Texas Driver License: Speed, Highways and Emergencies

25 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Speed, Highways and Emergencies. Free, no account needed.

1. You're driving at 45 mph in good weather with clear visibility. How many seconds of following distance should you keep behind the vehicle ahead?

Two seconds
Four seconds
Five seconds
Three seconds

Answer: B — Four seconds

Above 30 mph the recommended following interval doubles from two seconds to four seconds.

2. How can a driver tell whether they are following the vehicle ahead too closely?

Keep a fixed following distance regardless of speed
Count the number of car lengths between the two vehicles
Judge the gap by how large the vehicle ahead appears in the mirror
Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed roadside object, then count how long it takes to reach the same spot

Answer: D — Watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed roadside object, then count how long it takes to reach the same spot

Timing your own arrival at a fixed point the lead car just passed shows whether your interval is shorter than the recommended two or four seconds.

3. A driver spots a hazard ahead while moving at highway speed. About how long does it take an average person just to perceive the danger, react, and begin braking, before the car even starts to slow?

About one second
About half a second
About three seconds
About one and a half seconds

Answer: D — About one and a half seconds

Perception-reaction time before the brakes even engage averages about 1.5 seconds.

4. A car with good brakes and tires is traveling 60 mph on dry, level pavement. About how much total distance does it need to come to a complete stop?

164 feet
387 feet
303 feet
229 feet

Answer: C — 303 feet

Total stopping distance (reaction plus braking) at 60 mph on dry, level pavement with good equipment is about 303 feet.

5. As a driver speeds up from a stop to 40 mph, what happens to their field of vision compared to standing still?

It stays about the same, near 180 degrees
It narrows to about two-thirds of normal
It narrows to about one-fifth of normal
It narrows to about two-fifths of normal

Answer: D — It narrows to about two-fifths of normal

Field of vision shrinks as speed rises, dropping to roughly two-fifths of normal by 40 mph.

6. Unless signs say otherwise, what is the speed limit in an alley?

35 mph
15 mph
20 mph
30 mph

Answer: B — 15 mph

The statutory maximum for an alley, absent other posted signs, is 15 mph.

7. A numbered Texas highway outside an urban district has no posted speed limit sign. What is the maximum speed for a passenger vehicle there?

70 mph
65 mph
75 mph
60 mph

Answer: A — 70 mph

A numbered state or U.S. highway outside an urban district carries a statutory maximum of 70 mph for passenger vehicles.

8. A city wants to post a lower speed limit at night than during the day on the same street. Is this allowed?

Only on urban district streets
Only with approval from the Texas Transportation Commission each time
No, a speed limit must be the same by day and by night
Yes, cities may post a lower limit at night

Answer: C — No, a speed limit must be the same by day and by night

Whatever limit is set, it must apply equally day and night; separate day/night limits are not permitted.

9. A tow truck is stopped on a busy multi-lane highway with its lights flashing, and traffic in every lane is too heavy to change lanes safely. What must the driver do instead?

Sound the horn to alert the crew
Maintain the posted limit and pass carefully
Come to a complete stop until it's clear
Slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit

Answer: D — Slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit

When moving over a lane isn't possible, the driver must instead slow to 20 mph below the posted limit while passing the stopped vehicle.

10. What is the range of criminal penalties for street racing?

A Class A misdemeanor up to a first-degree felony
A traffic ticket up to a Class C misdemeanor
A civil fine only, with no criminal charge
A Class B misdemeanor up to a second-degree felony

Answer: D — A Class B misdemeanor up to a second-degree felony

Racing and related speed contests are criminal offenses ranging from a Class B misdemeanor to a second-degree felony.

11. Driving on an unlit road after dark, when are headlights required?

Whenever visibility drops below 500 feet
From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and anytime people or vehicles can't be seen clearly at 1,000 feet
Only once it is fully dark outside
From sunset to sunrise only

Answer: B — From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and anytime people or vehicles can't be seen clearly at 1,000 feet

Headlights are required in the half-hour window around sunset/sunrise and any time visibility of people or vehicles drops below 1,000 feet, not just full darkness.

12. An oncoming vehicle is approaching at night within 500 feet. What should the driver do with their headlights, and where should they look to avoid glare?

Switch to low beams and look toward the left edge of the lane
Switch to low beams and look toward the lower right side of the lane
Keep high beams on and look toward the center line
Switch to low beams and look directly at the oncoming headlights

Answer: B — Switch to low beams and look toward the lower right side of the lane

Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, low beams are required, and looking toward the lower right of the lane avoids being blinded by the oncoming lights.

13. Merging onto a highway from an entrance ramp, what should a driver do?

Enter directly into the leftmost lane to avoid slower traffic
Use the speed-change lane and speed up to match the flow of traffic before merging
Come to a stop and wait for a large gap in traffic
Merge at a fixed 40 mph regardless of traffic speed

Answer: B — Use the speed-change lane and speed up to match the flow of traffic before merging

Entering traffic should use the speed-change lane to accelerate to the flow's speed before merging, not stop or force entry into a far lane.

14. A driver plans to exit a highway soon. About how far ahead of the exit do the signs usually first appear?

500 yards
100 yards
2 miles
1,000 yards

Answer: D — 1,000 yards

Exit signs typically first appear at least 1,000 yards before the exit, giving drivers time to move into position.

15. A driver is traveling at the highway's minimum speed limit, slower than the surrounding traffic flow. Which lane should they use?

Whichever lane has the least traffic
The middle lane
The right lane
The left lane

Answer: C — The right lane

Vehicles moving at the minimum limit or slower than the flow belong in the right lane, leaving middle and left lanes for faster traffic and passing.

16. On a long highway trip, how often should a driver stop and walk around to fight drowsiness, and what's the recommended daily driving limit?

Only when feeling sleepy; there's no set daily limit
Every four hours or 200 miles; no more than 10 hours a day
Every hour or 50 miles; no more than 6 hours a day
Every two hours or 100 miles; no more than eight hours a day

Answer: D — Every two hours or 100 miles; no more than eight hours a day

To counter highway hypnosis, drivers should stop and walk around at least every two hours or 100 miles and cap driving at eight hours a day.

17. A 17-year-old driver wants to use a hands-free headset to take a call while driving, in a non-emergency situation. Is this legal?

No, any phone use by a driver under 18, even hands-free, is illegal except in an emergency
Yes, hands-free use is always legal regardless of age
No, all drivers regardless of age are barred from any phone use
Yes, but only if the vehicle is registered to the minor

Answer: A — No, any phone use by a driver under 18, even hands-free, is illegal except in an emergency

Drivers under 18 may not use a phone at all while driving, even hands-free, unless it's an emergency.

18. A car breaks down and the driver manages to move it onto the shoulder and turn on the hazard flashers. What additional signal helps show other drivers the vehicle is disabled?

Tie a white cloth to the antenna or door handle, or raise the hood
Leave the headlights on high beam
Sound the horn continuously
Tie a red flag to the rear bumper

Answer: A — Tie a white cloth to the antenna or door handle, or raise the hood

Along with flashers, tying on a white cloth or raising the hood is a recognized distress signal for a disabled vehicle.

19. A car's tires lose grip on a wet road and it starts to skid. What should the driver do?

Ease off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid, straightening gently as control returns
Accelerate slightly and hold the wheel straight
Brake firmly and steer opposite the skid
Shift to neutral and coast until the car stops

Answer: A — Ease off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid, straightening gently as control returns

Sudden or hard braking during a skid worsens loss of control; easing off the gas and steering into the skid lets the tires regain grip.

20. The brakes fail while driving. What is the correct response?

Steer onto the shoulder and apply the parking brake as hard as possible
Use the parking brake cautiously and shift to a lower gear
Turn off the engine immediately
Shift to a higher gear and pump the brake pedal rapidly

Answer: B — Use the parking brake cautiously and shift to a lower gear

With no brakes, the parking brake should be applied cautiously to avoid locking the wheels, combined with downshifting to slow the car.

21. Driving on packed snow, a driver is unsure how much traction they have. What speed is considered safe?

25 mph, a standard winter-weather limit
There is no "safe" speed on snow or ice; be extremely cautious
Whatever speed keeps up with the flow of traffic
About 10 mph under the posted limit

Answer: B — There is no "safe" speed on snow or ice; be extremely cautious

No speed is truly safe on snow or ice; drivers must be extremely cautious until they gauge how much traction is actually available.

22. After a snowstorm, most of the roadway has dried out. Which spots are most likely to still be icy?

Open, sunny stretches of straight road
Wide intersections with heavy traffic
Bridges, and shaded areas where snow melts more slowly
Freshly plowed lanes

Answer: C — Bridges, and shaded areas where snow melts more slowly

Bridges freeze before the rest of the road, and shaded spots hold snow and ice longer than sunlit pavement.

23. Approaching a roundabout, another vehicle is already circulating inside it. What should the driver do?

Speed up to merge ahead of the circulating vehicle
Yield to the traffic already in the circle and enter when there's a gap
Stop completely at the yield sign regardless of traffic
Enter immediately since roundabouts operate first-come, first-served

Answer: B — Yield to the traffic already in the circle and enter when there's a gap

Roundabouts are controlled by yield signs, so entering traffic must yield to vehicles already circulating and wait for a gap.

24. While driving inside a multi-lane roundabout, a driver realizes they're in the wrong lane for their exit. What should they do?

Stop inside the circle and wait for a gap to change lanes
Reverse back to the entry point and re-enter in the correct lane
Stay in the lane they are in, since lane changes inside the circle should be avoided
Change lanes immediately inside the circle to correct the mistake

Answer: C — Stay in the lane they are in, since lane changes inside the circle should be avoided

The document forbids changing lanes inside the circle and forbids stopping in it, so the driver holds their lane through the roundabout.

25. A driver approaches a dip in the road covered by about two feet of fast-moving water. What is the safest action?

Turn around and take another route, since two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles
Drive through slowly in a low gear, since two feet is manageable for most vehicles
Stop in the water and wait for it to recede before continuing
Speed up to cross quickly before the water rises further

Answer: A — Turn around and take another route, since two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles

Two feet of rushing water can sweep away pickups, SUVs and most other vehicles, so the only safe choice is to turn around and find another route.