Tall crops block your view of a rural intersection. You see no dust from another vehicle. What should you do?
Correct answer: Slow and approach cautiously; no dust does not prove the road is clear.
Vegetation and terrain can hide crossing traffic. The absence of a dust cloud is not reliable evidence that nobody is approaching.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 55, physical PDF page 55; Rural roads — restricted views. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
A deer suddenly enters the road and you cannot avoid it by stopping in your lane. What should you avoid doing?
Correct answer: Swerving sharply into oncoming traffic or off the road.
A sudden swerve can cause a more severe crash than the animal impact. Keep control, slow as safely as possible, and watch for additional animals.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 57, physical PDF page 57; Deer and other animals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
A queue beyond a railroad crossing leaves no room for your entire car. The gates are up. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait before the tracks until you can clear them completely.
Never enter a crossing unless there is room for the entire vehicle beyond it. A signal that allows crossing does not make the tracks a waiting area.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 12, physical PDF page 12; Railroad crossings. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
A crossing gate remains down after one train passes. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait until the warning controls permit crossing and check for other trains.
Do not go around a lowered gate. Another train can approach on a different track, and active warning controls must be obeyed.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 12, physical PDF page 12; Railroad crossings. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
Your car becomes disabled on the tracks, even though no train is visible. What is the first priority?
Correct answer: Get everyone out and well away from the tracks, then call the posted railroad emergency number or 911.
Move people away from the crossing immediately. The blue emergency notification sign provides a railroad phone number and crossing identifier; use 911 if that information is unavailable.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 12, physical PDF page 12; Railroad crossing emergencies — ENS. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
A tire suddenly fails while you are moving. What should you do first?
Correct answer: Hold the wheel firmly, keep a straight course, and ease off the accelerator.
Maintain directional control and slow gradually. Sudden heavy braking or steering can worsen a tire-failure emergency.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 62, physical PDF page 62; Dealing with emergencies — flat tire. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
Your engine stops while the car is moving. What should you expect while guiding it to safety?
Correct answer: Steering and braking may require more effort.
Loss of engine assistance can make steering and braking harder. Keep control and move safely off the road; do not create a steering-lock hazard.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 62, physical PDF page 62; Dealing with emergencies — engine stops. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
The accelerator sticks and the car keeps pulling forward. What should you do?
Correct answer: Shift to neutral, keep your eyes on the road, and guide the car to a safe stop.
Neutral disconnects engine power from the drive wheels. Maintain steering, brake to a safe stop and shut the engine off after stopping.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 62, physical PDF page 62; Dealing with emergencies — stuck accelerator. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
Your headlights suddenly go out at night. After trying the controls, they still do not work. What should you do?
Correct answer: Use available warning lights and leave the roadway safely as soon as possible.
A car without usable headlights is unsafe to continue driving after dark. Warn other traffic and move to a safe stopping place.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 62, physical PDF page 62; Dealing with emergencies — headlight failure. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
Your car develops trouble but can still reach a safe pull-off. Where should you stop?
Correct answer: Well out of traffic where approaching drivers can see you.
Use warning lights and choose a visible location safely clear of traffic. A blind curve or hill can hide the disabled vehicle from approaching drivers.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 49, physical PDF page 49; Communicating with other drivers — emergency signals. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
At night, the distance you can see clearly becomes shorter. How should this affect speed?
Correct answer: Slow enough that you can respond to hazards within the visible road ahead.
Darkness reduces available information and reaction time. Adjust speed and spacing rather than assuming a familiar road is unchanged.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 56, physical PDF page 56; Night driving. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
You plan a brief errand on a warm day with a child in the car. What is the safe choice?
Correct answer: Take the child with you; do not leave the child alone in the parked car.
A parked vehicle can heat dangerously. A short errand, shade or a partly open window is not a safe basis for leaving a child alone.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 59, physical PDF page 59; Heatstroke. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
A 13-year-old wants to begin Iowa’s ordinary under-18 instruction-permit process. What minimum age must the applicant reach?
Correct answer: 14 years old.
Iowa lists age 14 as the minimum for an under-18 instruction permit. Knowledge and vision testing, consent and required documents are also part of the process.
Source: Iowa DOT current guidance; How Do I Get an Instruction Permit?; read September 29, 2026. ↗
An under-18 Iowa instruction-permit holder wants to practice with a family friend who is not a driving instructor or relative. Which arrangement meets the listed supervision rule?
Correct answer: A validly licensed friend at least 25, with written permission from the parent, guardian or custodian.
The nonfamily-supervisor option requires a valid license, age 25 or older and written permission from the designated adult. Other listed categories, such as parents and instructors, have their own qualifications.
Source: Iowa DOT current guidance; What Can I Do With This Permit?; read September 29, 2026. ↗
A teen has an ordinary Iowa instruction permit and wants to drive alone to a part-time job. What does that permit allow?
Correct answer: Only supervised driving; it does not authorize that solo trip.
An instruction permit does not authorize unsupervised school or work trips. Iowa has a separate special minor’s restricted license with its own eligibility and trip rules.
Source: Iowa DOT current guidance; What Can’t I Do With This Permit?; read September 29, 2026. ↗
A teen wants an Iowa intermediate license. Which combination matches the ordinary age, permit-holding and clean-record milestones?
Correct answer: At least 16, 12 months holding the qualifying permit credentials, and the immediately preceding 6 months with a clean record.
These are the age and time milestones listed by Iowa DOT, not the complete application checklist. Approved driver education, consent, satisfied delays and any required drive test also matter.
Source: Iowa DOT current guidance; How Do I Get an Intermediate License?; read September 29, 2026. ↗
An Iowa intermediate-license holder has no adult supervisor and no applicable school/work hour waiver. Which interval is outside the ordinary unsupervised driving hours?
Correct answer: 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Ordinary unsupervised intermediate driving is allowed from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. The page separately describes qualified supervision and a carried school/work waiver; this scenario has neither.
Source: Iowa DOT current guidance; What Can I Do With This License?; What Can’t I Do With This License; read September 29, 2026. ↗
The back of your new Iowa intermediate license lists a passenger restriction. During its first six months, you drive without adult supervision. How many unrelated minor passengers may you carry?
Correct answer: No more than one.
The one-unrelated-minor limit applies in the first six months when that restriction is on the license and there is no adult supervision. It is not stated as a universal restriction on every intermediate license.
Source: Iowa DOT current guidance; What Can’t I Do With This License — passenger restriction; read September 29, 2026. ↗
An instruction-permit holder has proper adult supervision but more passengers than available seat belts. What should happen before the trip?
Correct answer: Reduce the passenger count so each person has a seat belt.
Iowa’s permit page prohibits carrying more passengers than the number of seat belts. Supervision does not waive the limit.
Source: Iowa DOT current guidance; What Can’t I Do With This Permit?; read September 29, 2026. ↗
An intermediate-license holder wants to make a nonemergency call using a portable phone through Bluetooth while driving. Does hands-free operation alone make this allowed under the novice restriction?
Correct answer: No; the novice restriction still prohibits use of that portable communication device while driving.
Iowa’s intermediate page separately prohibits electronic communication or entertainment devices while driving, with an exception for permanently installed equipment. Adult hands-free guidance does not erase that novice restriction.
Source: Iowa DOT current guidance; What Can’t I Do With This License — electronic devices; read September 29, 2026. ↗
