South Dakota DPS Permit Practice Test 7
Test 7 of 10. Pick an answer for each question to see if it is right and why; your score appears at the end. You need 20 correct answers to pass, the same ratio as the real South Dakota test.
- Questions25
- Correct to pass20
- Passing score80%
- Minimum age14 years
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1. A steady green downward arrow is displayed above the lane you are in. What does it tell you?
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Answer A: You may drive in that lane
A green downward arrow means the lane beneath it is open for travel in your direction.
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2. Another driver cuts you off and you feel your temper rising. What should you do?
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Answer A: Take a breath, drop back and let it go, because the whole trip matters more
Retaliation turns a moment of bad driving into a crash, and dropping back costs you only a few seconds.
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3. When should you arrange your way home if you plan to drink?
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Answer C: Before the first drink
Judgment is the first thing alcohol weakens, so the plan has to be made while you can still make a good one.
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4. What is the maximum gross vehicle weight a South Dakota restricted minor's permit holder may generally operate?
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Answer B: 20,000 pounds
A restricted minor's permit does not authorize operating a vehicle over 20,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, apart from an exception for certain unregistered self-propelled farm machinery.
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5. Under South Dakota's child passenger law, when may a child under five ride in an ordinary seat belt instead of a child restraint system?
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Answer A: When the child weighs at least 40 pounds
South Dakota treats the requirement as met if a child under five weighs at least 40 pounds and is secured by a seat belt.
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6. Under South Dakota's mobile electronic device law, which use is still allowed while driving?
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Answer D: Operating the device in a voice-operated or hands-free mode
The statute exempts use in a voice-operated or hands-free mode as long as the driver does not use their hands except to activate or deactivate a feature.
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7. What makes up the total distance needed to bring a vehicle to a stop?
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Answer A: The distance covered while you perceive the hazard, the distance covered while you react, and the braking distance
Total stopping distance combines the ground covered while you notice the hazard, the ground covered while you move your foot to the brake, and the ground covered while the brakes slow the vehicle.
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8. How can you tell that a child safety seat is installed tightly enough?
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Answer C: It moves less than an inch side to side or front to back at the belt path
A correctly installed seat is nearly immovable where the belt or lower anchors pass through it. Excess movement lets the child's body travel farther in a crash.
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9. Under South Dakota law, may an officer seize a driver's phone simply to prove a mobile device violation occurred?
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Answer D: No, seizure to establish the violation is not allowed unless standard search-and-seizure requirements are separately met
The statute bars using seizure of the device merely to prove a mobile-device violation, though seizure remains possible when ordinary search-and-seizure rules are independently satisfied.
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10. You notice a bulge on the sidewall of one of your tires. What should you do?
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Answer D: Have the tire replaced before driving far, because it could blow out
A sidewall bulge means the internal cords have broken and only the rubber is holding the air. The tire can fail suddenly at any speed.
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11. How does alcohol typically affect a driver's vision?
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Answer D: It blurs vision, weakens night vision and narrows attention to the sides
Alcohol slows the eye muscles and the brain's processing of what is seen, degrading focus, night vision, depth perception and awareness of movement at the edges of the field of view.
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12. What counts as a complete stop at a stop sign?
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Answer C: The wheels stop turning before the stop line
A legal stop means the vehicle is no longer moving, made at the stop line or before entering the crosswalk or intersection.
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13. What audibility standard does South Dakota law set for a vehicle's horn?
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Answer C: Audible from at least 200 feet under normal conditions
State law requires a horn capable of being heard from at least 200 feet away under normal conditions.
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14. The engine dies at speed and the dashboard lights go out on a dark road. What should you do?
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Answer C: Hold the wheel firmly, steer over to the shoulder and use the hazard lights
Never switch the ignition to lock, because the steering can lock; steer to the shoulder and warn traffic with the hazard lights.
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15. What is the penalty escalation for tampering with a vehicle's odometer in South Dakota?
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Answer B: A Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense, rising to a Class 6 felony for later offenses
Odometer tampering is a Class 1 misdemeanor on a first offense, but becomes a Class 6 felony for subsequent offenses.
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16. You are driving on a rural road with no sidewalk. Where should you expect to meet pedestrians?
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Answer A: Walking toward you on your side of the road
Where there is no sidewalk, pedestrians are taught to walk facing traffic, so they appear on your side of the road coming toward you.
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17. Except for specific situations named in the law, what is the maximum length of time the Department of Public Safety may suspend a South Dakota driver license under its general suspension authority?
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Answer C: One year
The department's general suspension authority caps a suspension at one year, apart from listed statutory exceptions.
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18. What happens under South Dakota law if a driver violates the move-over or slow-down law and causes an accident with the vehicle involved?
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Answer B: The offense is elevated to a Class 1 misdemeanor
Causing an accident while violating the slow-down or move-over requirement raises the offense to a Class 1 misdemeanor, a more serious classification than the base violation.
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19. For a first DUI conviction in South Dakota, what license consequence does the court impose at minimum?
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Answer B: A revocation of at least 30 days, with discretion to extend it up to one additional year
A first DUI conviction is a Class 1 misdemeanor requiring at least a 30-day revocation, which the court may extend up to a further year.
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20. How many hours of supervised driving must a South Dakota minor complete while holding an instruction permit?
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Answer C: 50 hours
The minor must log 50 supervised hours, of which at least 10 must be in inclement weather and at least 10 must be after dark.
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21. You have strapped luggage to the roof rack for a long trip. What should you expect?
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Answer D: A higher center of gravity, so take the curves and lane changes gently
Weight on the roof raises the center of gravity and makes the vehicle lean and respond more slowly to steering.
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22. You are approaching the crest of a hill and cannot see the road beyond it. What should you do?
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Answer C: Slow down and keep well to the right
Beyond a blind crest there may be a stopped vehicle, a cyclist or an oncoming driver crossing the center line, so reduce speed and hold your own side.
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23. At a four-way stop you and an opposing driver arrive together. You are going straight and the other driver is turning left across your path. Who goes first?
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Answer B: You do, because the left turn crosses your path
When two opposing drivers arrive together, the one going straight goes first and the left-turning driver yields.
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24. In South Dakota, what must you do when you approach a stopped emergency vehicle that is using red visual signals?
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Answer D: Come to a complete stop before reaching it and proceed only when it is safe
South Dakota requires drivers coming from any direction to stop completely before reaching a stopped emergency vehicle displaying red lights, then proceed with caution once it is safe.
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25. Why is parking against the flow of traffic dangerous even when nobody complains?
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Answer D: Because you had to cross traffic to get there and must cross again to leave
Parking on the wrong side means driving against traffic at both ends of the stop, and your reflectors and lights face the wrong way while you are there.