Colorado Driver License: Before You Drive, Signals, Markings and Lane Controls

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Before You Drive, Signals, Markings and Lane Controls. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver wants to listen to music through a headset while driving. Which setup is prohibited?

A headset covering both ears
A hearing aid
A helmet speaker
A single wireless earpiece in one ear

Answer: A — A headset covering both ears

The rule bars any headset covering all or part of both ears; hearing aids, helmet speakers and one-ear wireless devices are allowed.

2. On a long road trip, about how often should a driver plan to stop and rest to guard against fatigue?

Only once symptoms of drowsiness appear
Every two hours
Every four hours
Every hour

Answer: B — Every two hours

Long drives should be broken into two-hour segments, with additional stops if drowsiness sets in.

3. How often should a driver's eyesight be checked to ensure it remains fit for driving?

Only at license renewal
Only after a vision problem is noticed
Every five years
Every year or two

Answer: D — Every year or two

Eyes should be checked every year or two, and corrective lenses worn if the license requires them.

4. What is identified as the leading cause of driver error?

Poor vehicle maintenance
Distraction
Bad weather
Fatigue

Answer: B — Distraction

Distractions are called out specifically as the leading cause of driver error.

5. A driver is furious after a heated argument and is about to get behind the wheel. What is the recommended course of action?

Wait until calmer before driving
Drive only on familiar roads
Drive normally since anger doesn't affect skill
Drive extra cautiously to compensate

Answer: A — Wait until calmer before driving

Drivers are told not to drive when angry and never to give in to road rage.

6. How should a driver adjust the driver's side mirror?

With head centered, seeing the whole side of the car
With head centered under the inside mirror
With head against the left window, barely seeing the car's side
With head against the right window

Answer: C — With head against the left window, barely seeing the car's side

The driver's mirror is set with the head against the left window so only a sliver of the car's side is visible.

7. Why should a driver never run a vehicle's engine while sitting in a closed garage?

It drains the battery
It wastes fuel
It damages the exhaust system
It can produce deadly exhaust fumes

Answer: D — It can produce deadly exhaust fumes

Exhaust leaks can be deadly, and the engine should never run in a garage or in a closed car.

8. A vehicle has badly worn tires. What driving problem does this most directly cause?

Longer stopping distances and greater hydroplaning risk
Improved fuel economy
Reduced tire noise
A tighter turning radius

Answer: A — Longer stopping distances and greater hydroplaning risk

Worn tires lengthen stopping distances, hinder turning, and invite hydroplaning and flats.

9. Who bears responsibility for making sure a vehicle is safe to drive?

The driver
The mechanic
The DMV
The manufacturer

Answer: A — The driver

The driver is responsible for the vehicle being safe, since a poorly kept one costs more, can break down or crash, and can earn a citation.

10. How should a head restraint be positioned for safety?

Several inches below the head
As low as possible
Position doesn't matter
Touching the back of the driver's head

Answer: D — Touching the back of the driver's head

The head restraint should be set to touch the back of the head.

11. What is the first thing a driver should do when starting a vehicle?

Shift directly into drive
Press the accelerator gently
Put the right foot on the brake and check the warning lights
Release the parking brake first

Answer: C — Put the right foot on the brake and check the warning lights

Starting begins with the right foot on the brake and checking the warning lights.

12. Where should a driver's hands be placed on the outside of the steering wheel?

3 and 9 or 4 and 8 o'clock
Anywhere comfortable, gripping the inside rim
10 and 2 or 11 and 1 o'clock
12 and 6 o'clock

Answer: A — 3 and 9 or 4 and 8 o'clock

Hands should be held on the outside of the wheel at 3 and 9 or 4 and 8 o'clock, never gripping the inside.

13. What is the proper technique for operating the accelerator pedal?

Either foot, position doesn't matter
Heel on the floor, ball of the foot pressing the pedal
Whole foot flat, lifted off the floor
Toes only, heel raised

Answer: B — Heel on the floor, ball of the foot pressing the pedal

The accelerator is pressed gently with the ball of the foot while the heel stays on the floor.

14. When backing up, what should a driver primarily rely on to see what's behind the vehicle?

The side mirrors only
The rearview mirror only
Looking directly over the shoulder through the rear window
The backup camera only

Answer: C — Looking directly over the shoulder through the rear window

Drivers should look directly over the shoulder through the rear window while backing, using mirrors and camera only as extras since mirrors miss the area right behind the car.

15. Why should a driver check behind the car before getting in to back up?

To check for parking tickets
It's required only for trucks
To check tire pressure
Because children or small objects may be invisible from the driver's seat

Answer: D — Because children or small objects may be invisible from the driver's seat

Children and small objects behind the car are invisible from the seat, so a check beforehand is necessary.

16. A traffic signal at an intersection is completely dark because of a power outage. How should drivers treat the intersection?

As a yield sign only
Wait for a police officer before proceeding
Proceed as usual since no signal is showing
As a four-way stop

Answer: D — As a four-way stop

A dark or malfunctioning signal is treated as a four-way stop.

17. After stopping at a steady red light and yielding to pedestrians and traffic, when may a driver turn right on red?

Never, right on red is not allowed
Only at night
Unless a sign at the intersection forbids the turn
Only when a green arrow is also showing

Answer: C — Unless a sign at the intersection forbids the turn

After stopping and yielding, a right turn on red is allowed unless a sign forbids it.

18. Under what circumstance is turning left on a red light permitted?

It is never permitted
Only outside city limits
From a one-way street onto another one-way street
From a two-way street onto a one-way street

Answer: C — From a one-way street onto another one-way street

Left on red is allowed specifically from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

19. A driver waiting to turn left sees a flashing yellow arrow. What should they do?

Turn immediately; oncoming traffic must yield
Stop; the turn is prohibited
Proceed with caution after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
Treat it as a malfunctioning signal and stop as at a four-way stop

Answer: C — Proceed with caution after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians

A flashing yellow arrow allows a left-turning driver to proceed with caution after yielding, never rushing.

20. A left-turn green arrow goes out, but the round green light stays lit. What may the driver do?

Wait for the arrow to reappear before turning
Turn left only during rush hour
Still turn left after yielding to through traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign or red arrow prohibits it
No longer turn left; must go straight only

Answer: C — Still turn left after yielding to through traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign or red arrow prohibits it

When the arrow goes out but the circular green remains, drivers may still turn after yielding, unless a sign or red arrow prohibits it.

21. A driver approaches a slow-moving bicyclist on a road marked with double solid yellow lines, and the oncoming lane is clear. What may the driver do?

Cross only if following at highway speed
Cross to pass the bicyclist while keeping at least three feet of space
Cross only after dark
Never cross the double yellow line under any circumstance

Answer: B — Cross to pass the bicyclist while keeping at least three feet of space

Double solid yellow lines forbid passing except to pass a bicyclist with at least three feet of space when the oncoming lane is clear.

22. A road is marked with a solid yellow line paired with a broken yellow line. When may you legally pass?

Only when the solid line is on your side
At any time, regardless of which side the broken line is on
Passing is never allowed with paired lines
Only when the broken line is on your side

Answer: D — Only when the broken line is on your side

With a solid-and-broken pair, passing is allowed only when the broken line is on your side, and you must return before it turns solid.

23. A broken white line separates two lanes traveling in the same direction. What does this indicate?

It marks the road shoulder
Lane changes are prohibited
The lane is reserved for bicycles
Lane changes are allowed when safe

Answer: D — Lane changes are allowed when safe

A broken white line means a driver may change lanes when it is safe to do so.

24. A vehicle ahead has stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk. What should the driver behind it do?

Pass carefully on the left
Honk and proceed slowly
Stop behind it, or behind the crosswalk in the next lane
Pass carefully on the right

Answer: C — Stop behind it, or behind the crosswalk in the next lane

When a vehicle ahead is stopped at a crosswalk, never pass it; stop behind it, or behind the crosswalk in the next lane.

25. What does a sharrow (shared-lane arrow) marking indicate?

The lane may be too narrow for a car and bike side by side, and bicyclists may ride in its center
A bike lane begins ahead
The lane is reserved exclusively for bicycles
The lane is bus-only

Answer: A — The lane may be too narrow for a car and bike side by side, and bicyclists may ride in its center

Sharrows say the lane may be too narrow for a car and bike side by side, and bicyclists may ride in its center.

26. How are HOV lanes typically marked?

Sharrow markings
Green paint
Double yellow lines
A white diamond with signs stating vehicle and occupant requirements

Answer: D — A white diamond with signs stating vehicle and occupant requirements

HOV lanes are marked by a white diamond, with signs stating the vehicles and occupant counts allowed.

27. What is a two-way left-turn (center turn) lane used for?

Passing slower traffic
Left turns from either direction of travel
Through travel to bypass congestion
Merging onto a highway

Answer: B — Left turns from either direction of travel

The two-way left-turn lane is only for left turns from either direction, never for passing or travel.

28. At a roundabout, who is generally required to yield?

Exiting traffic yields to entering traffic
All traffic must come to a complete stop regardless of movement
Entering traffic yields to circulating traffic
Circulating traffic yields to entering traffic

Answer: C — Entering traffic yields to circulating traffic

Entering traffic yields to circulating traffic at a roundabout.

29. A bus and a recreational vehicle arrive together at a roundabout, with no other large vehicles involved. Which one yields?

Whichever is heavier has the right-of-way
The one on the right yields to the one on the left
Both must stop and wait for a gap in traffic
The one on the left yields to the one on the right

Answer: B — The one on the right yields to the one on the left

When two large vehicles arrive together at a roundabout, the one on the right yields to the one on the left.

30. Does a bike lane's right-of-way continue through an intersection even where paint doesn't connect it?

No, the lane's protection ends where the paint stops
Yes, it continues through the intersection regardless of paint
Only during daylight hours
Only if a sign specifically says so

Answer: B — Yes, it continues through the intersection regardless of paint

A bike lane continues through an intersection whether or not paint connects it.