Indiana Driver License: Accidents, Emergencies and Traffic Stops

29 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Accidents, Emergencies and Traffic Stops. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver is involved in a minor crash on a busy highway with no injuries. What should be done with the vehicle?

Drive it to the nearest exit before stopping
Move it off the road as near the scene as possible
Leave it exactly where it stopped until police arrive
Push it onto the median and wait there

Answer: B — Move it off the road as near the scene as possible

When a crash happens on the traveled part of a highway and there is no injury, death, entrapment, or hazardous materials involved, the vehicle should be moved off the road as near the scene as possible.

2. In which situation should a driver leave a crashed vehicle in place rather than moving it off the road?

The crash happened during rush hour
The vehicle only has minor cosmetic damage
The crash caused injury, death, or entrapment, or involves hazardous materials
The other driver refuses to move their car

Answer: C — The crash caused injury, death, or entrapment, or involves hazardous materials

The vehicle should not be moved when the crash involves hazardous materials or causes injury, death, or entrapment.

3. After a crash involving another driver, what information must you give to the people involved?

Only your name and a phone number where you can be reached
Your name, address, and registration number
A written statement admitting fault
Your license number read aloud, without showing the license itself

Answer: B — Your name, address, and registration number

Drivers must give their name, address, and registration number to everyone involved and must also show their license.

4. A driver hits a legally parked, unattended car and cannot find the owner. What should they do?

Call a law enforcement agency
Wait at the scene until the owner returns, however long that takes
Leave a note with their contact information and drive on
Report the damage to their own insurer and take no further action

Answer: A — Call a law enforcement agency

After hitting an unattended vehicle the driver must stop and take reasonable steps to find the owner; if the owner cannot be found, the driver must call a law enforcement agency.

5. The BMV requests proof that a driver carries the state's minimum required liability coverage. What document satisfies this?

The vehicle registration card issued by the BMV
A signed personal statement from the driver
A police accident report
A Certificate of Compliance filed electronically by the insurer

Answer: D — A Certificate of Compliance filed electronically by the insurer

Insurers file a Certificate of Compliance electronically showing that the minimum liability coverage was in force.

6. When is speeding up an appropriate way to avoid a collision?

Never; only stopping quickly or turning away are recommended
Whenever there is not enough room to stop before the hazard
Only when accelerating is the only escape
Whenever the vehicle behind is following too closely

Answer: C — Only when accelerating is the only escape

Stopping quickly, turning quickly away, and speeding up are the three options when a hit looks likely, but speeding up applies only when accelerating is the only escape.

7. A driver feels their wheels drift off the pavement onto the shoulder. What is the correct response?

Ease off the gas, stay on the shoulder, and steer back gradually once slowed
Brake hard and stop on the shoulder right away
Jerk the wheel back onto the pavement immediately
Accelerate to regain control before turning back

Answer: A — Ease off the gas, stay on the shoulder, and steer back gradually once slowed

Drivers should not jerk back onto the pavement; instead they should stay on the shoulder, ease off the gas, and turn back gradually once slowed.

8. Facing an unavoidable crash, a driver must choose between hitting a patch of soft brush or a solid guardrail. Which is the better choice?

Either one, since the impact speed is the same
The guardrail, because it is built to be struck by vehicles
The guardrail, because a driver should never leave the pavement
The brush, because something that gives way is safer than something hard

Answer: D — The brush, because something that gives way is safer than something hard

Drivers should choose something that gives way, such as brush, over something hard, and leaving the road is acceptable when it avoids a worse collision.

9. A car has just plunged into a lake and is still floating. What should the occupants do about the doors and windows?

Never open a door; open a window instead, since power windows usually still work
Open a door right away, before the water pressure builds against it
Break the windshield, since the windows will not open once the car is in water
Wait for the car to fill so the pressure equalizes, then push a door open

Answer: A — Never open a door; open a window instead, since power windows usually still work

A door should never be opened, because water pressure holds it shut and flooding follows; a window should be opened instead, since power windows usually still work unless the electrical system is damaged.

10. The occupants of a car that plunged into water have climbed out onto the roof and called 911. When should they swim for shore?

Never; occupants should stay with the vehicle until rescuers arrive
After going back inside for wallets and phones
Only as a last resort
Before climbing onto the roof, since the car may sink at any moment

Answer: C — Only as a last resort

Occupants should climb onto the roof, call 911 and find dry land, and swim for shore only as a last resort; they should never go back for possessions.

11. What factors determine a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) after drinking?

Only the number of drinks consumed
Only the type of alcoholic beverage consumed
Only the driver's age
The amount consumed, how quickly, and body weight

Answer: D — The amount consumed, how quickly, and body weight

BAC depends on the amount consumed, how quickly it was consumed, and body weight.

12. Besides alcohol, what else can impair a person's driving ability?

Caffeine and energy drinks
Only recreational drugs
Only illegal drugs
Prescription, over-the-counter, and recreational drugs

Answer: D — Prescription, over-the-counter, and recreational drugs

Prescription, over-the-counter, and recreational drugs can all impair driving, so labels should be read and a physician or pharmacist consulted.

13. Which behavior is listed as a sign of an impaired driver?

Driving a vehicle with a cracked windshield
Driving a vehicle with an expired registration sticker
Playing the radio loudly with the windows down
Straddling the center line or weaving

Answer: D — Straddling the center line or weaving

Straddling the center line or weaving is on the list of signs of an impaired driver; the other behaviors are not.

14. A driver notices a vehicle ahead making abrupt, illegal turns and driving at night without headlights. What might this suggest?

A driver who is simply unfamiliar with the area
A driver following GPS instructions closely
A vehicle with a dead battery
A likely impaired driver

Answer: D — A likely impaired driver

Abrupt or illegal turns and driving at night without headlights are both listed as signs of an impaired driver.

15. A vehicle breaks down on a straight, flat stretch of road. How far behind the vehicle should the reflective warning triangle be placed?

200 feet
500 feet
100 feet
50 feet

Answer: A — 200 feet

On level, straight road, the triangle should be placed 200 feet behind the vehicle; 500 feet applies only on a hill or curve.

16. A vehicle breaks down just before a curve that limits how far approaching traffic can see. How far back should the warning triangle be placed in this case?

100 feet
200 feet
500 feet
1,000 feet

Answer: C — 500 feet

On a hill or curve, the triangle should be placed 500 feet behind the vehicle to give approaching traffic enough warning.

17. A driver experiences a tire blowout while driving on the highway. What is the correct response?

Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, ease off the gas, and brake only when nearly stopped
Pump the brake pedal fast and hard while steering toward the shoulder
Accelerate briefly to pull the vehicle straight, then coast to a stop
Brake hard immediately and steer for the shoulder as fast as possible

Answer: A — Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, ease off the gas, and brake only when nearly stopped

During a blowout the driver should hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, ease off the gas without braking, let the car slow, and brake only once nearly stopped. Pumping the pedal is the response to brake failure, not a blowout.

18. The conventional brakes fail completely while a car is moving. What should the driver do first?

Turn off the engine immediately
Coast in neutral until the car stops on its own
Turn the ignition to lock to force the wheels to stop
Shift to a lower gear and pump the brake pedal fast and hard

Answer: D — Shift to a lower gear and pump the brake pedal fast and hard

When brakes fail, the driver should shift to a lower gear and pump the pedal fast and hard to build pressure, before trying the parking brake.

19. A car has a steering wheel interlock feature. What happens if the ignition is turned to lock while the vehicle is still moving?

The steering will lock
Only the radio and lights turn off
The engine shuts off gently with no other effect
The parking brake engages automatically

Answer: A — The steering will lock

Turning the ignition to lock while moving causes the steering wheel interlock to lock the steering.

20. To deter theft when parking a car on a street, what should be done with the front wheels and parking brake?

Leave the wheels straight and the brake off
It doesn't matter as long as the doors are locked
Turn the front wheels sharply right and set the emergency brake
Turn the front wheels toward oncoming traffic and leave the brake off

Answer: C — Turn the front wheels sharply right and set the emergency brake

As a theft deterrent, the front wheels should be turned sharply right and the emergency brake set.

21. A police car signals a driver to pull over. What should the driver do first to acknowledge the officer?

Turn on the right turn signal
Wave a hand out the window
Flash the headlights
Roll down the window immediately

Answer: A — Turn on the right turn signal

Drivers should acknowledge the officer with the right turn signal, since not signaling can suggest evasion or impairment.

22. Where should a driver stop when being pulled over on a two-lane road?

The nearest driveway, regardless of traffic
The center median
The right shoulder
The opposite side of the road

Answer: C — The right shoulder

Drivers should move to the right shoulder, never the center median or the opposite side of a two-lane road; if the shoulder is too narrow, they should pull over at the next safe spot.

23. A driver is pulled over after dark. What should the driver do?

Keep the doors locked and the windows up until the officer shows a badge
Turn on the high beams so the officer is lit while approaching
Step out of the vehicle so the officer can see who was driving
Turn on the interior light

Answer: D — Turn on the interior light

At night, drivers should turn on the interior light, stay inside unless directed out, and roll tinted windows down before the officer arrives.

24. An officer asks a driver for their license, registration, and insurance during a stop. What should the driver do before reaching for these documents?

Tell the officer where the documents are located first
Immediately hand over a phone with everything on it
Step out of the vehicle to retrieve them
Ask the officer to wait in the patrol car

Answer: A — Tell the officer where the documents are located first

Drivers should tell the officer where their license, registration, and insurance are, even if they are on a phone, before reaching for them.

25. A driver suspected of drunk driving refuses to take a breath test requested by police. What is a consequence of this refusal?

Loss of driving privileges
No consequence as long as the driver passes a field sobriety test
An automatic warning with no further action
A requirement to attend a single driving class

Answer: A — Loss of driving privileges

Refusing breath, urine, blood, or performance tests when suspected of drunk driving costs the driver's privileges.

26. A driver sitting in traffic with the heater running notices drowsiness, dizziness, headache, and bluish lips. What might this indicate?

Dehydration
Carbon monoxide exposure
Motion sickness
Low blood sugar

Answer: B — Carbon monoxide exposure

Drowsiness, dizziness, bluish skin or lips, headache, and light sensitivity are symptoms of carbon monoxide, which leaks in most when the heater runs, the exhaust is faulty, or heavy traffic fumes enter.

27. In congested, slow-moving traffic, what should a driver do with the vehicle's fresh-air vent to reduce carbon monoxide risk?

It has no effect on carbon monoxide levels
Close it
Leave it exactly halfway
Open it fully

Answer: B — Close it

The fresh-air vent should be closed in congested traffic and opened on cold-weather highways.

28. How does having passengers in the car affect a teen driver's crash risk?

It only matters if a passenger is unbelted
It reduces crash risk by improving attentiveness
It has no measurable effect
It doubles the crash chance with each additional passenger

Answer: D — It doubles the crash chance with each additional passenger

Passengers are listed among teen crash factors, with the crash chance doubling with each one.

29. A 16-year-old wants to ride an off-road vehicle. What safety equipment is required?

A DOT helmet
No special equipment is required for off-road vehicles
A seatbelt only
Elbow and knee pads only

Answer: A — A DOT helmet

Anyone under 18 riding an off-road vehicle must wear a DOT helmet, and owners may not let unhelmeted minors ride.