Iowa Driver License: Intersections, Interstates, Roundabouts, Gravel Roads, Weather, Emergencies and Crashes

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Intersections, Interstates, Roundabouts, Gravel Roads, Weather, Emergencies and Crashes. Free, no account needed.

1. You approach an intersection and begin to enter it. What is the correct order for checking cross traffic and pedestrians?

Right only, since that is the near lane
Right, left, right again
Left, right, left again
Left only, since oncoming traffic matters most

Answer: C — Left, right, left again

The correct scan pattern before entering an intersection is left, right, and left again.

2. An oncoming vehicle at an intersection has its turn signal on, but you are not yet sure it is actually turning. What should you do?

Proceed only if the vehicle is a car, but wait for motorcycles
Flash your headlights to confirm their intention
Wait until the vehicle actually begins turning before you act
Proceed with your turn immediately since the signal shows their intent

Answer: C — Wait until the vehicle actually begins turning before you act

A signal can be left on by mistake or the driver may turn beyond you, so you should wait until the vehicle is actually turning.

3. You are stopped at a stop sign trying to cross a rural four-lane road. Traffic is heavy in both directions but there is a median. What should you do?

Treat the median as a passing lane and merge into moving traffic
Cross as soon as the far lanes look clear, ignoring the near lanes
Wait for a single gap large enough to cross all four lanes at once
Move into the median when the near lanes are clear, stop, then cross the far lanes when safe

Answer: D — Move into the median when the near lanes are clear, stop, then cross the far lanes when safe

You should cross one direction at a time, stopping in the median before checking and crossing the second direction.

4. You are on an on-ramp and have just reached highway speed, looking for a gap to merge. Which segment of the on-ramp are you in?

The entrance area
The acceleration and merge area
The reduced-conflict segment
The interstate itself

Answer: B — The acceleration and merge area

The acceleration and merge area is where a driver reaches traffic speed and merges without stopping unless absolutely necessary.

5. At a junction designed so a side-road driver cannot turn left directly onto a busy four-lane highway, what movement lets the driver reach the desired direction?

Stop in the median and wait for a gap in both directions simultaneously
Turn right, merge into the left lane, and make a U-turn at a designated median opening
Drive onto the opposite side of the road briefly before diverging back
Turn left directly across all lanes when there is any gap

Answer: B — Turn right, merge into the left lane, and make a U-turn at a designated median opening

This describes a reduced-conflict intersection, where the driver turns right, merges left, and makes a U-turn at a designated opening.

6. Which direction does traffic move around the center island of a roundabout?

Counterclockwise
Clockwise
It depends on which lane you enter
Whichever direction is shortest to your exit

Answer: A — Counterclockwise

Roundabouts move traffic counterclockwise around the center island.

7. You are approaching the yield line of a single-lane roundabout with vehicles already circulating. What should you do?

Stop and wait for the roundabout to be completely empty
Merge immediately since circulating traffic must yield to entering vehicles
Yield to circulating vehicles, wait for a gap, and merge counterclockwise
Proceed if you have the right-of-way as the approaching vehicle

Answer: C — Yield to circulating vehicles, wait for a gap, and merge counterclockwise

At the yield line you yield to vehicles already in the roundabout and merge into a gap.

8. A pedestrian is crossing at a roundabout crosswalk. What is the correct sequence for crossing safely?

Look both ways once, then cross the entire roundabout in one motion
Look right, cross to the splitter island, look left, finish crossing
Look left, cross to the splitter island, look right, finish crossing
Wait for a signal light before crossing, as at any intersection

Answer: C — Look left, cross to the splitter island, look right, finish crossing

Pedestrians look left, cross to the raised splitter island, then look right before finishing the crossing.

9. You are circulating in a multi-lane roundabout and your exit is coming up. What should you avoid doing?

Signaling right after passing the street before your exit
Changing lanes while inside the roundabout
Choosing your lane before the yield line
Yielding to traffic already circulating

Answer: B — Changing lanes while inside the roundabout

Drivers should choose their lane before entering and must not change lanes while inside a multi-lane roundabout.

10. Why should a driver avoid staying in the outside lane of a multi-lane roundabout longer than the exit signs allow?

It increases fuel consumption
It is illegal to use the outside lane at all
It forces trucks onto the truck apron
It blocks vehicles that are legally exiting from the inside lane

Answer: D — It blocks vehicles that are legally exiting from the inside lane

Driving in the outside lane farther than allowed blocks vehicles exiting legally from the inside lane.

11. You are driving on a loose gravel road. What driving adjustments reduce the risk of losing control?

Follow closely to see the road surface conditions ahead
Speed up slightly to maintain momentum through loose sections
Brake hard early and turn sharply to compensate for reduced traction
Slow down, avoid sudden turns, and accelerate and brake gently

Answer: D — Slow down, avoid sudden turns, and accelerate and brake gently

Loose gravel reduces traction, so drivers should slow down, avoid sudden turns, and use gentle acceleration and braking.

12. Two vehicles arrive at the same time at an uncontrolled gravel-road intersection with no signs. Who should yield?

The vehicle on the right
The vehicle on the left
Neither, since gravel intersections have no right-of-way rule
Whichever vehicle is traveling faster

Answer: B — The vehicle on the left

At uncontrolled gravel intersections, the vehicle on the left yields.

13. You are driving a gravel road with loose gravel shoulders and are about to meet an oncoming vehicle near the edge. What should you do?

Slow down as you meet the vehicle or drive near the shoulder
Speed up to pass the meeting point quickly
Maintain your speed and hold the center of the road
Steer fully onto the shoulder to give maximum clearance

Answer: A — Slow down as you meet the vehicle or drive near the shoulder

Soft, loose-gravel shoulders can pull a vehicle toward the ditch, so drivers should slow down near the shoulder or when meeting another vehicle.

14. You approach a narrow rural bridge and see a vehicle already starting to cross from the other direction. What should you expect?

You have the right-of-way if you arrived first, regardless of width
The bridge holds only one vehicle at a time, so you may need to stop
Both vehicles can typically pass side by side
Rural bridges are always wider than the road approaching them

Answer: B — The bridge holds only one vehicle at a time, so you may need to stop

Many rural bridges are narrower than the road and hold only one vehicle at a time, so drivers must be ready to stop.

15. You come up behind a wide piece of farm machinery on a rural road with unmarked entrances nearby. What is the safest approach?

Slow down and pass with extreme caution, since it may swing wide and show no turn signal
Follow closely and wait for a turn signal before passing
Pass immediately since farm equipment moves predictably
Honk to alert the operator, then pass on the shoulder

Answer: A — Slow down and pass with extreme caution, since it may swing wide and show no turn signal

Wide farm machinery may swing wide, may not see you, and may show no visible turn signal, so it should be passed with extreme caution.

16. Oncoming headlights are causing glare while you drive at night. What technique reduces the effect?

Look directly at the oncoming headlights to gauge distance
Close one eye until the vehicle passes
Look toward the right side of the road and adjust the rearview mirror
Switch to high beams to counter the glare

Answer: C — Look toward the right side of the road and adjust the rearview mirror

Glare from oncoming headlights is eased by looking toward the right side of the road and adjusting the rearview mirror.

17. During which months is deer activity, and the resulting crash risk, at its highest in Iowa?

December, January and February
June, July and August
October, November and May
March, April and September

Answer: C — October, November and May

Deer-related crashes peak in October, November and May, though they can occur any time.

18. You are driving near a large truck and cannot see the truck driver in its side mirror. What does this mean?

You are in a safe position since you can see the truck clearly
The truck driver cannot see you either
The truck driver can still see you through a rear camera
It only matters when passing, not when following

Answer: B — The truck driver cannot see you either

If you cannot see the driver in the truck's mirror, the driver cannot see you, meaning you are in a no-zone.

19. How many seconds of following distance should you keep behind a motorcycle under normal conditions?

8 to 10 seconds
5 to 6 seconds
3 to 4 seconds
1 to 2 seconds

Answer: C — 3 to 4 seconds

Drivers should follow motorcycles at least 3 to 4 seconds back, more on wet or slippery roads.

20. You need to pass a bicyclist riding along the edge of your lane. What is the correct way to pass?

Pass only if the bicyclist waves you through
Slow down and squeeze by within the same lane, staying close to the centerline
Change lanes completely, giving the bicyclist the whole lane, then return once the rider is visible in your mirror
Honk before passing to alert the rider, then pass at normal speed within the lane

Answer: C — Change lanes completely, giving the bicyclist the whole lane, then return once the rider is visible in your mirror

When passing a bicyclist, drivers should change lanes completely as they would for any vehicle, returning right only when the rider appears in the rearview mirror.

21. On a wet road during rain, what following distance should you keep, compared with dry conditions?

Ten to twelve seconds
Five or six seconds
The same following distance you would keep on a dry road
A shorter distance, since wipers improve visibility

Answer: B — Five or six seconds

On wet roads, drivers should keep a following distance of five or six seconds.

22. You notice standing water on the road ahead is deeper than your tire tread and you feel the steering go light. What is happening?

Brake fade from overheated brakes
A flat tire caused by road debris
Hydroplaning, caused by water cutting friction and control
Normal steering feedback that requires no action

Answer: C — Hydroplaning, caused by water cutting friction and control

Hydroplaning happens when water on the road is deeper than the tread, cutting friction and control.

23. You reach a low area of roadway covered by about six inches of moving floodwater. What should you do?

Proceed only if driving an SUV or pickup, which can handle more water
Stop and wait in the vehicle for the water to recede
Turn around rather than driving through the flooded road
Drive through slowly and steadily since six inches is shallow

Answer: C — Turn around rather than driving through the flooded road

As little as six inches of moving water can sweep away a vehicle, so drivers should never drive through a flooded road but should turn around.

24. Where is black ice most likely to form first on a winter roadway?

Only in shaded ditches alongside the road
On bridges and overpasses
In the center of open, flat stretches of highway
On gravel roads rather than paved roads

Answer: B — On bridges and overpasses

Black ice is common on bridges and overpasses, which freeze first because air circulates above and below them.

25. You come up behind a snowplow that appears to be traveling around 30 mph. Where should you avoid passing it?

On the side opposite the plow blade
Directly behind it in the same lane
You should never pass a snowplow under any circumstances
On the shoulder side, where the plow throws snow

Answer: D — On the shoulder side, where the plow throws snow

Drivers should never pass a snowplow on the shoulder side, where the plow throws snow, and should wait until it is safe to pass.

26. A front tire suddenly blows out while you are driving. What tendency should you be ready to counteract?

The car pulling away from the side of the flat tire
The car pulling toward the side of the flat tire
The steering wheel locking completely
The car accelerating on its own

Answer: B — The car pulling toward the side of the flat tire

A front blowout jerks the car violently toward the flat, so the driver should avoid overcorrecting and straighten out gradually.

27. A passenger wants to remove the key from the ignition while you are driving to stop a rattling sound. Why is this dangerous?

The anti-theft steering lock can freeze the wheel and cause loss of control
It disables the headlights immediately
It permanently disables the brakes
It triggers the airbags to deploy

Answer: A — The anti-theft steering lock can freeze the wheel and cause loss of control

Removing the key while driving can engage the anti-theft steering lock, freezing the wheel and causing loss of control.

28. Your brakes fail while driving. What is the correct sequence of actions?

Pump the pedal several times to build pressure, then engage the parking brake slowly if that fails
Shift into a higher gear to slow the vehicle before braking
Immediately engage the parking brake as hard as possible
Turn off the engine first, then coast to a stop

Answer: A — Pump the pedal several times to build pressure, then engage the parking brake slowly if that fails

Drivers should first pump the brake pedal to build pressure, and if that fails, slowly engage the parking brake to avoid locking the rear wheels.

29. You are involved in a crash that causes property damage estimated at $2,000 but no injuries. What does state law require?

Reporting the crash within 72 hours
Reporting is only required if damage exceeds $5,000
Reporting the crash within 30 days
No report is required since no one was injured

Answer: A — Reporting the crash within 72 hours

State law requires reporting any crash with injury, death, or property damage over $1,500 within 72 hours.

30. An official vehicle signals for you to pull over on a busy road. What is the best place to stop?

A parking lot or quieter side street rather than the travel lane
The center median of the roadway
Wherever you are currently driving, without moving further
In the travel lane, since stopping quickly is safest

Answer: A — A parking lot or quieter side street rather than the travel lane

Drivers should pull to a clear area when safe, never stopping in the travel lane, preferring a parking lot or quieter side street on busy roads.