SD Permit Practice Test 5

All 20 questions in test 5

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. When a disabled vehicle is stopped on a highway, what should you try to do first?

   1. Get your vehicle off the road and away from traffic if possible
   2. Stop in the lane and wait behind it
   3. Turn off all lights so other drivers are not distracted
   4. Stand near the center line to warn traffic
   Show answer

   Get your vehicle off the road and away from traffic if possible. South Dakota's breakdown guidance starts with moving the vehicle out of traffic when that can be done. Stopping in the travel lane behind another disabled vehicle creates a second hazard and gives approaching drivers less time to react. The useful cue is whether the shoulder or another safe area is reachable; once there, use emergency flashers and stay out of the roadway.

2. 2. What is the fee for a new or renewed regular South Dakota driver license or instruction permit?

   1. $20.00
   2. $10.00
   3. $50.00
   4. $38.00
   Show answer

   $38.00. The fee schedule lists a regular driver license or instruction permit, whether an upgrade, new issue, renewal or transfer from out of state, at $38.00, and the same $38.00 applies to an identification card. An address change, name change, or replacement license or ID card costs $20.00. The manual notes the amounts are subject to change, so treat them as the current published figures rather than permanent numbers.

3. 3. What should you do when rain, snow, ice, or fog makes the posted maximum speed unsafe?

   1. Use the minimum speed sign as your target
   2. Drive exactly the posted maximum to avoid surprising others
   3. Reduce speed below the posted maximum
   4. Speed up until visibility improves
   Show answer

   Reduce speed below the posted maximum. A posted maximum assumes ideal driving conditions. South Dakota tells drivers to reduce speed when weather or roadway conditions make that maximum unsafe, including slippery surfaces or poor visibility. Driving exactly the sign number may look lawful, but it can still be too fast when traction or sight distance is reduced. Your cue is conditions, not just the number on the sign: if tires grip poorly or you cannot see clearly, slow before the vehicle needs sudden braking.

4. 4. Why should you keep space between your car and the vehicle ahead?

   1. It lets you ignore changing traffic signals
   2. It gives you more time to react to road users
   3. It guarantees the driver behind will slow down
   4. It makes passing legal in marked no-passing zones
   Show answer

   It gives you more time to react to road users. South Dakota frames following distance as a space cushion that gives you time to adjust and react. It does not make passing legal where signs or markings prohibit it, and it cannot guarantee what the driver behind will do. Use the cue of changing brake lights, motorcycles, bicycles, or poor weather ahead; those conditions call for more room, not less.

5. 5. What does South Dakota tell drivers not to do around a funeral procession?

   1. Pass the first vehicle on the left
   2. Cut into or interfere with it
   3. Turn on headlights while waiting
   4. Stop before the procession reaches an intersection
   Show answer

   Cut into or interfere with it. South Dakota protects the continuity of a funeral procession by telling other drivers not to cut into or interfere with it. Passing the first vehicle is not the rule stated in this section, and turning on headlights while waiting does not solve the right-of-way issue. The cue is a marked line of vehicles traveling together, usually with headlights on. Let the procession remain intact instead of entering a gap that belongs to the group.

6. 6. A South Dakota driver sits in a parked car with the engine running after drinking. Can the driver be arrested for DWI?

   1. Yes, having physical control is enough if BAC is over the limit
   2. Only if the driver is under 21
   3. No, because the car is not moving
   4. Only if the car is on an interstate
   Show answer

   Yes, having physical control is enough if BAC is over the limit. South Dakota says that if you have physical control of a vehicle, you do not have to be driving to be arrested when your BAC is over the legal limit. A parked car with the engine running and the driver behind the wheel can meet that test. The rule is not limited to drivers under 21 or to interstates. Drivers under 21 face the lower Zero Tolerance range starting at 0.02%.

7. 7. Where should both hands usually be placed on the steering wheel for best control?

   1. At the 2 and 10 o'clock positions
   2. At the 3 and 9 o'clock positions
   3. Together at the bottom of the wheel
   4. One hand inside the rim and one on top
   Show answer

   At the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. South Dakota recommends both hands on opposite sides of the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock. That position gives control while reducing the air bag risk associated with the older 2 and 10 placement. The 2 and 10 choice is familiar, but the manual specifically says it is no longer recommended in vehicles with air bags. Use the cue of a clock face: hands level across the center of the wheel.

8. 8. A South Dakota traffic signal is not functioning properly and you face a green signal. What may you do?

   1. Wait until the signal is repaired
   2. Stop as if at a stop sign, then wait for a police officer
   3. Turn right only
   4. Proceed with caution
   Show answer

   Proceed with caution. South Dakota law spells out what to do at a malfunctioning signal by the color you face. A green signal may proceed with caution, a yellow signal may also proceed with caution, and a red or completely unlighted signal must stop in the same manner as at a stop sign. Treating a green signal as a stop sign is not required, and waiting for repairs is not the rule. Because other drivers may be unsure what the signal means, slow down, look in every direction, and be ready to yield.

9. 9. What does a winding-road warning sign mean?

   
   1. The shoulder is open for passing
   2. A single stop sign is hidden ahead
   3. Traffic must move only one way
   4. Several curves are ahead
   Show answer

   Several curves are ahead. South Dakota's warning sign group includes Curvy Road, which alerts drivers to a series of alignment changes. A one-way message would come from a regulatory sign with a directional arrow, not a yellow winding-road warning. Use the repeated curve symbol as the cue to reduce speed, keep both hands steady, and avoid starting a pass where sight distance changes quickly.

10. 10. What color are service signs that point to facilities such as rest areas, gas stations, or hospitals?

    1. Blue with white letters or symbols
    2. Orange with black construction symbols
    3. Yellow with black hazard symbols
    4. Brown with white route numbers
    Show answer

    Blue with white letters or symbols. Service signs are blue with white letters or symbols, and they guide drivers to facilities such as rest areas, gas, campgrounds, and hospitals. Orange signs warn of work zones, so that choice confuses services with construction hazards. When you need fuel, medical services, or a rest stop, look for the blue rectangle or square rather than a warning color. The facility symbol then tells you which service is available.

11. 11. In a South Dakota funeral procession, which vehicle must obey traffic signs and signals?

    1. Only the hearse
    2. Only the first vehicle
    3. Every third vehicle
    4. Only vehicles without headlights on
    Show answer

    Only the first vehicle. South Dakota assigns the traffic-control duty to the first vehicle in a funeral procession. The vehicles behind it are identified by headlights and should not be cut off or interfered with as the group proceeds. The hearse choice is too narrow because the rule says first vehicle, which may or may not be the hearse in every arrangement. Your cue is position in the procession: lead vehicle obeys the signal, following marked vehicles stay together.

12. 12. If a stuck accelerator makes your vehicle accelerate out of control, what should you do?

    1. Turn off the engine, shift to neutral, steer smoothly, and brake gently
    2. Shift into a lower gear and continue to the nearest mechanic
    3. Press the accelerator harder to free the pedal
    4. Use the horn while staying in the travel lane
    Show answer

    Turn off the engine, shift to neutral, steer smoothly, and brake gently. With a stuck accelerator, turn off the engine, shift to neutral, search for an escape path, steer smoothly, and brake gently. The goal is to remove engine power and guide the vehicle out of traffic without adding abrupt steering. Pressing the accelerator harder is wrong because it can keep or increase the unwanted acceleration. The cue is speed building without your command: separate power from the wheels, then move to a safe stopping place.

13. 13. Why does the South Dakota manual tell drivers to be especially watchful for bicyclists at night?

    1. Bicyclists are required to ride on the sidewalk after dark
    2. Some bikes may not have the reflectors or lights they should have
    3. Bicycles are not allowed on roads at night
    4. Bicycle lights are always bright enough to be seen
    Show answer

    Some bikes may not have the reflectors or lights they should have. Bicyclists should have reflectors or lights on their bikes, but the manual warns that some bikes may not have this equipment, so drivers must be especially careful and watchful for bikes and bicyclists. A rider with no lights can be invisible until the last moment. Slow down when approaching, pass with room, and remember that bicyclists have the same rights on the roadway as other vehicles. They are not required to leave the road at night.

14. 14. Which age group of South Dakota drivers must wear a seatbelt under the law for operators (a petty offense if violated)?

    1. Only operators on interstates
    2. Only operators over 21
    3. Operators at least fourteen and under eighteen
    4. Operators under 12
    Show answer

    Operators at least fourteen and under eighteen. South Dakota Codified Law 32-37-1.2 requires any operator of a passenger vehicle on a public street or highway who is at least fourteen and under eighteen to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt whenever the vehicle is moving, and a violation is a petty offense. Separately, every operator and front seat passenger must belt up under 32-38-1. Over 21 only, interstate only, and under 12 do not describe this statute.

15. 15. If a power line is down in or on the road after a crash, what should you do?

    1. Drive over it slowly if it is not sparking
    2. Move it with a dry wooden object
    3. Keep away from it
    4. Stand near it to warn other drivers
    Show answer

    Keep away from it. At a crash scene, stay away from downed power lines when wires are in or on the road. Electricity can travel through the wire, nearby objects, wet ground, or a damaged vehicle, so approaching to move it can be deadly. The wooden object choice is unsafe because drivers should not try to handle utility wires at all. The cue is any line or wire across the road after a collision: keep back and let emergency or utility crews handle it.

16. 16. What color and shape are most South Dakota warning signs?

    1. White with black, red, or green letters and square shaped
    2. Blue with white lettering and square shaped
    3. Green or brown with white lettering and rectangular shaped
    4. Yellow with black lettering or symbols and diamond shaped
    Show answer

    Yellow with black lettering or symbols and diamond shaped. Most warning signs in South Dakota are yellow with black symbols or lettering and have a diamond shape. Blue square signs point to services, so that choice names a different category. The cue is a yellow diamond before a condition such as a curve, school crossing, slippery road, merging traffic, or animal crossing. The sign gives advance notice, so begin adjusting speed before reaching the curve, crossing, or other condition.

17. 17. For a second DWI in South Dakota, what minimum license loss does the manual list?

    1. At least 60 days
    2. At least 30 days
    3. At least one year
    4. Until the driver turns 21
    Show answer

    At least one year. A second DWI has a much tougher license consequence than a first DWI. South Dakota lists loss of the driver license for a minimum of one year. The 30-day answer repeats the first-offense minimum, which is why it is a tempting but wrong choice. Use the cue of repeat conviction: once the DWI is a second offense, think one-year minimum license loss before considering any added jail risk for driving during that period.

18. 18. According to the South Dakota manual, what happens if you give false information when applying for a driver license or ID?

    1. Your driving privilege can be suspended, revoked, or cancelled
    2. You must pay a $20 correction fee
    3. Nothing, if the error is fixed within 30 days
    4. You must retake the vision test
    Show answer

    Your driving privilege can be suspended, revoked, or cancelled. Giving false information when you apply for a driver license or a non-driver ID is one of the listed grounds for losing your driving privilege in South Dakota, along with attempting to alter the information on a license, using someone else's license, and failing to appear for a re-examination when requested. The consequence is action against the license itself, not a small fee or a retest. Apply with accurate documents and correct any error through the DMV.

19. 19. On pavement markings, when is passing permitted on your side of a two-direction roadway?

    1. When the solid yellow line is on your side
    2. When a double yellow line separates traffic
    3. When the dashed yellow line is on your side
    4. Whenever the shoulder is paved
    Show answer

    When the dashed yellow line is on your side. South Dakota’s pavement-marking diagram says passing on a two-direction roadway is allowed when the dashed yellow line is on your side, assuming the maneuver is otherwise safe. A double yellow line means passing is prohibited in both directions, so it is the opposite of permission. A paved shoulder is not a passing lane. The cue is the line nearest your vehicle: dashed yellow on your side permits consideration of passing; solid or double yellow tells you not to start.

20. 20. What action does this red and white downward-pointing triangle require?

    
    1. Accelerate to join traffic before the intersection
    2. Enter only after a green arrow appears
    3. Stop for thirty seconds even when the road is empty
    4. Slow down and yield to traffic in the intersection or roadway
    Show answer

    Slow down and yield to traffic in the intersection or roadway. The yield sign tells a driver to slow and give right-of-way to traffic in the intersection being crossed or the roadway being entered. A fixed thirty-second stop is not the South Dakota rule; stopping may be needed, but only because traffic conditions require it. Use the inverted triangle as the cue to check both approaches early and be ready to wait.