Minnesota Driver License: SIPDE, Night, Freeways, Distraction, Trailers and Winter

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: SIPDE, Night, Freeways, Distraction, Trailers and Winter. Free, no account needed.

1. While scanning ahead at an intersection near a school, which oncoming vehicles should draw your closest attention?

Ones signaling a lane change two blocks away
Ones already stopped at a red light
Ones parked along the curb
Ones that may turn in front of you

Answer: D — Ones that may turn in front of you

Scanning is meant to catch oncoming traffic that may turn in front of you.

2. A driver notices a pothole and a group of children playing near the curb ahead. Which step of the SIPDE process are they performing by noting these as potential hazards?

Predict
Identify
Decide
Scan

Answer: B — Identify

Identify means recognizing hazards such as unpredictable children and stationary objects like potholes.

3. After spotting a vehicle drifting toward your lane, a driver communicates with the horn and adjusts speed and position. Which SIPDE step does this represent?

Decide
Predict
Identify
Execute

Answer: D — Execute

Execute involves communicating and adjusting speed or position.

4. Following a car on a dry road in daylight, you pick a fixed point and count how long it takes you to reach it after the car ahead passes. If you reach the point before finishing the count, what should you do?

Flash your headlights at the driver ahead
Speed up to close the remaining gap
Slow gradually to increase your gap
Maintain speed since three seconds is only a guideline

Answer: C — Slow gradually to increase your gap

If you reach the point before finishing the three-second count, you should slow gradually to a safe gap.

5. Towing a trailer in light rain, how many seconds should you count to check your following gap instead of the standard three?

Ten seconds
Two seconds
Four or five seconds
Three seconds

Answer: C — Four or five seconds

Poor conditions or a longer vehicle call for a four- or five-second count.

6. Roughly how long does it take a driver to go from perceiving a danger to actually applying the brakes?

About two seconds
About one-tenth of a second
About three-quarters of a second
About three seconds

Answer: C — About three-quarters of a second

Perception-to-braking reaction time is roughly three-quarters of a second.

7. Traffic volume on Minnesota roads is generally lighter after dark, yet what portion of the state's fatal crashes happen at night?

Nearly all
Nearly half
About a quarter
About one in ten

Answer: B — Nearly half

Nearly half of fatal crashes occur after dark despite lighter traffic.

8. You are approaching an oncoming car at night on a two-lane road. Within what distance from that car should your headlights be switched to low beam?

500 feet
1,000 feet
350 feet
200 feet

Answer: B — 1,000 feet

Low beams are required within 1,000 feet of an oncoming vehicle.

9. You are driving behind another car at night. Within what following distance must you switch to low beams?

200 feet
100 feet
350 feet
500 feet

Answer: A — 200 feet

Low beams are required when following within 200 feet.

10. Fog has reduced visibility so much that you cannot see 500 feet ahead in daytime. What are you required to do?

Nothing, since it is still daytime
Turn on your hazard lights only
Pull over until visibility improves
Turn on your headlights

Answer: D — Turn on your headlights

Headlights must be on whenever you cannot see 500 feet ahead.

11. You are merging onto a freeway from an entry ramp that has an acceleration lane. Which of these is required?

Stopping at the end of the ramp before merging
Matching the speed of the slowest freeway lane only
Yielding to freeway traffic, signaling, and merging into a gap when safe
Entering directly into the leftmost lane

Answer: C — Yielding to freeway traffic, signaling, and merging into a gap when safe

You must yield to vehicles on the freeway, signal, pick a gap and merge when safe.

12. A metropolitan freeway entry ramp has a ramp meter showing red. How many vehicles are permitted to proceed on each green signal?

One vehicle
As many as can fit before the light changes
None; the meter is only a warning light
Two vehicles

Answer: A — One vehicle

One car goes per green at a ramp meter.

13. A driver is alone in a passenger car, with no passengers, and wants to use an HOV lane on the freeway. Is this permitted?

No, HOV lanes are reserved for emergency vehicles only
Yes, but only during ramp meter hours
Yes, any vehicle may use an HOV lane
No, HOV lanes require a motorcycle, a bus, or a vehicle with two or more occupants

Answer: D — No, HOV lanes require a motorcycle, a bus, or a vehicle with two or more occupants

HOV lanes are for motorcycles, buses and vehicles with two or more people.

14. At a diverging diamond interchange, how do you access the crossing road compared to a conventional interchange?

You turn left across oncoming traffic as usual
You cross a single stop-controlled intersection
You veer left, since the lanes have already crossed at the bridge
You must exit and re-enter through a roundabout

Answer: C — You veer left, since the lanes have already crossed at the bridge

In a diverging diamond the lanes cross at each end of the bridge so you veer left instead of turning across opposing traffic.

15. A fire truck with lights and siren is approaching from behind on the freeway. What should you do?

Brake hard immediately in your current lane
Speed up to clear the lane ahead of it
Swerve to whichever side has the most open space
Signal, move to the nearest side and stop, staying until it has fully passed

Answer: D — Signal, move to the nearest side and stop, staying until it has fully passed

You should signal, move to the nearest side and stop without hard braking or swerving, staying until it has fully passed.

16. You realize too late that you have missed your freeway exit. What should you do?

Make a U-turn across the median
Back up carefully on the shoulder to the exit
Continue to the next exit
Stop in the travel lane and wait for a gap

Answer: C — Continue to the next exit

If you miss your exit, go on to the next one rather than backing up or turning around.

17. You are involved in a crash with only vehicle damage and no injuries. What should you do first?

Stay exactly where the crash happened and wait
Leave the scene once you've noted the other plate number
Call 911 before doing anything else
Move to a safe spot before getting out and exchange information

Answer: D — Move to a safe spot before getting out and exchange information

After a property-damage crash, move to a safe spot before getting out and exchange information.

18. Roughly what share of Minnesota crashes is caused by driver distraction?

At least 10 percent
At least 25 percent
At least 75 percent
At least 50 percent

Answer: B — At least 25 percent

Driver distraction causes at least 25 percent of Minnesota crashes.

19. A driver is lost in thought about a work problem while driving, even though their eyes are on the road and hands on the wheel. What type of distraction is this?

Visual
Cognitive
Mechanical
Not a distraction, since the eyes remain on the road

Answer: B — Cognitive

Cognitive distraction means being lost in thought.

20. Is it legal for an adult driver to wear headphones covering both ears while driving?

Yes, as long as one hand stays on the wheel
Yes, as long as the volume is low
No, but one earphone in one ear is also illegal
No, wearing headphones or earphones in both ears is illegal

Answer: D — No, wearing headphones or earphones in both ears is illegal

Wearing headphones or earphones in both ears is an illegal behavior.

21. A 17-year-old with a provisional license wants to make a hands-free phone call while driving, not to 911. Is this allowed?

Yes, as long as the call lasts under a minute
No, but texting would be allowed since it doesn't require holding the phone to an ear
No, any phone use by drivers under 18 with a permit or provisional license is illegal except calling 911
Yes, hands-free calls are always allowed

Answer: C — No, any phone use by drivers under 18 with a permit or provisional license is illegal except calling 911

Any phone use, handheld or hands-free, by drivers under 18 with a permit or provisional license is illegal except calling 911.

22. Another driver is tailgating you, glaring, and changing lanes abruptly. What is the recommended response?

Speed up to put distance between you and stay ahead of them
Make eye contact to show you notice them
Brake sharply to warn them
Stay clear, avoid eye contact, and do not let it escalate

Answer: D — Stay clear, avoid eye contact, and do not let it escalate

If you meet an aggressive driver, stay clear, avoid eye contact and do not let it escalate.

23. A load in a pickup bed sticks out in front past the bumper. How far may it legally project forward of the front wheels or bumper?

No more than three feet
No more than ten feet
No more than six inches
No more than four feet

Answer: A — No more than three feet

A load may not project more than three feet in front of the front wheels or bumper.

24. A load extends five feet behind a truck during the day. What is required on it?

A flag at least 16 inches square, red, yellow or orange
A red lamp visible from 500 feet
Nothing, since five feet is within the legal limit
A written permit displayed on the load

Answer: A — A flag at least 16 inches square, red, yellow or orange

A load extending four feet or more behind needs a flag at least 16 inches square by day.

25. While towing a camper, how far behind another vehicle should you stay?

200 feet
350 feet
1,000 feet
500 feet

Answer: D — 500 feet

Towing a camper or trailer you must keep at least 500 feet behind other vehicles.

26. A trailer weighs 4,000 pounds. What equipment does it need under the weight-based requirement?

A permanently attached safety chain only, no brakes required
A commercial driver escort
No special equipment below 5,000 pounds
Brakes, since trailers of 3,000 pounds or more require them

Answer: D — Brakes, since trailers of 3,000 pounds or more require them

Brakes are required on any trailer of 3,000 pounds or more.

27. A pickup is towing a camper trailer plus a second trailer carrying a boat, forming a recreational vehicle combination. What is the maximum total length allowed?

45 feet
70 feet
60 feet
There is no length limit for recreational combinations

Answer: B — 70 feet

A recreational vehicle combination has a total length no more than 70 feet.

28. Your vehicle is stuck in snow. What is the recommended technique to free it?

Rock the vehicle forward and back with wheels straight, accelerating gently when the tires grip
Shift into neutral and push from outside only
Turn the wheels sharply and gun the engine
Keep the wheels spinning continuously in one direction until traction returns

Answer: A — Rock the vehicle forward and back with wheels straight, accelerating gently when the tires grip

To rock free, keep wheels straight, drive slowly forward then back, and accelerate gently when the tires grip.

29. You approach a snowplow ahead on a snowy road. What should you do?

Flash your lights to signal the plow to pull over
Stay well back and pass only when you can see the whole plow
Pass immediately to avoid flying snow
Follow closely to use its cleared path

Answer: B — Stay well back and pass only when you can see the whole plow

You should stay well back from flying debris and pass only when you can see the whole plow.

30. You become stranded in your vehicle during a snowstorm. About how many minutes per hour should you run the engine and heater to stay warm?

About 10 minutes each hour
About 2 minutes each hour
About 30 minutes each hour
Continuously, as long as fuel lasts

Answer: A — About 10 minutes each hour

Run the engine and heater until warm and then off, about 10 minutes each hour.