Virginia Driver’s License & Permit Practice Tests

Constant yawning, head nodding, heavy eyelids, blurred vision and weaving while driving are some of the warning signs that you may be on the verge of falling asleep at the wheel.

Stop at a safe place and take a nap. Wait at least 10 minutes after waking up to see how alert you are. If you don’t feel any more alert, don’t drive. Find a place to sleep for an hour or for the night.

Always yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Remember that turns on red are especially hazardous to pedestrians. Avoid conflict with pedestrians and permit them to cross the street safely.

When driving at 50 mph, use a four-second rule to determine if you are following far enough behind the vehicle ahead of you.

The easiest way to avoid lingering in the No Zone is to look for the truck driver’s reflection in the side mirror. If you cannot see the driver’s face in his side view mirror, then he cannot see you.

After your second conviction for a demerit point traffic violation (or safety belt/child restraint violation) committed when you were under age 18, DMV will suspend your driving privilege for 90 days.

Your third conviction will result in a revocation of your driving privilege for one year or until you reach age 18, whichever is longer.

Remember, if your driving is impaired because you are under the influence of any drug, you may face the same penalties as driving under the influence of alcohol.

If someone is injured, always call for professional help. Do not attempt to move an injured person from a wrecked vehicle unless you have the necessary medical training or there is an immediate danger such as fire.

Blind spots are danger areas where vehicles around you cannot be easily seen. Before driving, adjust your vehicle’s mirrors. Make sure the inside rear-view mirror frames the entire back window. Adjust both side mirrors so you can barely see the sides of your vehicle.

The best way to see a car in your blind spot is by quickly turning your head and glancing over your shoulder to ensure the way is clear before changing lanes or passing another vehicle.

Avoid driving in someone else’s blind spot. This can be just as dangerous as not checking your own blind spot. Speed up or drop back – but don’t stay in the other driver’s blind spot.

Be careful when passing a long-haul truck on a two-way two-lane road. A truck and its trailer may be as long as 65 feet and it may take you more than half a mile of clear road to pass. When passing, look for the entire front of the truck in your rear-view mirror before pulling in front. Maintain your speed.

If a collision with a deer or other animal is unavoidable, do not swerve. Brake firmly, stay in your lane, and come to a controlled stop. The safest alternative may be hitting the animal.

Yellow circular lights or arrows are caution warnings. The light is about to change. If you have not entered the intersection, stop if you can do so safely. If you are already in the intersection, go through it. Do not speed up to beat the light.

If a vehicle is approaching with high-beam headlights, you should look to the right of the road until the vehicle passes. Never flash high beams at an approaching motorist.

When on the road, drivers should not use cell phones, computers, or other distracting devices except to report a crash or emergency. There is, however, no general prohibition on cell phone use while driving in Virginia.

Virginia law prohibits drivers under age 18 from using cell phones or any other wireless communication device while driving except in a driver emergency and the vehicle is lawfully parked or stopped.

Text messaging or reading of text messages while driving is illegal for all drivers

Headed either uphill or downhill and there is no curb, turn the wheels so the car will roll away from the center of the road if the brakes fail.

Approximately half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve automobiles. Many crashes are caused by the motorist’s failure to see a motorcycle in traffic.

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed you can travel on a road under ideal conditions. You may drive slower than the posted speed, but it is illegal to drive any faster. By law, you must drive slower if conditions such as road construction or bad weather make the posted speed unsafe.

The safest place to install a child safety seat is in the center of the back seat. Children should ride rear facing from birth to 2 years, or as long as the safety seat manufacturer allows. If the vehicle does not have a back seat, a rear facing child seat may be placed in the front passenger seat if the vehicle is not equipped with a passenger side airbag or if the passenger airbag is turned off. Children should ride facing forward in a child safety seat or booster seat until at least age 8, or until they can attain a proper seat belt fit. (Note that older versions of the manual have slightly different recommendations.)

Fog is a dangerous driving environment. Increase your following distance. Slow down enough so you can stop safely within the distance that you can see ahead. Turn on your low-beam headlights so others can see you. Do not use your high-beam headlights.

Slowing or stop – left arm extended downward, with the palm to the rear.

Yellow lines mark the center of a road used for traffic going in opposite directions. Broken yellow center lines mean that passing on the left is allowed in either direction when the way ahead is clear.

You must stop for stopped school buses with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign when you approach from any direction on a highway, private road, or school driveway. Stop and remain stopped until all persons are clear, and the bus moves again.

You must also stop if the bus is loading or unloading passengers and the signals are not on.

Wearing seat belts, also called safety belts, can double your chances of surviving a crash and more than double your chances of avoiding serious injury. Never wear your shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm.

You may turn left into a left-moving, one-way street if there is no sign to prohibit the turn.

Remember, do not turn against traffic.

Lane use signals indicate lanes where you can and cannot drive during different hours of the day.

The purpose of the Railroad Emergency Notification System sign is to provide the public with critical emergency contact information at every highway-rail grade crossing. If a dangerous condition exists at a rail crossing, call the number listed on the emergency sign. This will allow the rail company to stop or reroute approaching rail traffic until the hazard is removed. Be sure to give the posted crossing number so that the hazard can be identified correctly.