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Traffic Laws — Michigan Driver License Practice Test

Traffic LawsQuestion 1 of 30

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

Where must children younger than age 4 ride if the vehicle has a rear seat?

What Every Driver Must Know

All questions are based on the official Michigan "What Every Driver Must Know" manual (Secretary of State). Study the relevant chapter to reinforce your knowledge.

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This Michigan Driver License Traffic Laws practice set has 164 practice questions based on the official exam materials, each with an instant explanation. You need 80% on the real Michigan Driver License knowledge test to pass.

Topic overview

This chapter is Michigan's core rules-of-the-road chapter, covering distracted driving and cell phone restrictions, seat belt and child-restraint requirements, speed limits and construction-zone rules, right-of-way at intersections and roundabouts, passing and lane-usage rules, and how to behave around emergency vehicles, school buses, and railroad crossings. It closes with parking rules, including where parking is prohibited and how disability parking works.

Exam questions frequently test the difference between a school bus's yellow flashing lights (be prepared to stop) and red flashing lights (you must stop at least 20 feet away and remain stopped until they turn off), along with right-of-way rules at four-way stops and malfunctioning traffic signals. Passing restrictions are also heavily tested — you may not pass within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing, and you must return to your lane before coming within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle.

A common mistake is assuming Michigan's cell phone law only bans texting — the general law actually bans holding or manually operating a phone for any purpose while driving, with narrow exceptions for hands-free use and reporting emergencies. Test-takers also often enter a roundabout by turning left instead of always keeping to the right of the center island, and they underestimate how far behind a stopped emergency vehicle they must stay (at least 500 feet behind one that is moving).

What is the difference between a school bus's yellow and red flashing lights?

Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is about to stop, so drivers should slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights mean the bus is actively loading or unloading passengers — drivers on the same side of an undivided road must stop at least 20 feet away and stay stopped until the red lights turn off.

How do you correctly enter and travel through a roundabout?

Approaching drivers yield to traffic already in the roundabout (coming from the left), enter by turning right (never left), and keep to the right of the center island throughout, exiting with a right turn onto the desired road.

When is passing another vehicle prohibited?

You may not pass when there's a solid yellow line on your side, when "Do Not Pass" signs are posted, when a curve or hill blocks your view of oncoming traffic, within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing, or within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel where your view is blocked.

Written from the official Michigan Driver's Manual — Traffic Laws ↗· Last checked: 2026-07-10· Reviewed by the PassPrep editorial team· How we verify →

Sample questions

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

  1. In Michigan, when is using a hand-held phone while driving allowed?

    • Only to report a crash, a crime or another emergency — Correct answer
    • Whenever traffic is light
    • When stopped at a red light
    • For calls under one minute

    Explanation: Using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal in Michigan, including reading, texting, or making or answering a call. The only exceptions are for reporting crashes, crimes or other emergencies.

    Handbook: Traffic Laws — Distracted Driving

  2. What is the fine for a first distracted-driving hand-held phone offense in Michigan?

    • $100 — Correct answer
    • $250
    • $50
    • $500

    Explanation: Drivers face a fine of $100 for a first hand-held phone offense and $250 for subsequent violations.

    Handbook: Traffic Laws — Distracted Driving

  3. How many deaths annually does NHTSA estimate result from distracted-driving crashes?

    • At least 3,400 — Correct answer
    • At least 1,000
    • At least 500
    • At least 10,000

    Explanation: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates there are at least 3,400 deaths annually from distracted-driving crashes.

    Handbook: Traffic Laws — Distracted Driving