Minnesota CAR DMV Practice Test 6

You drive defensively when you identify dangerous driving situations and take action before an accident occurs. Defensive driving helps prevent conflicts with aggressive, offensive, discourteous, careless, inattentive, impulsive, ignorant, or intoxicated drivers or pedestrians.

As an increasing number of drivers populate the roadways, road rage becomes more prevalent. To help prevent road rage, a driver should use proper turn signals, obey posted speed limits, and allow plenty of travel time.

White lines are used to separate traffic moving in the same direction. Solid lines indicate that drivers are not permitted to pass.

When intending to back up, always check behind your vehicle before getting in. Children and small objects are difficult to see from the driver’s seat. While backing, turn your head so you can see through the rear window. Do not depend only on your mirrors or sensors.

Factors that can affect braking distance include how fast your vehicle is traveling, the condition of your brakes and tires, and the condition of the pavement.

When roads are wet, cars take a longer distance to stop and may skid on quick turns. Do not use cruise control when driving under wet or icy conditions. Reduce your speed and drive with caution.

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.

If you are being tailgated by another driver and there is a right lane, move over to the right. If there is no right lane, wait until the road ahead is clear and then reduce your speed slowly. This will encourage the tailgater to drive around you. Never slow down abruptly as this will only increase the risk of your vehicle being hit from behind.

This sign means that it is not safe for drivers to enter the indicated road or driveway from their current direction. If you come across one of these signs, you should immediately turn around and drive a different way.

Drivers must be aware that large vehicles often travel at a speed slower than the posted speed limit, especially when driving on an incline, and should use caution when approaching a large vehicle from the rear. When on a hill with limited visibility, it is unlawful to pass another vehicle.

A "No stopping" sign means you can only stop to obey a traffic signal, to obey a police officer, or to prevent a conflict with another vehicle.

The faster you are driving, the longer it will take for you to stop to react to other drivers' unexpected moves.

If their vehicle loses traction on a slippery road, a driver with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) needs to press down hard on the brake pedal, hold it, and steer out of danger. In an emergency situation, the ABS automatically pumps the brakes at a faster rate than the driver could. Removing steady pressure from the brake pedal or pumping the brakes will disengage the ABS.

Fluorescent yellow-green is used as the background color for pedestrian, bicycle, and school warning signs. Use extra caution when driving around these signs.

If your wheels drop off the pavement and onto a low shoulder, you should reduce your speed without braking and very carefully turn back onto the pavement. Be aware of any nearby traffic when re-entering the road.

When entering a roundabout, you must yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles that are already in the roundabout.

To avoid becoming fatigued while taking a long trip, stop every two hours for a short break. If you become drowsy, pull off the road and park in a safe place to take a nap, or find a room to stay for the night.

A flashing red light means that you must stop, yield to traffic and pedestrians, and go only when it is safe. At a railroad crossing, a flashing red light indicates that a train is approaching. Yield to the train, and go only when the lights have stopped flashing and all other active warning devices deactivate.

If you follow too closely and the vehicle in front of you slows or stops suddenly, you may not have enough time to avoid a collision.

A speed limit is the maximum or minimum legal speed you can travel on a road under ideal conditions. You may drive more slowly than the posted speed, but it is illegal to drive any faster. You must drive more slowly where signs or signs indicate a school zone or work zone speed limit. If conditions such as road construction or bad weather make the posted speed unsafe, drive under the speed limit.

Driving too fast for conditions is a major cause of motor vehicle crashes. Being inattentive to surroundings can cause a driver to collide with other vehicles. Most rear-end collisions are caused by drivers following other vehicles too closely.

If there is an available passing lane, you may pass on the right of a vehicle or bicycle that is turning left or waiting to turn left. It is also legal to pass on the right when driving on a multilane road with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction. You may never drive off the pavement or main-traveled portion of the road to pass another vehicle.

If you hear a siren or an air horn close by but do not know exactly where the emergency vehicle is, safely pull over to the right side of the road and stop until you are sure it is not headed toward you.

This sign marks parking spaces that are reserved for people with disabled parking permits.

If you drive past these signs, you are going the wrong way and are at risk of a head-on collision. You should cautiously turn around.

Using a phone while driving is a distraction that increases your risk of being involved in a crash.

Any time you want to change lanes, you should properly signal your intentions well in advance, check your mirrors, and check your blind spot. You can check your blind spot by glancing over your shoulder in the direction that you plan to move.

Even the smallest amount of alcohol will reduce your concentration, perception, judgment and memory, and your driving skills will suffer. No one can drink and drive safely.

If your vehicle's turn signals do not work, you should use hand signals to indicate when you intend to change direction.

Stop before the stop line or crosswalk at any intersection that is controlled by a stop sign. If there is a stop sign but no stop line or crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection and proceed when it is safe to do so.

You should not use cruise control on snow, in rain, in fog, or under similar hazardous conditions. Winter is the most difficult driving season and requires extra caution from drivers. It is important to consistently check your antifreeze and windshield washer fluid levels. Using snow tires can increase a vehicle's traction on the surface of slippery roads.

Before passing, you must make sure the passing lane is clear and give the proper turn signal to show you are going to change lanes.

Drivers must be especially careful when driving near a cyclist and should maintain a safe operating distance between their vehicle and the cyclist.

You are required to stop at all railroad crossings when signals warn of an approaching train. These signals may include flashing red lights, a lowered crossing gate, a flagger signaling, or a train’s audible signal of warning. Do not attempt to go around a lowered gate.

The combination of alcohol and drugs, in some cases, can increase the effects of both the drugs and alcohol. It can be unsafe to drive after consuming either alcohol or drugs and is even more dangerous after combining them.

An eight-sided sign always means "stop." You must come to a complete stop and wait for any vehicles or pedestrians to clear the way before proceeding.

This sign indicates that left turns are prohibited.

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.

Only the passage of time will allow a person to overcome the influence of alcohol.

When you park on a downward-facing slope, turn your wheels sharply toward the side of the road. This way, if your vehicle starts to roll downhill, it will roll away from traffic.