Joshua's Law Practice Test 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is Joshua's Law?
- Georgia's law requiring teens to complete a state-approved driver education course before licensing (Correct answer)
- A law that bans teens from driving after 9pm statewide
- A federal law requiring seatbelts in all vehicles
- A law that only applies to commercial truck drivers
Correct answer: Georgia's law requiring teens to complete a state-approved driver education course before licensing
Joshua's Law, enacted in 2005 and named after Joshua Brown, requires Georgia teens to complete an approved driver education course (either classroom-based or a certified online course, plus 40 hours of supervised driving, 6 of which must be at night) before they can obtain a Class D learner's license or driving without one gets restricted.
Question 2: At what age can a Georgia teen first apply for a Class D (learner's) license?
- 15 (Correct answer)
- 14
- 16
- 17
Correct answer: 15
Georgia's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) program allows teens to apply for a Class D learner's permit at age 15, provided they pass the written knowledge test and vision screening.
Question 3: How many hours of supervised driving must a Georgia teen log before getting a Class D license, and how many of those must be at night?
- 40 hours total, including at least 6 hours at night (Correct answer)
- 20 hours total, including 2 hours at night
- 100 hours total, no night requirement
- 10 hours total, all during the day
Correct answer: 40 hours total, including at least 6 hours at night
Georgia requires 40 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 6 hours of nighttime driving, logged with a parent or guardian before advancing from a learner's permit to a Class D license.
Question 4: At what age can a Georgia teen get an unrestricted Class C license?
- 18 (Correct answer)
- 16
- 17
- 21
Correct answer: 18
Under Georgia's GDL system, a Class D license holder who has driven violation-free can move to a full, unrestricted Class C license at age 18.
Question 5: What is the nighttime driving curfew for a Georgia Class D license holder?
- 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., unrestricted driving prohibited (Correct answer)
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- There is no nighttime curfew for Class D drivers
- 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Correct answer: 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., unrestricted driving prohibited
Class D licensees (typically ages 16-17) may not drive between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed adult 21 or older, or driving to/from a job, school activity, or emergency.
Question 6: How many non-family passengers under age 21 can a Class D license holder (in the first 6 months) carry in the vehicle?
- No more than one (Correct answer)
- Up to three
- There is no passenger limit
- Up to five
Correct answer: No more than one
During the first 6 months with a Class D license, Georgia teens may not carry more than one passenger under age 21 who is not an immediate family member. After 6 months violation-free, that limit rises to three.
Question 7: Under Georgia law, is texting while driving legal for a teen driver under 18?
- No — drivers under 18 may not use a wireless device at all while driving (Correct answer)
- Yes, as long as it's hands-free
- Yes, texting is always legal in Georgia
- Only illegal after 10 p.m.
Correct answer: No — drivers under 18 may not use a wireless device at all while driving
Georgia's Hands-Free Georgia Act bans handheld phone use, including texting, for ALL drivers, but it is even more strictly enforced for drivers under 18 — Class D and Class P license holders may not use a wireless device at all while driving, even hands-free, with limited emergency exceptions.
Question 8: What is Georgia's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers under 21?
- 0.02% (Correct answer)
- 0.08%
- 0.05%
- 0.00% only, any other amount is legal
Correct answer: 0.02%
Georgia has a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving: the legal BAC limit for drivers under 21 is 0.02%, far below the 0.08% limit for drivers 21 and older, meaning essentially any detectable alcohol can result in a DUI charge.
Question 9: What is the safest following distance to maintain behind another vehicle in normal conditions?
- At least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead (Correct answer)
- One car length regardless of speed
- There is no recommended following distance
- Half a second is sufficient at any speed
Correct answer: At least 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead
The 3-second rule is the standard defensive-driving guideline: pick a fixed point the car ahead passes, and count at least 3 seconds before your vehicle reaches that same point. This should be increased in poor weather or heavy traffic.
Question 10: When must all occupants of a vehicle in Georgia wear a seatbelt?
- Every occupant — front seat always, and everyone under 18 regardless of seating position (Correct answer)
- Only the driver is required to wear a seatbelt
- Only front-seat passengers over 18
- Seatbelts are optional in Georgia
Correct answer: Every occupant — front seat always, and everyone under 18 regardless of seating position
Georgia law requires all drivers and passengers in the front seat, plus passengers ages 8-18 anywhere in the vehicle, to wear seatbelts. Children under 8 (and under a certain height) must be in an appropriate car seat or booster.
Question 11: What should a driver do when approaching a stopped school bus with flashing red lights on a two-lane road?
- Stop, in both directions, until the lights stop flashing and the stop arm retracts (Correct answer)
- Slow down but continue driving
- Only vehicles behind the bus must stop
- Pass carefully at reduced speed
Correct answer: Stop, in both directions, until the lights stop flashing and the stop arm retracts
Drivers in both directions must stop for a school bus with extended stop-arm and flashing red lights on a two-lane road (undivided), and may not proceed until the lights stop flashing and the arm is retracted. Only on a divided highway with a median can opposing traffic legally continue.
Question 12: What is a key sign of drowsy driving that a new driver should watch for?
- Drifting out of your lane or not remembering the last few miles driven (Correct answer)
- Driving exactly at the speed limit
- Checking mirrors every few seconds
- Keeping both hands on the wheel
Correct answer: Drifting out of your lane or not remembering the last few miles driven
Warning signs of drowsy driving include frequent yawning, drifting from your lane, difficulty keeping your eyes open, and not remembering the last few miles driven. Drowsy driving impairs reaction time similarly to alcohol and is a leading cause of teen crashes, especially on long or nighttime drives.
Question 13: What does 'move over' law require Georgia drivers to do when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights on the shoulder?
- Move over a lane if possible, or slow down significantly if you can't (Correct answer)
- Maintain your current speed and lane
- Stop completely in your lane
- Speed up to pass quickly
Correct answer: Move over a lane if possible, or slow down significantly if you can't
Georgia's Move Over Law requires drivers to move into a non-adjacent lane if possible, or if they can't move over safely, to slow down significantly, when passing a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck, or utility vehicle with flashing lights.
Question 14: How does black ice typically differ from visible snow or slush on the road?
- It's nearly invisible/transparent and often forms first on bridges and overpasses (Correct answer)
- It is always bright white and easy to spot
- It only forms in parking lots
- It is warmer than the surrounding pavement
Correct answer: It's nearly invisible/transparent and often forms first on bridges and overpasses
Black ice is a thin, transparent layer of ice that blends in with the road surface, making it nearly invisible — unlike snow or slush, which are visually obvious. It commonly forms on bridges, overpasses, and shaded roads first because those surfaces cool faster.
Question 15: What should a new driver do first if their vehicle begins to hydroplane?
- Ease off the accelerator and avoid sudden braking or sharp turns (Correct answer)
- Slam on the brakes immediately
- Turn the wheel sharply toward the shoulder
- Accelerate to regain traction
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and avoid sudden braking or sharp turns
If a vehicle hydroplanes, the correct response is to ease off the accelerator and avoid slamming the brakes or turning sharply, both of which can cause loss of control. Gently steering straight while decelerating allows the tires to regain contact with the road.
Question 16: What is the purpose of a parent-teen driving agreement, often recommended alongside Joshua's Law training?
- To set clear, agreed-upon expectations and gradually expand driving privileges as trust is earned (Correct answer)
- To legally replace the need for a driver's license
- It is a government-mandated form filed with the DMV
- It only applies after a teen's first accident
Correct answer: To set clear, agreed-upon expectations and gradually expand driving privileges as trust is earned
A parent-teen driving agreement is a written set of rules and expectations (curfews, passenger limits, phone use, destinations) agreed on by parent and teen, designed to extend structured, gradual driving privileges as the teen demonstrates safe habits — reinforcing what the GDL program requires by law.
Question 17: What must a Georgia teen do to obtain their Class D license after holding a learner's permit?
- Hold the permit 12 months violation-free, log 40 supervised hours, and pass the road test (Correct answer)
- Simply turn 16 — no additional requirements
- Complete only the written knowledge test again
- Wait 30 days after the permit is issued
Correct answer: Hold the permit 12 months violation-free, log 40 supervised hours, and pass the road test
To move from a Class D learner's permit to a full Class D license, a teen must be at least 16, have held the permit at least 12 months without a major traffic conviction, complete the required 40 hours of supervised driving (6 at night), and pass the road skills test.
Question 18: Why was Joshua's Law created?
- To require structured driver education for new teen drivers after a teen's crash death led to advocacy for the law (Correct answer)
- To reduce the number of vehicles registered in Georgia
- To eliminate the written driving test
- To lower the minimum driving age
Correct answer: To require structured driver education for new teen drivers after a teen's crash death led to advocacy for the law
Joshua's Law is named for Joshua Brown, a Georgia teen killed in a car crash in 2003. His parents advocated for mandatory driver education, and the law passed in 2005 to give new teen drivers structured training rather than relying only on a written test and minimal road experience.
