WV Permit Practice Test 8

All 20 questions in test 8

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 should drivers use extreme care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian?

   1. Only at gas stations
   2. In office parks, warehouses, and industrial loading docks
   3. In school zones, bus stops, playgrounds, and parks
   4. At bank drive-throughs, car washes, and toll plazas
   Show answer

   In school zones, bus stops, playgrounds, and parks. Pedestrian collisions are especially dangerous in places where people may enter the roadway unexpectedly. The handbook names school zones, bus stops, playgrounds, and parks as locations requiring extreme care. These areas can have children, people crossing between vehicles, or limited sight distance. Office parks, loading docks, bank drive-throughs, car washes, and toll plazas are not the handbook's listed warning locations, and neither is a gas station. Reduce speed, scan both sides, and be ready to stop whenever a pedestrian may move into your path.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of way and pedestrians

2. 2. 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.

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

3. 3. Who may be in the room during a West Virginia knowledge test?

   1. The applicant and one support person
   2. The applicant and a DMV employee who reads every question
   3. Any applicant who has a phone turned off
   4. Only the applicant taking the test
   Show answer

   Only the applicant taking the test. The handbook limits the exam room to the applicant who is taking the test. That means a friend, parent, or other support person cannot sit in the room as a companion. The choice “The applicant and one support person” adds a support person, but the rule does not create that exception. A DMV employee may administer the test, yet the employee is not a second applicant or a personal helper. Before entering, leave phones and other electronics outside and expect to take the examination alone. This distinction is especially useful when a young applicant arrives with a parent, because the parent may provide consent for a permit without joining the testing room.

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

4. 4. What should a driver expect when entering an interstate construction zone?

   1. Lanes may close and traffic may slow or stop
   2. All lanes will remain open at the normal speed
   3. Only the shoulder may be closed, so lane changes are unnecessary
   4. Construction zones permit drivers to ignore posted controls
   Show answer

   Lanes may close and traffic may slow or stop. Interstate construction zones can change the normal path of travel. A lane may close, and traffic may slow or stop, so the driver needs to watch signs, special speed limits, and flaggers. Assuming every lane stays open encourages a last-second maneuver. The shoulder-only choice understates the risk because the travel lanes themselves may be affected. Posted controls still apply inside the work area. Scan ahead, move into an open lane early, and leave extra space around equipment and workers.

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

5. 5. At an intersection, what movement does a NO LEFT TURN sign prohibit?

   
   1. Continuing straight
   2. Turning right
   3. Turning left
   4. Changing lanes after the intersection
   Show answer

   Turning left. The pictured left-turn movement is the one restricted at the intersection. A driver may not substitute a right turn, straight movement, or a later lane change for the prohibited action. Check for another lawful route and obey any separate signal or pavement marking that controls the remaining movements. The red diagonal bar over the directional arrow helps distinguish this sign from a no U-turn sign.

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

6. 6. What is the West Virginia penalty for letting someone else use your driver's license?

   1. A 90 day suspension
   2. A $25 fine and no suspension
   3. A 30 day suspension
   4. A one year revocation
   Show answer

   A 90 day suspension. Letting someone else use your license, using another person's license, lending identity documents to get a license, or displaying a fictitious license all carry a 90 day suspension. A small fine with no suspension understates it. Thirty days is shorter than the stated penalty, and a one year revocation is not the listed penalty. Giving false information on a license application is also illegal.

   Study this in the handbook: Points, citations and suspensions

7. 7. At how many points is a West Virginia driver's license subject to suspension?

   1. 12 points
   2. 6 points
   3. 8 points
   4. 18 points
   Show answer

   12 points. A West Virginia license is subject to suspension when the driver accumulates 12 points. Six points brings only a letter of caution. Eight points is the value of a single fleeing from an officer conviction on the point scale, not the suspension level. Eighteen points is not a threshold in the handbook. Since points last two years, the 12 point total is counted from the points still on the record.

   Study this in the handbook: Points, citations and suspensions

8. 8. On a West Virginia interstate, which lane should you normally drive in?

   1. The left lane, so you can keep up with fast traffic
   2. The right hand lane, unless you are passing another vehicle
   3. The center lane at all times
   4. Whichever lane has the least traffic
   Show answer

   The right hand lane, unless you are passing another vehicle. Interstate traffic flows best when slower vehicles keep right and the left lanes are used for passing. The handbook says to always drive in the right hand lane unless you are passing another vehicle, and it warns that driving much slower than other traffic creates a hazard because other drivers may be forced to change lanes abruptly. Camping in the left or center lane blocks passing traffic, and choosing a lane by traffic volume alone ignores the rule. Move left to pass, then return to the right.

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

9. 9. You are passing a motorcycle. How should you use the other lane?

   1. Move all the way into the other lane
   2. Stay partly in the motorcycle's lane
   3. Share the lane with the motorcycle
   4. Pass closely so you spend less time beside it
   Show answer

   Move all the way into the other lane. When passing a motorcycle, the West Virginia handbook says to go all the way into the other lane. Besides having the legal right to an entire lane, the motorcyclist may need to swerve to avoid something on the road. After you pass, wait until you are well down the road before moving back into the motorcycle's lane. When following a motorcycle, stay farther back than you would behind a car, because a motorcycle can usually slow or stop much faster than you can.

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

10. 10. In West Virginia, when may you turn left on a steady red light?

    1. From any street, once traffic is clear
    2. Only from a two-way street onto a one-way street
    3. Never, because left turns on red are always illegal
    4. From a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding
    Show answer

    From a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding. A steady red light means stop, but West Virginia allows two turns on red. A driver may turn right on red at the intersection of two-way streets, or may turn left on red from a one-way street to another one-way street. Before either turn, come to a complete stop and yield to all other traffic and pedestrians. These turns are not allowed where signs prohibit them. A left on red from a two-way street is not one of the permitted turns, so stay stopped until the light changes.

11. 11. A school bus is receiving students with its red lights flashing on a regular highway. What must traffic do?

    
    1. Oncoming traffic may pass at 15 mph
    2. Only traffic behind the bus must stop
    3. Traffic in both directions must stop before reaching the bus
    4. Traffic may proceed once the bus doors close
    Show answer

    Traffic in both directions must stop before reaching the bus. The handbook requires traffic in both directions to stop before reaching a school bus that is receiving or discharging students with red lights flashing. The limited exception applies only to traffic approaching a bus on the other side of the median on an Interstate Highway. Closing the doors does not end the requirement, and a low speed does not replace stopping. Remain stopped until the bus moves, the driver signals you onward, or the visual signals are no longer active.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and pedestrians

12. 12. What color pattern is common for ordinary traffic signs, and what pattern signals an especially important message?

    1. White with black letters; red with white letters
    2. Blue with yellow letters; green with white letters
    3. Orange with blue letters; purple with white letters
    4. Black with red letters; brown with yellow letters
    Show answer

    White with black letters; red with white letters. The handbook describes most signs as white with black lettering. It also identifies red signs with white letters as the treatment used when the message is very important, and adds that a red outline with a diagonal bar always means no. Color helps drivers recognize the sign quickly, but it does not remove the need to read the wording or symbol. Orange is the basic color for construction and maintenance devices, not the ordinary regulatory pattern. Slow enough to read the sign safely, identify both color and shape, and follow the instruction before entering the controlled area.

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

13. 13. 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.

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

14. 14. A driver has been drinking. According to the West Virginia handbook, what is the only thing that sobers a person up?

    1. Drinking several cups of black coffee
    2. Taking a cold shower
    3. Getting physical exercise or fresh air
    4. Time
    Show answer

    Time. West Virginia's handbook is direct about this: physical exercise, black coffee, fresh air, cold showers, and other home remedies do not effectively help someone sober up. Time is the only sobering influence. A person may feel more awake after coffee or a shower, but the alcohol is still in the body and still affects alertness, judgment, and vision. If someone has been drinking, the safe choice is to wait or to let a designated driver who has not been drinking take the wheel. Do not trust a quick fix to make you safe to drive.

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

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.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way and pedestrians

16. 16. Which pair of actions requires a driver to use a turn signal beforehand?

    1. Braking for a yellow light or stopping at a stop sign
    2. Changing lanes or turning at an intersection
    3. Driving below the speed limit or entering a school zone
    4. Approaching a railroad crossing or crossing a bridge
    Show answer

    Changing lanes or turning at an intersection. The handbook specifically lists changing lanes and turning at an intersection among the maneuvers that require a turn signal beforehand, along with entering or leaving an interstate, pulling away from the curb, and pulling over to the side of the road. Signaling gives other road users time to understand where your vehicle intends to go. Braking at a light, driving below the limit, and approaching a railroad crossing may require careful driving, but those choices do not identify the listed pair. Signal at least 100 feet before a turn, check traffic, and then complete the maneuver smoothly.

    Study this in the handbook: Turn signals and full stops

17. 17. How should a driver respond to an aggressive motorist?

    1. Compete with the driver to establish control of the road
    2. Follow closely to prevent the driver from getting ahead
    3. Avoid becoming involved in competition with that driver
    4. Use the horn continuously until the driver stops
    Show answer

    Avoid becoming involved in competition with that driver. An aggressive motorist may try to turn ordinary traffic into a contest. The handbook describes the arrogant or aggressive driver as someone who competes with the vehicle as an extension of the ego, with little or no respect for traffic laws or the rights of others, and it tells drivers not to become involved in competition with that person. Competing, following closely, or sounding the horn continuously can intensify the encounter and distract from steering and traffic conditions. Keep your distance and let the other vehicle move away when possible, while maintaining a safe, lawful path.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights and light conditions

18. 18. A lane use control signal over your lane shows a red X. What does it mean?

    1. You may use the lane with caution
    2. The lane is closed or used by opposing traffic; do not use it
    3. The lane is about to close, so move out soon
    4. Stop, then continue in the lane when clear
    Show answer

    The lane is closed or used by opposing traffic; do not use it. West Virginia uses lane use control signals where the direction of a street or certain lanes changes during the day. A green downward arrow means traffic may use the lane under the arrow. A yellow X means the lane is about to be closed or its direction is about to reverse, so move out of it as soon as you can. A red X means the lane is closed or being used by opposing traffic. Do not use this lane. Watch these signals as you approach so you can move into a permitted lane early.

19. 19. What roadway condition does the skidding-car warning identify?

    
    1. The road is designed for racing
    2. This section is more slippery when wet
    3. Loose gravel is guaranteed ahead
    4. A bridge has a low clearance
    Show answer

    This section is more slippery when wet. The warning identifies a section that becomes more slippery than other roads when wet. Slow down before reaching it and keep steering and braking smooth. The symbol does not invite racing, guarantee loose gravel, or describe bridge clearance. Increase following space because a wet surface reduces available traction, and avoid abrupt inputs that could make the vehicle slide. Let the tires regain grip gradually.

20. 20. When does West Virginia's rule to pull off at the first safe turnout for faster traffic apply?

    1. On every interstate, at all times
    2. On a four lane highway when overtaking traffic has no clear lane to pass
    3. On a road with one lane in each direction when the driver is under age 21
    4. On a road with one lane in each direction when overtaking traffic has no clear lane to pass
    Show answer

    On a road with one lane in each direction when overtaking traffic has no clear lane to pass. The turnout rule applies when you must drive slower than the designated speed on a road with one lane in each direction and overtaking traffic has no clear passing lane. Interstates and four lane highways have extra lanes, so the rule is not about them. The handbook sets no vehicle count and no driver age for this rule. Slower drivers should also keep as close as possible to the right edge of the road.

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