SD Permit Practice Test 21

All 20 questions in test 21

Every question below comes from the South Dakota 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. What do no-passing signs together with pavement markings indicate along a road?

   1. County boundary locations posted along rural highways across the state
   2. Places where trucks must stop for scheduled safety inspection checks
   3. Where future construction projects will close lanes for road work
   4. Where you can pass, and the beginning and ending of passing zones or where you may not pass
   Show answer

   Where you can pass, and the beginning and ending of passing zones or where you may not pass. Signs and markings work as one system marking where passing is allowed, where a passing zone begins and ends, and where passing is barred altogether. County boundaries use their own signing. Future construction appears through orange work zone devices when the work arrives. Truck inspection stops have dedicated facilities and signs. Read the pair together at speed: the pennant or regulatory sign warns, the centerline confirms, and a zone that ends mid-pass demands you already be back in your lane.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, stop, yield and guide signs

2. 2. Who should not get behind the wheel because of heart related risk?

   1. Anyone who exercises less than daily
   2. Drivers over fifty without exception
   3. People in danger of a blackout, fainting, or a heart attack
   4. Only people who feel chest pain at that moment
   Show answer

   People in danger of a blackout, fainting, or a heart attack. A heart condition that carries danger of blackout, fainting, or heart attack removes the person from behind the wheel, because an incapacitated driver endangers everyone sharing the road. Exercise frequency is a lifestyle factor, not this disqualifying line. Age alone never bans a driver in this guidance. Waiting for active chest pain ignores the blackout risk that precedes symptoms. The safe route runs through the treating doctor: ask directly whether the condition affects driving, and accept the answer before traffic asks the question violently.

   Study this in the handbook: Vision, fatigue, distraction and aggressive driving

3. 3. At an intersection, why should you not rely only on signs or signals to keep you safe?

   1. Signs and signals apply only during daylight hours
   2. Traffic signals remove the need to search for traffic
   3. Some road users may not obey signs or signals
   4. Right-of-way rules stop applying at signed intersections
   Show answer

   Some road users may not obey signs or signals. Signs and signals organize traffic, yet they cannot physically stop a driver who misses or ignores them. Some road users will not obey a control device or will fail to yield, so your own search still decides whether the path is clear. Trusting a green light alone, as one choice implies, can carry you into a late runner. Slow near intersections, scan left, right, and left again, and enter only when you see the crossing path open.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of way, funerals and intersections

4. 4. What do open bridge gratings or steel bridge decks do to your vehicle?

   1. They can reduce traction, so maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel
   2. They improve traction in all weather
   3. They require sharp steering corrections across the grating
   4. They let you speed up so the tires skim smoothly over the grating
   Show answer

   They can reduce traction, so maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel. Open bridge gratings and steel bridges can reduce traction. The manual advises reducing speed, increasing following distance, and maintaining a firm grip on the steering wheel. Improved traction is the opposite of the warning, and sharp steering corrections can make a low-grip surface harder to manage. Speeding up does not make the tires skim safely across the deck. Slow before the grating and keep your steering controlled while crossing it.

   Study this in the handbook: Night, winter, deer and work zones

5. 5. What phone habit can confirm a trip stop is worth making before you drive there?

   1. Call while driving to save time
   2. Never plan trips by phone at all
   3. Send a text message after arriving in the store parking lot
   4. Call ahead to make sure they have what you need or that your pickup is ready
   Show answer

   Call ahead to make sure they have what you need or that your pickup is ready. One call ahead can erase a wasted trip entirely by confirming stock or that a pickup waits ready, which is trip planning at its cheapest. Calling while driving spends attention the road owns. Texting from the lot confirms after the travel already happened. Avoiding phones altogether discards a tool that deletes whole journeys. The larger pattern is consolidation: list errands, batch places into one loop, and question each trip's necessity, because the safest and cheapest mile is always the one never driven.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and driving position

6. 6. What do regulatory sign shapes and colors generally look like?

   1. Square or rectangular, white with black, red, or green markings
   2. Always round and yellow with black symbols, letters, and border trim
   3. Orange triangles with reflective borders
   4. Brown circles with white recreation symbols
   Show answer

   Square or rectangular, white with black, red, or green markings. Regulatory signs usually appear square or rectangular, sometimes in a special shape, in white carrying black, red, or green letters and symbols. Round yellow belongs to the advance warning for railroad crossings. Orange marks temporary construction and incident conditions rather than standing law. Brown serves recreation and cultural guidance, not regulation. Because these white signs state enforceable rules, missing one is no defense; train your eye to treat every white rectangular panel beside the road as a command to read, not background scenery.

   Study this in the handbook: Regulatory, stop, yield and guide signs

7. 7. You park facing downhill on a street with no curb. Which way should the front wheels point?

   1. Sharply to the left, toward the lane where traffic passes
   2. Straight ahead, since there is no curb
   3. Sharply to the right, away from traffic
   4. Toward the nearest driveway entrance
   Show answer

   Sharply to the right, away from traffic. With no curb or facing downhill, turn the wheels sharply right so a rolling vehicle moves away from traffic instead of into it. Pointing left aims any roll directly across the lane where vehicles pass. Straight wheels let gravity choose the path, and a downhill grade pulls the vehicle forward into the roadway. A driveway entrance is not a safety target; the shoulder edge is. Set the angle before you leave, because that preset direction decides where the vehicle travels if the brake slips.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and school buses

8. 8. What protection exists before a point system suspension takes effect?

   1. Upon the operator's request, a hearing is provided before suspension
   2. Suspension is automatic with no review possible
   3. The governor reviews every point suspension case personally
   4. Points expire while the suspension runs
   Show answer

   Upon the operator's request, a hearing is provided before suspension. Before a point suspension lands, the operator may request a hearing and receive one, a chance to contest errors or explain the record before losing the license. Automatic suspension without review would skip that safeguard entirely. Gubernatorial review of routine point cases exists nowhere in the system. Points expiring mid-suspension does not describe the process either. If a suspension notice arrives, the request deadline matters; silence accepts the outcome, while a timely request gets your version of the record heard first.

   Study this in the handbook: License rules, insurance and the point system

9. 9. How should the head restraint be adjusted for your head?

   1. At the base of your neck
   2. Above your head near the roof
   3. Against the back of your head, no lower than your ears
   4. Removed whenever your seat belt is fastened
   Show answer

   Against the back of your head, no lower than your ears. The head restraint should contact the back of your head and should not sit below ear level. That position helps support the head in a rear impact. A restraint at the neck base is too low, while placing it near the roof ignores the position it needs to protect. Wearing a seat belt does not make the head restraint unnecessary because the two features protect against different movements. Adjust both before driving and check that the restraint remains behind your head.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and driving position

10. 10. What does braking distance describe in the stopping sequence?

    1. The distance brakes need to stop the vehicle
    2. The distance covered while you recognize the hazard
    3. The gap you leave behind the vehicle ahead
    4. The distance a vehicle rolls after the engine stops
    Show answer

    The distance brakes need to stop the vehicle. Braking distance is the time and ground the brakes themselves need to slow the vehicle and bring it to a halt, after perception and reaction have already consumed their own shares. Recognition distance happens earlier, while your foot still rests on the accelerator. A following gap is a cushion you choose, not a measured stopping phase. Rolling after engine shutdown describes coasting without power. When estimating whether you can stop for a crosswalk, treat the brake phase as only the last portion of a longer total.

    Study this in the handbook: Controlling speed

11. 11. Two lanes beside you are also turning the same direction. What lane discipline applies during the turn?

    1. Drift toward whichever lane beside you looks emptier at the moment
    2. Change lanes midway if traffic slows down
    3. Move to the inside lane for a shorter path
    4. Stay in your lane until the turn is completed
    Show answer

    Stay in your lane until the turn is completed. When several lanes turn together, identify your lane before entering and stay in it until the turn finishes, because neighbors are tracing parallel arcs beside you. Drifting toward an emptier lane crosses one of those arcs and invites a side collision. Cutting inside steals the shorter path another driver already occupies. A mid-turn lane change during slowdowns repeats the same crossing error. The painted lines through the junction extend your lane; follow yours from entry to exit without borrowing another driver space.

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, U turns and roundabouts

12. 12. When two hazards must be faced at the same time and cannot be separated, what space strategy applies?

    1. Give equal space to both hazards always
    2. Give the most room to the worst danger
    3. Focus only on the hazard straight ahead
    4. Close both gaps to pass through faster
    Show answer

    Give the most room to the worst danger. Compromise space by awarding the biggest cushion to the worst danger, like the child on a bicycle who can swerve without warning, even if that means running nearer the steadier oncoming cars. Equal splits ignore that hazards differ in unpredictability. Staring only ahead abandons side threats entirely. Closing gaps to hurry through removes the very buffer being managed. Rank the dangers by how suddenly each can move, then spend your limited road width where a surprise would hurt most.

13. 13. Who may ride as a passenger while a Motorcycle Instruction Permit holder is riding?

    1. One adult who holds a valid motorcycle license
    2. A parent or guardian riding behind the learner
    3. No other person may ride on the motorcycle
    4. One immediate family member wearing protective gear
    Show answer

    No other person may ride on the motorcycle. A Motorcycle Instruction Permit holder may not carry any other person on the motorcycle. An adult with a motorcycle license may ride alongside on a separate machine, which differs greatly from sitting behind the learner. Parent status and protective gear also create no passenger exception during this learning stage. Picture one seat in use only; anyone coaching the ride needs a second motorcycle rather than space behind the student rider.

14. 14. Your brakes fail while driving and you reach for the parking brake. How should you apply it?

    1. Apply it slowly so the rear wheels do not lock and cause a skid
    2. Yank it fully on as fast as possible
    3. Pump it a few times to build up braking pressure
    4. Apply it only after turning the engine off
    Show answer

    Apply it slowly so the rear wheels do not lock and cause a skid. Ease the parking brake on slowly, because grabbing it fully can lock the rear wheels and trade a rolling problem for a skidding one, and stay ready to release it if a skid starts. A hard yank is exactly the lockup trigger to avoid. Repeated pumping interrupts the steady pull, so the rear brakes never hold consistent force long enough to slow the vehicle well. Engine shutdown is unrelated to how the rear brakes engage. The parking brake is a weaker, rear only system; treat it like a dimmer, not a switch, while you hunt for a soft place to stop.

    Study this in the handbook: Skids, brake failure and other vehicle emergencies

15. 15. A minor completes an approved driver education course. How long must the minor hold a Motorcycle Instruction Permit before upgrading to a Motorcycle Restricted Minor's Permit?

    1. For 275 continuous days before the upgrade
    2. For 180 continuous days before the upgrade
    3. For 90 continuous days before the upgrade
    4. For 365 continuous days before the upgrade
    Show answer

    For 180 continuous days before the upgrade. Completing an approved driver education course shortens the Motorcycle Instruction Permit holding period to 180 continuous days before a Motorcycle Restricted Minor's Permit. Picking 275 days ignores the reduction earned through the course and remains the tempting figure for riders without that completion. Ninety days rushes the upgrade far too soon, and a full year waits well beyond either stated path. Keep the course record with the permit dates so the shorter count is easy to prove.

16. 16. For a first alcohol violation conviction, what jail sentence could a South Dakota court impose?

    1. No jail time for any first conviction
    2. 15 to 365 days in jail
    3. 90 to 365 days in jail
    4. 15 to 30 days in jail only
    Show answer

    15 to 365 days in jail. A first alcohol violation conviction can bring jail time running from 15 to 365 days, alongside fines and license loss. The 90 to 365 day span belongs to the license side of the sentence, which makes it a tempting mix up. Thirty days understates the top of the jail range by most of a year. Even a first case deserves a sober ride plan long before court enters the picture.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, zero tolerance and implied consent

17. 17. What braking technique does the winter tips section recommend on slippery roads?

    1. One hard stomp to engage the tires
    2. Wait without braking until the vehicle slows itself
    3. Braking only with the parking brake
    4. Light braking by gently pumping the brakes
    Show answer

    Light braking by gently pumping the brakes. On slick winter surfaces the guidance is light braking with gentle pumping, metering pressure so wheels keep some rotation instead of locking into a slide. A single hard stomp overwhelms frozen grip instantly. The parking brake as the main tool locks rear wheels unpredictably. Waiting for the vehicle to slow itself surrenders control on hills and approaches. Gentle, early, repeated applications keep steering alive while speed bleeds off; in winter the brake pedal is a dimmer to feather, not a switch to slam.

    Study this in the handbook: Night, winter, deer and work zones

18. 18. What body position is recommended while backing up in a vehicle?

    1. Face forward and rely only on mirrors
    2. Right arm on the back of the passenger seat, looking directly through the rear window
    3. Lean out of the driver window fully
    4. Turn your head around only after the vehicle starts moving backward
    Show answer

    Right arm on the back of the passenger seat, looking directly through the rear window. The taught posture turns you toward the action: right arm braced on the passenger seat back, eyes looking directly through the rear window, left hand guiding from the top of the wheel. Mirrors alone leave the immediate rear blind and distort distances. Leaning out the window unbalances your seating and pedal control. Turning after movement begins spots hazards late by definition. Your body orientation tells the truth about attention; aim your eyes where the vehicle is going, especially when that direction is behind you.

19. 19. How far ahead must you be able to see before passing near a hill or curve?

    1. At least 500 feet
    2. At least one-third of a mile
    3. At least one-quarter mile
    4. At least one mile
    Show answer

    At least one-third of a mile. Passing requires a view long enough to spot an oncoming vehicle before it becomes a conflict. The handbook sets that view at one-third of a mile or about ten seconds of travel, and it says to assume a hidden vehicle waits beyond any curve or crest. A 500 foot sight line and a quarter mile both fall short of that threshold, while a full mile is more than the rule demands. If you cannot see the required distance, treat the hill or curve as an oncoming car and stay in your lane.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, passing and large vehicles

20. 20. How much lane should you allow a motorcyclist traveling beside you?

    1. Half a lane, since motorcycles are narrow enough to share lane space safely
    2. Whatever space remains after your vehicle centers
    3. Only the paved shoulder when available
    4. A full lane width, so the rider has space to react to traffic
    Show answer

    A full lane width, so the rider has space to react to traffic. A motorcyclist gets a full lane width, because the rider needs lateral room to dodge potholes, seams, and debris that cars roll over without noticing. Half a lane squeezes those escape moves into your door panel. Shoulders are recovery areas, not assigned motorcycle lanes. Leftovers after you center yourself treat a legal vehicle as an afterthought. Share the road by the whole lane rule: pass a motorcycle the way you pass a car, with a complete lane change, never a shared lane squeeze.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and school buses