SD Permit Practice Test 6

All 20 questions in test 6

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. You are turning right on red in South Dakota. What must you do before proceeding?

   
   1. Yield only to cars, then complete the turn
   2. Roll through if the nearest lane is open
   3. Stop, then yield to traffic including pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars
   4. Turn without stopping when no sign prohibits it
   Show answer

   Stop, then yield to traffic including pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars. A right turn on red is allowed only after a complete stop and only when it is safe. South Dakota adds that the driver must yield to all traffic, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars. The no-sign choice is incomplete because absence of a prohibition does not remove the stop and yield duties. The cue is the red light itself: stop first, scan the crosswalks and lanes, then turn while staying in your lane.

2. 2. Which listed option may satisfy South Dakota financial responsibility without buying a standard owner liability policy?

   1. A vehicle title kept in the glove box
   2. A notarized promise to pay future crash costs
   3. A $50,000 certificate of deposit or securities with the State Treasurer
   4. A receipt for the last fuel purchase
   Show answer

   A $50,000 certificate of deposit or securities with the State Treasurer. South Dakota lists several ways to maintain financial responsibility, and one non-policy method is a $50,000 certificate of deposit or securities placed with the State Treasurer. The notarized promise may sound official, but the manual names formal financial instruments, not private assurances. When checking compliance, look for proof issued by an insurer, surety, State Treasurer, or self-insurance authority, because casual paperwork will not show the required ability to cover losses.

3. 3. When turning left in South Dakota, which traffic must you yield to?

   
   1. Drivers in the opposing traffic lane
   2. Drivers behind you in your lane
   3. Parked vehicles on the far curb
   4. Only vehicles with flashing headlights
   Show answer

   Drivers in the opposing traffic lane. A left turn crosses the path of vehicles coming from the opposite direction, so South Dakota directs the turning driver to yield to opposing traffic. The driver-behind-you option confuses signaling and rear awareness with right-of-way; you still check mirrors, but the conflict point is ahead across oncoming lanes. A useful road cue is the gap in oncoming traffic: wait until approaching vehicles are far enough away before you turn across their lane.

4. 4. To cut South Dakota's required Instruction Permit holding time from 275 to 180 days, what driver education result is needed?

   1. Attendance at any one-day safety class
   2. Completing a course with a score of 80% or better on both written and driving portions
   3. Passing the DMV knowledge test twice
   4. 50 logged hours with a parent
   Show answer

   Completing a course with a score of 80% or better on both written and driving portions. Minors must hold the Instruction Permit continuously for 275 days, or 180 days with successful completion of an approved Department of Education driver education course. Successful means a score of 80% or better on both the written and driving portions. A one-day safety class, retaking the knowledge test, or the 50 hour supervised log (which is required anyway) does not shorten the holding period.

5. 5. After a DWI conviction in South Dakota, what insurance filing is required?

   1. No filing, only a fine
   2. Proof of insurance for 30 days
   3. A one-time letter from the insurer
   4. An SR22 filing maintained for 3 years from the eligibility date
   Show answer

   An SR22 filing maintained for 3 years from the eligibility date. Upon conviction of DWI, the driver must present an SR22 insurance filing to the Department of Public Safety and maintain it for 3 years from the eligibility date. A one-time letter or 30 days of proof does not satisfy the requirement. The same 3 year SR22 rule applies after a conviction for failing to maintain proof of insurance. SR22 forms go to the central office, not a local exam station.

6. 6. What does South Dakota say may happen to speeding fines in a work zone?

   1. They are waived if workers are absent
   2. They may be doubled
   3. They are always reduced for first offenses
   4. They become parking violations
   Show answer

   They may be doubled. Work zones require lower speeds and closer attention because workers, lane shifts, equipment, and rough surfaces may be present. South Dakota warns that fines for speeding in a work zone may be doubled. The waived-if-absent choice is wrong because the manual tells drivers to reduce speed in work zones even when no workers are visible. The cue is work-zone signing: once you see orange signs, reduced limits, or lane changes, slow early and expect stronger penalties.

7. 7. What does the red slash on this U-turn symbol mean?

   
   1. U-turns are required for through traffic
   2. U-turns are prohibited at that location
   3. Only commercial vehicles may make a U-turn
   4. U-turns are allowed after yielding to pedestrians
   Show answer

   U-turns are prohibited at that location. South Dakota explains that regulatory signs may use a red circle and slash to prohibit an action, and it lists No U-Turn as a common regulatory sign. The answer allowing the turn after yielding changes the meaning of the slash. Use the cue of the red slash over the turning arrow: continue to a legal turnabout location instead of trying the maneuver there.

8. 8. What happens to a South Dakota Restricted Minor’s Permit when the holder reaches age 18?

   1. It automatically converts to an Operator’s License
   2. It expires immediately and must be retested
   3. It becomes a commercial permit
   4. It remains restricted until age 21
   Show answer

   It automatically converts to an Operator’s License. South Dakota states that a Restricted Minor’s Permit automatically becomes an Operator’s License when the holder reaches age 18. The retesting answer is not what this passage says, although other licensing events can require tests in different contexts. The commercial-permit option is unrelated to the noncommercial graduated license described here. The cue is the birthday: when the restricted-permit holder reaches 18, the credential changes status automatically under this manual section.

9. 9. What license consequence can follow refusal to take a BAC test in South Dakota?

   1. A warning with no license action
   2. Loss of the driver license for one year
   3. A 10-day permit extension
   4. Only a higher insurance premium
   Show answer

   Loss of the driver license for one year. Refusing a requested BAC test carries its own license consequence in South Dakota. The manual says refusal can cost the driver the license for one year. The warning-only answer is wrong because implied consent laws attach a penalty to refusal, separate from any later DWI charge. The cue is the officer’s lawful test request: refusing does not avoid consequences and may create a distinct one-year loss of driving privileges.

10. 10. If another driver is tailgating you and there is no right lane, what should you do?

    1. Slowly reduce speed when the road ahead is clear and passing is legal
    2. Brake hard to make the driver back away
    3. Drive partly on the shoulder until the vehicle passes
    4. Speed up so the following driver cannot pass
    Show answer

    Slowly reduce speed when the road ahead is clear and passing is legal. When no right lane is available, South Dakota advises waiting for a clear, legal passing area and then reducing speed gradually so the tailgater can pass. Hard braking is specifically unsafe because it increases rear-end crash risk. Use the cue of an open legal passing zone ahead, and keep your own braking smooth. If there is a right lane, moving right is preferred; without one, create a lawful opportunity for the driver to go around.

11. 11. Which of these can cost a South Dakota driver their license under the state's point system?

    1. Getting a parking ticket
    2. Buying a second vehicle
    3. Having too many points on the driving record
    4. Moving to a new address
    Show answer

    Having too many points on the driving record. The list of reasons a South Dakota license can be suspended, revoked or cancelled includes having too many points on your driving record, as dictated by the current point system. Other listed reasons include failing to maintain proof of insurance, a conviction for driving while intoxicated, refusing a chemical test, driving during a court prohibition, and a traffic violation committed before age 16 by a permit holder. Parking tickets, vehicle purchases and moves are not on the list.

12. 12. When a stop line is placed before a crosswalk, which marking must be obeyed first?

    1. The far edge of the crosswalk
    2. The center of the intersection
    3. The curb line beyond the pedestrians
    4. The stop line
    Show answer

    The stop line. When there is a stop line before a crosswalk, stop at the stop line first. That position keeps the crosswalk clear and leaves room for pedestrians to cross. The far edge choice would put the vehicle into or beyond the pedestrian area before stopping. A practical cue is the first solid white line across your lane: stop before that line, then look for people in the crosswalk and traffic in the intersection.

13. 13. If a tire blows out or suddenly goes flat, what should you avoid doing?

    1. Holding the steering wheel firmly
    2. Taking your foot off the accelerator
    3. Pulling off at a safe place
    4. Braking hard right away
    Show answer

    Braking hard right away. During a blowout, grip the wheel, keep the vehicle straight, and slow gradually. South Dakota tells drivers not to brake because a sudden brake application can upset the vehicle while the tire is already pulling or wobbling. Taking your foot off the accelerator is part of the recommended response, not the mistake. The cue is the bang, pull, or shake from the tire: stabilize first, let speed bleed off, and leave the road when safe.

14. 14. Why should you avoid passing several vehicles at once?

    1. You should pass only one vehicle at a time as a general rule
    2. South Dakota allows passing only on gravel shoulders
    3. Multiple passes are allowed only within city limits
    4. You must wait for the driver behind to honk first
    Show answer

    You should pass only one vehicle at a time as a general rule. The manual advises passing only one vehicle at a time as a general rule. Multiple vehicles require a much longer opening and leave you exposed in the passing lane longer, especially if an oncoming vehicle appears or one of the vehicles ahead moves. The city limits choice invents an exception that is not part of the rule. A concrete cue is the length of the line ahead: if you cannot complete one clean pass and return safely, wait.

15. 15. Which vehicle is a South Dakota example of where a slow-moving vehicle emblem may appear?

    1. A city bus loading passengers downtown
    2. A police vehicle stopped on the shoulder
    3. A farm vehicle in a rural area
    4. A motorcycle in a marked school zone
    Show answer

    A farm vehicle in a rural area. South Dakota describes the reflective orange triangle as a marker for vehicles moving under 25 mph, including farm vehicles in rural areas. A police vehicle on the shoulder may use emergency lights, but that is a different warning system with different duties. On rural roads, treat the orange triangle as a cue to close speed slowly, check for oncoming traffic, and pass only when there is enough clear room.

16. 16. What speed should you expect from a farm tractor with a slow-moving vehicle triangle?

    1. The same speed as other rural traffic
    2. At least 35 mph
    3. About the posted minimum speed
    4. Less than 25 mph
    Show answer

    Less than 25 mph. The orange slow-moving vehicle triangle means the vehicle is traveling below 25 mph. A 35 mph answer is a tempting wrong number, but South Dakota uses 25 mph for this emblem. When you see the reflective triangle on a tractor or wagon, expect your closing speed to be high, ease off early, and look for turn clues before deciding whether passing is available.

17. 17. What hazard does this walking-person warning sign point out?

    
    1. The road surface becomes gravel
    2. Parking is reserved for buses
    3. Drivers must enter a one-way street
    4. Pedestrians may be crossing ahead
    Show answer

    Pedestrians may be crossing ahead. The manual includes Pedestrian Crossing among common warning signs. That makes the walking-person sign a warning that people may cross the roadway ahead, not a parking or lane-direction control. The cue is the pedestrian symbol on a yellow warning face; reduce speed, search both sides of the road, and be ready to yield even if the crosswalk markings are hard to see.

18. 18. What do the shape, color, symbols, and words of traffic signs help you identify?

    1. The age of the driver who installed it
    2. The type of information the sign provides
    3. The exact fine for every possible violation
    4. The vehicle weight of the nearest truck
    Show answer

    The type of information the sign provides. South Dakota tells drivers to read a sign's shape, color, symbols, and words as clues to the information it gives. Those features do not tell you who installed it or every fine amount. The cue is the sign's visual family: color and shape help separate warnings, regulations, services, destinations, and railroad information. When uncertain, classify the sign by its visual category before deciding whether it warns, directs, prohibits, or guides.

19. 19. If you are involved in a crash where someone is injured or killed, who must be notified?

    1. Only your insurance company
    2. The nearest vehicle repair shop
    3. The police
    4. A driver licensing examiner
    Show answer

    The police. When a crash injures or kills someone, the police must be notified. Insurance contact is important later, but it does not replace the legal duty to report the crash and give police the needed information. The repair shop choice is unrelated to the immediate crash requirement. A concrete cue is any injury complaint, visible injury, or fatality at the scene: stop, call for police and medical help, and do not leave before required information is handled.

20. 20. When must you stop for a South Dakota school bus?

    1. Whenever its red lights flash or stop arm is extended unless a physical barrier separates the roadway
    2. Only when you are behind it on a two-lane road
    3. Only during posted school hours
    4. Only if children have already stepped into your lane
    Show answer

    Whenever its red lights flash or stop arm is extended unless a physical barrier separates the roadway. South Dakota requires stopping for a school bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop arm unless a physical barrier separates the roadway. Limiting the rule to drivers behind the bus misses traffic approaching from other directions. Use the red lights and visible stop arm as the cue, then proceed slowly after they end. Children may appear from the front or rear of the bus, so keep watching beyond the bus itself.