New York Driver License: Special Driving Conditions

25 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Special Driving Conditions. Free, no account needed.

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1. You approach a railroad crossing with flashing red lights and lowered gates. When may you proceed?

  1. Once the gates begin to rise
  2. As soon as the lights stop flashing
  3. As soon as you see no train in either direction
  4. Only after the gates are completely up and the lights are off

Answer: D — Only after the gates are completely up and the lights are off

An active crossing must not be entered until the gates are fully raised and the lights have stopped flashing, not merely when they start to change.

2. Which of these vehicles is required to stop at every railroad crossing, even one with no signals?

  1. A school bus with no passengers aboard
  2. A pickup truck towing a trailer
  3. A delivery van carrying groceries
  4. A motorcycle

Answer: A — A school bus with no passengers aboard

School buses must stop at every crossing whether or not they are carrying passengers; the other vehicles listed have no such requirement.

3. How far from the tracks must you stop when a crossing's gates are lowered or its lights are flashing?

  1. At least 10 feet
  2. At least 5 feet
  3. At least 25 feet
  4. At least 15 feet

Answer: D — At least 15 feet

The required stopping distance from the tracks in that situation is at least 15 feet.

4. You reach a railroad crossing marked only by a crossbuck sign, with no gates or lights. What does that sign require of you?

  1. Yield: look and listen, and cross only when no train is near
  2. Treat it like a two-way stop intersection
  3. Sound your horn and proceed at reduced speed
  4. Stop completely, then proceed when safe

Answer: A — Yield: look and listen, and cross only when no train is near

A crossbuck is a yield sign: look and listen and cross only if no train is near or approaching fast enough to be dangerous.

5. Your vehicle stalls on the tracks at a crossing and no train is visible. After getting everyone out, which direction should you move?

  1. Back toward the car to retrieve belongings
  2. Directly across to the far side of the tracks
  3. At a 45-degree angle away from the tracks, toward the direction a train would come from
  4. Straight down the track, away from where a train would come

Answer: C — At a 45-degree angle away from the tracks, toward the direction a train would come from

You should move away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle toward the direction a train would arrive from; running down the track risks being hit by flying debris.

6. You realize you have missed your intended exit on an expressway. What should you do?

  1. Stop on the shoulder and wait for a gap to reverse
  2. Put on your hazards and back up to the exit
  3. Stay on the expressway until the next exit
  4. Cross the median to reverse direction

Answer: C — Stay on the expressway until the next exit

Backing up on a ramp or crossing a median is dangerous, so the correct response to a missed exit is to continue to the next one.

7. An expressway entrance ramp is too short to build up speed gradually. What is the correct approach?

  1. Stop, wait for a large gap, then accelerate quickly to merge
  2. Signal and merge at a slower speed than the traffic flow
  3. Merge immediately regardless of gaps in traffic
  4. Drive on the shoulder until your speed matches traffic

Answer: A — Stop, wait for a large gap, then accelerate quickly to merge

When a ramp is too short to accelerate to expressway speed normally, you should stop, wait for a large gap, and then accelerate quickly into it.

8. How far before an expressway exit ramp should you signal your intention to leave?

  1. At least 50 feet
  2. At least 100 feet
  3. At least 200 feet
  4. At least 500 feet

Answer: B — At least 100 feet

Drivers should signal at least 100 feet before reaching the exit ramp.

9. You are driving on an expressway with no special speed signs posted. What speed limit applies?

  1. 45 mph
  2. 65 mph
  3. 50 mph
  4. 55 mph

Answer: D — 55 mph

The normal expressway speed limit is 55 mph; 65 mph is only posted in some rural areas.

10. It is daytime but haze has cut visibility to about 800 feet. Are you required to use your headlights?

  1. Yes, headlights are required whenever visibility is under 1,000 feet
  2. Yes, but only high beams satisfy the requirement
  3. No, headlights are only required at night
  4. No, only fog lights are required in haze

Answer: A — Yes, headlights are required whenever visibility is under 1,000 feet

Headlights are required whenever visibility drops below 1,000 feet, regardless of the time of day.

11. At night your headlights illuminate the road about 350 feet ahead. What does safe driving require regarding your speed?

  1. Drive at least 10 mph below the posted limit at all times
  2. Drive fast enough to reach your destination before full darkness
  3. Drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance your headlights illuminate
  4. Match the posted daytime speed limit regardless of visibility

Answer: C — Drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance your headlights illuminate

You should drive within the range of your headlights, at a speed slow enough to stop within that lit distance.

12. At night, you are following another vehicle about 150 feet ahead of you, but in the adjacent lane. Which headlight setting should you use?

  1. Parking lights only
  2. Fog lights
  3. Low beams, since you are within 200 feet of the vehicle you are following
  4. High beams, since you are in a different lane

Answer: C — Low beams, since you are within 200 feet of the vehicle you are following

Low beams are required within 200 feet of a vehicle you are following, even if that vehicle is in another lane.

13. An oncoming driver keeps their high beams on. After flashing your lights and returning to low beam, how should you deal with the glare?

  1. Look toward the center line
  2. Look to the right and use the road edge as a guide
  3. Close your eyes briefly
  4. Look directly at the oncoming headlights to judge their distance

Answer: B — Look to the right and use the road edge as a guide

To avoid being blinded by oncoming high beams, look to the right and steer using the road edge as a guide.

14. Driving fast in heavy rain on worn tires, you suddenly feel the steering go light and the car lose traction. What is happening?

  1. Understeer from over-braking
  2. Brake fade
  3. A blown tire
  4. Hydroplaning on a film of water

Answer: D — Hydroplaning on a film of water

Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on a film of water, especially at higher speeds and with worn or under-inflated tires, causing loss of traction and steering.

15. It is raining and your wipers are on. Why should you use low beams rather than high beams?

  1. High beams reflect off falling rain and reduce your visibility
  2. Low beams use less battery power
  3. Low beams have a wider pattern for spotting deer
  4. High beams are illegal in any precipitation

Answer: A — High beams reflect off falling rain and reduce your visibility

High beams reflect off falling rain, fog, and snow, which is why low beams should be used instead.

16. You are installing DMV-approved fog lights on your vehicle. What colors are required?

  1. Front lights red, rear lights amber
  2. Front lights amber or white, rear lights red
  3. Front lights blue, rear lights amber
  4. Front and rear lights both white

Answer: B — Front lights amber or white, rear lights red

Front fog lights must be amber or white, and rear fog lights must be red.

17. In which months are studded tires permitted?

  1. October 16 through April 30
  2. November 1 through March 31
  3. September 1 through May 31
  4. December 1 through February 28

Answer: A — October 16 through April 30

Studded tires are legally permitted only from October 16 through April 30.

18. During a winter cold snap, which road surfaces are most likely to ice over before the rest of the road?

  1. Roads near buildings
  2. Tunnels and underpasses
  3. Wide open straightaways
  4. Bridges, ramps and overpasses

Answer: D — Bridges, ramps and overpasses

Bridges, ramps, and overpasses freeze before other road surfaces.

19. Your rear wheels begin to skid to the left on an icy road. Which way should you steer?

  1. Right, opposite the direction the rear is sliding
  2. Straight ahead without turning the wheel
  3. Whichever way brings the front wheels off the road
  4. Left, in the direction the rear is sliding

Answer: D — Left, in the direction the rear is sliding

When the rear wheels skid, you should steer in the direction the rear is sliding, correcting again if it swings back the other way.

20. During which months do two-thirds of deer collisions occur?

  1. January, February and March
  2. March, April and May
  3. June, July and August
  4. October, November and December

Answer: D — October, November and December

Two-thirds of deer collisions happen during October, November, and December, the breeding season.

21. At what time of day is deer activity, and the risk of a collision, highest?

  1. Midnight only
  2. Midday
  3. Late morning
  4. Dawn and dusk

Answer: D — Dawn and dusk

Deer activity peaks at dawn and dusk.

22. One of your tires blows out while driving, and the car begins to pull and skid. What should you avoid doing until the car is back under control?

  1. Holding the wheel tightly
  2. Braking
  3. Easing off the gas pedal
  4. Steering to correct the skid

Answer: B — Braking

You should not brake during a blowout until the car is under control; braking too soon can worsen the skid.

23. You press the brake pedal and it sinks to the floor with no response. What should you try first?

  1. Immediately pull the emergency brake as hard as possible
  2. Shift into neutral
  3. Pump the brake pedal to build pressure
  4. Turn off the ignition

Answer: C — Pump the brake pedal to build pressure

The first response to brake failure is to pump the pedal to try to build up pressure; the emergency brake is applied gradually only if that fails.

24. Your gas pedal sticks and you cannot free it with your foot. What should you do?

  1. Pump the brakes rapidly while pressing the gas
  2. Shift to neutral and brake to a stop off the road
  3. Steer onto the shoulder at full speed and let the engine idle down
  4. Turn off the ignition immediately

Answer: B — Shift to neutral and brake to a stop off the road

If the stuck pedal cannot be freed, shift to neutral and brake to a stop off the road; turning off the ignition can lock the steering.

25. Your car has just gone into a lake and is still floating. What is the safest way to get out?

  1. Open the door and swim out immediately
  2. Wait inside until the car fully sinks, then open the door
  3. Break the windshield with your feet
  4. Release your seatbelt and escape through a window

Answer: D — Release your seatbelt and escape through a window

While the car still floats, release the seatbelt and exit through a window, since opening a door lets water rush in and can roll the car onto you.

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