20 questions from the Tennessee driver handbook. Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1. What is the recommended behavior when encountering a truck or bus with smoking wheels or high speed on a hill?
Answer: Fall back and do not pass the vehicle. The handbook advises falling back and not passing when a large vehicle shows signs of brake loss, such as smoking wheels.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 124: “If you encounter this situation, fall back and DO NOT pass.”
2. What action should a driver take if their vehicle begins to skid and does not have anti-lock brakes?
Answer: Take your foot off the brake and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid. The handbook instructs drivers without ABS to release the brake and steer into the skid to regain control.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 62: “IMPORTANT: As a general rule for vehicles without anti-lock brakes, if the car starts to skid, take your foot off the brake and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid;”
3. What should a driver do if they spot a tornado while driving?
Answer: Get out of the car and find shelter in a ditch or low-lying area. The instructions state that drivers should exit the vehicle and seek low ground to protect themselves from debris when a tornado is spotted.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 91: “Get out of the car, find shelter in a ditch or low-lying area and lie face down to protect yourself from flying debris.”
4. Under what condition is a left turn at a red light permitted according to the handbook?
Answer: Where a one-way street intersects with another one-way street and traffic moves in the same direction. Left turns on red are allowed specifically when turning from one one-way street onto another one-way street in the same direction of travel.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 72: “A left turn at a red light or stop signal is permitted at all intersections where a one-way street intersects with another one-way street and the traffic is moving in the same direction into which the left turn would be made.”
5. When entering an interstate highway, what is the correct procedure regarding speed on the entrance ramp?
Answer: Use the acceleration lane to increase speed to match interstate traffic. The handbook instructs drivers to use the acceleration lane to reach interstate speed for a smooth merge, rather than stopping or slowing down.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 82: “Upon entering the interstate on-ramp, stay to the right and increase your speed in the acceleration lane/entrance ramp.”
6. What is the maximum duration for an ignition interlock restriction for a third and subsequent DUI offenses?
Answer: Ten years. The handbook states that the restriction lasts up to 10 years for third and subsequent offenses.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 96: “The restriction can be from six months to one year for a first offense, up to three years for a second offense and up to 10 years for third and subsequent offenses”
7. What is the recommended minimum following time interval when driving on high-speed interstates or in inclement weather?
Answer: At least 3 to 4 seconds. The handbook states that under these specific conditions, the following distance should be increased to at least 3 to 4 seconds.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 107: “Remember on highspeed interstates, when following large commercial trucks or buses, and in inclement weather or limited visibility conditions, it is safest to increase this following distance to at least 3 to 4 seconds.”
8. Under the Tennessee Graduated Driver License Program, what is the minimum age requirement to obtain a Class D regular driver license?
Answer: 18 years old. The handbook states that the age requirement for a Class D regular driver license is 18 years old, unless the driver graduates high school or receives a GED sooner.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 28: “You may obtain a Class D regular driver license when you are 18 years of age, or when you graduate from high school or receive a GED, whichever is sooner.”
9. How does the vehicle behave during emergency braking in slippery conditions if it is equipped with ABS?
Answer: The wheels do not lock, keeping the car stable and steerable. The handbook states that ABS prevents wheel locking, which maintains stability and steering control during emergency stops.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 110: “In emergency or slippery conditions with ABS, wheels DON’T lock; car remains stable and can be steered around obstacles.”
10. Who is permitted to park in a space marked with the handicap parking symbol?
Answer: Only vehicles displaying a valid placard or license plate with the symbol, transporting the issued person. The rule restricts usage to vehicles with the specific symbol/placard and requires the issued person to be transported.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 80: “Parking spaces marked with this symbol are only to be used by vehicles displaying a valid placard or license plate with this symbol, and only when transporting the person who was issued the placard or plate.”
11. How much more likely is a driver to cause a crash when their BAC reaches .10 percent compared to when they are sober?
Answer: Seven times. The handbook specifies that a .10 percent BAC increases the likelihood of causing a crash by seven times.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 93: “With a BAC of .10 percent, you are seven times more likely to cause a crash than if you were sober.”
12. According to the handbook, what should a driver do if their vehicle stalls while driving through floodwaters?
Answer: Leave the vehicle immediately and seek higher ground. The handbook instructs drivers to exit the vehicle and move to higher ground immediately if the car stalls in floodwater.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 91: “If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.”
13. What is the correct order of operations for adjusting vehicle equipment before driving?
Answer: Adjust the seat correctly, then adjust the mirrors. The handbook advises adjusting mirrors only after the seat position has been finalized to ensure proper visibility.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 41: “Adjust mirrors after the seat is adjusted correctly. (Always adjust before driving.)”
14. What does a sign with a white background and a red circle with a diagonal line through it signify?
Answer: The action shown behind the red symbol is prohibited. The handbook explains that these signs mean 'NO' regarding the action depicted behind the red symbol, indicating prohibition.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 51: “Signs having a white background and a red circle and a line diagonally through them mean “NO” according to what is shown behind the red symbol.”
15. Why should a driver not rely solely on the tire pressure psi printed on the tires themselves?
Answer: It is the maximum recommended pressure and may not match manufacturer specifications. The handbook advises against using the sidewall pressure because it represents the maximum limit, which might differ from the specific manufacturer's recommendation for optimal safety and wear.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 114: “Do not use the tire pressure psi printed on the tires themselves. This is the maximum recommended pressure for the tire and may not match up with your vehicle’s manufacturer specifications, leading to problems with tire wear or safety concerns.”
16. What action should you take if another driver is passing you on the left?
Answer: Stay in your lane and move to the right if possible. The handbook advises staying in your lane and moving right if being passed on the left to help the other driver pass safely.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 77: “Staying in your lane, and moving to the right if being passed on the left.”
17. When waiting for oncoming traffic to pass before making a turn, how should you position your vehicle's wheels?
Answer: Keep your wheels straight until you begin the turn. The handbook advises keeping wheels straight while waiting to ensure that a rear-end impact does not push the vehicle into oncoming traffic.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 70: “Keep your vehicles wheels straight until you begin the turn.”
18. How long does it take to cancel the intoxicating effects of three drinks of alcohol?
Answer: About three hours. The handbook specifies that three hours are needed to cancel the effects of three drinks.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 97: “It takes about three hours to cancel the intoxicating effects of three drinks.”
19. Who must make the notice of a crash if the driver is physically unable to do so?
Answer: A passenger capable of doing so. The handbook states that a capable passenger is responsible for giving notice if the driver cannot.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 103: “If the driver is physically unable to give immediate notice, and there is a passenger capable of doing so, the passenger shall make or cause notice to be given.”
20. If there are no pavement markings or crosswalks present, where must a driver stop at a stop sign?
Answer: When the front of the vehicle is even with the stop sign’s placement on the roadside. The handbook specifies that in the absence of markings, the vehicle should stop aligned with the physical location of the stop sign.
Tennessee driver handbook, page 63: “If no pavement markings are present, stop when the front of your vehicle is even with the stop sign’s placement on the roadside.”