Colorado safe driving practice questions
3 questions below test Colorado’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.
The Colorado permit knowledge test has 25 questions in total and needs 20 correct (80%) to pass.
Colorado law
3 questions on Colorado’s own safe driving rules
These differ from the rules that hold nationally — they are the ones that catch out drivers who studied another state’s handbook.
1. Colorado seat-belt law generally requires which occupants to wear a fastened safety belt?
- Every driver and every front-seat passenger in a covered motor vehicle
- BOnly passengers under 18
- COnly rear-seat passengers
- DOnly the driver
Answer: Every driver and every front-seat passenger in a covered motor vehicle. C.R.S. §42-4-237 requires every driver of and every front seat passenger in a covered motor vehicle equipped with a safety belt system to wear a fastened safety belt while the motor vehicle is being operated on a street or highway in this state.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes — §42-4-237
2. While operating a motor vehicle in Colorado, you generally may not:
- AUse the vehicle radio
- BWear sunglasses
- CUse a hands-free accessory with a single touch to start a call
- Use a mobile electronic device (including physically holding it)
Answer: Use a mobile electronic device (including physically holding it). C.R.S. §42-4-239 (effective January 1, 2025) provides that an individual shall not use a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle; "use" includes physically holding a mobile electronic device in the driver's hand, with listed emergency and other exceptions.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes — §42-4-239
3. Colorado generally requires a protective motorcycle helmet for:
- Each person under eighteen years of age driving or riding as a passenger
- BOnly passengers
- COnly freeway riding
- DAll motorcycle operators and passengers at any age
Answer: Each person under eighteen years of age driving or riding as a passenger. C.R.S. §42-4-1502(4.5) requires that each person under eighteen years of age driving or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle, autocycle, or low-power scooter on a roadway wear a protective helmet manufactured for motorcycle operators.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes — §42-4-1502(4.5)
Sources for the Colorado items above
Applies everywhere
Safe driving rules that hold in every state
A sample of the national safe driving bank. All 10 are in the practice run, combined with the Colorado items above for 13 questions in total.
1. Maintaining a space cushion around your vehicle mainly gives you:
- AFreedom from signalling
- BBetter fuel economy
- Time and room to react to a hazard
- DA higher legal speed limit
Answer: Time and room to react to a hazard. Open space on all sides means a sudden hazard can be met with a steering or braking option instead of a collision.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Space management — space cushion
2. To reduce glare from an oncoming vehicle's headlights at night, you should look:
- AInto your rear-view mirror
- BDirectly at the oncoming headlights
- Toward the right edge of your lane
- DDown at your dashboard
Answer: Toward the right edge of your lane. Shifting your gaze to the right edge line keeps you oriented in your lane while the bright lights pass out of your direct vision.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Night driving — glare
3. Another driver is following you far too closely. The safest response is to:
- ABrake sharply to warn them
- Increase your following distance and let them pass
- CSpeed up to outrun them
- DTurn on your hazard lights and stop
Answer: Increase your following distance and let them pass. Adding space ahead gives you room to slow gradually rather than brake hard. Move over when you safely can and let them by.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Safe driving — aggressive drivers
More Colorado topics
Other Colorado rules with their own questions
Safe driving elsewhere
Safe driving rules in other states
Safe driving law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.
Confirm current Colorado rules
Statutes and handbooks change. Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles is authoritative for Colorado safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.
Visit Colorado Division of Motor VehiclesCommon questions
About Colorado safe driving rules and this practice set.