What safe driving rules are on the South Dakota permit test?

South Dakota's safe driving questions come from its own statutes and the South Dakota Driver Licensing handbook. QuizLane covers 6 South Dakota-specific safe driving items, drawn from 5 distinct source sections, alongside 10 questions on rules that apply in every state.

How many safe driving questions are on the South Dakota permit test?

South Dakota Driver Licensing does not publish a per-topic breakdown. The test as a whole has 25 questions and you need 20 correct (80%) to pass, so safe driving is worth studying alongside every other topic rather than in isolation.

Are these official South Dakota DMV safe driving questions?

No. These are original study questions written against South Dakota law and the official handbook, each carrying the section it came from. They are not endorsed by South Dakota Driver Licensing and are not copies of the real exam.

Do I need an account to practice South Dakota safe driving questions?

No. Practice starts immediately as a guest. An account is optional and only saves your attempt history across devices.

For the first six months on a South Dakota Restricted Minor’s Permit, no passengers are allowed except:

Immediate family or members of the household

South Dakota Instruction Permit and Restricted Minor’s Permit holders may not use:

Any type of wireless communication device while operating on public roadways

South Dakota requires a child passenger restraint system for a child under five, except the requirement is met if the child is under five and:

At least forty pounds in weight (secured in a seatbelt)

South Dakota seat belt law requires every operator and front-seat passenger of a passenger vehicle on a public highway to:

Wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety seatbelt system

Use a seatbelt only if under 18

Wear a seatbelt only on interstates

SDSafe driving

South Dakota safe driving practice questions

6 questions below test South Dakota’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or South Dakota Driver Licensing handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.

The South Dakota permit knowledge test has 25 questions in total and needs 20 correct (80%) to pass.

Practice safe driving All South Dakota topics

South Dakota law

6 questions on South Dakota’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. A South Dakota Restricted Minor’s Permit generally allows solo driving (with parent/guardian permission) during:
- A9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only
- BAnytime with no hour limits
- CMidnight to noon only
- 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Answer: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.. The South Dakota Driver License Manual states a Restricted Minor’s Permit entitles the holder to operate during the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with parent/legal guardian permission; from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. a parent or legal guardian must occupy the seat beside the driver (with listed exceptions for school, church, work, or farm-related travel).
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Restricted Minor’s Permit
2. For the first six months on a South Dakota Restricted Minor’s Permit, no passengers are allowed except:
- AOne unrelated passenger only
- BUnlimited passengers if belted
- CAny friends under 18
- Immediate family or members of the household
Answer: Immediate family or members of the household. The South Dakota Driver License Manual states no passengers are allowed except for immediate family or members of household for the first 6 months on the Restricted Permit.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Restricted Minor’s Permit
3. South Dakota Instruction Permit and Restricted Minor’s Permit holders may not use:
- Any type of wireless communication device while operating on public roadways
- BThe radio
- CCruise control
- DClimate controls
Answer: Any type of wireless communication device while operating on public roadways. The South Dakota Driver License Manual states Instruction Permit holders and Restricted Minor’s Permit holders may not use any type of wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle upon public roadways.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Instruction Permit / Restricted Minor’s Permit
4. South Dakota distracted-driving guidance states that texting, reading texts, and social networking while driving is:
- AAllowed under 25 mph
- BAllowed for adults only
- CAllowed with one hand
- Prohibited by state law
Answer: Prohibited by state law. The South Dakota Driver License Manual states texting, reading texts, and social networking is prohibited by state law.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Distracted Driving
5. South Dakota requires a child passenger restraint system for a child under five, except the requirement is met if the child is under five and:
- ARiding in the front seat
- BAt least 30 pounds
- At least forty pounds in weight (secured in a seatbelt)
- DAt least 57 inches tall only
Answer: At least forty pounds in weight (secured in a seatbelt). South Dakota Codified Law 32-37-1, as quoted in the Driver License Manual, requires securing a child under five in a child passenger restraint system; the requirements are met if the child is under five years of age and is at least forty pounds in weight by securing the child in a seatbelt.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Child Passenger Safety Laws / SDCL 32-37-1
6. South Dakota seat belt law requires every operator and front-seat passenger of a passenger vehicle on a public highway to:
- Wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety seatbelt system
- BUse a seatbelt only if under 18
- CBuckle up only at night
- DWear a seatbelt only on interstates
Answer: Wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety seatbelt system. The South Dakota Driver License Manual cites SDCL 32-38-1: every operator and front seat passenger of a passenger vehicle operated on a public highway shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety seatbelt system.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual — Seat Belts / SDCL 32-38-1

Sources for the South Dakota 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 South Dakota items above for 16 questions in total.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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

Practice all 16 safe driving questions

Other South Dakota rules with their own questions

Driver fitness2 South Dakota questions

Safe driving elsewhere

Safe driving rules in other states

Safe driving law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.

IndianaIN · 4 questions IowaIA · 4 questions KansasKS · 3 questions MichiganMI · 2 questions MinnesotaMN · 3 questions MissouriMO · 2 questions NebraskaNE · 5 questions North DakotaND · 5 questions

Confirm current South Dakota rules

Statutes and handbooks change. South Dakota Driver Licensing is authoritative for South Dakota safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.

Visit South Dakota Driver Licensing

Common questions

About South Dakota safe driving rules and this practice set.