On a long trip, about how many hours of driving per day does the manual call the safe maximum?
- Eight
- Four
- Sixteen
- Twelve
Show the answer
Eight
It is safest not to drive more than eight hours a day.
Tennessee Safe Driving practice test
Practice following distance, weather, night driving and sharing the road, with questions based on the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual.
Sample Safe Driving questions
You are following a motorcycle. What minimum following distance does the Tennessee manual suggest?
- One second
- Half a second
- Four seconds
- Two seconds
Show the answer
Four seconds
The manual lists following a motorcycle among the cases calling for at least four seconds.
You drive through dense fog during the day in Tennessee. What does state law require?
- High beams on
- No lights in daylight
- Parking lights only
- Low beam headlights on
Show the answer
Low beam headlights on
Low beams are required in daytime fog, heavy rain or snow, and they help others see you.
A child is 6 years old and 4 feet 2 inches tall. How must the child ride in Tennessee?
- In a booster seat with a belt, in the back if possible
- In a rear-facing car seat
- On an adult's lap
- With only a lap belt in front
Show the answer
In a booster seat with a belt, in the back if possible
Children 4 through 8 under 4 feet 9 inches need a booster seat, in the back seat when there is one.
In bad weather, at night or on faster rural interstates, what following distance should you keep at minimum?
- One second
- Ten seconds
- Two seconds
- Four seconds
Show the answer
Four seconds
Increase the normal two-second gap to at least four seconds in these conditions.
At 70 mph on a good, dry road, about how far will your car travel while braking, not counting reaction?
- About 1,000 feet
- About 128 feet
- About 290 feet
- About 50 feet
Show the answer
About 290 feet
Braking alone takes about 290 feet at 70 mph, after about 128 feet covered while reacting.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Section B, Chapter 4, Stopping Distances (p. 49)
Which steering method does the Tennessee manual recommend for everyday driving?
- Hand-over-hand
- Push-pull
- One hand at 12 o'clock
- Palm on the wheel's center
Show the answer
Push-pull
Push-pull keeps both hands on the wheel and makes turns smoother and safer.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Section B, Chapter 1, Steering the Vehicle (p. 29)
May a 5-year-old ride in a pickup truck's cargo bed on a Tennessee road?
- No, except in narrow parade or farm-work cases
- Yes, below 35 mph
- Yes, on city streets
- Yes, with an adult in the bed
Show the answer
No, except in narrow parade or farm-work cases
Children under 6 may not ride in a pickup bed, apart from slow parades and farm activities.
Who in a 15-passenger van must wear a safety belt under Tennessee law?
- Only children
- Everyone, at all times
- Only the driver
- Only front-seat riders
Show the answer
Everyone, at all times
All occupants of a 15-passenger van must be belted at all times.
Under Tennessee law, when must your headlights be on during the day?
- Only when snow is falling
- When you can't clearly see people or vehicles 200 feet ahead
- Only when driving on an interstate
- Never, since daylight is enough
Show the answer
When you can't clearly see people or vehicles 200 feet ahead
Headlights are required whenever daylight is too poor to see 200 feet ahead, and when wipers are in use.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Section B, Chapter 4, Use of Headlights (p. 45)
More Tennessee practice
- Full practice testAll topics, as in the knowledge test
- Road SignsWhat signs mean and what to do when you see them
- Right-of-WayWho goes first at intersections, crosswalks and roundabouts
- Traffic SignalsLights, arrows and pedestrian signals
- Lanes & TurnsLane markings, turns, passing and merging
- Speed LimitsLimits and how to adjust your speed
- ParkingCurb colors, hills and where you can't park
- Alcohol & DrugsBlood alcohol limits, DUI rules and medication
- EmergenciesBreakdowns, emergency vehicles and railroad crossings
- License RulesPermits, restrictions for new drivers and points
- Insurance & CollisionsRequired coverage and what to do after a crash
- Phones & DistractionPhone rules and other distractions
About these questions
We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (PDF printing of March 2025 (Authorization No. MT3Q28), information current as of July 1, 2022 per its notice, downloaded 2026-11-08 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 Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.