WV Permit Practice Test 22

All 20 questions in test 22

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. Where must an infant in a rear-facing seat never ride in an air bag equipped vehicle?

   1. In the rear seat with a belted adult beside the infant
   2. In the rear seat behind the driver
   3. In the rear seat while the vehicle is moving
   4. In the front passenger seat of the vehicle
   Show answer

   In the front passenger seat of the vehicle. If a vehicle has a passenger-side air bag, an infant in a rear-facing safety seat must never be placed in the front passenger seat. The rear seat is the safer location described by the air-bag warning, and a belted adult beside the infant does not make the front seat safe. The prohibition concerns the deploying air bag in front of the rear-facing seat, not the vehicle being parked or moving.

2. 2. You approach a horse being ridden along a highway. What should you avoid doing?

   1. Sounding the horn to warn the rider you are near
   2. Slowing down and giving the horse extra room
   3. Watching the rider for any sign the horse is uneasy
   4. Passing only when the road ahead is clear
   Show answer

   Sounding the horn to warn the rider you are near. A horn blast beside a horse can startle the animal, and a frightened horse may bolt into the road or throw its rider. The safe approach is quiet and predictable: slow down, leave generous space, and pass smoothly when the way is clear. Sounding the horn to warn the rider sounds courteous, but it creates the very sudden noise that spooks horses. Slowing and watching the rider are protective habits, not hazards. Treat every horse like a nervous passenger who cannot be reasoned with, and let your speed and spacing do the communicating instead of the horn.

   Study this in the handbook: School buses, bicycles, motorcycles and trucks

3. 3. What happens to BAC when a person drinks more than one drink per hour?

   1. The BAC level builds up in the body
   2. The BAC level stays flat through the evening
   3. The BAC level falls faster with each drink
   4. The BAC level resets after every full hour
   Show answer

   The BAC level builds up in the body. When a person has more than one drink per hour, the BAC level builds up in the body because intake outruns the body's steady clearing rate. The option stating "The BAC level stays flat through the evening" misses that point, because a flat BAC ignores accumulation, which is exactly what happens past one drink hourly. Count drinks against the clock; a second drink each hour stacks alcohol faster than it clears.

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

4. 4. While remaining inside a vehicle parked in a busy area, what precaution applies?

   1. Keep windows fully down for fresh air
   2. Keep doors locked until ready to exit
   3. Keep the engine racing for a quick exit
   4. Keep hazard lights on for the whole stay
   Show answer

   Keep doors locked until ready to exit. If you remain in your vehicle while parked in a busy area, keep your doors locked until you are ready to exit and stay alert to your surroundings. The option stating "Keep windows fully down for fresh air" misses that point, because windows fully down removes the barrier the locked door precaution is meant to preserve. Locked doors and raised awareness protect a waiting driver in crowded places.

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

5. 5. A transfer applicant's old license is suspended in another state. What must happen first?

   1. Payment of a West Virginia transfer fee
   2. A letter from the former employer
   3. A clearance from the Problem Driver Point System
   4. Completion of a West Virginia road test
   Show answer

   A clearance from the Problem Driver Point System. A person whose out-of-state license is suspended or revoked will not be licensed in West Virginia until receiving clearance from the Problem Driver Point System. The option stating "Payment of a West Virginia transfer fee" misses that point, because paying a transfer fee cannot erase an active suspension recorded in another jurisdiction. Clear the old suspension first; West Virginia checks the national record before issuing anything.

   Study this in the handbook: Who needs a license, new residents and address changes

6. 6. A driver travels slower than normal traffic flow. Where should the vehicle be positioned?

   1. Straddling the center line for visibility
   2. In the left portion to be seen sooner
   3. As close as possible to the right edge
   4. Alternating edges to stay alert on curves
   Show answer

   As close as possible to the right edge. When driving at less than the normal speed of traffic, a driver should drive as close as possible to the right edge of the road. The option stating "Straddling the center line for visibility" misses that point, because straddling the center line blocks both directions and endangers oncoming traffic head on. Slow vehicles hug the right edge so faster traffic can pass safely on the left.

   Study this in the handbook: The road skills test and basic control

7. 7. Why turn headlights on a little early as light fades?

   1. It charges the vehicle battery while driving at dusk
   2. It lets the driver use high beams in traffic longer
   3. It reduces the need to slow down at dusk
   4. It helps other drivers see you sooner
   Show answer

   It helps other drivers see you sooner. Turning headlights on a little early helps other drivers see you sooner, at the hour when a vehicle can fade into a gray background. Headlights do not charge the battery; the charging system does that while the engine runs, and using lights is not a way to build up charge. Early headlights are also not a reason to keep high beams on around traffic, where they can blind other drivers. Fading light still calls for slower and more careful driving, not for keeping speed up. Lights are as much about being seen as about seeing the road.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

8. 8. Why are flooded roadways so deceptive to drivers?

   1. Water reflects headlights so the road looks wider
   2. Water can hide an eroded road edge that is gone
   3. Road edges under water are marked with floating signs
   4. Currents push vehicles back toward the road
   Show answer

   Water can hide an eroded road edge that is gone. Flood water hides the very thing a driver needs to judge: whether the road is still there. In many cases, victims drive directly off the edge of an eroded road without knowing the pavement underneath has washed away. Reflected headlights do not widen anything, floating signs do not mark missing edges, and currents carry vehicles away from the road, not back to safety. Depth, roadbed, and edge all vanish under murky water at once. Never trust a flooded crossing because another car made it, because the road that held that car may already be gone beneath yours.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

9. 9. What should you do at the first hint that your wheels are slipping on a slick road?

   1. Press the brakes harder to stop the slip
   2. Release the brakes at the first hint of slipping
   3. Turn the wheel sharply toward the shoulder
   4. Shift into a lower gear and accelerate gently
   Show answer

   Release the brakes at the first hint of slipping. When wheels begin to slip, they have lost the rolling grip that lets a driver steer and slow in a controlled way. Release the brakes at the first hint the wheels are slipping, so the tires can roll again and regain traction. Pressing harder deepens the lockup, a sharp turn asks for grip the tires do not have, and adding power through a lower gear can spin the drive wheels further. Ease off, look where you want the vehicle to go, and reapply pressure gently once rolling returns. Small, early corrections keep a slip from becoming a skid.

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

10. 10. Besides fines or cleanup, what else may follow a littering conviction for a driver?

    1. Points assessed against the driving record
    2. A reduction of three points from the record
    3. A one year extension of the driver's license
    4. A free defensive driving course assignment
    Show answer

    Points assessed against the driving record. A driver convicted of unlawful litter disposal may also have points assessed against the driving record, adding license consequences to fines or jail. The option stating "A reduction of three points from the record" misses that point, because a point reduction rewards course completion and moves the record in the opposite direction. Trash thrown from a window can follow you onto the same record as moving violations.

    Study this in the handbook: Points, citations and suspensions

11. 11. About what share of recent fatal crashes in West Virginia involved alcohol impaired drivers?

    1. About 28 percent of fatal crashes
    2. About 10 percent of fatal crashes in recent years
    3. About 45 percent of fatal crashes in recent years
    4. About 60 percent of fatal crashes in recent years
    Show answer

    About 28 percent of fatal crashes. Studies show about 28 percent of recent fatal crashes in West Virginia involved drivers who had been driving under the influence of alcohol. The option stating "About 10 percent of fatal crashes in recent years" misses that point, because ten percent understates a toll placed at well over a quarter of fatal crashes. Remember more than one in four fatal crashes, a share near three in ten.

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

12. 12. Which person is within the stated legal exception to West Virginia's safety belt requirement?

    1. A 17-year-old riding in the rear seat
    2. A person 18 or older riding in the back seat
    3. An adult riding in the front seat without medical documentation
    4. A driver who chooses not to buckle up
    Show answer

    A person 18 or older riding in the back seat. The handbook identifies a person who is 18 years or older and riding in the back seat as the legal exception to the safety belt requirement. A 17-year-old does not meet the age condition, and an adult in the front seat is not covered by this exception. Personal preference is not a legal exception. The handbook separately notes that a medical exception may be issued in some cases and may require proof.

13. 13. A West Virginia driver is ticketed in another compact state. What happens to that violation?

    1. It stays only in the other state forever
    2. It is held by that state until the driver moves away
    3. It joins the WV record and points may be assessed
    4. It is erased if the fine is paid early
    Show answer

    It joins the WV record and points may be assessed. Through the Driver License Compact, a ticket earned in another member state does not stay behind when the driver goes home. The violation becomes part of the West Virginia driving record, and points may be assessed if the offense warrants them. Paying the fine early settles the case in that state, but it does not erase the record that follows the driver home, and the other state does not hold the violation quietly until a move. Treat an out of state ticket with the same seriousness as one written on a familiar road near home.

    Study this in the handbook: Points, citations and suspensions

14. 14. What has interstate and divided highway design largely removed?

    1. The need for following distance at speed
    2. The chance of head-on collisions
    3. The risk of any crash at high speed
    4. The duty to watch entering traffic closely
    Show answer

    The chance of head-on collisions. Interstate and divided highways have largely removed the chance of head-on collisions, but driving on interstates is very different and demands high speed awareness. The option stating "The need for following distance at speed" misses that point, because following distance matters more at interstate speed, so design never removed that need. Divided lanes end head on meetings, not the need for space, scanning, and speed control.

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

15. 15. How far from a bridge, viaduct, tunnel, or underpass is passing prohibited?

    1. Within 25 feet of the structure
    2. Within 50 feet of the structure
    3. Within 75 feet of the structure
    4. Within 100 feet of the structure
    Show answer

    Within 100 feet of the structure. Passing is prohibited within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, tunnel, or underpass. These structures can limit the view of opposing traffic and reduce the time available to return to the proper lane. The 25-, 50-, and 75-foot choices change the distance stated in the handbook, so they do not create the rule West Virginia gives drivers. Begin the pass only after the vehicle is beyond the restricted area and the road ahead supports a complete, safe maneuver.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and pedestrians

16. 16. Which condition is more common in urban driving than in rural driving?

    1. No need to watch for changing traffic conditions
    2. Stray livestock and game animals beside an open highway
    3. Slow-moving farm machinery as the only traffic hazard
    4. More pedestrians, bicycles, intersections, and stop-and-go traffic
    Show answer

    More pedestrians, bicycles, intersections, and stop-and-go traffic. Urban areas bring a denser mix of pedestrians, bicycles, intersections, and repeated starts and stops. The animal and farm-equipment choices describe hazards the handbook associates with rural areas, while the choice “No need to watch for changing traffic conditions” is unsafe because every setting requires attention to changing conditions. In town, reduce speed near crossings and intersections, scan between parked or stopped vehicles, and expect a vulnerable road user to appear where sight lines are limited. Urban traffic demands frequent observation rather than a fixed-speed approach.

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

17. 17. Where must pedestrians not walk in West Virginia?

    1. On interstate highways or posted no-walking areas
    2. On sidewalks crossing any private driveway entrance
    3. On crosswalks at intersections with traffic signals
    4. On shoulders of rural roads during daylight hours
    Show answer

    On interstate highways or posted no-walking areas. Pedestrians must not walk on interstate highways or other areas where signs to that effect are posted, because high speed traffic leaves no safe margin. The option stating "On sidewalks crossing any private driveway entrance" misses that point, because sidewalks crossing driveways are normal walking routes where pedestrians hold right of way. A person on foot beside an interstate is in a prohibited place, not a crosswalk user.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and pedestrians

18. 18. What vision result passes the West Virginia screening using both eyes?

    1. Vision of only 20/50 with no serious visual defect
    2. 20/60 or better with one serious visual defect
    3. 20/40 or better with no serious visual defect
    4. 20/40 in one eye with a serious defect present
    Show answer

    20/40 or better with no serious visual defect. The passing line for the vision screening is 20/40 or better using both eyes, with or without conventional corrective lenses, and with no serious visual defect. Vision of only 20/50 falls short of that line, a serious defect disqualifies even when a number sounds close, and the both eyes standard is not met by describing one eye alone with a defect present. If glasses or contacts bring you to 20/40, wearing them for the screening is expected. Read the chart with both eyes open, corrected as you would drive, and know that forty is the number to reach.

    Study this in the handbook: Vision, knowledge and road tests

19. 19. When meeting an oncoming bicyclist at night, what must a driver do with lights?

    1. Dim your lights for the bicyclist
    2. Flash high beams to warn the bicyclist
    3. Turn lights off until the bicyclist passes
    4. Keep high beams on for better visibility
    Show answer

    Dim your lights for the bicyclist. After dark, an oncoming bicyclist should be met with dimmed headlights. Flashing high beams or keeping them on would direct glare toward the rider, while turning the lights off would leave the driver without useful illumination. Dimming provides light for the roadway without blinding the vulnerable road user approaching in the opposite direction. The handbook states this light rule directly for a bicyclist, so the rider's presence calls for reduced glare rather than a brighter warning.

    Study this in the handbook: School buses, bicycles, motorcycles and trucks

20. 20. In which areas must a driver be extra careful for children?

    1. Interstate rest areas and toll plazas
    2. Industrial parks during night shifts
    3. Residential areas and school zones
    4. Rural highways with no houses nearby
    Show answer

    Residential areas and school zones. A driver must be extra careful in residential areas and school zones, and at times and places where children are likely to be around. Interstate rest areas and toll plazas are stopping places for travelers and are not the child-rich settings named for this extra care. Industrial parks during night shifts are adult work settings, which is why that setting does not fit the rule either. Rural highways with no houses nearby are places where children are less likely to appear. Slow down where children live and attend school, and watch for a child stepping out from between parked cars.