Mississippi safe driving practice questions
4 questions below test Mississippi’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or Mississippi Driver Service Bureau handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.
The Mississippi permit knowledge test has 30 questions in total and needs 24 correct (80%) to pass.
Mississippi law
4 questions on Mississippi’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. While driving in Mississippi, writing, sending, or reading text messages is:
- AAllowed only on speakerphone
- BAllowed with one hand
- Not allowed
- DAllowed only under age 18
Answer: Not allowed. The Mississippi Driver’s Manual states texting on your cellphone while driving is not allowed, and writing, sending, or reading text messages is not allowed.
Source: Mississippi Driver's Manual — Cellphone Use
2. Mississippi seat-belt law requires a properly fastened belt for:
- AOnly passengers under 18
- BOnly the driver
- Drivers and all passengers, whether in the front or back seat
- DOnly front-seat passengers
Answer: Drivers and all passengers, whether in the front or back seat. The Mississippi Driver’s Manual states drivers and all passengers of motor vehicles shall wear a properly fastened seat belt, regardless of whether the passenger is in the front seat or back seat.
Source: Mississippi Driver's Manual — Seat Belts, Car Seats, and Child Restraints
3. Mississippi generally requires a child passenger restraint device (car seat) for children under:
- ATwo years old
- Four years old
- CSix years old
- DEight years old
Answer: Four years old. The Mississippi Driver’s Manual states children under the age of four years old must be properly secured in a child passenger restraint device (car seat) that meets applicable safety standards.
Source: Mississippi Driver's Manual — Seat Belts, Car Seats, and Child Restraints
4. While driving in Mississippi, reading or posting to a social networking site using a hand-held mobile telephone is:
- AAllowed for drivers over 21
- BAllowed only at stop signs
- CAllowed if traffic is light
- Not allowed
Answer: Not allowed. The Mississippi Driver’s Manual states reading or posting to a social networking site using a hand-held mobile telephone is not allowed.
Source: Mississippi Driver's Manual — Cellphone Use
Sources for the Mississippi 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 Mississippi items above for 14 questions in total.
1. What is the best way to set a safe following distance?
- AFollow closely so other drivers cannot merge
- BMatch the vehicle ahead bumper-to-bumper
- CStay one car length behind at every speed
- Use a time gap and add more time in poor conditions
Answer: Use a time gap and add more time in poor conditions. A time-based gap adapts to speed. Increase it for rain, darkness, heavy vehicles, motorcycles, or limited visibility.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Space management — following distance
2. If you must handle something that will take your attention from driving, the safest choice is to:
- ADrive faster to finish the trip sooner
- BLook down briefly while moving
- CAsk traffic to move around you
- Pull over and stop in a safe place
Answer: Pull over and stop in a safe place. Anything that takes your eyes, hands, or mind from driving increases risk. Stop safely before handling the task.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Driver fitness — distraction
3. Under ideal driving conditions, what is the recommended minimum following distance?
- A10 seconds
- B1 second
- 3 seconds
- D5 seconds
Answer: 3 seconds. The 3-second rule provides a baseline buffer for reaction and stopping distance under normal, dry weather conditions.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Space management — following distance
More Mississippi topics
Other Mississippi 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 Mississippi rules
Statutes and handbooks change. Mississippi Driver Service Bureau is authoritative for Mississippi safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.
Visit Mississippi Driver Service BureauCommon questions
About Mississippi safe driving rules and this practice set.