Pennsylvania DMV Permit Test Safe Driving Summary

The manual teaches a four-second following distance on dry pavement. It gives you time to steer or brake to avoid a hazard. Leave more space on wet or slick roads.

Wrong choices

• At least one second: One second is far too close to stop in time.
• At least two seconds: Two seconds is less than the four seconds the Pennsylvania manual teaches.
• At least ten seconds: Ten seconds is more than needed and is not the manual's rule.

Pennsylvania law requires you to turn on your headlights whenever your wipers are on because of the weather, whether they run all the time or on and off.

Wrong choices

• Turn on your hazard lights: Hazard lights are for a stopped or disabled vehicle, not for driving in rain.
• Turn on your high beams: High beams can make it harder to see in rain and can blind other drivers.
• Nothing else: The law does require headlights when your wipers are in use for weather.

Pennsylvania bans texting while driving. That includes sending, reading, or writing text messages, instant messages, and emails while the vehicle is moving.

Wrong choices

• Yes, if you keep one hand on the wheel: Keeping one hand on the wheel does not make texting legal.
• Yes, if you are driving under 25 mph: The ban applies at any speed.
• Yes, but only on highways: The ban applies on all roads.

On wet roads, it takes longer to stop. Slow down and increase your following distance beyond the four seconds you use on dry pavement.

Wrong choices

• Keep the same speed and following distance as on dry roads: Stopping takes longer on wet roads, so you need more space.
• Drive closer to the car ahead so you can see its taillights: Following closer is more dangerous, not less.
• Brake hard and often to test the brakes: Hard braking on wet roads can make you skid.

When you come to an emergency response area, such as a police car with flashing lights, move into a lane away from it if you can do so safely. If you cannot, slow down.

Wrong choices

• Stop in your lane until the police car leaves: Stopping in a travel lane can cause a crash. Move over or slow down.
• Keep your speed and lane: The law requires you to move over or slow down.
• Honk to let the officer know you are passing: Honking does not protect the people there. Move over or slow down.

In a work zone, slow down and follow the signs and flaggers. Watch for workers and equipment, and leave extra space.

Wrong choices

• Keep your normal speed: Work zones often have lower speeds, narrow lanes, and workers nearby.
• Change lanes often to find the fastest lane: Weaving between lanes raises the risk of a crash.
• Use your cell phone to report the delay: Using your phone while driving takes your attention off the road.

Pennsylvania law requires low beams whenever you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and when you are following a vehicle within 300 feet.

Wrong choices

• Within 300 feet: 300 feet is the distance for following a vehicle, not for oncoming traffic.
• Within 1,000 feet: You may dim earlier, but the law's distance is 500 feet.
• Within 200 feet: 200 feet is too close. The oncoming driver would already be blinded.

Use low beams when you are following a vehicle within 300 feet. Your high beams would shine into the other driver's mirrors. For oncoming vehicles, the distance is 500 feet.

Wrong choices

• 500 feet: 500 feet is the distance for an oncoming vehicle.
• 200 feet: 200 feet is too close. The rule is 300 feet.
• 100 feet: 100 feet is far too close. The rule is 300 feet.

When your wipers are on because of the weather, you must turn on your headlights. Daytime running lights are not enough, because they often do not turn on your tail lights.

Wrong choices

• Nothing more, because daytime running lights are on: The manual says daytime running lights do not meet this rule.
• Turn on only your fog lights: Fog lights do not replace headlights under this law.
• Turn on your hazard lights: Hazard lights are for stopped or disabled vehicles.

In a work zone, double your following distance. The most common crash in work zones is the rear-end crash, so extra space gives you time to stop when traffic slows suddenly.

Wrong choices

• Keep the same distance as usual: Traffic in work zones stops suddenly, so you need more space than usual.
• Cut it in half so traffic keeps moving: Less space makes a rear-end crash more likely.
• Follow closely so other cars cannot cut in: Following closely is how rear-end crashes happen.