WV Permit Practice Test 14

All 20 questions in test 14

Every question below comes from the West 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. Which activities have no place in the driver's seat?

   1. Scanning intersections, checking mirrors, and planning gaps
   2. Watching pedestrians, reading signs, and judging speeds
   3. Daydreaming, window shopping, and distracting conversation
   4. Holding conversation that stays brief and road focused
   Show answer

   Daydreaming, window shopping, and distracting conversation. The driver's seat is no place for daydreaming, mental napping, window shopping, scenic viewing, or distracting conversation during any trip. The option stating "Scanning intersections, checking mirrors, and planning gaps" misses that point, because scanning intersections and checking mirrors are the concentration the seat demands, not distractions. Eyes and mind both belong on the traffic picture unfolding around the vehicle.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

2. 2. When is parking beside or opposite a street excavation prohibited?

   1. When the vehicle would obstruct traffic
   2. When the excavation blocks a bridge
   3. During daylight work
   4. If the driver stays in the vehicle
   Show answer

   When the vehicle would obstruct traffic. The parking restriction applies beside or opposite a street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing, or parking would obstruct traffic. It is the effect on roadway movement that controls the rule. A bridge location, daylight work, or the driver's decision to stay in the vehicle does not create the required condition. A vehicle can block traffic while the driver remains seated, so examine the available path for other road users before stopping near an excavation.

   Study this in the handbook: U-turns, backing, parking and following distance

3. 3. A driver meets a sign not pictured in the handbook. What is usually true of it?

   1. Unlisted signs are posted for local traffic only
   2. Most signs are self-explanatory in meaning
   3. Unlisted signs usually repeat a nearby listed sign
   4. Unlisted signs carry no penalty for violation
   Show answer

   Most signs are self-explanatory in meaning. Not all signs seen on the road appear in the handbook, but most signs are self-explanatory. Their shape, color, and symbol carry the message, so a driver who slows down and reads them can usually understand what is required. The claim that unlisted signs are posted only for local traffic is not stated. An unlisted sign does not merely repeat a nearby listed sign, and the passage gives no penalty exemption for signs absent from the handbook. Treat an unfamiliar sign as one to read and follow.

   Study this in the handbook: Sign shapes, colors and pavement markings

4. 4. What marks a lane removal ahead on an interstate guide sign assembly?

   1. A red and white panel above the overhead guide sign
   2. A blue service panel beside the exit direction sign
   3. A brown recreation panel under the route marker
   4. A black and yellow panel below the overhead guide sign
   Show answer

   A black and yellow panel below the overhead guide sign. A lane removal is usually indicated by a black and yellow panel below the green and white overhead guide sign, warning drivers to reposition early. The option stating "A red and white panel above the overhead guide sign" misses that point, because red and white panels belong to regulatory messages, not the lane drop warning described. Look under the big green sign for the small yellow warning before your lane ends.

   Study this in the handbook: Entering, exiting and driving on interstates

5. 5. What is an interchange in interstate design?

   1. Two highways merging at one level with a traffic light
   2. Two highways meeting at different levels with connecting roads
   3. A single bridge that carries both highways together
   4. A circular ramp that returns traffic to the same road
   Show answer

   Two highways meeting at different levels with connecting roads. An interchange joins two highways without a flat crossing. It is the intersection of two highways at different levels, one over the other, with separate connecting roads that transfer traffic from one highway to the other. A traffic light at one level describes an ordinary intersection, which is what interchanges are built to replace. A single bridge carrying both roads together and a circular ramp returning to the same road do not describe the transfer between two highways. Picture stacked roadways joined by ramps, where crossing streams pass above and below instead of meeting head on.

   Study this in the handbook: Entering, exiting and driving on interstates

6. 6. What should motorists expect a motorcyclist to do within a lane?

   1. Hold one fixed line through every hazard
   2. Ride only on the far left edge always
   3. Stop moving whenever a car approaches
   4. Move around in the lane while riding
   Show answer

   Move around in the lane while riding. Motorists should expect to see motorcyclists move around in their lane while positioning for hazards, wind, and surface changes during a ride. The option stating "Hold one fixed line through every hazard" misses that point, because one fixed line denies the rider the lane movement needed to dodge debris and potholes. A shifting motorcycle is usually choosing safer pavement, not weaving carelessly.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

7. 7. What does safe interstate use demand from the driver?

   1. Complete awareness and constant alertness
   2. Relaxed attention because lanes are divided
   3. Alertness only near exits and interchanges
   4. Awareness of speed only in heavy traffic
   Show answer

   Complete awareness and constant alertness. Safe use of an interstate demands complete awareness of high-speed driving and constant alertness by the driver. Divided lanes remove much of the head-on risk, but they do not make attention optional. Alertness is needed throughout the trip, not only near exits, and awareness of speed matters even when traffic is light. The handbook describes interstate driving as a continuous high-speed task that requires the driver's full attention.

   Study this in the handbook: Entering, exiting and driving on interstates

8. 8. How much of the lane may a motorcyclist use while riding in traffic?

   1. Only the left third near the center line
   2. Only the right third near the edge line
   3. The entire lane to maneuver around hazards
   4. Half the lane shared with a passing car
   Show answer

   The entire lane to maneuver around hazards. A motorcyclist is entitled to the entire lane and will need it to maneuver around hazards and changing traffic situations. Riders shift position within the lane to see ahead, avoid debris, and create space from other vehicles. Confining a rider to one third of the lane removes those safety options. Sharing half a lane with a passing car crowds the rider and leaves no escape space. Treat a motorcycle like any other vehicle in its lane, and pass only by moving fully into another lane when the pass is safe and lawful.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

9. 9. What does passing the Basic Rider Course waive for a permit holder of at least seven days?

   1. The written knowledge examination for the permit
   2. The seven-day permit holding period
   3. The DMV on-cycle skills test
   4. The need to hold a motorcycle permit first
   Show answer

   The DMV on-cycle skills test. An applicant who has held a motorcycle instruction permit for at least seven days and successfully passes the Basic Rider Course becomes eligible to have the DMV on-cycle skills test waived. The written knowledge examination comes before the permit, so a course taken after the permit cannot waive a test already passed. The seven-day holding period must still be completed before the waiver can apply. Holding the permit itself is also still required, because the course builds on the permit stage rather than replacing it. Course completion substitutes for the DMV skills demonstration only.

10. 10. In a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes, what can the driver still do while braking hard?

    1. Release the brake to regain steering
    2. Steer the vehicle while braking
    3. Turn the steering wheel fully to one side
    4. Rest both hands and let the system steer
    Show answer

    Steer the vehicle while braking. Anti-lock brakes keep the wheels from locking, and that rolling grip is what lets a driver keep steering while braking hard. On a slippery road that means you can brake firmly and still aim around an obstacle instead of sliding straight into it. The system does not steer for you, and swinging the wheel fully to one side can upset the car even with anti-lock help. Releasing the brake to regain steering is the older technique for vehicles without this equipment. Press the pedal firmly, look where you want to go, and steer smoothly around the hazard.

    Study this in the handbook: Weather, road, vehicle and traffic conditions

11. 11. How does the Implied Consent Law safeguard the public, in the handbook's explanation?

    1. By fining drivers who agree to be tested promptly
    2. By arresting drivers who refuse alcohol testing
    3. By letting drivers refuse testing with no penalty at all
    4. By keeping alcohol test results secret from the courts
    Show answer

    By arresting drivers who refuse alcohol testing. Implied consent protects the public by giving officers a way to remove an intoxicated driver who will not be tested. Drivers who refuse alcohol testing after a DUI arrest can be arrested, and refusal also brings revocation of the driving privilege. Letting a driver refuse with no penalty would defeat the law, and test results are evidence rather than secrets kept from the courts. Fining people who agree to testing promptly would punish cooperation, the opposite of the design. For a driver who has not been drinking, the test is protection, because it provides an accepted measure of alcohol in the body.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, BAC limits and zero tolerance

12. 12. Do snow tires or chains permit normal speed driving on snow or ice?

    1. Yes, both permit full normal speed in any storm
    2. Yes, chains alone permit normal highway speeds
    3. No, but snow tires permit normal speed on ice
    4. No, neither permits safe driving at normal speeds
    Show answer

    No, neither permits safe driving at normal speeds. Snow tires or chains help in winter, but neither will permit you to drive safely on snow or ice at normal speeds on any roadway. The option stating "Yes, both permit full normal speed in any storm" misses that point, because full normal speed ignores the twelve fold stopping distances snow and ice can demand. Equipment buys traction, not speed; slow down even with winter gear fitted.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

13. 13. On an interstate, a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing on the opposite side of a median. What must approaching traffic do?

    1. Stop before reaching the bus.
    2. Proceed without stopping for the bus.
    3. Stop only if students are crossing the highway.
    4. Wait until the bus driver signals each vehicle through.
    Show answer

    Proceed without stopping for the bus.. West Virginia makes an interstate exception for traffic approaching a stopped school bus from the other side of the median. That traffic does not have to stop. The ordinary rule requiring a stop would be wrong here because it ignores the divided interstate exception. Requiring a stop only when students cross the highway adds a condition not stated in the rule. Waiting for a bus driver's signal also adds a requirement the passage does not impose on traffic traveling on the opposite side of the median. The exception is tied to the interstate and median, not to whether students are visible.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and pedestrians

14. 14. What should a driver make sure of about interior warning devices before driving?

    1. That all warning lights are working properly
    2. That the radio presets are set for travel
    3. That the clock and trip meter have been reset
    4. That the dome light is switched fully off
    Show answer

    That all warning lights are working properly. The dashboard is the vehicle way of reporting trouble, and it only works if its warnings work. Make sure all warning lights are working properly before driving, so oil, brake, charging, and temperature warnings can be believed when they appear. Radio presets, a reset trip meter, and a dome light setting have nothing to do with those safety messages. During a normal start, watch the warning lamps prove themselves and go out as expected; a lamp that never lights cannot warn you later, and one that stays lit is the vehicle asking for attention before the trip, not during it.

    Study this in the handbook: Blowouts, fires and other vehicle emergencies

15. 15. A driver is too drowsy to drive. Which alternatives does the handbook suggest?

    1. Carpool, transit, taxi, or a family or friend driver
    2. A larger vehicle with brighter headlights tonight
    3. A shortcut route with fewer traffic signals
    4. A passenger who promises to talk continuously
    Show answer

    Carpool, transit, taxi, or a family or friend driver. When a person is too drowsy to drive, the answer is to let someone else do the driving. Carpooling, public transportation, a taxi, or a family member or friend at the wheel all remove the tired driver from control. A larger vehicle with brighter headlights does not restore alertness, and a shortcut route or a talkative passenger still leaves the impaired person steering, braking, and deciding. Conversation can fail the moment sleep takes over. Make the call before starting the trip: a ride from a rested person is the safe arrival plan, not a sign of weakness.

    Study this in the handbook: Implied consent, DUI penalties and interlock

16. 16. During what hours may a West Virginia Level 1 GDL permit holder drive?

    1. From 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
    2. Only during daylight hours
    3. From 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
    4. At any hour when an adult is present
    Show answer

    From 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. A Level 1 GDL instruction permit allows driving from 5:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. The permit does not authorize only daylight driving, because the stated period includes part of the evening. It also does not allow unrestricted nighttime driving just because an adult is present. The 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. period is outside the ordinary Level 1 hours, so the permit holder must wait until the permitted time begins.

    Study this in the handbook: Graduated Driver's License levels

17. 17. How should a good driver sit and hold the steering wheel while driving?

    1. Lean back with one wrist over the wheel
    2. Rest an elbow out the window on long trips
    3. Sit up straight with a firm grip on the wheel
    4. Slouch low so the air bag points at the chest
    Show answer

    Sit up straight with a firm grip on the wheel. An attentive driver sits up straight, keeps a firm grip on the steering wheel, stays aware of position on the road, and watches for traffic problems as they develop. That posture keeps the eyes high for a long view and leaves both arms ready to steer without delay. Leaning back with one wrist draped over the wheel, resting an elbow out the window, or slouching low all delay a real steering input and signal a driver who has stopped working at the task. Sit like you mean to drive, because the first second of an emergency is spent exactly as you are already positioned.

    Study this in the handbook: Drowsy driving, fatigue and emotions

18. 18. Once a vehicle floats off a flooded roadway into deeper water, what may happen to it?

    1. It will settle gently upright on the road in shallow water
    2. It may roll over while filling with water, trapping occupants inside
    3. It will float steadily in place until help pushes it back
    4. It stops filling with water as soon as the engine dies
    Show answer

    It may roll over while filling with water, trapping occupants inside. Flood water can lift a vehicle off the pavement, and once it floats into deeper water the car may roll without any control while water pours inside. Occupants can be trapped in a vehicle that was drivable only moments before, which is why flooded roads must never be crossed on a guess about depth. The water does not hold a car steady for rescue, and a dead engine does not stop the cabin from filling. Turn around before water covers the road, choose a higher route, and remember that moving water needs only a shallow depth to take the tires off the ground.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

19. 19. How should a vehicle be positioned when it is parked on a two-way street?

    1. Facing with traffic on that side of the street
    2. Facing the opposite direction from traffic
    3. Partly in the travel lane beside the curb
    4. At any angle that leaves the vehicle clear
    Show answer

    Facing with traffic on that side of the street. A parked vehicle must face the same direction as traffic moving on that side of the street. Facing against traffic creates an unsafe and unlawful position when the vehicle enters or leaves the space. A vehicle partly in the travel lane is also not properly parked, because it obstructs moving traffic. Parking at an arbitrary angle does not follow the direction rule either. The handbook treats this as a basic parking requirement, so check both the vehicle's direction and its position before leaving it.

    Study this in the handbook: U-turns, backing, parking and following distance

20. 20. A driver uses someone else's license as their own. What license penalty applies to that offense?

    1. A fine with no effect on the license
    2. A warning letter with no suspension
    3. A 30-day restriction to daytime driving
    4. A 90-day suspension of the license
    Show answer

    A 90-day suspension of the license. Using another person's license, letting someone else use yours, or showing a fictitious license are treated as fraudulent use. The penalty stated for these offenses is a 90-day suspension. A warning letter understates the consequence, because the conduct involves false identity rather than a minor paperwork error. A daytime restriction is also not the stated penalty, and a fine alone leaves out the suspension that follows. Keep your own license with you, never lend it to another driver, and never present a license that is not yours.

    Study this in the handbook: Points, citations and suspensions