South Dakota Car / Permit practice
South Dakota Car / Permit: Traffic Laws practice test
Speed limits, turning and signaling rules, headlight and seat-belt requirements, and the everyday laws every driver must follow.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
13 questions · pass with 10 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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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.
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1. How much light must pass through the windows beside the driver's seat in South Dakota?
Correct answer: At least 35 percent
Film or glazing on the windshield and on the side windows next to the driver may not cut light transmittance below 35 percent.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Before You Drive, Windshield & Windows
2. You are on a South Dakota interstate and a stopped vehicle ahead is displaying amber warning lights. What does the move-over law require?
Correct answer: Merge into the lane farthest from it at least 300 feet before reaching it
On a road with two or more lanes going your way, you must move into the lane farthest from the stopped vehicle at least 300 feet ahead of it and pass carefully.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Attention: Move Over Law
3. What makes a load on your vehicle or trailer legally secure in South Dakota?
Correct answer: Nothing can slide, shift, fall or blow off onto the roadway
A load counts as secure only when nothing can slide, shift, drop or sift out onto the road or blow away.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Before You Drive, Secure Your Load
4. A snowplow ahead has its red or amber lights on and the posted limit is 45 mph. How far back must you stay?
Correct answer: 200 feet
Where the posted limit is 35 mph or higher, drivers must keep at least 200 feet between themselves and a snowplow showing those lights.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Special Driving Situations, Winter Driving Safety Tips
5. What does South Dakota law say about carrying your driver license while you drive?
Correct answer: It must be in your immediate possession while driving
Every licensed driver must keep the license on their person whenever they operate a vehicle and show it when a judge, magistrate or peace officer asks.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — The Driver's License, Licensing Requirements
6. How do traffic signs and signals apply to a funeral procession in South Dakota?
Correct answer: Only the first vehicle must obey them
Only the lead vehicle has to obey the signs and signals; the rest follow with headlights burning, and other drivers must not cut into the line.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Rules of the Road, Funeral Processions
7. South Dakota requires a child under five to ride in a child passenger restraint system. When may an ordinary seatbelt be used instead?
Correct answer: Once the child reaches 40 pounds
A child who is not yet five satisfies the requirement in a seatbelt once the child weighs at least 40 pounds.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Before You Drive, Child Passenger Safety Laws
8. A school bus ahead switches on its flashing red lights and swings out its stop arm. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop, unless a physical barrier divides the roadway
Drivers must halt for those signals in every case except where a physical barrier divides the roadway, and may move again only after the lights stop and the arm folds in.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — General Driving, Rules for School Buses
9. Where does South Dakota forbid a U-turn because of limited sight distance?
Correct answer: On a curve or near a hillcrest where you cannot be seen from 500 feet
You may not turn around on a curve or near the top of a rise on an undivided road when other drivers cannot see you from 500 feet away.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — General Driving, U-Turns
10. Which of these is banned outright by South Dakota law for every driver?
Correct answer: Texting, reading texts and social networking
State law forbids sending texts, reading them, and using social networking sites from behind the wheel.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Be in Shape to Drive, Driver Distractions
11. What extra communication restriction applies to instruction permit and restricted minor's permit holders?
Correct answer: They may not use any wireless communication device while driving
Those permit holders may not use any kind of wireless communication device at all while driving on public roads.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — The Driver's License, Types of Driver's Licenses and Driver's Permits
12. You realize you have just passed your exit on a South Dakota interstate. What does the manual tell you to do?
Correct answer: Continue to the next exit
Backing up on the interstate is never allowed and drivers may not cross the median, so you continue to the following exit.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — General Driving, Proper Driving Techniques on the Interstate
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Every South Dakota question is written from the official South Dakota driver handbook and checked against its current edition. DMV Test Free is a free, independent study resource — not affiliated with any DMV or government agency. About DMV Test Free