WV Permit Practice Test 7

All 20 questions in test 7

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. When does a Level 1 GDL instruction permit expire under the handbook's stated schedule?

   1. On the applicant's 18th birthday
   2. On the applicant's 16th birthday
   3. Five years after issuance
   4. At the end of the calendar year
   Show answer

   On the applicant's 18th birthday. The Level 1 GDL instruction permit expires on the applicant's 18th birthday, although the handbook allows a 30-day grace period to provide time for the road skills examination. The 16th birthday is associated with eligibility for the next graduated stage, not expiration of the first permit. A five-year term and a calendar-year deadline are not the stated schedule. Track the birthday rather than counting a fixed number of months from issuance, and remember that the grace period is limited to completing the road skills process.

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

2. 2. In West Virginia, is an insurance card shown on your phone valid proof of insurance?

   1. No, only a paper certificate is accepted
   2. Yes, an image on a wireless device is valid proof
   3. No, proof must be a certificate sent by mail from the insurer
   4. Yes, if the DMV has approved the insurance company's app first
   Show answer

   Yes, an image on a wireless device is valid proof. West Virginia accepts an image displayed on a wireless communication device as valid proof of insurance, alongside the paper certificate that must otherwise be carried in the vehicle with the registration card. A paper only rule is therefore wrong, and the handbook adds no mailed certificate or app approval requirement. In the event of a crash you must present proof to any investigating officer, and you must also show it at the time of any vehicle inspection. The DMV may also ask for proof at any time during the registration year.

   Study this in the handbook: Crash reports, insurance and phone use

3. 3. What is the minimum age for a West Virginia Level 3 GDL license?

   1. 17
   2. 16
   3. 18
   4. 21
   Show answer

   17. A West Virginia driver can move to the Level 3 GDL at 17, after 12 months of conviction free driving on a Level 2 license and all other requirements. Sixteen is the earliest age for Level 2, not Level 3. Eighteen is when the Level 2 restrictions end anyway for a driver who chooses to stay at Level 2. Twenty one is the age of a supervising adult and the change to the horizontal license format.

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

4. 4. What should a driver do when a vehicle is following too closely?

   1. Brake hard to punish the following driver
   2. Tap the brakes gently, slow down, and let the vehicle pass if needed
   3. Speed up until the other vehicle disappears
   4. Move left and block the passing lane
   Show answer

   Tap the brakes gently, slow down, and let the vehicle pass if needed. The handbook recommends a calm sequence for a tailgater: tap the brakes gently to flash the brake lights, slow down to encourage a pass, and pull over if other measures fail. Hard braking creates a new collision risk, and accelerating can invite the following driver to continue at an unsafe distance. Blocking a lane escalates the conflict rather than creating space. The practical cue is to increase the gap in front of your vehicle while giving the other driver a safe opportunity to go around. Keep your attention on escape space, not on proving a point.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

5. 5. In West Virginia, what colors are Interstate route markers?

   1. Black on white
   2. White on green
   3. Red, white, and blue
   4. White on brown
   Show answer

   Red, white, and blue. Guide signs tell you where you are, what road you are on, and how to get where you want to go. Route markers are one kind of guide sign. The West Virginia handbook says Interstate markers are red, white, and blue, while WV and U.S. route markers are generally black on white. Most other guide signs are white on green, motorist services signs are white on blue, and signs for parks and public recreation areas are white on brown.

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

6. 6. When may an authorized emergency vehicle exceed the posted speed limit?

   1. Whenever its driver is running late
   2. While on emergency duty with signal equipment operating and without endangering others
   3. Only when another officer gives a hand signal
   4. Only on an interstate highway
   Show answer

   While on emergency duty with signal equipment operating and without endangering others. An authorized emergency vehicle may exceed the posted limit while on emergency duty, with its emergency signal equipment operating, and only when other road users are not endangered. The rule is conditional, so ordinary lateness or a preferred road type is not enough. A separate officer's hand signal is not listed as the trigger. The driver should read all three conditions together: emergency duty, operating signals, and safe treatment of other road users. Even with legal authority to exceed the limit, the vehicle operator still has a duty to avoid creating a hazard.

   Study this in the handbook: Basic speed law and school zones

7. 7. During a West Virginia road test lane change, what must you do after completing the lane change?

   1. Cancel the turn signal and check traffic
   2. Speed up by 10 mph
   3. Sound the horn
   4. Stop briefly in the new lane
   Show answer

   Cancel the turn signal and check traffic. The road test lane change begins with traffic checks: look in the mirrors and check the blind spot by looking over your shoulder with a head check, use the correct turn signal, and change lanes smoothly when it is safe. After completing the lane change, cancel your turn signal and check traffic. A signal left flashing misleads other drivers, and neither a horn, a burst of speed, nor a stop in the new lane is part of the maneuver.

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

8. 8. What does a black on yellow advisory speed sign on an interstate entrance or exit ramp show?

   1. The minimum speed allowed on the interstate
   2. The legal speed limit for the next mile of interstate
   3. The speed at which you must merge
   4. The maximum recommended safe speed for the ramp
   Show answer

   The maximum recommended safe speed for the ramp. West Virginia's handbook explains that advisory speed signs can be found at interstate entrances and exit ramps. They show the maximum recommended safe speed for driving on the ramp, and they are black on yellow. Ramps often curve sharply, so the advisory speed can be much lower than the interstate limit. Slow to the advisory speed before the curve. When exiting, wait until you are in the deceleration lane, then brake gently until your speed matches the posted ramp limit.

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

9. 9. You need to turn around while driving on a West Virginia interstate. What does the handbook say to do?

   1. Make a U-turn through the median crossover
   2. Never make a U-turn; go to the next exit and turn around before re-entering
   3. Back up on the shoulder to the last exit
   4. Stop in the left lane and turn across the median
   Show answer

   Never make a U-turn; go to the next exit and turn around before re-entering. The West Virginia handbook says you should never make a U-turn on an interstate. Go to the next exit to turn around before re-entering the interstate. It adds that the gravel or paved crossovers in the medians of some highways are to be used only by police and emergency vehicles. Backing along the shoulder is not the handbook's method, and shoulders on interstates are to be used only for disabled vehicles, so stopping in a travel lane to turn is also wrong.

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

10. 10. What is the maximum speed limit in a West Virginia school zone when children are present?

    1. 20 mph
    2. 15 mph
    3. 25 mph
    4. 35 mph
    Show answer

    15 mph. The West Virginia handbook says the maximum speed limit in a school zone is 15 mph when children are present or when specified. A school zone includes school grounds and any street or highway next to the school grounds, extending 125 feet along the road from the school grounds. A pentagon-shaped sign warns of a school zone ahead or marks a school crossing. Children can move into the road suddenly, so slow down early and watch for them near the school.

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

11. 11. You suddenly lose steering control, but the vehicle is still staying in your lane. What should you do?

    1. Brake hard right away with maximum pressure
    2. Speed up to keep the vehicle stable
    3. Turn the ignition off right away
    4. Ease off the accelerator, wait until it slows, then brake gently
    Show answer

    Ease off the accelerator, wait until it slows, then brake gently. The West Virginia handbook says that if you suddenly lose steering control, ease up on the accelerator. If your vehicle continues to stay in your lane, wait until it slows down, and then gently apply the brakes to avoid changing direction. Braking gently at this point helps you avoid changing direction. The advice changes if the vehicle starts off the road or toward a pedestrian or another vehicle: then apply the brakes quickly, using maximum pressure. Stay calm and keep watching the road ahead.

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

12. 12. You are passing a vehicle on a two-lane highway. When should you signal and return to your lane?

    1. As soon as your front bumper is past the other vehicle
    2. As soon as your rear bumper is even with its front bumper
    3. When you see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your rear view mirror
    4. Only after you have traveled one mile in the passing lane
    Show answer

    When you see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your rear view mirror. The West Virginia handbook lists steps for passing on a two-lane highway. After moving left and passing, signal and return to the proper lane when you see the front of the vehicle you have passed, meaning both headlights, in your rear view mirror. Before passing at all, make sure you are in a passing zone and can return to your lane before meeting oncoming traffic.

13. 13. A yellow diamond warning sign tells you that a bridge or underpass ahead has low clearance. What else does this sign show?

    1. The speed limit under the bridge
    2. The distance to the next exit
    3. The height of the clearance
    4. The number of lanes under the bridge
    Show answer

    The height of the clearance. West Virginia's low clearance warning sign tells you that a bridge or underpass ahead has low clearance, and the height is shown on the sign. Like other diamond-shaped warning signs, it is yellow with black letters and warns of possible danger ahead. The number on this sign is the clearance height, so read it before you reach the bridge or underpass. The sign does not give a speed limit, the distance to an exit, or a count of lanes.

14. 14. What hazard does a merge warning identify?

    
    1. Traffic may be moving into your lane
    2. Your lane is reserved for stopped vehicles
    3. The road is becoming a one-way street
    4. A railroad gate is closing immediately
    Show answer

    Traffic may be moving into your lane. A merge warning means another stream of traffic may move into your lane. Adjust speed or lane position carefully to avoid a conflict, while checking mirrors and blind spots. The sign does not reserve your lane for stopped vehicles, change the roadway into a one-way street, or announce a closing railroad gate. Leave room for the joining vehicle and maintain a controlled following distance.

15. 15. A 16 year old in West Virginia commits a DUI offense. How long is the license revoked?

    1. Exactly 30 days
    2. Until age 18 or the statutory period, whichever is shorter
    3. Until age 21, in every case
    4. Until age 18 or the statutory revocation period, whichever is longer
    Show answer

    Until age 18 or the statutory revocation period, whichever is longer. For a driver under 18, a DUI revokes the license until age 18 or for the statutory revocation period, whichever is longer, and until all other requirements are met. A flat 30 days ignores the age rule. Choosing the shorter period reverses the handbook. Age 21 is the legal drinking age and the zero tolerance cutoff, not the revocation end point. Reinstatement also requires the Safety and Treatment program.

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

16. 16. A fully loaded tractor-trailer is traveling at 55 mph. How much distance does it need to stop compared with a car?

    1. About the same distance
    2. About three times the distance
    3. About half the distance
    4. About ten times the distance
    Show answer

    About three times the distance. West Virginia's handbook points out that heavy trucks often weigh about 80,000 pounds and handle very differently from cars. A fully loaded tractor-trailer traveling 55 mph needs three times the distance a car needs to stop. Trucks are also harder to maneuver, need much more room to turn, and have larger blind spots. For these reasons, never slam on your brakes in front of a truck or cut one off to reach your exit. Give trucks plenty of room.

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

17. 17. How should a driver respond to a circular flashing red signal?

    1. Wait for a green arrow even when the intersection is clear
    2. Treat it like a flashing yellow and continue without stopping
    3. Treat it like a stop sign, then yield before proceeding
    4. Stop only if a pedestrian is already in the roadway
    Show answer

    Treat it like a stop sign, then yield before proceeding. A circular flashing red signal has the same meaning as a stop sign. The driver must come to a complete stop and yield to all other traffic and pedestrians before proceeding. A flashing yellow signal permits cautious movement, so treating red as yellow would skip the required stop. A green arrow is not required after every red flasher, and the duty does not depend on seeing a pedestrian. Use the familiar stop sign sequence: stop fully, scan the intersection, yield, and continue when safe.

18. 18. Where does the West Virginia handbook say you must not change lanes?

    1. In an intersection or at a railroad crossing
    2. On any road with a posted speed limit
    3. On any road with more than two lanes
    4. Within one mile of an interstate exit
    Show answer

    In an intersection or at a railroad crossing. Among its lane changing rules, the West Virginia handbook says DO NOT change lanes in an intersection or at a railroad crossing. Before any lane change, check your rear view and side mirrors, look over your shoulder to check your blind spot, and watch for other drivers who may be moving into the same lane. Then signal and change lanes while staying within the speed limit. If you need another lane, make the change before or after the intersection or crossing.

19. 19. Compared with dry pavement, how much distance can it take to stop on snow or ice?

    1. About the same distance
    2. About twice the normal distance
    3. As much as 12 times the normal distance
    4. About four times the normal distance
    Show answer

    As much as 12 times the normal distance. The West Virginia handbook warns that it takes as much as 12 times the normal distance to stop on snow or ice as it takes to stop on dry pavement. That is why you should slow down and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one ahead when there is snow or ice on the road. Snow tires or chains help, but neither lets you drive safely on snow or ice at normal speeds. Watch for danger spots too, because bridges and overpasses may be icy when other pavement is clear.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

20. 20. You park on a grade beside a West Virginia highway. Which way should you turn the front wheels?

    1. Straight ahead, parallel to the curb
    2. Toward the center line of the road
    3. It does not matter if the parking brake is set
    4. Toward the curb side of the highway
    Show answer

    Toward the curb side of the highway. West Virginia says that if you park or stop on a grade, you should turn the front wheels to the curb side of the highway so the vehicle will not roll. You should also set the emergency or parking brake. In an automatic shift vehicle, put the selector in park to back up the parking brake. In a manual shift vehicle, use reverse on a downgrade or first gear on an upgrade. Turning the wheels is part of the rule, so do it even when the parking brake is set.

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