Indiana BMV License Tests & Permit Practice

If you are facing a green arrow, you may turn through an intersection, as long as the intersection is clear. Drivers who are not facing a green arrow or a green signal must stop. This is known as a protected turn.

The green arrow does not mean that all other traffic is stopped by a red light.

Be prepared to stop driving if you are unable to stay alert or experience any signs of fatigue. If you are feeling drowsy let another person drive or find a safe area to pull over and rest.

Parking on a crosswalk is prohibited.

A red flashing light at an intersection is equivalent to a stop sign and means that you must come to a complete stop before entering the intersection.

If you are facing a red flashing light at an intersection at which cross-traffic is not required to stop, you may proceed only when the intersection is clear and you will not interfere with the right-of-way of cross-traffic.

If you are facing a red flashing light at an intersection at which all traffic is required to stop, you may proceed only after you have stopped and yielded the right-of-way to any vehicle that is already in the intersection, any vehicle that stopped before you and is entering the intersection, and any vehicle that arrived at the same time as you and is to your right.

Yellow lane markings separate multiple lanes of traffic going in opposite directions. You may cross a broken yellow line to pass another vehicle when it is safe, but you must not cross a solid yellow line except to turn.

Remember, it is dangerous and illegal to try to pass other vehicles when a solid yellow line is marked on the driver’s side of the center line of the road.

It is unsafe to back up on an interstate highway to reach a missed exit. If you miss an exit, you must drive to the next exit

Ambulances and police vehicles, fire and rescue vehicles are permitted to display a red flashing light and drivers must obey the following rules:

• Yield the right-of-way.
• Immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection.
• Stop and remain in the position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

Only change one lane at a time. If you want to cross several lanes, take them one at a time.

You must stop when you approach a school bus with flashing red lights activated and stop arm extended.

If you are driving on a highway that is divided by a barrier or unimproved median, you are required to stop only if you are traveling in the same direction as the school bus.

Pedestrians, road markings and other vehicles are more difficult to identify and recognize at night. Under nighttime driving conditions, you should reduce normal speed, especially on unfamiliar roads.

Drivers must use headlights between sunset and sunrise as well as at any other time in which visibility is less than 500 feet. Use your headlights in snow, rain, and fog to be seen by other drivers.

When a crossbuck is displayed with a stop sign, you must come to a complete stop and proceed over the tracks only after making certain that a train is not approaching.

When there are active warning bells, flashing lights, or lights and gates, you must stop and not proceed until the active warning is canceled or you are directed to proceed by a law enforcement officer or railroad flagman.

You must also stop when an approaching train is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to the crossing.

Worn or bald tires can increase your stopping distance and make turning more difficult when the road is wet. Worn tires also increase the effect of hydroplaning and increase the chance of having a flat tire.

Incoming traffic always yields to the circulating traffic.

Lane markings and signs can tell you when it is unsafe to pass. Only you can tell when it is safe to pass. Make sure the passing lane is clear of traffic. Remember, you may not drive on the left side of a road when approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve in the highway where the view is obstructed within a distance that creates a hazard. It is illegal to pass when approaching within 100 feet of or traversing an intersection or a railroad grade crossing.

The state minimum insurance standard is:

• $25,000 for bodily injury to, or the death of, one individual.
• $50,000 for bodily injury to, or the death of, two or more people in any one accident.
• $25,000 for property damages in any one accident.

This is commonly referred to as 25/50/25 liability insurance.

To turn left, be in the far-left lane for your direction of travel. You must give a proper turn signal at least 200 feet before turning. Always check your mirrors and blind spots at intersections. Before entering an intersection, make sure the intersection is clear before you proceed. Only one vehicle at a time may move into an intersection to turn left.

Despite safe driving, emergencies do arise. If it appears that a car will hit something, there are three things you can do, depending on the situation:

• Stop quickly
• Turn quickly. If you feel you cannot stop in time, turn your vehicle away from the potential collision
• Speed up. Accelerating may be the best or only way to avoid a collision.

If a judge finds that probable cause exists, such that a person operated a vehicle while intoxicated, they may face a suspension of driving privileges. A motorist who refuses to submit to a chemical test will face a suspension of driving privileges for up to two years. In addition to a probable cause suspension, a court may suspend a person’s driving privileges following a conviction for operating while intoxicated.

• Stay alert. Look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.
• Pay attention. Work zone signs will state exactly what to expect ahead.
• Merge early. If merging at first sight of signs, traffic will flow more smoothly.
• Slow down. If you are speeding when you approach a work zone you will encounter slowed or stopped traffic within seconds.
• Don’t tailgate. Maintain a safe distance on all sides of your vehicle.
• Minimize distractions.
• Plan ahead and expect delays.

If your wheels drift onto the shoulder of the road, do not try to turn back onto the pavement right away. This action might throw your vehicle off balance. Instead, drive along the shoulder and ease up on the gas pedal. After slowing down, turn back onto the road gradually.

Watch for bicycles on your right. Check your mirror and your blind spot.

Among all collisions in Indiana, failure to yield the right of way is the most common factor. Accidents are caused by either a driver’s lack of attention, a driver’s failure to observe the rules of the road, or both.

On a rural state divided highway, vehicles may not exceed 60 miles per hour or the posted speed limit.

Note the difference between interstate highways and state divided highways.

Chances of hydroplaning increases with speed and, at any point your tires may be in contact only with the oil, dirt and water. If this happens, there is no friction to brake, speed up, or turn, and a gust of wind, a change of road level, or a slight turn can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

A good rule for drivers to follow is to stay at least two to three seconds behind the vehicle ahead. When following a vehicle, watch for the vehicle ahead to pass a fixed object and estimate how much time elapses before you pass the same object.

The two-to-three-second rule is a minimum safe distance when road conditions are clear and dry.

Allow at least three or four seconds when following a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

When following behind a tractor-trailer, if you cannot see the tractor-trailer driver’s rear-view mirrors, the tractor-trailer driver cannot see you. Tailgating a tractor-trailer is dangerous.

Seat belts and child safety restraints such as car seats save thousands of lives each year and improve the chances of surviving an accident. A seat belt should be used even in a vehicle with one or more airbags. Air bags are designed to work in tandem with seat belts to slow down the vehicle’s occupants in the event of a collision.

Because of its large size, a tractor-trailer often appears to be traveling at a slower speed than it is. A substantial number of collisions involving a car and a tractor-trailer take place at intersections, because the driver of the car did not realize how close the tractor-trailer was or how quickly it was approaching.

Going downhill, a large vehicle may accelerate faster because its weight, but in general large vehicles do not accelerate as fast as cars.

Busy roads on which there are many places a vehicle may make a left turn often have a center lane designated solely for the left-turning vehicles. Always be aware that vehicles traveling in the opposite direction may be entering the center lane to turn left in front of your vehicle. Never use this type of center lane for passing other vehicles.

Designated center lanes for left turns can usually be identified by a sign with alternate directional arrows that states CENTER LANE ONLY or with pavement arrows, although some center lanes do not have signs or pavement arrows.

You must give a proper turn signal at least 200 feet before turning or changing lanes. If the speed limit is 50 miles per hour or more, you must give a proper turn signal at least 300 feet before turning or changing lanes. When there is opportunity to signal, the law also requires you to signal before stopping or suddenly decreasing speed. Normally, you do that with your brake lights.

Many factors affect a vehicle’s ability to stop. Some of the most important are:

• Weight of vehicle.
• Type and condition of brakes.
• Type and condition of tires.
• Physical condition of pavement.
• Slickness of pavement.
• Grade of road.

On the highway, slower vehicles should use the right lane. Leave the left-hand lane for faster moving or passing vehicles.

Before entering a street from an alley or driveway, you should stop and yield the right of way to other vehicles. In a business or residence district, you must stop before a crosswalk, and yield to pedestrians and traffic.

You can maximize your fuel economy by:

• Drive more efficiently by driving sensibly, observing the speed limit, avoiding hauling cargo on your roof and removing excess weight from your vehicle.
• Avoid rapid acceleration or sudden stops.
• Keep your vehicle in shape by properly maintaining your engine, keeping your tires properly inflated, and using the recommended grade of motor oil.
• Plan and combine trips. Your fuel economy is worse when your engine is cold than when it is warmed up. Several short trips from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip covering the same distance.