Tennessee Driver License: Driving Responsibility, Defensive Driving and Sharing the Road

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Driving Responsibility, Defensive Driving and Sharing the Road. Free, no account needed.

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1. A driver with an unresolved license problem in another state applies for a Tennessee license. What happens to the application?

  1. It is blocked until the other state clears the problem
  2. It is denied permanently with no appeal
  3. It is approved but restricted to daytime driving
  4. It is approved with a point penalty added

Answer: A — It is blocked until the other state clears the problem

The Problem Driver Pointer System checks the National Driver Register before issuance, and an unresolved problem elsewhere blocks a Tennessee license until cleared.

2. A driver's license is suspended. Within how many days must it be surrendered to avoid a fine?

  1. 30 days
  2. 20 days
  3. 15 days
  4. 10 days

Answer: B — 20 days

A suspended or revoked license must be surrendered within 20 days or a $75 fine follows.

3. After moving to a new address, how soon must a driver report the change?

  1. 10 days
  2. 30 days
  3. 20 days
  4. 5 days

Answer: A — 10 days

A new address must be reported within 10 days.

4. Possessing how much methamphetamine in a vehicle can result in license suspension or revocation?

  1. 25 grams
  2. 10 grams
  3. 5 grams
  4. 1 gram

Answer: C — 5 grams

Possessing five grams of methamphetamine in a vehicle is a listed cause for suspension or revocation.

5. An adult driver accumulates 13 points within a 12-month period. What is the likely consequence?

  1. A restricted license issued automatically
  2. An advisory letter only
  3. Automatic revocation with no notice
  4. A proposed suspension notice

Answer: D — A proposed suspension notice

Adults with 12 or more points in 12 months get a proposed suspension notice; 6 to 11 points only draws an advisory letter.

6. How many points are assessed for passing a stopped school bus?

  1. 5 points
  2. 4 points
  3. 8 points
  4. 6 points

Answer: C — 8 points

Passing a stopped school bus carries 8 points, among the highest point values listed.

7. How often can completing a Defensive Driving Course be used to avoid or shorten a license suspension?

  1. Once every ten years
  2. Once a year
  3. Once every two years
  4. Once every five years

Answer: D — Once every five years

A Defensive Driving Course can be used to avoid or shorten a suspension only once every five years.

8. A driver's fitness to drive is questioned by license officials. Within how many days must a medical report be submitted to avoid suspension?

  1. 60 days
  2. 10 days
  3. 30 days
  4. 15 days

Answer: C — 30 days

A medical report must be submitted within 30 days of being requested, or the license is suspended.

9. A driver at fault in a crash damages another person's car. Which type of coverage pays for that damage?

  1. Personal injury protection
  2. Uninsured motorist coverage
  3. Collision coverage
  4. Liability coverage

Answer: D — Liability coverage

Liability insurance covers what a driver does to others, while collision covers the driver's own car and uninsured motorist covers what uninsured drivers do to them.

10. You're in a crash with no injuries but there is vehicle damage. Above what damage amount must you notify police immediately?

  1. $50
  2. $100
  3. $250
  4. $400

Answer: A — $50

Police must be notified immediately for any crash with death, injury, or damage over $50.

11. A crash causes more than $400 in damage to one person's property. Within how many days must an Owner/Driver Report be filed with the department?

  1. 15 days
  2. 30 days
  3. 10 days
  4. 20 days

Answer: D — 20 days

An Owner/Driver Report must be filed within 20 days for crashes with injury or damage over $400 to any one person's property.

12. Following a vehicle on the interstate in heavy rain, how many seconds of following distance should you keep instead of the standard two seconds?

  1. 8 to 10 seconds
  2. 2 to 3 seconds
  3. 5 to 6 seconds
  4. 3 to 4 seconds

Answer: D — 3 to 4 seconds

The two-second rule is extended to 3 to 4 seconds on interstates, behind trucks, and in bad weather.

13. How far ahead, in time, should a driver typically scan the road while driving?

  1. 30 seconds
  2. 20 to 25 seconds
  3. 3 to 5 seconds
  4. 10 to 15 seconds

Answer: D — 10 to 15 seconds

Drivers should scan about 10 to 15 seconds ahead, roughly a block.

14. How large a gap should a driver allow before merging or changing lanes?

  1. A two-second gap
  2. A four-second gap
  3. A six-second gap
  4. A ten-second gap

Answer: B — A four-second gap

Drivers should allow a four-second gap to merge or change lanes.

15. Roughly what share of traffic deaths are caused by aggressive driving behaviors?

  1. 90 percent
  2. 33 percent
  3. 50 percent
  4. 66 percent

Answer: D — 66 percent

Aggressive behaviors cause about 66 percent of traffic deaths.

16. A car equipped with anti-lock brakes needs an emergency stop. What is the correct technique?

  1. Pump the brake pedal rapidly
  2. Press the brake as hard as possible and hold it, even if it pushes back
  3. Release the brake the moment it vibrates
  4. Brake lightly and steer around the hazard

Answer: B — Press the brake as hard as possible and hold it, even if it pushes back

With ABS, the driver should press the brake as hard as possible and hold it, even as it pushes back against the foot.

17. A deer suddenly appears in the road and a collision seems unavoidable. What should the driver do?

  1. Brake hard while turning toward an escape path
  2. Do not swerve; stay in the lane
  3. Swerve sharply to the left
  4. Swerve sharply toward the shoulder

Answer: B — Do not swerve; stay in the lane

If a hit is unavoidable, the driver should not swerve, since leaving the road is riskier than hitting the animal.

18. A driver with epilepsy wants to resume driving under a doctor's care. How long must they be seizure-free first?

  1. Three months
  2. Two years
  3. Six months
  4. One year

Answer: C — Six months

Epilepsy allows driving under a doctor's care after six months of being seizure free.

19. Using the penny test, what is the minimum acceptable tire tread depth?

  1. 1/32 inch
  2. 6/32 inch
  3. 2/32 inch
  4. 4/32 inch

Answer: C — 2/32 inch

Tires should have at least 2/32 inch of tread as measured by the penny test.

20. Where should a driver look to find the correct tire inflation pressure for a vehicle?

  1. The sticker on the door jamb
  2. The number molded on the tire sidewall
  3. A dashboard warning light
  4. The owner's manual cover page

Answer: A — The sticker on the door jamb

Correct tire pressure comes from the door-jamb sticker, never the number molded on the tire itself.

21. A pedestrian must walk along a road with no sidewalk. Which side should they walk on?

  1. The left side, facing traffic
  2. The right side, with traffic
  3. The center of the road when there is no shoulder
  4. Either side, whichever has more space

Answer: A — The left side, facing traffic

Without a sidewalk, pedestrians should walk on the left, facing traffic, in single file.

22. What is the minimum distance a driver should leave when passing a bicyclist?

  1. 1 foot
  2. 10 feet
  3. 5 feet
  4. 3 feet

Answer: D — 3 feet

Drivers should pass bicyclists slowly with at least 3 feet of clearance.

23. At night, how far ahead must a bicycle's white headlamp be visible?

  1. 500 feet
  2. 1,000 feet
  3. 100 feet
  4. 250 feet

Answer: A — 500 feet

A bicycle's white lamp must be visible 500 feet ahead at night, matching the red reflector visible 500 feet behind.

24. Under what circumstance may a bicyclist legally take the full lane instead of riding to the right?

  1. When the lane is too narrow to safely share
  2. When the bicycle is carrying a red or orange pennant
  3. When the bicycle has a white lamp and red reflector for night riding
  4. When the posted speed limit is 25 mph or lower

Answer: A — When the lane is too narrow to safely share

Bicyclists may take the full lane when passing, when the lane is marked for bikes only, when the road has hazards, or when the lane is too narrow to share. A pennant marks a hearing-impaired rider and the lamp and reflector are night equipment; neither grants the lane.

25. In most car-motorcycle collisions, what is the primary cause?

  1. The driver turning in front of the motorcycle
  2. The motorcyclist lane-splitting
  3. The motorcyclist's narrow profile at night
  4. The motorcyclist riding too fast

Answer: A — The driver turning in front of the motorcycle

Two-thirds of car-motorcycle collisions are caused by the driver turning in front of the motorcycle.

26. At 55 mph, about how far does a car need to stop, and about how far does a loaded truck need?

  1. Car about 120 feet; truck about 240 feet
  2. Car about 240 feet; truck about 450 feet or more
  3. Car about 240 feet; truck about 260 feet
  4. Car about 450 feet; truck about 240 feet

Answer: B — Car about 240 feet; truck about 450 feet or more

At 55 mph a car stops in about 240 feet and a loaded truck needs 450 feet or more.

27. How far behind a large truck can the driver's blind spot, or No-Zone, extend?

  1. Up to 400 feet
  2. Up to 50 feet
  3. Up to 200 feet
  4. Up to 100 feet

Answer: C — Up to 200 feet

The No-Zone behind a truck runs up to about 200 feet, far more than the roughly 20 feet in front.

28. How far around a school bus is considered the danger zone where children are most at risk?

  1. 10 feet
  2. 50 feet
  3. 20 feet
  4. 5 feet

Answer: A — 10 feet

The danger zone extends 10 feet around a school bus, and children are taught to take five giant steps away from it.

29. When a signaled railroad crossing activates, how close to the tracks should a driver stop?

  1. Within 50 feet, no closer than 15
  2. Within 20 feet, no closer than 5
  3. Right at the crossing gate
  4. Within 100 feet, no closer than 30

Answer: A — Within 50 feet, no closer than 15

Drivers should stop within 50 feet but no closer than 15 feet when a signaled crossing activates.

30. A driver speeds through a work zone with workers present. How high can the fine reach?

  1. $500
  2. $250
  3. $1,000
  4. $100

Answer: A — $500

Speeding fines in work zones can reach up to $500 when workers are present.

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