South Dakota: Vehicle checks and basic control — Steering, Hand Position, and Backing Up Practice Test
Inspecting tires, lights, brakes and windows, adjusting the seat and mirrors, starting, steering, backing, turn and hand signals, the horn and headlights. — Part 5
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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 21 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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In which direction do you turn the steering wheel when you want the vehicle to move?
- In the direction you want the vehicle to move, forward or in reverse
- Away from the direction you want the vehicle to go in reverse
- Toward the center line when moving forward
- Only toward the right when moving in reverse
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Correct answer: In the direction you want the vehicle to move, forward or in reverse
The steering wheel is turned in the direction you want the vehicle to move, whether going forward or in reverse.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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Where should you look while steering?
- Well down the road and on both sides of it
- At the road just in front of your vehicle
- At the dashboard
- At the vehicle directly ahead only
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Correct answer: Well down the road and on both sides of it
The manual says to look well down the road and on both sides, not just in front of your vehicle.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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At which positions does the manual say to place your hands on the steering wheel?
- 2 and 10 o’clock
- 1 and 11 o’clock
- 3 and 9 o’clock
- 4 and 8 o’clock
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Correct answer: 3 and 9 o’clock
Both hands go on the outside of the wheel at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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Why is placing your hands at the 2 and 10 o’clock positions no longer recommended?
- It makes turning at high speed harder on a freeway
- It can be dangerous in a vehicle equipped with air bags
- It blocks the dashboard gauges
- It makes the horn hard to reach
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Correct answer: It can be dangerous in a vehicle equipped with air bags
The 2 and 10 positions can be dangerous when a vehicle has air bags.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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How should your grip on the steering wheel be?
- As tight as possible
- Light, with fingertips only
- Loose, with one hand
- Firm but gentle
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Correct answer: Firm but gentle
The manual says your grip should be firm but gentle.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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What part of your hands should you use on the steering wheel?
- The palms instead of your fingers
- Your thumbs wrapped around the rim
- The heels of your hands
- Your fingers instead of the palms
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Correct answer: Your fingers instead of the palms
The manual says to use your fingers, not your palms, on the wheel.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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Where should your thumbs be on the steering wheel?
- Hooked inside the rim
- Up along the face of the steering wheel
- Resting on the horn
- Wrapped around the back of the rim
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Correct answer: Up along the face of the steering wheel
The manual says to keep your thumbs up along the face of the steering wheel.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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What should you never do while turning the steering wheel?
- Use your fingers instead of your palms
- Keep your thumbs up
- Grip it from the inside of the wheel
- Turn it by hand
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Correct answer: Grip it from the inside of the wheel
The manual says never to turn the wheel while gripping it from the inside.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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Which technique does the manual say to use when turning sharp corners?
- Hand-over-hand
- Palm-over-palm
- One-handed steering
- Letting the wheel slip through your fingers
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Correct answer: Hand-over-hand
For sharp corners, the manual says to turn the wheel using the hand-over-hand technique.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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How should you straighten the steering wheel when you complete a turn?
- By hand
- By letting it slip through your fingers
- By lifting your foot off the accelerator
- By braking hard
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Correct answer: By hand
The manual says to straighten the wheel by hand and warns that letting it slip through your fingers could be dangerous.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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What should you never do with the ignition while the vehicle is still in motion?
- Turn it to the “on” position
- Leave the key in it
- Turn it to the “lock” position
- Check the gauges
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Correct answer: Turn it to the “lock” position
Turning the ignition to lock while moving locks the steering, and you would lose control of the vehicle.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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What happens if you turn the ignition to the “lock” position while the vehicle is moving and then try to turn the wheel?
- The engine speeds up
- The steering locks and you lose control of the vehicle
- The brakes lock
- The engine stalls and the headlights go off at once
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Correct answer: The steering locks and you lose control of the vehicle
The steering wheel locking device will lock the steering, and you will lose control of the vehicle.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 29
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Why should you check behind the vehicle before you get in to back up?
- The mirrors do not work well when the vehicle is parked
- The wheels may be turned
- Children and small objects cannot be seen from the driver’s seat
- The exhaust may be hot enough to burn small children
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Correct answer: Children and small objects cannot be seen from the driver’s seat
Children and small objects cannot be seen from the driver’s seat, so check behind the vehicle first.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 30
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When backing up, where should you grasp the steering wheel with your left hand?
- At the 12 o’clock position
- At the 3 o’clock position
- At the 6 o’clock position
- At the 9 o’clock position
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Correct answer: At the 12 o’clock position
The manual says to grasp the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position with your left hand when backing up.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 30
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When backing up, where should you look?
- Directly through the rear window
- Only in the rearview mirror
- Only in the outside mirrors
- At the front of the vehicle
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Correct answer: Directly through the rear window
You should place your right arm on the back of the passenger seat and look directly through the rear window.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 30
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What should you keep in mind about mirrors when you back up?
- They show the whole area directly behind the vehicle
- They show only the left side
- They do not show the area immediately behind the vehicle
- They work best at night
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Correct answer: They do not show the area immediately behind the vehicle
Mirrors help in backing, but they do not show the area immediately behind the vehicle.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 30
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How should you accelerate when backing up?
- Quickly, to cut the time spent backing
- Gently and smoothly, keeping your speed slow
- Fast at first, then slow
- Only in short bursts
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Correct answer: Gently and smoothly, keeping your speed slow
When backing up, accelerate gently and smoothly and keep your speed slow, because the vehicle is much harder to steer.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 30
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When backing up, which way should you steer?
- Slightly in the direction the front of the vehicle should move
- Sharply toward the curb
- Toward the center of the road
- Slightly in the direction the rear of the vehicle should move
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Correct answer: Slightly in the direction the rear of the vehicle should move
You steer slightly in the direction that you want the rear of the vehicle to move.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 30
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If you are backing up while turning, what should you do?
- Look only to the rear
- Use only the rearview mirror and outside mirrors
- Look only at the right side
- Make quick checks to the front and sides
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Correct answer: Make quick checks to the front and sides
When backing while turning, make quick checks to the front and sides in addition to looking to the rear.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 30
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How long should you continue looking to the rear when backing up?
- Until the vehicle is in reverse
- Until coming to a complete stop
- Until you reach the curb
- Until you reach 5 mph
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Correct answer: Until coming to a complete stop
The manual says to keep looking to the rear until you come to a complete stop.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 30
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What should you never use on slippery roads?
- Low beams
- Cruise control
- Your turn signals
- Your seatbelt
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Correct answer: Cruise control
The manual says never to use cruise control on slippery roads.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 67