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Massachusetts permit test: conditions, emergencies and crashes

Night, rain, fog and winter driving, police stops, skids, vehicle failures, breakdowns and what to do after a crash. 11 questions, 10 at a time, starting with ones you haven't seen.

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Sample conditions, emergencies and crashes questions

  1. 1. Your car stalls on railroad tracks, and you can see a train coming. What should you do first?

    • A. Get everyone out and move far from the tracks
    • B. Shift to neutral and push the car off the tracks
    • C. Try to restart the engine one more time
    • D. Call the emergency number posted at the crossing
    Show the answer

    A. Get everyone out and move far from the tracks

    When a train is coming, get everyone out of the vehicle right away and move as far from the tracks as you can. Restarting, pushing the car, or calling the posted number are steps for when no train is coming.

    Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 133

  2. 2. While you are driving, your gas pedal sticks and the car keeps speeding up. What should you do first?

    • A. Pump the gas pedal to free it
    • B. Turn off the engine and remove the key
    • C. Pull the parking brake as hard as you can
    • D. Shift into neutral and press the brake
    Show the answer

    D. Shift into neutral and press the brake

    If your gas pedal sticks, put the car in neutral and press the brake to slow down. Then try to free the pedal with your foot and pull off the road when it is safe.

    Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 132

  3. 3. At night with high beams on, you come up behind a car going the same direction. When must you switch to low beams?

    • A. Within 500 feet of the car
    • B. Only if the driver flashes their brake lights
    • C. Within 100 feet of the car
    • D. Within 200 feet of the car
    Show the answer

    D. Within 200 feet of the car

    You must lower your high beams when you are within 200 feet of a vehicle traveling ahead of you. For oncoming vehicles the distance is 500 feet.

    Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 54

  4. 4. While driving on a wet highway, you feel your car start to hydroplane. What should you do?

    • A. Brake hard to slow down quickly
    • B. Slowly ease your foot off the gas pedal
    • C. Steer sharply toward the shoulder
    • D. Speed up to push through the water
    Show the answer

    B. Slowly ease your foot off the gas pedal

    If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, you are driving too fast. Slowly step off the gas, and never hit the brakes or turn suddenly, or you may skid.

    Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 55