What safe driving rules are on the Massachusetts permit test?

Massachusetts's safe driving questions come from its own statutes and the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles handbook. QuizLane covers 4 Massachusetts-specific safe driving items, drawn from 3 distinct source sections, alongside 10 questions on rules that apply in every state.

How many safe driving questions are on the Massachusetts permit test?

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles does not publish a per-topic breakdown. The test as a whole has 25 questions and you need 18 correct (72%) to pass, so safe driving is worth studying alongside every other topic rather than in isolation.

Are these official Massachusetts DMV safe driving questions?

No. These are original study questions written against Massachusetts law and the official handbook, each carrying the section it came from. They are not endorsed by Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and are not copies of the real exam.

Do I need an account to practice Massachusetts safe driving questions?

No. Practice starts immediately as a guest. An account is optional and only saves your attempt history across devices.

Massachusetts seat-belt law generally requires which persons in a private passenger motor vehicle to wear a properly fastened safety belt?

No person shall operate or ride unless wearing a safety belt

A Massachusetts driver under 18 may not, while operating on a public way:

Hold in their hand or use a mobile telephone, hands-free mobile telephone, or mobile electronic device

Massachusetts law generally prohibits a motor vehicle operator from:

Holding a mobile electronic device, or using one except in hands-free mode

Using the vehicle horn in an emergency

Viewing a mounted navigation map that does not impede operation

Under M.G.L. c.90 §13B, an operator may use a mobile electronic device while driving only if:

It is being used in hands-free mode

The vehicle is traveling under 25 mph

A passenger holds it for them while they type

It is held below the steering wheel

MASafe driving

Massachusetts safe driving practice questions

4 questions below test Massachusetts’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.

The Massachusetts permit knowledge test has 25 questions in total and needs 18 correct (72%) to pass.

Practice safe driving All Massachusetts topics

Massachusetts law

4 questions on Massachusetts’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. Massachusetts seat-belt law generally requires which persons in a private passenger motor vehicle to wear a properly fastened safety belt?
- No person shall operate or ride unless wearing a safety belt
- BOnly passengers under 12
- COnly front-seat occupants
- DOnly the driver
Answer: No person shall operate or ride unless wearing a safety belt. M.G.L. c.90 §13A provides that no person shall operate a private passenger motor vehicle or ride in a private passenger motor vehicle (or listed vanpool/truck) on any way unless wearing a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt, with listed exceptions.
Source: Massachusetts General Laws — c.90 §13A
2. A Massachusetts driver under 18 may not, while operating on a public way:
- AUse cruise control
- BWear sunglasses
- CUse the vehicle radio
- Hold in their hand or use a mobile telephone, hands-free mobile telephone, or mobile electronic device
Answer: Hold in their hand or use a mobile telephone, hands-free mobile telephone, or mobile electronic device. M.G.L. c.90 §8M prohibits a person under 18 from holding in their hand or using a mobile telephone, hands-free mobile telephone, or mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on any public way.
Source: Massachusetts General Laws — c.90 §8M
3. Massachusetts law generally prohibits a motor vehicle operator from:
- AUsing the vehicle horn in an emergency
- BViewing a mounted navigation map that does not impede operation
- Holding a mobile electronic device, or using one except in hands-free mode
- DAdjusting the heater controls
Answer: Holding a mobile electronic device, or using one except in hands-free mode. M.G.L. c.90 §13B states that no operator shall hold a mobile electronic device, use one unless it is in hands-free mode, or read or view text, images, or video on such a device, with limited exceptions such as a mounted navigation display.
Source: Massachusetts General Laws — c.90 §13B
4. Under M.G.L. c.90 §13B, an operator may use a mobile electronic device while driving only if:
- AThe vehicle is traveling under 25 mph
- BA passenger holds it for them while they type
- CIt is held below the steering wheel
- It is being used in hands-free mode
Answer: It is being used in hands-free mode. Section 13B allows use of a mobile electronic device by an operator only in hands-free mode and separately restricts reading or viewing on-screen content except for certain mounted navigation uses.
Source: Massachusetts General Laws — c.90 §13B

Sources for the Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts items above for 14 questions in total.

1. How often should you check your mirrors in normal driving?
- AAbout once a minute
- BOnly when slowing down
- Every 5 to 8 seconds
- DOnly before changing lanes
Answer: Every 5 to 8 seconds. Frequent mirror checks keep you aware of vehicles approaching or sitting in your blind areas before a situation develops.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Safe driving — visual search
2. How far ahead should you normally be looking while driving?
- AOnly at the vehicle directly in front
- BAs far as your headlights reach, at all speeds
- CJust past the hood of your car
- About 12 to 15 seconds of travel ahead
Answer: About 12 to 15 seconds of travel ahead. Looking well ahead gives time to spot hazards and react smoothly instead of braking or swerving at the last moment.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Safe driving — visual search
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

Practice all 14 safe driving questions

Safe driving rules in other states

Safe driving law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.

ConnecticutCT · 4 questions MaineME · 5 questions New HampshireNH · 4 questions New JerseyNJ · 3 questions New YorkNY · 2 questions PennsylvaniaPA · 3 questions Rhode IslandRI · 5 questions VermontVT · 5 questions

Confirm current Massachusetts rules

Statutes and handbooks change. Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is authoritative for Massachusetts safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.

Visit Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles

Common questions

About Massachusetts safe driving rules and this practice set.