Iowa Car / Permit: Right-of-Way Practice Test

Question 1

An emergency vehicle comes up behind you while you are already inside an intersection. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Clear the intersection first, then pull to the side — Drive on out of the intersection first and pull over past it, rather than stopping in the middle of the crossing.

Answer

Stop right where you are

Answer

Back up out of the intersection

Answer

Turn right immediately no matter what

Question 2

You are meeting a school bus head-on on a two-lane Iowa road and its amber warning lights begin flashing. What is required?

Accepted Answer

Cut your speed to no more than 20 mph and prepare to stop — You must cut your speed to 20 mph at most and be ready to stop, then stop once the bus halts and extends its stop arm.

Answer

Maintain your speed and pass carefully

Answer

Move onto the shoulder and continue

Answer

Stop only if children are visible

Question 3

You are pulling out of an alley onto a busy street in Iowa. What is your obligation?

Accepted Answer

Wait for the vehicles already traveling on that street — Anyone pulling onto a road from a driveway, an alley, or the roadside has to wait for vehicles already traveling there.

Answer

Traffic on the street must slow for you

Answer

You have priority if you sound your horn

Answer

You may merge without stopping if you signal

Question 4

What does the Iowa manual say about crossing a sidewalk as you back out of a driveway?

Accepted Answer

Yield to people on the sidewalk; driving on one is illegal except to cross it — You must give way to people on the sidewalk, and driving along a sidewalk is illegal except for the short movement needed to cross it.

Answer

Pedestrians must wait for vehicles leaving a driveway

Answer

You may drive along the sidewalk to reach the street

Answer

The rule applies only to marked sidewalks

Question 5

Driving on a highway of four lanes or more, you meet a stopped school bus in the opposing lanes with its stop arm extended. What does Iowa law require?

Accepted Answer

You may continue without stopping — This is the single situation in which you may keep going past a stopped bus displaying its stop arm, because you are separated from it by two or more opposing lanes.

Answer

You must stop until the arm retracts

Answer

You must stop 15 feet from the bus

Answer

You must stop only if the red lights are flashing

Question 6

Amber lights start flashing rapidly at a rectangular rapid flashing beacon as you approach. What must you do?

Accepted Answer

Stop for anyone in the crosswalk and watch for others about to step in — Motorists have to stop for anyone already inside the crosswalk and stay alert for others who are about to step into it.

Answer

Sound your horn to warn people to wait

Answer

Proceed, since amber is only advisory

Answer

Stop only if a police officer is present

Question 7

You are entering a single-lane roundabout in Iowa. Who has priority?

Accepted Answer

Vehicles already circulating; wait at the yield line for a gap — Traffic already circulating in the roundabout goes first, so you wait at the yield line for a gap before merging counterclockwise.

Answer

Whoever reaches the circle at the higher speed

Answer

Entering vehicles, since circulating traffic can keep moving

Answer

The vehicle in the outside lane always

Question 8

According to the Iowa manual, what is the leading cause of traffic-related deaths in the state?

Accepted Answer

Failing to yield the right-of-way — The manual highlights failing to yield the right-of-way as the number one contributor to fatal crashes in Iowa.

Answer

Driving with worn tires

Answer

Improperly adjusted mirrors

Answer

Parking too far from the curb

Question 9

Two vehicles approach an uncontrolled gravel-road intersection at about the same time. Which one gives way?

Accepted Answer

The vehicle coming from the left — At an intersection with no stop or yield sign, the vehicle arriving from the left is the one that must yield, and no driver should assume the other will stop.

Answer

The vehicle traveling faster

Answer

The vehicle coming from the right

Answer

Whichever driver honks first

Question 10

An ambulance is approaching with its siren and flashing lights on. What is your first move?

Accepted Answer

Steer as far toward the right-hand edge of the road as you safely can — Drivers are told to pull toward the right-hand edge of the road, or as close to that edge as circumstances allow, whichever direction the emergency vehicle is coming from.

Answer

Stop immediately in your lane

Answer

Speed up to clear the area

Answer

Move to the left shoulder

Question 11

A person ahead of you is walking with a white cane tipped in red. What should you assume?

Accepted Answer

The person is probably visually impaired, so take extra care — A white cane, a white cane with a red tip, or a harnessed service animal signals that the person is probably visually impaired, so use extra caution to avoid injuring them.

Answer

The person is a road worker

Answer

The cane is decorative and needs no response

Answer

The person has already seen your vehicle

Question 12

You are waiting to turn left at an intersection while a car comes toward you intending to continue straight. Who yields?

Accepted Answer

You do, because a left-turning driver yields to oncoming traffic going straight — The driver making the left turn must wait for oncoming vehicles that are proceeding straight through.

Answer

The oncoming driver, because you arrived first

Answer

Neither; both may proceed together

Answer

Whoever has the wider vehicle

Iowa Car / Permit: Right-of-Way practice test

Study questions with answers

1. An emergency vehicle comes up behind you while you are already inside an intersection. What should you do?

2. You are meeting a school bus head-on on a two-lane Iowa road and its amber warning lights begin flashing. What is required?

3. You are pulling out of an alley onto a busy street in Iowa. What is your obligation?

4. What does the Iowa manual say about crossing a sidewalk as you back out of a driveway?

5. Driving on a highway of four lanes or more, you meet a stopped school bus in the opposing lanes with its stop arm extended. What does Iowa law require?

6. Amber lights start flashing rapidly at a rectangular rapid flashing beacon as you approach. What must you do?

7. You are entering a single-lane roundabout in Iowa. Who has priority?

8. According to the Iowa manual, what is the leading cause of traffic-related deaths in the state?

9. Two vehicles approach an uncontrolled gravel-road intersection at about the same time. Which one gives way?

10. An ambulance is approaching with its siren and flashing lights on. What is your first move?

11. A person ahead of you is walking with a white cane tipped in red. What should you assume?

12. You are waiting to turn left at an intersection while a car comes toward you intending to continue straight. Who yields?

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Practice Right-of-Way in another state