Montana CAR DMV Practice Test 7

Regulation signs regulate traffic speed and movement, displaying rules which drivers must obey. This regulation sign indicates that parking is not permitted.

White lines are used to separate traffic moving in the same direction. Dashed lines indicate that drivers directly next to the line are permitted to pass when it is safe to do so.

You must do everything you can to prevent striking a pedestrian or another vehicle, regardless of the circumstances. It is the driver’s basic responsibility to be alert to pedestrians and to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians, even if the pedestrian is crossing the street where they should not be.

Curve and turn warning signs often have attached advisory speed signs that show a recommended driving speed for drivers in the curves and turns. Although a driver may feel comfortable driving at a higher speed in fair weather, they should never do so under rainy, snowy, or icy conditions.

You should slow down at the first sign of rain, snow, or sleet, all of which can create slippery road conditions. When conditions on the road are less than ideal, safety may require that you drive more slowly than the posted speed limit.

The distance required to stop your vehicle depends on perception time, reaction distance, and braking distance. This changes with speed and road conditions.

Your tires become less effective at clearing water from the road as you increase your speed. If you drive too fast, they may lose their grip entirely, leaving the vehicle sliding on a film of water. This is known as "hydroplaning."

Alcohol dulls the parts of your brain that control inhibition, judgment, and self-control. As a result, you may feel stimulated, lively, and a bit giddy or foolish after consuming alcohol. Alcohol also impairs your reaction time, coordination, and balance. Your vision and ability to judge distance suffers after alcohol consumption, making it difficult to react to your surroundings.

When parking facing uphill on a street that has a curb, set your parking brake and turn your steering wheel away from the curb. This way, if your vehicle starts to roll, it will roll into the curb.

Special child seats are available for children who are too small to wear regular safety belts. No person is strong enough to safely hold onto a child of any size during an accident or sudden stop. Never allow a child to ride in a vehicle unless they are properly fastened into a seat.

You should use low beam headlights when driving in fog, rain, or snow.

Double solid lines indicate that you may not pass or change lanes. You cannot cross the lines unless it is to turn left to enter or exit a highway, to turn into or from a driveway, or to make a U-turn (where permitted).

The only way to avoid the risks of drinking and driving is to decide before you start drinking that you are not going to drive. Because alcohol affects your judgement, it will be harder for you to make safe decisions after you have started drinking.

Nationally, over 23,000 deaths occur yearly as a direct result of drunk driving. In Montana, 50 percent of all traffic fatalities and over 2,100 injuries are alcohol-related. Drunk drivers are the number one cause of fatalities on Montana's roads.

Your blood alcohol content (BAC) depends on how much alcohol you drink, how much time passes between drinks, and your weight. Eating before or while you drink helps slow the absorption of alcohol somewhat, but it cannot prevent intoxication or impairment if you have too much to drink.

At an intersection where there is no stop sign or traffic signal, you should yield to a vehicle approaching the intersection from the right. However, always be prepared to yield to avoid a crash. Do this by taking your foot off the accelerator, covering the brake, and looking left, right, and left again.

This sign indicates that the road ahead curves to the right and then to the left. You should slow down to be able to negotiate these curves safely.

You may cross a single broken line to pass or change lanes as long as you can do so safely and without interfering with traffic.

If you miss your turn or exit, do not back up or try to turn around on the highway. Go to the next exit and safely turn around.

The slow-moving vehicle symbol is a reflective orange triangle. Expect vehicles using this emblem to be driving at speeds of 25 mph or slower.

Construction, maintenance, and emergency operations signs are generally orange with black symbols.

Warning signs are usually diamond-shaped with black markings on a yellow background. They alert drivers to upcoming hazards. This sign indicates that there may be pedestrians crossing the road ahead.

When the driver behind you wants to pass, you should slow down so that there is enough room in front of your vehicle for the other driver to complete their pass. This will allow them to complete the passing maneuver in less time and more easily.

Develop a routine for entering and leaving your car. Before switching on the ignition, buckle your safety belt and see that all passengers do likewise.

You cannot enter an intersection if traffic is backed up on the other side and you cannot get completely through the intersection. Wait until traffic ahead clears so you do not block the intersection.

Always signal your intentions when changing lanes, turning, or pulling away from a curb. Do not allow yourself to become lazy and form the bad habit of not following this law.

You must yield the right-of-way to a police vehicle, fire engine, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle using its siren or air horn and red or blue flashing lights. Pull over to the right edge of the road, or as near to the edge as possible, when you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching from any direction.

This signs warns that a four-way intersection is ahead.

If your vehicle’s right wheels leave the pavement, don't panic. Take your foot off the accelerator and steer parallel to the road. Slow down and ease back onto the roadway by keeping both hands on the steering wheel and steering into the road’s right lane with a small turn of the steering wheel. Check for traffic around you before steering back onto the pavement.

If you drive past these signs, you are going the wrong way and are at risk of a head-on collision. You should cautiously turn around.

This sign indicates that you must keep to the right of the upcoming divider.

"Highway hypnosis” happens when you stare straight ahead at the roadway for long periods of time and stop actively scanning ahead, behind, and around your vehicle. This can lead you to zone out, making you very likely to crash into traffic slowing or stopping ahead of you.

If you experience a tire blowout, take your foot off the gas pedal and do not immediately apply the brakes. Gradually slow down before gently applying the brakes and pulling off the side of the road.