Practice phone rules and other distractions: 16 questions based on the Maryland Driver's Manual, 8 of them on Maryland's own rules.
Changing radio stations
Phones, radio changes and eating are distractions you should avoid there.
Hearing aids
The ban on devices in both ears does not apply to hearing aids.
One-third
The Be the Focused Driver message gives this figure.
Let voicemail answer it
Letting voicemail answer keeps your attention on the road.
Distracted driving
Any distraction can make you miss what would help you avoid a crash.
No, except for a 911 call
Young drivers face a stricter rule that covers hands-free phones too.
Source: Maryland Driver's Manual, Section 6.C, p. 35; Section 9.A, p. 47
Hands-free
Hands-free calls are allowed, though you should use them as little as possible.
No, that is prohibited
The ban covers earplugs, headsets and earphones in both ears.
Pull safely off the road first
Find a safe spot off the road before you phone anyone back.
Source: California Driver's Handbook, Section 8, Safe Driving (continued); Texas Driver Handbook, Chapter 9, Texting While Driving, p. 54; Illinois Rules of the Road, Chapter 4, Traffic Laws: Distracted Driving (p. 22); Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), PennDOT Distracted Driving page, Pennsylvania's Distracted Driving Law; North Carolina Driver Handbook, Chapter 4, Your Driving: Distracted Driving (pp. 41-42); What Every Driver Must Know (SOS-133), Chapter 4, Distracted driving, pp. 23-24; New Jersey Driver Manual, Chapter 5, Aggressive Driving/Road Rage (note), p. 91; Virginia Driver's Manual (DMV 39), Section 3, Safe Driving: Distracted Driving (p. 24); Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Chapter 2, p. 40; Maryland Driver's Manual, Section 6.C, p. 35; Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook 2026, Section 9.B Distracted Driving, p. 49; Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, Section 2, Safe Driving Practices: Distractions (p. 24); Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Distracted Driving (p. iv); Kentucky Driver Manual, Section Three, Driver Distractions, PDF p. 31; South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 3, Be in Shape to Drive, Driver Distractions, p. 3-4 (PDF p. 35); Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Careless/Reckless Driving, Distracted Driving, printed p. 24 (PDF p. 27); Oklahoma Driver Manual, Chapter 11, Car Phone Safety, p. 61; Connecticut Driver's Manual, Chapter 2, Before You Get Behind the Wheel, Connecticut Cell Phone Laws, p. 13; Utah Driver Handbook, Section 11, Distractions and Driving Challenges, PDF p. 66; Iowa Code 2026, §321.276, §321.276(2); Idaho Driver's Handbook, Cell Phones, PDF p. 93; Hawaii Driver's Manual, Chapter X, Distracted Driving, PDF p. 59; Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026), Section Five, Seeing Well, PDF p. 116; Montana Driver Manual (Form 25-0100, revised April 2024), Chapter 5, Don't Be a Distracted Driver, PDF p. 59; Maine Driver's License Manual (Rev 4/24), Section 3, Using a Cellular Telephone in Your Vehicle (pull off the road), PDF p. 27; Rhode Island Driver's Manual (April 2024), Safe Driving on the Highway, PDF p. 36; D.C. Official Code § 50, D.C. Official Code § 50-1731.04(b); RSA 265:79-c, RSA 265:79-c, paragraph I(b); Vermont Driver's Manual (VN-007, 2025 edition), Ch. 7, Cell Phones, PDF p. 56; Wyoming Driver License Manual: Rules of the Road (August 2021), PDF p. 89; Alaska Driver Manual (REV. 10/2025), Distracted driving, PDF p. 29
Yes, it can pull your attention from the road
Conversation and turning to look at passengers take attention away from driving.
Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, Distracted Driving: Distractions, PDF p. 43; Georgia Drivers' Manual, Section 5: Traffic Laws, Distracted Driving; New Jersey Driver Manual, Chapter 5, Distractions, PDF p. 94; Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Distracted Driving, PDF p. 42; Texas Driver Handbook, Distracted Driving, PDF p. 60; Massachusetts Driver's Manual, Chapter 5, p. 119; Maryland Driver's Manual, Section 6.C, p. 34; Missouri Driver Guide, Chapter 16, Distracted Driving, PDF p. 94; Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Distracted Driving (p. iv); Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 6, Distractions inside the vehicle, p. 78; Alabama Driver Manual, Chapter 4, The Driver, Concentration, PDF p. 33; Louisiana Class D & E Driver's Guide, Chapter 8, Driving Hazards and Emergencies, Distracted Driving, PDF p. 115; Kentucky Driver Manual, Section Three, Driver Distractions, PDF p. 31; South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 3, Be in Shape to Drive, Driver Distractions, p. 3-4 (PDF p. 35); Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337), Before You Drive, Distractions, printed p. 6 (PDF p. 9); Oklahoma Driver Manual, Chapter 11, Car Phone Safety, p. 61; Connecticut Driver's Manual, Chapter 3, Driving Behaviors, Driver Distractions, p. 27; Iowa Driver's License Manual (MM1170), Chapter 3, 3.7 Eliminating Distractions, p. 36; Arkansas Driver License Study Guide (Vol. 1, Ed. 10, October 2026), Chapter 4, Safe Driving, What is Distracted Driving?, PDF p. 57; MDPS Driver's License Manual, Emotional Distractions, PDF p. 24; Kansas Driving Handbook, Section 3, Driver Distractions, PDF pp. 21-22; Idaho Driver's Handbook, Your Mood Affects Your Driving, PDF p. 88; Nebraska Driver's Manual, Section 5E-1, Are You Being Driven to Distraction, PDF p. 72; Hawaii Driver's Manual, Chapter X, Distracted Driving, PDF p. 58; West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter VIII, Inattention and Concentration, PDF pp. 71-72; Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026), Section Two, Distracted Driving, PDF p. 53; Montana Driver Manual (Form 25-0100, revised April 2024), Chapter 5, Don't Be a Distracted Driver, PDF p. 59; Rhode Island Driver's Manual (April 2024), Distracted Driving, PDF p. 17; South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), Be in Shape to Drive, Driver Distractions, PDF p. 19; DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual (published Dec. 2023), Driver Manual, p. 5; New Hampshire Driver's Manual (DSMV 360, Rev. 11/25), Driver Distractions, PDF p. 14 (printed p. 8); Alaska Driver Manual (REV. 10/2025), Provisional Licenses (conversation distracts), PDF p. 9
We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Maryland Driver's Manual (DL-002 (10-26), October 2026 Edition (the notice page, p. 2, also still prints the older form number DL-002 (05-23)) 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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.