Minnesota Safe Driving practice test

Practice following distance, weather, night driving and sharing the road, with questions based on the Minnesota Driver's Manual.

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Sample Safe Driving questions

At 55 mph, a car can stop in about 130 to 140 feet. How far may a loaded tractor-trailer need?

About the same distance
Less than 100 feet
More than 400 feet
About 200 feet

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More than 400 feet

Leave large trucks plenty of room ahead of them.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 4, Following a commercial vehicle, p. 52

What is the most people allowed in the front seat while you drive in Minnesota?

Any number, if all are belted
Four
Three

Show the answer

Three

More people up front can block your view or get in the way of your control.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 6, Obstructed view, p. 79

You meet a large truck coming the other way. How does the wind turbulence act on the two vehicles?

It pulls them together
It pushes them apart
It has no effect

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It pushes them apart

Stay as far right as you can to avoid a sideswipe.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 4, Passing a commercial vehicle, p. 51

How long after it is made does a child car seat expire, if no date is stamped on it?

Two years
Ten years
Six years
It never expires

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Six years

Some seats show their own expiration date.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 3, Other child passenger safety guidelines, p. 38

When may you pass a snowplow?

On the right shoulder
Only when you can see the whole vehicle
Whenever it slows below 30 mph

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Only when you can see the whole vehicle

Plows throw snow and sand, so stay well back and never crowd them.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 6, Sharing the road with snowplows, p. 81

Driving at night, you see headlights reflecting in a deer's eyes beside the road. What should you do?

Speed up to get past the deer quickly
Switch off your headlights so you don't startle it
Slow down, sound your horn and be ready to stop

Show the answer

Slow down, sound your horn and be ready to stop

More than one deer may be nearby.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 6, Watch out for deer, p. 84

A driver behind you is following too closely. What does the Minnesota manual advise?

Speed up to open the gap
Brake hard to warn the driver
Slow down slightly and let it pass

Show the answer

Slow down slightly and let it pass

Letting the driver go by removes the hazard behind you.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 6, Three-Second Rule, p. 73

In the SIPDE system, what does the P stand for?

Park
Predict
Pass
Prepare

Show the answer

Predict

The steps are Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide and Execute.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 6, Using the SIPDE System, p. 72

When must your headlights be on in Minnesota?

Only on unlit roads
From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
From sunset until sunrise

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From sunset until sunrise

Turn them on at sunset and leave them on until sunrise.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 2, Headlights and taillights, p. 23; Chapter 6, Headlights, p. 73

Without a seat belt, how much greater is your chance of being killed or injured in a crash?

No greater
Ten times
Two times
Four times

Show the answer

Four times

A belt also keeps you inside the vehicle in a crash.

Source: Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 3, Seat belt laws, p. 37

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About these questions

We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Minnesota Driver's Manual (June 2026 (cover), English PDF, read 2026-11-09. Page numbers cited are the manual's printed ones (PDF page = printed page + 3). Where the manual is silent, Minnesota Statutes and Rules on revisor.mn.gov are the source. 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 Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.