Virginia Driver License: Sharing the Road, Parking, Weather and Impairment

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Sharing the Road, Parking, Weather and Impairment. Free, no account needed.

1. A wheelchair user, a skateboarder, and someone driving a horse-drawn cart are all traveling along a roadway shared with cars. What group do they belong to, requiring drivers to adjust for their mistakes?

Low-speed vehicle operators
Vulnerable road users
Commercial vehicle operators
Motorcyclists

Answer: B — Vulnerable road users

Vulnerable road users are defined to include pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchairs, skateboards, skates, scooters, animals and animal-drawn vehicles.

2. A driver is turning at an intersection where a pedestrian is still partway across the street. Who has the right-of-way?

The pedestrian, who should be allowed to finish crossing first
Whichever one entered the intersection first
The driver, since pedestrians must yield to turning traffic
The driver, as long as a turn signal was used

Answer: A — The pedestrian, who should be allowed to finish crossing first

Pedestrians keep the right-of-way when a vehicle is turning, so the driver must let them finish crossing.

3. Another car has stopped at a crosswalk to let someone cross. Why is passing that stopped car at the crosswalk illegal?

It blocks the crosswalk for oncoming traffic
It exceeds the posted school-zone speed limit
The passing driver cannot see who else may be crossing ahead of the stopped car
It is only illegal when a crossing guard is present

Answer: C — The passing driver cannot see who else may be crossing ahead of the stopped car

A car stopped at a crosswalk blocks the passing driver's view of pedestrians who may still be crossing.

4. A driver fails to stop for someone lawfully crossing the street, and the pedestrian is seriously injured as a result. How is this offense classified?

A Class 3 misdemeanor
A Class 1 misdemeanor
A traffic infraction only
Reckless driving

Answer: B — A Class 1 misdemeanor

Causing serious injury or death by failing to stop for a lawfully crossing pedestrian is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

5. A cyclist rides in the center of a narrow travel lane instead of hugging the edge. Under what circumstance is this appropriate?

Only while riding on a sidewalk
When the lane is too narrow to share, or when preparing to turn left
It is never appropriate; cyclists must always stay at the right edge
Only on interstate highways

Answer: B — When the lane is too narrow to share, or when preparing to turn left

Bicyclists may take the center of the lane when needed, such as before a left turn or when the lane is too narrow to share.

6. A driver approaches a bicyclist riding along the edge of a narrow lane. How much clearance must the driver give when passing?

At least three feet, changing lanes if the lane is too narrow
At least six feet
At least one foot
Any distance, as long as speed is reduced

Answer: A — At least three feet, changing lanes if the lane is too narrow

Drivers must pass bicyclists with at least three feet of clearance, changing lanes if needed.

7. A driver wants to get around a slow-moving cyclist by briefly driving inside a marked bike lane. Is this allowed?

No, unless the cyclist waves the driver through
No, motor vehicles may not use marked bike lanes even to pass
Yes, if a turn signal is used first
Yes, as long as it is only to pass

Answer: B — No, motor vehicles may not use marked bike lanes even to pass

Motor vehicles are barred from marked bike lanes even for the purpose of passing.

8. A driver is following a motorcycle on a rainy road. How should the following distance compare to normal dry conditions?

The normal following distance is enough, since motorcycles are agile
Only doubling is needed; no extra second is required
Add an extra second to the following rule, and double it in bad weather
Following-distance rules do not apply to motorcycles

Answer: C — Add an extra second to the following rule, and double it in bad weather

Drivers should add an extra second to the following-distance rule behind motorcycles and double it in bad weather.

9. A driver is about to change lanes and glances in the mirror without noticing anything. Given how easily motorcycles are missed, what extra step should be taken before moving?

Trust the mirror check, since it already confirmed the lane is clear
Only check blind spots if visibility is already poor
Look twice and check blind spots
Sound the horn once before merging

Answer: C — Look twice and check blind spots

Because most fatal motorcycle crashes happen when a driver never saw the motorcycle, drivers should look twice and check blind spots.

10. A driver approaches Tide light rail crossing gates in Norfolk that are lowered. What should the driver do?

Wait for the gates; never drive around them
Drive around, but only at low speed
Drive around if no train is visible
Proceed after looking both ways

Answer: A — Wait for the gates; never drive around them

Drivers must never drive around lowered gates at light rail crossings.

11. A licensed driver wants to drive an electric low-speed vehicle capable of 23 mph on a neighborhood road posted at 30 mph. The vehicle is registered and insured like a car. Is this allowed?

Yes, but only if the vehicle can exceed 25 mph
Yes, since a licensed driver is at the wheel, the road is posted 35 mph or less, and the vehicle is registered and insured
No, low-speed vehicles may only be used on private property
No, only golf carts may travel on public roads at that speed

Answer: B — Yes, since a licensed driver is at the wheel, the road is posted 35 mph or less, and the vehicle is registered and insured

Low-speed vehicles (21 to 25 mph) may use roads posted 35 mph or less if driven by a licensed or supervised driver and registered and insured like a car.

12. A driver pulls up beside a tractor-trailer and cannot see the truck driver's face in the truck's side mirror. What does this indicate?

The truck driver cannot see the car either
The truck is about to make a wide turn regardless
The car should speed up immediately to clear the blind spot
The car is at a safe following distance

Answer: A — The truck driver cannot see the car either

If a driver cannot see the truck driver's face in the side mirror, the truck driver cannot see that car.

13. A driver wants to pass a truck and trailer that may be up to 65 feet long. What should the driver keep in mind?

The truck can stop faster than a car, so extra room is unnecessary
Passing takes only a few seconds since trucks accelerate quickly
Passing can take more than half a mile, so keep steady speed until the whole front shows in the mirror
It is safe to pull back in as soon as the cab becomes visible in the mirror

Answer: C — Passing can take more than half a mile, so keep steady speed until the whole front shows in the mirror

Passing a long truck and trailer can take more than half a mile, so the driver should hold speed and wait until the whole front is visible before pulling back in.

14. A tractor-trailer is stopped at an intersection, preparing to make a wide turn. What should a driver never do?

Give the truck extra room, since it needs more room to turn
Wait behind the truck until it has finished the turn
Stay back far enough to see the truck driver's face in the side mirror
Squeeze the car between the truck and the curb

Answer: D — Squeeze the car between the truck and the curb

Side No-Zones are large because trucks make wide turns, and a driver should never squeeze between a truck and the curb.

15. A driver is backing up a vehicle towing a trailer and wants the trailer to swing left. Where should the driver's hand be on the wheel, and which way should it move?

At the top of the wheel, moved left
At the bottom of the wheel, moved left
At the top of the wheel, moved right
At the bottom of the wheel, moved right

Answer: B — At the bottom of the wheel, moved left

When backing a trailer, the driver's hand should rest at the bottom of the wheel and move the way the trailer should go.

16. A driver is parking along a curb on a city street. How far from the curb may the car be?

No more than one foot
Right against the curb, with no gap allowed
Up to five feet if space is limited
No more than three feet

Answer: A — No more than one foot

Cars must park close to the curb, no more than one foot away.

17. A driver looking for a parking spot sees a fire hydrant along the curb. How close to the hydrant may the car legally park?

No closer than 500 feet
No closer than 20 feet
No closer than 15 feet
No closer than 50 feet

Answer: C — No closer than 15 feet

Parking is prohibited within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

18. A driver wants to park near a busy intersection. How close to the intersection is parking prohibited?

Within 50 feet
Within 500 feet
Within 15 feet
Within 20 feet

Answer: D — Within 20 feet

Parking is prohibited within 20 feet of an intersection.

19. A driver parks facing downhill on a street that has a curb. Which way should the front wheels be turned?

Straight ahead
Left, away from the curb
It doesn't matter, since the curb stops the car either way
Right, toward the curb

Answer: D — Right, toward the curb

Facing downhill with a curb present, the wheels should point right toward the curb so the car cannot roll into the street.

20. Rain has reduced visibility on the highway. At what visibility distance are headlights required to be turned on?

50 feet
200 feet
20 feet
500 feet

Answer: D — 500 feet

Headlights become mandatory in rain, fog, snow or sleet once visibility drops to 500 feet.

21. A driver is following another vehicle at night on a highway. Within what distance behind that vehicle must low beams be used instead of high beams?

200 feet
20 feet
50 feet
500 feet

Answer: A — 200 feet

Low beams must be used within 200 feet behind another vehicle so as not to blind the driver ahead.

22. A driver enters thick fog on the highway. Which headlight setting should be used, and why?

Parking lights only, to avoid blinding others
High beams, to see farther down the road
Low beams, since fog reflects high-beam light back at the driver
Alternating between high and low beams

Answer: C — Low beams, since fog reflects high-beam light back at the driver

Fog reflects light back at the driver, so low beams should be used along with following the edge markings and slowing down.

23. Rain has just begun falling after a dry spell. Why is this period considered the most slippery?

Brakes take longer to engage once wet
Oil mixes with the new water on the road during the first half-hour
Tire tread has not yet adjusted to wet conditions
Visibility is at its lowest right when rain starts

Answer: B — Oil mixes with the new water on the road during the first half-hour

The first half-hour of rain is the slickest because oil on the road mixes with the new water.

24. A driver is convicted of aggressive driving after tailgating and weaving through traffic while committing a traffic offense. What can this cost the driver?

License suspension of one to five years
A fine with no license suspension
License suspension of ten days to six months
A mandatory defensive driving course only

Answer: C — License suspension of ten days to six months

An aggressive driving conviction can suspend a license for ten days to six months.

25. A driver wants to hold a phone to send a text while actively driving down the road, not stopped or parked. Is this legal?

Yes, if it takes less than 30 seconds
Yes, as long as one hand stays on the wheel
No, the law bans holding a phone while driving except in an emergency or when lawfully parked or stopped
No, phones must be powered off completely while driving

Answer: C — No, the law bans holding a phone while driving except in an emergency or when lawfully parked or stopped

The law bans holding a phone or wireless device while driving except in an emergency or when lawfully parked or stopped.

26. A driver planning an overnight trip wants to follow the manual's precautions against drowsy driving. Which hours does it say to avoid driving?

6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
4 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Answer: C — 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Among its drowsy-driving precautions, the manual says to avoid driving from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

27. A 19-year-old driver is stopped with a BAC of .05. What is this classified as?

Illegal consumption, since it is under 21 and between .02 and under .08
Legal, since minors are only tested at sobriety checkpoints
DUI, the same as it would be for a driver over 21
Not a violation, since it is below the DUI threshold

Answer: A — Illegal consumption, since it is under 21 and between .02 and under .08

For a driver under 21, a BAC of .02 to under .08 counts as illegal consumption, distinct from DUI at .08 or higher.

28. Two cars collide on a busy road, no one is hurt, and both vehicles can still be driven. What should the drivers do first?

Stay inside the vehicles with hazards off until traffic clears
Leave the vehicles exactly where they stopped until police arrive
Push the vehicles onto the sidewalk
Move the drivable vehicles off the road right away

Answer: D — Move the drivable vehicles off the road right away

If no one is hurt, drivable vehicles should be moved off the road at once to avoid blocking traffic.

29. A minor crash causes no injuries but about $4,000 in vehicle damage. Will this go on the drivers' records?

Yes, police file a DMV report because the damage exceeds $3,000
No, only damage over $10,000 is reported
No, only crashes with injuries are reported to DMV
Yes, but only if a citation is issued at the scene

Answer: A — Yes, police file a DMV report because the damage exceeds $3,000

Police file a DMV report, which goes on each driver's record, when damage exceeds $3,000 even without injury.

30. A deer suddenly runs into the road and a collision cannot be avoided. What is the recommended response?

Brake firmly, stay in the lane, and stop under control without swerving
Accelerate to clear the lane before the animal arrives
Brake while swerving toward the shoulder
Swerve sharply to avoid the animal

Answer: A — Brake firmly, stay in the lane, and stop under control without swerving

When a hit is unavoidable, drivers should not swerve; instead brake firmly, stay in their lane and stop under control.