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Georgia DMV Permit Test: Safe Driving and Sharing the Road Concepts

Importance ★★★★☆ · 20% (estimate)

Overview

This chapter collects the safe driving habits and equipment rules that appear on the Road Rules test: headlights, following distance, bad weather, emergencies, expressways, seat belts, the Hands-Free law, and sharing the road with bicycles, motorcycles, and trucks.

Use headlights from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise and whenever it is raining, and dim your high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. Check your following distance by counting one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two after the car ahead passes a mark. Leave more room at night and in bad weather, and three or four seconds behind a motorcycle.

Wet roads are most slippery in the first half-hour of rain, and partial hydroplaning can begin at about 35 mph. In a skid, ease off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid. In a blowout, hold the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and let the car slow. In fog, use low beams. On an expressway, never back up, and stay in the acceleration lane until the solid white line ends.

Everyone in the front seat and every rider under 18 must wear a seat belt, and children under 8 need a proper child restraint. Under the Hands-Free law, you may not hold or support a phone while driving. Give a bicycle at least 3 feet when passing, and remember that if you cannot see a truck driver's face in the mirror, the driver cannot see you.

Key concepts

  • Headlights

    Required from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, at any time it is raining, and when visibility is low. Dim high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle.

    Memory tipRain or dusk: lights on. Oncoming car within 500 feet: low beams.

    Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Use Headlights Properly) · as of 2026

  • Following distance

    Count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two" after the car ahead passes a fixed point. If you reach the point first, you are too close. Leave more space at night, in bad weather, and in heavy traffic, and three or four seconds behind a motorcycle.

    Memory tipAt least two seconds; more behind motorcycles.

  • Passing a bicycle

    Leave at least 3 feet between your vehicle and the bicycle. If you cannot change to a lane not next to it, slow to 10 mph below the posted limit or 25 mph, whichever is more.

    Memory tip3 feet always; slow down if you can't change lanes.

    Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Passing Bicycles) · as of 2026

  • Wet roads and skids

    The first half-hour of rain is the most slippery. Partial hydroplaning can begin at about 35 mph. In a skid, ease off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid.

    Memory tipRain starts: slow down. Skid: steer where the back slides.

    Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Safety Guidelines) · as of 2026

  • Seat belts and child seats

    Everyone in the front seat must wear a seat belt, and so must every rider under 18 in any seat. A child under 8 must ride in a child restraint that fits the child's height and weight.

    Memory tipFront seat or under 18: belt. Under 8: child seat.

    Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Safety Belts) · as of 2026

  • Hands-Free law

    A driver may not hold or support a phone with any part of the body, or write, send, or read texts, or watch videos while driving. Earpieces and mounted devices are allowed. A first conviction brings 1 point and a fine of up to $50.

    Memory tipPhone in your hand while driving: illegal.

    Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Hands Free Georgia Law) · as of 2026

  • Truck No-Zones

    Large blind spots at the sides, front, and rear of trucks and buses. If you cannot see the driver's face in the truck's side mirror, the driver cannot see you.

    Memory tipCan't see the driver's face? You're hidden.

Often tested

  • Headlights: half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and in rain.
  • Dim high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle.
  • Pass a bicycle with at least 3 feet of space.
  • Seat belts: everyone in the front seat and every rider under 18.
  • Never hold your phone while driving.
  • Never back up on an expressway; go to the next exit.

3 sample questions

Verified practice questions from this unit.

Practice questionReviewedRoad Rules › Safe Driving and Sharing the Road★★★★☆

Question 1. When must you turn on your headlights in Georgia?

  1. ① From half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and any time it is raining
  2. ② Only after full dark, when street lights come on
  3. ③ Only when it is foggy
  4. ④ Only on highways at night
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Answer: ① From half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and any time it is raining

Key point: Headlights: 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise, and rain

You must use headlights from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, at any time it is raining, and whenever visibility is low.

Wrong choices

  • Only after full dark, when street lights come on: Waiting for full dark is too late. The rule starts half an hour after sunset.
  • Only when it is foggy: Fog is only one case. Night and rain also require headlights.
  • Only on highways at night: The rule applies on every road, not only highways.
Practice questionReviewedRoad Rules › Safe Driving and Sharing the Road★★★★☆

Question 2. To check your following distance, you count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two" after the car ahead passes a pole. You reach the pole before you finish counting. What does that mean?

  1. ① You are at a safe distance
  2. ② You are following too closely
  3. ③ The car ahead is speeding
  4. ④ You are driving too slowly
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation

Answer: ② You are following too closely

Key point: Pass the mark before "one-thousand-two": too close

Watch the car ahead pass a fixed point, then count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two." If you pass the same point before you finish, you are following too closely. Leave even more space at night, in bad weather, and in heavy traffic.

Wrong choices

  • You are at a safe distance: Reaching the mark before you finish counting means there is not enough space.
  • The car ahead is speeding: The count tells you about your gap, not the other driver's speed.
  • You are driving too slowly: The count checks the gap, not your speed compared with the speed limit.
Practice questionReviewedRoad Rules › Safe Driving and Sharing the Road★★★★☆

Question 3. What is the least amount of space Georgia law requires between your vehicle and a bicycle when you pass it?

  1. ① 10 feet
  2. ② 3 feet
  3. ③ 1 foot
  4. ④ 2 feet
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation

Answer: ② 3 feet

Key point: Pass a bicycle with at least 3 feet

When you pass a bicyclist, Georgia law requires at least 3 feet between your vehicle and the bicycle at all times. Move to a lane not next to the bicycle if you can.

Wrong choices

  • 10 feet: 10 feet is more room, but the legal minimum is 3 feet.
  • 1 foot: 1 foot is far too close and against the law.
  • 2 feet: 2 feet is still less than the legal minimum.
Practice 5 questions from this unit →

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