Your car starts to hydroplane on a wet road. What should you do?

Ease off the gas; avoid braking

Your right wheels drift off the pavement onto the shoulder. What should you do?

Ease off the gas; steer back gently

Your brakes feel weak after driving through deep water. What should you do?

Press the brakes lightly to dry them

A driver is tailgating you. What is the safest response?

Let them pass when you safely can

Your brake pedal suddenly sinks to the floor. What should you try?

Pump it, then use the parking brake

How should a lap-and-shoulder seat belt be worn?

Lap low on hips, strap across chest

Permit Test: Safe Driving & Emergencies

by FlashQuest

20 cards
beginner
Start free

20 permit test cards on skids, blowouts, brakes, lights and other safe driving basics for new drivers. What to do when the car skids, hydroplanes, loses a front tire or drifts onto the shoulder, and when the brake pedal sinks. Others cover ABS, fog, tailgaters, drowsy driving and hill parking. Core rules from the federal MUTCD, checked against the New York, Florida, Texas and California handbooks. Written with AI help; each card names its sources. Study aid only: your own state's handbook is the final word, especially on fines and distances.

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Made by FlashQuest. Last updated October 2026. Drafted with AI help.

Your car starts to skid. Which way should you steer?: Where you want the car to go; Ease off the gas and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Avoid slamming the brakes. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, NY Driver's Manual, Texas Driver Handbook.
Your car has anti-lock brakes (ABS). How should you brake in an emergency?: Press hard, hold, and steer; With ABS, push the brake pedal down hard and keep pressure on while you steer around danger. The system pumps the brakes for you; do not pump them yourself. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, NY Driver's Manual.
Your car starts to hydroplane on a wet road. What should you do?: Ease off the gas; avoid braking; Take your foot off the gas and avoid braking hard. Steer straight, or where you want to go, until the tires grip again. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, NY Driver's Manual.
A front tire blows out while you are driving. What should you do?: Grip the wheel; slow gradually; Hold the wheel firmly and keep the car straight. Don't brake hard or lift off the gas suddenly: ease off the gas slowly, brake gently only once the car is under control, then pull completely off the road. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Florida Driver Handbook, Texas Driver Handbook.
Your right wheels drift off the pavement onto the shoulder. What should you do?: Ease off the gas; steer back gently; Do not jerk the wheel or slam the brakes. Ease off the gas, brake gently, and steer back onto the pavement only when your speed is lower and it is safe. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Texas Driver Handbook, Florida Driver Handbook.
Your brakes feel weak after driving through deep water. What should you do?: Press the brakes lightly to dry them; Wet brakes can pull to one side or not hold well. Slow down and press the brake pedal gently a few times to dry them. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, California Driver Handbook.
Which headlights should you use in fog?: Low beams; High beams reflect off fog and make it harder to see. Use low beams, slow down, and increase your following distance. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, NY Driver's Manual.
You are using high beams at night and a car comes toward you. What should you do?: Switch to low beams; Dim your high beams for oncoming traffic and when following another vehicle, so you do not blind other drivers. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Florida Driver Handbook.
Before you change lanes, what should you do after checking your mirrors?: Look over your shoulder; Mirrors leave blind spots beside and behind your car. Signal, check your mirrors, and turn your head to check the blind spot before moving over. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Florida Driver Handbook, Texas Driver Handbook.
A driver is tailgating you. What is the safest response?: Let them pass when you safely can; Move to another lane if you can, or slow down slightly and pull over when it is safe so the driver can pass. Do not brake suddenly. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Texas Driver Handbook.
How should your following distance change in rain or at night?: Increase it; Wet roads and low visibility make stopping harder, so leave more space than the usual minimum gap. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, NY Driver's Manual.
You feel very sleepy while driving. What should you do?: Pull off safely and rest; Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Find a safe place to stop and rest. Opening a window or turning up the radio does not fix fatigue. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Florida Driver Handbook.

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What lowers your blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?

Only time

Your body removes alcohol at its own rate. Coffee, cold showers, food or exercise may make you feel more awake but do not lower your BAC. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Texas Driver Handbook.
Under implied consent laws, what have you agreed to by driving?

Testing for alcohol or drugs

By driving, you are considered to have agreed to a breath, blood or urine test if lawfully arrested or asked under your state's rules. Refusing has its own penalties. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Florida Driver Handbook, Texas Driver Handbook.
You park facing downhill next to a curb. Which way should your front wheels point?

Toward the curb

Turned toward the curb, the wheels will catch it if the car rolls. Set the parking brake too. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, Texas Driver Handbook, NY Driver's Manual.
You park facing uphill on a road with no curb. Which way should your front wheels point?

Toward the side of the road

With no curb, turn the wheels toward the edge of the road (to the right), so a rolling car goes off the road, not into traffic. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, Texas Driver Handbook, NY Driver's Manual.
Your brake pedal suddenly sinks to the floor. What should you try?

Pump it, then use the parking brake

Pump the pedal to try to build pressure. If that fails, apply the parking brake gently so the wheels do not lock, and shift to a lower gear. Source: NY Driver's Manual, Texas Driver Handbook, California Driver Handbook.
How should a lap-and-shoulder seat belt be worn?

Lap low on hips, strap across chest

Wear the lap belt low across your hips and the shoulder belt across your chest. A belt tucked behind you or under your arm will not protect you. Source: Florida Driver Handbook.
How should you control your speed on a long, steep downhill?

Shift to a lower gear

A lower gear helps hold your speed so you do not overheat the brakes by riding them. Never coast down a hill in neutral. Source: Texas Driver Handbook, Florida Driver Handbook.
When you turn on your windshield wipers in the daytime, what should you also turn on?

Your headlights

Rain cuts visibility. Turn on your headlights so others can see you; many states require headlights whenever wipers are needed. Source: Florida Driver Handbook, NY Driver's Manual.

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