Puerto Rico Permit Test cheat sheet

Sign shape carries meaning: octagon = stop, inverted triangle = yield, diamond = warning, pennant = no-passing zone, round = railroad advance warning, rectangle = regulatory or information.

Sign color carries meaning: red = stop or prohibit, yellow = warning, orange = construction/work zone, green = destination guidance, blue = services, white with black lettering = regulation.

A steady red light requires a complete stop behind the stop line or crosswalk; a right turn on red is permitted after stopping unless a sign prohibits it.

A flashing red light is treated exactly like a stop sign; a flashing yellow light means proceed with caution but does not assign right-of-way.

A solid yellow center line means no passing; double solid yellow lines prohibit passing in both directions; a broken yellow line permits passing when the way is clear.

Solid white lines separate lanes traveling in the same direction; double solid white means lane changes are prohibited.

Crosswalk markings (transverse or ladder bars) define the pedestrian path; drivers must stop before the crosswalk when a pedestrian is crossing there.

At railroad crossings, stop when the red lights flash, the gate is down, or a train is visible, even if no gate or signal exists at the crossing.

Speeds on Puerto Rico roads are posted in miles per hour (mph), not kilometers per hour.

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

At an uncontrolled intersection with no signs or signals, yield to the vehicle approaching from your right and to any vehicle already in the intersection.

A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

At a roundabout, yield to traffic already circulating (approaching from the left) and enter counterclockwise.

Right-of-way is something you yield, never something you take; a driver who legally has it must still act to avoid a collision.

Pass on the left; passing on the right is permitted only when the vehicle ahead is turning left or when two or more lanes travel in the same direction.

Approach emergency vehicles with sirens or flashing lights by pulling to the right edge and stopping until they have passed.

Use the three-second following rule in good conditions, and add at least one extra second for rain or darkness.

Do not enter an intersection unless you can clear it before the light changes; blocking the box obstructs cross traffic.

SIPDE is the core scanning loop: Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute.

Measure following distance with the three-second rule by timing the vehicle ahead past a fixed object.

In a skid, steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go and avoid hard braking.

If hydroplaning, ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel straight until the tires regain pavement contact.

Use low beams in fog and heavy rain; high beams reflect off moisture and reduce visibility.

Dim high beams when within about 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or when following closely behind another vehicle.

After a tire blowout, grip the wheel, release the accelerator, let the vehicle slow gradually, then brake gently.

Mirrors do not cover blind spots; check over your shoulder before changing lanes.

Maintain a space cushion and a planned escape route rather than driving beside other vehicles.

Legal limits in Puerto Rico: 0.08% BAC for drivers age 21 and over, 0.04% for commercial drivers, and 0.02% for drivers under 21.

Impairment begins with the first drink; judgment, coordination, and reaction time decline before BAC reaches any legal limit.

The body eliminates alcohol at roughly 0.015% BAC per hour; coffee, food, cold showers, and exercise do not accelerate this.

Implied consent applies to every licensed driver: refusing a lawful chemical test triggers automatic license suspension.

A DUI conviction can bring fines, license suspension, jail time, community service, and mandatory safe-driving education.

Open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of a moving vehicle are illegal regardless of who is drinking.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs that cause drowsiness can support an impaired-driving charge even with a BAC below the limit.

A driver under 21 with any measurable alcohol at or above 0.02% faces sanctions under the zero-tolerance standard.

When a school bus flashes red lights and extends its stop arm, traffic in both directions must stop, unless the opposing lanes are separated by a physical median or barrier.

Never pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk; a pedestrian may be hidden in front of it.

Yield to any pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog; a white cane with a red tip indicates the person is deaf and blind.

Give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing where conditions allow, and wait if oncoming traffic prevents a safe pass.

A motorcycle is entitled to the full lane; never share a lane with a motorcycle or drive in its lane alongside it.

For emergency vehicles with lights and sirens, pull to the right edge, stop, and remain stopped until the vehicle passes.

Under move-over rules, change lanes away from stopped emergency, tow, or utility vehicles displaying flashing lights; if a lane change is impossible, slow down and pass cautiously.

Large trucks have blind spots directly behind, directly ahead, and along both sides; if you cannot see the truck driver's mirror, the driver cannot see you.

Puerto Rico requires an annual safety and emissions inspection at a DTOP-authorized station, with a current sticker displayed on the vehicle.

Compulsory liability insurance is mandatory for every registered vehicle and is administered by ACAA; proof of coverage must be carried.

Tires must have at least 2/32 inch of tread; a penny inserted upside down shows tread adequacy when part of Lincoln's head is covered.

Headlights (low and high beam), taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and the horn must all be functional.

Seat belts are required for all occupants, and young children must be secured in an approved child restraint system.

Windshield wipers, mirrors, muffler, and license plate lamps must be in working order to pass inspection.

The registration sticker (marbete) and license plate must be current and properly displayed; expired registration or insurance is a violation.

Tampering with or removing emission control equipment is illegal and causes the vehicle to fail inspection.

After any crash, stop immediately, render aid to the injured, and exchange names, addresses, license, registration, and insurance information.

If there are no injuries and the vehicles can be driven, move them out of the travel lanes to prevent secondary crashes.

Call police when anyone is injured, a driver leaves the scene, or property damage is significant; the report supports insurance and ACAA claims.

Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death is a serious criminal offense.

For a breakdown, pull as far off the roadway as possible, turn on hazard lights, and raise the hood to signal for help.

If brakes fail, pump the pedal, downshift to a lower gear, apply the parking brake gradually, and steer toward an escape route.

If the vehicle catches fire, stop, shut off the engine, move everyone at least 100 feet away, and call 911.

Puerto Rico's compulsory liability policy (ACAA) can cover certain personal-injury claims arising from uninsured or underinsured drivers.

Driver licenses are issued, renewed, and replaced by DTOP (Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas).

Applicants must pass a vision screening, a written knowledge test, and a practical road test, and must document identity and residency.

Drivers under 18 hold a provisional license with restrictions on driving hours and passengers until they qualify for a full license at 18.

Puerto Rico uses a point system: moving-violation convictions add points, and reaching the legal point total within twelve months brings suspension.

Points remain on the driving record for a set period and typically increase insurance premiums.

Driving while your license is suspended or revoked is a separate offense carrying fines, extended suspension, and possible jail time.

Driving without the required compulsory liability insurance carries fines and can affect registration and license status.

Seat belt and child restraint violations carry fines and points on the driving record.

Handheld cell phone use and texting while driving are prohibited in Puerto Rico; hands-free use is permitted only where the law allows.

Distractions fall into three types: visual (eyes off the road), manual (hands off the wheel), and cognitive (mind off driving).

Texting engages all three distraction types simultaneously, which is why it is among the highest-risk behaviors.

At 55 mph, a five-second glance at a phone covers roughly the length of a football field traveled blind.

Drowsy-driving warning signs include heavy eyelids, drifting out of the lane, missing exits or signs, and not remembering the last miles driven.

Being awake for about 20 hours produces driver impairment comparable to a BAC near 0.08%.

The only effective remedy for drowsiness is to stop in a safe place and sleep or switch drivers; coffee and loud music only mask it briefly.

Program navigation and music before pulling out, and pull over to handle calls or messages.