Maryland Driver License: Impairment, Distraction and Sharing the Road

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

1. A driver has had a few drinks over a couple hours, ate a big meal, and feels basically normal. Can they safely estimate their blood alcohol concentration is under the legal limit?

Yes, counting drinks and pacing them over time gives an accurate estimate
Yes, as long as they ate a large meal beforehand
No, weight, body fat, food, fatigue, mood and medications all change how alcohol affects a person, so it cannot be judged that way
No, but only because eating food increases BAC rather than lowering it

Answer: C — No, weight, body fat, food, fatigue, mood and medications all change how alcohol affects a person, so it cannot be judged that way

The document says drivers cannot judge their own BAC by counting drinks because too many individual factors affect impairment.

2. What blood alcohol concentration is treated as driving under the influence?

Answer: A — .08

A BAC of .08 or higher is treated as driving under the influence.

3. A 19-year-old is pulled over after drinking a single beer. What is the legal consequence?

Suspension or revocation and a charge for violating the license's alcohol restriction, since any alcohol is illegal under 21
A warning only, since the limit for under-21 drivers is the same .08 as adults
Nothing, since one drink is below the legal limit for any driver
A fine only if their BAC is measured at .08 or higher

Answer: A — Suspension or revocation and a charge for violating the license's alcohol restriction, since any alcohol is illegal under 21

Drivers under 21 may not drink any alcohol at all, and violating that faces suspension/revocation and an alcohol-restriction charge.

4. A driver has a six-pack in the back seat with one can missing and the rest sealed. Is this legal?

No, but only if the driver has been drinking
No, a six-pack with an open, empty or missing container counts as an open container
Yes, since none of the remaining cans are open
Yes, as long as the six-pack is in the passenger area rather than the trunk

Answer: B — No, a six-pack with an open, empty or missing container counts as an open container

An open container includes a six-pack with any open, empty, or missing containers, in reach of the driver or passengers.

5. A driver takes a prescription medication whose label warns against driving, then drives while impaired by it. What is the legal status of this?

It is legal as long as the driver stayed under the .08 BAC limit
It is only a civil matter unless the driver was also drinking alcohol
It is not a criminal offense since the drug was legally prescribed
It is a criminal offense because driving impaired by a medication that warns against it is a crime

Answer: D — It is a criminal offense because driving impaired by a medication that warns against it is a crime

Driving while impaired by a medication that carries a warning label against it is itself a criminal offense.

6. A driver is convicted of drunk driving while a child was in the vehicle. What can happen to the fine and jail time?

Only the fine increases; jail time is unaffected
They are automatically tripled
They stay the same as for any drunk-driving conviction
They can be doubled by the judge

Answer: D — They can be doubled by the judge

A conviction with a child in the vehicle lets the judge double both the fine and jail time.

7. Traffic is heavy, another driver cuts in front, and a frustrated driver considers tailgating and an unsafe pass to get ahead. What should they do instead?

Allow extra time, stay patient and courteous, and focus on their own driving instead of competing
Match the other driver's behavior to keep pace with traffic
Flash their headlights to signal disapproval before passing
Follow closely until the other driver yields the lane

Answer: A — Allow extra time, stay patient and courteous, and focus on their own driving instead of competing

The recommended response to aggressive-driving triggers is patience, courtesy, and focusing on one's own driving rather than competing.

8. What is the single largest contributor to police-reported crashes?

Aggressive driving
Distracted driving
Driving under the influence
Drowsy driving

Answer: B — Distracted driving

Distracted driving causes more police-reported crashes than anything else.

9. A driver needs to make a phone call while driving. What does the manual allow?

Any use of the phone as long as it is mounted on the dashboard
A hands-free call, though it should be rare, short, or better made by a passenger or from a safe stop
Holding the phone to talk, as long as the call is brief
Holding the phone to text instead of talking, since only voice calls are restricted

Answer: B — A hands-free call, though it should be rare, short, or better made by a passenger or from a safe stop

Hand-held phone use including texting is illegal; hands-free calls are allowed but discouraged except when brief, made by a passenger, or from a safe stop.

10. A 17-year-old driver wants to use a hands-free phone to talk to a friend while driving. Is this allowed?

No, drivers under 18 may not use a phone at all while driving, except to call 911
Yes, but only for calls under two minutes
No, but only if the vehicle is also carrying passengers
Yes, hands-free calls are always allowed for any driver

Answer: A — No, drivers under 18 may not use a phone at all while driving, except to call 911

Drivers under 18 cannot use a phone at all, even hands-free, except to call 911.

11. A driver on a long highway trip notices their eyes keep closing and they just missed their exit without remembering the last several miles. What should they do?

Open a window slightly and continue at reduced speed
Drink coffee at the next rest stop and resume immediately
Turn up the radio and keep driving to the next exit
Rest or change drivers, since these are drowsy-driving warning signs

Answer: D — Rest or change drivers, since these are drowsy-driving warning signs

Closing eyes and forgetting recent miles or missing an exit are drowsy-driving warning signs calling for rest or a driver change.

12. At an intersection with no pedestrian signal and no marked crosswalk lines, a pedestrian steps off the curb to cross. What must the driver do?

Yield only if the pedestrian is already more than halfway across
Honk to warn the pedestrian and proceed carefully
Stop for the pedestrian, since most intersections have a crosswalk even when unmarked
Proceed, since only marked crosswalks require yielding

Answer: C — Stop for the pedestrian, since most intersections have a crosswalk even when unmarked

Without a signal, drivers must stop for pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, and most intersections have one even if unmarked.

13. A driver is turning right on a green light and a pedestrian is stepping into the crosswalk they are turning into. Who has the right-of-way?

The driver, since the light is green
The pedestrian, since drivers must yield to pedestrians when turning on green
The driver, unless the pedestrian has a mobility impairment
Whoever entered the intersection first

Answer: B — The pedestrian, since drivers must yield to pedestrians when turning on green

Drivers must yield to pedestrians when turning on green.

14. An ambulance with sirens and lights on is approaching from behind on a two-lane road. What should the driver do?

Continue driving normally since it is not required to yield outside intersections
Move as close as possible to the edge of the road and stay out of intersections until it passes
Speed up to clear the intersection before it arrives
Stop immediately in the current lane

Answer: B — Move as close as possible to the edge of the road and stay out of intersections until it passes

Drivers must give emergency vehicles the right-of-way by moving to the edge of the road, staying out of intersections, and remaining stopped until it passes.

15. A driver is approaching a tow truck stopped on the shoulder with its lights flashing, and the adjacent lane is open. What should the driver do?

Honk and pass at normal speed
Stop completely until the tow truck moves
Move to a lane not immediately adjacent to it
Stay in the current lane and simply slow down slightly

Answer: C — Move to a lane not immediately adjacent to it

Approaching a stopped emergency, tow, or service vehicle, drivers should move to a lane not immediately adjacent, or slow down if they cannot.

16. A driver sees a loaded tractor-trailer ahead and is tempted to cut in front of it to reach their exit. Why is this especially dangerous?

Truck drivers cannot see directly ahead of the cab at all
Trucks accelerate faster than cars and could rear-end the car immediately
A loaded truck can weigh over 80,000 pounds and needs far more distance to stop than a car's roughly 2,000 pounds
Trucks have no brakes on the front axle

Answer: C — A loaded truck can weigh over 80,000 pounds and needs far more distance to stop than a car's roughly 2,000 pounds

A loaded truck can weigh over 80,000 pounds versus about 2,000 for most cars and needs the length of a football field to stop.

17. A car is driving directly behind a large truck, close enough that the driver cannot see the truck's side mirrors. What does this mean?

The truck driver can still see the car through the rear window
This is safe as long as the following distance is at least one car length
The truck driver cannot see the car, since the car is in a no-zone
The truck driver can see the car as long as the car's headlights are on

Answer: C — The truck driver cannot see the car, since the car is in a no-zone

If a driver cannot see the truck's mirrors, the truck driver cannot see them, meaning they're in a no-zone blind spot.

18. A truck ahead is signaling and moving left before making a turn. Why should a driver not treat this as an opportunity to pass on the right?

It is actually illegal to pass any truck under any circumstance
The truck is turning wide, likely to the right, and the driver could get caught between the truck and the curb
Trucks are required to move left before every lane change, not just turns
The truck's turn signal is unreliable and cannot indicate direction

Answer: B — The truck is turning wide, likely to the right, and the driver could get caught between the truck and the curb

Trucks often move left before a right turn because they turn wide, and passing on the right risks being trapped between the truck and the curb.

19. A driver is behind a school bus that has just activated its flashing red lights. How far back must the driver stop?

50 feet
20 feet
30 feet
10 feet

Answer: B — 20 feet

Drivers behind a stopped school bus with flashing red lights must stop at least 20 feet from its back.

20. A school bus with flashing red lights is stopped on the opposite side of a multilane road that has a physical barrier dividing the directions. What must a driver going the other way do?

Stop only if there are children visible near the road
Stop just like drivers on the bus's side
Slow to half speed but not stop
Continue driving, since a physical barrier means they do not need to stop for a bus on the other side

Answer: D — Continue driving, since a physical barrier means they do not need to stop for a bus on the other side

On a multilane road divided by a physical barrier, drivers do not need to stop for a bus on the other side.

21. How much more likely is a motorcyclist to be injured in a crash compared to a car driver?

Six times as likely
Twice as likely
Ten times as likely
Three times as likely

Answer: A — Six times as likely

A motorcyclist is six times more likely than a car driver to be hurt in a crash.

22. How much following distance should a driver keep behind a motorcycle, and why?

The same as any vehicle, since motorcycles behave identically to cars
5 to 6 seconds, since riders can slow suddenly without warning
1 to 2 seconds, since motorcycles stop faster than cars
3 to 4 seconds, because riders slow down without brake lights

Answer: D — 3 to 4 seconds, because riders slow down without brake lights

Drivers should keep 3 to 4 seconds back from a motorcycle because riders can slow without giving a brake-light warning.

23. A road has a narrow lane crowded with parked cars, and a bicyclist is riding in the center of the lane well below the speed of traffic. Is this allowed?

Yes, a bicyclist may take the full lane when it is too narrow to pass safely
Yes, but only if traveling at or above the speed of traffic
No, bicyclists may only take the full lane on roads without parked cars
No, bicyclists must always ride as far right as possible

Answer: A — Yes, a bicyclist may take the full lane when it is too narrow to pass safely

A bicyclist may take the full lane, even below traffic speed, when the lane is too narrow to pass safely.

24. A driver is passing a bicyclist riding on the shoulder. How much clearance must the driver give?

1 foot
2 feet
5 feet
3 feet

Answer: D — 3 feet

Drivers must pass bicyclists with at least 3 feet of clearance, whether the bike is in a bike lane, on a shoulder, or in the lane.

25. A driver just passed a bicyclist riding on the shoulder and now wants to make a right turn at the upcoming intersection. What should they avoid doing?

Checking their right blind spot before turning
Moving fully right into the shoulder or turn lane before turning
Turning right from the through lane right after passing the bike
Slowing down before completing the turn

Answer: C — Turning right from the through lane right after passing the bike

Drivers should never turn right from a through lane right after passing a bike on a shoulder or bike lane.

26. A moped is legally allowed to ride on a road posted at what maximum speed limit?

50 mph
55 mph
40 mph
35 mph

Answer: A — 50 mph

Mopeds and scooters may ride on roads posted 50 mph or less.

27. A driver is relying on their vehicle's advanced driver assistance system for lane keeping and crash avoidance while driving through heavy fog. Is this a safe assumption?

No, these systems have limits in conditions like rain, snow, fog, hills and curves and should never be relied on to drive for you
No, but only because these systems do not function on hills at all
Yes, as long as the sensors were cleaned that week
Yes, these systems work equally well in all weather conditions

Answer: A — No, these systems have limits in conditions like rain, snow, fog, hills and curves and should never be relied on to drive for you

Driver assistance systems have limits in rain, snow, fog, hills, and curves, and drivers should never rely on them to drive for them.

28. A 14-year-old is about to ride a bicycle as a passenger on the back of a parent's bike. Is a helmet required?

Yes, riders under 16 must wear helmets, including passengers
No, helmet laws only apply to electric bicycles
Yes, but only on roads posted above 30 mph
No, only the person pedaling needs a helmet

Answer: A — Yes, riders under 16 must wear helmets, including passengers

Riders under 16 must wear helmets, and this includes passengers.

29. A bicycle is being ridden at night. What must be visible on it besides a white headlight?

Two rear-facing red lights, no reflector required
A red rear reflector visible 600 feet
A green rear reflector visible 400 feet
A yellow side reflector visible 300 feet

Answer: B — A red rear reflector visible 600 feet

At night, a bicycle needs a white headlight visible 500 feet and a red rear reflector visible 600 feet.

30. An electric bicycle assists the rider only while pedaling, up to 20 mph, with no throttle-only mode. Which class is this?

Class 3
Class 2
Class 1
Class 4

Answer: C — Class 1

Class 1 electric bicycles assist only while pedaling, up to 20 mph.