Iowa Car / Permit practice
Iowa Car / Permit: Handling Emergencies practice test
What to do when things go wrong — brake failure, tire blowouts, skids, and stalling on railroad tracks.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
16 questions · pass with 13 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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12 sample Handling Emergencies questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
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1. You run into dense fog on an Iowa highway. Which lights should you use?
Correct answer: Low beams or fog lights
Use low beams or fog lamps; high beams bounce off the fog and create glare that makes seeing even harder. Slow down until your speed suits how far you can actually see.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Fog
2. Your vehicle has been swept into water and is submerged. What does the Iowa manual advise?
Correct answer: Stay calm, let the cabin fill so the doors open easily, then swim up
Stay calm and let the cabin fill; once it is full the doors open much more easily, then hold your breath and swim upward.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Flooded Roadways
3. What is the correct response when a tire suddenly goes flat at speed?
Correct answer: Hold the wheel firmly, keep going straight, and slow down gradually
Grip the wheel firmly, keep the vehicle tracking straight, ease off the accelerator and brake lightly, then leave the roadway somewhere safe.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Flat Tire
4. You cannot get a disabled vehicle off the roadway. Where should you avoid stopping?
Correct answer: Just past the crest of a hill or right around a curve
Choose a spot where approaching drivers get a clear look at your vehicle, which means never stopping just beyond a hilltop or immediately around a bend.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 4, Hazard Lights
5. Your headlights go out on a dark road. What does the Iowa manual suggest trying?
Correct answer: Switch the headlight control a few times and try the high beams
Work the headlight switch a few times, try the high beams, and if nothing comes back, use the flashers, turn signals, or fog lights while you pull off the road.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Lights
6. Your car stalls on railroad tracks and a train is coming. What should everyone do?
Correct answer: Leave the vehicle at once and move off at a 45-degree angle toward the train
Get everybody out of the vehicle at once and move away from the rails at a 45-degree angle, walking toward the oncoming train so flying debris is thrown behind you.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 2, If Your Vehicle Stalls
7. The accelerator sticks and the engine keeps racing after you lift your foot. What should you do first?
Correct answer: Shift quickly into neutral
Keep your eyes on the road and shift promptly into neutral, then pull off when it is safe and shut the engine down after stopping.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Stuck Gas Pedal
8. Your brakes stop responding. What is the first thing the Iowa manual tells you to try?
Correct answer: Pump the brake pedal several times
Pumping the pedal several times often builds enough pressure to stop; if that fails, apply the parking brake gradually, then work down through lower gears.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Brake Failure
9. Why does the Iowa manual warn against removing the ignition key while the vehicle is moving?
Correct answer: The steering wheel will lock, which can cause a loss of control
Many vehicles have anti-theft steering locks; pulling the key locks the wheel, which can cost you control and lead to a crash.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Steering Lock Systems
10. Your vehicle is stuck at a railroad crossing that has no blue and white sign posted. Who should you call?
Correct answer: 911
The blue and white Emergency Notification System sign normally carries the railroad's number and a crossing ID; when there is no such sign, dial 911.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 2, Railroad Crossings
11. A tornado is bearing down while you are driving. What does the Iowa manual recommend?
Correct answer: Look for a sturdy building for shelter, and keep away from bridges and overpasses
The best plan is to reach a solid building; if you cannot, pull over and duck below the windows with your belt fastened, or take cover in a low ditch, and stay clear of bridges and overpasses.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Tornadoes
12. You find a child locked in a hot car in Iowa and cannot reach the owner. What does the manual say about breaking a window?
Correct answer: It is legal in order to give medical attention to whoever is trapped
Iowa permits breaking a window so medical help can reach a trapped person or pet; the interior can climb past 160 degrees in under ten minutes.
Source: Iowa Driver's License Manual — Chapter 5, Closed Vehicles on a Hot Day
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