Virginia Driver’s License & Permit Practice Tests

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.

If you run off the road, do not panic. Stay on the shoulder and gradually reduce your speed. Ease up on the gas pedal and use your brakes carefully. Regain control, look in the direction you want to go, then turn slowly back onto the road.

Too often motorists panic, over-correcting, and steer abruptly to return to the road.

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

If your license is suspended, your privilege to drive has been withdrawn temporarily. You may pay the required fees and reinstate your license at the end of the suspension period. You must show proof of legal presence and pass the two-part knowledge, road skills and vision exams to have your driving privilege reinstated.

Vehicles on the solid yellow line side may only cross the line to pass pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of foot-scooters or skateboards, when the opposite lane is clear, and you can pass safely.

When you merge with traffic, signal, and enter at the speed of traffic. Check your blind spots. You must yield the right-of-way to traffic already on the highway.

Note that this question asked what you should not do.

You must use your headlights at night and at other times when it’s hard to see. Virginia law requires motorists to use headlights during inclement weather such as rain, fog, snow, or sleet when visibility is reduced to 500 feet. You must use your headlights whenever you use your windshield wipers as a result of bad weather.

Using headlights at all times, including during the day, increases your vehicle’s visibility.

You should not exit your vehicle. Do not get out unless the officer asks you to. Do not make any movement that will make the officer think you are hiding or reaching for something. If the officer asks for documents, tell him where they are and reach for them slowly, keeping one hand on the steering wheel.

Do not be alarmed by mechanical noises or pedal pulsations when applying ABS brakes. Do not remove your foot. Firm and continuous pressure – not pumping – is required to activate the ABS feature.

Before you return to the right lane, look at your interior rear-view mirror. Return to the right lane as soon as you can see the front of the passed vehicle in your rear-view mirror.

You must come to a complete stop at the sign, stop line, pedestrian crosswalk, or curb. Wait for any vehicle or pedestrian to clear the way.

When changing lanes, it is important to check your blind spot. Your blind spot is the area of the road you cannot see without moving your head and looking over your shoulder.

Whenever you park and leave your vehicle, always turn off the engine and set the parking brake. Take the keys and lock your vehicle.

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.

If you are in the inside lane and miss your exit, you must continue around until you reach the exit again.

You may turn left at a red light if you are on a one-way street and turning left onto another one-way street while the traffic signal displays a red light. Before turning, you must come to a complete stop. Look both ways and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic. Be sure to check for less visible vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles, and mopeds. You may not turn left on red if signs are posted at the intersection that read No Turn on Red, or if a red arrow pointing to the left is displayed.

When police, fire and rescue vehicles or ambulances approach you from behind your vehicle using a siren, flashing lights or both, you must immediately yield the right-of-way. Safely pull over to the right edge of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed.

When entering a roadway from a private road or driveway, you must stop and yield to all traffic and pedestrians. Stop at the sidewalk, or if there is no sidewalk, at a point prior to entering the roadway.

A person that had too much to drink must not drive. If possible, they should arrange for a designated driver, use public transportation, or call a cab.

Remember, alcohol-related crashes are not accidents. They can be prevented. 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.

Legal speed limit in school zones, business or residential districts is 25 mph. You are required to travel 25 mph in a school zone only when indicated by a sign or signal. Otherwise, maintain the posted speed.

Watch for ice on bridges and in shady areas. Bridges freeze before other road surfaces.

Always approach bridges, shaded spots, overpasses and turns slowly.

Under Virginia law, the driver and all front seat passengers must wear safety belts. When you are older than 18 years and riding in the back seat, you are not required by law to use a seat belt. It is, however, strongly recommended.

U-turns are not legal everywhere. Before you make a U-turn, check for No U-Turn or No Left Turn signs. In business districts, cities and towns, U-turns are allowed only at intersections. Never make a U-turn on a highway.

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

• Red X: Never drive in a lane marked with a red X signal.
• Yellow X: A yellow X signal means that you should move out of the lane as soon as safely possible.
• Green Arrow: You are permitted to drive in a lane marked with a green arrow signal.
• Left-turn Arrow: You are permitted to enter in a lane marked with a one-way or two-way arrow only to turn in the direction of the arrow.

The driver is responsible for making sure that children are properly secured. If you are convicted of violating the child restraint law, you will be fined $50. A second or subsequent offense could mean a $500 penalty. All children under age 8 must be properly secured in a child safety seat or booster seat when riding in vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1968.