Alabama Driver License: Freeways, Your Vehicle and the GDL

26 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Freeways, Your Vehicle and the GDL. Free, no account needed.

1. On a freeway, a driver traveling slower than the flow of traffic should do what?

Match the speed of the fastest lane
Keep right
Straddle two lanes to increase visibility
Keep left

Answer: B — Keep right

Vehicles slower than the normal speed of traffic must keep right.

2. A driver's car breaks down on a freeway. What is the correct thing to do?

Pull into the next entrance ramp's acceleration lane and wait there
Walk to the nearest exit for help, leaving the vehicle unattended
Park entirely off the traveled portion, stay with the vehicle, raise the hood and tie a white cloth to a door handle or antenna
Stop in the right lane with flashers on and wait inside the car

Answer: C — Park entirely off the traveled portion, stay with the vehicle, raise the hood and tie a white cloth to a door handle or antenna

Breakdown procedure requires parking off the traveled part, staying with the vehicle, and signaling distress with a raised hood and white cloth.

3. A driver witnesses a drunk driver on the freeway and wants to report it from a cell phone. What number should be dialed toll-free to reach the State Troopers?

*35
*911
*47
*55

Answer: C — *47

Dialing *HP (*47) toll-free from a cell phone reaches the State Troopers to report highway emergencies, crashes and drunk drivers.

4. What distinguishes a freeway from an ordinary highway?

It is a multi-lane, divided, controlled-access highway without stops or cross traffic
It is restricted to daytime driving only
It allows two-way traffic in a single lane
It has traffic signals at every intersection

Answer: A — It is a multi-lane, divided, controlled-access highway without stops or cross traffic

Freeways are defined as multi-lane, controlled-access, divided highways without stops or cross traffic.

5. A driver enters a freeway using an entrance ramp with an acceleration lane. What should they do?

Merge immediately at ramp speed without signaling
Increase speed to match traffic in the through lanes, watch for an opening, signal and merge smoothly
Enter at a low speed and let following freeway traffic slow down for them
Stop at the end of the acceleration lane and wait for a large gap

Answer: B — Increase speed to match traffic in the through lanes, watch for an opening, signal and merge smoothly

On an acceleration lane, drivers should increase speed to match the through lanes, watch for an opening, signal and merge smoothly.

6. An entrance ramp has a yield sign but no acceleration lane. What is the driver required to do?

Obey the yield sign, stopping if necessary before entering
Treat it as advisory only during light traffic
Merge without slowing since yield signs don't apply on ramps
Ignore the sign since freeway traffic must yield to entering vehicles

Answer: A — Obey the yield sign, stopping if necessary before entering

Where a yield sign stands at a ramp with no acceleration lane, the driver must obey it and stop if necessary rather than forcing their way in.

7. Which interchange design uses loop ramps so vehicles can turn from all four directions without left turns or crossing conflicts?

Diamond
Trumpet
Cloverleaf
Directional

Answer: C — Cloverleaf

A cloverleaf interchange uses loops for turns from all four directions, eliminating left turns and crossing conflicts.

8. At a diamond interchange, where are left turns made?

Left turns are prohibited entirely at diamond interchanges
On the freeway itself before exiting
After leaving the freeway, at the ramp's connecting road
Using a loop ramp before merging onto the freeway

Answer: C — After leaving the freeway, at the ramp's connecting road

A diamond interchange has four ramps, with left turns made after leaving the freeway.

9. Which interchange type connects a road to a freeway at a T-shaped junction?

Cloverleaf
Directional
Diamond
Trumpet

Answer: D — Trumpet

A trumpet interchange is where a road joins the freeway at a T.

10. A driver realizes they have just missed their freeway exit. What should they do?

Continue on to the next exit and come back
Cross the median if no traffic is visible
Stop and back up to the missed exit
Make a U-turn in the deceleration lane

Answer: A — Continue on to the next exit and come back

If you miss your exit, you should never stop, back up or turn around; go on to the next exit and come back.

11. How many separate braking methods must a vehicle have?

Three, including a backup air brake
One primary hydraulic brake system only
A foot brake alone is sufficient
Two — a foot brake and a parking brake

Answer: D — Two — a foot brake and a parking brake

Every car needs two separate braking methods, a foot brake and a parking brake.

12. Rearview mirrors must let a driver see how far behind the vehicle?

350 feet
100 feet
200 feet
500 feet

Answer: C — 200 feet

Rearview mirrors must let the driver see 200 feet behind.

13. Headlights, taillights, brake lights and the rear plate light must be visible from what distance?

200 feet
500 feet
350 feet
1000 feet

Answer: B — 500 feet

Required lights must all be visible from 500 feet.

14. Properly aimed high-beam headlights must light objects at what minimum distance?

500 feet
200 feet
350 feet
100 feet

Answer: C — 350 feet

High beams must light objects at least 350 feet away and be properly aimed.

15. What is required of a vehicle's muffler?

It only needs to prevent carbon monoxide leaks; noise is not regulated
It may include a disabled cutout for occasional use
It must be replaced annually regardless of condition
It must eliminate sharp popping or cracking noise, with cutouts and bypasses forbidden

Answer: D — It must eliminate sharp popping or cracking noise, with cutouts and bypasses forbidden

A working muffler must eliminate sharp popping or cracking, with cutouts and bypasses forbidden and no carbon monoxide leaking inside.

16. In crashes, striking the windshield, its frame or the instrument panel causes about what percentage of fatal injuries, compared to the steering assembly?

60 percent, compared to 10 percent for the steering assembly
40 percent, compared to 30 percent for the steering assembly
50 percent, compared to 20 percent for the steering assembly
30 percent, compared to 40 percent for the steering assembly

Answer: B — 40 percent, compared to 30 percent for the steering assembly

Steering assemblies cause about 30 percent of fatal injuries, while striking the windshield, its frame or the instrument panel causes about 40 percent.

17. Children under what age need special child and infant restraints?

Two
Four
Six
Eight

Answer: C — Six

Children under six need special child and infant restraints.

18. A driver wants to honk the horn just to let a friend know they've arrived outside the house. Is this an acceptable use of the horn?

Yes, as long as it's done briefly
Yes, since summoning someone is a normal use of the horn
No, but a siren may be used instead
No, the horn may only be used to give warning reasonably necessary for safe operation

Answer: D — No, the horn may only be used to give warning reasonably necessary for safe operation

The horn may be used only to give warning reasonably necessary for safe operation, never to announce arrival or summon passengers.

19. A tire is legally worn out and illegal to use once its tread depth falls below what measurement?

1/8 inch
1/32 inch
1/16 inch
1/4 inch

Answer: C — 1/16 inch

A tire is illegal once its tread is under 1/16 inch.

20. Which driving habit should be avoided to help preserve tire life?

Jack-rabbit starts and screeching stops
Letting tires cool on long hot trips
Checking tire pressure often
Checking the spare periodically

Answer: A — Jack-rabbit starts and screeching stops

Drivers are advised to avoid jack-rabbit starts and screeching stops and to ease through corners and rough surfaces.

21. Why should a driver check fuel, water and oil before a freeway trip?

Because there are no service stations on freeways
Because freeway speed limits are higher and burn more fuel
Because freeway ramps prohibit stopped vehicles
Because a pre-trip inspection form is legally required

Answer: A — Because there are no service stations on freeways

Trip planning calls for checking fuel, water and oil since there are no service stations on freeways.

22. A teen wants to apply for an unrestricted license. What must be true first?

They must wait until age 18, since no one under 18 may hold an unrestricted license
They must pass a second road test at age 16
They must have held a learner license for at least six months with no restriction violations, and be at least 17
They must have held a learner license for at least one year and be at least 16

Answer: C — They must have held a learner license for at least six months with no restriction violations, and be at least 17

A person under 18 may not apply for an unrestricted license until holding a learner license for at least six months with no restriction violations, and must be 17.

23. A 15-year-old with a learner license wants to drive. Who may legally supervise them from the front seat?

A licensed driver of any age, as long as they ride in the back seat
Any licensed driver, regardless of age
No supervision is required after age 15
A parent, legal guardian, licensed driver 21 or older, or a certified driving instructor

Answer: D — A parent, legal guardian, licensed driver 21 or older, or a certified driving instructor

A 15-year-old with a learner license drives only with a parent, legal guardian or licensed driver 21 or older, or a certified driving instructor.

24. A 16-year-old driver, or a 17-year-old licensed less than six months, may carry how many non-family passengers besides the supervising adult?

Four
None
Two
One

Answer: D — One

Such drivers may carry no more than one non-family passenger besides the parent, guardian or supervising driver.

25. A restricted teen driver needs to drive home from a school-sponsored event at 1 a.m. Is this permitted?

No, school events are exempt only during exam periods
No, the midnight restriction has no exceptions
Yes, driving to or from a school-sponsored event is an exception to the midnight-to-6-a.m. restriction
Only with written permission filed with the school in advance

Answer: C — Yes, driving to or from a school-sponsored event is an exception to the midnight-to-6-a.m. restriction

The restriction on driving between midnight and 6 a.m. does not apply when going to or from work, a school-sponsored event or a religious event, among other exceptions.

26. A restricted teen driver is cited for violating a GDL restriction. What happens as a result?

The restricted period is extended by one full year automatically
Nothing changes, since restriction violations carry no consequence
The restricted period is extended by six months or until age 18
The license is immediately suspended for 60 days

Answer: C — The restricted period is extended by six months or until age 18

Any restriction violation extends the restricted period by six months or until age 18; the automatic 60-day suspension applies to a second moving violation or certain specific offenses, not to a restriction violation alone.