Michigan Driver License: Phones, Seat Belts, Speed, Work Zones and School Buses

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Phones, Seat Belts, Speed, Work Zones and School Buses. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver is pulled over for holding a phone to send a text message while driving, a first offense. What fine applies?

$100
$500
$50
$250

Answer: A — $100

The first offense for illegal hand-held phone use carries a $100 fine; $250 applies to later offenses.

2. A driver traveling 65 mph glances away from the road for a quarter of a second to check a text alert. About how far does the vehicle travel in that time?

24 feet
100 feet
65 feet
10 feet

Answer: A — 24 feet

At 65 mph, a car covers about 24 feet during the quarter second it takes to switch attention between tasks.

3. A Level 2 graduated licensing teen driver wants to make a quick, non-emergency phone call while driving. Is this allowed?

Yes, as long as the call is hands-free
Yes, but only during daylight hours
No, Level 1 and Level 2 teens are barred from any non-emergency call
Yes, if the call lasts less than a minute

Answer: C — No, Level 1 and Level 2 teens are barred from any non-emergency call

Kelsey's Law prohibits GDL Level 1 and Level 2 teens from making any non-emergency call, hands-free or not.

4. A driver spots a reckless driver weaving through traffic and wants to call police to report it. May the driver hold a phone to make this call?

No, hand-held phone use is illegal for any reason while driving
Only if the driver first pulls over and shuts off the engine
Only teen drivers may make this call
Yes, reporting a reckless or impaired driver is an emergency exception

Answer: D — Yes, reporting a reckless or impaired driver is an emergency exception

Calling police to report a reckless or impaired driver is one of the listed emergency exceptions to the hand-held phone ban.

5. An officer sees a driver not wearing a seat belt but observes no other traffic violation. Can the officer stop the vehicle for the seat belt violation alone?

Only if a child passenger is also unbelted
Yes
Only at a sobriety checkpoint
No, another violation must occur first

Answer: B — Yes

Seat belt enforcement allows a stop for the belt violation by itself, with no other infraction needed.

6. A 14-year-old passenger is riding in the back seat of a car. Does the law require this passenger to wear a seat belt?

Yes, all passengers under 16 must buckle up in every seat
Yes, but only if the vehicle is on a freeway
No, seat belt laws apply only to the front seat
No, back-seat belts are only required for children under 8

Answer: A — Yes, all passengers under 16 must buckle up in every seat

All passengers under 16 must be belted in every seating position, not just the front seat.

7. How should the lap portion of a seat belt be positioned across the body for proper protection?

High across the stomach
Snug across the waist above the belly button
Low across the hips
Across the upper thighs, loosely

Answer: C — Low across the hips

The lap belt should sit low across the hips for proper protection.

8. A driver has a medical condition that prevents safe seat belt use. What must this driver carry to be exempt from the seat belt law?

A note from a passenger
A police-issued waiver
No documentation is required
A doctor's statement

Answer: D — A doctor's statement

A driver claiming medical exemption from the seat belt law must carry a doctor's statement.

9. Michigan sets two thresholds for when a child may stop using a car seat or booster: 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches. Which of the two does the manual call the better guide?

The child's weight
The height rule
The vehicle manufacturer's default setting
The age rule

Answer: B — The height rule

Of the two thresholds, height is explicitly called the better guide for deciding when a child no longer needs a car seat or booster.

10. A family with a 3-year-old is driving a vehicle that has a back seat available. Where must the child ride?

In the front seat if an adult holds the child
In the front seat with the air bag deactivated
In the rear seat
In the front seat if the child seat is rear-facing

Answer: C — In the rear seat

Children under 4 must ride in a rear seat whenever the vehicle has one available.

11. A parent has no back seat available and must put a rear-facing car seat in the front passenger seat. What must be done first?

Move the front seat as far forward as possible
Deactivate the front passenger air bag
Nothing extra is needed if the seat is properly buckled
Recline the front seat fully

Answer: B — Deactivate the front passenger air bag

A rear-facing seat may only go in the front if the passenger air bag is deactivated first.

12. A driver needs to run into a store for a few minutes and leaves a 5-year-old alone in the vehicle under conditions that pose an unreasonable risk. Is this legal?

No, unless someone 13 or older is supervising the child
No, regardless of who is supervising
Yes, as long as the windows are cracked open
Yes, for up to 10 minutes

Answer: A — No, unless someone 13 or older is supervising the child

Leaving a child under 6 unattended under risky conditions is illegal unless someone 13 or older supervises.

13. In a rollover crash, what provides the best protection for vehicle occupants?

The vehicle's frame and crumple zones
Head restraints
Seat belts
Air bags

Answer: C — Seat belts

Seat belts remain the best protection in rollover, side, and rear impacts, where air bags are less effective.

14. How much space should a driver keep between their breastbone and the steering wheel to reduce air bag injury risk?

At least 18 inches
At least 2 feet
At least 4 inches
At least 10 inches

Answer: D — At least 10 inches

Drivers should sit at least 10 inches between their breastbone and the steering wheel.

15. How should a pregnant driver position the lap and shoulder belt?

Lap belt over the belly, shoulder belt behind the back
Shoulder belt only, with the lap belt removed
Both belts loosely fastened to avoid pressure
Lap belt over the hips, shoulder belt across the chest, seated as far back as possible

Answer: D — Lap belt over the hips, shoulder belt across the chest, seated as far back as possible

A pregnant driver should wear the lap belt over the hips and shoulder belt across the chest, seated as far back as possible.

16. A driver is traveling at the posted speed limit, but conditions make it impossible to stop within the distance they can see ahead. Is the driver's speed legal?

No, but only on freeways
No, a careful and prudent speed allowing a stop within the clear distance ahead is required, even below the posted limit
Yes, as long as it does not exceed the posted limit
Yes, the posted limit always overrides driving conditions

Answer: B — No, a careful and prudent speed allowing a stop within the clear distance ahead is required, even below the posted limit

The Basic Speed Law requires a careful and prudent speed that allows stopping within the clear distance ahead, sometimes below the posted limit.

17. What is the standard maximum and minimum speed on a freeway that is not otherwise posted?

70 mph maximum and 55 mph minimum
70 mph maximum with no minimum
75 mph maximum and 50 mph minimum
65 mph maximum and 45 mph minimum

Answer: A — 70 mph maximum and 55 mph minimum

Unless posted otherwise, freeway speeds run from a 55 mph minimum to a 70 mph maximum.

18. A school bus is traveling on a freeway posted at 70 mph. What is the bus's maximum speed?

65 mph
70 mph
55 mph
60 mph

Answer: A — 65 mph

School buses and trucks are limited to 65 mph even on freeways posted at 70.

19. What is the standard speed limit in a platted subdivision or condominium complex unless otherwise posted?

55 mph
15 mph
35 mph
25 mph

Answer: D — 25 mph

Platted subdivisions and condominium complexes default to a 25 mph limit unless posted otherwise.

20. What shape and color are work zone warning signs?

Diamonds with black lettering on orange or yellow
Rectangles with white lettering on orange
Triangles with red lettering on yellow
Octagons with white lettering on orange

Answer: A — Diamonds with black lettering on orange or yellow

Work zone warning signs are diamond-shaped with black lettering on an orange or yellow background.

21. A construction zone has no posted speed limit sign. What speed applies?

35 mph
45 mph
55 mph
25 mph

Answer: B — 45 mph

Most construction, maintenance, and surveying zones default to 45 mph unless a different limit is posted.

22. A driver is caught going 12 mph over the limit in a work zone. How many points does this add to their license?

2 points
4 points
5 points
3 points

Answer: B — 4 points

Speeding more than 10 up to 15 mph over the limit in a work zone adds 4 points.

23. A vehicle displays flashing green lights near a highway maintenance area. Which entity is permitted to use this signal?

Any tow truck
A private construction contractor
Any vehicle assisting with traffic control
A state or local government maintenance vehicle

Answer: D — A state or local government maintenance vehicle

Flashing green lights are reserved for state and local maintenance vehicles; private contractors may not use them.

24. A driver approaches a stopped police car with its emergency lights on and cannot safely move over a lane. What should the driver do?

Speed up briefly to clear the area quickly
Maintain the posted speed limit while passing
Come to a complete stop until the officer waves them through
Slow to at least 10 mph below the speed limit and pass with as much space as possible

Answer: D — Slow to at least 10 mph below the speed limit and pass with as much space as possible

When a lane change isn't possible, drivers must slow to at least 10 mph below the limit and pass with maximum available space.

25. An ambulance approaches from behind with siren and lights on. What should the driver do?

Pull to the edge of the road clear of intersections, stop, and keep a foot on the brake until it passes
Stop immediately in the current lane
Speed up to clear the intersection before it arrives
Continue driving at the same speed but move to the left

Answer: A — Pull to the edge of the road clear of intersections, stop, and keep a foot on the brake until it passes

Drivers should pull to the road's edge clear of intersections, stop, and hold the brake so brake lights show until the vehicle passes.

26. How far back should a driver stay behind a moving emergency vehicle with lights and siren active?

At least 1,000 feet
At least 200 feet
At least 100 feet
At least 500 feet

Answer: D — At least 500 feet

Drivers must stay at least 500 feet behind a moving emergency vehicle and never pass unless directed.

27. A driver fails to yield to a stopped emergency vehicle and injures a firefighter as a result. What level of offense is this?

A civil infraction
A felony
A misdemeanor
No penalty beyond a fine

Answer: B — A felony

Injuring or killing emergency personnel through such a violation is a felony, more severe than the standard civil infraction.

28. A school bus ahead activates its red overhead flashing lights. What must other drivers do?

Stop at least 20 feet from the bus and remain stopped until the lights go off or the bus moves
Stop only if children are visible near the bus
Slow down and proceed with caution
Stop at least 5 feet from the bus

Answer: A — Stop at least 20 feet from the bus and remain stopped until the lights go off or the bus moves

Red overhead flashing lights require stopping at least 20 feet away and staying stopped until the lights go off or the bus moves.

29. A school bus ahead has its yellow overhead lights flashing but has not yet stopped. What does this signal mean for approaching drivers?

Stop immediately
Proceed with caution, no stop needed
The bus is unloading passengers
Prepare to stop

Answer: D — Prepare to stop

Flashing yellow overhead lights signal that the bus is about to stop, telling drivers to prepare to stop.

30. A stopped school bus with red lights flashing is on the opposite side of a highway divided by a concrete median. Must a driver on the other side stop?

No, drivers need not stop when a barrier such as a concrete or grass median divides the highway
Yes, all drivers on both sides must always stop
No, drivers never need to stop for buses on divided highways regardless of barriers
Yes, unless the bus is more than 100 feet away

Answer: A — No, drivers need not stop when a barrier such as a concrete or grass median divides the highway

Drivers on the opposite side of a highway divided by a physical barrier like a median do not need to stop, though drivers on the bus's side must.