Virginia Driver License: Speed, Stopping, Right-of-Way, Passing and Turns

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Speed, Stopping, Right-of-Way, Passing and Turns. Free, no account needed.

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1. Where should a driver's hands rest on the steering wheel for correct control?

  1. 8 and 4 o'clock
  2. 10 and 2 o'clock
  3. 7 and 5 o'clock
  4. 9 and 3 o'clock

Answer: A — 8 and 4 o'clock

Correct hand position is 8 and 4 o'clock, gripping with fingers and thumbs rather than palms.

2. A driver travels below the posted speed limit because road conditions feel uncomfortable, without holding up any other traffic. Is this allowed?

  1. Only if the driver uses hazard lights
  2. Only on roads with a single travel lane
  3. No, driving under the limit is always a violation
  4. Yes, as long as it does not impede traffic

Answer: D — Yes, as long as it does not impede traffic

A speed limit is a maximum; driving slower is fine as long as it doesn't impede traffic.

3. A driver is clocked at 90 mph on a highway posted at 65 mph. What offense does this put the driver at risk of?

  1. A civil infraction with demerit points only
  2. A $100 fine added to the speeding charge
  3. A felony, automatically, for being more than 20 mph over
  4. Reckless driving, a misdemeanor

Answer: D — Reckless driving, a misdemeanor

Twenty mph or more over the limit, or over 85 mph anywhere, can be charged as reckless driving, a misdemeanor. The $100 add-on applies to 81 to 85 mph in a 65 zone, and a felony arises only if the driving kills someone while the license is suspended or revoked.

4. A driver flees when an officer signals to stop, and the pursuing officer dies as a result. What is the driver guilty of?

  1. A civil infraction
  2. A Class 1 misdemeanor
  3. A Class 4 felony
  4. Reckless driving only

Answer: C — A Class 4 felony

Fleeing an officer's stop and causing the pursuing officer's death is a Class 4 felony.

5. At a stop sign, the car ahead already stopped and pulled away. What should the next driver do?

  1. Slow down but not fully stop
  2. Stop at the sign, then go when clear
  3. Proceed without stopping since the way is now clear
  4. Wait for a second vehicle to pass before proceeding

Answer: B — Stop at the sign, then go when clear

Each driver must stop at the sign themselves, regardless of what the car ahead did.

6. A school bus ahead has stopped with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign. From which direction(s) of approach must drivers stop, absent a median or barrier?

  1. Only when approaching from behind the bus
  2. From any direction
  3. Only on roads with two or more lanes
  4. Only when approaching from the front

Answer: B — From any direction

Drivers must stop when approaching a stopped school bus from any direction, unless a median or barrier separates the roadway.

7. What three components make up a vehicle's total stopping distance?

  1. Perception time, reaction distance, and braking distance
  2. Perception time, steering angle, and tire pressure
  3. Reaction distance, following distance, and braking distance
  4. Reaction time, tire wear, and road grade

Answer: A — Perception time, reaction distance, and braking distance

Total stopping distance is the sum of perception time, reaction distance, and braking distance.

8. A driver's vehicle has antilock brakes. What does the manual say about using them?

  1. Pump the brakes only on wet pavement
  2. Never pump them; learn them from the owner's manual and practice
  3. Pump the pedal about once per second to keep the wheels turning
  4. Pump the brake pedal rapidly in an emergency stop

Answer: B — Never pump them; learn them from the owner's manual and practice

The manual says to learn your antilock brakes from the owner's manual and practice, and never to pump them.

9. Two vehicles arrive at the same moment at an intersection with no signs or signals, approaching from perpendicular directions. Which one proceeds first?

  1. The vehicle on the right
  2. The vehicle on the left
  3. Whichever vehicle signals first
  4. Whichever vehicle is larger

Answer: A — The vehicle on the right

When vehicles arrive together at an uncontrolled intersection, the driver on the left yields to the one on the right.

10. A driver is merging onto an interstate highway from an entrance ramp. Who has the right-of-way?

  1. Traffic already on the interstate
  2. The merging driver
  3. Whichever vehicle is moving faster
  4. Neither; both must stop

Answer: A — Traffic already on the interstate

Drivers entering an interstate from a ramp must yield to traffic already on it.

11. A funeral procession is moving through an intersection. What should other drivers do?

  1. Join briefly if traveling the same direction
  2. Yield and never cut through, join, or interfere
  3. Pass using hazard lights for safety
  4. Proceed if there's a gap between vehicles

Answer: B — Yield and never cut through, join, or interfere

Funeral processions must be yielded to, and other drivers must never cut through, join, or interfere with them.

12. A trash collection vehicle with flashing lights is working on a two-lane road where a driver cannot change lanes. What should the driver do?

  1. Slow to 10 mph below the limit and pass at least two feet to the left
  2. Maintain normal speed but honk before passing
  3. Come to a complete stop until it finishes
  4. Pass on the shoulder if available

Answer: A — Slow to 10 mph below the limit and pass at least two feet to the left

On fewer lanes or when unable to move over, drivers must slow to 10 mph below the limit and give at least two feet of clearance.

13. How closely may a driver follow behind an emergency vehicle that has its flashing lights activated?

  1. No closer than 100 feet
  2. No specific distance, just use caution
  3. No closer than 300 feet
  4. No closer than 500 feet

Answer: D — No closer than 500 feet

Drivers must never follow an emergency vehicle with flashing lights closer than 500 feet.

14. A fire truck with siren and lights active approaches a driver from behind on a city street. What should the driver do?

  1. Pull to the left and stop
  2. Pull to the right edge and stop until it passes
  3. Speed up to clear the intersection first
  4. Maintain current speed and lane

Answer: B — Pull to the right edge and stop until it passes

When an emergency vehicle approaches from behind with siren or lights, drivers must pull to the right edge and stop until it passes.

15. Which direction does traffic travel around the center island of a roundabout?

  1. Clockwise
  2. Clockwise in a single-lane roundabout, counter-clockwise in a multi-lane one
  3. It varies by lane
  4. Counter-clockwise

Answer: D — Counter-clockwise

Traffic in a roundabout moves counter-clockwise around the center island.

16. Approaching the entry point of a roundabout, who must a driver yield to before entering?

  1. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and circulating vehicles
  2. No one; entering traffic has the right-of-way
  3. Only pedestrians
  4. Only vehicles already circulating

Answer: A — Pedestrians, bicyclists, and circulating vehicles

Drivers entering a roundabout must yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles already circulating.

17. On a multi-lane highway, a driver is traveling slower than the surrounding traffic. What should this driver do, and what is the left lane meant for?

  1. Stay left; the left lane is meant for slower traffic
  2. Stay in whichever lane has less traffic
  3. Position doesn't matter as long as under the limit
  4. Stay right; the left lane is for passing, not cruising

Answer: D — Stay right; the left lane is for passing, not cruising

Slower drivers should stay right, since the left lane is reserved for passing, not cruising.

18. After passing another vehicle, at what point is it appropriate to move back into the right lane?

  1. Immediately once the front bumpers are even
  2. After counting three full seconds
  3. Once the passed vehicle's front is visible in the mirror
  4. As soon as the turn signal cancels

Answer: C — Once the passed vehicle's front is visible in the mirror

A passing driver should return to the right lane once the passed vehicle's front is visible in the mirror.

19. A driver is passing a cyclist on the road. How much clearance should be given?

  1. At least six feet
  2. At least one foot
  3. At least three feet
  4. At least two feet

Answer: C — At least three feet

Drivers must slow down and pass a bicycle with at least three feet of clearance.

20. A school bus is stopped on a public road unloading children, and no median or barrier separates the two directions of travel. May a driver in either direction pass?

  1. Yes, if the bus's lights are currently off
  2. No, passing is unlawful here
  3. Yes, if done slowly and carefully
  4. Yes, only from the opposite direction

Answer: B — No, passing is unlawful here

Passing a school bus stopped for passengers on a public road is unlawful unless a barrier or unpaved median separates the directions.

21. A driver's tires drift off the pavement onto the shoulder. What is the recommended way to recover?

  1. Accelerate first to regain traction, then steer back
  2. Brake hard immediately
  3. Jerk the steering wheel sharply back onto the road
  4. Ease off the speed, look where you want to go, and steer gently back

Answer: D — Ease off the speed, look where you want to go, and steer gently back

To recover after leaving the road, ease off speed, look where you want to go, and steer gently back to avoid over-correcting.

22. While stopped in an intersection waiting to make a left turn, how should the front wheels be positioned until the turn actually begins?

  1. Kept pointed straight ahead
  2. It doesn't matter as long as the signal is on
  3. Turned slightly toward the curb
  4. Turned toward the left, ready to go

Answer: A — Kept pointed straight ahead

Front wheels should stay straight until the turn begins so a rear-end hit can't push the car into oncoming traffic.

23. In a business district within a city, where is a U-turn generally permitted?

  1. Only on divided highways
  2. Anywhere traffic is light
  3. Only where marked by a police officer
  4. Only at intersections

Answer: D — Only at intersections

In business districts, cities, and towns, U-turns are allowed only at intersections.

24. Two vehicles approaching from opposite directions are both turning left at the same intersection. How should they pass each other?

  1. Driver side to driver side, behind one another
  2. Whichever arrives first has right-of-way, no set pattern
  3. Passenger side to passenger side, in front of one another
  4. They must wait for one to fully complete the turn

Answer: C — Passenger side to passenger side, in front of one another

Vehicles turning left toward each other pass in front of each other, with passenger sides adjacent.

25. A driver is changing lanes on an empty road with no other vehicles visible. Is signaling required?

  1. No, only required when other traffic is present
  2. Only required on multi-lane highways
  3. Only required at night
  4. Yes, signals are required regardless of visible traffic

Answer: D — Yes, signals are required regardless of visible traffic

Turn signals are required by law for lane changes even when no other traffic is around.

26. A driver's turn signals have failed, so they use hand signals instead. Which arm position indicates a left turn?

  1. Left arm pointed downward
  2. Left arm pointed upward
  3. Left arm pointed straight out
  4. Right arm pointed straight out

Answer: C — Left arm pointed straight out

The hand signal for a left turn is the left arm held straight out.

27. How many seconds before turning or changing lanes should a driver activate a turn signal?

  1. Five to six seconds
  2. Three to four seconds
  3. Seven to eight seconds
  4. One to two seconds

Answer: B — Three to four seconds

Turn signals should be activated three or four seconds, about 100 feet, ahead of the turn or lane change.

28. A driver is traveling 40 mph in normal conditions. How many seconds of following distance should be kept behind the vehicle ahead?

  1. 4 seconds
  2. 3 seconds
  3. 5 seconds
  4. 2 seconds

Answer: B — 3 seconds

At 35 to 45 mph, the recommended following distance is 3 seconds.

29. A driver notices another vehicle following too closely behind. What is the recommended response?

  1. Move over or tap the brakes to flash the lights and slow gradually
  2. Maintain the exact same speed and position
  3. Speed up to increase the gap
  4. Brake suddenly to warn the tailgater

Answer: A — Move over or tap the brakes to flash the lights and slow gradually

When tailgated, a driver should not brake suddenly, but instead move over or tap the brakes to flash the lights and slow.

30. While scanning the road ahead for developing hazards, how far ahead should a driver typically be looking?

  1. 45 to 60 seconds ahead
  2. 5 to 10 seconds ahead
  3. Only as far as the vehicle directly ahead
  4. 20 to 30 seconds ahead

Answer: D — 20 to 30 seconds ahead

Effective searching means focusing about 20 to 30 seconds ahead, roughly a block in the city.

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