20 questions from the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95). Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1. What is the correct procedure for stopping your vehicle if you need to slow down quickly due to brake failure?
Answer: Turn the ignition to OFF. The handbook instructs drivers to turn the ignition to OFF, not LOCK, to maintain steering ability while braking.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 66: “If you need to slow or stop quickly, turn your ignition to “OFF.” Do not turn it to “LOCK” because you will lose steering ability.”
2. What is the recommended action if you begin to feel tired while driving?
Answer: Stop driving. The handbook advises that stopping driving is the best course of action when fatigue sets in.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 37: “The best thing to do if you begin to feel tired while driving is to stop driving.”
3. What action should you take if you must drive below 40 mph on a limited access highway?
Answer: Use your hazard (four-way) flashers. The handbook instructs drivers to use hazard flashers when driving below 40 mph on limited access highways to alert following traffic.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 48: “If you must drive below 40 mph on a limited access highway, use your hazard (four-way) flashers to warn the drivers behind you.”
4. How quickly can the temperature inside a vehicle reach deadly levels if the outside temperature is in the low 80s Fahrenheit, even with a window rolled down?
Answer: In only 10 minutes. The handbook states that inside temperatures can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes under these conditions.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 94: “Vehicles heat up quickly - even with a window rolled down two inches, if the outside temperature is in the low 80s Fahrenheit, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in only 10 minutes.”
5. What color scheme is used for Work Zone signs?
Answer: Orange background with black lettering. The handbook specifies that Work Zone signs are orange with black lettering, distinguishing them from standard yellow warning signs.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 22: “Work Zone Signs are normally diamond shaped, like warning signs, but they are orange with black lettering instead of yellow with black lettering.”
6. What is the most effective action to reduce the risk of injury or death in a traffic crash?
Answer: Wear your seat belt. The handbook identifies wearing a seat belt as the most effective method for reducing injury risk in crashes.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 80: “THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF GETTING INJURED OR KILLED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH IS: A. Wear your seat belt”
7. When using the ignition to help stop a vehicle that will not stop, why should you avoid turning it to the 'LOCK' position?
Answer: It locks the steering wheel. The handbook specifies that turning the ignition to LOCK causes the steering to lock, which is why it should be avoided in favor of just turning the ignition OFF.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 67: “Do not turn it to the “LOCK” position because this will also lock your steering.”
8. Under what condition is the fine for violating the hazardous conditions law increased to up to $500?
Answer: If emergency responders are called out because of the driver's actions. The handbook specifies that the fine increases to $500 specifically when emergency responders are called out due to the driver's actions.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 97: “Additionally, if emergency responders are called out because of your actions, the fine is increased to up to $500 and you will be held liable for repaying the emergency response costs.”
9. What is the correct procedure for a driver encountering a funeral procession at an intersection?
Answer: Yield to the vehicles in the procession. Drivers are required to yield to vehicles participating in a funeral procession.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 68: “If you see a funeral procession on the road, yield to vehicles in the procession.”
10. What is the maximum speed limit when flashing yellow signals are active in a school zone?
Answer: 15 mph. The handbook specifies a strict limit of 15 mph when school zone signals are flashing.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 13: “You must travel no faster than 15 mph when the yellow signals are flashing or during the time periods indicated on the sign.”
11. According to the handbook, what should you do if you are unsure whether a vehicle with flashing lights is a police officer?
Answer: Drive to the nearest well-lit, populated area while acknowledging the stop request. The handbook specifies that if uncertain about the officer's identity, you should proceed to a well-lit, populated area while signaling your intent to stop.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 85: “If you see flashing red and blue lights or flashing red lights only and you are still not certain the person pulling you over is actually a police officer, you may drive to the nearest well-lit, populated area, but acknowledge you understand the request to stop by turning on your flashers and driving at a reduced speed.”
12. What tool do flaggers use to signal drivers to stop or slow down in a work zone?
Answer: STOP and SLOW paddles or a red flag. The handbook specifies that flaggers use STOP and SLOW paddles or a red flag to communicate with drivers.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 22: “As shown to the right, flaggers use STOP and SLOW paddles or a red flag to signal you to stop or slow down.”
13. Under the Zero Tolerance law, what is the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) threshold for minors under age 21 charged with Driving Under the Influence?
Answer: .02. The handbook states that the BAC limit for minors under 21 is reduced to .02 under the Zero Tolerance law.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 88: “The law reduced the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) from .08 to .02 for minors (under 21) charged with Driving Under the Influence.”
14. When making a right turn, how long of a gap should a driver allow between themselves and any vehicle approaching from the left?
Answer: About eight (8) seconds. The handbook states that an eight-second gap is required when turning right to ensure sufficient clearance from oncoming traffic.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 53: “Allow a gap of about eight (8) seconds between you and any vehicle approaching from the left.”
15. According to the handbook, what does a flashing yellow arrow indicate when making a turn?
Answer: You may turn, but must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. The handbook specifies that a flashing yellow arrow allows turning after yielding to other traffic and pedestrians.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 30: “May turn, but must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians”
16. Why should you dim your headlights when following a truck or bus at night?
Answer: To prevent bright lights from blinding the truck driver via reflection. Dimming headlights prevents glare from reflecting off the large mirrors and blinding the truck driver.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 61: “Bright lights from a vehicle behind will blind the truck driver when they reflect off of the truck’s large side mirrors.”
17. Which of the following devices is excluded from the anti-texting law ban?
Answer: A GPS device. The handbook lists GPS devices as an exception to the texting ban, while other listed devices like smartphones and PDAs are included in the definition of Interactive Wireless Communication Devices.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 97: “The texting ban does not include the use of a GPS device, a system or device that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle, or a communications device that is affixed to a mass transit vehicle, bus or school bus.”
18. How should a driver adjust their following distance when driving on ice or snow-covered roads?
Answer: Leave about 10 times more space than normal. The handbook specifies a precise multiplier for following distance on icy or snow-packed roads to ensure sufficient stopping distance.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 45: “Leave about 10 times more space than normal between you and the vehicle ahead.”
19. Which of the following is a valid exception allowing a child under 18 to ride in the bed of an open-bed truck?
Answer: The child is being transported between parts of a farm owned by their parent to perform farm work. The handbook lists specific exceptions, including transporting a farmer's child between farm parts for work purposes.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 63: “A child of a farmer, who is being transported between parts of a farm or farms owned or operated by the farmer in order to perform work on the farm or farms.”
20. Why should you avoid braking suddenly when two wheels are on the pavement and two are on a soft shoulder?
Answer: The vehicle will probably skid out of control. Hard braking in this mixed-surface scenario causes loss of traction and skidding, so gradual braking is required.
Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), page 68: “If you brake hard with two (2) wheels on the pavement and two (2) wheels on a soft shoulder, the vehicle will probably skid out of control.”