Illinois SOS Permit Practice Test 21
- Questions35
- Correct to pass28
- Passing score80%
- Minimum age15 years
-
1. You began a turn from the wrong lane and are already inside the intersection. What should you not do?
Show answer
Answer A: Reverse in order to get back into the correct lane
Backing up in an intersection puts you into the path of traffic that cannot expect it; finish the movement and fix your position afterwards.
-
2. You are passing a crash on the other side of a divided highway. What should you do?
Show answer
Answer D: Keep your eyes on your own lane and the traffic around you
Staring at a crash scene, often called rubbernecking, causes sudden slowing and secondary collisions. Your attention belongs on the traffic in front of you.
-
3. What is the safest way to pass a bicyclist on a road with two lanes going your way?
Show answer
Answer D: Change lanes completely, as you would for a car
A bicycle is entitled to the room a vehicle needs, and moving into the next lane gives the rider space to swerve around a drain or a pothole.
-
4. A large truck ahead of you in a roundabout is using part of both lanes as it goes around. What is the correct response?
Show answer
Answer B: Stay back and give it room until it leaves the roundabout
Long vehicles need extra width to get around the central island, so drivers behind must hold back rather than share the space beside them.
-
5. Why is this restriction used so often on a divided road just before a crest or a bend?
Show answer
Answer A: Because a vehicle turning across the median there stays hidden from approaching drivers until it is too late
The maneuver needs a long gap and good visibility, and where sight distance is short an approaching driver has no time to react to a vehicle turning across the road.
-
6. An overhead lane-use control signal shows a steady red X above your lane. What does it mean?
Show answer
Answer B: You may not use that lane and must move out of it
A steady red X means the lane below it is closed to you, while a steady yellow X is the warning to prepare to vacate the lane and a downward green arrow means the lane is open.
-
7. A yellow diamond shows the two edges of the road pinching toward each other. What does it mean?
Show answer
Answer B: The pavement gets narrower but the lanes continue
The road narrows sign warns that the traveled way becomes tighter, leaving less room beside passing vehicles even though no lane is dropped.
-
8. From which lane should a permitted U-turn be started?
Show answer
Answer A: The lane nearest the center line, the same one used for a left turn
A U-turn is begun from the far left lane for your direction, the same position used for a left turn, so you do not cut across traffic beside you.
-
9. Under Illinois' modified comparative negligence rule for auto accident claims, when can an injured driver still recover damages?
Show answer
Answer A: Only if they were less than 50% at fault for the crash
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule under which an injured party may recover damages only if they were less than 50% at fault, with the award reduced by their share of fault.
-
10. On an overhead guide sign, the small exit number panel sits above the left-hand end rather than the right. What does that placement tell you?
Show answer
Answer A: The exit leaves from the left side of the roadway
The exit number plaque is placed on the side from which the ramp leaves, which gives advance notice of the unusual left-hand exit.
-
11. Your right wheels have dropped onto a soft shoulder. Why should you not steer straight back onto the pavement?
Show answer
Answer A: The tires can catch the pavement edge and throw you across the road
A tire pressed against the edge of the pavement climbs it suddenly, and at speed that jolt can send the vehicle across the center line.
-
12. What most often starts a rear wheel skid?
Show answer
Answer A: Too much speed, braking or acceleration for the grip available
A skid begins when what you ask of the tires exceeds what the surface can give, which is usually a matter of speed and of how abruptly you use the controls.
-
13. When may you stop on the shoulder of a freeway?
Show answer
Answer A: Only in an emergency, moving completely off the travel lanes and switching on your hazard lights
The freeway shoulder is reserved for emergencies and for disabled vehicles, and a vehicle stopped there must be clear of the travel lanes with hazard lights on.
-
14. You are already inside a roundabout when an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren. What should you do?
Show answer
Answer B: Continue to your exit, leave the roundabout, then pull over and stop
Stopping inside a roundabout blocks the circulating roadway, so you should exit first and then pull over clear of the intersection.
-
15. A yellow diamond shows an arrow bent into a series of reversing turns. What does it warn about?
Show answer
Answer A: Three or more changes of direction close together
The winding road sign replaces a string of separate curve signs where several bends follow one another with only short straights between them.
-
16. Under Illinois' per se cannabis DUI standard, what THC level creates a presumption that a driver was under the influence?
Show answer
Answer B: 5 nanograms per milliliter of whole blood, or 10 nanograms per milliliter of urine
Illinois sets a per se cannabis DUI threshold of 5 nanograms per milliliter of THC in whole blood, or 10 nanograms per milliliter in urine.
-
17. On the Interstate system, what do the odd-numbered one and two digit routes have in common?
Show answer
Answer D: They run mainly north and south
Odd numbers are given to north and south Interstates and even numbers to east and west ones, with the numbers rising toward the north and the east.
-
18. The traffic around you is moving well above the limit on a wide highway. What should you do?
Show answer
Answer D: Keep to the limit and stay to the right, letting faster traffic pass
The limit is a legal maximum, and the safe way to differ from the traffic around you is to keep right and let it go by.
-
19. An overhead sign shows that the right lane is EXIT ONLY. What does that mean if you intend to stay on the highway?
Show answer
Answer B: You have to move out of that lane before the exit
An exit only lane leaves the highway completely, so a driver continuing on the highway has to change lanes before it does.
-
20. In slow summer traffic the temperature gauge climbs into the red. What should you do first?
Show answer
Answer A: Turn off the air conditioner and turn on the heater to draw heat from the engine
The heater core acts as an extra radiator, and shutting off the air conditioner reduces engine load. If the gauge keeps climbing, pull over and shut off the engine, and never open a hot radiator cap.
-
21. What does a steady yellow traffic light tell the driver facing it?
Show answer
Answer A: The green movement is ending and a red indication is about to appear
A steady yellow warns that the related green movement is being terminated and that red will follow, so you should stop if you can do so safely.
-
22. Which of these is one of the narrow exceptions letting an Illinois driver use a handheld phone that is not hands-free?
Show answer
Answer B: To report an emergency situation
Illinois law carves out a narrow exception allowing handheld phone use to report an emergency situation, alongside two other specific circumstances.
-
23. A yellow diamond shows two lanes narrowing into one. What does it require of a driver?
Show answer
Answer D: Adjusting speed and merging before the lane disappears
The lane ends sign gives notice that one lane will be dropped, so drivers should adjust speed and blend into the continuing lane in good time.
-
24. You must slow suddenly on a highway and a vehicle is following close behind you. What helps prevent a rear-end collision?
Show answer
Answer D: Tapping the brake pedal early so your brake lights flash a warning
Early brake light flashes give the driver behind more time to react, and slowing gradually instead of suddenly reduces the chance of being struck.
-
25. You are stopped at a steady red arrow pointing right, and no sign or state rule permits turning on a red arrow. May you turn right?
Show answer
Answer A: No, you must wait until the red arrow goes out and a green signal appears
A steady red arrow prohibits the movement it points to until a signal permitting it appears. Only a posted sign or a specific state rule allows a turn on a red arrow after a complete stop, so without one you must wait.
-
26. What should you do about snow and ice on your vehicle before driving?
Show answer
Answer C: Clear all glass, mirrors and lights, and the roof and hood as well
Snow left on the roof or hood slides onto your windshield when you brake and blows into the path of drivers behind you, and covered lights make your vehicle hard to see.
-
27. Where should you be looking as you back into a parallel parking space?
Show answer
Answer B: Over your shoulder through the rear window, glancing all around
Mirrors and cameras leave blind areas, so turn and look through the rear window while checking the front of your car and both sides as it swings.
-
28. It is dark, it is raining and you are towing a trailer. How should you set your following gap?
Show answer
Answer B: Add extra seconds for each condition, well beyond three
Each factor that lengthens your stopping distance or shortens your view calls for another second or more, and they add up when several occur together.
-
29. You are making a legal U-turn at an intersection. Who has the right of way?
Show answer
Answer C: Everyone else, until your turn is complete
A U-turn crosses several paths at once, so you yield to oncoming vehicles, to crossing traffic and to pedestrians before starting it.
-
30. You want to turn left across the oncoming lane into a shopping center driveway. Who must you yield to?
Show answer
Answer B: Oncoming traffic and anyone using the sidewalk
A left turn into a driveway crosses both the oncoming lane and the sidewalk, so you give way to traffic and to pedestrians before completing it.
-
31. How can you keep space at the sides of your vehicle in heavy traffic?
Show answer
Answer D: Drive in the gaps between the other vehicles rather than beside them
Travelling in the open spaces rather than alongside others keeps a way out open on at least one side.
-
32. Your vehicle is burning at the roadside. How far away should everyone keep?
Show answer
Answer D: At least a hundred feet away from the vehicle and upwind, out of the drifting smoke
Burning vehicles give off toxic smoke and parts such as tires and struts can burst, so keep a long distance and stay upwind.
-
33. A bus stopped at the corner hides the crosswalk you are about to turn across. What should you do?
Show answer
Answer C: Turn slowly, ready to stop for anyone stepping out in front of it
People often step into the road from in front of a stopped bus, so approach the hidden crosswalk slowly and be ready to stop.
-
34. What is the main danger when you back out of an angle parking space?
Show answer
Answer A: Parked vehicles beside you hide the traffic coming along the aisle
You have to edge out blind past the vehicles on either side, so back very slowly and be ready to stop as soon as any part of the aisle comes into view.
-
35. On a regulatory sign, what does a red circle with a diagonal slash drawn over a symbol mean?
Show answer
Answer D: The movement or action shown by the symbol is prohibited
A red circle with a diagonal slash is the standard way of showing that the movement pictured inside it, such as a U-turn or a right turn, is not allowed.