Distracted and drowsy driving

Key points

1. Do not drive with headsets or headphones covering or in both ears.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “Do not drive with headsets or headphones that cover or go in both ears.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

2. Keep your radio low so you can hear emergency vehicles.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “Keep your radio at a low volume so that you can hear emergency vehicles.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

3. Avoid answering your phone. If you need it, pull over when it is safe.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “Avoid answering your phone while driving. If you need to use your phone, pull over to the side of the road when it is safe.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

4. Instruction permit and probationary license holders may use a phone only to report an emergency.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “Instruction permit and probationary license holders can only use a cell phone to report an emergency.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

5. Regular license holders who must use a phone while driving should try the vehicle's hands free option.

   Source: Handbook p. 49

   “If you need to use your phone while driving, try the "Hands-free" option that your vehicle has.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 49

6. Teen and young adult drivers are at greater risk of drowsy driving crashes.

   Source: Handbook p. 50

   “Teen and young adult drivers are at greater risk of drowsy related crashes.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 50

7. Pull over and rest if you are yawning or blinking a lot, drifting from your lane, or hitting the rumble strip.

   Source: Handbook p. 50

   “Yawning or blinking a lot Drifting from your lane Hitting the rumble strip on the side of the road”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 50

3 questions from the Wisconsin practice test

1. 1. What headphone use does Wisconsin warn drivers not to do?

   1. Drive with headsets or headphones covering or in both ears
   2. Use one earbud for a navigation prompt
   3. Keep the vehicle radio at low volume
   4. Listen for emergency vehicles while driving
   Show answer

   Drive with headsets or headphones covering or in both ears. Wisconsin tells drivers not to drive with headsets or headphones that cover or go in both ears. Covering both ears can block sirens, horns, and other sounds needed for traffic decisions. A single earbud is not what this specific handbook sentence describes, and a low radio volume supports hearing emergency vehicles. Listening for emergency traffic is a safety practice, not a violation. The cue is isolation from outside sound: if both ears are blocked, remove the device before driving.

2. 2. Which condition is a warning sign that a driver should pull over and rest?

   1. Driving below the posted speed limit
   2. Feeling eager to reach the destination
   3. Having a full fuel tank
   4. Yawning or blinking frequently
   Show answer

   Yawning or blinking frequently. Frequent yawning or blinking is a warning that fatigue may be reducing alertness, and the handbook says to pull over and rest in that situation. Drifting from the lane or hitting a roadside rumble strip are additional warning signs. Wanting to arrive, having enough fuel, and traveling below the speed limit do not show that the driver is awake enough to continue. Treat repeated yawns as an early signal rather than trying to overcome tiredness through willpower. Leaving traffic before attention worsens gives the driver a safer chance to recover and prevents fatigue from becoming a lane control problem.

3. 3. How often should a Wisconsin driver check the rearview mirror to notice tailgating?

   1. Only once before starting the trip
   2. Every 6 to 8 seconds
   3. Every 30 to 45 seconds
   4. Only after braking hard
   Show answer

   Every 6 to 8 seconds. Wisconsin recommends checking the rearview mirror every 6 to 8 seconds to notice whether someone is following too closely. A single pretrip check cannot show changing traffic behind you, and 30 to 45 seconds leaves a long blind interval. Waiting until after hard braking discovers the problem too late. The cue is a steady scan pattern: glance ahead, use mirrors regularly, and identify a tailgater early enough to adjust speed smoothly or choose a safe place out of traffic.

Source: the Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Section 9: Dangerous Driving Behaviors. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.