Illinois Driver License: Sharing the Road

25 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Sharing the Road. Free, no account needed.

1. A person must walk along a two-way rural road that has no sidewalk or shoulder. Which side should they use, and which way should they face?

With their back to traffic, along the center line
Facing oncoming traffic, as far from the road edge as possible
With the flow of traffic, close to the edge of the pavement
Facing oncoming traffic, in the middle of the traffic lane

Answer: B — Facing oncoming traffic, as far from the road edge as possible

Without a sidewalk or shoulder, pedestrians must walk facing oncoming traffic and stay as far from the edge as possible.

2. A pedestrian crosses the street partway between two closely spaced signalized intersections, not at any marked or unmarked crosswalk. Who must yield?

The driver, but only if the pedestrian is a child
The pedestrian, who must yield to drivers
The driver, since pedestrians always have the right-of-way
Neither; both may proceed at the same time

Answer: B — The pedestrian, who must yield to drivers

Crossing outside a crosswalk, including between closely spaced signalized intersections, requires the pedestrian to yield to drivers.

3. An adult wants to in-line skate along a public road between sunrise and sunset without impeding traffic. What is the highest speed limit the road may be posted at?

30 mph
35 mph
45 mph
55 mph

Answer: C — 45 mph

Adults may skate on roads posted at 45 mph or less, during daylight hours, without impeding traffic.

4. A pedestrian using a white cane is crossing the street. What does the manual say this pedestrian has?

No special right-of-way; must wait for a driver to wave them across
The right-of-way, and every pedestrian right
Right-of-way only at signalized intersections
Less right-of-way, since drivers may not see the cane in time

Answer: B — The right-of-way, and every pedestrian right

A pedestrian with a disability using a guide dog, white cane, wheelchair, or other device has the right-of-way and every pedestrian right.

5. At an intersection, an oncoming car turns left directly into the path of an approaching motorcycle. What does this situation represent?

The most common way motorcycle crashes happen at intersections
A situation unrelated to intersection crash statistics
A crash pattern seen mainly at night
A rare cause of motorcycle crashes

Answer: A — The most common way motorcycle crashes happen at intersections

More than half of motorcycle crashes occur at intersections, most often when an oncoming car turns left in front of the motorcycle.

6. A driver is following a motorcycle on dry pavement. Why does the manual call for three to four seconds of following distance?

Motorcycles can stop faster than cars on dry pavement
Motorcycles typically travel slower than surrounding traffic
Motorcyclists are required by law to receive extra space
Motorcycles have no brake lights

Answer: A — Motorcycles can stop faster than cars on dry pavement

Motorcycles can stop faster than cars on dry pavement, so extra following distance is needed to react in time.

7. A motorcyclist has been stopped at a red light for two minutes and the signal has not changed. What may the rider do?

Wait indefinitely, since there is no exception for a stuck signal
Turn around and use an alternate route only
Proceed through the intersection after yielding, since the light failed to change within 120 seconds
Proceed immediately without yielding, since two minutes have passed

Answer: C — Proceed through the intersection after yielding, since the light failed to change within 120 seconds

A motorcyclist stuck at a red light that fails to change within 120 seconds may proceed, but only after yielding.

8. Traffic is heavy and a driver considers pulling partway into the same lane as a motorcycle ahead to share the space. Is this permitted?

Yes, but only on multi-lane highways
Yes, if both vehicles are moving at low speed
No; a motorcycle is entitled to the whole lane and must never be shared
Yes, if the motorcyclist signals permission

Answer: C — No; a motorcycle is entitled to the whole lane and must never be shared

A motorcycle is entitled to the full width of its lane, so a driver must never share it.

9. A driver wants to briefly stop in a marked bike lane to let a passenger out, and no cyclists are visible at the moment. Is this allowed?

Yes, but only for less than one minute
No, unless hazard lights are used
No; vehicles may not drive, park, idle, or load passengers in a bike lane even when it appears empty
Yes, since the lane is currently empty

Answer: C — No; vehicles may not drive, park, idle, or load passengers in a bike lane even when it appears empty

Bike lanes are off-limits to vehicles for driving, parking, idling, or loading passengers, even when no cyclist is present.

10. A driver overtakes a cyclist on a road with no bike lane. What is the minimum clearance from the edge of the driver's side mirror, and at what speed should the pass be made?

1 foot, at normal speed
2 feet, quickly
5 feet, at normal speed
3 feet, slowly

Answer: D — 3 feet, slowly

Drivers must pass cyclists slowly, leaving at least 3 feet of clearance from the edge of the side mirror.

11. Two cyclists are riding side by side on an ordinary roadway without slowing other traffic. Could a third cyclist join them riding abreast?

Yes for the two; a third could not join except on a bicycle-only path
Yes, any number of cyclists may ride abreast as long as traffic isn't impeded
No, cyclists must always ride single file on any road
No, only one cyclist per lane is allowed regardless of path type

Answer: A — Yes for the two; a third could not join except on a bicycle-only path

Cyclists may ride two abreast if not impeding traffic, but never more than two except on bicycle-only paths.

12. A driver waiting to turn left sees a cyclist approaching from the opposite direction. What should the driver do?

Turn simultaneously, matching the cyclist's speed
Wait for the cyclist to pass before completing the turn
Turn immediately, since cyclists must yield to left-turning vehicles
Honk to signal the cyclist to slow down, then turn

Answer: B — Wait for the cyclist to pass before completing the turn

A driver turning left across the path of an oncoming cyclist must wait for the cyclist to pass first.

13. A driver wants to turn right, and a cyclist is approaching on the right side of the road near the intersection. What should the driver do?

Let the cyclist through first, and signal the turn
Merge right ahead of the cyclist to complete the turn safely
Turn quickly before the cyclist reaches the intersection
Proceed normally, since cyclists must yield to right-turning vehicles

Answer: A — Let the cyclist through first, and signal the turn

When turning right across a cyclist's path, the driver must let the cyclist through first and signal the turn.

14. A rider wants to use a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with working pedals and a motor under 750 watts. Where may it legally be ridden?

Any surface, including sidewalks, without restriction
Roads, bike lanes, and paths, but not sidewalks
Sidewalks only, for pedestrian safety
Roads and sidewalks, but not bike lanes

Answer: B — Roads, bike lanes, and paths, but not sidewalks

A low-speed electric bicycle may use roads, bike lanes, and paths, but not sidewalks.

15. A person wants to ride a moped with a 50 cc combustion engine and no gear shifting. Which license qualifies them to do so?

Only a Class M license
Any valid Illinois driver's license
Only a Class L license
No license is required at all

Answer: B — Any valid Illinois driver's license

A moped with a 50 cc or smaller engine and no gear shifting may be ridden on any valid Illinois license.

16. A scooter has an engine displacement of 200 cc. What license classification is required to operate it on the road?

Class L, since it is a motor-driven cycle
No license, only titling and registration
Any valid Illinois driver's license
Class M, since it is classified as a motorcycle

Answer: D — Class M, since it is classified as a motorcycle

A scooter with an engine of 150 cc or more is classified as a motorcycle and requires a Class M license.

17. A person wants to ride a low-speed electric scooter that weighs under 100 pounds and is powered only by an electric motor and human effort. What is the minimum rider age and top speed?

18 years old, 10 mph
14 years old, 20 mph
16 years old, 15 mph
21 years old, 25 mph

Answer: A — 18 years old, 10 mph

A low-speed electric scooter tops out at 10 mph and requires a rider at least 18 years old.

18. A driver is behind a truck that signals a right turn but appears to drift slightly toward the left just before turning. Why might there be open space on the truck's right at that moment?

The truck is changing lanes rather than turning
Trucks need extra room and may leave an open space on the right just before a wide right turn
The open space means the truck is about to stop completely
The truck driver signaled incorrectly and actually intends to turn left

Answer: B — Trucks need extra room and may leave an open space on the right just before a wide right turn

Trucks making wide right turns may leave an open space on the right just before turning, which drivers should not try to fill.

19. A driver is passing a large truck at night. What should the driver do with their headlights during the pass?

Blink the headlights so the driver can keep to the far side of the lane
Turn headlights off briefly so as not to blind the truck driver
Keep low beams on without changing them
Switch to high beams for the duration of the pass

Answer: A — Blink the headlights so the driver can keep to the far side of the lane

Blinking your headlights when passing a truck, especially at night, lets the driver keep to the far side of the lane.

20. A driver on a four-lane highway sees a disabled vehicle ahead with its hazard lights on, stopped in the travel lane. What should the driver do if it is safe?

Change lanes away from the disabled vehicle
Straddle the lane line to give partial clearance
Stop directly behind it and wait for help to arrive
Sound the horn continuously to warn its occupants

Answer: A — Change lanes away from the disabled vehicle

On a four-lane highway, drivers should change lanes away from a disabled vehicle if it is safe to do so, otherwise slow down until well past it.

21. A driver wants to tow a disabled vehicle using a drawbar. What connection is required, and how far apart may the vehicles generally be?

A rigid bar only, with no chains or cables needed
A single cable, up to 25 feet apart
One chain, at any distance apart
Two chains or cables, generally no more than 15 feet apart

Answer: D — Two chains or cables, generally no more than 15 feet apart

Towing by drawbar requires two chains or cables, with the vehicles generally no more than 15 feet apart.

22. A four-wheeled low-speed vehicle has a top speed of 25 mph and is titled and registered like any other vehicle. On streets posted at what speed limit may it generally be driven?

35 mph or less
30 mph or less
25 mph or less
45 mph or less

Answer: B — 30 mph or less

Low-speed vehicles are allowed on streets posted 30 mph or less, unless a city prohibits it.

23. A piece of farm equipment traveling at typical slow-moving-vehicle speed requires a warning light. What color must it be, and how far must it be visible in sunlight?

Flashing amber, visible 1000 feet
Flashing red, visible 300 feet
Flashing amber, visible 500 feet
Steady white, visible 500 feet

Answer: C — Flashing amber, visible 500 feet

When a warning light is required on a slow-moving vehicle, it must be a flashing amber light visible 500 feet in sunlight.

24. When may a snowmobile be operated on a public road?

At any time of year, on any road
Only on controlled-access highways
In winter, on roads where signs warn of them
Never; snowmobiles are always prohibited from roads

Answer: C — In winter, on roads where signs warn of them

Snowmobiles may share roads in winter where signs warn.

25. A driver is passing a horseback rider on a public road. What should the driver avoid doing?

Sounding the horn near the horse or livestock
Being ready to stop if needed
Slowing down near the horse
Giving the horse extra space

Answer: A — Sounding the horn near the horse or livestock

Drivers must never sound a horn near a horse or livestock, since it can startle the animal.