Traffic Laws

Study questions with answers

12 sample Traffic Laws questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. Which vehicles are always required to stop at every railroad grade crossing in Minnesota?

   Correct answer: Passenger buses, school buses, and placarded vehicles

   Buses carrying passengers, school buses whether loaded or empty, and placarded vehicles must stop at all railroad grade crossings.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Railroad Grade Crossing)

2. 2. In a work zone where traffic is backing up at a 'lane closed ahead' sign, what does the zipper merge ask drivers to do?

   Correct answer: Stay in the current lane to the merge point, then alternate

   The zipper merge asks drivers to stay in their current lane up to the merge point and then take turns easing into the open lane.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Zipper Merge)

3. 3. A driver whose CDL is disqualified may, if qualified, be issued a limited license for which kind of driving only?

   Correct answer: Class D non-commercial driving

   A limited license is not issued for a Class A, B, or C license; if qualified, one may be issued only for Class D (non-commercial) driving.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Other Offenses)

4. 4. It is unlawful to lend your Minnesota driver's license or ID card to another person. Doing so is generally treated as what?

   Correct answer: A misdemeanor

   Lending your license or ID to someone else is one of the listed unlawful acts, and most such violations are a misdemeanor.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Unlawful acts relating to your driver's license)

5. 5. A driver may cross a marked bicycle lane before turning under what condition?

   Correct answer: Only after yielding to approaching bicyclists and checking that it is clear

   It is illegal to drive in a bicycle lane except to enter or leave the road or to prepare for a turn, and only after yielding to any approaching bicyclists.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Sharing the Road with Bicyclists)

6. 6. A restricted seasonal CDL limits commercial driving to a period that may not exceed how many days in a calendar year?

   Correct answer: 210 days

   The standard restricted seasonal CDL allows commercial operation only during a selected period that cannot go beyond 210 days per calendar year.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Restricted Seasonal Commercial Driver's License)

7. 7. Cargo carried on a truck or truck tractor must be re-inspected for securement within the first how many miles of a trip?

   Correct answer: 50 miles

   Drivers must inspect cargo securement within the first 50 miles of a trip and then again every 150 miles or three hours, whichever comes first.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 3: Transporting Cargo Safely (Inspecting Cargo)

8. 8. What is the minimum tread depth required in every major groove on the front tires of a commercial vehicle?

   Correct answer: 4/32 inch

   Front tires need at least 4/32 inch of tread depth in every major groove, while other tires need at least 2/32 inch.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Tire Problems)

9. 9. When a signal, gate, or approaching train requires stopping at a railroad crossing, where must the driver stop?

   Correct answer: Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail

   The vehicle must stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail of the nearest track.

   Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Railroad Grade Crossing)

10. 10. In a multi-lane roundabout, if a very long or wide combination of vehicles and another vehicle arrive at about the same time, who must yield?

    Correct answer: The vehicle on the right yields to the one on the left

    For large combinations exceeding 40 feet in length or 10 feet in width, the vehicle on the right must yield to the vehicle on the left and slow or stop if needed.

    Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Large Vehicles Must Yield in Roundabouts)

11. 11. A CMV driver may not hold a phone, but which action is also treated as prohibited hand-held use?

    Correct answer: Pressing more than a single button to dial

    Dialing by pressing more than a single button, or reaching for the phone in a way that moves you out of the seated, belted driving position, is prohibited hand-held use.

    Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Part A (Hand-held Mobile Telephone)

12. 12. Beyond communicating with law enforcement or emergency services, when may a CMV driver use a hand-held mobile phone while driving?

    Correct answer: There is no other time it is permitted

    The only exception to the hand-held ban is an emergency requiring contact with law enforcement or other emergency services; otherwise hand-held use is prohibited.

    Source: Minnesota CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Cell/Mobile Phones)