At an intersection with an unmarked crosswalk, a pedestrian steps into your lane. Does the absence of painted lines let you keep moving?
Correct answer: No; yield and stop for the pedestrian in your path.
The handbook requires yielding to pedestrians entering or in a crosswalk, including unmarked crosswalks. A missing painted line does not remove the duty to avoid the pedestrian.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 37: Crosswalks and Stop Lines; Sharing the Road — Pedestrians, page 61. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
A pedestrian using a white cane is crossing the road. Your traffic light changes to green before the person reaches the far side. What should you do?
Correct answer: Remain stopped and yield so the pedestrian can cross safely.
The manual requires stopping for a pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog. A green light does not authorize driving into the person's path.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 61: Pedestrians — white cane or guide dog. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
A narrow road and oncoming traffic leave no room for a safe bicycle pass. What should you do?
Correct answer: Slow and wait behind the cyclist until you can pass with adequate clearance.
Wait for safe space rather than squeezing through. A delayed pass is better than endangering the cyclist or oncoming traffic.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 46: Passing Bicyclists. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
A truck swings left to prepare for a right turn. What should you avoid?
Correct answer: Trying to squeeze between the truck and the right curb.
The truck may need a wider path, and its driver may not see a car alongside. Do not enter the space needed to finish the turn.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 63: Large Trucks and Buses — wide turns. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
A motorcycle is riding in the same direction as your car. The lane seems wide enough for both. May you pass it within that same lane?
Correct answer: No; allow the rider the full lane and use a safe lawful passing movement.
A motorcycle needs lane space to maneuver around hazards. Do not treat its smaller width as an invitation to share its lane.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 62: Motorcycles — full lane. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
A car in the next lane has stopped at a crosswalk. You cannot see why. What must you do?
Correct answer: Do not pass the stopped car; stop and check for a pedestrian hidden from view.
A stopped vehicle can hide a pedestrian. The handbook tells drivers to be alert when passing a stopped vehicle, stop for people crossing, and yield rather than enter their path.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 61: Pedestrians. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
You approach a slow farm vehicle on a rural road. What should you anticipate?
Correct answer: A faster closing rate than expected; slow early and pass only when safe.
Farm equipment and other slow vehicles may be much slower than surrounding traffic. Reduce speed early instead of arriving close behind it before deciding what to do.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 65: Slow Moving Vehicles. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
You pass a bicycle on a road posted 35 mph. What minimum clearance does South Dakota require, including your right-side mirror or other projection?
Correct answer: Three feet.
The minimum is three feet where the posted limit is 35 mph or less. It is measured from the vehicle's right-side projections and must be maintained throughout the pass.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-26-26.1. Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
The posted limit is 45 mph, though you are currently driving slower. What minimum bicycle-passing clearance applies?
Correct answer: Six feet.
The six-foot requirement depends on a posted limit greater than 35 mph, not merely the passing car's actual speed. Wait until that clearance can be provided safely.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-26-26.1. Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
On a road with one travel lane in each direction, an oncoming school bus displays flashing red loading lights. What must you do?
Correct answer: Stop at least 15 feet away and remain stopped until the red signals are off.
On this road both directions stop for the red loading signals. The 15-foot stopping distance is a minimum, and movement waits until the red signals are no longer actuated.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-32-6, red signals on fewer than two travel lanes each direction. Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
On a road with one travel lane each way, a school bus displays flashing amber loading signals as you approach. What is required?
Correct answer: Reduce to no more than 15 mph and pass cautiously, watching for a change to red.
On the stated road, amber signals require no more than 15 mph and caution. If red signals activate, the separate full-stop rule applies.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-32-6, amber signals. Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
A highway has two travel lanes in each direction and no physical median. A school bus across the centerline displays red loading lights. You travel in the opposite direction. Must you stop solely for those bus signals?
Correct answer: No; current law exempts opposite-direction traffic on a highway with at least two travel lanes each way.
The current statute counts travel lanes and does not require a physical barrier for this exception. Same-direction traffic must still obey the bus signals; remain alert for people.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-32-6, current opposite-direction multi-lane exception (SL 2025 ch 131). Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
A road has one through lane each way plus a center turn-only lane. An oncoming school bus flashes red loading lights. Does the center lane create the two-travel-lanes-each-way exemption?
Correct answer: No; turn-only lanes do not count, so you must stop at least 15 feet away.
The statute expressly excludes turn-only lanes from travel-lane counts. This road does not meet the opposite-direction exemption.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-32-6, travel-lane definition and red-signal requirement. Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
You approach an emergency vehicle stopped on the highway using red flashing lights. What does South Dakota's special rule require before cautiously passing when safe?
Correct answer: Come to a complete stop.
South Dakota distinguishes red signals from amber, yellow or blue signals. For the stopped red-light emergency vehicle, stop completely, then pass only with caution when safe.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-31-6.1, red signals. Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
An authorized vehicle occupies the shoulder ahead with amber warning lights. Your highway has two lanes in your direction, and a lane change can be made safely. What should you do?
Correct answer: Move to the lane farthest from it at least 300 feet before reaching it and pass cautiously.
Current law expressly includes a vehicle occupying the shoulder. On the stated multi-lane highway, use the farthest lane at least 300 feet in advance and proceed with caution.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-31-6.1(1), amber/yellow/blue signals; shoulder scope (SL 2025 ch 130). Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
On a two-lane highway posted 55 mph, you approach an authorized vehicle stopped with yellow warning lights. What speed does the specific rule require at least 300 feet before it?
Correct answer: No more than 35 mph, then proceed cautiously.
For the stated two-lane road, reduce by 20 mph below the posted limit at least 300 feet before the warning-light vehicle. Conditions may require an even lower safe speed.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-31-6.1(2). Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
On a two-lane road posted 20 mph, you approach a stopped vehicle using authorized blue warning lights. What special approach speed applies at least 300 feet before it?
Correct answer: 5 mph.
If the posted limit is 20 mph or less, the stated two-lane warning-light rule specifies 5 mph, followed by cautious passage. It does not mean merely five mph below the limit.
Source: Current South Dakota Codified Laws §32-31-6.1(2), posted limit twenty or less. Reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
A work-zone flagger directs you to stop even though your lane looks open. What should you do?
Correct answer: Obey the flagger and wait for permission to proceed.
The handbook requires following work-zone traffic-control instructions. The flagger may know about hazards or opposing traffic you cannot see.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 34: Work Zone Signs — flagger instructions. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
You approach a horse-drawn vehicle on a rural road. Which approach is safest?
Correct answer: Slow down, give room and avoid an unnecessary horn blast.
Horses can react unpredictably to noise and close vehicles. Pass cautiously with space, without startling the animal.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 65: Animal-Drawn Vehicles and Horseback Riders. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
Traffic beyond the railroad tracks is stopped with no space for your whole car. The crossing lights are not flashing. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait before the tracks until there is room to cross completely.
A clear warning signal is not enough: there must also be space to clear the tracks. Do not enter a crossing where traffic would trap the vehicle.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual, current catalog-linked edition, REVISED 11/2024; printed/physical page 46: Trouble spots — Railroad crossings. Text reviewed September 29, 2026. ↗
