Minnesota permit test: conditions, emergencies and crashes
Scanning, night driving, crashes, winter driving, skids, rain, fog, hydroplaning, vehicle failures, deer, floods and carbon monoxide. 29 questions, 10 at a time, starting with ones you haven't seen.
Rules to remember10 key conditions, emergencies and crashes rulesShow the rules
- Never crowd a snowplow; pass only when you can see the entire vehicle, and stay well back to avoid flying sand and snow. (p. 84)
- Stop as often as you need, at least once every 100 miles or every two hours, to walk, stretch and rest. (p. 85)
- Running the engine about 10 minutes each hour charges the battery and warms the car while saving fuel. (p. 85)
- When hydroplaning, take your foot off the gas pedal; you cannot brake, accelerate or steer well until tires touch the road again. (p. 86)
- In heavy rain, standard cars may begin to hydroplane at 35 mph. (p. 86)
- Two feet of moving water can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups; never drive into a flooded road. (p. 88)
- Most cars float for 30 to 60 seconds, so get out immediately, through an open window if possible. (p. 88)
- Just 6 inches of water reaches the bottom of most passenger cars and can cause loss of control or stalling. (p. 88)
- If headlights fail, try parking lights, hazard lights or turn signals; one may give enough light to get off the road. (p. 89)
- After hitting a utility pole or power box, stay in the vehicle and call 911; get out only if the car is on fire. (p. 89)
Taken from the explanations to checked practice questions; page numbers link to the official handbook.
Sample conditions, emergencies and crashes questions
1.Your car is stuck in snow. How does the manual say to rock it free?
- ALet air out of all four tires
- BTurn the wheel sharply side to side
- CSpin the tires hard in one gear
- DWheels straight, gently forward then back
Show the answer
✓ D. Wheels straight, gently forward then back
Rock the car free by keeping the front wheels straight and gently driving forward, then backward, without spinning the tires.
2.Smoke rises from under your hood. You pull off and get out. What should you NOT do?
- ATurn off the ignition
- BUse water to put out the fire
- CMove away from the car
- DCall for help
Show the answer
✓ B. Use water to put out the fire
Pull off, turn off the ignition and get out; do not use water on an engine fire, because it can spread the blaze.
3.While stranded in the cold, how long should you run the engine to warm up and charge the battery?
- AAbout 30 minutes each hour
- BAbout 10 minutes each hour
- CNever run the engine
- DNonstop until help comes
Show the answer
✓ B. About 10 minutes each hour
Running the engine about 10 minutes each hour charges the battery and warms the car while saving fuel.
4.Your right wheels drift onto the gravel shoulder. What should you do?
- ASlow on the shoulder, then return
- BBrake hard while on the shoulder
- CSpeed up and steer sharply left
- DSwerve right back onto the road
Show the answer
✓ A. Slow on the shoulder, then return
Do not swerve back; stay on the shoulder, slowly release the gas, then steer back onto the pavement once you have slowed.