Image: Shutterstock
About This Quiz
Driving. Remember that? Once a rite of passage as American as apple pie, driving has evolved into nothing more than a hassle. Quite simply, people are forgetting how to drive. Specifically, people don't care about learning how to drive, and deservedly so. What's the point? Have you seen the costs of parking, gas and taxes? Do you know the price of a speeding ticket? You can zap around on an app for a fraction of the cost. Add that to the fact new cars will be self-driving soon and most cars can parallel park for you, what's the point of learning how to drive? Pure, raw driving is for cavemen.
But you still need to share the road with a bunch of people, and the only driving skill you need to learn is how to avoid bad drivers. Whether you're walking, running, cycling or driving, bad drivers are always a threat, and the only way to avoid them is to know the rules of the road. If you're walking across the crosswalk, do you have the right of way? If a pedestrian is in the road, do you have to stop for them? If you're jogging across an all-way stop sign, which car is going to go first? And why is there a cyclist in the middle lane? Whether you're old school or new age or can't understand the point of learning how to drive, you need to know how to properly navigate the roads you travel. Can you pass this American driving school exam?
Speed limits
Blind spots
Every car has blind spots. They are located at the rear corners of the car, and rear-view mirrors won't spot any vehicle in the blind spot. The only way to safely check your blind spot is by turning around and looking. When switching lanes, you should accelerate through blind spots as quickly as possible.
They don't work.
Crazy drivers
Advertisement
Race course entrance
Speed up
Winding road ahead
If you see this sign, it means you're going to encounter at least three turns back-to-back-to-back. It's best to reduce speed to the designated limit and be prepared for large turns. One of the easiest ways to get into an accident is to misjudge how big a turn is.
Tunnel ahead
Advertisement
Double your speed
Take the next exit
Come to a complete stop
Merge into the left lane
This merge sign means the right lane is going to come to an end soon and all drivers must be prepared to merge with the left lane. You need to be aware of cars in the left lane when you see this sign, and you may need to slow down when merging.
Advertisement
Yes
No
Driving laws vary state by state and it is illegal to drive with headphones in about 20 U.S. states. Distracted driving is illegal everywhere, and an officer can use his or her discretion to decide whether you're driving distracted.
Advertisement
On a foggy road
In heavy downpour
Between sunset and sunrise
All of the above
Across the country, drivers must use their headlights between sunset and sunrise. Some areas require drivers to use headlights in heavy rain, and you should always use lights in fog. New car models will automatically turn headlights on and off depending on the elements.
Advertisement
Continue driving and call 911.
Perform CPR.
Safely pull over and call 911.
If you witness a car crash, you should safely pull over and call 911. It's illegal to use your cellphone while driving in many states. If the car is smoking or on fire, don't approach it, but if it looks safe to do so, you can check on the occupants.
Continue driving and let the car behind you deal with it.
Advertisement
5 minutes
Looking around to see if anyone saw
Trying to fix it
Leaving a note and contacting police
If you get into a minor accident with a parked car, you are supposed to leave a note with contact information and immediately contact local police to report the accident. If you leave, you can be charged with leaving the scene of an accident or a hit-and-run.
Advertisement
Tuesdays
Rush hour
Between noon and 3 p.m.
Never
This is a simple "No Parking" sign and it means you can never park in front of it. Parking signs are complicated and widely vary depending on where you are, so you always have to read them. Parking in front of a sign like this is an easy way to get your car towed.
Advertisement
Grandparents
Handicapped drivers or riders
The only people who should park in handicapped parking spots are people with a handicapped parking license, and if you don't have one, stay out of spaces reserved for those who do! Anyone can apply for the license at their local DMV.
People over the age of 65
First-year drivers
Advertisement
Transporting a woman in labor
Transporting a dying person
Driving to a loved one's deathbed
None
You are never allowed to break traffic laws, that's why they are laws, but whether an officer fines you for the offense is up to their discretion. Some risks are worth taking, but ambulances are roaming mini-hospitals, so calling them is faster than driving to a hospital.
Advertisement
At least 100 feet before taking a turn
When switching lanes
Pulling out of a parallel parking spot
All of the above
Even if you don't have blinker lights, which is illegal, you can learn the hand signals for turning. There is no excuse for driving around without signaling your turns to other drivers and pedestrians. You should use your blinker every time you turn.
Advertisement
Speed through as fast as possible
Cautiously drive through
Slow down and prepare to stop
Come to a complete stop and proceed once safe
A blinking red light is the same as a stop sign. You have to come to a complete stop and make sure it is safe to proceed before doing so. If you approach a blinking yellow light, you can simply slow down before proceeding.
Advertisement
Drifting
Heel-to-toe shifting
Three-point turn
The three-point turn is one of the first techniques every new driver must learn because if not, it can very quickly turn into a six- or seven-point turn. A three-point turn means you drive forward, reverse and then forward again, and that's it.
Parallel park
Advertisement
Multi-way stop
Not all stop signs are equal. Some stop signs sit at three- or four-way intersections, and a matching rectangular sign underneath the stop sign will designate whether the stop is a multi-way stop. At a multi-way stop, you have to be aware of whose turn it is to go. It is first come, first go.
Time requirement before proceeding
Number of cars allowed to stop
Number of turns ahead
Advertisement
Clockwise
Counter-clockwise
A roundabout intersection is called a rotary in most of New England, and traffic moves counterclockwise through them. It is just a circular intersection, but they can be confusing to drivers who have never seen them.
Advertisement
There is no speed limit.
The other side can cross over.
You can drive on the other side of the road.
You can cross over.
Sometimes the double yellow lines turn into one broken line and one solid line. Cars driving on the side of the broken line can legally cross over the yellow lines to pass a car in front of them. If the solid line is on your side, you can't cross it.
Advertisement
Through oncoming traffic
Heavy fog
Heavy snow
Isolated country road at night
You can use your high beams whenever you want as long as you're not distracting other drivers. This means when you're the only car on the road or a significant distance from every other car. Using high beams in snow and fog might actually reflect light into your face and make things worse. Low beams are better for those situations. and some cars come equipped with fog lights.
Advertisement
Church crossing
School crossing
There are a few different types of pedestrian signs on the road, and this specific one designates a school crossing area. You should be aware of school hours when driving in these areas, since these crossings will be busy a couple of hours a day.
Family area
No crossing
Advertisement
To get around a slow car
To say hello to a pedestrian
When a driver veers into your lane
Your car's horn is pretty useless, but it does come in handy sometimes. You shouldn't overuse it, and it's only effective in some situations. Maybe the guy at the red light fell asleep and he doesn't know it turned green. Maybe somebody is veering into your lane. Use the horn sparingly.
To announce your arrival
Advertisement
Do not enter
Speed past everyone
Give up the right of way
This is a yield sign, and you have to slow down and be prepared to come to a complete stop when you approach one. It means that you must give up the right of way to an opposing or converging lane of cars. You don't need to stop, but might have to.
Pull a U-turn
Advertisement
Drive to where the debris fell and call 911.
Speed to the nearest hospital.
Stop immediately.
Pull over in the breakdown lane.
This is one of the scariest things that can happen while driving and it happens more than you think. If something crashes through your window while on the highway, put on your caution lights and safely pull over to the breakdown lane.
Advertisement
Jam on the brakes
Swerve
Brake hard without skidding
You never want to jam on your brakes or swerve at high speeds, as this will probably cause you to lose total control of your car. If it isn't possible to come to a complete stop before reaching the deer, brake as hard as possible without allowing your car to skid and brace for impact.
Jump out of the car
Advertisement
Pedestrian crosswalk
Edge of the road
Separates lanes of same-way traffic
The center of a two-way road
The double yellow lines might be the most important road markings to follow while driving. They mark the center of a two-way road and separate traffic. The yellow lines will break in areas where cars are allowed to cross over.
Advertisement
Come to a complete stop.
Slow down and prepare to stop.
A lot of railroad crossings will have signage and markings, but some don't. When approaching railroad tracks, approach them like a flashing yellow light. Slow down and be alert, listen for sounds and be prepared to stop. Most railroads are elevated so they function like speed bumps anyway.
Floor it.
Nothing
Advertisement
Extend your arm straight out the window.
Stick your arm out the window and bend it down.
Stick your arm out the window and bend it up.
If your blinker lights are broken you need to get them fixed immediately. Driving without blinkers is reckless and you can be cited for it. Even if you don't plan to ever use these hand signals, they're helpful to know since cyclists and bikers also use them.
Tap your brake lights three times.
Advertisement
50%
90%
100%
70%
The passing score depends on the state. The lowest passing score is 70% and it's accepted in several states including New York and Texas. The highest minimum passing score is 86% in Virginia and 85% in Idaho, and a majority of states require a score of 80%.
Advertisement
Information
This is an information sign, and believe it or not, there was a time before smartphones and laptops where people actually had to stop at a physical location to get information. These signs directed drivers to those locations.
Hospital
Unknown area ahead
Drive at own risk
Advertisement
Yes
You are never allowed to cross double yellow lines, unless you need to make a left turn. For the most part, the lines will break in areas where turns can be made, but if you need to turn into a small driveway or something, the lines likely won't break, but you can legally turn left across them.
No
Advertisement
65 mph
If the speed limit is 65 mph, you can get a speeding ticket for going 66 mph, but it is unlikely. Most officers give a buffer somewhere around 10% of the limit plus a couple miles per hour, so if you're doing 70 in a 65, it's unlikely you'll get a ticket, but you still can.
5 miles over the limit
10% over the limit + 2
12 miles over the limit
Advertisement
Yes
You are allowed to use your phone's GPS navigation as long as it is securely mounted somewhere that doesn't obscure your view. There are still some states where you can use a handheld device while driving, but it will likely be outlawed everywhere soon.
No
Advertisement
Maximum speed
Weight limit
Minimum speed
Just as, if not more, important than the speed limit is the minimum speed allowed in an area. A highway with a speed limit of 65 mph will probably have a minimum speed of 45 mph. Doing 15 mph in a 65, for example, is as dangerous as doing 100 mph in a 65.
Construction area
Advertisement
Left
In America, drivers drive on the right side of the road, so at an intersection, the car closest to you will approach from the left. A rule of thumb is to look left, right and then left before crossing an intersection, but you should look as many times as you need to safely cross.
Right
Forward
Backward
Advertisement
Yes
You can drive while eating in every state of the U.S., but driving while distracted is unlawful, and whether you're driving distracted depends on the officer's discretion. It's not a smart idea to eat soup while driving, but a banana might not be too distracting.
No
Advertisement
Safely cross the red light and pull over
You always need to pull over and yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle that is traveling with its lights and/or siren on. If you're at an intersection, it's a little trickier, but you have to safely cross the intersection and pull over out of the vehicle's way.
Go in reverse
Pull a U-turn
Don't move
Advertisement
Yes
There is a slew of driving myths out there and this is one of them. It is not illegal to drive barefoot or with flip-flops anywhere in the U.S. but it is highly discouraged in almost every state. You should never do anything that distracts you or makes driving more dangerous.
No
Advertisement
Left lane
Right lane
Middle lane
The middle lane of the highway is for through traffic. The right lane is for entering and exiting the highway, and the left lane if for passing only. These aren't laws, as they'd be impossible to enforce, but they're guidelines for driving on the highway.
Shoulder
Advertisement
5 feet
10 feet
15 feet
This law varies state by state, but you usually have to park at least 15 feet away from a fire hydrant, which is about the length of an average sedan. Parking in front of a fire hydrant isn't just expensive, it puts people's lives at risk.
50 feet
Advertisement
Government officials
Anyone driving with one or more passengers
The HOV lane is for high-occupancy vehicles, and anyone who is driving at least one passenger can use the lane, although in some cities you have to have more than one. It takes on different names in different parts of the country, and it is commonly known as the carpool lane.
Anyone driving with two or more passengers
Trucks
Advertisement
Every 8 years
You'll need to get a new license when you turn 16, 18 and 21, but after that, you'll need to get your license renewed every 8 years. Once you turn 65, you need to renew your license every five years. Driving with an expired license is against the law.
Every 5 years
Every 10 years
Every 3 years
Advertisement
1,000 feet
10 seconds
2 seconds
The bare minimum amount of space between you and the car in front of you is enough for you to see their side mirrors. If you can't see them, you're tailgating. At 55 mph, It takes more than four seconds to completely stop your car.
100 feet
Advertisement
You Got:
/40
