WV Permit Practice Test 24

All 20 questions in test 24

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. What must a West Virginia driver complete before reinstating a license that was revoked for DUI?

   1. Only a new vision test
   2. An eight hour defensive driving class
   3. Nothing beyond waiting out the revocation
   4. A prescribed Safety and Treatment program
   Show answer

   A prescribed Safety and Treatment program. Every West Virginia DUI revocation or suspension requires the driver to complete a prescribed Safety and Treatment program before becoming eligible to reinstate. A vision test is part of licensing, not DUI reinstatement. The eight hour defensive driving class is the point reduction course, which is a different program. Simply waiting out the revocation is not enough. The rule applies any time the license is revoked or suspended for a DUI, including a first offense.

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

2. 2. When should a designated driver be appointed for an outing involving alcohol?

   1. After the first round of drinks is served at the table
   2. Before the start of any activity involving alcohol
   3. When the group decides it is time to leave for home
   4. Only after someone feels unable to drive safely home
   Show answer

   Before the start of any activity involving alcohol. A designated driver should be appointed before the start of any activity involving alcohol, while everyone can still agree clearly on the plan. Waiting until drinking has begun is too late for the handbook's instruction. Choosing a driver only when the group is ready to leave or someone feels unsafe also leaves an important decision until the end. Set the plan before the first drink is served.

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

3. 3. What is the first effect of drowsy driving listed for responses to conditions?

   1. Faster responses to sudden traffic changes
   2. Difficulty remembering roads already traveled
   3. Slower responses to road and traffic conditions
   4. Sudden loss of hearing for nearby sirens
   Show answer

   Slower responses to road and traffic conditions. The first warning about drowsy driving is simple slowing. A tired driver may become slower to respond to road and traffic conditions, taking longer to notice a brake light, a merging truck, or a curve that needs less speed. Faster responses are the opposite of that effect, and hearing for sirens is not the change described. Trouble remembering recent miles can happen with severe fatigue, but the listed starting point is delayed response. Catch the early sign: if you react a beat late to ordinary traffic twice in a row, you are already impaired enough to stop and rest.

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

4. 4. A lane ahead on the interstate is closed. When should you move into the open lane?

   1. As soon as possible after seeing the signs
   2. At the last moment beside the closure
   3. Only after reaching the closed lane barrels
   4. After other drivers have all moved first
   Show answer

   As soon as possible after seeing the signs. Lane closure signs are posted well in advance so drivers can move into the open lane as soon as possible. Waiting until the last moment forces a sudden merge beside the barrels, where workers and equipment may be close to the travel lane. Reaching the barrels before moving leaves no margin if traffic in the open lane does not create a gap. Waiting for everyone else to move first also delays the merge and compresses traffic. Signal early, match the speed of the open lane, and merge smoothly while the gap is available.

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

5. 5. What maintenance does the vehicle lighting system require?

   1. Keep it disconnected when driving in daylight
   2. Replace bulbs only when both headlights have failed
   3. Keep it clean and in proper repair
   4. Clean the lenses only after the yearly inspection
   Show answer

   Keep it clean and in proper repair. Lights only protect a driver when they work and can be seen. Keep the vehicle lighting system clean and in proper repair, wiping lenses and replacing dead bulbs promptly so headlights, taillights, and signals perform when visibility drops. Disconnecting lights for daylight driving leaves the vehicle unready for a tunnel, storm, or early dusk, waiting for both headlights to fail risks driving half blind, and a yearly cleaning schedule ignores months of salt and road film. A quick walk around with the lights on takes a minute and shows a dead bulb before an officer or a dark road does.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

6. 6. Which abilities does the West Virginia driver examination series measure?

   1. Vision, color recognition, law knowledge, sign recognition, and vehicle operation
   2. Vision, hearing, law knowledge, sign recognition, and vehicle repair
   3. Law knowledge, sign recognition, vehicle operation, and map reading
   4. Vision, color recognition, sign recognition, vehicle operation, and first aid
   Show answer

   Vision, color recognition, law knowledge, sign recognition, and vehicle operation. The examination series checks whether an applicant can see, understand, and drive. It measures vision, color recognition, knowledge of traffic laws, recognition of road signs, and the ability to safely and skillfully operate a motor vehicle in traffic. Hearing tests and vehicle repair are not parts of that list, map reading for counties is not a tested ability, and first aid belongs to emergency training rather than licensing. An applicant should prepare eyes and lenses, study the laws and signs, and practice real driving with commentary about hazards, because those are the abilities the examiners will score.

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

7. 7. How far can a driver safely travel in an unsafe vehicle?

   1. Neither 10 feet nor 10 miles is safe
   2. Up to 10 miles at low neighborhood speed
   3. Up to 10 feet to reach a repair shop
   4. Any distance if hazard lights stay on
   Show answer

   Neither 10 feet nor 10 miles is safe. The handbook says a driver cannot safely drive either 10 feet or 10 miles in an unsafe vehicle. A short trip to a repair shop is not made safe by limiting speed, and hazard lights do not repair a defect. The distance choices both ignore the rule, while any-distance driving adds an even broader error. An unsafe vehicle must be repaired before it is driven, regardless of how near the destination seems.

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

8. 8. For licenses issued after January 1, 2001, when do newly issued West Virginia driver's licenses expire?

   1. At the end of the issue month
   2. On January 1 of the fifth year
   3. On the date the application was signed
   4. On the applicant's birthday
   Show answer

   On the applicant's birthday. Licenses issued after January 1, 2001 follow the birthday rule: the license expires on the applicant birthday instead of at the end of the month when it was issued. That makes the deadline easy to remember, because it returns with a date the driver already knows each year. The end of the issue month was the older pattern, and January 1 of the fifth year mixes a calendar date with the five year cycle in the wrong way. When your birthday approaches, check the card and renew before that day so the license never lapses between celebrations.

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

9. 9. Traffic need not stop for a public bus. What must drivers still watch for?

   1. Passengers crossing as they get on and off
   2. Children running from behind the bus only
   3. The bus driver waving traffic through quickly
   4. Passengers loading through the rear door only
   Show answer

   Passengers crossing as they get on and off. While traffic does not have to stop for a public bus, drivers should watch for passengers crossing the street as they get on and off the bus. That watch covers adults as well as children, and passengers may appear at either end of the bus. Limiting the concern to children running from behind the bus misses the adults crossing after they step down. A wave from the bus driver is not the safeguard described, and passengers do not load only through a rear door. Pass a stopped bus slowly and be ready for a person to step into view.

10. 10. Where should drivers especially expect joggers in unexpected places?

    1. Marked jogging paths inside public parks
    2. School zones during early morning hours
    3. Sidewalks running through downtown districts
    4. At curves, hill tops, and around corners
    Show answer

    At curves, hill tops, and around corners. Be alert for joggers in unexpected places such as curves, on the top of a hill, or around a corner, where sight distance hides them until late. The option stating "Marked jogging paths inside public parks" misses that point, because marked park paths are expected places, while the warning targets spots where joggers surprise drivers. Ease off before blind rises and bends where a runner may appear in your lane edge.

11. 11. While backing, where should a driver keep looking, and what should not be relied on?

    1. Keep looking forward; rely on the rear camera screen
    2. Keep looking to the rear; do not depend on the mirror
    3. Keep looking left; rely on the side mirror image
    4. Keep looking down; rely on parking sensor beeps
    Show answer

    Keep looking to the rear; do not depend on the mirror. A backing driver should look to the front, sides, and rear, continue looking to the rear while backing, and not depend on the mirror alone. The option stating "Keep looking forward; rely on the rear camera screen" misses that point, because looking forward while moving backward abandons the direction of travel the driver must watch. Turn your head and keep eyes toward the rear path for the whole backing move.

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

12. 12. What should an applicant adjust before driving on the road test, and why?

    1. Radio and air vents, for comfort during the drive
    2. Seat and rear view mirror, for better vehicle control
    3. Sun visor and glove box, for storage during testing
    4. Seat only, since mirrors are set by the examiner
    Show answer

    Seat and rear view mirror, for better vehicle control. The applicant should adjust the vehicle seat and rear view mirror before driving, because proper seat adjustment assures better control of the vehicle. The option stating "Radio and air vents, for comfort during the drive" misses that point, because radio comfort never improves control, while seat position determines reach to pedals and wheel. Set seat, then mirrors, in that order before the examiner asks you to move.

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

13. 13. Which motorcycle traits make them easy to misjudge in traffic?

    1. Easy to hear, stop slowly, and hold a steady wide path
    2. Hard to see, accelerate slowly, and never change position
    3. Hard to see, stop quickly, and can dart forward suddenly
    4. Easy to spot, stop quickly, and signal every small move
    Show answer

    Hard to see, stop quickly, and can dart forward suddenly. Motorcycles are difficult to see, can often stop more quickly than vehicles, and can dart in front of you with no warning, demanding constant attention. The option stating "Easy to hear, stop slowly, and hold a steady wide path" misses that point, because a steady wide path understates how quickly a small motorcycle changes speed and position. Expect a motorcycle to appear late, stop short, and move suddenly; leave space for all three.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

14. 14. Instead of jail, how many hours of litter removal may a littering sentence require at minimum?

    1. Not less than 10 hours of litter removal
    2. Not less than 60 hours of litter removal
    3. Not less than 30 hours of litter removal
    4. Not less than 100 hours of litter removal
    Show answer

    Not less than 30 hours of litter removal. A person convicted of littering may be sentenced to remove litter from any public or private roadway for a total of not less than 30 hours. The option stating "Not less than 10 hours of litter removal" misses that point, because ten hours cuts the stated community cleanup minimum to a third of its actual length. Thirty hours is nearly a work week spent cleaning the roadways that were littered.

    Study this in the handbook: Points, citations and suspensions

15. 15. When must a driver not pass on a two-lane highway?

    1. When an approaching vehicle is within the passing area
    2. When the road is straight and clear
    3. When the vehicle ahead is below the speed limit
    4. When the driver has checked the mirrors
    Show answer

    When an approaching vehicle is within the passing area. Passing is prohibited when an approaching vehicle is within your passing area. The opposing vehicle may reach the conflict point before the pass is complete, even if the driver believes there is enough room. A straight, clear road or a slow vehicle ahead does not by itself make passing illegal, and checking the mirrors is only one part of evaluating a pass. Wait until the opposing vehicle has cleared the passing area, then reassess visibility, lane markings, and the distance needed to return safely.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and pedestrians

16. 16. After parallel parking, how should the vehicle sit within the space?

    1. Centered, parked facing oncoming traffic
    2. Against the front car, in the traffic direction
    3. Touching the rear car, in the traffic direction
    4. Centered, parked in the direction of traffic
    Show answer

    Centered, parked in the direction of traffic. Park in the direction of traffic and make sure your vehicle is centered in the parking space, leaving balanced room at both ends. The option stating "Centered, parked facing oncoming traffic" misses that point, because facing oncoming traffic puts your vehicle against the flow on that side of the street. Finish centered with equal breathing room front and back, nose pointing with traffic.

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

17. 17. In jump starting, in what order are the two vehicles started?

    1. Start the dead vehicle first, then the giving vehicle afterward
    2. Start both vehicles at the same moment cables connect together
    3. Run the dead vehicle first to warm its battery for charging
    4. Start the giving vehicle, run a few minutes, then start the other
    Show answer

    Start the giving vehicle, run a few minutes, then start the other. Make sure the two vehicles are not touching, start the vehicle giving the jump, let it run for a few minutes, then start the other vehicle. The option stating "Start the dead vehicle first, then the giving vehicle afterward" misses that point, because starting the dead vehicle first asks an empty battery to do work it cannot yet perform. Live car first, patience for a few minutes, dead car second, every jump start.

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

18. 18. How do penalties change for later offenses of passing a stopped school bus?

    1. Subsequent offenses return to a warning only
    2. Subsequent offenses have increased penalties
    3. Subsequent offenses carry the same minimum fine
    4. Subsequent offenses are handled as parking tickets
    Show answer

    Subsequent offenses have increased penalties. Subsequent offenses for passing a stopped school bus have increased penalties beyond the first offense minimum suspension, fine, or jail exposure. The option stating "Subsequent offenses return to a warning only" misses that point, because a warning reverses the escalation that repeat school bus violations are stated to carry. Repeat danger around children costs more each time, never less than the first.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and pedestrians

19. 19. Headlights fail on a lighted highway. Where should the vehicle go?

    1. Into the left lane to use other vehicles' lights ahead
    2. Off the roadway onto the shoulder, as soon as safely possible
    3. Onto the median crossover to wait for full daylight
    4. Along the center line until the next exit appears
    Show answer

    Off the roadway onto the shoulder, as soon as safely possible. If headlights fail on a lighted highway, get off the roadway onto the shoulder or other available space as soon and safely as possible. Moving into the left lane leaves the unlit vehicle sitting on the roadway in a fast lane, where approaching drivers may not see it in time, so remaining in that lane does not solve the problem. A median crossover is not a safe waiting place between traffic directions. Following the center line to the next exit keeps the vehicle in traffic without lights. Street lighting gives you a brief chance to clear the roadway safely, so use it.

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

20. 20. Where should children age 12 and under ride, as recommended?

    1. Buckled in the front seat beside the driver
    2. Unbuckled in the rear seat for short trips
    3. Buckled and placed in the rear seat
    4. In the front seat if the air bag is new
    Show answer

    Buckled and placed in the rear seat. It is recommended that all children age 12 and under be buckled and placed in the rear seat. The front seat beside the driver is wrong because the recommendation places children 12 and under in the rear, away from the front passenger area, whatever seat is free in front. Riding unbuckled in the rear seat for a short trip also fails the recommendation, because the child must be buckled as well as seated in back. A newer air bag does not change the rear seat recommendation. Back seat, buckled, for every child 12 and under on every trip.