Massachusetts Permit Practice Test

Correct answer: Depressant that slows your reflexes and distorts your vision and judgment

Alcohol is a depressant. It slows your reflexes, increases the time you need to react, and distorts your vision and judgment. Even small amounts lower the abilities you need to drive safely.

Correct answer: Class D

The Class D license is the most common license and is for passenger vehicles, vans, and small trucks. Class A, B, and C are commercial licenses, and Class M is for motorcycles.

Correct answer: Stop the motor, set the parking brake, lock the ignition, remove the key, and lock the door

When you leave your vehicle by itself, state law requires you to stop the motor, set the parking brake, make sure the ignition is locked, remove your key, and lock the door.

Correct answer: Pull as close as possible to the right side of the road and stop until it has passed

If an emergency vehicle is coming from any direction, pull as close as possible to the right side of the road and stop until it has passed. Slowly rolling is not acceptable, and you must never stop in the middle of an intersection — drive through and pull over when it is safe.

Correct answer: Give, not take

Right-of-way rules are based on safety and courtesy and do not give you any "rights." Remember, the right-of-way is something you give, not take. If another driver does not follow the rules, always give the right-of-way.

Correct answer: Every person in a passenger vehicle, or a child in an approved passenger restraint

Massachusetts law requires every person in a passenger motor vehicle (including vans and small trucks under 18,000 lbs.) to wear a safety belt or sit in a child passenger restraint.

Correct answer: Four feet

When you pass a vulnerable road user, you must leave a safe passing distance of at least four feet. If it is safe, you may use part of the next lane and even cross the center line to do so.

Correct answer: Come to a complete stop and do not go until the light turns green

A steady red circle means "stop." Do not go until the light turns green. You may make a right turn on red only after a complete stop and yielding, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.

Correct answer: Keeping a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you

Use the three-second rule to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Pick a fixed object; when the vehicle ahead passes it, count "one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand." If you reach the object before you finish counting, you are too close.

Correct answer: Signals alert pedestrians and motorists of what you are doing and give them time to react

You are expected to drive straight ahead unless you show otherwise, so you must signal whenever you make a move in traffic. Your signals alert pedestrians and motorists of what you are doing and give them time to react.

Correct answer: Time — your liver and kidneys need time to process the alcohol

There is no quick way to sober up. Alcohol is processed by your liver and kidneys, which takes time. Coffee, a cold shower, or exercise may make you feel more alert, but only time removes alcohol from your body.

Correct answer: Class M

The Class M license allows you to operate any motor vehicle defined as a motorcycle in state law. A Class D license alone does not permit you to ride a motorcycle.

Correct answer: At least 12 feet wide

You must not create a traffic hazard while parking or while your vehicle is stopped. You must always leave at least a 12-foot-wide clear roadway for traffic to pass.

Correct answer: No closer than 300 feet

It is illegal to follow closer than 300 feet behind an emergency vehicle responding to an alarm.

Correct answer: Any vehicle that has entered the intersection or is coming from your right

At an uncontrolled intersection, slow down and look both ways. You must yield the right-of-way to any vehicle that has entered the intersection from your right or is coming from your right.

Correct answer: 50 percent

When worn correctly, safety belts lower the chance of death or serious injury in a crash by about 50 percent. They keep you from being thrown against the vehicle or ejected.

Correct answer: A person using a wheelchair, a bicyclist, or a roadside worker

Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, roadside workers, bicyclists, horse riders, and people using wheelchairs, mobility devices, scooters, skateboards, or roller skates.

Correct answer: When turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping and yielding

You may turn left on a red light only when driving on a one-way street and turning onto another one-way street. You must first stop and yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.

Correct answer: At least four seconds

Keep more space (at least four seconds) behind a motorcycle than you would for another vehicle, because motorcycles can stop or slow more quickly.

Correct answer: At least 100 feet

You must signal your turn at least 100 feet before making the turn. On a highway, you must signal at least 500 feet before a turn.