A compact Iowa reading view of 20 existing sourced practice explanations. Each card keeps the original question, correct answer and explanation together so that a qualified rule is not detached from its scenario.
Selected Iowa skills, rules and common signs. Use the full handbook for more topics and its driving diagrams.
Use this as a review aid after reading the handbook. It is not a state exam aid or a complete list of driving laws. Printing may use several pages; the layout does not shrink the text to promise a single sheet.
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Operator knowledge test: 25 questions. 20 correct are needed to pass.
Agency testing table explicitly separates Iowa operator test: 25 questions, five allowed misses. 20 correct is derived from those counts; no separate passing percentage is published. The source's CDL context is disclosed.
Home Skip the Trip eligibility can begin within 30 days of the 14th birthday for those under18, but permit issuance minimum remains14.
Current rule allows retesting at examiner discretion. Historical one-business-day language was not carried forward into the current 2025 chapter.
Retained facts checked 2026-10-10.
Review 1 · Signals and road markings
Your signal is red and you intend to continue straight. The intersection appears empty. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop and wait for a signal permitting your movement.
A steady red signal requires a stop. An empty intersection does not authorize a straight-through movement against it.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 11; 2.9 Traffic signals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 2 · Signals and road markings
A flashing red light controls your approach to a rural junction. What is the correct sequence?
Correct answer: Stop completely, check for conflicts, and proceed only when safe.
A flashing red signal is treated like a stop sign: a complete stop comes before yielding and proceeding when safe.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 11; 2.9 Traffic signals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 3 · Signals and road markings
Your light turns yellow while you still have enough distance to stop safely. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop before entering the intersection.
Yellow warns of an approaching red signal. Stop when you can do so safely; drivers already in the intersection should complete their movement cautiously.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 11; 2.9 Traffic signals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 4 · Signals and road markings
A flashing yellow signal faces you at an intersection. How should you approach?
Correct answer: Slow down, check carefully, and yield as necessary.
Flashing yellow calls for caution. It does not remove your duty to check for and yield to conflicting road users.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 11; 2.9 Traffic signals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 5 · Signals and road markings
Your light turns green, but cars ahead leave no room beyond the intersection. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait until you can enter without blocking the intersection.
A green signal is permission to proceed only when the path is clear. Do not block the intersection or disregard people and vehicles already there.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 11; 2.9 Traffic signals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 6 · Signals and road markings
You are turning left on a flashing yellow arrow while an oncoming car approaches. What does the arrow require?
Correct answer: Yield to the oncoming car and pedestrians before turning.
A flashing yellow arrow allows a cautious turn after yielding. It is not a protected turn ahead of oncoming traffic.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 11; 2.9 Traffic signals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 7 · Signals and road markings
A green arrow permits your turn, but a pedestrian is still crossing your path. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield until the pedestrian has cleared your path.
A green arrow permits the indicated movement but does not cancel the duty to yield to people or vehicles already in the intersection.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 11; 2.9 Traffic signals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 8 · Signals and road markings
The reversible lane above your car displays a steady yellow X. What should you plan to do?
Correct answer: Leave that lane as soon as it is safe.
A steady yellow X warns that the lane is changing use. Move out safely rather than continuing until opposing traffic arrives.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 15; 2.15 Reversible lanes. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 9 · Signals and road markings
You are choosing a lane controlled by overhead signals. What does a red X over a lane mean?
Correct answer: Do not drive in that lane.
A red X closes that lane to traffic moving in your direction. Do not enter it because adjacent lanes are crowded.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 15; 2.15 Reversible lanes. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 10 · Signals and road markings
A pedestrian hybrid beacon changes to steady red as you approach its crosswalk. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop and remain stopped during the steady red indication.
The steady red phase requires drivers to stop. The later flashing-red phase has a different stop-and-proceed-when-clear instruction.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 18; 2.20 Pedestrian hybrid beacons. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 11 · Signals and road markings
You have stopped at a pedestrian hybrid beacon. It now flashes red and the crossing is clear. What may you do?
Correct answer: Proceed cautiously after checking that the way remains clear.
At flashing red, each approaching driver must first stop if not already stopped, then may proceed when the crossing is clear.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 18; 2.20 Pedestrian hybrid beacons. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 12 · Signals and road markings
A road has a yellow centerline and white lines between lanes on your side. What do those colors ordinarily separate?
Correct answer: Yellow separates opposing directions; white separates same-direction lanes.
The linked manual describes yellow lines as separating opposite directions and white lane lines as separating traffic moving in the same direction. This is a text-based color distinction, not a claim about an unseen diagram.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 15; 2.12 Pavement markings. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 13 · Intersections and right of way
You and another car arrive at an all-way stop together. It is on your right, and neither of you is turning. Who goes?
Correct answer: The car to your right goes first.
When arrivals tie, Iowa has the driver on the left wait for the one on the right. Before you move, make sure that driver has actually gone and is clear of your path.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 19; Right-of-way rules. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 14 · Intersections and right of way
Another vehicle has already stopped at an all-way stop before you arrive. What determines who normally proceeds first?
Correct answer: The driver who stopped first normally proceeds first when safe.
At an all-way stop, arrival order normally determines priority. The simultaneous-arrival rule does not displace a vehicle that stopped first.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 19; Right-of-way rules. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 15 · Intersections and right of way
No green arrow is lit for your left turn, and a car approaching from ahead will go straight through. What is required?
Correct answer: Give way and turn only once there is a safe opening.
Left-turning drivers give way to oncoming traffic that is going straight. Signaling early announces the turn without earning you the right-of-way.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 19; Right-of-way rules. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 16 · Intersections and right of way
You are leaving a driveway that crosses a sidewalk before reaching the street. A person is approaching on the sidewalk. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop before the sidewalk and yield before entering the street.
Drivers leaving a private drive must stop before crossing the sidewalk and yield to pedestrians and traffic on the public road.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 41, Required stops (stop before crossing a sidewalk from a private drive); page 19, Right-of-way rules (yield). Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 17 · Intersections and right of way
No sign prohibits a right turn on red. After stopping, you see a pedestrian crossing the road you would enter. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait for the pedestrian and any conflicting traffic before turning.
A permitted right turn on red still requires a full stop and yielding to pedestrians and conflicting traffic.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 19; Right-of-way rules. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 18 · Intersections and right of way
A bicyclist enters your path when the bicyclist should have yielded. You have room to slow safely. What is your responsibility?
Correct answer: Slow or stop as needed to prevent a collision.
Right-of-way rules do not excuse a driver from avoiding a collision. Take a safe defensive action even when another road user makes the mistake.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 18; Right of way. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 19 · Intersections and right of way
A car approaching from your left has its right-turn signal on. You are waiting to enter its road. What is safest?
Correct answer: Wait until its movement confirms the turn and your path is clear.
An indicator can be left on or activated early. Confirm the vehicle is actually turning before relying on that opening.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 50; Intersections. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
Review 20 · Intersections and right of way
Cars are circulating in a roundabout as you approach the entrance. Who must yield?
Correct answer: You must yield to circulating traffic and crossing pedestrians.
Slow before a roundabout and yield before entering. Traffic already circulating has priority over entering traffic.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; p. 54; Roundabouts. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. · Original question review: 2026-09-29
