Illinois Driver License: Safe Driving and Emergencies

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

1. A crash becomes unavoidable in the final seconds before impact. What should a driver do?

Speed up to clear the hazard as quickly as possible
Stay calm and choose the least dangerous option available
Brake as hard as possible regardless of surroundings
Swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid the collision

Answer: B — Stay calm and choose the least dangerous option available

When a collision can't be avoided, staying calm and picking the least dangerous option gives the best outcome.

2. Using the three-second count, a driver reaches the fixed object the car ahead just passed before finishing 'one-thousand-three.' What does this indicate?

The following distance is greater than necessary
The following distance is too close and should be increased
The driver should immediately switch lanes
The following distance is ideal for current conditions

Answer: B — The following distance is too close and should be increased

Reaching the object before the count of three means the following distance is too short.

3. A driver notices a vehicle following too closely. What is the recommended response?

Maintain speed and position without reacting
Tap the brakes to warn the tailgater
Speed up to increase the gap
Change lanes or slowly pull off and let the vehicle pass

Answer: D — Change lanes or slowly pull off and let the vehicle pass

The safe response to being tailgated is to change lanes or slowly pull off and let the tailgater pass.

4. Traveling at 55 mph, approximately how many feet does a vehicle cover in one second?

81 feet
37 feet
103 feet
55 feet

Answer: A — 81 feet

At 55 mph a vehicle covers about 81 feet per second.

5. A driver doubles their speed from 30 to 60 mph. How is the stopping distance affected?

It stays about the same
It doubles
It increases by half again
It quadruples

Answer: D — It quadruples

Doubling speed quadruples the stopping distance needed.

6. On a long road trip, a driver starts to feel drowsy but is still awake. What should the driver do?

Rest, stop often, and keep the eyes moving between signs and the road
Continue driving since impairment only begins once asleep
Turn on cruise control to reduce driving effort
Open a window and keep driving without stopping

Answer: A — Rest, stop often, and keep the eyes moving between signs and the road

Drowsiness impairs driving before sleep sets in, so the response is to rest, stop often, and keep the eyes moving.

7. Driving through fog at night, which headlight setting should be used?

Parking lights only
Low beams or fog lights
High beams for maximum visibility
Hazard flashers instead of headlights

Answer: B — Low beams or fog lights

Fog calls for low beams or fog lights, and the driver must not overdrive the headlights.

8. A driver turns on the windshield wipers during a rain shower. What does law also require at that time?

Headlights
Hazard flashers
Fog lights
Parking lights only

Answer: A — Headlights

Law requires headlights to be on whenever the wipers are running.

9. A car begins hydroplaning in heavy rain and the driver cannot regain control. What should be done?

Turn the wheel sharply toward the shoulder
Release the accelerator and ride it out
Accelerate to power through the water
Brake firmly and steadily

Answer: B — Release the accelerator and ride it out

If a hydroplaning skid can't be regained, the driver should release the accelerator and ride it out.

10. A road ahead is covered by flood water and its depth is unclear. What is the safe response?

Turn around
Drive through slowly in a low gear
Proceed if the water appears calm
Follow another vehicle through the water

Answer: A — Turn around

Since depth and current can't be judged, a flooded road should never be driven through; turn around instead.

11. In winter, which locations stay icy even after the rest of the road has cleared?

Open straightaways
Sunny parking lots
Bridges, shaded spots, overpasses and turns
Wide interstate lanes

Answer: C — Bridges, shaded spots, overpasses and turns

Bridges, shaded spots, overpasses and turns stay icy longer than the rest of the road, so they should be approached slowly.

12. A driver becomes stranded in snow and wants to run the engine for warmth. What precaution prevents carbon monoxide buildup?

Turn off the heater but keep the engine running
Keep the tailpipe clear of snow and crack a window
Keep all windows tightly closed
Run the engine continuously for hours

Answer: B — Keep the tailpipe clear of snow and crack a window

To avoid carbon monoxide when stranded, run the engine only briefly with a window open and keep the tailpipe clear of snow.

13. Entering an expressway from an on-ramp, what should a driver do before merging into traffic?

Use the speed-change lane to match traffic speed, signal, and merge into a gap
Stop at the end of the ramp and wait for a gap
Merge immediately at the ramp's starting speed
Increase speed only after merging into the lane

Answer: A — Use the speed-change lane to match traffic speed, signal, and merge into a gap

The speed-change lane is used to reach traffic speed, signal, find a gap, and merge when safe.

14. On a multi-lane expressway, which lane is intended for slower traffic?

Either lane, there is no difference
The center lane
The right lane
The left lane

Answer: C — The right lane

The right lane is for slower traffic, while the left is for faster traffic and passing.

15. A vehicle breaks down while on the expressway. What should the driver do?

Walk along the expressway to the nearest exit for help
Stop in the lane and wait for help
Place warning triangles in the driving lane
Pull off, lift the hood, and turn on the hazard flashers

Answer: D — Pull off, lift the hood, and turn on the hazard flashers

A driver should never stop on the expressway itself; instead pull off, lift the hood, and turn on the hazard flashers.

16. A driver misses their intended expressway exit. What should they do?

Drive on the shoulder to reach the exit
Stop and cross the lanes on foot to reach the exit
Back up carefully to the missed exit
Continue to the next exit

Answer: D — Continue to the next exit

Missing an exit means continuing to the next one, since backing up on an expressway is illegal.

17. Approaching an oncoming vehicle at night, at what distance should high beams be dimmed?

500 feet before meeting
1,000 feet before meeting
100 feet before meeting
300 feet before meeting

Answer: A — 500 feet before meeting

High beams should be dimmed 500 feet before meeting an oncoming vehicle (300 feet applies before passing one).

18. A vehicle begins to skid on a wet road. Which direction should the driver steer?

Opposite the direction of the skid
Straight ahead regardless of the skid direction
Steer into the direction of the skid
Toward the shoulder of the road

Answer: C — Steer into the direction of the skid

The correct response to a skid is to steer into the direction of the skid until traction returns, then straighten.

19. A car goes into deep water and begins to sink. How should the occupants escape?

Wait for the car to fill completely, then open a door
By breaking the windshield only
Through a window, moving to the back seat if the car sinks
Through a door, once fully submerged

Answer: C — Through a window, moving to the back seat if the car sinks

Water pressure may seal the doors, so escape is through a window, moving to the back seat where an air pocket usually forms if the car sinks.

20. A downed power line falls on a car. What should the occupant do?

Step out normally and walk away
Touch the line first to check if it is live
Stay inside until help arrives
Exit immediately and run to safety

Answer: C — Stay inside until help arrives

With a downed power line on the car, occupants should stay inside until help comes, only exiting if forced out by fire and then jumping clear without touching car and ground at once.

21. A tire blows out while driving. What should the driver do?

Swerve quickly toward the shoulder
Brake hard immediately to stop
Accelerate briefly to maintain control
Ease off the gas, grip the wheel firmly, and pull off safely

Answer: D — Ease off the gas, grip the wheel firmly, and pull off safely

After a blowout, ease off the gas, grip the wheel firmly, and pull off safely; never brake suddenly.

22. The brakes fail while driving. What is the correct sequence of actions?

Steer onto the shoulder and sound the horn
Turn off the engine immediately
Pump the pedal, then use the emergency brake, and shift to a lower gear
Shift to neutral and coast to a stop

Answer: C — Pump the pedal, then use the emergency brake, and shift to a lower gear

Brake failure calls for pumping the pedal to build pressure, then using the emergency brake and shifting to a lower gear.

23. Another driver begins tailgating and making aggressive gestures. What is the recommended response?

Avoid eye contact, lock the doors, and leave room to pull away
Retaliate by brake-checking the driver
Roll down the window to communicate
Make eye contact to assert control

Answer: A — Avoid eye contact, lock the doors, and leave room to pull away

Facing an aggressive driver, avoid eye contact, lock the doors and windows, and leave room to pull away without retaliating or engaging.

24. A vehicle breaks down on a busy multi-lane highway. What should the occupants do?

Stand outside the car near the traffic lane to flag help
Stay in the car belted with flashers on and call 911
Walk to the nearest exit for help
Exit and stand behind the guardrail

Answer: B — Stay in the car belted with flashers on and call 911

On a high-capacity road, pull to the right shoulder as far as possible, stay in the car belted with flashers on, and call 911.

25. A vehicle breaks down on the Illinois Tollway. What should the driver do?

Walk to the nearest tollbooth
Pull right, stay belted inside with flashers on, and call *999 or 911
Exit the vehicle and wait outside for help
Call a private tow company only

Answer: B — Pull right, stay belted inside with flashers on, and call *999 or 911

On the Illinois Tollway, pull right, stay belted inside with flashers on, and call *999 or 911 for a responder.