20 questions from the Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39). Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1. What is the minimum clearance required by state law when a motorist passes a cyclist?
Answer: Three feet. The handbook specifies that state law mandates a minimum of three feet of clearance when passing cyclists.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 22: “State law requires motorists to pass cyclists with at least three feet of clearance.”
2. How should drivers behave when encountering a funeral procession?
Answer: Yield to the procession and do not cut through or interfere. Drivers are required to yield to funeral processions and avoid interfering with their movement by cutting through or joining them.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 18: “You must yield to funeral processions. Do not cut through, join or interfere with a funeral procession.”
3. According to the handbook, what is the maximum fine for exceeding the speed limit in a highway work zone?
Answer: $500. The handbook states that the fine for speeding in a work zone can be up to $500.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 12: “If you are convicted of exceeding the speed limit in a highway work zone, you may be fined up to $500.”
4. How should a driver respond to a lane marked with a red X signal?
Answer: Never drive in the lane. The handbook clearly instructs drivers to never drive in lanes marked with a red X signal.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 8: “Red X: Never drive in a lane marked with a red X signal.”
5. What does a yellow painted curb generally indicate regarding parking rules?
Answer: Stop only long enough to load or unload and stay with your car. The handbook defines yellow curbs as areas for loading or unloading where the driver must remain with the vehicle.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 15: “Yellow — Stop only long enough to load or unload. Stay with your car.”
6. What does the 'Divided Highway Begins' sign indicate about the roadway ahead?
Answer: The highway is split into two separate one-way roadways. The sign informs drivers that the road divides into separate one-way sections separated by a median.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 10: “The highway ahead is split into two separate roadways by a median or divider and each roadway is one-way.”
7. Under what condition is a licensed driver aged 18, 19, or 20 permitted to sit in the front passenger seat with a learner's permit holder?
Answer: If they are the learner's legal guardian, sibling, half-sibling, step-brother, or step-sister. The handbook specifies that drivers aged 18-20 are eligible to supervise only if they hold specific familial relationships to the learner, such as being a guardian or sibling.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 33: “The licensed driver with you may be age 18, 19, or 20 if he or she is your legal guardian, brother, sister, halfbrother, half-sister, step brother or stepsister.”
8. Under what condition are law enforcement officers required to forward a written crash report to the DMV?
Answer: When the crash results in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $3,000. The handbook specifies that reports are forwarded to the DMV only when there is injury, death, or property damage over $3,000.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 27: “Law enforcement officers are required to forward a written crash report to DMV when a traffic crash results in injury or the death of any person or total property damage is in excess of $3,000.”
9. Where may a rear-facing child seat be placed if the vehicle does not have a back seat?
Answer: In the front passenger seat if the air bag is off or absent. The handbook allows placing a rear-facing seat in the front passenger seat only if there is no back seat and the passenger air bag is either absent or turned off.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 29: “If the vehicle does not have a back seat, a rear facing child seat may be placed in the front passenger seat if the vehicle is not equipped with a passenger side air bag or if the passenger air bag is turned off.”
10. When vehicles from different directions arrive at the same time at an intersection with no signs or signals, which driver must yield?
Answer: The driver on the left must allow the driver on the right to go first. The handbook states that in this specific scenario, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 18: “When vehicles from different directions arrive at the same time at an intersection with no signs or signals, the driver on the left must allow the driver on the right to go first.”
11. What action should a driver take if their car stalls on railroad tracks?
Answer: Get out of the car right away and run diagonally away from the tracks in the direction of the oncoming train. The handbook instructs drivers to exit immediately and run diagonally away from the tracks toward the oncoming train.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 12: “If your car stalls on the tracks, don’t hesitate. Get out of the car right away and run diagonally away from the tracks in the direction of the oncoming train.”
12. Which of the following is NOT listed as a reliable method for staying awake while driving?
Answer: Consuming caffeine. The handbook categorizes consuming caffeine and other stimulants as unreliable methods for staying awake.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 26: “Rolling down a window, chewing gum, turning up the radio, or consuming caffeine, energy drinks or other stimulants do not prevent drowsy driving and are not reliable methods for staying awake.”
13. What do red reflectors on the pavement indicate according to the handbook?
Answer: Areas not to be entered or used. The handbook defines red reflectors as markers for areas that drivers should not enter or use.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 13: “Red reflectors on the pavement show areas not to be entered or used.”
14. According to the handbook, how should you apply brakes when stopping on an icy or slippery road?
Answer: Apply brakes gently. The handbook instructs drivers to apply brakes gently when stopping on icy or slippery surfaces.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 37: “If you are driving on an icy or slippery road and have to stop: a. Apply brakes gently.”
15. Under what condition is a driver NOT required to stop for a school bus on the opposite side of the road?
Answer: When there is a median or barrier dividing the road. The rule states that a stop is not required if a physical median or barrier separates the opposing lanes of traffic.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 17: “You do not have to stop if you are traveling in the opposite direction on a roadway with a median or barrier dividing the road and the bus is on the opposite side of the median or barrier.”
16. When approaching a 'Low Clearance Sign', what condition must a vehicle meet to proceed under the overpass?
Answer: The vehicle must be shorter than the height shown on the sign. The handbook advises not proceeding if the vehicle's height exceeds the limit displayed on the sign.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 10: “Do not proceed if your vehicle is taller than the height shown on the sign.”
17. According to the handbook, what is the minimum duration of sleep recommended to make a significant difference when stopping for rest?
Answer: 10 to 20 minutes. The handbook states that a nap of 10 to 20 minutes is sufficient to help combat drowsiness.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 26: “As little as 10 to 20 minutes of sleep can make a big difference.”
18. When entering a roundabout, to whom must entering traffic yield the right-of-way?
Answer: To pedestrians and traffic already in the circle. The handbook clearly lists both pedestrians and existing traffic within the circle as those who have priority over entering vehicles.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 18: “Entering traffic must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, and to traffic already in the circle.”
19. When approaching an intersection, in what order should a driver look?
Answer: Left first, then right, then left again. The handbook instructs drivers to look left first because vehicles from that direction are closer, followed by a look right, and finally another quick look left.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 21: “At any intersection, look to the left first, since cars coming from the left will be closer to you. Then look to the right and take one more quick look to the left before you drive through.”
20. How should you position your front wheels when parking uphill with a curb?
Answer: Turn them to the left. The handbook instructs drivers to turn their front wheels to the left when parking uphill next to a curb.
Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), page 24: “Parking uphill — with curb Turn front wheels left”