Missouri: Distracted driving — Part 1 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “Good driving requires you to look in which directions?” · “When you feel tired, what becomes harder?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Missouri Driver Guide" (Revised August 2026), Missouri Department of Revenue.
All 20 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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Good driving requires you to look in which directions?
- Down the road, to the sides, and behind your vehicle
- Only straight ahead and in the rearview mirror
- Only at the vehicle in front of you
- Mostly at the sides of the road, rarely behind
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Correct answer: Down the road, to the sides, and behind your vehicle
You must look down the road, to the sides, and behind your vehicle, and be alert for unexpected events.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 37)
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According to the manual, why do many crashes occur?
- Roads are not wide enough for modern vehicles
- Traffic signs are placed too far apart
- Drivers do not pay enough attention to their driving
- Vehicles are not inspected often enough
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Correct answer: Drivers do not pay enough attention to their driving
Many crashes occur because drivers do not pay enough attention to their driving.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 37)
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For how long at any one time should you take your eyes off the road?
- No more than half a minute
- No more than a few seconds
- No more than one minute
- No more than fifteen seconds
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Correct answer: No more than a few seconds
The manual says not to take your eyes off the road for more than a few seconds at any one time.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 37)
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If you need to look at a map, what should you do?
- Slow down and read it on the road
- Hold it at the top of the steering wheel
- Glance at it only on straight stretches
- Pull safely off the road
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Correct answer: Pull safely off the road
You should pull safely off the road to look at a map, never read it while driving.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 37 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 37)
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What causes highway hypnosis?
- Heavy traffic and frequent lane changes
- The sameness of the road and traffic
- Bright sunlight on the road surface
- Driving at speeds well above the limit
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Correct answer: The sameness of the road and traffic
Highway hypnosis is caused by the sameness of the road and traffic, and the hum of the wind, tires, and engine adds to it.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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Highway hypnosis can make you feel what?
- Sleepy and unaware of the traffic around you
- Anxious and overly alert to the traffic nearby
- Hungry and impatient to reach the next exit
- Angry at other drivers on the highway
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Correct answer: Sleepy and unaware of the traffic around you
Highway hypnosis can make you feel sleepy and unaware of the traffic around you.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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How can you avoid highway hypnosis?
- By keeping your eyes fixed on the center of the lane ahead
- By turning the radio up loud to keep yourself alert
- By constantly moving your eyes and watching traffic and signs
- By driving faster so there is less time to get bored
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Correct answer: By constantly moving your eyes and watching traffic and signs
You can avoid highway hypnosis by constantly moving your eyes and watching the traffic and highway signs around you.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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If you feel sleepy while driving on a highway, what should you do?
- Open the windows and keep driving until you reach your exit
- Pull off the highway at the nearest rest stop or service area
- Drive slower in the right lane until you feel awake again
- Turn on the radio and keep driving with the flashers on
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Correct answer: Pull off the highway at the nearest rest stop or service area
When you feel sleepy, you pull off the highway at the nearest rest stop or service area.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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If you are really sleepy, what should you do?
- Drink water and continue driving
- Turn the radio on loud and keep driving
- Drive slowly with your flashers on
- Take a nap
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Correct answer: Take a nap
If you are really sleepy, you should take a nap.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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Tired drivers can be as dangerous as which other drivers?
- Drivers who are speeding
- Drivers who are lost
- Intoxicated drivers
- Drivers in heavy traffic
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Correct answer: Intoxicated drivers
Tired drivers are a great danger to themselves and others and can be as dangerous as intoxicated drivers.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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When you feel tired, what becomes harder?
- Making decisions and reacting to traffic
- Seeing road signs and markings at a distance
- Remembering the route to your destination
- Judging the width of the lane you are in
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Correct answer: Making decisions and reacting to traffic
When you feel tired, it is harder to make decisions and to react to the traffic around you.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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According to the manual, what are distractions?
- Events that make you drive faster than the speed limit
- Things that only affect drivers under 18
- Things that happen only on busy highways
- Events or things that prevent you from operating your car safely
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Correct answer: Events or things that prevent you from operating your car safely
The manual defines distractions as events or things that prevent you from operating your car safely.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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Whose safety does the manual say all distractions endanger?
- Driver safety only, not passengers or bystanders
- Driver, passenger, and bystander safety
- Passenger safety only, not the driver or others
- Only the safety of other drivers on the road
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Correct answer: Driver, passenger, and bystander safety
The manual says all distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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Which of these does the manual call by far the most high risk distraction?
- Eating and drinking
- Text messaging
- Talking to passengers
- Adjusting a radio
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Correct answer: Text messaging
Because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most high risk distraction.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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Why is text messaging described as by far the most high risk distraction?
- It takes the driver’s hearing and attention away from the road
- It is done only at high speeds on highways
- It lasts longer than any other distraction in the car
- It requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver
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Correct answer: It requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver
Text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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According to the manual, what is against the law for any person to do while operating a vehicle?
- Read, write, or send a text message or electronic message
- Talk with a passenger in the front seat of the vehicle
- Drink water from a bottle while driving a vehicle
- Adjust the climate controls on the dashboard
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Correct answer: Read, write, or send a text message or electronic message
It is against the law for any person to read, write, or send a text message or electronic message while operating a vehicle.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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If you need to attend to your young children while driving, what does the manual say to do?
- Reach back to them while driving slowly
- Ask them to unbuckle so you can see them
- Pull over to a safe place
- Turn on the dome light and keep driving
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Correct answer: Pull over to a safe place
The manual says if you need to attend to your children, pull over to a safe place and not try to handle children while you are driving.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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Where does the manual say arguments and other disturbing conversations with passengers should be held?
- Only while you are stopped in traffic
- Only on a freeway with light traffic
- In a safe, appropriate place, not while you are driving
- Only after the passengers have been quiet for a while
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Correct answer: In a safe, appropriate place, not while you are driving
Arguments and other disturbing conversations should be held in a safe, appropriate place, not while you are driving in your vehicle.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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How does the manual say to carry a pet in a moving vehicle?
- Secured in a pet carrier, portable kennel, or specially designed pet harness
- Loose on the back seat of the vehicle so that it stays calm
- On the front passenger’s lap with a short leash attached to the seat
- On the floor of the front seat area next to the driver’s feet
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Correct answer: Secured in a pet carrier, portable kennel, or specially designed pet harness
The manual says to properly secure your pet in a pet carrier, portable kennel, or specially designed pet harness when you are driving.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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What does the manual say about allowing your pet to sit on your lap while you drive?
- Allow it only on short trips
- Allow it only if the pet is small
- Allow it only on roads with little traffic
- Never allow it
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Correct answer: Never allow it
The manual says never to allow your pet to sit on your lap while you are driving your vehicle.
Source: Missouri Driver Guide (Revised August 2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)