Practice breakdowns, emergency vehicles and railroad crossings, with questions based on the Colorado Driver Handbook.
Speeding up
If a vehicle is about to strike you from behind or from the side and there is room ahead, speeding up can get you clear.
Turning the vehicle
In most cases you can turn faster than you can stop, so consider turning if it will not cause another crash.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Emergencies, Turning quickly, printed p. 25 (PDF p. 28)
Get everyone out and far away right away
Get everyone out and away at once, even if you see no train, then call the number on the blue sign.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Railroad Crossing, printed p. 21 (PDF p. 24)
It can cause a worse crash than hitting it
A drastic swerve can make you lose control. Hitting the animal may be safest, so focus on keeping control.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Emergencies, Animals, printed p. 26 (PDF p. 29)
About one mile
A freight train at that speed needs about a mile, so never try to beat one to a crossing.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Railroad Crossing, printed p. 21 (PDF p. 24)
Brake, then release it before you steer
Braking slows you some, but release it before the evasive turn so the front wheels do not lock.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Emergencies, Turning quickly, printed p. 26 (PDF p. 29)
Pull off the road and try the switch
Get off the road as soon as you can and try the switch. If that fails, use flashers, turn signals or fog lights.
Apply it slowly, ready to release it
Apply it slowly so the rear wheels do not lock, and release it if the car starts to skid.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Vehicle Emergencies, Brake failure, printed p. 26 (PDF p. 29)
As live, touching neither it nor anything it touches
Always assume a hanging overhead wire is electrified, and report it to 911 or RTD.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Light Rail, printed p. 22 (PDF p. 25)
Off the road in a safe place once slowed
Keep the car straight and slow gradually, then pull off the road. Avoid stopping on the road.
Source: Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Vehicle Emergencies, Tire blowout, printed p. 26 (PDF p. 29)
We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337, January 2025 (file DR_2337_Jan2025.pdf, footer DR 2337 (12/05/24), PDF created 2024-12-04, 36 pages), linked from https://dmv.colorado.gov/drivereducation. dmv.colorado.gov refuses automated requests (Cloudflare 403), so the owner supplied the file; read 2026-11-09. Citations give the printed page and the PDF page (PDF page = printed page + 3). PDF pages 23 (printed p. 20) and 33 also carry hidden, off-page text left over from an older edition (sections 13.3-13.5 and 15.5-16, e.g. school bus fines of up to $300 and six points); it is not visible on the page and no fact is taken from it. Where the handbook is silent, DMV pages (dmv.colorado.gov, read 2026-11-09 through a fetch tool), the Code of Colorado Regulations (1 CCR 204-30, Rule 8) and signed acts on leg.colorado.gov are the source. Statute checks used the 2024 compilation of C.R.S. title 42 (as republished by colorado.public.law, not an official host, so it is not cited) together with the 2024-2026 bills that changed it. edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.
DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.