South Dakota: Interstate driving Practice Test
Entering and leaving the interstate, merging, cloverleaf and diverging diamond interchanges, and adjusting to traffic.
Independent educational site · not affiliated with any government agency or DMV
Ready? Test yourself
- Instant feedback with an explanation
- Every answer cites its source in the manual
- Your best score is saved on this device
- Keyboard: press 1 to 4 to answer and Enter for the next question
Questions are original and based on the official manual "South Dakota Driver License Manual" (Revised 11/2024), South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
All 17 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.
Show the questions and answersHide the questions
-
What should drivers always be careful to pay attention to at a cloverleaf interchange?
- Traffic trying to enter or exit the highway
- Vehicles waiting at stop signs on the loops
- Pedestrians using crosswalks on the ramps
- Slow-moving farm vehicles only
Show answer
Correct answer: Traffic trying to enter or exit the highway
The manual says drivers should always watch for traffic trying to enter or exit the highway or interstate.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 41
-
What problem occurs in the weaving areas of a cloverleaf interchange?
- Traffic must stop at signals between the loop ramps
- Left turns must cross lanes of oncoming traffic
- Drivers must wait at a stop sign before merging
- Traffic enters while other traffic is trying to exit
Show answer
Correct answer: Traffic enters while other traffic is trying to exit
The short sections between the loop ramps put entering and exiting traffic in the same space at the same time.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 41
-
What do the ramp loops of a cloverleaf interchange often require?
- A full stop at the top of each loop
- A much lower speed on the curves
- A higher speed than the highway
- Headlights on in the daytime
Show answer
Correct answer: A much lower speed on the curves
The loop ramps often require a much lower speed to safely negotiate the curves.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 41
-
At a diverging diamond interchange (DDI), what does it mean that left turns onto the freeway are "free flow"?
- Vehicles wait for a green arrow
- Vehicles do not stop to access the ramp
- Vehicles share the lane with pedestrians
- Vehicles may use the shoulder
Show answer
Correct answer: Vehicles do not stop to access the ramp
All left turns onto the freeway at a DDI are free flow, meaning vehicles do not stop to access the ramp.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 42
-
At the first set of traffic signals in a diverging diamond interchange (DDI), how does traffic appear?
- As if in a roundabout
- As if on a street with a center turn lane
- As if on a freeway ramp
- As if on a one-way street
Show answer
Correct answer: As if on a one-way street
Drivers follow signs, signals, and pavement markings through the first set of signals, and traffic appears as if on a one-way street.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 42
-
In a diverging diamond interchange (DDI), what do vehicles going straight do?
- Go through a second set of signals
- Stop at a stop sign
- Yield to vehicles on the ramp
- Turn left onto the ramp
Show answer
Correct answer: Go through a second set of signals
Vehicles going straight simply proceed through a second set of traffic signals.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 42
-
On an interstate highway, you must not cross what?
- A bridge
- The median
- A mile marker
- An exit sign
Show answer
Correct answer: The median
The manual states you must not cross the median of an interstate highway.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 42
-
If you miss your exit on the interstate, what should you do?
- Back up on the shoulder to the exit
- Stop and wait for traffic to clear, then back up
- Go on to the next exit
- Turn around across the median
Show answer
Correct answer: Go on to the next exit
You go on to the next exit; backing up on the interstate is prohibited under any circumstances.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 42
-
On the interstate, you should avoid unnecessary lane changing and stay in which lane unless passing?
- The right lane
- The left lane
- The center lane
- The lane with the fastest traffic
Show answer
Correct answer: The right lane
The manual says to stay in the right lane unless overtaking and passing another vehicle.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 42
-
How should you handle your speed on the interstate?
- Keep a steady speed and keep pace with other traffic
- Drive well above traffic to avoid being passed
- Change lanes often to stay ahead of traffic
- Drive well below the speed of other traffic
Show answer
Correct answer: Keep a steady speed and keep pace with other traffic
The manual says to maintain a steady speed, keep pace with traffic, and obey posted speed limits.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 42
-
When merging with traffic, at what speed should you try to enter?
- Slower than traffic so you can watch for gaps
- The speed traffic is currently moving
- Faster than traffic to get ahead of it
- A complete stop at the end of the ramp
Show answer
Correct answer: The speed traffic is currently moving
You try to enter at the same speed that traffic is currently moving.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 45
-
What should you use the acceleration lane of an entrance ramp for?
- Stopping to wait for a gap in traffic
- Passing slow vehicles on the ramp
- Slowing down before the main road
- Reaching the speed of other traffic
Show answer
Correct answer: Reaching the speed of other traffic
The acceleration lane gives time to build up to the speed of other vehicles before you merge.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 45
-
Why should you not drive to the end of the acceleration lane and stop?
- You would block traffic that is leaving the highway
- The lane usually ends at a stop sign on the ramp
- You will not have enough room to get up to traffic speed
- The vehicles behind you are required to stop too
Show answer
Correct answer: You will not have enough room to get up to traffic speed
Stopping at the end leaves no room to get up to speed, and drivers behind do not expect a sudden stop.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 45
-
When you enter a roadway from a ramp, whom must you yield to?
- Traffic already moving on the roadway
- Vehicles behind you on the ramp
- Traffic leaving the roadway by an exit
- Only large trucks
Show answer
Correct answer: Traffic already moving on the roadway
You must yield to traffic already moving on the roadway.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 45
-
If you must wait for a space to enter the roadway, what should you do on the ramp?
- Stop at the very end of the ramp
- Speed up and force your way in
- Match the speed of traffic and merge anyway
- Slow down so you have room to speed up
Show answer
Correct answer: Slow down so you have room to speed up
Slowing down on the ramp leaves you room to speed up before you must merge.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 45
-
If the road you are traveling on has exit ramps, when should you begin to slow down?
- As soon as you see the exit sign
- Not until you move onto the exit ramp
- Well before the exit, in the main lane
- As soon as you signal for the exit
Show answer
Correct answer: Not until you move onto the exit ramp
The manual says not to slow down until you move onto the exit ramp.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 45
-
How can you make space for vehicles entering a multi-lane or limited access roadway?
- Speed up to pass them before they merge
- Move over a lane or adjust your speed
- Stay in your lane and sound the horn
- Brake hard to let all of them in
Show answer
Correct answer: Move over a lane or adjust your speed
Moving over a lane or adjusting your speed gives entering vehicles room.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 52