South Dakota Car / Permit: Safe Driving Practices Practice Test

Question 1

What is the recommended body and hand position for backing a vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Left hand at the top of the wheel, right arm on the seat back, looking out the rear window — Hold the top of the wheel with your left hand, rest your right arm along the passenger seat back, and turn to look directly through the rear window instead of trusting the mirrors.

Answer

Both hands at 3 and 9 while watching the mirrors

Answer

Both hands at the bottom of the wheel

Answer

One hand on the gear selector, watching only the backup camera

Question 2

Where does the manual say your hands belong on the steering wheel?

Accepted Answer

At 3 and 9 o'clock — Hands go on opposite sides of the rim at 3 and 9 o'clock; the older 2 and 10 placement is discouraged because of air bag deployment.

Answer

Both hands at 12 o'clock

Answer

One hand at 6 o'clock

Answer

At 2 and 10 o'clock

Question 3

An officer signals you to pull over. What does the manual suggest doing first?

Accepted Answer

Turn on your right turn signal to acknowledge the officer — Switch on your right turn signal to show the officer you have seen them, then move onto the right shoulder.

Answer

Stop immediately in your lane

Answer

Move to the center median

Answer

Step out and walk back to the patrol car

Question 4

Which months does the manual single out as the peak for vehicle-versus-deer crashes in South Dakota?

Accepted Answer

October and November — October and November record the highest number of deer collisions.

Answer

June and July

Answer

December and January

Answer

March and April

Question 5

At what distance from an oncoming vehicle must you switch your high beams down to low?

Accepted Answer

500 feet — Dim them once you are within 500 feet of a vehicle coming toward you, roughly one city block away.

Answer

1,000 feet

Answer

100 feet

Answer

200 feet

Question 6

Which steering technique does the manual recommend for turning a sharp corner?

Accepted Answer

Hand-over-hand steering — Use hand-over-hand steering through the corner, then straighten the wheel with your hands instead of letting it spin back.

Answer

Letting the wheel slide freely through your fingers

Answer

Palming the wheel with one hand

Answer

Gripping the wheel from the inside

Question 7

Which simple rule does the manual give for deciding when to switch on your headlights in bad weather?

Accepted Answer

If the wipers are on, the headlights go on — If conditions have you running the wipers, the headlights should be on too.

Answer

Use parking lights instead when it rains

Answer

Use high beams whenever it rains

Answer

Turn them on only after dark

Question 8

You are stopped at an intersection where parked vehicles block your view of the cross street. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Edge forward slowly until you can see — Creep forward a little at a time until you can see; moving slowly also lets crossing drivers spot your front bumper and react.

Answer

Sound the horn and go

Answer

Back up and choose another route

Answer

Accelerate quickly through the gap

Question 9

How often does the manual suggest stopping on a long trip to hold off fatigue?

Accepted Answer

Every 100 miles or 2 hours — Plan a break roughly every 100 miles or every two hours.

Answer

Only when you feel sleepy

Answer

Once per day of travel

Answer

Every 300 miles or 5 hours

Question 10

Which searching order does the manual recommend before you pull into an intersection?

Accepted Answer

Left, right, then left again — Glance left, then right, then left once more before entering.

Answer

Right, then left

Answer

Straight ahead only

Answer

Mirrors first, then straight ahead

Question 11

How does the manual define aggressive driving?

Accepted Answer

Deliberate conduct that endangers other people or property — It is deliberate conduct behind the wheel that puts other people or property at risk, such as speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes and ignoring traffic control devices.

Answer

Driving without a seatbelt

Answer

Using the horn more than twice

Answer

Any speeding of more than 10 mph over the limit

Question 12

Your headlights catch the reflection of eyes at the roadside. What does the manual advise?

Accepted Answer

Slow down, sound the horn and watch for more than one deer — Slow down, sound the horn, be ready to stop, and expect more animals, because deer rarely travel alone.

Answer

Turn off the headlights briefly

Answer

Flash the high beams and hold your speed

Answer

Swerve toward the shoulder immediately

South Dakota Car / Permit: Safe Driving Practices practice test

Study questions with answers

1. What is the recommended body and hand position for backing a vehicle?

2. Where does the manual say your hands belong on the steering wheel?

3. An officer signals you to pull over. What does the manual suggest doing first?

4. Which months does the manual single out as the peak for vehicle-versus-deer crashes in South Dakota?

5. At what distance from an oncoming vehicle must you switch your high beams down to low?

6. Which steering technique does the manual recommend for turning a sharp corner?

7. Which simple rule does the manual give for deciding when to switch on your headlights in bad weather?

8. You are stopped at an intersection where parked vehicles block your view of the cross street. What should you do?

9. How often does the manual suggest stopping on a long trip to hold off fatigue?

10. Which searching order does the manual recommend before you pull into an intersection?

11. How does the manual define aggressive driving?

12. Your headlights catch the reflection of eyes at the roadside. What does the manual advise?

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