Iowa CAR DMV Practice Test 22

An octagonal (eight-sided) sign always means "Stop." Come to a complete stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians that have the right-of-way, and proceed when the way is clear.

Pennant-shaped warning signs like this are only used to indicate a no passing zone.

A red traffic light means that you must stop before entering the intersection. You must at any stop line and before entering any crosswalk.

Always signal for an appropriate amount of time before making a lane change or exiting a freeway. Before you make any move to the right or left, quickly turn your head and look over your shoulder to see if your blind spot is clear.

When turning left at a traffic signal, you must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

Instructions given by police officers directing traffic always override posted traffic signals and signs. Follow the officer's instructions.

Slow down before you enter a curve because you do not know what may be ahead. Braking on a curve may cause you to skid.

Unless a posted sign prohibits it, you may turn right or left at a steady green light. When turning, you must yield to other vehicles and pedestrians within the intersection.

Warning signs are usually yellow with black markings. This sign indicates that there could be traffic merging from the right, so drivers should prepare to allow traffic to safely merge.

When on a roadway with two or more lanes, you should make room for entering vehicles. If there is no one driving next to you, move over one lane.

Always stop before entering the roadway from a driveway and yield to any approaching vehicles or crossing pedestrians. The stop should be made before crossing the sidewalk area. Failure to stop is unlawful.

Use your low beam headlights when driving in foggy, snowy, or rainy conditions. Light from high beam headlights will reflect back, causing glare and making it even more difficult to see ahead.

To check your blind spot before changing lanes, you should look over your shoulder in the direction that you plan to move.

Work zone signs are orange and indicate that some type of work is being performed on or alongside the roadway. Be extremely careful when you see these signs.

When driving on an interstate highway, be aware of upcoming on-ramps. When traffic permits, move out of the right-hand lane to allow vehicles to enter from the on-ramps to your right.

When driving in a work zone, keep a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, trucks, construction equipment, workers, and other vehicles. Increase your following distance and do not tailgate.

Ramps and bridges are suspended in the air, causing them to become icy very quickly in cold weather. Drive with extra caution when crossing a bridge in freezing temperatures.

Yield the right-of-way to the driver on your right at a four-way intersection if you both arrive to the intersection at the same time. You may then proceed when it is safe to do so.

Regulation signs regulate traffic speed and movement, displaying rules which drivers must obey. Wherever this regulation sign is posted, U-turns are not permitted.

When driving during unfavorable weather conditions, avoid slamming on the brakes and making sharp, quick turns. These behaviors will make controlling your vehicle in inclement weather even more difficult.

Flashing red lights, lowered crossing gates, and/or bells at a railroad crossing mean that you must come to a complete stop. You must not go across the tracks until the lights and bells have stopped and the crossing gates are completely up. Do not drive around or under a gate that is moving up or down.

This sign indicates that there is a flagger ahead controlling traffic in a construction area.

Regulatory signs inform drivers of specific laws that must be obeyed. Displayed laws may be about traffic direction, lane use, turning, speed, parking, or special situations. Regulatory signs are commonly white squares or rectangles with black, red, or green letters or symbols.

When making a left turn, you should always begin signaling about 100 feet before the turn. You should keep your front wheels aiming straight ahead until it is safe to start your turn. This ensures that you will not be pushed into oncoming traffic if another vehicle hits you from behind.

Warning signs are used to warn drivers about upcoming hazardous conditions and are usually yellow with black markings. This sign warns drivers that the road ahead curves to the right and then to the left.

When passing another vehicle, move back into your original lane only when you can see the passed vehicle’s headlights in your rearview mirror. This ensures that you will have enough room to safely pull back in front of the other vehicle.

By definition, blind spots are areas that cannot be seen using your mirrors. To check your blind spots, you should look over your shoulders.

A broken yellow line alongside a solid yellow line means that passing is allowed from the lane on the side next to the broken line.

Hydroplaning occurs when there is standing water on a roadway. At speeds up to 35 mph, most tires will channel water away from the tire. As your speed increases past 35 mph, tires cannot channel the water as well and your tires may start to lose contact with the road and ride over the water like a set of water skis.

If your vehicle’s right wheels leave the pavement, don't panic. Take your foot off the accelerator and steer parallel to the road. Slow down and ease back onto the roadway by keeping both hands on the steering wheel and steering into the road’s right lane with a small turn of the steering wheel. Check for traffic around you before steering back onto the pavement.

Driving during the first half hour of rainfall is dangerous because roadways become extremely slippery when the water mixes with oil and other chemicals on the road surfaces that have not yet washed away. Use extra caution when driving on slippery roads.

Large vehicles require longer distances to stop and accelerate than smaller vehicles do. Making a sudden stop in front of a large vehicle is dangerous because the other driver may not be able to stop in time to avoid a collision.

Bicycles are considered vehicles when used on roadways. Bicyclists and motorists are expected to follow the same rules of the road.

If there is danger, you may need to sound a sharp blast on your horn. Do this when a child or any other pedestrian is about to enter into the street in front of your moving vehicle.

Before changing lanes, you should activate your turn signal in the appropriate direction and check your rearview and side mirrors. Look over your shoulder in the direction you plan to move in order to check your blind spot and check the far lane to be sure no one else is trying to enter the same lane as you. Change lanes when you are sure it is safe to do so.