Minnesota Driver License: Bicyclists, Motorcyclists, Trucks, Railroads and Work Zones

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Bicyclists, Motorcyclists, Trucks, Railroads and Work Zones. Free, no account needed.

1. When may a driver legally drive within a bike lane?

At any time when no bicyclist is in the lane
At any time between sunrise and sunset
To pass slower traffic when the lane is clear
To park, to enter or leave the road, or to prepare for a turn

Answer: D — To park, to enter or leave the road, or to prepare for a turn

Driving in a bike lane is illegal except for these specific purposes.

2. A driver is passing a bicyclist riding along the right side of a lane. How much space must the driver leave between the car and the rider?

2 feet
5 feet
3 feet
1 foot

Answer: C — 3 feet

A minimum of three feet of clearance is required when passing a bicyclist.

3. A cyclist is riding well within the lane on a two-lane road marked with a no-passing zone. May a driver cross the center line to pass?

Only on roads posted under 30 mph
Only if a police officer directs the pass
No, the no-passing zone still applies
Yes, as long as it is safe to do so

Answer: D — Yes, as long as it is safe to do so

Drivers may cross the center of the road to pass a bicyclist safely, even where passing is otherwise prohibited.

4. What top speed classifies a vehicle as a motorized bicycle (moped) under bicycle rules?

25 mph or less
30 mph or less
20 mph or less
35 mph or less

Answer: B — 30 mph or less

A moped is defined by a top speed of 30 mph or less.

5. A cyclist riding ahead bends their left arm upward, or extends the right arm out. What are they signaling?

Stop
Right turn
Merging
Left turn

Answer: B — Right turn

A bent-up left arm or extended right arm signals a right turn.

6. A cyclist stopped at a red light that never detects the bike comes to a complete stop, waits a reasonable time, sees no traffic nearby, and proceeds through the red. What does this protect against?

It is a defense only against the red-light violation itself
It is a full legal right to run any red light on a bicycle
It applies only if a police officer confirms the malfunction
It only applies between midnight and 5 a.m.

Answer: A — It is a defense only against the red-light violation itself

The rule is narrowly a defense against the red-light charge, not a blanket right to proceed.

7. How many cyclists may legally ride side by side within a single lane without impeding traffic?

Up to two abreast
Up to three abreast
Any number, as long as they stay right
Only one, single file required

Answer: A — Up to two abreast

Cyclists may ride no more than two abreast, within one lane, without impeding traffic.

8. Two lanes of traffic are moving in the same direction at 20 mph. What is the fastest a motorcyclist may travel while lane splitting between them?

20 mph
25 mph
40 mph
35 mph

Answer: B — 25 mph

Lane splitting is capped at 25 mph overall even though 15 mph over the traffic's speed would allow more.

9. Traffic is completely stopped at a red light. What is the maximum speed at which a motorcyclist may lane filter through it?

30 mph
25 mph
15 mph
10 mph

Answer: C — 15 mph

Lane filtering through stopped traffic is capped at 15 mph over the traffic's speed, which is 0 when fully stopped.

10. A driver pulls up beside a motorcyclist and rides alongside them in the same lane. How does the law treat this?

Legal as long as the motorcyclist does not object
Illegal, crowding a motorcycle in the same lane is prohibited
Legal only on multi-lane highways
Legal at any speed, since a motorcycle uses little of the lane

Answer: B — Illegal, crowding a motorcycle in the same lane is prohibited

Driving beside a motorcycle in the same lane is explicitly illegal.

11. A motorcyclist begins lane splitting past a driver stuck in slow, congested traffic. What must the driver do?

Honk to warn the rider away
Not block or stop the rider
Move to block the rider for safety
Speed up to prevent the rider from passing

Answer: B — Not block or stop the rider

Drivers must allow riders to share the lane to pass in slow or stopped traffic.

12. What is the most common type of car-motorcycle collision?

A rider lane-splitting into a stopped car
A driver turning left in front of an oncoming rider at an urban intersection
A head-on collision on a rural two-lane road
A rider rear-ending a stopped car on a freeway

Answer: B — A driver turning left in front of an oncoming rider at an urban intersection

This left-turn scenario at urban intersections is identified as the most common collision type.

13. A Class D holder wants to drive a neighborhood electric vehicle on a street posted at 40 mph. Is this allowed?

Yes, if the NEV has four wheels rather than three
Yes, as long as it is driven during daylight hours
Yes, an NEV may use any street a car may use
No, an NEV is limited to streets posted 35 mph or less

Answer: D — No, an NEV is limited to streets posted 35 mph or less

NEVs are restricted to streets posted at 35 mph or less.

14. Can a new driver take their road test in a neighborhood electric vehicle?

Yes, if the route stays on streets posted 35 mph or less
Yes, if the NEV is titled and registered
Yes, with the examiner's approval in advance
No, an NEV may not be used for a road test

Answer: D — No, an NEV may not be used for a road test

NEVs are explicitly barred from use in a road test.

15. Which of the following is considered a vulnerable road user?

A person riding a horse
The driver of a school bus
The driver of a delivery truck
A passenger in a city bus

Answer: A — A person riding a horse

Horses are explicitly listed among vulnerable road users.

16. At what weight does a vehicle carrying passengers or property qualify as a commercial vehicle?

20,000 pounds
10,000 pounds
30,000 pounds
26,000 pounds

Answer: D — 26,000 pounds

A commercial vehicle is defined as weighing more than 26,000 pounds.

17. About how much longer does passing a commercial truck take compared to passing a car?

5 to 8 seconds longer
8 to 10 seconds longer
3 to 5 seconds longer
1 to 2 seconds longer

Answer: C — 3 to 5 seconds longer

Passing a truck takes three to five seconds longer than passing a car.

18. While passing a commercial truck, how much room should a driver allow before returning to the lane relative to oncoming traffic?

150 feet
50 feet
100 feet
200 feet

Answer: C — 100 feet

Drivers should allow time to return to their lane before coming within 100 feet of oncoming traffic.

19. How far behind a truck does the 'No Zone' blind spot extend?

100 feet
200 feet
250 feet
150 feet

Answer: B — 200 feet

The No Zone behind a truck extends up to 200 feet.

20. A loaded tractor-trailer is traveling 55 mph. About how much distance may it need in order to stop?

About 200 feet
About 300 feet
About 140 feet, the same as a car
More than 400 feet

Answer: D — More than 400 feet

A car at 55 mph stops in 130 to 140 feet, but a loaded tractor-trailer may need more than 400 feet.

21. Why should a driver avoid passing a truck on the right if it might turn right?

Its rear wheels track inside the front wheels, so it swings wide
Trucks signal their turns later than other vehicles do
Trucks carry no mirrors covering the right side of the trailer
The lane to the right of a truck is reserved for buses

Answer: A — Its rear wheels track inside the front wheels, so it swings wide

Trucks swing wide on right turns because their rear wheels track inside the front wheels.

22. Why should a driver dim their headlights when following a truck closely at night?

Truck drivers are legally blind to headlights
It reduces glare for oncoming drivers
State law requires low beams after dark on any road
The truck's large mirrors reflect the light

Answer: D — The truck's large mirrors reflect the light

A truck's big mirrors reflect headlight glare back at the driver, so dimming is advised.

23. When a crossing's lights, bells, or gates activate, how far from the nearest rail or gate must a driver stop?

At least 10 feet
At least 15 feet
At least 20 feet
At least 5 feet

Answer: A — At least 10 feet

Drivers must stop at least 10 feet from the nearest rail or gate.

24. Within what distance of a railroad crossing is it illegal to pass another vehicle?

75 feet
100 feet
50 feet
150 feet

Answer: B — 100 feet

Passing another vehicle within 100 feet of a crossing is prohibited.

25. Which vehicles must stop at every railroad crossing, regardless of signals or gates?

Bicycles and pedestrians
Motorcycles and mopeds
Passenger vans, buses, and larger trucks
Compact passenger cars

Answer: C — Passenger vans, buses, and larger trucks

Passenger vans, buses, and larger trucks must stop at every crossing.

26. A freight train's last car finally clears a crossing. What should a waiting driver do next?

Wait until certain no second train is coming before crossing
Honk twice and proceed slowly
Cross only if a flag person waves them through
Proceed immediately since the tracks are now clear

Answer: A — Wait until certain no second train is coming before crossing

Drivers must wait to be sure a second train isn't approaching from another direction before crossing.

27. What is the purpose of the blue sign posted at a railroad crossing's post or control box?

It shows how many tracks cross the road
It posts the speed limit for crossing the tracks
It gives a 24-hour number for reporting an obstruction
It warns of a curve in the road just past the tracks

Answer: C — It gives a 24-hour number for reporting an obstruction

The blue Emergency Notification System sign gives a 24-hour number to report problems so dispatchers can stop or slow trains.

28. A driver with a manual transmission is approaching railroad tracks. What should they do?

Shift up once on the tracks to clear them faster
Shift into neutral and coast across the tracks
Shift to a lower gear while on the tracks for better traction
Downshift before reaching the tracks and hold that gear across

Answer: D — Downshift before reaching the tracks and hold that gear across

Never shift gears on the tracks; downshift a manual transmission before entering the crossing.

29. A driver is caught speeding in a posted work zone, in addition to the standard speeding ticket. What extra fine applies specifically for the work zone violation?

$500
$200
$100
$300

Answer: D — $300

A work zone speeding fine of $300 applies on top of the regular ticket.

30. A 'lane closed ahead' sign appears and traffic backs up in a work zone. What is the correct zipper-merge behavior?

Stop and wait for a complete gap before merging
Speed past the backup in the closing lane to get ahead
Stay in your lane until the merge point, then take turns entering the open lane
Merge into the open lane as early as possible

Answer: C — Stay in your lane until the merge point, then take turns entering the open lane

The zipper merge calls for staying in your lane to the merge point and alternating entry, rather than merging early.