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Safe Driving Tips — Illinois Driver's License Practice Test

Safe Driving TipsQuestion 1 of 30

64 questions in this topic · 30 drawn at random this round

Which lights should you use when driving in fog?

Illinois Rules of the Road

All questions are based on the official Illinois Rules of the Road handbook. Study the relevant chapter to reinforce your knowledge.

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This Illinois Driver's License Safe Driving Tips practice set has 64 practice questions based on the official exam materials, each with an instant explanation. You need 80% on the real Illinois Driver's License knowledge test to pass.

Topic overview

This chapter covers the driving habits that keep you and others safe: defensive driving, safe following distances using the three-second rule, adjusting speed for road and weather conditions, and recognizing drowsy driving.

It also covers driving in fog, rain, high winds, and winter conditions, plus expressway merging and lane use, night driving, and how to react to curves, head-on approaches, and skidding — these situational rules are heavily tested.

A common mistake is braking hard when a vehicle skids or hydroplanes; the correct response is to ease off the gas or brakes, not brake suddenly. The chapter also covers what to do in emergencies such as vehicle fires, being stranded, or a tire blowout — in each case the instinct to brake hard or panic is usually wrong.

What is the three-second rule and why does it matter?

Pick a fixed point on the road, like a sign; when the vehicle ahead of you passes it, start counting "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two..." If you reach that point before "one-thousand-three," you are following too closely. It's the standard way Illinois drivers are taught to judge a safe following distance, and it should be increased in poor weather.

What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?

Ease off the gas pedal or brakes, steer in the direction of the skid until you regain traction, and then straighten the vehicle. Braking hard or steering opposite the skid can make you lose control.

What is the safest response to a tire blowout?

Ease your foot off the gas pedal, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, and pull safely off the roadway before checking the tires — do not brake suddenly.

Written from the official Illinois Rules of the Road — Safe Driving Tips ↗· Last checked: 2026-07-10· Reviewed by the PassPrep editorial team· How we verify →

Sample questions

Three questions from the Safe Driving Tips bank with the correct answer and an explanation. The practice quiz above draws 30 questions at random from the same bank.

  1. When driving, what should you assume about other drivers?

    • Do not assume you know what they will do—be ready to react — Correct answer
    • Assume every driver will always obey the rules
    • Assume drivers ahead will never brake suddenly
    • Assume you can predict every move they make

    Explanation: Always be prepared to react to another driver. Do not assume you know what the other driver is going to do.

    Handbook: Safe Driving Tips — Drive Defensively

  2. What is the cause of most rear-end crashes?

    • Following too closely (tailgating) — Correct answer
    • Keeping too large a following distance
    • Signaling too far in advance
    • Driving with the headlights on

    Explanation: Following a vehicle too closely, or tailgating, is the cause of most rear-end crashes.

    Handbook: Safe Driving Tips — Following Distances

  3. What rule is used to determine a safe following distance?

    • The three-second rule — Correct answer
    • The ten-car-length rule
    • The half-second rule
    • The one-mile rule

    Explanation: Use the three-second rule to determine a safe following distance.

    Handbook: Safe Driving Tips — Following Distances