length does not account for changing speed, and one second at every speed gives too little room as speed rises. Following closely until braking begins defeats the purpose of a space cushion. Increase the interval for poor weather, heavy traffic, large vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, or a tailgater.

18. 18. What does braking distance describe?

    1. The time needed to notice a hazard
    2. The distance the car travels after the brakes are applied
    3. The distance traveled before the driver reacts
    4. The width of the lane during a stop
    Show answer

    The distance the car travels after the brakes are applied. Braking distance begins after the driver applies the brakes and continues until the vehicle stops. Perception time comes earlier, when the driver recognizes a hazard, and reaction distance covers the travel before the pedal is applied. The lane width is unrelated. Wet pavement can lengthen the braking portion substantially, so maintain a larger cushion and reduce speed before a slick area. Separating these three parts of stopping distance helps explain why a late response can still produce a collision even when the brakes work properly.

19. 19. For an ordinary Virginia learner's permit, what must be true about the licensed driver seated beside the learner?

    1. The driver is any adult passenger, even without a license
    2. The driver is at least 16 and has held a permit for six months
    3. The driver is at least 21, licensed, alert, and able to assist
    4. The driver is at least 25 but may be asleep during practice
    Show answer

    The driver is at least 21, licensed, alert, and able to assist. The supervising person normally must be at least 21 and must hold a valid license, remain alert, and be able to help while the learner drives. Age alone is not enough, so an unlicensed adult cannot satisfy the requirement. A younger family member can qualify in a specific family relationship, but that exception does not turn every 16 year old into an authorized supervisor. Likewise, a sleeping passenger cannot provide the alert assistance the manual requires. Confirm the supervisor's credential and readiness before the vehicle moves.

20. 20. What is the first required action at a flashing red arrow?

    1. Come to a complete stop
    2. Turn immediately in the arrow's direction
    3. Continue straight without checking traffic
    4. Treat the arrow as a flashing yellow light
    Show answer

    Come to a complete stop. A flashing red arrow begins with a complete stop. After stopping, the driver must yield to vehicles coming from the other direction and pedestrians in the intersection, then proceed in the arrow's direction only when the way is clear. Turning immediately confuses a red arrow with a permissive signal and can cut across opposing traffic. Continuing straight is not the movement authorized by the arrow, and a flashing yellow response omits the required stop. Read both the color and the arrow, stop behind the line, scan all conflicts, and then turn when safe.