Missouri safe driving practice questions
2 questions below test Missouri’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or Missouri Driver License Bureau handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.
The Missouri permit knowledge test has 25 questions in total and needs 20 correct (80%) to pass.
Missouri law
2 questions on Missouri’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. Missouri seat-belt law generally requires which occupants of a covered passenger car to wear a seat belt?
- AOnly rear-seat passengers
- BOnly the driver
- Each driver and front-seat passenger
- DOnly passengers under 18
Answer: Each driver and front-seat passenger. RSMo §307.178 requires each driver and front seat passenger of a covered passenger car manufactured after January 1, 1968, operated on a street or highway in this state to wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt.
Source: Missouri Revised Statutes — §307.178
2. Under Missouri's Siddens Bening Hands Free Law, while driving you generally may not:
- Physically hold or support an electronic communication device with any part of your body
- BUse a permanently affixed GPS
- CUse the vehicle radio
- DUse a voice-operated hands-free feature
Answer: Physically hold or support an electronic communication device with any part of your body. RSMo §304.822 (Siddens Bening Hands Free Law) provides that no operator shall physically hold or support, with any part of his or her body, an electronic communication device, or write/send/read text-based communications, with listed exceptions.
Source: Missouri Revised Statutes — §304.822
Sources for the Missouri 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 Missouri items above for 12 questions in total.
1. 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
2. Before backing out of a parking space, the safest practice is to:
- ASound the horn continuously
- BRely only on the backup camera
- Walk around the vehicle and check behind it
- DBack out quickly to reduce exposure
Answer: Walk around the vehicle and check behind it. Small children and low obstacles sit below the sightline of mirrors and many cameras. Checking behind the vehicle first is the only reliable method.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Basic control — backing
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 Missouri topics
Other Missouri 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 Missouri rules
Statutes and handbooks change. Missouri Driver License Bureau is authoritative for Missouri safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.
Visit Missouri Driver License BureauCommon questions
About Missouri safe driving rules and this practice set.