IA DMV Safe Driving Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Iowa, what is the 'Move Over' law designed to protect?
- Cyclists sharing the road
- Emergency and service workers stopped on roadsides (Correct answer)
- School children crossing streets
- Slow-moving farm equipment
Correct answer: Emergency and service workers stopped on roadsides
Iowa's Move Over law requires drivers to change lanes or slow down when passing stopped emergency, maintenance, or utility vehicles with flashing lights.
Question 2: When must you turn on your headlights in Iowa according to state law?
- Only after dark
- From sunset to sunrise and any time visibility is less than 500 feet (Correct answer)
- Whenever it is raining
- Only in school zones at night
Correct answer: From sunset to sunrise and any time visibility is less than 500 feet
Iowa requires headlights from sunset to sunrise and when conditions reduce visibility to less than 500 feet.
Question 3: You are driving on a rural Iowa highway and see a large farm tractor ahead traveling at 15 mph. What is the safest action?
- Pass immediately by crossing the double yellow line
- Tailgate to signal the tractor to pull over
- Reduce speed, increase following distance, and pass only when safe and legal (Correct answer)
- Honk repeatedly until the tractor moves
Correct answer: Reduce speed, increase following distance, and pass only when safe and legal
Slow-moving farm vehicles are common in Iowa; follow patiently and pass only when you have a clear view and it is legal to do so.
Question 4: What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean?
- Stop and wait for green
- Yield and proceed with caution (Correct answer)
- The light is about to turn red
- No through traffic allowed
Correct answer: Yield and proceed with caution
A flashing yellow light means slow down, yield to cross traffic and pedestrians, and proceed with caution.
Question 5: When backing out of a driveway in Iowa, what is the safest technique?
- Back out quickly to minimize time in traffic
- Check all mirrors and blind spots before and during backing (Correct answer)
- Rely only on the rear-view mirror
- Sound the horn continuously while backing
Correct answer: Check all mirrors and blind spots before and during backing
Before and while backing, check all mirrors and physically turn to check blind spots to ensure the path is clear.
Question 6: On an Iowa expressway, which lane should you use for normal driving (not passing)?
- The leftmost lane
- Any lane equally
- The rightmost lane (Correct answer)
- The center lane
Correct answer: The rightmost lane
Iowa law and safe driving practices require using the right lane for normal travel and the left lane only for passing.
Question 7: What is the primary danger of driving while drowsy?
- Reduced fuel efficiency
- Slowed reaction time and risk of falling asleep at the wheel (Correct answer)
- Increased sensitivity to headlight glare
- Difficulty reading road signs
Correct answer: Slowed reaction time and risk of falling asleep at the wheel
Drowsy driving significantly slows reaction time and increases the risk of microsleeps or falling asleep, leading to crashes.
IA DMV Safe Driving Practices 3
In Iowa, what is the 'Move Over' law designed to protect?