Louisiana CAR DMV Practice Test 20

The exhaust system carries exhaust gas out of the vehicle and prevents fumes from entering into the passenger compartment. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, keep your exhaust system free of leaks. Replace all defective parts immediately.

If you arrive to an open intersection at the same time as a vehicle to your right, you should yield the right-of-way to that vehicle. You may then proceed when it is safe to do so.

Consuming alcohol and other drugs together can increase the impairing effects of both. For example, having one drink while you are also using a cold remedy could affect you as much as several drinks would when being consumed separately from any medications.

Warning signs prepare drivers for upcoming road conditions and hazards and are usually yellow with black markings. This sign tells drivers to be aware of potential traffic entering from an upcoming side road.

You should always turn from the lane that is closest to the direction you want to go. Turn into the lane closest to your previous lane.

Use hand-over-hand steering to turn while driving at low speeds, such as when turning at an intersection or when parking your vehicle. To begin, your left hand should grasp the steering wheel between 8 and 9 o’clock and your right hand should grasp the wheel between 3 and 4 o’clock.

A steady red traffic light indicates that drivers must come to a complete stop. Driving through a red light is against the law and is extremely dangerous. Drivers may turn right on a steady red light if there is no sign prohibiting a turn on red.

If another driver is threatening you or intentionally driving dangerously around you, remain calm and try to put as much distance between the two of you as possible. Slow down and let them pass. Do not make eye contact and do not make obscene gestures.

A flashing red light means the same thing as a stop sign. If you encounter a flashing red light, you should come to a complete stop, yield to appropriate traffic and pedestrians, and only proceed when it is safe to do so.

In some metropolitan areas, traffic lights are horizontal instead of vertical. On these signals, the red light is on the left, the yellow light is in the middle, and the green light is on the right.

Increase your following distance to at least four seconds when following a motorcycle. If the motorcycle and its rider should fall, you will need extra space to avoid the obstacle.

You should always slow down when driving on narrow or winding roads, near intersections, near railroad crossings, on hills, in sharp or blind curves, where there are pedestrians or driving hazards, and when the roads are wet or slippery.

New spring growth often causes seasonal allergies and over-the-counter allergy medications can have side effects that diminish your driving ability. Slow down on slick roads and increase your following distance when rain or mist begins to fall. Just a small amount of water can mix with oil and grease on the roadway to create slippery conditions. If possible, travel around potholes.

For drivers age 21 or older, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is not only illegal, but dangerous.

When driving near a blind pedestrian who is carrying a white cane or walking with a guide dog, you must slow down, yield the right-of-way, and then proceed with caution. Be prepared to stop your vehicle in order to prevent injury or danger to the pedestrian.

You should turn your head to check your blind spots before every lane change.

Warning signs are usually diamond-shaped with black markings on a yellow background. They alert drivers to upcoming hazards. This sign indicates that there may be pedestrians crossing the road ahead.

As speeds increase, much less steering input is needed to move the vehicle to the left or right. Additionally, when anti-lock brakes are engaged or your vehicle is forced off the roadway, it may be necessary to limit your steering input to avoid moving out of your lane of travel and into other lanes of travel. Do not overcorrect, especially when driving at high speeds.

The ability to drive safely is dependent on the driver being in good physical condition. Driving can be impaired by alcohol, legal and illegal drugs, and being drowsy.

A flashing red traffic light has the same meaning as a stop sign. You must stop, yield the right-of-way, and go once it is safe.

If an aggressive driver cuts you off on the roadway, stay calm and get out of their way. Trying to get even with an aggressive driver risks escalating the situation and increasing the danger.

Check your mirrors for vehicles approaching quickly when you are traveling down hills or mountains. Vehicles often build up speed when being driven down a steep grade. Be especially alert to large trucks and buses that may be going too fast.

Each time you pass another vehicle, there is an increased chance for a collision. If you are moving faster than surrounding traffic, you will have to continue passing others. Drive with the flow of traffic, within the legal speed limit, and pass only as needed.

If a tire blows out while you are driving, hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the car headed straight down the road. Ease your foot off the gas pedal and do not apply the brakes until you have complete control. When the car is under control, brake gently and pull off the road at the nearest safe location.

Yellow lines tell you that the traffic on the other side of the lines is moving in the opposite direction. You should never cross two solid yellow lines to pass from either direction.

Telltale signs of drunk driving include speeding, weaving, driving more slowly than the normal traffic flow, making jerking motions, and making quick and sudden stops.

Regulatory signs are white, rectangular signs with black markings. Drivers must obey the instructions posted on all regulatory signs. Where this sign is posted, it is prohibited for drivers to pass one another.

Be prepared to reduce your speed and use caution when directed to do so by a sign, crossing guard, or law enforcement officer. Always drive with extra caution in a school zone.

This sign indicates that right turns are prohibited. Do not make a right turn at an intersection where this sign is posted.

Unless a posted sign indicates otherwise, a traffic signal displaying a red arrow means that drivers must come to a full stop and remain stopped until a green light or green arrow appears.

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

Curve and turn warning signs often have attached advisory speed signs that show a recommended driving speed for drivers in the curves and turns. Although a driver may feel comfortable driving at a higher speed in fair weather, they should never do so under rainy, snowy, or icy conditions.

A flashing yellow light warns of a hazard. Slow down and proceed with caution.

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.

When driving on wet roads, drivers should increase their following distance.

Warning signs prepare drivers for upcoming road conditions and hazards and are usually yellow with black markings. This sign tells drivers that they may encounter traffic coming from the opposite direction.

A green light tells you that you can go through the intersection. However, you must first yield the right-of-way to traffic and pedestrians who are still in the intersection.

Stopping distances increase on wet or icy roads. Stopping distances also increase on road surfaces covered in loose gravel or stones.

Because it is dark, drivers cannot see as well at night as they can during the day. From one half hour after sunset until one half hour before sunrise, or at any other time when persons or vehicles are not visible for 500 feet, drivers must use their headlights.

For many, driving may seem almost automatic. However, driving is a complex activity mastered over time that should not be taken for granted. Driving is a privilege, not a right.