SD Permit Practice Test 22

All 20 questions in test 22

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. How should you approach an uncontrolled rural intersection with no stop or yield signs?

   1. Keep your normal speed if no vehicle is visible at first
   2. Honk and maintain your speed through it
   3. Slow down and be prepared to stop for crossing or oncoming traffic
   4. Assume cross traffic must yield to you
   Show answer

   Slow down and be prepared to stop for crossing or oncoming traffic. An unsigned rural junction delegates safety to caution: slow down and arrive ready to stop for crossing or oncoming vehicles that may assume the same freedom you did. Keeping normal speed because nothing is visible trusts sight lines that crops and hills often block. A honk at speed warns without preparing any response. Assuming others must yield invents a rule the empty signposts refuse to provide. Crops, woods, and hills hide approaches on country roads, so your brake readiness is the only control device the intersection has.

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

2. 2. What minimum period must a driver spend driving on a Restricted Minor's Permit?

   1. A minimum period of three months driving
   2. A minimum period of six months driving
   3. A minimum period of nine months driving
   4. A minimum period of twelve months driving
   Show answer

   A minimum period of six months driving. A driver must spend at least six months driving on the Restricted Minor's Permit. Three months sounds tidy yet finishes the stage before the required half year has passed. Nine months and twelve months add extra waiting that the stated minimum never imposes. Mark the first restricted driving day on a calendar, count six full months forward, and treat that later date as the earliest point for moving beyond this stage.

   Study this in the handbook: Instruction and Restricted Minor's Permits

3. 3. You move to South Dakota holding a commercial driver license from another state. Within how many days must you apply for a South Dakota license?

   1. Within 30 days of establishing residency
   2. Within 60 days of establishing residency
   3. Within 90 days of establishing residency
   4. Within 120 days of establishing residency
   Show answer

   Within 30 days of establishing residency. Commercial drivers get the shorter clock after a move. Once residency is established, a CDL holder must apply for a South Dakota license within 30 days. Ninety days tempts movers because that longer window covers a regular noncommercial license, yet it leaves a commercial driver unlicensed under state rules for two extra months. Sixty and 120 days split the difference without support. Mark the move date, gather documents early, and file well inside the first month.

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

4. 4. You must sit in a vehicle with the motor running for a long period. What precaution applies?

   1. Seal every window tightly to keep the cabin temperature stable inside
   2. Open a window while sitting with the motor running
   3. Turn the heater fan to maximum speed
   4. Park facing a wall to block the wind
   Show answer

   Open a window while sitting with the motor running. Fresh air is the safeguard during long idling: open a window so exhaust gases that seep toward the cabin cannot accumulate around you. Sealing the windows builds the trap the precaution exists to prevent. A heater fan can circulate contaminated air faster rather than cleansing it. Facing a wall traps exhaust near the vehicle instead of dispersing it. Better still, shut the engine off for long waits; when running it is unavoidable, moving outside air is the difference between a nap and a poisoning.

5. 5. What license action does South Dakota law require after a Driving While Intoxicated conviction?

   1. Points added with no loss of the license
   2. A warning letter for a first conviction only
   3. Revocation only when the offense is repeated
   4. Mandatory revocation of the driver license
   Show answer

   Mandatory revocation of the driver license. A DWI conviction brings revocation by requirement, not a points only outcome or a warning. That loss applies as the set consequence of the conviction, rather than waiting for repeat offenses to trigger action. Expect testing and fees before any return to driving after revocation ends. Plan rides in advance, because driving during revocation adds new penalties on top of the original case.

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

6. 6. How is a shared center lane marked on each side?

   1. Two solid white lines running side by side
   2. A single broken white line down the center
   3. Solid white paired with a dashed yellow line
   4. Solid yellow paired with a dashed yellow line
   Show answer

   Solid yellow paired with a dashed yellow line. A shared center lane uses yellow because it separates traffic moving in opposite directions, and the mixed solid and dashed pattern on each side signals that the lane is reserved for turning movements. The two solid white lines belong to lane dividers for traffic going the same way, and a broken white line marks a same-direction lane change. Pairing solid white with dashed yellow mixes those two meanings. When you approach a center lane, check that the yellow pattern flanks both sides before you enter it for a left turn or permitted U-turn.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and signaling

7. 7. Why are roundabouts becoming more common than standard intersections in many places?

   1. They let drivers enter without yielding to traffic
   2. They provide safer and more efficient traffic flow
   3. They remove the need to watch for pedestrians
   4. They allow higher speeds through the intersection
   Show answer

   They provide safer and more efficient traffic flow. Roundabouts keep traffic moving in one direction at low speed, which gives drivers more time and fewer severe conflicts than a standard crossing. That design provides safer and more efficient flow, so more communities build them. Entering without yielding, as one choice claims, would break the circulation that makes the design work. Slow on approach, yield to traffic already circling and to people crossing, then take a clear gap and keep your speed down inside.

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

8. 8. What are daytime running lights not meant to replace?

   1. The vehicle battery during normal daylight driving hours
   2. Turn signals during lane changes and turning movements
   3. Headlight use for night driving or in fog, rain, or snow
   4. Dashboard illumination for nighttime instrument visibility
   Show answer

   Headlight use for night driving or in fog, rain, or snow. Daytime running lights help others spot you in daylight, but they do not replace real headlights at night or in fog, rain, and snow, where headlights and taillights matter. Batteries charge from the engine regardless of lamp choice. Signals remain their own system at every hour. Dashboard glow serves the driver, not the traffic picture. Many running light setups leave the rear dark, so switch fully on when conditions dim; being seen from behind is half the point of lights.

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

9. 9. Where passing is permitted by signs and markings, what additional condition must be met?

   1. You may pass only if it is safe to do so
   2. Permission removes any need to judge safety
   3. You must exceed the limit to finish quickly
   4. A passenger must confirm the road is clear
   Show answer

   You may pass only if it is safe to do so. Legal permission and actual safety are separate gates: where passing is allowed, you may do it only if it is safe in that moment, with weather, traffic, and sight distance voting too. Markings cannot see the oncoming car hidden by the hill you can see. Exceeding the limit to shorten a pass trades one violation for another. Passengers may help watch, but judgment and responsibility stay with the driver. Treat the dashed line as an invitation to evaluate, never as a guarantee written by the paint crew.

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

10. 10. How much sleep do most people need to maintain proper daytime alertness?

    1. Four to five hours of sleep on most weekdays
    2. Exactly ten hours of sleep for every adult driver
    3. 7 to 9 hours of sleep for most people
    4. Sleep needs stop completely after age thirty years
    Show answer

    7 to 9 hours of sleep for most people. Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep to stay properly alert through the day, a range that busy schedules routinely cheat. Four or five hours manufactures the fatigue that slows vision and decisions. Ten hours for every adult overshoots the stated range. Sleep need does not retire at thirty along with other youthful traits. Treat sleep as trip preparation equal to fuel: a driver starting rested catches the drifting lane position, the closing gap, and the child at the curb that exhaustion edits out.

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

11. 11. How must a child under five years old be secured in a passenger vehicle in South Dakota?

    1. Held securely in an adult passenger's arms
    2. Secured in a child passenger restraint system per its maker directions
    3. Riding in the front seat with the air bag switched off
    4. Seated on a cushion with an adult belt loosely fitted
    Show answer

    Secured in a child passenger restraint system per its maker directions. Children under five ride secured in a child passenger restraint system, installed and used following the directions from its maker. Adult arms cannot hold a child against crash forces. The front seat adds air bag danger, and a loose adult belt on a cushion leaves gaps that let a small body slide. Read both the vehicle book and the seat book, then check tightness at the belt path before every trip.

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

12. 12. How long does it take to undo a seatbelt when leaving a vehicle?

    1. About ten seconds using both hands
    2. Less than a second to undo
    3. Roughly half a minute in most vehicles
    4. Several minutes without a cutting tool
    Show answer

    Less than a second to undo. Fear of being trapped overstates the release effort: a belt unbuckles in less than a second with one press. Fire and sinking crashes are rare, and staying conscious behind a belt improves any escape that follows. Ten seconds or longer invents a struggle the buckle does not create. Practice the release with your eyes closed once, so muscle memory finds the button even after a frightening stop.

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

13. 13. Besides reducing the chance of injury, what other protection do seatbelts provide in a crash?

    1. They prevent occupants from being thrown out and help the driver keep control.
    2. They inflate to cushion the body during a frontal crash.
    3. They eliminate the need for air bags in any crash.
    4. They protect occupants without needing to be fastened correctly.
    Show answer

    They prevent occupants from being thrown out and help the driver keep control.. Seatbelts do more than reduce injury risk. They keep occupants from being thrown from the vehicle and help the driver maintain control. The description of an air bag inflating does not describe a seatbelt, and belts and air bags work together rather than one eliminating the need for the other. Proper adjustment and fastening are also necessary for the belt to restrain the occupant. In a crash, staying secured helps the driver remain positioned to control the vehicle and keeps occupants inside the passenger compartment.

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

14. 14. You are stopped and a building blocks your view of the cross street. How should you proceed?

    1. Honk twice and accelerate through
    2. Turn right regardless of what is coming
    3. Wait for a driver behind you to wave you on
    4. Edge forward slowly until you can see
    Show answer

    Edge forward slowly until you can see. Creep forward slowly until sight lines open, which also lets crossing drivers spot your nose early and warn or slow for you. A honk announces presence but reveals nothing about what approaches. A wave from behind transfers your legal duty to someone who cannot see your angle either. Turning right blindly still enters a lane where a vehicle may be arriving fast. Inching trades a few seconds for actual information, and information is the entire problem at a blocked corner.

15. 15. In ideal conditions, what span does total stopping distance cover?

    1. Only the distance traveled while the brakes are fully applied
    2. Only the distance your foot travels to the pedal
    3. From the last intersection to the stop line
    4. From when you realize you must stop until the vehicle stops
    Show answer

    From when you realize you must stop until the vehicle stops. Total stopping distance runs from the moment you realize a stop is required until the vehicle actually halts, measured under ideal conditions. Braking distance alone is just the final slice after your foot is already working the pedal. Counting from an intersection invents a landmark the definition never uses. Your foot travel is time spent between pedals, not road distance consumed. Picture three phases stacking in order: thinking distance, reacting distance, then braking distance, and the total is the ground covered by all three together.

    Study this in the handbook: Controlling speed

16. 16. Why should you watch for large trucks on a long uphill grade?

    1. They can lose speed and take time to regain it
    2. They are required to stop at the crest
    3. They always move into the left lane
    4. They cannot use the right lane on grades
    Show answer

    They can lose speed and take time to regain it. A loaded truck on a long or steep climb may slow well below the traffic pace, and it needs distance to build speed again when it enters the roadway. Approaching one at full speed leaves little time to adjust. The claim that trucks must stop at the crest is not a rule, and the left lane is not their required position on a grade. Watch for a heavy vehicle ahead, judge its speed early, and change lanes or ease off well before you close the gap.

    Study this in the handbook: Controlling speed

17. 17. You are preparing to turn left at an intersection. Where in your lane should you position the vehicle?

    1. The left-most portion of the lane
    2. The right-most portion, to see oncoming traffic
    3. The center, straddling both directions
    4. The shoulder, when the lane feels crowded
    Show answer

    The left-most portion of the lane. Left turns begin from the left-most portion of the lane, placing you closest to the turn and clear of vehicles going straight on your right. Starting right forces you to cut across their path at the worst moment. Straddling the center blocks both directions and confuses oncoming drivers about your intent. The shoulder is not a turn lane and puts you off the traveled way. Slide left early, yield properly, then arc through in one line that others can read at a glance.

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

18. 18. What does the handbook say about the ignition key when you leave a vehicle parked?

    1. Leave it in if you will return within an hour or two
    2. Hide it under the floor mat for the next driver
    3. Never leave the ignition key in a parked vehicle
    4. Leave it in only when the doors stay unlocked
    Show answer

    Never leave the ignition key in a parked vehicle. The rule is plain: never leave the ignition key inside a vehicle you walk away from, even for a short stop. An hour limit appears nowhere in that instruction, and a mat hides nothing from a thief who watches you park. Unlocked doors plus a waiting key turn a parked vehicle into an invitation for theft or a joyride by a child. Pocket the key and lock up each time; that small habit removes the easiest way for someone else to drive off.

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

19. 19. Your headlights suddenly go out at night. If the switch does not restore them, what should you do if possible?

    1. Put on the emergency flashers, turn signals, or fog lights
    2. Keep driving with no lights until daylight
    3. Turn on high beams and continue at full speed
    4. Stop in the travel lane with the lights off
    Show answer

    Put on the emergency flashers, turn signals, or fog lights. After trying the headlight switch, the handbook advises using the emergency flashers, turn signals, or fog lights if possible, then pulling off the road as soon as possible. Continuing in darkness leaves other drivers with little warning, and high beams do not repair a failed lighting system. Stopping in the travel lane creates a new hazard for approaching traffic. Make the vehicle visible, reduce the time spent in the lane, and move to a safer position promptly.

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

20. 20. For what road conditions were posted speed limits intended?

    1. Winter storms on packed snow
    2. Gravel roads after spring rain
    3. Summer months on dry pavement
    4. Night driving in heavy fog
    Show answer

    Summer months on dry pavement. Posted limits assume the friendliest case: summer months on dry pavement, which is why winter weather automatically argues for less speed than the sign allows. Packed snow turns the posted number into a ceiling you should stay well under. Gravel and fog each shrink the safe speed further from the printed ideal. A limit is a legal maximum for good conditions, not a promise that the number fits the day in front of you; conditions set the real speed, signs only cap it.

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