IA Permit Practice Test 3

All 20 questions in test 3

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. Which screening is required when an applicant applies for an Iowa license?

   1. A vision screening
   2. A hearing test by a private clinic
   3. A cholesterol screening
   4. A road test before any knowledge test
   Show answer

   A vision screening. The Iowa application process includes a vision screening. The manual lists that screening alongside the knowledge test and other possible licensing requirements. A private hearing examination and cholesterol check are not named as application steps. The road-test choice reverses the structure because the manual separately explains when a driving test is required or not required. On an exam question, focus on the exact health check identified by the state rather than assuming every common medical screening applies to licensing.

2. 2. When meeting a school bus from the front on a two or three lane road with amber lights flashing, what is required?

   1. Stop 100 feet before the bus even if it keeps moving
   2. Continue at the posted speed without watching the bus
   3. Slow to no more than 20 mph and be prepared to stop
   4. Pass on the shoulder before the stop arm extends
   Show answer

   Slow to no more than 20 mph and be prepared to stop. For a driver meeting the bus from the front in the described two or three lane setting, amber warning lights require slowing to no more than 20 mph and preparing to stop. Continuing at the posted speed ignores the warning, and the manual does not require an arbitrary 100-foot stop when the bus is still moving. Passing on the shoulder is never a safe substitute for following the bus procedure. The important combination is amber lights, a 20 mph ceiling, and readiness to stop.

3. 3. What proof of insurance must an Iowa driver carry, and in what form?

   1. A paper card only
   2. An insurance card, printed or electronic, plus current proof of registration
   3. A copy of the full policy
   4. Nothing, the state checks electronically
   Show answer

   An insurance card, printed or electronic, plus current proof of registration. Every driver in Iowa must carry current proof of registration and an insurance card, printed or electronic, to verify proof of liability insurance. Failure to do so can result in fines and possible impoundment of the vehicle. A digital card on a phone satisfies the rule, and the full policy is not required. The state does not waive the carrying requirement for electronic verification.

4. 4. An Iowa baby is 10 months old and weighs 18 pounds. How must the baby ride?

   1. In a forward-facing seat
   2. In a rear-facing child restraint system
   3. In a booster seat
   4. On a parent's lap with a seat belt
   Show answer

   In a rear-facing child restraint system. A child under one year old and weighing less than 20 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system. A 10 month old at 18 pounds meets both conditions. A forward-facing seat or booster is not allowed for this child, and holding a baby on a lap, even with a belt, does not meet the law. Children under six must be in a child restraint system, not a seat belt alone.

5. 5. What is Iowa's general speed limit on an unsurfaced (gravel) secondary road after sunset, when no limit is posted?

   1. 50 mph
   2. 35 mph
   3. 60 mph
   4. 25 mph
   Show answer

   50 mph. Iowa's general limit on unsurfaced secondary roads is 50 mph from sunset until sunrise, and trucks are held to 50 mph on secondary roads at any time of day. During daylight, secondary roads including unpaved ones fall under the 60 mph general limit, so 60 is the daytime figure. Thirty five and 25 mph are not the rural gravel road limits, although you may need to drive slower for loose surfaces.

6. 6. What movement is prohibited by a red slash over a left-turn arrow?

   
   1. A right turn
   2. A left turn
   3. A U-turn
   4. Going straight through the intersection
   Show answer

   A left turn. The symbol identifies a prohibited left turn. It does not automatically ban a right turn, a U-turn, or continuing straight, unless another sign or traffic control device restricts those movements. The arrow pictured inside the red circle is the key clue, and the slash tells you that movement cannot be made there. Before entering the intersection, choose a permitted path and watch for lane arrows or other signs that further limit where you may go.

7. 7. What is ahead when a signal-ahead warning is posted?

   
   1. A railroad crossing with no signal
   2. An intersection and a stop light
   3. A lane reserved for buses
   4. A road that ends without an intersection
   Show answer

   An intersection and a stop light. A signal-ahead warning tells you that an intersection and traffic light are coming. It is commonly placed where higher speeds make early preparation important. Begin checking your speed, lane position, and sightline so you can respond to the light without a sudden maneuver. The sign does not mean the light is currently red, nor does it describe a railroad or a reserved lane. Expect changing traffic and be ready to stop smoothly.

8. 8. What should a driver prepare for at a gradual-curve warning?

   
   1. A road that becomes a dead end
   2. A lane reserved for bicycles only
   3. An immediate railroad stop
   4. A change in road direction ahead
   Show answer

   A change in road direction ahead. The gradual-curve warning tells you that the road will change direction ahead. Prepare before entering the bend by choosing a safe speed and staying within your lane. The sign does not signal a bicycle-only lane, a railroad stop, or a dead end. A smooth approach gives you time to see the continuing roadway and respond to other traffic. Avoid waiting until the vehicle is already in the curve to make a sharp steering or braking correction.

9. 9. If another vehicle is tailgating you, what adjustment can give that driver a better view ahead?

   1. Move slightly to the right and create more space ahead
   2. Brake sharply whenever the vehicle gets close
   3. Speed up until you are beyond the posted limit
   4. Turn off your lights so the other driver backs away
   Show answer

   Move slightly to the right and create more space ahead. When a driver follows too closely, move slightly to the right to give that driver a better view of the road ahead. Signal early for turns, stops, or lane changes, and if possible slow enough to encourage the other driver to pass. Sudden braking can cause a rear-end crash, and speeding beyond the limit trades one hazard for another. Turning off lights reduces visibility. Keep your attention on the roadway, leave room in front of your own vehicle, and pull out of the traffic flow if the tailgating continues and a safe opportunity exists.

10. 10. What can cause a vehicle to skid when the driver applies the brakes too hard?

    1. A clean windshield in daylight
    2. Only a freshly paved road
    3. A full fuel tank on a level road
    4. Loose gravel, snow, ice, or even dry pavement
    Show answer

    Loose gravel, snow, ice, or even dry pavement. Hard braking can make a vehicle lose traction on loose gravel, snow, ice, and even dry pavement. The freshly paved road choice overlooks the manual's warning that ordinary dry pavement can also produce a skid when braking is too forceful. Fuel level does not determine whether the tires slide, and windshield condition affects visibility rather than tire grip. Use a progressive squeeze on the brake pedal, especially when the surface feels loose or slippery. A useful cue is that stopping technique and pavement condition work together: the same pedal pressure can behave differently from one surface to another.

11. 11. At an uncontrolled intersection on a rural gravel road, what should drivers be prepared to do?

    1. Use the shoulder as the normal through lane
    2. Follow a dust cloud without reducing speed
    3. Assume the crossing is clear after one glance
    4. Stop for oncoming traffic
    Show answer

    Stop for oncoming traffic. Rural gravel intersections may have no yield or stop signs, and dust can hide a crossing vehicle. Drivers should slow down and be prepared to stop for oncoming traffic. Following a dust cloud at speed reduces the time available to react, while a single glance cannot prove that the crossing is clear. The shoulder is softer and less stable, not a substitute lane. Approach with reduced speed, look beyond the dust, and keep enough control to stop before entering the other road.

12. 12. At a stop sign with a marked stop line, where should the vehicle stop?

    1. At or beyond the crosswalk so the driver can see cross traffic
    2. Beside the sign, even if that is inside the intersection
    3. At the stop line, before the vehicle reaches it
    4. Only after another vehicle has stopped first
    Show answer

    At the stop line, before the vehicle reaches it. The stop line establishes the first stopping point, so the vehicle should halt before reaching it. If a crosswalk is present, it also must remain clear, and the driver may pull forward later only when necessary to see and only after yielding as required. Stopping beside the sign can place the vehicle in the intersection, while waiting for another vehicle misunderstands the independent duty to stop. Approach early enough to brake smoothly, keep the crosswalk open, and look for crossing traffic before moving forward.

13. 13. What kinds of information do Iowa traffic signs communicate?

    1. Only road construction schedules and detour dates
    2. Traffic laws, hazards, locations, directions, and services
    3. Only the names of nearby towns and counties
    4. Only emergency instructions from police officers
    Show answer

    Traffic laws, hazards, locations, directions, and services. Traffic signs give drivers several kinds of information, including laws, hazards, places, routes, directions, and services. The choice “Traffic laws, hazards, locations, directions, and services” covers that broad purpose, while the other choices incorrectly limit signs to construction dates, local names, or police instructions. Color and shape provide useful clues, but the individual symbol or wording supplies the particular message. Read the sign early, connect it to the road ahead, and adjust speed or position when its warning or rule requires it. This approach turns sign recognition into a driving decision instead of a visual detail ignored at speed.

14. 14. Which crash must be reported to Iowa police under the manual's stated threshold?

    1. A crash involving injury or death, or property damage above $1,500
    2. Only a crash that blocks an interstate for more than one hour
    3. Only a crash involving two commercial vehicles
    4. Any minor scrape, but not a crash involving an injury
    Show answer

    A crash involving injury or death, or property damage above $1,500. Iowa requires police notification when a crash involves injury or death to another person or property damage exceeding $1,500. That threshold is broader than the commercial-vehicle and interstate conditions in the distractors. A driver should first protect people, move an operable vehicle out of traffic when it can be done safely, and call 911 with the location and possible injuries. Leaving because damage looks inconvenient is not a substitute for reporting. The key numbers are injury or death, or damage greater than $1,500, followed by the 72-hour reporting consequence described in the manual.

15. 15. What does the Iowa manual recommend as a defense against other people's aggressive driving?

    1. Match their speed to keep pace
    2. Use the horn to warn them off
    3. Follow closely so they cannot cut in
    4. Avoid aggressive and inattentive tendencies yourself and leave plenty of space in front
    Show answer

    Avoid aggressive and inattentive tendencies yourself and leave plenty of space in front. Avoiding aggressive and inattentive driving tendencies yourself puts you in a stronger position to deal with other people's driving choices. Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front, and always wear your seatbelt. Matching an aggressive driver's speed, honking, or closing the gap all escalate the situation. Space and calm give you room to react when someone else makes a bad choice.

16. 16. What is the required response to a flashing yellow traffic signal?

    1. Accelerate because cross traffic must stop
    2. Stop completely and wait for a green light
    3. Proceed with caution, yielding to vehicles and pedestrians
    4. Treat it as a flashing red signal
    Show answer

    Proceed with caution, yielding to vehicles and pedestrians. A flashing yellow signal permits movement only with caution. The driver must yield to vehicles and pedestrians and proceed when the path is safe. A complete stop and wait for green applies to a different signal condition, while treating yellow as red would impose the wrong rule. Acceleration is especially risky because the flashing signal does not give the driver priority over people or traffic already moving through the conflict area. Reduce speed, scan both directions, identify anyone crossing, and continue only after the intersection is clear enough.

17. 17. What is the purpose of a solid green bicycle box at a signalized intersection?

    1. It provides bicyclists a safe way to turn
    2. It marks a lane where cars may park during a red light
    3. It identifies a pedestrian-only sidewalk
    4. It shows where motorcycles must stop behind trucks
    Show answer

    It provides bicyclists a safe way to turn. A bicycle box is a solid green pavement marking installed to give bicyclists a safe way to turn at a signalized intersection. It sits next to the crosswalk and covers the full width of the travel lane, so it is not a parking area, sidewalk, or motorcycle queue. Drivers should recognize the marking as space associated with bicycle movement and watch carefully before entering or crossing it. The green paint describes the facility, not permission for a car to occupy it.

18. 18. During extremely dusty conditions on a rural road, which lights should make the vehicle more visible?

    1. No lights until the dust clears
    2. High beams only
    3. Parking lights only
    4. Low-beam headlights
    Show answer

    Low-beam headlights. The manual directs drivers to use low-beam headlights during extremely dusty conditions so other road users can see the vehicle. High beams can worsen glare and are not the instruction given for this situation. Parking lights provide less useful visibility, and waiting for the dust to clear removes an important warning to approaching traffic. The light choice does not replace slower, alert driving. Reduce speed, expect limited sight distance, look for vehicles entering from the side, and keep enough space to stop if the dust hides a hazard.

19. 19. An emergency vehicle with a siren approaches while you are already in an intersection. What should you do?

    1. Turn left and follow the emergency vehicle
    2. Stop immediately in the intersection
    3. Drive through the intersection, then pull over to the right
    4. Accelerate and remain in the lane
    Show answer

    Drive through the intersection, then pull over to the right. If an emergency vehicle approaches while you are in an intersection, Iowa directs you to clear that intersection before pulling over. Once clear, move to the right edge or as near to it as possible and stop. Stopping in the intersection can block the emergency route and create a collision point. Following the emergency vehicle or simply accelerating without yielding also fails to provide the required passage. Check mirrors, clear the conflict area, and stop on the right.

20. 20. For a driver age 21 or older operating a noncommercial vehicle in Iowa, what is the lowest BAC covered by the general alcohol per se threshold?

    1. .02 or higher
    2. .05 or higher
    3. .08 or higher
    4. .10 or higher
    Show answer

    .08 or higher. For the general adult OWI definition, Iowa uses a BAC of .08 or higher. The .02 figure belongs to the stricter underage rule, while .05 and .10 are not the threshold stated for this definition. The manual also explains that OWI can involve any amount of a controlled substance, so the BAC number is not the only route to the offense. Do not treat .08 as a safe-driving target: impairment can begin earlier, and the posted legal threshold describes enforcement, not a recommended amount before driving.