WV Permit Practice Test 3

All 20 questions in test 3

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 is the maximum speed for an interstate in West Virginia unless another speed is posted?

   1. 55 mph
   2. 70 mph
   3. 65 mph
   4. 75 mph
   Show answer

   70 mph. West Virginia lists 70 mph as the maximum interstate speed unless a different limit is posted. The 55 mph figure belongs to open county highways and also appears as the minimum interstate speed in ordinary conditions, so it is an especially tempting mix-up. A 65 mph or 75 mph answer is not the designated interstate maximum stated here. Always check posted signs and reduce speed when weather, traffic, or roadway conditions make the maximum unreasonable or imprudent. The sign and the conditions work together.

2. 2. What does West Virginia's zero tolerance rule mean for a driver under 21?

   1. Only a BAC of 0.08 percent or more matters
   2. Any measurable alcohol can cause the driver to lose the license
   3. The rule applies only when a crash occurs
   4. A driver under 21 may drink if accompanied by an adult
   Show answer

   Any measurable alcohol can cause the driver to lose the license. West Virginia's under-21 rule is stricter than the adult presumption discussed elsewhere in the handbook. If any measurable alcohol is found in the system of a driver under 21, the driver can lose the license. The 0.08 choice overlooks the zero tolerance standard, and adult supervision does not create an exception. The rule also does not wait for a collision. The safest operational cue is simple: an under-21 driver should have no measurable alcohol before driving, regardless of how the driver feels or how little was consumed.

3. 3. What is the recommended response when you are driving slower than normal traffic and faster vehicles cannot pass safely?

   1. Speed up above the posted limit
   2. Drive in the center of the lane to block passing
   3. Stop immediately in the travel lane
   4. Move as close as possible to the right edge and use the first safe turnout
   Show answer

   Move as close as possible to the right edge and use the first safe turnout. A slower driver should make room for traffic rather than create a moving obstruction. The handbook says to stay close to the right edge and pull off at the first safe turnout when a one-lane-each-way road leaves overtaking traffic without a clear passing lane. Blocking the center is the opposite of that courtesy. Stopping in the travel lane adds a hazard, while exceeding the limit is not required. Watch the road behind you, plan ahead for a turnout, and reenter only when the maneuver can be completed safely.

4. 4. What jail sentence does West Virginia law set for a first offense of driving while the license is revoked for DUI?

   1. None; it is a civil fine only
   2. Up to 10 days
   3. A mandatory 30 days to 6 months
   4. A mandatory 1 to 5 years
   Show answer

   A mandatory 30 days to 6 months. The handbook sets a mandatory jail sentence of 30 days to six months for driving while the license is revoked on a DUI, and the driving privilege is also revoked for six more months. State law, W. Va. Code 17B-4-3, applies that term to a first offense and sets longer terms for repeat offenses. A civil fine alone ignores the mandatory jail. Ten days understates the minimum, and one to five years is not the first offense term. Driving on a non DUI suspension or revocation is also serious and may cause a 90 day suspension.

5. 5. Your vehicle is disabled on a West Virginia interstate. Where does the handbook say to place flares?

   1. One about a vehicle length behind and another about 300 feet back
   2. One directly beside the driver door only
   3. One about 50 feet back and another 100 feet back
   4. One about 1,000 feet back only
   Show answer

   One about a vehicle length behind and another about 300 feet back. For a disabled vehicle on an interstate, the handbook says to put one flare about one vehicle length behind the vehicle and another about 300 feet back, each on the shoulder near the edge of the through lane. A flare beside the door gives approaching drivers no warning. Fifty and 100 feet are too close for interstate speeds, and a single flare 1,000 feet back is not the pattern described. Also move off the road, turn on the four way flashers, and get everyone away from the road.

6. 6. A 16 year old moves to West Virginia from a state without a graduated license program. How can time already spent licensed count toward the Level 1 period?

   1. By bringing a current driving record from the previous state
   2. It counts automatically with no paperwork
   3. It never counts; the teen starts from zero
   4. By having a parent sign an affidavit of driving hours
   Show answer

   By bringing a current driving record from the previous state. An applicant under 18 whose old license does not match West Virginia's Level 2 must take the knowledge and road skills tests as a new driver. If the applicant brings a current driving record from the previous state, the time the old license was held is credited toward the Level 1 permit period. The credit is not automatic, since the record must be provided. A parent affidavit is not the document the handbook names. After licensing, the old record becomes part of the West Virginia record.

7. 7. What is the exit gore on a West Virginia interstate, and may you stop in it?

   1. A lane reserved for trucks
   2. A paved rest area beside the ramp where stopping is allowed
   3. The acceleration lane for entering traffic
   4. The triangular area between the through lane and the exit ramp; do not stop there
   Show answer

   The triangular area between the through lane and the exit ramp; do not stop there. The gore is the painted triangle where the exit ramp splits away from the through lane. Drivers who miss their exit are tempted to stop there and back up, but the handbook says do not stop in an exit gore: it is not a shoulder, it sits between two streams of fast traffic, and a vehicle stopped there is a target for both. If you miss an exit, keep going to the next one. The gore is not a rest area, an acceleration lane, or a truck lane.

8. 8. What should a driver do when approaching a stop sign?

   
   1. Make a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or sign
   2. Slow down and roll through if no one is visible
   3. Stop only after entering the intersection
   4. Stop only when another vehicle is waiting
   Show answer

   Make a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or sign. A stop sign requires a complete stop before the stop line, crosswalk, or sign. Rolling through an empty intersection is still a violation, and waiting until the vehicle is already in the intersection places the stop too late. The rule does not depend on another car being present. After stopping, scan for pedestrians and traffic, then proceed when the intersection is clear and you have yielded as required. The visual cue is the stopping reference point: stop before the marked line or crossing area, not beyond it.

9. 9. Why does West Virginia's handbook tell drivers to reduce speed when conditions limit visibility or stopping distance?

   1. A faster vehicle has less time to identify hazards and react safely
   2. Higher speed always improves traction on wet pavement
   3. Reduced speed is required only when an officer is present
   4. Visibility changes have no effect if the posted limit is obeyed
   Show answer

   A faster vehicle has less time to identify hazards and react safely. Speed changes the time available to notice a hazard, judge another vehicle, and correct a mistake. When rain, darkness, traffic, or a roadway problem limits what you can see or how quickly you can stop, slow down below the posted maximum as needed. The choice about improved wet traction reverses the safety concern, since water can reduce grip. A posted limit is not permission to maintain that speed in every condition. Use a simple cue: less sight distance or more stopping distance calls for less speed.

10. 10. What does the West Virginia handbook say tempts impatient drivers to only slow down for a stop sign?

    1. A green light at the next intersection
    2. Wet pavement
    3. Pressure from following vehicles and the absence of cross traffic
    4. A flashing yellow signal
    Show answer

    Pressure from following vehicles and the absence of cross traffic. The handbook's impatience section warns that pressure from following vehicles and the absence of cross traffic may tempt you to only slow down for a stop sign. Neither excuse changes the law: regardless of traffic you must come to a complete stop at a stop sign or red light, even for a right turn. The impatient driver who rolls through, speeds from stop to stop and weaves in traffic raises the chance of a crash for everyone nearby.

11. 11. Where does a NO U-TURN sign prohibit the maneuver?

    
    1. Only when a railroad gate is lowered
    2. Only in a marked parking space
    3. Only on an interstate entrance ramp
    4. In the middle of a street or intersection
    Show answer

    In the middle of a street or intersection. The sign prohibits turning around in the middle of a street or at an intersection. The restriction is not limited to parking spaces, interstate ramps, or railroad gates. A driver who misses a turn should continue to a location where turning around is lawful and safe rather than forcing a reversal where the sign is posted. The crossed U-shaped arrow is the visual cue.

12. 12. When should a driver choose to yield even if a traffic rule appears to favor proceeding?

    1. Only after the other driver waves you through
    2. Whenever yielding is needed to avoid a conflict
    3. Never, because right-of-way cannot be surrendered
    4. Only when the vehicle behind you is far away
    Show answer

    Whenever yielding is needed to avoid a conflict. Right-of-way rules help organize traffic, but safe driving still requires judgment. The handbook says a driver should give priority when another road user does not follow the expected rule. Waiting can be safer than insisting on movement, especially at a blind intersection or when a vehicle is already entering your path. A wave is not required, and legal priority can be surrendered without creating a violation. Check for a developing conflict, brake smoothly, and let the uncertain movement finish before continuing.

13. 13. What roadway feature is represented when highway lanes are separated by a divider?

    
    1. A two-way lane with no opposing traffic
    2. A four-way stop with no median
    3. A temporary pedestrian detour
    4. A divided highway with separate sides of travel
    Show answer

    A divided highway with separate sides of travel. A divided highway separates opposing directions with a median or another physical divider. The sign does not describe a four-way stop, a temporary pedestrian detour, or a lane without opposing traffic. Keep right of the divider and do not treat the separated roadway as one broad two-way lane. Watch for openings where turning or crossing is specifically permitted. Median openings are controlled points.

14. 14. Why should drivers learn sign shapes and colors in addition to reading sign lettering?

    1. Shapes are used only to decorate signs
    2. Most signs can be recognized even when words are hard to see
    3. Colors tell drivers the exact posted speed everywhere
    4. Lettering is never needed when driving
    Show answer

    Most signs can be recognized even when words are hard to see. Sign recognition cannot depend entirely on clear lettering because darkness, fog, rain, snow, and fading light can hide words. Shape and color provide a quick second source of information, allowing a driver to anticipate a stop, restriction, warning, or guide message. They do not replace reading when the wording is visible, and colors do not state one universal speed. Reduce speed, keep scanning, and use the visible design to prepare your response before you reach the sign.

15. 15. In West Virginia, what happens when the driver who passed a stopped school bus cannot be identified?

    1. No one can be charged
    2. The vehicle's owner or lessee is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to fines
    3. The bus driver is fined
    4. The vehicle is impounded for 60 days
    Show answer

    The vehicle's owner or lessee is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to fines. West Virginia does not let a school bus violation go unpunished when the driver cannot be named. If the identity of the driver of a vehicle that passes a stopped school bus cannot be ascertained, the owner or lessee of the vehicle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, subject to fines. An identified driver faces at least a 60 day suspension and a $500 fine or up to six months in jail. Lending a vehicle carries that responsibility.

16. 16. A green left arrow is illuminated at an intersection. What movement does the signal authorize?

    1. Straight travel only
    2. Any turn, including a U-turn
    3. The left turn shown by the arrow
    4. A left turn only after yielding to every opposing vehicle
    Show answer

    The left turn shown by the arrow. A green arrow authorizes drivers facing it to enter the intersection and make the movement shown. For a left arrow, that is the protected left turn, and opposing traffic is usually stopped. The choice “A left turn only after yielding to every opposing vehicle” applies the ordinary circular green rule to a protected arrow and therefore adds a condition the arrow normally removes. The signal does not authorize every possible turn or convert the lane into a straight-through lane. Follow any separate sign or pavement marking that restricts the movement.

17. 17. What is the first response when a vehicle runs off the paved road?

    1. Brake hard and jerk the wheel left
    2. Turn sharply back onto the pavement immediately
    3. Grip the steering wheel tightly and ease off the accelerator
    4. Accelerate toward the center of the highway
    Show answer

    Grip the steering wheel tightly and ease off the accelerator. When wheels leave the pavement, the handbook says to grip the steering wheel tightly, stay on the shoulder, and ease off the accelerator. Braking should be gentle, with speed reduced gradually while the driver checks traffic. Turning sharply back onto the pavement can cause the vehicle to cross the highway or overturn, and acceleration increases the loss of control. Keep the vehicle stable first, then return to the pavement only after reducing speed and confirming that the path is clear.

18. 18. If smoke comes from under the hood, what should the driver do first?

    1. Get off the roadway and turn off the ignition
    2. Open the radiator cap immediately
    3. Pour water over the engine while moving
    4. Continue driving until the smoke disappears
    Show answer

    Get off the roadway and turn off the ignition. Smoke under the hood calls for immediate separation from traffic and removal of the ignition source. The handbook directs the driver to get off the roadway and turn off the ignition. Opening a hot radiator cap can cause serious burns, and water is unsafe on a gasoline fire because burning gasoline can float and spread. Continuing to drive allows the problem to worsen. Once stopped safely, use dirt or sand if appropriate and move at least 100 feet away if the fire becomes uncontrollable.

19. 19. What should a driver do when a posted speed limit is lower than a statutory designated speed?

    1. Choose whichever limit feels comfortable
    2. Use the statutory number instead
    3. Follow the posted lower limit
    4. Add the two limits together
    Show answer

    Follow the posted lower limit. Designated speeds apply only when they are not otherwise posted and when they remain reasonable and prudent for conditions. A posted lower limit therefore controls the driver's speed. Substituting the statutory number would ignore the sign, and personal comfort is not a legal speed standard. Adding two limits is not a traffic rule. The handbook's wording also leaves room for conditions to demand a slower speed than either number, such as poor visibility or a narrow road. Check the sign, obey the lower instruction, and slow further when safety requires it.

20. 20. What nighttime supervision rule applies to a Level 2 GDL intermediate license holder?

    1. Supervision is required only from midnight to 5:00 a.m.
    2. No supervision is ever required after 10:00 p.m.
    3. A passenger under 18 may supervise during those hours
    4. A licensed adult age 21 or older must supervise driving from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., subject to listed exceptions
    Show answer

    A licensed adult age 21 or older must supervise driving from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., subject to listed exceptions. Level 2 permits unsupervised driving from 5:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., but nighttime driving from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. generally requires a licensed adult supervisor age 21 or older. The handbook lists exceptions for lawful employment, school-sanctioned activity, religious activity, or an emergency involving prevention of injury or death. The other choices either remove supervision, lower the supervisor's age, or shorten the period. Check the reason for the trip before relying on an exception.