Connecticut Driver License: Space, Passing, Turning, Hazards, Aggression, Distraction and Fatigue

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Space, Passing, Turning, Hazards, Aggression, Distraction and Fatigue. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver is entering a freeway from an on-ramp that is short and about to end, with no gap yet in the traffic. What should the driver do?

Slow down on the ramp to leave room to accelerate into a gap
Speed up to the end of the ramp and merge as soon as possible
Stop at the end of the ramp and wait for a gap
Flash the headlights at traffic until someone yields

Answer: A — Slow down on the ramp to leave room to accelerate into a gap

Stopping at the ramp's end leaves no room to build speed and risks a rear hit; slowing earlier on the ramp preserves room to accelerate into an opening.

2. A driver wants to merge into a gap in traffic on a busy road. About how much time should the gap represent?

Four seconds
Six seconds
Three seconds
Two seconds

Answer: A — Four seconds

A merging opening should be about four seconds, giving both the merging driver and the driver behind about two seconds each.

3. A driver is stuck behind a slower vehicle going the same direction at a steady speed. Why is staying at that speed, rather than repeatedly passing to go faster, the safer choice?

It keeps the vehicle's tires from overheating
Vehicles moving together at the same speed cannot collide with each other, while passing repeatedly creates more chances for a crash
It is required by law on all multi-lane roads
It reduces fuel consumption more than passing does

Answer: B — Vehicles moving together at the same speed cannot collide with each other, while passing repeatedly creates more chances for a crash

Keeping pace with traffic means vehicles at the same speed can't hit each other, whereas passing again and again adds risk for only a small time savings.

4. A driver is about to turn off a high-speed two-lane road with traffic following close behind. What is the safest way to slow down?

Pull onto the shoulder to slow down
Keep speed up, then tap the brakes and slow quickly but safely
Slow down gradually well before the turn
Signal only, without changing speed until the turn

Answer: B — Keep speed up, then tap the brakes and slow quickly but safely

Slowing too early on a high-speed road with traffic behind risks a rear-end collision, so the driver should keep pace and then brake quickly but safely near the turn.

5. A driver wants to turn left across traffic but there is a median. When is it acceptable to stop halfway across, in the median?

Any time traffic is heavy
Only when the median is wide enough to hold the driver's entire vehicle
Only at night with headlights on
Never, regardless of median width

Answer: B — Only when the median is wide enough to hold the driver's entire vehicle

Crossing traffic needs an opening big enough to get all the way across; stopping halfway is acceptable only if the median can fully hold the vehicle.

6. A driver wants to know how closely to follow the vehicle ahead on a dry road at any speed. What method should be used?

Stay close enough to read the license plate ahead
Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point, then count at least three seconds before reaching that same point
Keep two car lengths regardless of speed
Maintain exactly one car length per 10 mph of speed

Answer: B — Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point, then count at least three seconds before reaching that same point

The three-second rule has the driver count seconds from when the vehicle ahead passes a landmark until their own vehicle reaches it, dropping back if it's under three seconds.

7. A driver is following a motorcycle on a gravel road. Compared to the usual three-second following distance, what should the driver do?

Keep the usual three seconds, since the extra distance applies only to wet or icy roads
Increase the following distance to about six seconds
Increase the following distance to about four seconds
Shorten the gap to about two seconds, since motorcycles stop in a shorter distance

Answer: C — Increase the following distance to about four seconds

Because motorcycles may fall, especially on gravel, the following distance behind them should be increased to about four seconds.

8. A driver must pass either an oncoming vehicle or a bicyclist riding at the edge of the road, but not at the same time. What is the safest approach?

Handle both hazards at once by splitting the lane between them
Stop completely until both hazards have cleared
Pass the bicyclist first, then deal with the oncoming vehicle
Let the oncoming vehicle pass first, then move over to give the bicyclist three feet of room

Answer: D — Let the oncoming vehicle pass first, then move over to give the bicyclist three feet of room

Hazards should be taken one at a time, letting the oncoming vehicle clear before overtaking the bicyclist so the required three feet of space can be given.

9. A driver notices they are riding alongside and slightly behind another car, in a spot the other driver likely cannot see in their mirrors. What should the driver do?

Move through that spot quickly rather than lingering in it
Flash headlights to signal a lane change
Honk to alert the other driver before proceeding
Stay there since it is the safest following position

Answer: A — Move through that spot quickly rather than lingering in it

That position is the other vehicle's blind spot; a driver should pass through a blind spot quickly rather than linger there.

10. Approaching a toll plaza where lanes shift and vehicles stop and speed up unpredictably, what should a driver do?

Speed up to clear the area quickly
Maintain highway speed since toll plazas are low-risk
Slow down to have more room to maneuver
Change lanes as often as needed to find the fastest lane

Answer: C — Slow down to have more room to maneuver

Toll plazas are listed among places where room to maneuver shrinks, so drivers should slow down there.

11. A driver locks eyes with another motorist who seems hostile after a near-collision. What is the recommended response?

Hold the eye contact to show the other driver is not intimidating
Avoid acknowledging the driver and get out of the way
Roll down the window to apologize
Flash the headlights to defuse the situation

Answer: B — Avoid acknowledging the driver and get out of the way

Eye contact with a hostile driver reads as a challenge, so the safer response is to get out of the way and not acknowledge them.

12. Before moving into an adjacent lane, a driver checks the mirrors but wants to be sure no vehicle is hidden at the rear corner of the vehicle. What should be done?

Look over the shoulder toward the move to check the blind spot
Trust the side mirrors, since they show the entire lane
Signal early and change lanes without further checking
Tap the brakes to see if anyone reacts

Answer: A — Look over the shoulder toward the move to check the blind spot

Mirrors cannot show the blind spot at the rear corners, so a shoulder check toward the direction of the move is needed.

13. A driver needs to cross two lanes of traffic to reach a turn lane. What is the safest way to do this?

Cross both lanes at once when a large enough gap appears
Wait until all lanes are completely clear before moving at all
Change one lane at a time, checking each before moving
Signal once and move steadily across without stopping between lanes

Answer: C — Change one lane at a time, checking each before moving

Lanes should be changed one at a time, since judging several lanes at once is difficult and waiting for all to clear ties up traffic.

14. A driver traveling 55 mph wants to pass another vehicle on a two-lane road with oncoming traffic. About how much clear road and sight distance is needed?

About 400 feet
About 800 feet
About 3,200 feet
About 1,600 feet

Answer: D — About 1,600 feet

At 55 mph a pass takes about 10 seconds, during which the passing and oncoming vehicles each travel over 800 feet, requiring more than 1,600 feet total of clear road.

15. On a road where the driver's direction of travel has only two lanes, when is a driver allowed to use the left lane?

Only if driving faster than the posted speed limit
Only during daylight hours
Only when passing a slower vehicle, or to turn left or exit on the left
At any time traffic is light

Answer: C — Only when passing a slower vehicle, or to turn left or exit on the left

Where a direction has fewer than three lanes, the law requires driving in the right lane except when passing or moving left to turn left or exit on the left.

16. A driver is making a right turn at an intersection with no signs or markings governing lane position. What is the correct way to execute the turn?

Swing wide to the left first, then turn right
Swing wide after the turn to give room to other vehicles
Turn from the lane closest to the intended direction into the lane closest to the one just left, crossing the fewest lanes
Turn into whichever lane has the least traffic, regardless of position

Answer: C — Turn from the lane closest to the intended direction into the lane closest to the one just left, crossing the fewest lanes

Without governing signs or markings, a turn should be made from the closest lane into the closest lane, crossing the fewest lanes and moving as directly as possible.

17. A driver missed their intended turn on a busy road. What should they do?

Pull onto the shoulder and back up to the turn
Continue on to a safe place to turn around
Make a U-turn immediately at the missed intersection
Stop in the travel lane and reverse to the turn

Answer: B — Continue on to a safe place to turn around

Backing in a travel lane is illegal and unsafe, so a driver who misses a turn should continue to a safe place to turn around rather than stopping or backing up.

18. Before backing out of a parking space, a driver wants to be sure nothing is directly behind the vehicle, since mirrors don't show that area. What should the driver do?

Turn and look over the right shoulder through the rear window
Use the side mirrors exclusively
Back out quickly to spend as little time as possible in the traffic lane
Rely on the rearview mirror only

Answer: A — Turn and look over the right shoulder through the rear window

Mirrors cannot show directly behind the vehicle, so a driver should turn and look over the right shoulder through the rear window when backing.

19. A driver approaches a curve that blocks the view of the road ahead. What should the driver assume about oncoming traffic before deciding to pass?

That the road is clear since no vehicle is visible
That the driver ahead will signal when the road is clear to pass
That an oncoming vehicle may be just out of sight, and passing should not begin within a third of a mile of the curve
That passing is safe as long as speed is reduced

Answer: C — That an oncoming vehicle may be just out of sight, and passing should not begin within a third of a mile of the curve

Whenever a curve or hill blocks the view, a driver should assume an oncoming vehicle is just out of sight and never start a pass within a third of a mile of it.

20. A driver wants to listen to music through headphones while driving. What is true about wearing headphones in both ears while driving?

It is only a problem at night
It is allowed everywhere but discouraged
It is safe as long as volume is kept low
It is illegal in many states and blocks hearing of horns and sirens

Answer: D — It is illegal in many states and blocks hearing of horns and sirens

Wearing headphones in both ears is illegal in many states and prevents a driver from hearing horns and sirens.

21. Rain begins to fall and the pavement is getting wet. About how much should a driver reduce speed compared with dry conditions?

To a crawl
By about 10 mph
By half
No reduction is needed if headlights are on

Answer: B — By about 10 mph

On a wet road, speed should be cut by about 10 mph; a much greater reduction (by half) applies to packed snow, and a crawl applies to ice.

22. A driver is on a wet highway going well above 35 mph and feels the vehicle become harder to control. What is likely happening?

The tires are overheating from friction
The vehicle is hydroplaning, riding on top of the water instead of gripping the road
The road surface has turned to ice
The brakes have failed

Answer: B — The vehicle is hydroplaning, riding on top of the water instead of gripping the road

On wet roads, most tires grip up to about 35 mph; faster than that, tires begin to ride on the water like skis, called hydroplaning.

23. A driver in Connecticut wants to use studded tires for extra winter grip. During what period are studded tires permitted?

November 15 through April 30
October 1 through March 31
Year-round
December 1 through February 28

Answer: A — November 15 through April 30

Studded tires damage roads and are barred in many places, but Connecticut permits them from November 15 through April 30.

24. A driver is stuck behind slow traffic and wants to move into the far left lane just to avoid it, even though other cars want to pass. What is the recommended behavior?

Use the left lane only in heavy traffic
Stay out of the far left lane and yield it to drivers who want to pass
Block the left lane to prevent speeding
Stay in the left lane since it moves fastest

Answer: B — Stay out of the far left lane and yield it to drivers who want to pass

Blocking the passing lane is listed as an aggressive-driving trigger; drivers should stay out of the far left lane and yield right to those wanting to pass.

25. An oncoming vehicle approaches at night with its high beams shining into the driver's eyes. What is the recommended response?

Speed up to get past the oncoming vehicle quickly
Keep your lights dimmed for the oncoming vehicle and do not retaliate with high beams
Switch on your own high beams to signal the other driver
Turn your headlights off briefly to signal annoyance

Answer: B — Keep your lights dimmed for the oncoming vehicle and do not retaliate with high beams

The manual says to dim for oncoming traffic and never to retaliate against another driver's high beams.

26. A driver believes another motorist is aggressively pursuing them after a road conflict. Where should the driver go?

A police station, convenience store or other well-lit public place
Straight home, since the pursuer will likely give up nearby
A quiet side street to lose the pursuer
The nearest highway rest area, even if unlit

Answer: A — A police station, convenience store or other well-lit public place

If pursued, a driver should go not home but to a police station, convenience store or other well-lit public place.

27. A driver notices another vehicle ahead drifting over the lane lines, driving at inconsistent speed, and fumbling with a phone. What should the driver do?

Move directly alongside to check on the driver
Pass immediately to get away from the danger
Give the vehicle extra room and follow about 3 to 4 seconds back
Flash headlights repeatedly to get the driver's attention

Answer: C — Give the vehicle extra room and follow about 3 to 4 seconds back

Distracted drivers should be given room, followed 3 to 4 seconds back, and passed with great care since they may drift.

28. A driver is planning a long road trip. About how often should breaks be planned to reduce fatigue risk?

Only when visibly tired
Every 300 miles or five hours
Every 100 miles or two hours
Every 50 miles or one hour

Answer: C — Every 100 miles or two hours

Recommended fatigue prevention includes getting sufficient sleep before the trip and planning breaks about every 100 miles or two hours.

29. A person has untreated obstructive sleep apnea and plans to drive. How does this affect the likelihood of falling asleep at the wheel compared to someone without the condition?

It roughly doubles the likelihood
It makes it about seven times likelier
It has no measurable effect if the person feels rested
It makes it about three times likelier

Answer: B — It makes it about seven times likelier

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea makes falling asleep at the wheel about seven times likelier.

30. A driver's vehicle drifts onto a shoulder rumble strip, producing a loud rumble and vibration. What should the driver do?

Pull off at once to check alertness
Speed up to get past the strip quickly
Turn up the radio and keep driving
Ignore it and continue driving normally

Answer: A — Pull off at once to check alertness

Rumble strips warn with a loud rumble and vibration, and hitting one means pulling off at once to check alertness.