Colorado Driver License: Aggressive Driving, Emergencies, Crashes and the Move Over Law

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Aggressive Driving, Emergencies, Crashes and the Move Over Law. Free, no account needed.

1. While driving, you get into a heated argument with a passenger about directions and stop paying attention to traffic. What kind of distraction is this?

A distraction only impaired drivers experience
A visual distraction
A manual distraction
A mental distraction

Answer: D — A mental distraction

Emotional conversations and arguments pull your mind off driving, which counts as a mental distraction, and mental distractions are treated as being just as dangerous as physical ones.

2. A driver who has been drinking glances down to read a text message. Why is this combination especially dangerous?

Reading a text is legal for any driver who has been drinking
Impaired drivers are not held to distracted driving rules
Alcohol and marijuana shrink a driver's ability to handle several tasks, so a minor distraction can become deadly
Alcohol has no effect on a driver's ability to multitask

Answer: C — Alcohol and marijuana shrink a driver's ability to handle several tasks, so a minor distraction can become deadly

Because alcohol and marijuana reduce a driver's ability to juggle multiple tasks, even a small distraction like glancing at a phone can turn deadly for an impaired driver.

3. Your phone rings while you're driving and you don't have a hands-free setup. What should you do to stay within the law?

Hold the phone in your lap and glance at it occasionally
Use it freely as long as traffic is light
Answer it quickly since brief calls are allowed
Only use the phone if it's an emergency, otherwise pull off the road first

Answer: D — Only use the phone if it's an emergency, otherwise pull off the road first

Manual phone use while driving is prohibited except in an emergency; otherwise a driver must pull off the road to use the phone.

4. You're taking your dog along on a drive. What is recommended to prevent the pet from becoming a distraction?

Secure the pet in a carrier or kennel
Let the dog sit on your lap for comfort
No precaution is necessary as long as the dog is calm
Keep the dog leashed with its head out the window

Answer: A — Secure the pet in a carrier or kennel

Pets should be secured in a carrier or kennel to prevent them from distracting the driver.

5. An officer determines that a driver's actions endangered another person, even though the driver didn't mean to cause harm. How is this classified, and what is the maximum point penalty?

Careless driving, up to 2 points
Reckless driving, up to 8 points
Aggressive driving, up to 4 points
Reckless driving, up to 12 points

Answer: B — Reckless driving, up to 8 points

Reckless driving covers endangering people or property whether intentional or not, and a conviction can add up to 8 points to a driving record.

6. A driver speeds up, cuts off another car, swerves toward it, and honks repeatedly out of frustration. How is this combination of acts best classified?

Aggressive driving
An automatic criminal pursuit charge
Careless driving
Reckless driving only

Answer: A — Aggressive driving

Combinations like speeding, cutting off, swerving toward another driver, and honking are treated as aggressive driving when willful and dangerous.

7. You witness a driver weaving dangerously through traffic and believe they may be impaired. What free number can you dial from a cellphone to reach the nearest State Patrol trooper?

*55
411
911
*277 (*CSP)

Answer: D — *277 (*CSP)

Dialing *CSP (*277) is a free cellphone number that connects to the nearest State Patrol trooper or local agency to report an aggressive or impaired driver.

8. During a road rage incident, a driver deliberately rams another vehicle. Beyond a reckless driving charge, what can this bring?

Criminal charges
Only a verbal warning
An automatic license suspension with no charges filed
A minor civil traffic infraction only

Answer: A — Criminal charges

Bumping or ramming another vehicle, along with displaying a weapon or a high-speed pursuit, can bring criminal charges beyond reckless driving.

9. Another driver is tailgating you and flashing their headlights in anger. What is the recommended way to protect yourself?

Avoid eye contact, back off, and let the driver go
Brake suddenly to warn them off
Speed up as much as possible to escape
Flash your lights back to show disapproval

Answer: A — Avoid eye contact, back off, and let the driver go

The recommended way to protect yourself from an aggressive driver is to not engage: avoid eye contact, never match the aggressive act, and back off to let the driver go.

10. You and another driver are about to collide head-on. Turning is not going to cause another collision. What should you do while turning to avoid the crash?

Grip the wheel with both hands and be ready to control the car afterward
Turn with only one hand so the other is free to brace
Turn as sharply as possible regardless of angle
Release the wheel briefly to avoid overcorrecting

Answer: A — Grip the wheel with both hands and be ready to control the car afterward

When turning to avoid a collision, a driver should grip the wheel with both hands and be prepared to control the car afterward, without turning so sharply that the car merely plows ahead.

11. A crash looms and many drivers freeze without acting. What are the three basic options available to avoid a collision?

Slow or stop, turn, or run off the road
Slow or stop, turn, or speed up
Slow or stop, speed up, or shift to neutral
Brake hard, honk the horn, or flash your headlights

Answer: B — Slow or stop, turn, or speed up

When a crash looms, a driver's three options are to slow or stop, to turn, or to speed up.

12. A driver with ABS brakes needs to stop as quickly as possible. What should they do with the pedal?

Pump the pedal rapidly on and off
Release pressure the instant it vibrates
Apply light, gentle pressure so it doesn't lock
Apply hard, firm pressure and keep the pedal down even when it pushes back

Answer: D — Apply hard, firm pressure and keep the pedal down even when it pushes back

With ABS, the driver should apply hard, firm pressure and keep the pedal down even as it pushes back, since ABS only works with the pedal pressed.

13. A driver without ABS brakes hard and feels the wheels lock, causing the car to skid. What should they do?

Release the brake completely and coast to a stop
Keep pressing as hard as possible until the car stops
Immediately turn the steering wheel sharply
Ease up slightly, then press again, repeating until stopped

Answer: D — Ease up slightly, then press again, repeating until stopped

Without ABS, if the wheels lock and the car skids, the driver should ease up slightly, then press the brake again, repeating this until the car stops.

14. A vehicle is about to hit you from the side, and there is open room ahead of you. What is the recommended action?

Speed up, then slow again once safe
Brake hard and come to a stop
Turn sharply to the side to avoid it
Swerve off the road immediately

Answer: A — Speed up, then slow again once safe

Speeding up can help when a vehicle is about to hit you from the side or behind and there is room ahead, then you should slow down again once it's safe.

15. You're driving through a rural mountain area at 5 a.m. What should you be especially alert for, and why?

Animals, since about 90 percent of deer and elk crashes happen between dusk and dawn
Road construction crews, who typically work overnight
Speed enforcement cameras, which are more active at night
Pedestrians at crosswalks, since foot traffic peaks at dawn

Answer: A — Animals, since about 90 percent of deer and elk crashes happen between dusk and dawn

Roughly 90 percent of deer and elk crashes occur between dusk and dawn, so drivers should stay especially alert for animals during those hours, particularly in rural and mountain areas.

16. While driving, you press the brake pedal and nothing happens. What should you try first?

Apply the parking brake as hard and fast as possible
Shift into park while the vehicle is still moving
Lift off the accelerator and pump the pedal several times to build pressure
Turn off the engine immediately

Answer: C — Lift off the accelerator and pump the pedal several times to build pressure

If the brakes fail, the first step is to lift off the accelerator and pump the pedal several times to try to build up brake pressure.

17. Pumping the brake pedal doesn't restore braking power. How should the parking brake be applied?

Only after shifting into neutral first
Yank it on suddenly for maximum stopping force
Slowly, so the rear wheels do not lock and skid
It should never be used during a brake failure

Answer: C — Slowly, so the rear wheels do not lock and skid

If pumping the brakes fails, the parking brake should be applied slowly so the rear wheels don't lock and skid, and released if they do.

18. One of your tires blows out while driving on the highway. What should you do?

Stop immediately in your current lane
Brake hard immediately to stop as fast as possible
Hold the wheel tightly, take your foot off the gas, and brake lightly while slowing gradually
Accelerate slightly to maintain control of the vehicle

Answer: C — Hold the wheel tightly, take your foot off the gas, and brake lightly while slowing gradually

In a tire blowout, you should hold the wheel tightly, keep straight, slow gradually with your foot off the gas and light braking, then pull off once slowed.

19. Your power steering and power brakes suddenly fail while driving. What should you expect?

Both steering and brakes stop working entirely
Steering still works normally, but the brakes must be pumped to work at all
The steering will lock completely and stop turning
Steering becomes heavy but still works, and brakes still work but may need very hard pressure

Answer: D — Steering becomes heavy but still works, and brakes still work but may need very hard pressure

In a power failure, steering becomes heavy but still functions, and the brakes still work but may require very hard pressure.

20. Your gas pedal jams while accelerating. What should you do?

Pump the gas pedal repeatedly to try to free it
Turn off the engine immediately while still at speed
Shift quickly to neutral, keep your eyes on the road, then pull off and turn off the engine
Shift into reverse to slow the vehicle

Answer: C — Shift quickly to neutral, keep your eyes on the road, then pull off and turn off the engine

If the gas pedal jams, keep your eyes on the road, shift quickly to neutral, pull off when safe, and turn off the engine.

21. You've just been involved in a crash. What are you required to do?

Wait for the other driver to call the police
Leave quickly if no one appears to be hurt
Stop immediately, check for injuries, give reasonable help, and call law enforcement
Only exchange information if asked to by the other driver

Answer: C — Stop immediately, check for injuries, give reasonable help, and call law enforcement

After a crash you must stop immediately and never leave, check for injuries and give reasonable help, call law enforcement and emergency services, and exchange information.

22. A severe snowstorm causes so many crashes that officers cannot respond to all of them, so Accident Alert Status is declared. Your minor crash involved no drugs or alcohol, no injuries, and all vehicles are drivable. What must you do?

Exchange information and file an accident report with law enforcement within 24 hours
File the report within 72 hours
Leave the scene with no further action required
Wait at the scene for police no matter how long it takes

Answer: A — Exchange information and file an accident report with law enforcement within 24 hours

Under Accident Alert Status, when no alcohol or drugs are involved, no one is hurt, and every vehicle is drivable, drivers must exchange information and file an accident report within 24 hours.

23. You back into a parked car in a lot and cannot find the owner. What should you do?

Drive away since no one witnessed it
Leave a note only; there's no need to call police
Call law enforcement and leave a note where the owner will find it
Wait at the scene indefinitely until the owner returns

Answer: C — Call law enforcement and leave a note where the owner will find it

If you hit a parked car and can't find the owner, you should call law enforcement and leave a note where the owner will find it.

24. You're in a minor crash on a divided highway. The vehicles are drivable, no drugs or alcohol are involved, and no one is hurt. What does the law require you to do?

Push the vehicles onto the shoulder only if police approve first
Leave the vehicles exactly where they stopped until police arrive
Wait for a tow truck before moving anything
Move the vehicles off the highway, then notify law enforcement and exchange information

Answer: D — Move the vehicles off the highway, then notify law enforcement and exchange information

Under the Move It law, after a minor crash on a divided highway with drivable vehicles and no drugs, alcohol, or injuries, drivers must move the vehicles off the highway, then notify law enforcement and exchange information.

25. You approach a tow truck stopped on the shoulder of a two-lane road (one lane each way) with its hazard lights flashing, and it isn't safe to move into the other lane. What must you do?

Slow to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit
Move into the opposing lane regardless of oncoming traffic
Stop completely until it becomes safe to pass
Maintain the posted speed limit but honk to alert the crew

Answer: A — Slow to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit

If it isn't safe to move over, or the road has only one lane each way, drivers must slow to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

26. You stop to help at a crash scene where the victim is conscious. What should you do before giving care?

Wait for professional help to arrive before doing anything
Ask the conscious victim's permission before giving care
Move the victim immediately to a safer location
Only act if you hold a medical license

Answer: B — Ask the conscious victim's permission before giving care

Good Samaritan guidance calls for asking a conscious victim's permission before giving care, and moving a victim only if their life is in danger.

27. A driver stops to help at a crash and provides care within their training, acting as a reasonable and prudent person would. What protection does this give them?

No protection unless they hold a medical license
Full immunity from any legal consequences for any action taken
A guaranteed reward from the state
Immunity from being sued for the victim's injuries

Answer: D — Immunity from being sued for the victim's injuries

Good Samaritan laws give immunity from being sued for the victim's injuries to someone who acts as a reasonable and prudent person would, using common sense within their training.

28. When applying for or renewing a driver's license, you say yes to registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor. What happens as a result?

Nothing changes on the physical license card
You must re-register as a donor every year to remain on file
You receive a separate donor identification card instead
A heart with a "Y" appears on the front of your card and you're added to the Donate Life Colorado registry

Answer: D — A heart with a "Y" appears on the front of your card and you're added to the Donate Life Colorado registry

Saying yes puts a heart with a "Y" on the front of the license card and adds the person to the Donate Life Colorado registry, remaining in effect until they change it.