Maryland safe driving practice questions
3 questions below test Maryland’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.
The Maryland permit knowledge test has 25 questions in total and needs 22 correct (88%) to pass.
Maryland law
3 questions on Maryland’s own safe driving rules
These differ from the rules that hold nationally — they are the ones that catch out drivers who studied another state’s handbook.
1. Maryland seat-belt law requires the operator of a motor vehicle to ensure that the operator and each occupant under what age are restrained by a seat belt or child safety seat?
- A12 years old
- B14 years old
- 16 years old
- D18 years old
Answer: 16 years old. Transportation Article §22-412.3 provides that a person may not operate a motor vehicle unless the person and each occupant under 16 years old are restrained by a seat belt or a child safety seat as provided in §22-412.2.
Source: Maryland Transportation Article — §22-412.3
2. While a Maryland motor vehicle is in motion, a driver generally may not use the driver's hands to use a handheld telephone other than to:
- AWatch a video
- BSend a text message
- Initiate or terminate a wireless telephone call or turn the phone on or off
- DScroll social media
Answer: Initiate or terminate a wireless telephone call or turn the phone on or off. Transportation Article §21-1124.2 provides that a driver of a motor vehicle that is in motion may not use the driver's hands to use a handheld telephone other than to initiate or terminate a wireless telephone call or to turn on or turn off the handheld telephone.
Source: Maryland Transportation Article — §21-1124.2
3. Maryland motorcycle law requires an individual to wear protective headgear when:
- AOnly riding as a passenger under 18
- Operating or riding on a motorcycle
- COnly riding on freeways
- DOnly riding at night
Answer: Operating or riding on a motorcycle. Transportation Article §21-1306 requires an individual to wear protective headgear that meets standards established by the Administrator when operating or riding on a motorcycle, and also addresses eye-protective devices or a windscreen for operators.
Source: Maryland Transportation Article — §21-1306
Sources for the Maryland items above
Applies everywhere
Safe driving rules that hold in every state
A sample of the national safe driving bank. All 10 are in the practice run, combined with the Maryland items above for 13 questions in total.
1. Before backing out of a parking space, the safest practice is to:
- ASound the horn continuously
- BRely only on the backup camera
- Walk around the vehicle and check behind it
- DBack out quickly to reduce exposure
Answer: Walk around the vehicle and check behind it. Small children and low obstacles sit below the sightline of mirrors and many cameras. Checking behind the vehicle first is the only reliable method.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Basic control — backing
2. Another driver is following you far too closely. The safest response is to:
- ABrake sharply to warn them
- Increase your following distance and let them pass
- CSpeed up to outrun them
- DTurn on your hazard lights and stop
Answer: Increase your following distance and let them pass. Adding space ahead gives you room to slow gradually rather than brake hard. Move over when you safely can and let them by.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Safe driving — aggressive drivers
3. When must low-beam headlights be turned on in most jurisdictions?
- AWhenever driving above 45 mph
- BOnly during heavy snowfall
- From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise
- DOnly when driving on dark rural roads
Answer: From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. Headlights must be used from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Lighting requirements — headlights
More Maryland topics
Other Maryland rules with their own questions
Safe driving elsewhere
Safe driving rules in other states
Safe driving law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.
Confirm current Maryland rules
Statutes and handbooks change. Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration is authoritative for Maryland safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.
Visit Maryland Motor Vehicle AdministrationCommon questions
About Maryland safe driving rules and this practice set.