Kentucky Driver License: Speed, Space, Communicating, Skids, Collisions and Breakdowns

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Speed, Space, Communicating, Skids, Collisions and Breakdowns. Free, no account needed.

1. About how far down the road should a driver be watching while driving?

100 feet ahead
One full minute ahead
20 to 30 seconds ahead
4 seconds ahead

Answer: C — 20 to 30 seconds ahead

Watching well down the planned path, about 20 to 30 seconds ahead, gives time to see conditions and adjust.

2. A driver is stuck close behind a large box truck that blocks the view of the road ahead. What should the driver do?

Flash the headlights until the truck changes lanes
Adjust speed and position to improve the view ahead
Hold a steady four-second gap and accept the blocked view
Move closer so the truck's mirrors can be watched

Answer: B — Adjust speed and position to improve the view ahead

Following a large vehicle closely limits your view, so speed and position should be adjusted to see around or past it.

3. About how often should a driver check the speedometer while driving?

Once every ten seconds
Once every four seconds
Once a minute
Only when entering a curve

Answer: C — Once a minute

Glancing at the speedometer about once a minute helps keep speed matched to conditions.

4. Where no speed limit is posted on an interstate or parkway, what is the default limit?

65 mph
35 mph
55 mph
70 mph

Answer: A — 65 mph

The unposted default on interstates and parkways is 65 mph; 70 mph applies only where the secretary of transportation has specifically raised the limit on a highway.

5. Heavy fog has cut visibility to about 100 feet on low beams. What is the fastest a driver should go?

55 mph
35 mph
25 mph
15 mph

Answer: C — 25 mph

When visibility drops to about 100 feet in rain, snow or fog, a driver cannot safely go faster than 25 mph.

6. A vehicle's steering tires ride up on a layer of pooled water and lose contact with the road surface. What is this called, and how can it best be avoided?

A skid, avoided by braking hard the moment it begins
Fishtailing, avoided by accelerating through the water
Hydroplaning, avoided by slowing down in rain and on wet roads with pooled water
A blowout, avoided by keeping tires slightly underinflated

Answer: C — Hydroplaning, avoided by slowing down in rain and on wet roads with pooled water

Hydroplaning is the steering tires riding up on pooled water like water skis; slowing down and maintaining good tires helps avoid it.

7. What is the name for the time an alert driver takes to recognize that a stop is necessary, before any physical response begins?

Braking distance
Total stopping distance
Reaction time
Perception time

Answer: D — Perception time

Perception time is the recognition that a stop is needed, averaging ¾ second to one second for an alert driver.

8. After recognizing the need to stop, a driver moves their foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal. What is this step called, and about how long does it typically take?

Braking time, about 158 feet
Reaction time, about ¾ to one second
Perception time, about ¾ to one second
Total stopping time, about two seconds

Answer: B — Reaction time, about ¾ to one second

Reaction time is moving the foot from gas to brake, averaging another ¾ to one second after perception time.

9. At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, about how many feet does braking distance alone cover, not counting perception and reaction?

About 100 feet
About 158 feet
About 55 feet
About 200 feet

Answer: B — About 158 feet

Braking distance at 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes is about 158 feet.

10. What is the minimum following distance a driver should keep behind the vehicle ahead under normal conditions?

Three seconds
Four seconds
One car length per 10 mph
Two seconds

Answer: B — Four seconds

A following distance of at least four seconds is recommended, and following closer than reasonable and prudent is illegal.

11. How can a driver check whether they are keeping a safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead?

Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point and count "one thousand one" through "one thousand four"
Count the seconds it takes to read the license plate ahead
Measure the gap using the reach of the low-beam headlights at night
Estimate one car length for every 10 mph of speed

Answer: A — Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point and count "one thousand one" through "one thousand four"

The four-second gap is measured by watching the lead vehicle pass a fixed point and counting off the seconds it takes to reach that same point.

12. A driver on an interstate realizes they have just missed their exit. What should they do?

Carefully back up on the shoulder to the exit
Stop on the shoulder and wait for a gap to reverse
Continue to the next exit
Make a U-turn through the median

Answer: C — Continue to the next exit

A driver who passes an interstate exit should never back up or turn around, and instead should go to the next exit.

13. Why should a driver give extra following distance behind a motorcycle rather than a car?

Motorcycles turn and change lanes much faster than a car
Motorcycles are harder to see in daylight
Motorcycles must stop at every railroad crossing
Motorcycles have longer overall stopping distances

Answer: A — Motorcycles turn and change lanes much faster than a car

Extra distance is recommended behind motorcycles specifically because they turn and change lanes much faster.

14. A driver notices they are riding just behind and to the side of another car, in a position where that driver's mirrors cannot see them. What should the driver do?

Speed up or drop back so they are not in the blind spot
Move closer to the center line to be more visible
Tap the horn to alert the other driver to their presence
Stay in that position since it is a normal lane placement

Answer: A — Speed up or drop back so they are not in the blind spot

Riding in another vehicle's blind spot should be avoided by either speeding up or dropping back.

15. Why should a driver leave extra following distance behind a transit bus or school bus?

These vehicles have no brake lights
These vehicles must stop at railroad crossings
These vehicles are required to travel below the posted limit
These vehicles accelerate unusually quickly

Answer: B — These vehicles must stop at railroad crossings

Extra distance is recommended behind vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings, such as transit buses, school buses and hazardous-materials carriers.

16. During what hours must a vehicle's headlights be turned on?

From dusk until dawn only in rural areas
From sunset to sunrise
From one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise
From one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise

Answer: C — From one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise

Headlights must be on from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.

17. A pedestrian near the curb appears to be drifting into a driver's lane without noticing the vehicle. What horn use is appropriate?

A long, continuous horn blast
No horn use is ever appropriate near a pedestrian
Flashing the headlights instead of using the horn
A light tap on the horn

Answer: D — A light tap on the horn

A light tap on the horn is normally all that is needed when a pedestrian or bicyclist seems to be moving into the driver's lane.

18. A vehicle's turn signals stop working. May the driver use hand signals out the window instead?

Hand signals cannot be used; the vehicle must have mechanical signals
Yes, hand signals may always substitute for turn signals
Hand signals are allowed only at night
Hand signals are allowed only for left turns

Answer: A — Hand signals cannot be used; the vehicle must have mechanical signals

Vehicles must have mechanical signals, and hand signals cannot be used.

19. A driver plans to turn off a road that has no separate turning or exit lane. What should the driver do before slowing down?

Brake first, then signal once already turning
Signal before reducing speed
Turn on the hazard flashers instead of a turn signal
Slow down without signaling if no one else appears to be around

Answer: B — Signal before reducing speed

A driver should signal before reducing speed when turning off a road without separate turning or exit lanes.

20. When facing a sudden emergency on the road, what three basic options does a driver have to avoid a crash?

Steering, honking or braking
Braking, honking or flashing the lights
Braking, steering or accelerating
Accelerating, signaling or honking

Answer: C — Braking, steering or accelerating

Every driver facing an emergency has three options: braking, steering or accelerating.

21. A vehicle with anti-lock brakes needs to stop suddenly in an emergency. What is the correct way to use the brake pedal?

Press the pedal as hard as possible and hold steady pressure
Pump the pedal rapidly in short bursts
Press the pedal lightly to prevent it from vibrating
Release and reapply the pedal every second

Answer: A — Press the pedal as hard as possible and hold steady pressure

With ABS, the driver should press the pedal as hard as possible and keep the pressure on, since ABS works only while the pedal is held.

22. A driver swerves to avoid an animal that has run into the road. Once clear of the animal, what should the driver do next?

Let go of the wheel briefly to let the vehicle self-correct
Brake as hard as possible immediately
Steer the opposite way to straighten out, regain control and slow down
Continue straight in the new direction without further steering

Answer: C — Steer the opposite way to straighten out, regain control and slow down

After steering around an obstacle, the driver should steer the opposite way to straighten, regain control and slow.

23. A vehicle without ABS goes into a straight-line skid. What is the correct way to brake?

Pump the brake gently
Avoid the brake pedal entirely and only steer
Brake hard and hold the pedal down
Apply the parking brake instead

Answer: A — Pump the brake gently

Without ABS in a straight-line skid, the driver should not brake hard, which locks the wheels, but should pump gently.

24. The rear of a vehicle begins skidding sideways to the right. Which way should the driver turn the steering wheel to regain control?

Keep the wheel perfectly straight and brake hard
Turn left while pressing the accelerator to pull the rear back in line
Turn left, away from the direction the rear is skidding
Turn right, in the direction the rear is skidding

Answer: D — Turn right, in the direction the rear is skidding

In a sideways skid, the driver should turn the wheel in the direction the rear is skidding so the front lines up with the back.

25. A driver causes $700 in property damage in a crash that no police officer investigates. What must the driver do?

Nothing further is required since no one was injured
File a report with the Kentucky State Police within 30 days
Notify only their insurance company, with no state filing required
File a written report with the Kentucky State Police within 10 days

Answer: D — File a written report with the Kentucky State Police within 10 days

Anyone in a crash with property damage over $500 that no officer investigates must file a written report with the Kentucky State Police within 10 days.

26. A driver backs into a parked, unattended car in a parking lot and cannot find the owner. What should the driver do?

Leave a note listing only the license plate number
Drive away, since no action is required for a parked vehicle
Only call police if the damage exceeds $1,000
Leave a visible note with name, address, license number, plate number, date and time

Answer: D — Leave a visible note with name, address, license number, plate number, date and time

If the owner of a parked vehicle that was hit cannot be found, the driver should leave a visible note with their name, address, license number, plate number, date and time.

27. After a non-injury crash in Kentucky, what does the law require regarding the damaged vehicles?

They must be moved back into the original travel lane facing traffic
They must be left exactly where they stopped until an officer arrives
They must be moved to the shoulder
They must be left in the travel lane with flashers on

Answer: C — They must be moved to the shoulder

In a non-injury crash, Kentucky law requires moving the damaged vehicles to the shoulder.

28. A vehicle's brakes fail while moving. What is the correct sequence of actions?

Shift into neutral and coast without touching the brake at all
Pull the parking brake handle or push the pedal slowly, and if that fails, turn off the engine and coast to a safe stop
Immediately turn off the engine while still at speed
Continue driving carefully until reaching the nearest exit

Answer: B — Pull the parking brake handle or push the pedal slowly, and if that fails, turn off the engine and coast to a safe stop

If the brakes fail, the driver should pull the parking brake handle or push the pedal slowly so the rear wheels do not lock, and if that fails, turn off the engine and coast to a stop off the road.

29. A front tire suffers a sudden blowout while driving. What happens to the vehicle, and how should the driver respond?

There is no noticeable change in handling, so the driver can continue at normal speed
The vehicle pulls sharply toward the blowout; the driver should grip the wheel firmly and slow gradually without hard braking
The vehicle wobbles and shakes; the driver should brake hard immediately
The vehicle pulls away from the blowout; the driver should accelerate to regain control

Answer: B — The vehicle pulls sharply toward the blowout; the driver should grip the wheel firmly and slow gradually without hard braking

A front-tire blowout pulls the vehicle sharply toward the blowout; the driver should grip the wheel firmly, slow gradually with foot off the accelerator, and avoid hard braking.

30. A vehicle breaks down at night and the driver needs to warn approaching traffic. About how far behind the vehicle should emergency flares be placed?

About 20 to 30 feet
About 200 to 300 feet
About 500 to 600 feet
About 50 to 100 feet

Answer: B — About 200 to 300 feet

Emergency flares should be placed about 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle so approaching drivers can change lanes in time.