IA Permit Practice Test 22

All 20 questions in test 22

Every question below comes from the Iowa question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. An Iowa pedestrian crossing warning appears before a crosswalk. Who must you watch for?

   
   1. Only children walking to school in the morning
   2. People walking, running, riding, or using wheelchairs
   3. Only runners training on the road shoulder area
   4. Only drivers merging from a side parking lot
   Show answer

   People walking, running, riding, or using wheelchairs. A pedestrian crossing warning in Iowa tells you to watch out for people walking, running, riding, or using wheelchairs or low speed micromobility devices. Vehicles must yield to pedestrians on foot and those using human powered devices in marked or unmarked crosswalks. Never pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian, since the walker may be hidden from your view. Before turning at intersections and driveways, scan for wheels and feet on both corners.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, Guide and Service Signs

2. 2. You call 911 after a crash on an Iowa highway. What should you tell the dispatcher?

   1. Only your name, so the call stays short for others
   2. Whose fault it was, what the other driver said, and who should pay
   3. As many details as you can, including injuries and the location
   4. Just the make and color of the other vehicle
   Show answer

   As many details as you can, including injuries and the location. The second step after a crash in Iowa is to contact law enforcement by calling 911. The manual asks you to describe as many details as possible, including possible injuries and the location of the crash. Those facts help dispatchers send the right help to the right place. State law also requires reporting a crash that involves injury or death, or property damage above the stated amount, so the call is both a safety step and a legal one.

   Study this in the handbook: Equipment Failures and Crashes

3. 3. In Iowa, what must a driver never do when following a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian?

   1. Slow down and look for the pedestrian ahead
   2. Stop behind the vehicle and wait with patience
   3. Scan sidewalks and crosswalks before moving again
   4. Pass the stopped vehicle that waits for a walker
   Show answer

   Pass the stopped vehicle that waits for a walker. Never pass another vehicle that has stopped or is slowing down for a pedestrian in Iowa. You might not be able to see the pedestrian when you approach a stopped vehicle, so be aware. Scan streets for wheels and feet before turning at intersections and driveways, and give the right of way to people walking, biking, skating, or using wheelchairs or low speed devices. People riding bicycles have the right to be on the road as well. Wait until the crossing is visibly clear.

   Study this in the handbook: Trucks, Motorcycles, Bicyclists and Pedestrians

4. 4. Your car has a blind spot monitor. How should you use it when changing lanes?

   1. As a replacement for mirror checks once the light stays dark
   2. Only on the interstate, where head checks are not needed
   3. As proof the lane is empty whenever the warning is silent
   4. As a help, while still scanning mirrors and checking over your shoulder
   Show answer

   As a help, while still scanning mirrors and checking over your shoulder. A blind spot monitor warns you of vehicles in your blind spots with a symbol, sound, or vibration. Iowa says those warnings can help during a lane change, but the driver should not become complacent or depend on the monitor alone. Keep scanning the side mirrors, the rear-view mirror, and over your shoulders with head checks, and use the monitor as one more input. Most warning systems are passive, so you remain responsible for seeing the traffic.

5. 5. In Iowa, how should drivers grip the steering wheel to reduce airbag injury risk?

   1. Both hands together at the top of the wheel
   2. One palm flat at the bottom of the wheel
   3. Hands opposite at 9 and 3 or slightly lower
   4. Hands crossed over at the top during turns
   Show answer

   Hands opposite at 9 and 3 or slightly lower. To reduce the risk of injury from front airbags and best maintain control in Iowa, place your hands on opposite sides of the steering wheel at 9 and 3 o clock or slightly lower at 7 and 5 o clock. Look well down the road, not just immediately in front of you. Do not turn the wheel with just the palm of one hand, since you could lose control. Two hands together or crossed hands weaken recovery when the vehicle must change direction quickly.

   Study this in the handbook: Iowa Speed Limits

6. 6. In Iowa, when must a driver stop for a visually impaired person near the road?

   1. When that person walks ahead or close enough to be in danger
   2. Only when that person has entered a marked crosswalk
   3. Only when an officer signals traffic to stop there
   4. Only when the person steps directly into the lane
   Show answer

   When that person walks ahead or close enough to be in danger. Iowa required stops include stopping when a visually impaired person with a white or red tipped cane or a guide dog is walking in front of you or close enough that the person could be in danger. Use extra caution around a person led by a harnessed service animal as well. Waiting for a marked crosswalk, an officer signal, or a step into the lane all delay the stop past the danger point the rule names. Stop early and let the person clear.

   Study this in the handbook: Following Distance and Stopping

7. 7. In Iowa, which kind of distraction means the driver looks away from driving?

   1. Visual distraction, such as looking at a GPS
   2. Manual distraction, such as eating while driving
   3. Cognitive distraction, such as holding a conversation
   4. Physical distraction, such as pressing the brake
   Show answer

   Visual distraction, such as looking at a GPS. Visual distraction means doing something that requires the driver to look away from the driving task in Iowa, such as looking at a GPS. Manual distraction takes hands off the wheel, and cognitive distraction pulls the mind elsewhere, like holding a conversation. All types can be dangerous while driving, and many tasks fit more than one category. A glance at a screen at highway speed covers a long stretch with no eyes on traffic. Set navigation before moving and pull over to read details.

   Study this in the handbook: Iowa's Hands-Free Law and Distractions

8. 8. When turning corners in Iowa, which steering techniques does the manual name?

   1. Palm spinning or finger slipping methods only
   2. Crossed arm or under wheel grip methods only
   3. Hand over hand or push pull steering methods
   4. One hand or loose fingertip contact methods
   Show answer

   Hand over hand or push pull steering methods. When turning corners in Iowa, turn the steering wheel using the hand over hand or push pull technique. Keep hands on opposite sides at 9 and 3 or slightly lower for control and airbag safety. Steering with a single palm invites a lost grip mid turn. When the turn completes, straighten the wheel by hand rather than letting it slip through your fingers. Smooth technique keeps the car in its lane without wide swings or cut corners.

   Study this in the handbook: Iowa Speed Limits

9. 9. In Iowa, what does a green traffic sign tell a driver?

   1. Where a place is and how far away it is
   2. That a stop or yield is just ahead
   3. Where fuel, food, and rest areas are located
   4. That road work is active in the area
   Show answer

   Where a place is and how far away it is. Green signs give direction in Iowa. They show where a place is and how far it is from where you are, which helps with route choices well before an exit or turn. Red is tied to stop and yield duties, blue points toward services for travelers, and orange warns about road work. When you see green, think location and distance rather than a command to stop or a list of services. Reading the distance early leaves time to change lanes calmly.

   Study this in the handbook: Sign Colors and Shapes

10. 10. Your Iowa light turns steady green with a car still clearing the intersection. When may you go?

    1. At once, because green removes every yield duty
    2. After honking once at the clearing car ahead
    3. Only when the intersection is clear to proceed
    4. When the car beside you starts moving forward
    Show answer

    Only when the intersection is clear to proceed. A solid green signal in Iowa means go, but only when the intersection is clear. Yield to vehicles and pedestrians in the intersection. When the light changes, traffic may be caught in the intersection, and you must give them time to clear. A steady green arrow allows turning in the arrow direction while still yielding to vehicles and pedestrians already in the intersection. Green is permission conditioned on space, never a command to push forward.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, Guide and Service Signs

11. 11. You are in a minor Iowa crash with no injuries and your car still drives. What must you do?

    1. Leave the vehicle in the lane for photos first
    2. Wait in the lane until police direct traffic around
    3. Move the vehicle out of the driving lanes in Iowa
    4. Push the vehicle into the nearest travel lane gap
    Show answer

    Move the vehicle out of the driving lanes in Iowa. Under Iowa Steer It Clear It law, after a crash with no injuries you must move your vehicle out of the driving lanes of traffic if the vehicle is operable and can be safely moved. Every blocked interstate lane minute raises secondary crash risk by roughly 2.8 percent. After clearing, contact law enforcement, exchange insurance and registration details, and report crashes involving injury, death, or over 1,500 dollars in property damage within 72 hours. Clearing first protects everyone still approaching.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency Vehicles and the Move Over Law

12. 12. You meet a flashing red Iowa signal at a quiet intersection at night. How do you treat it?

    1. The same as a flashing yellow caution signal
    2. As a yield to cross traffic without stopping
    3. The same as a stop sign before proceeding
    4. As a signal to stop only during daytime hours
    Show answer

    The same as a stop sign before proceeding. A flashing red signal in Iowa is treated the same as a stop sign. Stop fully, check crossing traffic and pedestrians, then proceed when safe. Required stops also list flashing red lights among mandatory stop points. Flashing yellow, by contrast, means proceed with caution while yielding. Night quiet does not soften the red duty. The stop also protects against drivers who assume a dark intersection is empty and enter without looking.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, Guide and Service Signs

13. 13. Under Iowa Move Over law, which work vehicles with flashing lights require a lane change?

    1. Only vehicles owned by the state highway patrol
    2. Tow, maintenance, construction, and waste collection vehicles
    3. Only vehicles with red and blue police lights
    4. Only passenger cars with hazard lights flashing
    Show answer

    Tow, maintenance, construction, and waste collection vehicles. Iowa Move Over or Slow Down law requires a lane change when approaching any stopped emergency, tow, recovery, maintenance, construction, solid waste, or recycling collection vehicle that has flashing lights activated. Any stopped motor vehicle continually displaying hazard lights also counts. If a lane change is not possible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, slow down and be prepared to stop at a reasonable speed for conditions. Workers outside vehicles near live lanes depend on that space. Move early rather than braking late beside them.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency Vehicles and the Move Over Law

14. 14. In Iowa, what does an advance school crossing warning tell a driver to expect?

    1. A school area with a marked crossing ahead
    2. A school bus loading zone with a stop arm
    3. A railroad crossing near a school building
    4. A crossing guard station with a stop paddle
    Show answer

    A school area with a marked crossing ahead. An advance school crossing warning means you are nearing a school area with a crossing in Iowa. Watch for children and the marked school crossing. The color of this sign may be yellow, unlike the fluorescent yellow green used for many pedestrian, bicycle, and school warnings. Bus loading zones and railroad crossings carry their own signs and duties. Slow early near schools, since children can enter the road between parked cars with little warning.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, Guide and Service Signs

15. 15. An orange triangle on the rear of a slow Iowa vehicle tells following drivers what speed fact?

    1. That vehicle travels exactly 35 mph at all times
    2. That vehicle travels 35 mph or less on the road
    3. That vehicle will stop within 35 feet ahead
    4. That vehicle weighs 35 hundred pounds loaded
    Show answer

    That vehicle travels 35 mph or less on the road. A reflective orange triangle on the rear of an Iowa vehicle means it is traveling 35 mph or less. You may see it on road maintenance equipment, farm vehicles, or horse drawn wagons. Slow moving vehicles also appear among farm vehicles, horse drawn vehicles, ATVs and UTVs, and roadway maintenance vehicles that may show flashing lights. Spotting the triangle early gives time to change lanes or slow safely instead of closing suddenly on a vehicle moving far below traffic speed.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, Guide and Service Signs

16. 16. In an Iowa work zone, what attention duty do the work zone reminders list for drivers?

    1. Watch only the vehicle directly ahead in the line
    2. Listen for worker shouts over traffic noise
    3. Read every roadside sign word by word slowly
    4. Give full attention to the driving task itself
    Show answer

    Give full attention to the driving task itself. Work zone reminders in Iowa tell drivers to adjust speed to traffic conditions, obey all instructions from signs, traffic signals, and flaggers, increase following distance, and give full attention to driving. Traffic control devices mark construction, maintenance, survey, and utility zones and direct drivers and pedestrians safely through while keeping workers safe. Stay alert and drive cautiously through the area. Attention matters because lanes shift, surfaces change, and workers stand close to moving traffic with little protection.

17. 17. Your car has a sideview camera and also traditional mirrors. How should you use the camera?

    1. Instead of the mirrors, even when the camera screen is off or dim
    2. Only when parking, since mirrors cover driving
    3. As the only check before every lane change
    4. Together with the mirrors and head checks over your shoulder
    Show answer

    Together with the mirrors and head checks over your shoulder. A sideview camera shows an expanded view of the lane beside the car when you use the turn signal or activate it manually. Iowa says to use sideview cameras in conjunction with traditional mirrors and head checks. Some newer vehicles carry cameras in place of mirrors, but where mirrors exist, the best habit is to combine all the views and look over your shoulder before moving over.

18. 18. Lane keeping assist gently steers your car back toward its lane, but you want to steer yourself. What can you do?

    1. Brake hard until the system lets go of the wheel
    2. Nudge the steering wheel to cancel it
    3. Shut the engine off while the car is still moving
    4. Wait for the lane lines to fade so it releases
    Show answer

    Nudge the steering wheel to cancel it. Lane keeping assist can help return you to your lane if you drift. You may get a sound, flashing light, or vibration, and if you take no action the feature may gently steer the vehicle back into its lane. Iowa says it is easily cancelled by nudging the wheel. The feature will not work when lane lines are faint or covered with snow or dirt, so the driver must always remain in control of the vehicle.

19. 19. In Iowa, what driving aid must not be used during inclement weather?

    1. Low beam headlights during rain or snowfall
    2. Windshield wipers as soon as glass gets wet
    3. Following distance longer than the dry road gap
    4. Cruise control during wet or stormy weather
    Show answer

    Cruise control during wet or stormy weather. If you must drive in inclement weather in Iowa, slow down and increase following distance, giving more time to stop. Do not use cruise control during inclement weather, including wet or slippery conditions. Turn on wipers as soon as the windshield becomes wet, turn on low beam headlights, and keep the defroster running so windows stay clear. Be more cautious and slow down on curves and at intersections. Checking Iowa 511 before the trip can reveal weather related road conditions around the clock.

20. 20. Your brakes fail on an Iowa downgrade. What is the recommended first response?

    1. Turn off the engine to slow the car at once
    2. Pump the brake pedal several times for pressure
    3. Steer onto the sidewalk to escape the road
    4. Pull the parking brake fully hard immediately
    Show answer

    Pump the brake pedal several times for pressure. If your Iowa brakes stop working, pump the brake pedal several times. This will often build up enough brake pressure to allow you to stop. If that fails, engage the parking brake slowly so rear wheels do not lock, ready to release it if skidding starts. If that also fails, shift to lower gears and find a safe place to slow to a stop off the roadway. Sequence matters because the gentlest recovery should be tried before skid prone measures.

    Study this in the handbook: Equipment Failures and Crashes