Missouri Driver License: Night, Weather, Skids, Emergencies and Crashes

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Night, Weather, Skids, Emergencies and Crashes. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver wants to know when headlights must be turned on for night driving. What is the required window?

Half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise
One hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise
Whenever it looks dark enough to need them
Sunset to sunrise

Answer: A — Half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise

Headlights are legally required from half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise.

2. A driver is using high beams at night at a speed where their stopping distance is longer than the distance the headlights actually illuminate. What is this practice called?

Riding the brakes
Overdriving your headlights
Hydroplaning
Tailgating

Answer: B — Overdriving your headlights

Driving faster than you can stop within your headlights' reach (about 350 feet on high beam) is called overdriving your headlights.

3. A driver on high beams sees an oncoming vehicle approaching at night. At what distance should they switch to low beams?

500 feet
1000 feet
300 feet
100 feet

Answer: A — 500 feet

High beams should be dimmed within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle.

4. A driver on high beams is following another vehicle at night. At what distance behind it should they switch to low beams?

500 feet
300 feet
100 feet
800 feet

Answer: B — 300 feet

High beams should be switched to low when following another vehicle within 300 feet.

5. A driver turns on the wipers because of rain. What does the law require regarding the headlights?

They are only required once visibility drops below 500 feet
They must be turned on
They may stay off if it is daytime
They must be turned off to save the battery

Answer: B — They must be turned on

Whenever weather requires using the wipers, the law requires the headlights to be on too.

6. A driver is on a snow-covered road. Should they use cruise control?

Yes, it keeps speed steady and improves safety
Only at speeds under 35 mph
Only if the vehicle has four-wheel drive
No, cruise control should not be used on snow or ice

Answer: D — No, cruise control should not be used on snow or ice

Cruise control should not be used on snow or ice.

7. A driver's tires are spinning in snow and the vehicle isn't moving. What should they do?

Turn the steering wheel sharply side to side
Engage four-wheel drive and floor the accelerator
Press the accelerator harder to power through
Rock the vehicle backward and forward to clear a path

Answer: D — Rock the vehicle backward and forward to clear a path

If the tires spin, rock the vehicle backward and forward to clear a path, then use sand, salt, or cat litter for traction.

8. On a slippery, snow-covered road, how much following distance should a driver leave behind the vehicle ahead?

15 to 20 seconds
8 to 10 seconds
4 to 5 seconds
2 to 3 seconds

Answer: B — 8 to 10 seconds

On slippery winter surfaces, drivers should leave eight to ten seconds of following distance.

9. Is it safe to drive a four-wheel-drive vehicle at normal speeds on ice?

Yes, but only in low range
Yes, four-wheel drive is designed for icy conditions
No, but only because it wastes fuel
No, such vehicles overturn easily and four-wheel drive should not be used on ice

Answer: D — No, such vehicles overturn easily and four-wheel drive should not be used on ice

Four-wheel drive should not be used on ice because such vehicles overturn easily.

10. Above roughly what speed can hydroplaning begin on a wet road?

55 mph
35 mph
45 mph
25 mph

Answer: B — 35 mph

Hydroplaning can begin at any speed over 35 mph.

11. A driver feels their vehicle hydroplaning on a wet road. What should they do?

Ease off the accelerator and slow gradually without braking
Turn the wheel sharply to shift the vehicle's weight
Accelerate briefly to power through the water
Brake firmly to regain traction

Answer: A — Ease off the accelerator and slow gradually without braking

When hydroplaning, ease off the accelerator and slow down; braking can start a skid.

12. Why should cruise control not be used on wet roads?

It keeps powering the wheels after they lose traction
It interferes with the windshield wipers
It reduces fuel efficiency in the rain
It disables the anti-lock braking system

Answer: A — It keeps powering the wheels after they lose traction

Cruise control keeps powering the wheels even after they lose traction on wet pavement, which is dangerous.

13. During an emergency stop, a driver with anti-lock brakes feels the brake pedal pulsing. What should they do?

Pump the brake pedal rapidly
Shift into neutral immediately
Keep firm, continuous pressure on the pedal and keep steering
Release the brake and reapply it gently

Answer: C — Keep firm, continuous pressure on the pedal and keep steering

With ABS, keep firm continuous pressure on the pedal and keep steering; the pulsing means the system is working.

14. What does a four-wheel anti-lock braking system do during an emergency stop?

It reduces the following distance a driver needs
It keeps the wheels from locking up
It automatically steers around obstacles
It shortens overall stopping distance on dry pavement

Answer: B — It keeps the wheels from locking up

Four-wheel ABS keeps the wheels from locking in an emergency stop.

15. A vehicle's rear end starts sliding to the right during a skid. Which way should the driver steer?

Left, opposite the slide
Sharply in either direction to regain control quickly
Straight ahead only, without turning the wheel
Right, in the direction the rear wheels are sliding

Answer: D — Right, in the direction the rear wheels are sliding

Steer gently in the direction the rear wheels are sliding, without braking or turning sharply.

16. While a vehicle is skidding, should the driver apply the brakes?

Yes, but only tap the brakes lightly
No, braking during a skid should be avoided
Yes, firmly and immediately
It depends on whether the vehicle is front- or rear-wheel drive

Answer: B — No, braking during a skid should be avoided

During a skid the driver should take their foot off the accelerator and not brake, regardless of drive type.

17. Which headlight setting should be used when driving through fog?

High beams, for maximum visibility
Alternate between high and low beams
Low beams, because high beams show less in fog
Fog lights only, with headlights off

Answer: C — Low beams, because high beams show less in fog

Low beams should be used in fog because high beams show you less.

18. Fog becomes too thick to see the road ahead. What should the driver do?

Pull off the road, stop, and leave lights and flashers on
Continue driving slowly with hazards on
Follow closely behind the taillights of the vehicle ahead
Stop in the travel lane and wait

Answer: A — Pull off the road, stop, and leave lights and flashers on

If fog becomes too thick to see, pull off the road and stop, leaving lights and emergency flashers on.

19. A driver's brake pedal sinks to the floor with no braking effect. What should they do first?

Shift into neutral and coast to a stop
Turn off the ignition immediately
Pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times
Immediately apply the parking brake as hard as possible

Answer: C — Pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times

With brake failure, first pump the pedal fast and hard several times; only if that fails apply the parking brake gradually.

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

Steer sharply toward the shoulder
Accelerate briefly to maintain control before braking
Hold the wheel tightly, ease off the accelerator without braking, and let the vehicle slow to a stop
Brake hard immediately to stop quickly

Answer: C — Hold the wheel tightly, ease off the accelerator without braking, and let the vehicle slow to a stop

After a blowout, hold the wheel tightly, take your foot off the accelerator without braking, and let the vehicle slow off the road before braking gently near a stop.

21. A vehicle's accelerator sticks and the engine keeps racing. What should the driver do?

Pump the accelerator pedal to free it
Turn off the ignition immediately
Shift into a lower gear and accelerate through it
Shift into neutral, brake, and steer to safety

Answer: D — Shift into neutral, brake, and steer to safety

For a stuck accelerator, shift to neutral, brake, look for a way out, and only turn off the ignition once stopped since the key can lock the wheel.

22. A driver's vehicle has power steering and a locking steering column and is having a mechanical emergency. When should the ignition be turned off?

As soon as the vehicle reaches the shoulder
Immediately, to prevent further damage
Never, regardless of the situation
Only after the vehicle has fully stopped

Answer: D — Only after the vehicle has fully stopped

With power steering or a locking column, never turn off the ignition until the vehicle has fully stopped.

23. A vehicle stalls on railroad tracks and a train is approaching. Which way should the occupants run?

Away from the tracks in the direction the train is traveling
Toward the train, directly parallel to the tracks
Straight down the tracks away from the vehicle
Toward the oncoming train, at an angle away from the tracks

Answer: D — Toward the oncoming train, at an angle away from the tracks

Occupants should run toward the oncoming train at an angle away from the tracks, so debris from the impact flies away from them.

24. Another vehicle is heading toward you head-on in your lane. What should you do?

Accelerate to pass it quickly
Stop immediately in your lane
Swing left into the oncoming lane to avoid it
Slow down, pull right, and sound the horn

Answer: D — Slow down, pull right, and sound the horn

Slow down, pull right, and sound the horn; don't swing left because the other driver may swing back.

25. Which vehicles has the National Transportation Safety Board found to be inherently unstable when loaded as designed and carrying more than ten passengers?

Full-size SUVs
Extended-cab pickup trucks
12- and 15-passenger vans
School buses

Answer: C — 12- and 15-passenger vans

12- and 15-passenger vans have been found inherently unstable when loaded as designed and carrying more than ten passengers.

26. A driver hits a parked, unattended vehicle and drives away without doing anything further. Is this legal?

Only illegal if the owner witnessed it
Yes, as long as no one was injured
Yes, if the damage appears minor
No, leaving the scene is a crime even when the other vehicle was parked

Answer: D — No, leaving the scene is a crime even when the other vehicle was parked

Leaving the scene is a crime, even when you hit a parked vehicle.

27. Two vehicles are in a minor crash with no injuries, and both can still be driven. What does the law require?

Leave the vehicles exactly where they stopped until police arrive
Wait in the vehicles with hazards on until traffic clears
Push the vehicles to the nearest parking lot regardless of distance
Move the vehicles off the road onto the shoulder or another nearby spot

Answer: D — Move the vehicles off the road onto the shoulder or another nearby spot

Under the Move It / Steer It and Clear It law, vehicles in a minor, non-injury crash must be moved off the road onto the shoulder or another nearby spot.

28. A crash happens in Missouri less than a year ago, one driver has no liability insurance, and property damage to one person exceeds $500. Within how many days must a Motor Vehicle Accident Report be filed with the Driver License Bureau?

30 days
10 days
60 days
15 days

Answer: A — 30 days

The report must be filed within 30 days when those conditions (recent Missouri crash, uninsured party, damage over $500 or injury/death) are met.