Connecticut Driver License: Alcohol, the Law, Speed, Right-of-Way, Parking, Lights and Emergencies

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Alcohol, the Law, Speed, Right-of-Way, Parking, Lights and Emergencies. Free, no account needed.

1. Roughly what share of fatal crashes involve alcohol?

40 percent
20 percent
60 percent
80 percent

Answer: A — 40 percent

Alcohol is a factor in more than 40 percent of fatal crashes.

2. A 19-year-old driver has had exactly one drink before getting behind the wheel. How might Connecticut law treat that driver?

May be considered impaired
Considered impaired only once over 0.08 percent
Automatically has their license revoked for a year
Not considered impaired at all

Answer: A — May be considered impaired

Drivers under 21 can be considered impaired after just one drink.

3. A driver takes an over-the-counter allergy medication known to cause drowsiness before a long drive. What should this driver consider?

It can impair driving like alcohol or worse
It only matters if mixed with caffeine
It's fine since it isn't alcohol
Only prescription drugs affect driving, not OTC medicine

Answer: A — It can impair driving like alcohol or worse

Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines that cause drowsiness affect driving as much as or more than alcohol.

4. Which of these is roughly equivalent in alcohol content to 12 ounces of beer?

8 ounces of liquor
3 ounces of wine
1 ounce of wine
1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor

Answer: D — 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor

A standard drink is defined as 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor, 12 ounces of beer, or a 5-ounce glass of wine.

5. A driver arrested for suspected DUI refuses to take the blood, breath or urine test. What is the minimum license suspension?

45 days
90 days
Six months
30 days

Answer: A — 45 days

Refusing the test carries at least a 45-day suspension, the same minimum as failing it.

6. What blood alcohol concentration triggers a zero-tolerance suspension for a driver under 21?

0.08 percent
0.05 percent
0.10 percent
0.02 percent

Answer: D — 0.02 percent

Under-21 drivers face zero tolerance at 0.02 percent or more.

7. When a police cruiser signals a driver to stop with flashing lights, what should the driver do first?

Drive close to the right edge or curb, clear of any intersection, then stop
Pull over immediately wherever they are, even in an intersection
Stop in the current travel lane
Drive to the nearest police station before stopping

Answer: A — Drive close to the right edge or curb, clear of any intersection, then stop

Drivers should move as close to the right edge as safely possible, clear of intersections, before stopping.

8. A 16-year-old is convicted for the first time of driving 20 mph over the speed limit. What suspension of driving privileges applies?

Six months
30 days
60 days
90 days

Answer: C — 60 days

A first speeding conviction of 20 mph over the limit brings a 60-day suspension for a teen driver.

9. Compared with stopping distance from 30 mph, stopping from 60 mph requires roughly how much more distance?

About the same distance
Half as much
About twice as much
Over three times as much

Answer: D — Over three times as much

Doubling speed more than triples the stopping distance needed.

10. On dry pavement with good tires and brakes, about how much distance does it take to react and stop from 50 mph?

600 feet
200 feet
100 feet
400 feet

Answer: D — 400 feet

Stopping from 50 mph takes about 400 feet, roughly a city block.

11. A driver travels well below the flow of traffic on a two-lane road, causing vehicles to bunch up behind. What should this driver do?

Turn on the four-way flashers and hold that speed
Continue at that speed since slower is always safer
Pull over when safe to let traffic pass
Straddle the center line so no one can pass

Answer: C — Pull over when safe to let traffic pass

Driving much slower than traffic forces bunching and passing, so the slower driver should pull over to let others by.

12. A driver approaches a pedestrian using a white cane at a corner. What should the driver do?

Wait only if the pedestrian signals for help
Give the pedestrian the right-of-way without honking
Proceed if there is no marked crosswalk
Honk to alert the pedestrian to the vehicle's presence

Answer: B — Give the pedestrian the right-of-way without honking

A pedestrian with a guide dog or white cane gets the absolute right-of-way, and honking can confuse or frighten them.

13. Two vehicles arrive at a four-way stop at exactly the same time, one on the left and one on the right of the other. Which one goes first?

The vehicle on the right
Neither; both must wait for a signal
Whichever vehicle is turning
The vehicle on the left

Answer: A — The vehicle on the right

Among simultaneous arrivals at a four-way stop, the vehicle on the right goes first.

14. A driver is about to enter a traffic circle that already has vehicles moving through it. Who has the right-of-way?

The drivers already circulating in the circle
Whoever signals first
The driver approaching from the right
The entering driver

Answer: A — The drivers already circulating in the circle

Drivers entering a traffic circle or rotary must yield to those already in it.

15. A school bus ahead, traveling in the same direction, stops with red lights flashing. What must the driver behind it do?

Stop until the lights stop flashing and children have cleared the road
Pass carefully at reduced speed
Proceed if the bus is more than one car length ahead
Only stop if children are visible outside the bus

Answer: A — Stop until the lights stop flashing and children have cleared the road

Drivers must stop for a bus with flashing red lights and wait until the lights stop and children have left the road.

16. Is it legal to make a U-turn on an expressway?

No, never
Yes, but only with headlights on
Only during daylight hours
Yes, if no traffic is approaching

Answer: A — No, never

U-turns are never permitted on an expressway.

17. How close to a fire hydrant may a vehicle legally park?

No closer than 10 feet
5 feet is acceptable
There is no minimum distance
No closer than 25 feet

Answer: A — No closer than 10 feet

Parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant is prohibited.

18. When parking along a curb, how far from the curb may the vehicle be?

Up to one foot
It must touch the curb
Up to three feet
Up to five feet

Answer: A — Up to one foot

Parking more than one foot from the curb is prohibited, so a vehicle must be within one foot of it.

19. A driver parks on a hill with no curb. Which direction should the front wheels be turned?

Toward the center of the road
Toward the side of the road, so a rolling vehicle rolls away from traffic
It doesn't matter as long as the parking brake is set
Straight ahead

Answer: B — Toward the side of the road, so a rolling vehicle rolls away from traffic

On a hill, wheels should be turned toward the side of the road so a rolling vehicle moves away from traffic.

20. It's raining and a driver turns on the windshield wipers. What does the law require regarding headlights?

Only fog lights are required
Only parking lights are required
Headlights are optional in rain
Headlights must also be turned on

Answer: D — Headlights must also be turned on

By law, using wipers requires headlights to be on as well.

21. How many seconds before turning, changing lanes or merging should a driver signal?

Three seconds
Ten seconds
Five seconds
One second

Answer: A — Three seconds

Drivers should signal at least three seconds before the move.

22. A driver notices a small child about to dart into the street. What is the appropriate horn signal?

Flash the headlights instead of using the horn
No horn, just brake
A sharp blast
A light tap

Answer: C — A sharp blast

A sharp blast is called for when a child is about to move into the street.

23. Why should a driver not honk at a pedestrian who is using a guide dog or a white cane?

Honking is illegal in every circumstance
The horn can confuse or frighten them
It wastes the vehicle's battery
Honking gives the driver the right-of-way

Answer: B — The horn can confuse or frighten them

A pedestrian with a guide dog or white cane has the absolute right-of-way, and honking can confuse or frighten them.

24. If the brakes fail on a moving vehicle, after pumping the pedal repeatedly, what should be done next?

Shift into neutral and coast to a stop
Turn off the ignition immediately
Pull the parking brake slowly
Jump out of the vehicle

Answer: C — Pull the parking brake slowly

After pumping the brake pedal, the parking brake should be pulled slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels.

25. A tire blows out while driving. What is the correct response?

Accelerate to maintain control
Turn the wheel sharply toward the blown tire
Hold the wheel tightly, ease off the gas, brake lightly and pull off
Brake hard immediately

Answer: C — Hold the wheel tightly, ease off the gas, brake lightly and pull off

In a blowout, hold the wheel tightly, ease off the gas, brake gradually, and pull off the road.

26. The gas pedal sticks while driving. What should the driver do?

Press harder on the pedal to break it free
Turn the ignition to lock while still moving
Shift to neutral, pull off when safe and turn off the engine
Pump the brakes repeatedly

Answer: C — Shift to neutral, pull off when safe and turn off the engine

A stuck gas pedal calls for shifting to neutral, pulling off, and turning off the engine, never locking the ignition while moving.

27. A vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS) needs to stop quickly. What is the correct technique?

Pump the brake pedal repeatedly
Press lightly to avoid locking the wheels
Press the pedal as hard as possible and keep pressing even as it pushes back
Release the pedal the moment it pushes back

Answer: C — Press the pedal as hard as possible and keep pressing even as it pushes back

With ABS, press the pedal as hard as you can and keep pressing, ignoring the pedal pushing back.

28. A vehicle begins to skid. What is the correct response?

Turn the wheel opposite the skid and accelerate
Brake hard immediately
Stay off the brake and steer in the direction you want to go
Apply the parking brake

Answer: C — Stay off the brake and steer in the direction you want to go

In a skid, the driver should stay off the brake, which won't work until the vehicle slows, and steer toward the intended direction.

29. At a crash scene, an injured person is bleeding heavily. What is the most effective first step?

Apply a tourniquet immediately
Give them water to drink
Move the vehicle before helping
Press directly on the wound with a hand or cloth

Answer: D — Press directly on the wound with a hand or cloth

Direct pressure on a wound stops or slows almost any bleeding.

30. A driver is involved in a crash in which someone is injured. What must the driver do regarding police?

Leave a note with contact information and go
Report by phone only, with no need to wait at the scene
Leave once the other driver agrees it's fine
Wait until police have spoken with them and gathered information before leaving

Answer: D — Wait until police have spoken with them and gathered information before leaving

Leaving the scene of an injury crash before police have spoken with the driver and gathered information is a crime.