South Dakota Emergencies practice test

Practice breakdowns, emergency vehicles and railroad crossings: 34 questions based on the South Dakota Driver's License Manual, 14 of them on South Dakota's own rules.

Key South Dakota facts: Emergencies

Sample Emergencies questions

You approach a stopped emergency vehicle that is using red lights. What must you do?

  • Merge into the far lane without stopping
  • Slow to 20 mph below the limit and pass
  • Slow down and pass on the shoulder
  • Come to a complete stop before reaching it
Show the answer

Come to a complete stop before reaching it

Proceed with caution only after you make sure it is safe, unless someone directs you otherwise.

Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), Attention page (front matter), PDF p. 2; SDCL 32-31-6.1, SDCL 32-31-6.1, first paragraph

On a two-lane highway you approach a stopped vehicle using amber, yellow or blue warning lights. What must you do?

  • Match the speed of the traffic behind you
  • Slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit
  • Slow to 5 mph under the limit
  • Come to a complete stop
Show the answer

Slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit

If the posted limit is 20 mph or less, slow to 5 mph.

Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), Attention page (front matter), PDF p. 2; SDCL 32-31-6.1, SDCL 32-31-6.1, second paragraph, subdivision (2)

An injured person at a crash scene asks for a drink of water. What does the manual say?

  • Give small sips of water only, no other drinks
  • Give a cold drink to keep them awake
  • Do not give them anything to drink, not even water
  • Give a warm drink to help prevent shock
Show the answer

Do not give them anything to drink, not even water

Cover the person with a blanket or coat to help prevent shock.

Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes, Crashes, If someone is injured, PDF p. 59

The accelerator sticks and the vehicle speeds up out of control. What does the manual say to do?

  • Turn off the engine and shift to neutral
  • Shift into park right away
  • Brake hard until the pedal frees itself
  • Pump the accelerator pedal several times
Show the answer

Turn off the engine and shift to neutral

Then steer smoothly, brake gently and pull off the road.

Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes, Vehicle Malfunctions, Stuck Accelerator, PDF p. 58

Which stopped vehicles does South Dakota's amber, yellow and blue light rule protect?

  • Any stopped vehicle with those warning lights, not just police
  • Only ambulances, fire trucks and other rescue vehicles
  • Only vehicles that are stopped on an interstate highway
  • Only police cars and sheriff's patrol vehicles
Show the answer

Any stopped vehicle with those warning lights, not just police

Emergency vehicles are included, but the law is not limited to them.

Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), Attention page (front matter), PDF p. 2; SDCL 32-31-6.1, SDCL 32-31-6.1, second paragraph

Your headlights suddenly go out at night. What should you try first?

  • Turn on the cruise control to hold speed
  • Stop in your lane and wait for help
  • Work the headlight switch a few times
  • Speed up to find a lit area
Show the answer

Work the headlight switch a few times

If that fails, use emergency flashers, turn signals or fog lights and pull off the road as soon as possible.

Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes, Vehicle Malfunctions, Headlight Failure, PDF p. 58

Take this topic's test

More South Dakota practice

About these questions

We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the South Dakota Driver's License Manual (Driver's License Manual (English), South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program; 72 PDF pages, the last page says 'REVISED 11/2024' (PDF file metadata: created 2025-12-02, modified 2026-06-30); linked as 'Driver's License Manual - English' on the DPS page South Dakota Driver License and Motorcycle Manuals (https://www.sd.gov/dps?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0043733), read 2026-11-10. Page numbers cited are PDF pages, which equal the printed page numbers. PDF pp. 15-16 (blood stem cell and organ donor pages) and 69-70 (office lists) were not used. The manual has no speed-limit, insurance-minimum or crash-reporting-threshold sections, so those rules come from South Dakota Codified Laws read on sdlegislature.gov on 2026-11-10 (Titles 22, 32, 35 and ARSD 61:06:01:06); the section lists showed no amendment after SL 2025. Handbook statements that differ from or go beyond current law and how they were handled: (1) rural-highway parking (PDF p. 43: 15 feet of road width, visible 500 feet) differs from SDCL 32-30-2 (20 feet clear width, clear view from 200 feet); not tested, and the owner may want to note it; (2) first-offense DWI penalty text (PDF p. 20: fine $300-$1,000, 15-365 days in jail, license loss 90-365 days) differs from SDCL 32-23-2 (Class 1 misdemeanor, court must revoke at least 30 days, up to one year in jail and $2,000); questions use the statute and the 30-day minimum the manual also gives; (3) zero tolerance (PDF p. 20: 'second or subsequent' 180 days) differs from SDCL 32-23-21 (one year for a third or later offense); only first and second offenses are tested; (4) phones (PDF p. 19 lists texting, reading texts and social networking) is narrower than SDCL 32-26-47.1 (any mobile electronic device, Class 2 misdemeanor, exceptions for calls, emergencies, navigation and hands-free use); questions follow the statute; (5) the instruction permit section (PDF p. 8) omits the SDCL 32-12-11 rule that between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. a parent or guardian must sit beside the holder; a question uses the statute; (6) the restricted permit section (PDF p. 8) omits the SDCL 32-12-12.5 limit of one non-family passenger under 18 after six months; questions use the statute and the DPS teen page; (7) school buses (PDF p. 43 says always stop for red lights) omits SDCL 32-32-6 details (stop at least 15 feet away, amber lights mean 15 mph or less on roads with fewer than two lanes each way, no stop for a bus on the other side of a road with two or more lanes each way); questions use the statute; (8) following distance is a minimum of 4 seconds in the manual (PDF p. 51) but the DPS teen page tip says to teach the three-second rule, so following_seconds uses the manual and is noted; (9) large-truck stopping distance is 290 feet (PDF p. 62) and 335 feet (PDF p. 63), so it is not tested; (10) the 200-foot distance behind snowplows (PDF p. 67) and the 500-foot U-turn sight distance (PDF p. 39) were not found in the statutes read, so they are not tested; (11) the manual is silent on left turn on red, which SDCL 32-28-4.1 leaves to city ordinance for one-way-to-one-way turns; a question uses the statute. Fees (PDF p. 7), points (PDF p. 14), window tint (PDF p. 24) and move-over (PDF p. 2) match the 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 South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program, and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.