Maryland Driver License: Crashes, Traffic Stops, Restrictions and Penalties

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Crashes, Traffic Stops, Restrictions and Penalties. Free, no account needed.

1. In any crash, what is the first thing you should do?

Exchange information with other drivers immediately
Turn on your flashers or set flares
Call your insurance company
Move all vehicles to the shoulder before doing anything else

Answer: B — Turn on your flashers or set flares

Turning on flashers or setting flares is the first step in any crash, before assessing injuries or moving vehicles.

2. A pedestrian is struck and injured in a crash you're involved in. What must you do?

Wait for a tow truck before calling anyone
Move the vehicles out of traffic first, then call for help
Stay at the scene, call 911 with the number of people, injuries and location, and leave the vehicles in place
Drive the injured person to the nearest hospital yourself

Answer: C — Stay at the scene, call 911 with the number of people, injuries and location, and leave the vehicles in place

When anyone is injured, you must stay at the scene, call 911 with details, and not move the vehicles.

3. A driver leaves the scene of a crash that caused a serious injury and is convicted. What penalty applies?

License revocation, up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000
License suspension, up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000
License revocation, up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000
A fine only, with no jail time

Answer: A — License revocation, up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000

Leaving the scene of a crash with a serious injury carries revocation, up to 5 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines; the 10-year/$10,000 penalty applies only when someone dies.

4. A driver leaves the scene of a crash in which someone dies. What is the penalty upon conviction?

A misdemeanor with up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine
A felony with up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
A felony with up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine
License suspension only, with no criminal charge

Answer: B — A felony with up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine

Leaving a fatal crash is a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, harsher than the serious-injury penalty.

5. You're in a crash with no injuries, but your vehicle cannot be moved and traffic is passing nearby. What should you do?

Stand in the road and direct traffic around the vehicle until help arrives
Call 911, ask for police assistance, and stay away from traffic without trying to stop it
Push the vehicle off the road yourself before calling anyone
Leave the scene to find a phone and report it later

Answer: B — Call 911, ask for police assistance, and stay away from traffic without trying to stop it

With no injuries and an immovable vehicle, you should call 911 for police, stay away from traffic, and never try to stop it yourself.

6. You're in a minor crash with no injuries, and your car can still be driven. What should you do?

Move off the road near the crash site, exchange information with the other driver, note conditions, and photograph the damage
Only exchange insurance information, since other details aren't necessary
Leave the vehicles exactly where they stopped, even if blocking traffic, until police arrive
Move the vehicles off the road but wait for police before exchanging any information

Answer: A — Move off the road near the crash site, exchange information with the other driver, note conditions, and photograph the damage

A movable vehicle in a no-injury crash should be moved off the road near the site, followed by a full exchange of information and documentation of the scene.

7. While driving, you hit and injure a dog that ran into the road. What should you do?

Only stop if the animal has a visible collar or tag
Call the police immediately
Leave a note at the nearest house and continue on
Continue driving, since there's no legal obligation for animals

Answer: B — Call the police immediately

Injuring a domestic animal such as a dog requires immediately calling the police.

8. Your car breaks down on a busy highway with little shoulder space. What should you do to avoid becoming a roadside casualty?

Stop immediately where you are and turn on the flashers
Move the vehicle to the shoulder, an off-ramp or a parking lot, even if it damages a tire or rim
Wait for a gap in traffic before moving the car at all
Pull into the painted triangle where the ramp meets the road, since it's out of the travel lanes

Answer: B — Move the vehicle to the shoulder, an off-ramp or a parking lot, even if it damages a tire or rim

Because people are killed waiting beside the road, you should move a disabled vehicle to safety even at the cost of a tire or rim.

9. Where should you never stop a disabled vehicle?

On an off-ramp
In the painted triangle where an off-ramp leaves the road
In a parking lot
On the shoulder

Answer: B — In the painted triangle where an off-ramp leaves the road

The painted triangle marking where a ramp separates from the road is specifically identified as a place to never stop.

10. You must get out of a disabled vehicle stopped along a busy road. What should you do?

Stay next to the vehicle on the traffic side so you're visible to other drivers
Exit immediately regardless of traffic and walk with your back to oncoming traffic
Pick the safest moment, move quickly behind a barrier or guardrail, and face oncoming traffic
Wait inside the vehicle with your seatbelt off until police arrive

Answer: C — Pick the safest moment, move quickly behind a barrier or guardrail, and face oncoming traffic

When exiting is necessary, you should pick the safest moment, get behind a barrier or guardrail, and face oncoming traffic.

11. An officer pulls you over for a traffic stop. What should you do?

Keep the engine running and radio on low so you can hear instructions
Get out of the vehicle immediately to speak with the officer face to face
Pull as far from traffic as possible, turn on your flashers, shut off the engine and radio, and keep your hands in plain view
Reach into the glove compartment right away to have your registration ready

Answer: C — Pull as far from traffic as possible, turn on your flashers, shut off the engine and radio, and keep your hands in plain view

Proper conduct during a stop includes pulling well clear of traffic, shutting off the engine and radio, and keeping hands visible without reaching for anything.

12. You disagree with a citation an officer issues during a traffic stop. What should you do?

Argue your case with the officer at the scene until they change their mind
Drive away and mail in a dispute letter instead
Refuse to sign the citation until the officer explains the law
Accept the citation without arguing and contest it in court if you disagree

Answer: D — Accept the citation without arguing and contest it in court if you disagree

Disputes over a citation belong in court, not at the roadside; you should not argue with the officer.

13. You approach a vehicle stopped on the shoulder with its lights flashing. What are you required to do?

Move over a lane if possible, or slow to a safe speed if moving over is unsafe or impossible
Speed up to pass the vehicle quickly and minimize time near it
Move over only if the vehicle is a police car
Maintain your current speed and lane as long as you stay within it

Answer: A — Move over a lane if possible, or slow to a safe speed if moving over is unsafe or impossible

The Move Over law requires moving over for any vehicle stopped, standing or parked with flashing lights, or slowing to a safe speed if moving over isn't possible.

14. A driver violates the Move Over law and the violation does not cause a crash. What penalty applies?

A $150 fine and three points
A $110 fine and one point
A $750 fine and three points
A $100 fine and no points

Answer: B — A $110 fine and one point

A basic Move Over violation carries a $110 fine and one point; the higher penalties apply only when the violation causes a crash or injury/death.

15. A driver violates the Move Over law and the violation causes a crash. What penalty applies?

A $150 fine and three points
A $110 fine and one point
A $500 fine and two points
A $750 fine and three points

Answer: A — A $150 fine and three points

Causing a crash while violating the Move Over law raises the penalty to $150 and three points, below the higher penalty reserved for death or serious injury.

16. A provisional licensee under 18 is driving with several teenage passengers. What is required regarding seat belts?

Passengers over 16 aren't required to buckle up
Only the driver must be belted
Seat belts are only required at night
The driver and every passenger must be belted or in a child seat

Answer: D — The driver and every passenger must be belted or in a child seat

Provisional drivers under 18 must always be belted, and every passenger must be belted or in a child seat.

17. A provisional driver under 18 received their license 60 days ago and wants to drive two unrelated 16-year-old friends without an adult present. Is this allowed?

Not allowed, unless the passengers are immediate family or a qualified supervising driver is present
Allowed only if the passengers wear seat belts
Allowed, as long as it's during daylight hours
Not allowed under any circumstances, even with a supervising driver

Answer: A — Not allowed, unless the passengers are immediate family or a qualified supervising driver is present

For the first 151 days, a provisional driver under 18 may not drive unsupervised with passengers under 18 unless they are immediate family; a qualified supervising driver lifts the rule.

18. A provisional driver under 18 wants to drive alone at 1 a.m. When is this allowed?

Anytime, as long as a parent knows
Only if accompanied by another licensed provisional driver
Never, regardless of the reason
Only while going to, from or during work, a school activity, a volunteer program, or an athletic event they take part in

Answer: D — Only while going to, from or during work, a school activity, a volunteer program, or an athletic event they take part in

Unsupervised driving between midnight and 5 a.m. is limited to specific purposes like work, school activities, volunteer programs, or athletic events.

19. A permit holder wants to use a hands-free device to take a phone call while driving. Is this allowed?

Not allowed, even hands-free, except to call 911
Allowed only for GPS navigation
Allowed after the first 151 days of licensure
Allowed, since it's hands-free

Answer: A — Not allowed, even hands-free, except to call 911

Permit holders may not use any wireless device, even hands-free, except to call 911.

20. An officer stops you while you're driving on a public road and requests a drug or alcohol test. What does simply driving on that road mean for this request?

It counts as consent to the test at the officer's request
Consent applies only on limited-access highways
You only consent to a test if you've already been arrested
You may refuse the test without any consequence

Answer: A — It counts as consent to the test at the officer's request

Driving or attempting to drive on a road or public-use private property is itself consent to a drug or alcohol test at an officer's request.

21. A driver's blood alcohol concentration is measured at .09. What happens to the license?

It's revoked immediately with no hearing
Nothing, since .09 is below the threshold for action
It's suspended
It's canceled permanently

Answer: C — It's suspended

A BAC of .08 or higher suspends the license, and .09 exceeds that threshold.

22. A driver stopped by police certifies a refusal to take a requested alcohol test. What happens to their license?

Only points are added, with no suspension
It's suspended
Nothing happens without a separate conviction
It's immediately revoked

Answer: B — It's suspended

A certified refusal of a requested test results in license suspension, the same as failing the test.

23. Someone attempts to obtain a driver's license using a false identity. What can result?

Automatic revocation with no criminal penalty
A warning letter from the licensing agency with no further consequence
Fines or prison under federal and state law
A citation only, similar to a parking ticket

Answer: C — Fines or prison under federal and state law

Trying to obtain a fake ID, permit or license brings fines or prison under both federal and state law.

24. How does having a license revoked differ from having it suspended?

Revocation requires being found safe to drive again after a minimum wait, and the request can be denied
Suspension is more severe and permanent, while revocation is temporary
Revocation always lasts exactly 30 days
Revocation is automatically restored once the minimum wait ends

Answer: A — Revocation requires being found safe to drive again after a minimum wait, and the request can be denied

Revocation is worse than suspension because driving privileges aren't restored automatically; after a minimum wait, a request to drive again can still be denied.

25. Under what circumstance is a license canceled rather than suspended?

When a license simply expires
When the person should not have been licensed, gave wrong or missing information, or committed fraud
When a moving violation results in points
When a driver moves out of state

Answer: B — When the person should not have been licensed, gave wrong or missing information, or committed fraud

Cancellation ends the privilege without reinstatement specifically when the person shouldn't have been licensed, provided wrong or missing information, or committed fraud.

26. A minor's second conviction for a moving violation while holding a provisional license results in what?

A 180-day suspension and a young-driver improvement program
A 30-day suspension followed by a 90-day work-and-school restriction
A driver improvement program only
Revocation and a requirement to retest

Answer: B — A 30-day suspension followed by a 90-day work-and-school restriction

For minors under 18, the second offense brings a 30-day suspension plus a 90-day work-and-school restriction, escalating from the first offense's program requirement.

27. A minor's third conviction for a moving violation while holding a provisional license results in what?

Revocation with no possibility of retesting
A 30-day suspension and a 90-day restriction
A driver improvement program with no suspension
A 180-day suspension, a young-driver improvement program and a 180-day restriction

Answer: D — A 180-day suspension, a young-driver improvement program and a 180-day restriction

The third offense for a minor escalates to a 180-day suspension, a young-driver improvement program, and a 180-day restriction.

28. A minor's fourth conviction for a moving violation while holding a provisional license results in what?

A 180-day suspension only
A fine with no effect on driving privileges
A permanent restriction to work and school driving
Revocation, requiring the driver to pass all tests again

Answer: D — Revocation, requiring the driver to pass all tests again

A fourth offense revokes the minor's license entirely, requiring all tests to be passed again to be relicensed.

29. A provisional driver is convicted of a moving violation after a long clean stretch. What effect does this have on their progress toward a fully clean record?

It has no effect if it's a first offense
It shortens the waiting period to 6 months
It restarts an 18-month conviction-free period
It only affects drivers under 18

Answer: C — It restarts an 18-month conviction-free period

Each conviction restarts the 18-month conviction-free period, regardless of how much progress had been made previously.

30. A driver has a valid disability placard and parks so the vehicle blocks the access aisle next to a disability parking space. Is this a violation?

No, a valid placard permits parking on the access aisle
Yes, but only if the placard is expired
Yes, blocking an access aisle is a citation even with a valid plate or placard
No, as long as the qualifying person is present

Answer: C — Yes, blocking an access aisle is a citation even with a valid plate or placard

Blocking any part of a curb cut or parking on an access aisle is cited even when the driver has a valid plate or placard.