Tennessee Driver License: Speed, Stopping, School Buses and Right-of-Way

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

1. A driver wants to know the general window during which headlights must be turned on relative to sunset and sunrise.

From sunset to sunrise exactly
From one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise
From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise
From 15 minutes after sunset to 15 minutes before sunrise

Answer: C — From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise

Headlights are required from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

2. On a hazy afternoon a driver cannot make out people or vehicles beyond a certain distance ahead. At what distance does this trigger a legal requirement to use headlights?

300 feet
200 feet
500 feet
100 feet

Answer: B — 200 feet

Headlights are required whenever daylight visibility of people or vehicles drops below 200 feet.

3. A driver is following another vehicle at night. At what distance behind it must high beams be dimmed?

200 feet
100 feet
500 feet
1,000 feet

Answer: C — 500 feet

High beams must be dimmed within 500 feet of a vehicle being followed, as well as an oncoming vehicle.

4. A driver wants to add aftermarket steady front lights to a car. Which colors are legal for steady front-facing lights?

White or blue
Amber or red
White or amber
Any color except red

Answer: C — White or amber

Since 2018, steady front lights must be white or amber, with limited exceptions.

5. A truck's uncovered load of loose debris blows onto the highway. Besides being a hazard, what is the potential fine range for littering?

$50 to $1,000
$250 to $500
$100 to $500
$50 to $3,000

Answer: D — $50 to $3,000

Littering fines run from $50 to $3,000, plus possible litter-pickup hours.

6. A driver notices five vehicles have backed up behind them while they travel well under the speed limit. What should the driver do?

Turn or pull off the road as soon as it is safe
Signal the vehicles behind to pass on the left
Nothing, since no minimum speed is posted
Speed up to match the posted maximum immediately

Answer: A — Turn or pull off the road as soon as it is safe

With five or more vehicles backed up behind a slow-moving vehicle, the driver should turn or pull off as soon as safe.

7. A driver is on a two-lane road behind a funeral procession. Is passing the procession's vehicles allowed?

No, unless the procession is moving below the minimum speed
Yes, as long as the passing zone is legal
No, vehicles behind a funeral procession on a two-lane road may not pass it
Yes, but only the lead vehicle may be passed

Answer: C — No, vehicles behind a funeral procession on a two-lane road may not pass it

Vehicles behind a funeral procession on a two-lane road may not pass it.

8. A driver is traveling at the posted speed limit but the road is icy and visibility is poor. Under the Basic Speed Rule, is this driver following the law?

No, speed must always be reduced below any posted limit when conditions warrant it
Yes, since the Basic Speed Rule only restricts speeds above the posted limit
Yes, because staying at the posted limit always satisfies the law
No, but only because ice specifically is exempt from the rule

Answer: A — No, speed must always be reduced below any posted limit when conditions warrant it

The Basic Speed Rule requires a speed that is careful and prudent for conditions, even under the posted limit.

9. A driver rear-ends a vehicle that stopped suddenly ahead, while traveling under the posted speed limit. Has a rule been broken?

No, sudden stops are always the fault of the lead vehicle
No, since the driver was under the posted limit
Yes, this means the driver broke the Basic Speed Rule or followed too closely
Only if the driver was also exceeding the school zone limit

Answer: C — Yes, this means the driver broke the Basic Speed Rule or followed too closely

Rear-ending a car that stopped suddenly means the following driver broke the Basic Speed Rule or followed too closely, regardless of the posted limit.

10. On a primary state highway with no posted speed limit sign, what is the legal maximum speed?

45 mph
65 mph
55 mph
70 mph

Answer: C — 55 mph

Unless posted otherwise, the limit on primary and secondary state and federal highways is 55 mph.

11. A driver is cruising in the far left lane of a rural interstate where traffic is light. What is the slowest speed they may legally drive in that lane?

25 mph
70 mph
45 mph
55 mph

Answer: D — 55 mph

On an interstate it is unlawful to drive below 55 mph in the far left lane unless congestion prevents it.

12. What is the minimum legal speed in the right-hand lane of an interstate highway?

55 mph
45 mph
70 mph
35 mph

Answer: B — 45 mph

The right-lane minimum on an interstate is 45 mph.

13. A driver is caught speeding in a school zone while children are arriving for the school day. How is this treated legally?

As a warning unless it is the driver's second offense
As reckless driving, with an automatic six points
As a simple speeding citation with two points
As a misdemeanor only if a child is struck

Answer: B — As reckless driving, with an automatic six points

Speeding in a school zone during school arrival, dismissal, or recess times is by law reckless driving with an automatic six points.

14. A driver is ticketed for speeding through an active highway work zone. What fine range applies?

$100 to $250
$50 to $3,000
$250 to $1,000
$250 to $500

Answer: D — $250 to $500

Speeding in an active work zone carries a mandatory fine of $250 to $500.

15. A car equipped with ABS begins to skid while braking hard on a wet road. What should the driver do?

Shift into neutral and coast until control returns
Apply firm, steady pressure and keep steering around the hazard, without pumping the brake
Pump the brake rapidly to prevent lockup
Lift off the brake completely and steer into the skid

Answer: B — Apply firm, steady pressure and keep steering around the hazard, without pumping the brake

With ABS, the driver should apply firm steady pressure, never pump, and keep steering around hazards.

16. A driver is following another car on a high-speed interstate at night. How many seconds of following distance should be used instead of the standard rule?

At least three seconds
Exactly two seconds
At least six seconds
At least four seconds

Answer: D — At least four seconds

In bad weather, on high-speed interstates, and at night, drivers should use at least four seconds instead of the standard two-second rule.

17. A driver on the interstate maximum speed limit at night spots a deer ahead. Roughly how much total distance is needed to perceive the hazard, react, and brake to a stop on a good dry road?

290 feet
418 feet
128 feet
200 feet

Answer: B — 418 feet

At 70 mph at night, the total of perception-reaction distance (128 feet) plus braking distance (290 feet) is 418 feet.

18. A driver reaches a stop sign at an intersection with no marked stop line and no crosswalk. Where does the law require the stop?

Only after edging fully into the intersection to check for traffic
At the point where the sign is first visible, regardless of visibility
It does not matter, since no stop line exists
Nearest the intersecting road, at a point where they can see traffic, before entering the intersection

Answer: D — Nearest the intersecting road, at a point where they can see traffic, before entering the intersection

Without a marked crosswalk or stop line, a driver should stop nearest the intersecting road where they can see traffic, before entering the intersection.

19. At a stop sign a driver slows to a crawl, checks for cross traffic, and continues through without the vehicle's motion ever fully ceasing. How is this treated?

As a minor warning-only violation
As legal only if no other traffic was present
As an illegal rolling stop, a ticketable offense and grounds for failing a road test
As acceptable, since the driver checked for cross traffic before proceeding

Answer: C — As an illegal rolling stop, a ticketable offense and grounds for failing a road test

Tennessee defines a stop as a complete cessation of movement; a rolling stop is illegal, ticketable and grounds for failing the road test.

20. On a multilane road approaching a marked crosswalk, roughly how far before the crosswalk should a driver stop so drivers in other lanes can see pedestrians?

About 50 feet
About 30 feet
About 10 feet
About 15 feet

Answer: B — About 30 feet

On a multilane road, a driver should stop about 30 feet before a crosswalk so drivers in other lanes can see the pedestrians.

21. A driver sees a train approaching a crossing with no gate present. How far from the tracks should the driver stop?

Between 5 and 10 feet from the tracks
Between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks
Right at the nearest rail
At least 100 feet from the tracks

Answer: B — Between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks

When a train is coming, drivers must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks, never on them.

22. A taxi approaches a railroad crossing where no lights are flashing and no gate is down. Must it still stop?

Yes, but only if it is carrying passengers
No, stopping is only required when a train is visibly approaching
Yes, common carriers such as taxis must stop at every crossing regardless of active signals
No, only school and church buses must always stop

Answer: C — Yes, common carriers such as taxis must stop at every crossing regardless of active signals

Common carriers such as taxis must stop at every crossing whether or not signals are active.

23. A school bus ahead switches on yellow flashing lights, and its stop arm has not extended. What does this signal mean?

The bus is preparing to stop
The bus is experiencing a mechanical issue
The bus has stopped and children are boarding
The bus is resuming travel

Answer: A — The bus is preparing to stop

Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop, while red lights and the extended arm mean it has stopped.

24. A driver fails to stop for a school bus loading children with its red lights flashing and arm extended. What is the legal consequence?

A Class A misdemeanor with a $50 to $500 fine
An automatic license suspension only
A Class A misdemeanor with a $250 to $1,000 fine
A simple citation with a $50 fine

Answer: C — A Class A misdemeanor with a $250 to $1,000 fine

Failing to stop for a stopped school bus is a Class A misdemeanor with a $250 to $1,000 fine.

25. A driver approaches a stopped school bus while traveling the opposite direction on a highway that has a center turn lane separating the two directions of travel. Must the driver stop?

Yes, because a center turn lane is a fifth lane, not a barrier
Yes, but only if the bus is a church bus
No, since any lane between the directions exempts oncoming traffic
No, only vehicles behind the bus must stop

Answer: A — Yes, because a center turn lane is a fifth lane, not a barrier

A center turn lane counts as a fifth lane, not a barrier, so both directions must stop for the bus.

26. An unmarked car signals a driver to pull over on a dark road with no other traffic nearby. What is an appropriate response?

Speed up until reaching a police station
Stop immediately regardless of surroundings
Drive slowly to the nearest place with other people, such as a business lot or the next exit
Ignore the signal entirely since the car is unmarked

Answer: C — Drive slowly to the nearest place with other people, such as a business lot or the next exit

If an unmarked car signals a driver, the driver may proceed slowly to the nearest place with other people before stopping.

27. When performing a traffic check before entering an intersection, in what order should a driver look?

Straight ahead, then left, then right
Left, then right, then left again
Right, then left, then right again
Left, then straight ahead, then right

Answer: B — Left, then right, then left again

The left-right-left rule has drivers look left first since that traffic is closer, then right, then left again.

28. Several vehicles arrive at a four-way stop. Under the right-of-way rules, in what order should they proceed?

All vehicles proceed simultaneously if paths do not cross
The vehicle on the left always goes first regardless of arrival order
Vehicles going straight always yield to those turning
Whoever arrived first goes first, then the vehicle on the right of the others

Answer: D — Whoever arrived first goes first, then the vehicle on the right of the others

At all-way stops, drivers yield to whoever arrived first and then to the vehicle on the right.

29. A driver approaches a blind pedestrian carrying a white cane who is crossing the street. How close may the driver stop, and should the driver honk to alert the pedestrian?

Stop at least 25 feet away and honk to alert them
Stop at least 10 feet away and honk once
Any distance is fine as long as the horn is used
Stop at least 10 feet away and do not honk

Answer: D — Stop at least 10 feet away and do not honk

Drivers must stop at least 10 feet away from a blind pedestrian with a white or red-tipped cane or guide dog, without honking.

30. On a two-lane-per-direction highway, a driver sees a tow truck stopped on the shoulder with flashing lights. What does the Move Over law require?

Sound the horn and pass at normal speed
Stop completely until the tow truck signals it is safe to pass
Only slow down; changing lanes is optional
Change into the lane not adjacent to the stationary vehicle, or slow down with caution if that is unsafe

Answer: D — Change into the lane not adjacent to the stationary vehicle, or slow down with caution if that is unsafe

The Move Over law requires changing into a lane not adjacent to the stationary vehicle with flashing lights, or slowing down with caution if unsafe.