Connecticut Driver License: Steering, Scanning, Work Zones and Sharing the Road

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Steering, Scanning, Work Zones and Sharing the Road. Free, no account needed.

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1. A driver wants a hand position on the steering wheel that allows a quick turn at highway speed without ever lifting a hand off the wheel. Where should the hands rest?

  1. Both hands on the same side of the wheel, at 11 and 12 o'clock
  2. One hand at 12 o'clock and the other at 6 o'clock
  3. Both hands low on the wheel, at 7 and 5 o'clock
  4. Left hand between 8 and 10 o'clock, right hand between 2 and 4

Answer: D — Left hand between 8 and 10 o'clock, right hand between 2 and 4

That hand placement is described as comfortable and lets a driver turn at high speed without lifting a hand.

2. While steering through a curve using the push-pull method, what happens to the driver's hands?

  1. They cross over one another at the top of the wheel
  2. They never cross and never leave the wheel
  3. Both hands stay locked at 12 o'clock throughout the turn
  4. One hand releases the wheel to let it spin back

Answer: B — They never cross and never leave the wheel

In the push-pull method the hands push and pull the rim in turn so they never cross and never leave the wheel.

3. Before starting a vehicle with a manual transmission, what should the driver check?

  1. Parking brake on and the transmission out of gear
  2. Parking brake off and the transmission in gear
  3. Transmission in neutral with no parking brake applied
  4. Accelerator pressed halfway to prime the engine

Answer: A — Parking brake on and the transmission out of gear

Starting instructions call for the parking brake on and a manual transmission out of gear.

4. A driver floors the accelerator from a stop on an icy road. What is the most likely result?

  1. The car stops faster than usual
  2. Traction improves because more power reaches the wheels
  3. The drive wheels spin and the car slides
  4. Nothing unusual happens on any road surface

Answer: C — The drive wheels spin and the car slides

A fast start spins the drive wheels and slides the car on slippery surfaces, so acceleration should be gradual.

5. Driving through a city, about how far ahead should a driver be looking?

  1. About four blocks
  2. About a quarter mile
  3. About one car length
  4. About one block

Answer: D — About one block

In the city, looking about one block ahead corresponds to roughly 12 seconds of travel; the quarter-mile/four-block figure applies on the highway.

6. To check how far ahead you are looking, you pick a fixed object and count "one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand..." How many seconds should a safe driver be looking ahead at minimum?

  1. 8 seconds
  2. 4 seconds
  3. 3 seconds
  4. 12 seconds

Answer: D — 12 seconds

The counting method is used to confirm a driver is looking at least 12 seconds ahead.

7. A driver is about to descend a long, steep hill. What should they do before starting down?

  1. Look only straight ahead
  2. Check only the side mirrors
  3. No special check is needed on a hill
  4. Look behind them

Answer: D — Look behind them

Drivers are told to look behind when changing lanes, slowing, backing, or descending a long or steep hill.

8. A traffic signal at an intersection is completely dark and not working. How should a driver treat that intersection?

  1. As though controlled by a stop sign
  2. Proceed with caution without stopping
  3. As though controlled by a yield sign
  4. As though it were a flashing yellow light

Answer: A — As though controlled by a stop sign

State law requires treating an intersection with an inoperative signal as though it were controlled by a stop sign.

9. Traffic is heavy ahead and a driver cannot be sure there is room on the far side of an intersection to fully clear it. What should the driver do?

  1. Wait and not enter the intersection until there is room to clear it
  2. Enter and stop partway through if needed
  3. Enter anyway since the light is green
  4. Honk and push through the gap

Answer: A — Wait and not enter the intersection until there is room to clear it

Entering without room to clear the far side causes blocking the box, which drivers must avoid in heavy traffic.

10. After stopping at a red light, when is a driver allowed to turn right on red?

  1. Only between certain hours of the day
  2. Never, right turns on red are always illegal
  3. Unless a sign specifically prohibits it
  4. Only if no other vehicles are present

Answer: C — Unless a sign specifically prohibits it

Right turns on red are permitted after stopping unless a sign prohibits it.

11. A train has just passed through a crossing with multiple tracks. Is it safe to cross now?

  1. No, wait until the passing train is well down the track since another may be hidden
  2. Yes, cross immediately once the first train clears
  3. No, wait only if warning lights are flashing
  4. Yes, but only sound the horn first

Answer: A — No, wait until the passing train is well down the track since another may be hidden

At multi-track crossings a passing train may hide another, so drivers should wait until it is well down the track.

12. A driver wants to turn left across oncoming traffic at an intersection. Who has the right-of-way?

  1. The turning vehicle, if its signal is on
  2. Pedestrians only, not oncoming vehicles
  3. Whichever vehicle arrived at the intersection first
  4. Oncoming traffic, including bicycles

Answer: D — Oncoming traffic, including bicycles

Oncoming traffic, including bicycles, always has the right-of-way over a vehicle turning left across its path.

13. Roughly how many people are injured each year in work zone crashes?

  1. 40,000
  2. 4,000
  3. 400,000
  4. 10,000

Answer: A — 40,000

About 40,000 people a year are injured in work zone crashes.

14. A driver is convicted of speeding in a work zone and endangering a highway worker. What is the maximum fine they could face?

  1. $100
  2. $10,000
  3. $500
  4. $1,000

Answer: D — $1,000

Such violations in a work zone can bring fines up to $1,000, plus points and possible driver retraining.

15. A driver is caught using a hand-held phone illegally while driving through a work zone. What happens to the normal distracted-driving fine?

  1. It is tripled
  2. It is doubled
  3. It is cut in half
  4. It stays the same as outside a work zone

Answer: B — It is doubled

Distracted-driving fines are doubled for illegal hand-held phone or device use in a work zone.

16. A driver enters a work zone with lane closures but sees no posted reduced-speed sign. What speed limit applies?

  1. Automatically half the normal limit
  2. Automatically 25 mph
  3. The normal posted limit
  4. No limit applies in a work zone

Answer: C — The normal posted limit

Reduced limits are posted when they apply; with no reduced-speed sign the normal limit applies.

17. A driver is passing a highway worker in a vest along the shoulder. How much clearance must the driver give?

  1. At least one foot
  2. At least three feet
  3. At least 10 feet
  4. At least five feet

Answer: B — At least three feet

Drivers must allow three feet when passing vulnerable road users, including highway workers.

18. A driver approaches a vehicle pulled over on the shoulder of a highway. Under the Move Over law, what must the driver do when safe?

  1. Come to a complete stop in the travel lane
  2. Slow below the posted limit and move over one lane
  3. Honk and pass at normal speed
  4. Do nothing unless driving in the lane closest to the shoulder

Answer: B — Slow below the posted limit and move over one lane

The Move Over law requires slowing below the posted limit and moving over one lane whenever safe.

19. A pedestrian wants to cross at an intersection that has no painted crosswalk lines. Does a crosswalk exist there?

  1. Only during posted school hours
  2. Yes, imagined by extending the sidewalk or shoulder across the road
  3. Only if the pedestrian is a child
  4. No, a crosswalk exists only where lines are painted

Answer: B — Yes, imagined by extending the sidewalk or shoulder across the road

A crosswalk exists at every intersection even without paint, imagined by extending the sidewalk or shoulder across the road.

20. A pedestrian steps to the curb at a crosswalk entrance and raises a hand and arm toward oncoming traffic. What must the driver do?

  1. Yield only if the pedestrian is elderly
  2. Slow or stop and grant the right-of-way
  3. Sound the horn to warn the pedestrian back
  4. Proceed since there are no painted lines

Answer: B — Slow or stop and grant the right-of-way

Raising a hand and arm at a crosswalk entrance requires the driver to slow or stop and grant the right-of-way.

21. At a regulated intersection with a green light, a blind pedestrian using a white cane is still crossing. What must the driver do?

  1. Stay stopped until the pedestrian is out of the road
  2. Proceed since the light is green
  3. Stop only if the cane's tip is red
  4. Wait five seconds and then proceed regardless

Answer: A — Stay stopped until the pedestrian is out of the road

At regulated intersections drivers must stay stopped until the person is completely out of the road, even on a green light.

22. A driver is passing a bicyclist riding on the right side of the lane. How much clearance, counting the vehicle's width and any load, must the driver leave?

  1. At least one foot
  2. At least two feet
  3. No fixed distance, just general caution
  4. At least three feet

Answer: D — At least three feet

Drivers must leave at least three feet when passing a bicyclist, counting the vehicle's width and any load or trailer.

23. A driver fails to yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist at an intersection. Compared to a normal failure-to-yield violation, what happens to the fine?

  1. It is doubled
  2. It is waived
  3. It is capped at a small flat amount
  4. It stays the same

Answer: A — It is doubled

Fines are doubled for failing to yield to a bicyclist.

24. At what age is a bicycle helmet required for a rider?

  1. Under 18
  2. There is no age requirement
  3. Under 16
  4. Under 12

Answer: C — Under 16

Bicyclists must wear a helmet under age 16.

25. The manual says nearly what share of motorcycle crashes are caused by another vehicle turning left in front of the rider?

  1. About 10 percent
  2. About 75 percent
  3. About 90 percent
  4. Nearly 40 percent

Answer: D — Nearly 40 percent

Nearly 40 percent of motorcycle crashes involving another vehicle are caused by the other vehicle turning left in front of the rider.

26. An ice cream truck ahead extends its stop arm and crossing arm with flashing lights on. How far back must an approaching driver stop, and how fast may they then proceed past it?

  1. Stop at least 10 feet away, then pass at no more than 5 mph
  2. Stop at least 20 feet away, then pass at no more than 10 mph
  3. Stop at least 5 feet away, then pass at no more than 15 mph
  4. Stop at least 3 feet away, then pass at no more than 25 mph

Answer: A — Stop at least 10 feet away, then pass at no more than 5 mph

Drivers must stop at least 10 feet from an ice cream truck's stop arm and then pass at no more than 5 mph.

27. A farm tractor ahead displays an orange slow-moving-vehicle triangle. About how fast is it typically traveling?

  1. 35 mph
  2. 45 mph
  3. 25 mph or less
  4. 15 mph

Answer: C — 25 mph or less

Vehicles displaying the orange slow-moving triangle, such as farm tractors, usually travel 25 mph or less.

28. A driver checks a large truck's side mirror before passing and cannot see the truck driver's face in it. What does that mean?

  1. It has no particular meaning
  2. The truck driver cannot see the car
  3. The truck is about to turn toward the car
  4. The truck driver can see the car clearly

Answer: B — The truck driver cannot see the car

If a driver cannot see the truck driver's face in the side mirror, the truck driver cannot see that driver either, meaning the car is in a No-Zone.

29. A driver wants to pass a large truck pulling a trailer. About how long can such a rig be, and how much clear road might the pass require?

  1. Up to 100 feet long, needing a full mile of clear road
  2. Up to 65 feet long, needing more than half a mile of clear road
  3. Up to 20 feet long, needing 200 feet of clear road
  4. Up to 40 feet long, needing a quarter mile of clear road

Answer: B — Up to 65 feet long, needing more than half a mile of clear road

A truck with its tow vehicle can be 65 feet long, and passing it safely may take more than half a mile of clear road.

30. What is the minimum following distance, in time, recommended behind a large truck?

  1. Ten seconds
  2. Five seconds
  3. Three seconds
  4. One second

Answer: C — Three seconds

Drivers should never follow a truck closer than three seconds, measured from a roadside landmark as the truck's rear passes it.

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