Utah Driver License: Basic Driving, Parking, Passing, School Buses and Turns

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Basic Driving, Parking, Passing, School Buses and Turns. Free, no account needed.

1. Before getting into a vehicle to back it up, what should a driver do first?

Turn on the emergency flashers
Walk around and check behind the vehicle
Adjust the rearview mirror
Test the brake pedal

Answer: B — Walk around and check behind the vehicle

Children and small objects are invisible from the driver's seat, so a walk-around check behind the vehicle is required before backing.

2. While backing a vehicle and looking through the rear window, where should the right arm rest?

On the steering wheel
On the gear shift lever
On the passenger seat back
Out the driver's window

Answer: C — On the passenger seat back

The correct backing posture is left hand on the wheel with the right arm resting on the passenger seat back while looking through the rear window.

3. When backing up, why should a driver look through the rear window instead of relying on the mirrors?

Looking back lets the driver keep both hands on the wheel
The mirrors do not show the area directly behind the vehicle
Mirrors may not be used once the vehicle is in reverse
Rear window checks replace the front and side checks while turning

Answer: B — The mirrors do not show the area directly behind the vehicle

Mirrors leave a blind spot directly behind the vehicle, so direct visual checks through the rear window are needed.

4. A driver misses their exit on the interstate. What is the correct response?

Stop and activate hazard lights until traffic clears
Continue to the next exit and turn around
Carefully back up along the shoulder to the exit
Cross the median to reverse direction

Answer: B — Continue to the next exit and turn around

Backing on a freeway or interstate is never allowed, stopping on the interstate shoulder is only for a breakdown or physical distress, and a U-turn on a freeway is prohibited, so continuing to the next exit is the only permitted response.

5. When backing a vehicle on a roadway (not into a driveway or parking space), which position should be maintained?

The left-hand side, facing oncoming traffic
Whichever side has more visibility
The right-hand side of the road
The center of the road

Answer: C — The right-hand side of the road

Backing should be kept to the right-hand side of the road and limited to short distances.

6. A driver wants to change lanes on a highway. How long before starting the move should the turn signal go on?

One full second
At least two seconds
Only after starting to steer into the new lane
At least five seconds

Answer: B — At least two seconds

A lane change requires signaling for at least two seconds before making the move.

7. A driver misses a freeway exit and considers cutting across the painted triangular area between the exit ramp and the through lane to still make the exit. Is this allowed?

Yes, but only at reduced speed
Yes, if the exit is within 200 feet
Yes, as long as no other vehicles are nearby
No, that area (the gore) may never be crossed

Answer: D — No, that area (the gore) may never be crossed

The gore area between a lane and an entering or exiting lane must never be crossed or driven in.

8. Traffic approaching a construction zone lane closure is clearly warned well in advance. What is the correct way to merge?

Merge into the open lane as early as possible and never use the closing lane
Stop and wait for a gap rather than merging while moving
Speed up to pass as many vehicles as possible before merging
Use both lanes up to the merge point, then alternate one vehicle at a time

Answer: D — Use both lanes up to the merge point, then alternate one vehicle at a time

At a congested merge point, the zipper merge uses both lanes up to the merge point and then alternates into the single lane.

9. On a multi-lane road with light traffic and no reason to pass, which lane should a driver use?

The far-left lane, to stay away from merging traffic
Whichever lane has the smoothest pavement
The center lane
The far-right lane

Answer: D — The far-right lane

Drivers should move to or stay in the far-right lane unless passing or the lane is blocked.

10. Stopped in traffic behind another vehicle, how close is it acceptable to pull up?

One full car length regardless of the vehicle ahead
Close enough that the vehicle ahead fills the entire windshield
Bumper to bumper
Close enough to still see the rear wheels of the vehicle ahead touching the ground

Answer: D — Close enough to still see the rear wheels of the vehicle ahead touching the ground

A driver should stop far enough back to be able to see the rear wheels of the vehicle ahead.

11. How close to a fire hydrant is a vehicle allowed to park?

Parking is prohibited within 20 feet
Within 10 feet is fine
Parking is prohibited within 15 feet
Parking is prohibited within 30 feet

Answer: C — Parking is prohibited within 15 feet

Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant is prohibited.

12. How far from a marked crosswalk must a vehicle park?

At least 50 feet
At least 10 feet
At least 15 feet
At least 20 feet

Answer: D — At least 20 feet

Parking on a crosswalk or within 20 feet of one is prohibited.

13. How close to railroad tracks may a vehicle be parked?

Not within 15 feet of the nearest rail
Not within 75 feet of the nearest rail
Not within 50 feet of the nearest rail
Not within 30 feet of the nearest rail

Answer: C — Not within 50 feet of the nearest rail

Parking on railroad tracks or within 50 feet of the nearest rail is prohibited.

14. Parking on a downhill street with a curb present, which way should the front wheels be turned?

Away from the curb
It does not matter as long as the parking brake is set
Toward the curb, until the front tire touches it
Straight ahead

Answer: C — Toward the curb, until the front tire touches it

Parking downhill requires turning the wheel toward the curb until the front tire touches it.

15. Is it legal to stop on the road side of a vehicle already parked at the curb?

Yes, if there is no curb
Yes, if hazard lights are on
No, this is prohibited double parking
Yes, for under five minutes

Answer: C — No, this is prohibited double parking

Stopping on the road side of a vehicle already parked at the curb is prohibited as double parking.

16. After passing another vehicle on a two-lane road, how far ahead of an oncoming vehicle should a driver be before returning to the right lane?

At least 500 feet
At least 50 feet
At least 200 feet
At least 100 feet

Answer: C — At least 200 feet

A driver must return to the right lane no less than 200 feet ahead of oncoming vehicles.

17. Traffic ahead is moving slowly on a multi-lane road. Is it legal to pass by driving on the shoulder?

No, passing on the shoulder is never allowed
Yes, if moving at low speed
Yes, only on interstates
Yes, if the shoulder is paved

Answer: A — No, passing on the shoulder is never allowed

Passing on the shoulder is never permitted.

18. A snowplow ahead has its plow blade lowered on the right side and flashing yellow lights on. Where must a driver not pass it?

Passing is fine as long as speed is reduced
It may not be passed on either side under any circumstance
On the side where the plow blade is deployed
On the left side only

Answer: C — On the side where the plow blade is deployed

A single snowplow with flashing yellow lights may not be passed on the side where the plow blade is deployed.

19. Three snowplows are working together in echelon formation across a highway. Where can they be passed?

They may not be passed on either side
Only when they signal a driver forward
On the right, if there is a clear lane
On the left, if there is a clear lane

Answer: A — They may not be passed on either side

Three or more snowplows working in echelon formation may not be passed on either side.

20. A driver is approaching a bridge and sees a slower vehicle ahead with a dashed center line. Should they pass now?

Yes, since the line is dashed
Only if the vehicle ahead is going below the speed limit
No, never pass before a bridge or railroad crossing
Yes, if visibility is clear for 200 feet

Answer: C — No, never pass before a bridge or railroad crossing

Passing is never allowed just before a railroad crossing or bridge, regardless of line markings.

21. How far in advance (in time) should a driver signal before making a turn?

Immediately as the turn begins
Two seconds
Half a second
Ten seconds

Answer: B — Two seconds

Turns require signaling two seconds in advance, the same as for lane changes.

22. Which hand position on the steering wheel is correct?

One hand on the wheel, one hand on the gear shift at all times
Palms flat against the wheel with thumbs pointing down
Fingers gripping firmly, thumbs up along the face of the wheel, never holding the inside
Both hands gripping the inside rim of the wheel

Answer: C — Fingers gripping firmly, thumbs up along the face of the wheel, never holding the inside

The correct grip uses the fingers rather than the palms, with thumbs up along the face of the wheel and never holding the inside.

23. Approaching a railroad crossing controlled by flashing signals and gates, where should a vehicle stop?

Between 5 and 10 feet from the nearest rail
Right at the nearest rail
Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
At least 100 feet from the nearest rail

Answer: C — Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail

A vehicle must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail at a controlled railroad crossing.

24. A school bus stops with flashing red lights on a divided highway with four or more lanes and a median strip. Which vehicles must stop?

Vehicles traveling in both directions
No vehicles need to stop on a divided highway
Only vehicles in the oncoming lanes
Only vehicles in the lanes behind the bus, traveling the same direction

Answer: D — Only vehicles in the lanes behind the bus, traveling the same direction

On a divided highway of four or more lanes with a median, only vehicles behind the bus in its lanes must stop.

25. What is the maximum fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus?

$1,000
$3,000
$500
$10,000

Answer: B — $3,000

Fines for illegally passing a stopped school bus run up to $3,000.

26. A driver needs to turn around on a narrow two-lane road where a U-turn is not possible and going around the block is not an option. What maneuver applies?

A zipper turn
A rolling stop and reverse
A two-point turn using a driveway
A three-point turn

Answer: D — A three-point turn

A three-point turn is used only where a two-lane road is too narrow for a U-turn and going around the block is impossible.

27. A driver wants to make a U-turn near the top of a hill. What visibility distance is required in both directions?

100 feet
200 feet
1,000 feet
500 feet

Answer: D — 500 feet

A U-turn must never be made where a driver cannot see and be seen for 500 feet in both directions.

28. Is it ever permitted to drive across a raised traffic island to shorten a turn?

No, driving over, across or within any part of a traffic island is not allowed
Yes, if turning right
Yes, only during a U-turn
Yes, if no other vehicles are present

Answer: A — No, driving over, across or within any part of a traffic island is not allowed

No one may drive over, across or within any part of a traffic island.

29. A driver turns from a single left-turn lane onto a multi-lane road. Which lane should they end up in?

The far-right lane
The far-left lane
The center lane
Whichever lane is open

Answer: B — The far-left lane

Turning from a single left-turn lane requires finishing in the far-left lane.

30. While making a right turn, is it correct to cut the corner to complete the turn more quickly?

No, drivers should neither cut the corner nor swing wide
Yes, as long as no pedestrians are present
Yes, if the intersection is empty
Yes, on a red light after a full stop

Answer: A — No, drivers should neither cut the corner nor swing wide

A right turn should neither cut the corner nor swing wide.