Your car has functioning four-wheel ABS. During an emergency stop, the brake pedal pulses. What should you do?
Correct answer: Keep firm pressure on the brake pedal while steering as needed.
Pulsing can be normal ABS operation. Keep pressing the service brake; repeatedly releasing it interrupts the system’s ability to help you stop.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 41, physical PDF page 41; ABS — antilock braking system. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
Heavy rain begins and water collects on the road. What is a safer adjustment?
Correct answer: Reduce speed, increase space, and avoid abrupt inputs.
Water reduces tire grip and can cause hydroplaning. Lower speed, more room and smooth control reduce the risk of losing traction.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 60, physical PDF page 60; Wet or slippery roads. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
Dense fog reduces your view. Which headlight setting is appropriate?
Correct answer: Low beams, with speed reduced to fit visibility.
High beams reflect back from fog and can worsen glare. Use low beams, slow down, and leave additional room.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 60, physical PDF page 60; Driving in fog. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
Water covers a road and you cannot tell how deep it is or whether the pavement is intact. What should you do?
Correct answer: Turn around and use another safe route.
Do not drive into floodwater. Depth, current and washed-out pavement may be impossible to judge from the driver’s seat.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 60, physical PDF page 60; Flooded roads. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
The surrounding pavement looks wet on a freezing morning. Why should you be especially cautious on the bridge ahead?
Correct answer: A bridge can freeze before the adjoining roadway.
Bridges lose heat readily and may ice before nearby pavement. Reduce speed and avoid sudden braking or steering.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 61, physical PDF page 61; Winter driving. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
Snow or heavy rain makes traction uncertain. What should you do with cruise control?
Correct answer: Leave it off and manage speed yourself for the conditions.
The manual advises against cruise control in bad weather. Direct, smooth speed control is important when traction changes.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 59, physical PDF page 59; Weather conditions. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
A snowplow ahead creates a cloud that hides the road and its equipment. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stay well back until you have clear visibility and a safe opportunity.
Snowplows have limited visibility and equipment wider than the visible vehicle. Do not drive into the snow cloud or attempt a shoulder pass.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 61, physical PDF page 61; Sharing the road with snowplows. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
You leave a paved road and enter loose gravel. What should you change?
Correct answer: Slow down and make steering, acceleration and braking smoother.
Loose gravel reduces traction and can make abrupt inputs destabilize the vehicle. Slow down and allow more control margin.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 55, physical PDF page 55; Rural roads — gravel. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
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. ↗
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. ↗
You stop after a collision and someone appears injured. What information is important when calling 911?
Correct answer: The crash location and the need for emergency assistance.
Contact emergency services for an injury crash and give a clear location. This question does not state disputed property-damage reporting thresholds or written-report deadlines.
Source: Iowa Driver's Manual, MM1170 07/23/2026; printed page 63, physical PDF page 63; In the event of a crash. Readable text only; no diagram interpretation used. ↗
