Idaho Emergencies practice test

Practice breakdowns, emergency vehicles and railroad crossings, with questions based on the Idaho Driver's Handbook.

Sample Emergencies questions

Your brakes lock while stopping fast in a car without ABS. What should you do?

  • Shift into neutral and coast
  • Ease off the pedal, then press again
  • Push the pedal down even harder
  • Turn the steering wheel sharply
Show the answer

Ease off the pedal, then press again

Repeat the press and release until the car stops.

Source: Idaho Driver's Handbook, Stopping Quickly, PDF p. 117

You come upon a crash where police and medical help are already working. What should you do?

  • Honk to warn the crews
  • Keep moving as officers direct
  • Park nearby and offer advice
  • Stop to watch
Show the answer

Keep moving as officers direct

Stop and call 911 only if you are first at the scene.

Source: Idaho Driver's Handbook, At the Scene of the Crash, PDF p. 120

Your car has anti-lock brakes and you must stop hard. What should you do?

  • Pump the pedal rapidly to avoid a skid
  • Keep firm, steady pressure on the pedal
  • Release the pedal when it starts to pulse
  • Use only the parking brake
Show the answer

Keep firm, steady pressure on the pedal

Pumping defeats the ABS and makes the stop longer.

Source: Idaho Driver's Handbook, Stopping Quickly, PDF p. 116

Your rear wheels begin to skid to the right. What should you do?

  • Steer to the left
  • Speed up
  • Brake hard
  • Steer to the right
Show the answer

Steer to the right

Take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid.

Source: Idaho Driver's Handbook, Skidding, PDF pp. 115-116

A tire blows out. When should you start braking?

  • Never, coast to a stop
  • Immediately and hard
  • Only once the car is under control
  • Before you take your foot off the gas
Show the answer

Only once the car is under control

Hold the wheel firmly and ease off the gas first.

Source: Idaho Driver's Handbook, Tire Blowouts, PDF p. 120

Flashing lights at a railroad crossing show a train is coming. Where must you stop?

  • Between 5 and 10 feet from the nearest rail
  • Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
  • At least 100 feet from the tracks
  • Right at the tracks
Show the answer

Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail

Do not go on until it is safe to cross.

Source: Idaho Code, Idaho Code 49-648(1); Railroad Crossings, PDF p. 60

Your car breaks down and you have flares. Where should you place them?

  • Only on the car's roof
  • 50 feet in front of the car
  • Right beside the car
  • 200 to 300 feet behind the car
Show the answer

200 to 300 feet behind the car

Also turn on your flashers and raise the hood.

Source: Idaho Driver's Handbook, If You Have Car Trouble, PDF p. 117

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About these questions

We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Idaho Driver's Handbook (Idaho Driver's Handbook, July 2026 edition (cover dated JULY 2026; driver_manual.pdf in ITD's 2026/04 uploads, 139 PDF pages, form number 01-9530906 on the back cover), the handbook linked from ITD's 'Taking the Driver's Test' guide, read 2026-11-10. The older upload path (wp-content/uploads/2016/06/driver_manual.pdf) served a byte-identical file on 2026-11-10. Page numbers cited are PDF pages, which equal the printed page numbers. PDF page 67 (highway map) and the sign illustrations have no text and were not used. Page 2 states that the handbook paraphrases Idaho statutes and that courts follow the statutes, so every legal rule used in questions was checked against the Idaho Code on legislature.idaho.gov (Title 49, Title 18 chapter 80 and 23-505, read 2026-11-10, with the 2026 amendment history shown on each section). Questions follow the statute. Out-of-date or inconsistent handbook statements and how they were handled: (1) Cell phones (PDF pp. 92-93) describe only a ban on reading, writing or sending text messages, with no points and a moving violation only for commercial drivers. Since July 1, 2020 (fines from January 1, 2021) Idaho Code 49-1401A bans operating a motor vehicle while using any mobile electronic device, including while stopped in traffic, except hands-free or voice use with one touch, emergency calls and hands-free navigation; it is a moving infraction ($75, $150 for a second within three years, $300 after that), three convictions in three years allow a court suspension up to 90 days, a first conviction carries no points, and it is a primary offense. Questions follow the statute; no question uses the handbook's texting-only description. (2) Signal timing: PDF p. 72 says five seconds 'on freeways or highways' and PDF p. 87 'five seconds or 100 feet'; Idaho Code 49-808(2) requires five seconds on controlled-access highways and when leaving a parked position, and the last 100 feet in all other cases. Questions use the statute (100 feet on city streets, five seconds on freeways); signal_before_turn_ft is 100. (3) High-beam dimming: PDF p. 43 says dim 200 feet before overtaking; Idaho Code 49-923(3) requires low beams when following within 200 feet except while actually overtaking and passing. Questions and dim_following_ft use the statute's wording. (4) School bus: PDF p. 70 says opposing traffic need not stop on highways with four or more lanes and two lanes in each direction; Idaho Code 49-1422(1) exempts oncoming traffic on a highway of more than three lanes. The question uses the statute. (5) Passing speed exception (PDF p. 77) covers only two-lane roads; 2026 amendments to Idaho Code 49-654(2)(b) also allow it in passing lanes posted 55 mph or more outside cities. The question is limited to the two-lane case, which both state. (6) Freeway speeds: PDF pp. 83 and 85 say up to 80 mph on rural and 65 mph on urban interstates; Idaho Code 49-654(2)(a) sets 75 mph on interstates unless posted (80 after a study) and 35 mph in urban districts unless posted. Questions use the statute's defaults (PDF p. 68 matches it). (7) Skills test order: PDF p. 33 says the knowledge and skills tests may be taken in either order, while ITD's 'Taking the Driver's Test' page says the knowledge test must be passed first except by applicants under 17 on a supervised instruction permit; not tested. (8) The handbook's bicycle passing distance of at least three feet (PDF pp. 98, 101) is advice; Idaho Code 49-632(1) requires only a safe distance, so bicycle_pass_ft is left open and the one question on it asks what the handbook recommends. (9) Seat belts (PDF p. 41: all occupants) are limited by Idaho Code 49-673 to vehicles up to 8,000 pounds, with secondary enforcement and a $10 fine; the question reflects the statute. Insurance minimums (25/50/15) are not in the handbook and come from Idaho Code 49-117(20) and 49-1229. DUI, test refusal and administrative suspension penalties (PDF pp. 125-127, 131-132), crash reporting over $1,500 (PDF pp. 119, 121), parking distances (PDF p. 81), railroad stopping distance (PDF p. 60), move-over (PDF p. 95), the GDL rules (PDF pp. 15-19) and GDL penalties (PDF p. 125) match the current statutes. 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 Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles, and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.