Massachusetts Permit Test flashcards
Massachusetts Permit Test · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Right turn on red
- In Massachusetts, a driver may turn right after coming to a complete stop, yielding to pedestrians and traffic, unless a sign at that location prohibits the turn.
- Thickly settled district limit
- The default speed limit in a thickly settled area or business district in Massachusetts is 30 mph unless a posted sign shows a different limit.
- Four-way stop order
- At a four-way stop the first vehicle to arrive goes first; when two arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
- Passing on the right
- Passing on the right is permitted when a road has two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, but never by driving off the paved roadway.
- Left on red, one-way
- Massachusetts permits a left turn on red when moving from one one-way street onto another one-way street, after stopping, unless a sign forbids it.
- Legal U-turn conditions
- U-turns are allowed unless a sign prohibits them, but never where approaching traffic cannot be seen, such as a curve or the crest of a hill.
- Anti-gridlock rule
- A driver must not enter an intersection or crosswalk unless there is space to completely clear it on the other side without blocking cross traffic.
- Red octagon sign
- A red octagonal sign always means stop; the driver must come to a complete stop at the stop line or crosswalk and proceed only when safe.
- Yellow pennant sign
- A yellow pennant-shaped sign marks the start of a no-passing zone and is posted on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
- Flashing yellow signal
- A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution; stopping is not required, but the driver must yield to traffic and pedestrians.
- Flashing red signal
- A flashing red light works like a stop sign: the driver must stop completely, yield to crossing traffic and pedestrians, and continue only when safe.
- Double solid yellow lines
- Two solid yellow center lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions and mean no passing or crossing the center line in either direction.
- Broken white lines
- Dashed or broken white lines separate lanes traveling in the same direction and may be crossed when it is safe to change lanes.
- Orange work zone signs
- Orange diamond-shaped signs warn of construction or maintenance activity ahead; drivers must slow down and obey flaggers and reduced posted limits.
- Three-second following rule
- After the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object, at least three seconds should pass before your vehicle reaches that same object in good conditions.
- When headlights are required
- Massachusetts requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise and whenever visibility drops to 500 feet or less.
- Recovering from 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.
- Driving in fog
- Use low-beam headlights in fog, because high beams reflect off moisture and cut visibility; also slow down and increase following distance.
- Bridge ice hazard
- Bridges and overpasses freeze before other road surfaces because cold air circulates underneath them, so black ice often forms there first.
- Work zone fines
- In Massachusetts, fines for speeding and other moving violations are doubled when they occur in a marked highway work zone.
- School bus red lights
- When a school bus flashes red lights, traffic behind it and oncoming traffic on an undivided road must stop until the lights stop flashing.
- Move Over Law
- When approaching a stopped emergency, tow, or roadside assistance vehicle with flashing lights, move over one lane if possible, or slow down.
- Large truck no-zones
- Trucks have large blind spots on both sides, directly behind, and directly in front; if you cannot see the driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
- Truck right-turn hazard
- Large trucks often swing wide to the left before turning right, so a driver should never pass a truck on the right when it is signaling a turn.
- Pedestrian with white cane
- A pedestrian using a white cane or a guide dog always has the right of way at a crossing, marked or unmarked; drivers must stop and wait.
- Emergency vehicle approaching
- Pull to the right edge of the road and stop until an emergency vehicle with lights and siren passes; never stop inside an intersection.
- BAC limits by driver
- Massachusetts illegal limits are 0.08 percent for drivers 21 and older, 0.04 percent for commercial drivers, and 0.02 percent for drivers under 21.
- Zero tolerance under 21
- A driver under 21 with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 percent or higher faces license suspension under Massachusetts zero-tolerance law, even without visible impairment.
- Implied consent refusal
- Driving in Massachusetts implies consent to chemical testing; refusing a test after an OUI arrest brings a 180-day license suspension for a first offense.
- Only time sobers
- Coffee, food, cold showers, and exercise do not lower blood alcohol concentration; the body eliminates alcohol over time at roughly one drink per hour.
- Open container law
- Massachusetts forbids an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle, and a citation may be issued even if the driver is sober.
- Drug-impaired driving
- Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair driving, and operating under the influence of any drug is an OUI offense in Massachusetts.