Traffic is stopped just beyond the tracks, leaving insufficient space for your entire car. The crossing gates are up. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait before the tracks until there is space to clear them completely.
Do not enter a railroad crossing until there is enough space beyond it for the whole vehicle. An open gate does not guarantee that traffic ahead will keep moving.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Railroad crossings: Never get trapped; printed p. 58; PDF p. 63 ↗
A train has passed, but the railroad gates remain down. You can see a gap around the end of a gate. What should you do?
Correct answer: Remain stopped until the gates rise and it is safe to cross.
Driving around lowered railroad gates is unlawful. Remain stopped; another train or an unsafe condition may still be present.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Railroad crossings: Never drive around gates; printed p. 58; PDF p. 63 ↗
At a crossing with several tracks, the last car of a train clears your view. What additional hazard must you check before crossing?
Correct answer: A second train approaching on another track, possibly from the opposite direction.
The departing train may hide a second train on another track. Check all tracks and obey the crossing controls before proceeding.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Railroad crossings: Watch for the second train; printed p. 58; PDF p. 63 ↗
Your car becomes stuck on railroad tracks before any warning lights activate. What should you do?
Correct answer: Get everyone out and clear of the tracks, then call 911 and the posted railroad emergency number.
Do not stay in a vehicle stuck on the tracks. From a safe location, notify 911 and the railroad through the posted ENS number; give the crossing identification and say the tracks are blocked.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Railroad crossings: Vehicle stuck; Emergency Notification System; printed p. 59; PDF p. 64 ↗
For an ordinary Alaska car subject to mandatory insurance, what are the minimum liability limits for one person’s injury or death, injury or death per crash, and property damage?
Correct answer: $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000.
Alaska’s listed minimums are $50,000 for one person, $100,000 for bodily injury or death in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Registration-related exemptions are a separate matter.
Source: Alaska DMV - General Vehicle Registration; Insurance Requirements ↗
A crash causes $3,000 in apparent total property damage and no injury. No peace officer investigates it. What is the deadline for the required crash self-report?
Correct answer: Within 10 days of the crash.
An injury, death, or apparent total property damage of at least $2,000 triggers the written or electronic reporting requirement. If a peace officer did not investigate, submit the crash report within 10 days.
Source: Alaska DMV - Report a Crash; opening reporting requirement and How long do I have to submit my form? ↗
You are involved in an injury crash inside a municipality. After stopping and addressing immediate dangers, whom does the manual direct you to notify immediately?
Correct answer: The local police department by calling 911.
An injury or total property damage of $2,000 or more requires immediate notification. The manual directs municipal crashes to local police and crashes outside a municipality to Alaska State Troopers.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - What to do in case of every crash: item 5; printed p. 11; PDF p. 15 ↗
After a crash causing $1,500 in damage to another person’s property, an investigating officer gives you a case number and tells you to file a Certificate of Insurance. When is it due?
Correct answer: Within 15 days of the crash.
The Certificate of Insurance has a 15-day deadline. This duty is separate from the 10-day crash-report deadline; giving insurance information at the scene does not replace a required DMV submission.
Source: Alaska DMV - Report a Crash; Certificate of Insurance and submission deadlines; Driver Manual printed pp. 10-11 ↗
Which accumulation of Alaska driving-record points requires mandatory suspension or revocation?
Correct answer: 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months.
Alaska sets the mandatory thresholds at 12 points in 12 months or 18 in 24 months. Hardship does not remove the requirement, and a work-purpose limited license is not available for this point action.
Source: Alaska DMV - Points; A Word About Points, items 3-4 ↗
A provisional license holder accumulates six points in a 12-month period. What additional step does Alaska require?
Correct answer: Complete a DMV-approved driver improvement course.
A provisional holder must complete an approved improvement course after six or more points in 12 months, or nine or more in 24 months. These course triggers differ from the general suspension thresholds.
Source: Alaska DMV - Points; A Word About Points, item 7 ↗
For a driver age 21 or older operating a noncommercial car, which alcohol concentration reaches the threshold stated in Alaska’s DUI administrative-revocation section?
Correct answer: 0.08 or more.
The manual identifies a breath or blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more for this noncommercial threshold. This is not a safe-drinking target or permission to drive while impaired below it.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Administrative revocations: Alcohol concentration results of .08 or more; printed p. 16; PDF p. 20 ↗
After a lawful DUI arrest, a driver refuses the required chemical breath test. The criminal charge is later dismissed. Does that automatically prevent DMV license revocation?
Correct answer: No. DMV can revoke the driving privilege independently of the criminal outcome.
The manual states that refusal after a DUI arrest can lead to administrative revocation even when the criminal charge is dismissed or the driver is found not guilty. Refusal is not a way to avoid licensing consequences.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Administrative revocations: Refusal to submit to chemical testing; printed p. 16; PDF p. 20 ↗
Your right wheels drop off the pavement. The car is still controllable. What is the best response?
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator, keep a firm grip, and return slowly when nearby traffic is clear.
First regain stable control and slow down. The manual advises waiting until no cars are in the immediate vicinity before returning to the pavement at a slow speed.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Safety tips: Wheels off roadway; printed p. 67; PDF p. 79 ↗
Your service brakes fail. Which pair of controls does the Alaska manual identify to help slow the car?
Correct answer: Apply the parking brake gradually and shift to a lower gear.
The manual directs drivers with failed service brakes to use the parking brake and shift to a lower gear. Keep steering under control while seeking a safe place to stop.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Emergencies: Brakes fail; printed p. 66; PDF p. 78 ↗
After safely stopping for police, you need your registration from the glove compartment. What should you do before reaching for it?
Correct answer: Keep your hands visible and wait for the officer to ask for the document.
Alaska’s traffic-stop guidance advises staying in the vehicle, keeping hands visible, and waiting for the officer’s request before retrieving documents.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Stop by law enforcement: Best practices; printed p. 65; PDF p. 77 ↗
A fire hose lies across the road at an emergency scene. No fire department official has authorized you to cross it. What should you do?
Correct answer: Do not drive over it; wait for directions or use a lawful alternative route.
Do not drive over a fire hose without the consent of a fire department official. A vehicle can damage equipment and endanger emergency operations.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Do not cross fire hoses; printed p. 65; PDF p. 77 ↗
An emergency vehicle is traveling ahead while responding to an emergency. What minimum following distance does the manual specify?
Correct answer: 500 feet.
Do not follow an emergency vehicle responding to an emergency closer than 500 feet. Do not use the gap opened by that vehicle to move through traffic.
Source: Alaska Driver Manual, Rev. 10/2025 - Following emergency vehicle; printed p. 64; PDF p. 76 ↗
On September 20, you plan to use studded tires on a paved road north of 60° latitude, outside Anchorage. No temporary order changes the dates. Is this within the normal permitted season there?
Correct answer: Yes. That area's normal season begins on September 16.
The normal prohibition ends after September 15 north of 60° and after September 30 south of 60°. The Sterling Highway has the northern dates at any latitude; Anchorage has a separate later start.
Source: Alaska DOT&PF - General Travel Information; Studded Tires, regional prohibited periods and Anchorage notice ↗
Blowing snow hides part of a working plow, and you are tempted to pass it. What is the safest choice?
Correct answer: Stay well back and wait for the operator to provide a safe passing opportunity.
DOT&PF warns that hidden wing blades may project from either side and additional plows may be staggered nearby. Wait patiently; the operator will pull over when safe. This is safety guidance, not a claim of a universal statutory passing ban.
Source: Alaska DOT&PF - Snowplow Safety; Do: space and patience; Don’t: passing and hidden wing blades ↗
A snowplow approaches from the opposite direction on an undivided highway. What positioning does Alaska DOT&PF recommend?
Correct answer: Move as far to the right as is safe to provide clearance.
Give an oncoming plow room by moving safely right. This helps avoid material thrown by the equipment; do not make an unsafe movement onto the shoulder.
Source: Alaska DOT&PF - Snowplow Safety; Do: meeting a plow on an undivided highway ↗
