Mississippi DPS Permit Practice Test 39

1. An overhead lane signal shows a flashing yellow X above your lane. What does it mean?

• A The lane will close shortly, so move out of it before the next block
• B The lane is open for through travel just as a green arrow would show
• C The lane is reserved for buses and other high occupancy vehicles
• D The lane may be used only for a left turn

2. Why are sign shapes and colors standardized across the whole country?

• A So every state can charge the same amount for a replacement sign
• B So the same crew can install signs in any state without training
• C So signs can be made from a single sheet size in every factory
• D So a driver knows the kind of message before reading it

3. You park on level ground in a lot. Where should the front wheels be pointing?

• A Turned fully to the right, in the same way as on a hill that has a curb
• B Turned fully to the left, so that other drivers can see them clearly
• C Straight ahead, so the car would not veer if it moved
• D It makes no difference at all, since a level surface cannot let a car roll

4. Why is hard braking the wrong response to a tire blowout at speed?

• A Because the brake pedal goes to the floor when a tire has lost its air
• B Because the wheel rim will be damaged by the weight of the vehicle on it
• C Because it can pull the vehicle further out of line and start it spinning
• D Because the antilock braking system will refuse to work with a flat tire

5. A yellow diamond shows two lanes narrowing into one. What does it require of a driver?

• A Moving over immediately and stopping until traffic clears
• B Keeping to the lane that ends, because it has priority
• C Sounding the horn before entering the remaining lane
• D Adjusting speed and merging before the lane disappears

6. The car ahead drifts across the lane line and back again several times. What should you do?

• A Pass on the right at once, because that side is always going to be clear
• B Match its movements so that the driver understands what is happening
• C Assume that the driver is distracted or impaired, and keep well back
• D Sound the horn and stay right behind it until the driver wakes up

7. You are traveling at 55 mph and see a vehicle ahead moving at about 15 mph. What is the hazard?

• A You reach it far sooner than you expect
• B Your brakes are likely to fade before you get to it
• C The slow vehicle has to pull off the road immediately
• D You will be forced to pass inside a no-passing zone

8. How do stimulant drugs such as amphetamines or cocaine typically affect driving?

• A They make the driver safer by fighting off drowsiness during long night trips
• B They improve reaction time enough to offset any other effects
• C They only affect driving after the stimulant effect wears off
• D They can make the driver overconfident and more willing to take risks

9. What should you do with the key and your belongings when you leave the vehicle in a public lot?

• A Leave the key hidden above the sun visor in case a passenger comes back
• B Leave your bags on the seats so that you can see them through the window
• C Leave the key in the ignition but lock all the doors from the outside
• D Take the key with you, lock up and put valuables out of sight

10. The vehicle you want to pass is traveling close to the speed limit. What should you do?

• A Pass anyway, since the law allows a short burst above the limit while overtaking
• B Pass on the right shoulder, where the posted limit does not apply to your speed
• C Stay behind, because a pass may not take you over the limit
• D Flash your lights until the other driver slows enough for you to pass legally

11. You are traveling in the same direction as a funeral procession and want to get ahead of it. What should you not do?

• A Passing the whole procession on the left where passing is permitted
• B Driving in between the vehicles of the procession
• C Turning off onto a side street before you reach the procession line
• D Staying behind the last vehicle

12. You want to turn right at a steady red light and no sign prohibits the turn. What is required?

• A Slow down and turn without stopping, provided that no traffic or pedestrian is coming
• B Come to a complete stop, then yield to traffic and pedestrians before turning
• C Wait for the light to turn green before making any turn, because red always forbids it
• D Stop only if another vehicle is already waiting ahead of you at the same red light

13. When is switching traction control off sometimes useful?

• A When you need spinning wheels to rock out of deep snow or mud
• B When you are driving on a wet road and want a shorter stopping distance
• C When you are towing a trailer on the highway and want a steadier ride
• D When the road is icy and you want the wheels to grip the surface better

14. A sign showing a figure with an outstretched thumb inside a red circle with a slash means that

• A passengers may be picked up only in a marked pull-off area
• B soliciting a ride is prohibited there
• C drivers may not stop to pick up a passenger at any point on that road
• D only vehicles carrying two or more people may travel on that road

15. You carry reflective warning triangles in your car. How should they be used after a breakdown?

• A Placed one in front of the vehicle and one directly beside the driver door
• B Set out behind the vehicle, far enough back to warn traffic before it arrives
• C Placed on the roof of the vehicle so that they can be seen from both directions
• D Set out only after dark, because in daylight they add nothing to your safety

16. A flashing red arrow is displayed for your turning lane. What does it require?

• A Stopping and waiting until a green arrow appears
• B Slowing and turning without stopping if nothing is coming
• C Stopping and turning only after the pedestrian phase ends
• D Stopping, then turning when the way is clear

17. How does eating a large meal before drinking affect impairment?

• A It soaks up the alcohol in the stomach so that almost none of it reaches the bloodstream
• B It prevents impairment as long as the meal is eaten first
• C It lets the liver break down the alcohol about twice as fast
• D It slows absorption but the alcohol still reaches the blood and impairs you

18. You have entered a work zone where crews are working close to the open lane. What should you do?

• A Slow down and be ready for workers and machines
• B Keep the normal speed, since barriers protect the workers
• C Watch the workers closely so you can see what they will do
• D Change lanes at the last moment to keep the merge area clear

19. The school bus stop ahead sign is installed where

• A school buses are prohibited from stopping anywhere along that stretch of road
• B a bus terminal or depot is located a short distance ahead
• C a school bus stop cannot be seen from far enough away by approaching drivers
• D buses must yield to all other traffic

20. A yellow sign shows a truck on a slope with the legend 7 PERCENT GRADE. What should a driver of a heavy vehicle do?

• A Select a lower gear before starting down
• B Apply steady brake pressure the whole way down the hill
• C Shift into neutral so the engine is not strained by the slope
• D Wait at the top until no other vehicle is on the downgrade

21. What is a driver being warned about here?

• A The lanes ahead are reserved for slow-moving vehicles and farm equipment
• B The pavement ahead carries vehicles traveling in the opposite direction
• C The road ahead becomes one way for its whole length
• D An additional lane opens in the driver's direction

22. What is the what if habit of a defensive driver?

• A Planning the exact route to be taken before turning the ignition key on
• B Deciding in advance which lane is the quickest on the daily commute
• C Thinking through what you would do if a hazard ahead of you turned bad
• D Assuming that every other driver will follow the rules exactly as written

23. Which Mississippi applicants are barred outright from a hardship driving privilege?

• A Applicants who have not yet completed the tenth grade at their school
• B Applicants whose parents do not both sign the request form
• C Applicants who live more than fifteen miles away from the school they attend
• D Applicants who have received a conviction for driving under the influence

24. How should a lap and shoulder belt be positioned?

• A Lap belt low across the hips and shoulder belt across the chest and collarbone
• B Lap belt across the stomach and shoulder belt tucked underneath the outer arm
• C Shoulder belt tucked behind the back for comfort, with the lap belt snug
• D Lap belt left deliberately loose so that it does not press against the body at all

25. Loose items slide around your car and rattle every time you brake. What is the answer?

• A Catch them as they slide so the noise stops
• B Brake gently so they slide back into place
• C Secure them before you start driving
• D Ignore them, since objects cannot affect driving

26. An oncoming vehicle at night has its high beams on and you are being dazzled. Where should you look?

• A Toward the right edge of your lane
• B Straight at the oncoming headlights to keep your bearings
• C Down at your instrument panel until the vehicle passes
• D Toward the center line so you stay away from the shoulder

27. What do the numbers on a pedestrian countdown display show?

• A The seconds remaining to finish a crossing already under way
• B The seconds until the vehicle signal turns yellow
• C The width of the roadway in feet
• D The number of pedestrians waiting on the opposite corner

28. The vehicle in front of you has stopped and is waiting to turn left, and there is a paved shoulder to the right. May you use it to get by?

• A Yes, provided that you signal first and return to the travel lane as soon as you have passed
• B Yes, because a vehicle that is waiting to turn left has effectively given up its own lane
• C Yes, whenever the shoulder is paved, since a paved shoulder counts as a travel lane
• D No, in most states a pass may not be made by leaving the paved travel lanes

29. A deer crosses the road in front of you and disappears into the trees. What should you expect?

• A That your headlights on high beam will keep any others well away from you
• B That other deer are likely to follow it across the very same stretch of road
• C That the road is now clear, because deer always travel on their own
• D That the deer will come back the same way after a few minutes have passed

30. Why is being thrown out of a vehicle in a crash so dangerous?

• A Because the insurance company will not pay a claim if you were thrown out
• B Because the airbags keep inflating for as long as a seat is left empty
• C Because you strike the road or other objects at high speed, and rarely survive
• D Because the vehicle usually catches fire once a person has been thrown out