Massachusetts Driver License: Equipment, Belts, Distraction and Defensive Driving

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Equipment, Belts, Distraction and Defensive Driving. Free, no account needed.

1. How many red brake lights must a passenger vehicle have for nighttime driving?

One
Three
Two
Four

Answer: B — Three

A vehicle needs three red brake lights for the dark, along with two white headlights and two red rear lights.

2. A driver wants to tint the windshield and the rear side windows as dark as legally allowed. What is the result?

The windshield may not be tinted at all, but the rear side windows may be tinted up to 35 percent
The windshield may be tinted up to 20 percent, and side windows up to 35 percent
Both may be tinted up to 50 percent
Both may be tinted up to 35 percent

Answer: A — The windshield may not be tinted at all, but the rear side windows may be tinted up to 35 percent

Side and rear windows may be tinted up to 35 percent, but the windshield may not be tinted at all.

3. A driver uses a spotlight to read a street sign at night. At 30 feet from the vehicle, how high above the road may the beam shine?

No more than 4 feet
No more than 10 feet
No more than 2 feet
No more than 6 feet

Answer: C — No more than 2 feet

A spotlight may shine no more than 2 feet above the road at 30 feet.

4. How often must a passenger vehicle pass a safety and emissions inspection?

Every two years
Every six months
Annually
Only when sold

Answer: C — Annually

Every vehicle passes an annual safety and emissions inspection.

5. Wearing a seat belt cuts the chance of death or serious injury in a crash by about how much?

75 percent
90 percent
50 percent
25 percent

Answer: C — 50 percent

Belts cut the chance of death or serious injury by about 50 percent.

6. A delivery driver operates a truck weighing 19,000 pounds. Does the seat belt law require this driver to buckle up?

No, drivers of trucks of 18,000 pounds or more are exempt
Yes, the belt law applies to all vehicles regardless of weight
Yes, since only vehicles made before July 1966 are exempt
Yes, but only if carrying passengers

Answer: A — No, drivers of trucks of 18,000 pounds or more are exempt

Drivers of buses and trucks of 18,000 pounds or more are exempt from the seat belt requirement.

7. A driver is pulled over for speeding, and an officer notices an unbelted 14-year-old passenger in the back seat. Who is fined, and how much?

The driver, $25
No one, since the fine only applies to passengers 16 or older
The driver, $100
The 14-year-old, $25

Answer: A — The driver, $25

The driver is fined $25 for each unbelted passenger aged 12 to 15.

8. Until what age or height must a child ride in a federally approved child restraint rather than just a seat belt?

At least 8 years old or 57 inches tall
At least 8 years old, regardless of height
At least 12 years old or 60 inches tall
At least 5 years old or 40 inches tall

Answer: A — At least 8 years old or 57 inches tall

Children ride in child restraints until they are at least 8 years old or 57 inches tall.

9. Wearing a seat belt keeps an occupant inside the vehicle during a crash rather than being ejected. How much better are the odds of survival when staying inside the vehicle?

Five times as good
Ten times as good
Three times as good
Twice as good

Answer: A — Five times as good

Belts keep occupants inside the vehicle, giving five times better odds of survival.

10. A 30-year-old driver wants to use one earplug to take a phone call while driving. Is this allowed?

Yes, but only drivers under 18 may do this
No, headphones and earplugs are always illegal while driving
No, only hands-free devices mounted on the dashboard are allowed
Yes, drivers 18 and older may use one earplug for a phone

Answer: D — Yes, drivers 18 and older may use one earplug for a phone

Drivers 18 and older may use one earplug for a phone, though headphones are otherwise illegal.

11. A 17-year-old driver wants to use a mobile phone while driving to check directions. Under the distracted driving law, when may they use the device?

Only to report an emergency
Hands-free only, mounted on the dashboard
Any time, as long as it is not for texting
Hand-held, but only while stopped at a red light

Answer: A — Only to report an emergency

Drivers under 18 may not use any device for any reason except to report an emergency.

12. An adult driver is caught using a hand-held phone while driving for the second time. What penalty applies?

$500 plus an insurance surcharge and the program
Automatic license loss
$250 plus a distracted driving program
$100 fine only

Answer: C — $250 plus a distracted driving program

A second offense brings a $250 fine plus a distracted driving program.

13. A 10-year-old is riding in the open bed of a pickup truck traveling on a public road. Under what condition, if any, is this allowed?

Only if wearing a seat belt in the bed
Only in narrow cases at no more than 5 mph
Only on roads posted below 25 mph
Never, regardless of speed

Answer: B — Only in narrow cases at no more than 5 mph

Children under 12 may not ride in a pickup bed except in narrow cases at no more than 5 mph.

14. When checking tire tread depth with a penny, what indicates that a tire is worn out?

Any visible wear pattern on the tread
The tread is less than 4/32 inch, shown when a penny reveals Lincoln's shoulders
The tread depth exceeds 2/32 inch
The tread is less than 2/32 inch, shown when a penny reveals the top of Lincoln's head

Answer: D — The tread is less than 2/32 inch, shown when a penny reveals the top of Lincoln's head

If a penny shows the top of Lincoln's head, the tire has less than 2/32 inch of tread and is worn out.

15. About what fraction of people of driving age are deaf or hard of hearing and may not hear an approaching vehicle?

One in five
One in ten
One in four
One in three

Answer: A — One in five

One in five people of driving age is deaf or hard of hearing.

16. From how far away must a license plate be clean and readable at night, with the sticker in the upper right corner?

500 feet
30 feet
60 feet
100 feet

Answer: C — 60 feet

Plates must be readable from 60 feet at night.

17. How often should a driver have their eyes checked?

Every five years
Every six months
Every year or two
Only when vision problems appear

Answer: C — Every year or two

Drivers should have their eyes checked every year or two.

18. A driver is using the three-second rule to check following distance. What should they do?

Count seconds from when they start braking until the car stops
Count seconds from when the car ahead passes a fixed object until they reach the same point
Count seconds only in poor weather conditions
Measure the distance in car lengths behind the vehicle ahead

Answer: B — Count seconds from when the car ahead passes a fixed object until they reach the same point

The three-second rule counts from when the lead car passes a fixed object until the following driver reaches it; reaching it sooner means following too closely.

19. A driver is following a motorcycle on the highway. How many seconds of following distance should they leave?

Ten seconds
Three seconds
Two seconds
Four seconds

Answer: D — Four seconds

Drivers should leave at least four seconds behind a motorcycle.

20. A driver traveling at 50 mph needs to brake to a stop. About how many total feet, including reaction distance, will the vehicle travel before stopping?

292 feet
160 feet
215 feet
104 feet

Answer: C — 215 feet

At 50 mph, total stopping distance is about 215 feet, combining about 55 feet of reaction distance and about 160 feet of braking distance.

21. It begins to rain and a driver turns on their windshield wipers. Are headlights required in this situation?

Yes, headlights are required whenever the wipers are on
No, headlights are only required after sunset
Only if visibility drops below 100 feet
No, daytime running lights are sufficient

Answer: A — Yes, headlights are required whenever the wipers are on

Headlights are required whenever the wipers are on; daytime running lights are not enough.

22. A driver is tailgating another vehicle and gets pulled over. What is the maximum fine for this offense?

$25
$500
$250
$100

Answer: D — $100

Tailgating is illegal and fined up to $100.

23. A driver's high beams are on as another vehicle approaches from the opposite direction. At what distance should the driver dim their lights?

Within 100 feet
Within 500 feet
Within 350 feet
Within 200 feet

Answer: B — Within 500 feet

Drivers should dim their high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle (and within 200 feet behind one).

24. A driver feels their car start to hydroplane on a wet road. What should they do?

Accelerate slightly to push through the water
Brake firmly to regain traction
Ease off the gas without braking or turning sharply
Turn the wheel sharply toward dry pavement

Answer: C — Ease off the gas without braking or turning sharply

If hydroplaning starts, the driver should ease off the gas and never brake or turn sharply.

25. Drowsy driving crashes cluster in the late afternoon and during which other block of hours?

6 p.m. to midnight
Midnight to 6 a.m.
6 a.m. to noon
Noon to 6 p.m.

Answer: B — Midnight to 6 a.m.

Drowsy crashes cluster between midnight and 6 a.m., as well as in late afternoon.

26. After a snowstorm, a driver clears snow only from the windshield and windows but leaves it piled on the roof and hood. What is the consequence?

A warning only, since roof snow is not regulated
A negligent operation charge, since all snow and ice must be cleared
A fine only if the snow falls onto another vehicle
No consequence, as long as the windshield is clear

Answer: B — A negligent operation charge, since all snow and ice must be cleared

Drivers must clear all snow and ice including the roof, hood and trunk or face a negligent operation charge.

27. A driver is passing a bicyclist on a narrow road. How much clearance must they give?

At least four feet
At least three feet
At least six feet
At least two feet

Answer: A — At least four feet

Passing a vulnerable road user requires at least four feet of clearance.

28. A driver approaches a blind pedestrian carrying a white cane who is crossing the street. What does the law require?

Come to a complete stop, without honking or waving, and not pass a stopped vehicle
Wave the pedestrian across and proceed slowly
Yield only if the pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk
Slow down and honk to alert the pedestrian

Answer: A — Come to a complete stop, without honking or waving, and not pass a stopped vehicle

The White Cane Law requires a complete stop, no honking or waving, and never passing a stopped vehicle.

29. A rider operates a moped with a permit on a public road. What is the maximum speed they may travel?

25 mph
20 mph
30 mph
40 mph

Answer: A — 25 mph

A moped rider may not exceed 25 mph, even though the moped tops out at 30 mph by design.

30. A person wants to drive a four-wheeled low speed vehicle that travels between 20 and 25 mph. What license and road restriction applies?

A Class D license, staying off roads posted above 40 mph
No license required, staying off highways only
A moped permit, staying off roads posted above 25 mph
A Class D license, staying off roads posted above 30 mph

Answer: D — A Class D license, staying off roads posted above 30 mph

A low speed vehicle needs a Class D license and must stay off roads posted above 30 mph.