Maryland permit test: distracted & drowsy driving
Phone and texting laws, other distractions and fatigue. 5 questions.
A fully licensed 30-year-old is driving in Maryland. Which phone use is allowed?
Keyboard: press 1–4 or A–D to answer, Enter for the next question, S to save, R to read aloud, P to pause reading, L to listen and answer.
Sample distracted & drowsy driving questions
A fully licensed 30-year-old is driving in Maryland. Which phone use is allowed?
- A Reading a text while stopped in traffic
- B Holding the phone in your hand to talk on speaker mode
- C Typing a short text at low speed
- D A hands-free call without holding the phone
Show answer
D. A hands-free call without holding the phone
Maryland bans hand-held phone use, including texting, for all drivers. Adults with a full license may make hands-free calls, but the manual still urges keeping them short and pulling off the road when you can.
A 17-year-old provisional driver wants to use a hands-free headset to call a friend while driving. What does Maryland law say?
- A Allowed, because the call is hands-free
- B Allowed, but only on roads with a posted speed limit under 40 mph
- C Not allowed; drivers under 18 may use a phone only to call 911
- D Allowed if a passenger dials the number
Show answer
C. Not allowed; drivers under 18 may use a phone only to call 911
Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone while driving, even hands-free. The only exception is a 911 emergency call. New drivers need their full attention on the road.
According to the Maryland manual, what causes more police-reported crashes than anything else?
- A Distracted driving
- B Drunk driving
- C Bad weather
- D Mechanical failures
Show answer
A. Distracted driving
Distracted driving means taking your eyes, hands or mind off driving, and it causes more police-reported crashes than anything else. Phones, eating, GPS, passengers and loose objects can all pull your attention away.
A 17-year-old provisional driver breaks the rule against using a wireless device while driving. What penalty can the MVA impose?
- A A license suspension of one full year
- B A license suspension of up to 90 days
- C A fine only, with no effect on the license
- D Automatic cancellation of the license
Show answer
B. A license suspension of up to 90 days
Maryland law bars drivers under 18 from using any wireless communication device while driving, except to call 911. If the MVA finds a violation, it may suspend the license for up to 90 days and may issue a restricted license for work or school.
Source: Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration website