South Dakota: Emergencies and winter driving — Part 1 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “Which three options does the manual give for avoiding a crash or reducing its impact?” · “When does the manual say it may be necessary to accelerate to avoid a crash?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "South Dakota Driver License Manual" (Revised 11/2024), South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
All 19 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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What should you do if you see a flooded roadway?
- Drive through slowly in a low gear
- Find another route to your destination
- Drive through quickly to avoid stalling
- Follow the vehicle ahead through the water
Show answer
Correct answer: Find another route to your destination
The manual says not to drive through large bodies of standing water on a road.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 50
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Why should you place emergency flares or triangles behind a broken-down vehicle?
- So other drivers can change lanes if necessary
- So the police arrive at the scene sooner
- So the vehicle can be towed free
- So you can leave the vehicle unlocked
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Correct answer: So other drivers can change lanes if necessary
Many crashes occur because a driver did not see a stalled vehicle until too late.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 55
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If you must stop because of vehicle trouble, what should you turn on?
- The 4-way emergency flashers
- The high beams
- The parking lights only
- The windshield wipers and fan
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Correct answer: The 4-way emergency flashers
The flashers show other drivers that you are having trouble.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 55
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If you cannot get completely off the road with vehicle trouble, where should you try to stop?
- Just over a hill
- Just around a curve
- Where other drivers have a clear view of the vehicle
- In the lane right next to the curb in the dark
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Correct answer: Where other drivers have a clear view of the vehicle
Do not stop just over a hill or just around a curve.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 55
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Where should you stand when your vehicle has trouble?
- In the roadway just behind the vehicle
- Off the road where you are safe from traffic
- In the center lane
- Next to the traffic lane
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Correct answer: Off the road where you are safe from traffic
Never stand in the roadway, and do not change a tire if it puts you in a traffic lane.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 55
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How can you signal an emergency with your vehicle?
- Flash the headlights twice
- Hold your hand out the window and wave it up and down
- Leave the dome light on
- Raise the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna or a mirror
Show answer
Correct answer: Raise the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna or a mirror
A raised hood or a white cloth tells other drivers you are having an emergency.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 55
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Which three options does the manual give for avoiding a crash or reducing its impact?
- Braking, steering, or accelerating
- Braking, honking, or flashing the lights
- Steering, signaling, or downshifting
- Slowing, stopping, or parking
Show answer
Correct answer: Braking, steering, or accelerating
The manual names braking, steering, and accelerating as the three ways to avoid a crash or lessen its impact.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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What does ABS (anti-lock braking system) allow you to do when you stop the vehicle?
- Stop in a shorter distance on any surface
- Steer without turning the steering wheel
- Stop without skidding and keep steering control
- Brake without pressing the brake pedal
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Correct answer: Stop without skidding and keep steering control
ABS lets you stop the vehicle without skidding while you keep steering control.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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How should you use the brake pedal in a vehicle with ABS when you need to stop quickly?
- Release the pedal and steer around the problem
- Press as hard as you can and keep applying pressure
- Press lightly, then release it quickly
- Press once and ease off when the pedal vibrates
Show answer
Correct answer: Press as hard as you can and keep applying pressure
ABS works only if you keep pressure on the brake pedal, so press hard and hold it.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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You brake hard in a vehicle with ABS. The pedal vibrates and you hear a clicking noise. What does this mean?
- The brakes are failing and need to be released
- The ABS is broken and has shut off
- One of the tires is about to blow out
- It is normal while the ABS is working
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Correct answer: It is normal while the ABS is working
Pedal vibration and clicking are normal signs that ABS is working, so keep pressing the pedal.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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When you swerve to steer quickly around a problem, how should you hold the steering wheel?
- With one hand while the other hand signals
- Loosely, so the wheel can turn by itself
- Only at the very top of the wheel
- With a good grip using both hands
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Correct answer: With a good grip using both hands
The manual says to make sure you have a good grip with both hands on the steering wheel.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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When you swerve to avoid a problem, which way should you steer?
- Toward the problem so the vehicle slows down
- Where you want to go, avoiding other traffic
- Away from the direction you want to go
- Toward the shoulder in every case
Show answer
Correct answer: Where you want to go, avoiding other traffic
You steer where you want to go, taking care not to hit other traffic.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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After you have steered around a problem, what should you do next?
- Keep steering the same way until the vehicle stops
- Brake as hard as you can while still turning
- Steer the opposite way to straighten out and start slowing
- Let go of the wheel so it straightens by itself
Show answer
Correct answer: Steer the opposite way to straighten out and start slowing
Steering the other way straightens the vehicle, helps you regain control, and lets you begin slowing.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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When does the manual say it may be necessary to accelerate to avoid a crash?
- When another vehicle is about to hit you from behind or the side
- When your tires begin to skid on a wet road
- When a vehicle ahead of you stops suddenly in your lane
- When a pedestrian steps into the crosswalk ahead
Show answer
Correct answer: When another vehicle is about to hit you from behind or the side
Accelerating can help when another vehicle is about to hit you from behind or from the side.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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According to the manual, which of these causes a skid?
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Using a turn signal too early
- Driving with the headlights on low beam
- Following another vehicle from too far back
Show answer
Correct answer: Traveling too fast for conditions
The manual says skids are caused by traveling too fast for conditions, stopping too suddenly, or tires that can no longer grip the road.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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If your vehicle begins to skid, what should you do with the brake and the accelerator?
- Press both harder to regain grip
- Turn the steering wheel sharply back and forth
- Release pressure from the brake or accelerator
- Accelerate sharply to pull out of the skid
Show answer
Correct answer: Release pressure from the brake or accelerator
In a skid you ease off the brake or accelerator rather than pressing harder.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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If your vehicle begins to skid, where should you look?
- At the object you might hit
- Where you want to go
- At the pavement just in front of the hood
- At the speedometer
Show answer
Correct answer: Where you want to go
The manual tells you to look where you want the vehicle to go while it skids.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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The wheels of your vehicle leave the paved road surface. What should you do?
- Steer back onto the pavement as soon as the wheels leave it
- Brake hard and stop with the wheels on the road edge
- Accelerate to get back onto the road as quickly as you can
- Slow down gradually and, when safe, turn back onto the pavement
Show answer
Correct answer: Slow down gradually and, when safe, turn back onto the pavement
Panic steering back onto the pavement can cause a serious crash, so slow down gradually and return when it is safe.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 57
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What does a brake warning light tell you?
- The brake lights are not working
- The parking brake needs oil
- The tires need air
- The brakes are not working properly
Show answer
Correct answer: The brakes are not working properly
A brake warning light means the brakes are not working properly, and the manual says not to drive when you see it.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 58