Safe Driving & Conditions — PennDOT Practice Questions

67 questions in this content area. 6 are published in full below with worked explanations.

1. According to the Pennsylvania manual, how much higher are traffic fatality rates at night than in daylight?

AAbout the same.
Three to four times higher.
CAbout ten times higher than in daylight.

Why B is correct

Overall, traffic fatality rates are three to four times higher at night than in daylight.

2. On wet roads, how much does the Pennsylvania manual say to reduce speed and how far to follow?

AReduce 20 mph; follow two seconds behind.
BKeep your speed; follow four seconds behind.
Reduce 5 to 10 mph; follow five to six seconds behind.

Why C is correct

Reduce your speed by 5 to 10 mph on wet roads and increase your following distance to five or six seconds.

3. What following distance does the Pennsylvania manual recommend on dry pavement?

A2 seconds.
B3 seconds.
4 seconds.

Why C is correct

A 4-second following distance will allow you to steer or brake to avoid a hazard safely on the highway if the pavement is dry.

4. What is the most frequent crash type for 16-year-old drivers in Pennsylvania?

A single-vehicle, run-off-the-road crash.
BA rear-end crash.
CA crash with a pedestrian or bicyclist in town.

Why A is correct

The most frequent crash type for 16-year-old drivers in Pennsylvania is a single-vehicle, run-off-the-road crash.

5. When must your headlights be on in a posted Pennsylvania work zone?

AOnly at night.
Any time of day, in all posted work zones.
COnly when workers or equipment are present on the road.

Why B is correct

Turn on your headlights in a work zone no matter what time of day. This is the law for all posted work zones, not just active ones.

6. Why leave extra space when you are stopped behind another car on an uphill?

AYour brakes work less on hills.
BIt is required by law on all hills.
It may roll back into you when traffic moves.

Why C is correct

When stopped on an uphill, the vehicle ahead may roll back into your vehicle when traffic begins to move.

Watch the lesson

6:03Pennsylvania Safe Driving & Conditions: five situations explainedFive real situations acted out, answered and explained from the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual.Free account to watch

61 more Safe driving questions

Answers and explanations for these are in the study app.

A car is coming head-on in your lane. What should you do first?
A flagger’s direction conflicts with a traffic signal. Which do you obey?
A passenger throws trash out of your car. As the driver, what fine can you face?
A police car stops you at night. What do police recommend?
A tire blows out. What should you avoid?
A vehicle behind you flashes only blue lights. According to the Pennsylvania manual, what is it?
Above about what speed is steering around a hazard usually better than braking?
According to research in the Pennsylvania manual, how often does a teen dialing a cellphone miss an important road event?
According to the Pennsylvania manual, what is the No. 1 reason 16- and 17-year-old drivers crash?
An aggressive driver is pursuing you. Where should you go?
An oncoming driver will not dim their high beams. Where should you look?
At an intersection, which way should you look first?
At what speed can you start to hydroplane, according to the Pennsylvania manual?
Does Pennsylvania’s texting-while-driving ban cover using a GPS device?
How can you suspect black ice?
How do you measure your following distance?
How far ahead should you be able to identify problems?
How much moving water can make you lose control or float a small car?
How much should you slow down on packed snow?
May you wear headphones while driving in Pennsylvania?
One wheel drops onto a low shoulder. What should you NOT do?
Pennsylvania requires headlights when you cannot see people or vehicles for how far ahead?
Should you use cruise control in a work zone?
Someone is tailgating you and there is no right lane. What does the Pennsylvania manual suggest?
The rear of your car skids to the right. Which way do you turn the wheel?
There are parked cars on your right and oncoming cars on your left. What is best?
To avoid overdriving your low beams on a dark road, what is the most you should drive?
What eyewear should you avoid when driving at night?
What fine does a conviction for texting while driving carry in Pennsylvania?
What following distance does the Pennsylvania manual advise in a work zone?
What happens if you drive around a sign that closes a flooded road?
What is the license penalty for fleeing or attempting to elude police?
When are roads especially slippery in a rainstorm?
When does Pennsylvania law require headlights?
When is ice most slippery?
When is pavement especially slippery in a rainstorm?
When should you first check behind your car before backing up?
When should you leave more than the usual following distance?
When should you slow down for a curve?
Where are you likely in another driver’s blind spot?
Which lights should you use when you must drive in fog?
Why should you not use cruise control on slippery roads?
With fees, about how much can failing to use headlights when wipers are on cost in Pennsylvania?
Within how many feet of a vehicle you are following must you use low beams in Pennsylvania?
Within how many feet of an oncoming vehicle must you switch to low beams?
You are boxed into a pack of cars on the highway. What does the Pennsylvania manual suggest?
You are carrying a firearm when police pull you over. What do police recommend?
You are caught in dense fog. What is best?
You are stopped for a violation in a work zone without your headlights on. What extra fine applies?
You are unsure an unmarked car with flashing red lights is really police. What may you do?
You do not have 8 feet of space on at least one side of your car. What should you do?
You must brake where other drivers may not expect it. What does the manual suggest?
You must drive below 40 mph on a limited access highway. What should you do?
You need to brake where drivers behind may not expect it. What should you do first?
You see a flashing arrow panel telling you to merge left. When should you merge?
Your car breaks down on the highway. What does the manual suggest after pulling off?
Your car breaks down on the highway. Which is one thing the Pennsylvania manual says to do?
Your car starts to hydroplane. What should you do?
Your gas pedal sticks and will not spring back. What should you do?
Your right wheels drift off the pavement onto a low shoulder. What should you do?
Your wipers are on for rain. Are your daytime running lights enough?

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