Massachusetts Permit Test cheat sheet

Massachusetts default speed limits (unless posted otherwise): 30 mph in a thickly settled or business district, 40 mph on other roads, 50 mph on divided highways, 65 mph on the Turnpike and posted interstates; 20 mph in a school zone.

Right turn on red is permitted after a complete stop and yielding to traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign prohibits it.

A left turn on red is allowed in Massachusetts only when turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a full stop, unless a sign forbids it.

At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive proceeds first; if two arrive simultaneously, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

Passing on the right is legal when two or more lanes travel in the same direction, but never by leaving the paved roadway to go around a vehicle.

A left turn must yield to oncoming traffic, and the driver turns into the leftmost available lane before changing lanes.

U-turns are legal unless a sign prohibits them; they are never made where approaching traffic cannot be seen, such as a hill crest or curve.

Anti-gridlock rule: do not enter an intersection or marked crosswalk unless there is room to clear it completely on the far side.

At a roundabout, yield to traffic already circulating, enter to the right, and do not pass or change lanes inside the circle.

Sign shape: octagon = stop, inverted triangle = yield, pennant = no-passing zone, diamond = warning, pentagon = school zone or school crossing, rectangle = regulatory or guide.

Sign color: red = stop or prohibit, yellow = warning, orange = construction/maintenance, green = guide/distance, blue = motorist services, brown = recreation and points of interest.

A steady yellow light means the signal is changing to red; stop if you can do so safely, otherwise clear the intersection with caution.

A flashing red light is a stop sign: full stop, yield, then proceed when safe; a flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution.

A red arrow means no turn in that direction until a green arrow or green light appears; a green arrow gives a protected turn.

Two solid yellow center lines mean no passing and no crossing in either direction; a broken yellow line permits passing when it is safe.

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; white lines separate lanes moving in the same direction or mark the right edge.

A solid white line should not be crossed; broken white lines may be crossed when it is safe to change lanes.

A yellow pennant sign marks the beginning of a no-passing zone and is placed on the left side of the road for oncoming traffic.

Three-second rule: after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object, at least three seconds should elapse before you reach it; add more time in rain, snow, or darkness.

Massachusetts requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise and whenever visibility is 500 feet or less.

Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on a film of water; ease off the accelerator and avoid hard braking or sharp steering until traction returns.

In a skid, take your foot off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go; do not slam the brakes.

In fog use low-beam headlights, because high beams reflect off moisture and reduce forward visibility.

Bridges and overpasses freeze before other road surfaces because cold air circulates beneath them, making black ice likely there first.

Fines for speeding and other moving violations are doubled in Massachusetts work zones.

A tire blowout is handled by gripping the wheel firmly, keeping the vehicle straight, and slowing gradually off the accelerator.

At night, headlights should let you stop within the distance you can see ahead; overdriving them is a leading cause of night crashes.

When a school bus flashes red lights, traffic in both directions on an undivided road must stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing.

On a divided highway with a physical median, traffic approaching a stopped school bus from the opposite direction is not required to stop.

Move Over Law: when approaching a stopped emergency, tow, or roadside assistance vehicle with flashing lights, move over one lane if possible; if not, slow down.

If an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, pull to the right edge and stop, but never stop inside an intersection.

Large trucks have no-zones on both sides, directly behind, and directly in front; if you cannot see the truck driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.

Trucks making right turns often swing wide to the left first; never pass a truck on the right when it is turning or signaling.

A pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog always has the right of way at a crossing, whether or not the crossing is marked.

Bicycles are vehicles: they ride on the right, with traffic, and must obey the same signals, signs, and right-of-way rules as cars.

Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane; sharing a lane with a motorcycle or riding in its blind spot is illegal and unsafe.

Illegal per se limits in Massachusetts: 0.08% BAC for drivers 21 and older, 0.04% for commercial drivers, and 0.02% for drivers under 21.

Under the zero-tolerance law, a driver under 21 with a BAC of 0.02% or higher faces license suspension even without other signs of impairment.

Implied consent: refusing a chemical test after an OUI arrest brings a 180-day license suspension for a first offense.

Alcohol begins impairing judgment, vision, and reaction time before a person feels intoxicated.

Only time removes alcohol from the body, at roughly one standard drink per hour; coffee, food, cold showers, and exercise do not lower BAC.

Driving while impaired by any drug, including prescription or over-the-counter medicine, is an OUI offense in Massachusetts.

An open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle is prohibited, and citations can be issued even if the driver is sober.

A first OUI conviction in Massachusetts carries a one-year license suspension along with fines, alcohol education, and possible jail time.