New Jersey: Distracted driving — Part 1 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “Under the 'Stay Alert' promise of the Safety Pledge to Nikhil, what will a driver strive to do?” · “Besides fines and points, what other penalty may apply for violating New Jersey's handheld cell phone law?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "New Jersey Driver Manual" (2026), New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).
All 19 questions in this practice test
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Under the 'Stay Alert' promise of the Safety Pledge to Nikhil, what will a driver strive to do?
- Drive only during daylight hours
- Keep hands on the wheel and mind on the road
- Listen to radio traffic reports the whole time
- Stop for a rest every 30 minutes
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Correct answer: Keep hands on the wheel and mind on the road
The 'Stay Alert' promise is to strive to keep your hands on the wheel and your mind on the road.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 32 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 32)
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Under the 'Talk Safe' promise of the Safety Pledge to Nikhil, how will a driver use a cell phone while driving?
- Texting is fine while stopped at a red light or in traffic
- Hand-held calls are fine if they last under one minute
- Hands-free only; no texting or handset unless pulled over
- Speakerphone is fine while holding the phone in one hand
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Correct answer: Hands-free only; no texting or handset unless pulled over
Under 'Talk Safe', the driver will use a hands-free cell phone system and will not text or use a handset unless they pull over.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 32 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 32)
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In New Jersey, using a handheld cell phone or texting device while driving is what kind of offense?
- A warning-only offense that carries no fine
- A secondary offense, cited only with another violation
- Not an offense unless it causes a crash
- A primary offense, so police may stop you just for it
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Correct answer: A primary offense, so police may stop you just for it
Using a handheld cell phone or texting device is a primary offense; police may stop and cite a motorist specifically for it.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 85 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 85)
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In New Jersey, may a fully licensed driver (not a GDL holder or school bus driver) use a hands-free cell phone while driving?
- Yes, but only while driving on a highway
- Only when a passenger holds the phone for them
- No, any use of a phone while driving is illegal for every driver in the state
- Yes, if it does not interfere with safety equipment or safe driving
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Correct answer: Yes, if it does not interfere with safety equipment or safe driving
Motorists may use a hands-free phone if it does not interfere with federally required safety equipment or safe operation of the vehicle, although it is strongly discouraged.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 85 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 85)
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In New Jersey, which of these is one of the emergency situations in which a handheld cell phone may be used while driving?
- A serious road hazard
- Looking up directions to an address
- A call from your employer
- Running late for an appointment
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Correct answer: A serious road hazard
A handheld phone may be used only in certain emergencies: a fire, traffic crash, serious road hazard, medical emergency, or hazardous material emergency.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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When using a handheld phone while driving during a permitted emergency in New Jersey, what must you do?
- Turn on your hazard flashers the whole time
- Keep one hand on the steering wheel
- Drive no faster than 25 mph
- Keep the call under one minute
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Correct answer: Keep one hand on the steering wheel
Motorists using a handheld phone in one of the permitted emergencies must keep one hand on the steering wheel.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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How may a New Jersey motorist be asked to prove that using a handheld phone while driving was legal?
- With a signed note from any passenger
- With statements from authorities or telephone records
- With a signed letter from the motorist's own insurance company
- With a screenshot of the phone's screen
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Correct answer: With statements from authorities or telephone records
A motorist may be asked to produce testimony or written statements from appropriate authorities, or telephone records, to prove legal use.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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What is the fine for a first offense of illegally using a handheld cell phone while driving in New Jersey?
- $400 to $600
- $100 to $250
- $200 to $400
- $600 to $800
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Correct answer: $200 to $400
The fine for a first offense is $200-$400.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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In New Jersey, what is the fine for a second handheld cell phone offense within 10 years of the first?
- $400 to $600
- $200 to $400
- $800 to $1,000
- $600 to $800
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Correct answer: $400 to $600
A second offense within 10 years of the first carries a fine of $400-$600.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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In New Jersey, what is the fine for a third handheld cell phone offense within 10 years of the second, and for any later offense?
- $400 to $600
- $800 to $1,000
- $1,000 to $1,500
- $600 to $800
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Correct answer: $600 to $800
A third offense within 10 years of the second, and all subsequent offenses, carry a fine of $600-$800.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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Besides fines and points, what other penalty may apply for violating New Jersey's handheld cell phone law?
- Loss of the vehicle registration
- A 90-day license suspension
- A one-year license revocation
- A mandatory 30-day jail term
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Correct answer: A 90-day license suspension
In addition to the fines and points, there may be a 90-day license suspension.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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What does New Jersey's "Kulesh's, Kuberts' and Bolis' Law," enacted in 2012, establish?
- Drivers under 21 may not carry any cell phone anywhere inside the vehicle while it is moving
- Police officers may search any driver's cell phone during a routine traffic stop without needing a warrant
- Illegal phone use while driving counts as recklessness in vehicular homicide and assault by auto cases
- All new vehicles sold in the state must include a built-in hands-free phone system
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Correct answer: Illegal phone use while driving counts as recklessness in vehicular homicide and assault by auto cases
The law establishes illegal cell phone use while driving as recklessness under the vehicular homicide and assault by auto statutes, making convictions easier to obtain.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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Under New Jersey law, may a graduated driver license (GDL) holder use a hands-free cell phone while driving?
- No, handheld and hands-free phones are both banned
- Yes, for calls that last under two minutes
- Yes, but only with a parent in the vehicle
- Yes, as long as the phone is mounted on the dashboard
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Correct answer: No, handheld and hands-free phones are both banned
A GDL holder may not use a handheld or hands-free cell phone, or any other handheld electronic device, when behind the wheel; doing so violates GDL restrictions.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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When may a New Jersey school bus driver use a hands-free cell phone while operating a school bus?
- Only while stopped at a red traffic light
- Any time, as long as the phone is hands-free
- Only in an emergency or when parked safely off the highway
- Only when there are no children or other passengers on board the bus
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Correct answer: Only in an emergency or when parked safely off the highway
A school bus driver may not use a handheld or hands-free phone while operating a school bus, except in an emergency or when the bus is parked in a safe area off a highway.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 86 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 86)
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Even though New Jersey's handheld cell phone law has emergency exceptions, what does the manual say is always safest before making a call?
- Slowing down to 25 mph
- Pulling over to the side of the road
- Turning on the hazard lights while driving
- Moving into the right lane
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Correct answer: Pulling over to the side of the road
Even with the emergency exceptions to the handheld phone law, it is always safest to pull over to the side of the road before making a call.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 91 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 91)
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How many types of driving distractions does the New Jersey Driver Manual describe?
- Two
- Four
- Five
- Three
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Correct answer: Four
The manual describes four types of driving distractions: visual, manual, cognitive and auditory.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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Which type of driving distraction is any task that takes a driver's eyes off the road?
- Cognitive
- Auditory
- Visual
- Manual
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Correct answer: Visual
A visual distraction is any task that takes a driver's eyes off the road.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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Which type of driving distraction is any task that takes a driver's hands off the steering wheel?
- Manual
- Cognitive
- Visual
- Auditory
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Correct answer: Manual
A manual distraction is any task that takes a driver's hands off the steering wheel.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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Which type of driving distraction is any task that takes the driver's mind or attention off the road?
- Auditory
- Manual
- Cognitive
- Visual
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Correct answer: Cognitive
A cognitive distraction is any task that takes the driver's mind or attention off the road.
Source: New Jersey Driver Manual (2026), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)