Iowa Driver License: Right-of-Way, Emergency Vehicles, School Buses, Parking and Move Over

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Right-of-Way, Emergency Vehicles, School Buses, Parking and Move Over. Free, no account needed.

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1. What is the leading cause of traffic deaths in Iowa?

  1. Distracted driving
  2. Speeding
  3. Driving under the influence
  4. Failure to yield the right-of-way

Answer: D — Failure to yield the right-of-way

Failure to yield is explicitly named as Iowa's number one cause of traffic deaths.

2. Two vehicles reach an all-way stop at the same moment from perpendicular directions. Which one goes first?

  1. The larger vehicle
  2. The vehicle on the left
  3. The vehicle on the right
  4. The vehicle turning left

Answer: C — The vehicle on the right

At an all-way stop, simultaneous arrivals are resolved in favor of the vehicle on the right.

3. You reach an intersection with no stop signs or signals at about the same time as another vehicle, which is approaching from your right. What must you do?

  1. Wait for the other driver to stop and wave you through
  2. Speed up to clear the intersection ahead of the other driver
  3. Yield to the driver on your right
  4. Proceed first, since the driver on the right must yield

Answer: C — Yield to the driver on your right

At uncontrolled intersections, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right when arrivals are close together.

4. You are turning left at an intersection and an oncoming vehicle is going straight through. Who must yield?

  1. Neither; both may proceed together
  2. The oncoming vehicle going straight
  3. Whoever arrived first
  4. The vehicle turning left

Answer: D — The vehicle turning left

Left-turning drivers must yield to oncoming vehicles that are going straight.

5. A bicyclist ahead of you technically has the duty to yield to you at an intersection but is slow to react. What should you do?

  1. Proceed, since the bicyclist owes you the right-of-way
  2. Sound your horn and pass immediately
  3. Be ready to yield anyway, since bicyclists are vulnerable and have no defense in a crash
  4. Stop completely and wait for the bicyclist to wave you through

Answer: C — Be ready to yield anyway, since bicyclists are vulnerable and have no defense in a crash

Drivers are told to drive defensively around bicyclists and yield even when the bicyclist should yield to them.

6. You stop at a red light and want to turn right. When is this allowed?

  1. Only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
  2. After yielding, unless a sign prohibits it
  3. Never; right turns on red are illegal
  4. Only if a sign specifically permits it

Answer: B — After yielding, unless a sign prohibits it

Right turns on red are permitted by default after yielding, unless a sign says otherwise.

7. An ambulance approaches from behind with its siren and lights on, on a two-lane road. What should you do?

  1. Pull to the right edge of the road
  2. Pull to the left edge of the road
  3. Speed up to clear the area
  4. Stop immediately in your lane

Answer: A — Pull to the right edge of the road

Drivers must pull to the right edge, or as near right as possible, for an approaching emergency vehicle.

8. You are already inside an intersection when you notice an emergency vehicle approaching with lights and siren. What should you do?

  1. Reverse out of the intersection
  2. Pull to the left since you're already committed
  3. Drive through the intersection first, then pull over
  4. Stop immediately where you are

Answer: C — Drive through the intersection first, then pull over

Drivers already in an intersection should clear it before pulling over for the emergency vehicle.

9. From which direction must you watch for an approaching emergency vehicle in order to yield?

  1. Only from oncoming traffic
  2. Only when it's directly behind you in your lane
  3. Only from the rear
  4. From any direction

Answer: D — From any direction

The duty to yield applies no matter which direction the emergency vehicle is approaching from.

10. You're driving on a highway divided by a median, and an emergency vehicle with lights flashing is on the far side of the median heading the opposite way. What must you do?

  1. Slow to 20 mph
  2. You need not stop for it
  3. Merge across the median
  4. Stop and pull over anyway

Answer: B — You need not stop for it

A median separating the roadway exempts drivers from stopping for an emergency vehicle on the other side.

11. How far back should you stay behind an emergency vehicle running its lights and siren?

  1. 500 feet
  2. 100 feet
  3. 1,000 feet
  4. 300 feet

Answer: A — 500 feet

Drivers must stay at least 500 feet behind an emergency vehicle using lights and sirens.

12. What signals from a vehicle require you to yield and pull over for it as an emergency vehicle?

  1. Hazard lights alone
  2. A siren only; lights alone don't count
  3. A siren or air horn and/or red or blue flashing lights
  4. Red flashing lights only, not blue

Answer: C — A siren or air horn and/or red or blue flashing lights

Emergency vehicles are identified by a siren or air horn and/or red or blue flashing lights.

13. You are behind a school bus on a two-lane road and its amber warning lights begin flashing. What should you do?

  1. You may not pass and should be ready to stop
  2. Only slow down once the bus is fully stopped
  3. Continue at normal speed; amber lights don't restrict you
  4. Pass quickly before it stops

Answer: A — You may not pass and should be ready to stop

Flashing amber (or red) warning lights on a bus mean you may not pass and must be ready to stop.

14. A school bus ahead of you stops and extends its stop arm. How close may you stop behind it?

  1. No closer than 10 feet
  2. No closer than 20 feet
  3. No closer than 5 feet
  4. No closer than 15 feet

Answer: D — No closer than 15 feet

Vehicles behind a stopped bus with its arm out must stop no closer than 15 feet.

15. You are approaching a school bus from the opposite direction and its amber lights begin flashing. What is the maximum speed you should be going?

  1. 25 mph
  2. 15 mph
  3. 30 mph
  4. 20 mph

Answer: D — 20 mph

Meeting a bus with flashing amber lights requires slowing to no more than 20 mph.

16. You are meeting a school bus from the front on a two-lane road when it stops and extends its stop arm. Where do you stop and for how long?

  1. Stop behind it until the driver waves you on
  2. Stop in front of it and stay stopped until the arm retracts
  3. You need not stop since you're meeting it, not following
  4. Stop only if children are visible

Answer: B — Stop in front of it and stay stopped until the arm retracts

Drivers meeting a bus with its arm extended must stop in front of it until the arm retracts.

17. You are driving on a road with four or more lanes and meet a stopped school bus in one of the opposite lanes with its arm extended. What should you do?

  1. Stop just as you would on a two-lane road
  2. Slow to 20 mph and proceed
  3. You need not stop, even with its lights flashing and arm out
  4. Stop 15 feet behind it

Answer: C — You need not stop, even with its lights flashing and arm out

On a four-or-more-lane road, meeting a stopped bus in the opposite lanes is the sole exception allowing you to pass without stopping.

18. What is the maximum license suspension for a school bus stop-arm violation?

  1. One year
  2. 180 days
  3. 30 days
  4. 90 days

Answer: B — 180 days

A stop-arm violation may suspend a license for up to 180 days.

19. When parking on a roadway, how far from the curb must your vehicle be?

  1. Within 36 inches
  2. Within 24 inches
  3. Within 18 inches
  4. Within 12 inches

Answer: C — Within 18 inches

Vehicles must park within 18 inches of the curb.

20. How close to a fire hydrant may you legally park?

  1. No closer than 5 feet
  2. No closer than 20 feet
  3. No closer than 15 feet
  4. No closer than 10 feet

Answer: A — No closer than 5 feet

Parking closer than five feet to a fire hydrant or in a hydrant red zone is prohibited.

21. What is the minimum distance you must park from a stop sign?

  1. 5 feet
  2. 20 feet
  3. 10 feet
  4. 15 feet

Answer: C — 10 feet

Parking closer than 10 feet to a stop sign is prohibited.

22. How far from a fire station entrance must you park?

  1. At least 50 feet
  2. At least 20 feet
  3. At least 30 feet
  4. At least 10 feet

Answer: B — At least 20 feet

Parking closer than 20 feet to a fire station entrance is prohibited.

23. What is the minimum parking distance from a railroad crossing?

  1. 20 feet
  2. 100 feet
  3. 50 feet
  4. 30 feet

Answer: C — 50 feet

Parking closer than 50 feet to a railroad crossing is prohibited.

24. You want to park in a space reserved for persons with disabilities. What do you need?

  1. Nothing; any driver may use it briefly
  2. A Persons with Disabilities Parking Permit
  3. Written permission from the property owner
  4. A doctor's note kept in the glove box

Answer: B — A Persons with Disabilities Parking Permit

Only vehicles displaying a Persons with Disabilities Parking Permit may use these reserved spaces.

25. You're driving on a multi-lane road and approach a stopped tow truck with its flashing lights on. If it's safe and legal, what does the law require?

  1. Change lanes away from the stopped vehicle
  2. Slow down only, no lane change needed
  3. Stop completely in your lane
  4. Sound your horn and pass close

Answer: A — Change lanes away from the stopped vehicle

The Move Over or Slow Down law requires changing lanes for stopped tow and other listed vehicles when it's safe and legal to do so.

26. You approach a stopped passenger car on the shoulder with its hazard lights continuously flashing, and changing lanes is safe and legal. What must you do?

  1. Stop and check on the driver
  2. Only slow down; no lane change required
  3. Nothing; the law only covers official vehicles
  4. Change lanes just as you would for a tow truck

Answer: D — Change lanes just as you would for a tow truck

The Move Over or Slow Down law also covers any stopped vehicle, including a passenger car, continuously showing hazard lights.

27. You can't safely or legally change lanes to move over for a stopped vehicle with flashing lights. What should you do?

  1. Stop completely in the travel lane
  2. Slow down and be ready to stop, at a reasonable speed for conditions
  3. Maintain your speed and pass carefully
  4. Speed up to clear the area quickly

Answer: B — Slow down and be ready to stop, at a reasonable speed for conditions

When a lane change isn't possible, drivers must slow down and be ready to stop at a speed reasonable for conditions.

28. What is the maximum license suspension for violating the Move Over or Slow Down law?

  1. Two years
  2. One year
  3. 90 days
  4. 180 days

Answer: B — One year

A Move Over or Slow Down violation may suspend a license for up to one year.

29. You're involved in a crash on an interstate with no injuries and your car is still drivable. What should you do?

  1. Move it out of the driving lanes if it can be done safely
  2. Leave the vehicle exactly where it stopped until police arrive
  3. Turn on hazards and wait inside the vehicle in your lane
  4. Only move it if directed by a tow truck

Answer: A — Move it out of the driving lanes if it can be done safely

Under Steer It-Clear It, an operable vehicle must be moved out of the driving lanes after a no-injury crash if it can be moved safely.

30. Roughly how much does the risk of a secondary crash increase for each minute a blocked interstate lane stays blocked?

  1. About 10 percent
  2. About 5 percent
  3. About 1 percent
  4. About 2.8 percent

Answer: D — About 2.8 percent

Each minute a blocked interstate lane remains closed raises secondary-crash risk by roughly 2.8 percent.

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